5/2 fasting - discuss . . .

[Flibble]

bernhund said:

Had that checked out fairly recently and all was well, however my Dad has late onset diabetes and ticker problems. It would be foolish of me not to keep an eye on it, but I got the impression from the documentary that 'fasting' could create problems depending on your own metabolism etc?

Having a family history of heart disease does increase your risk somewhat, but also your lifestyle (and diet in particular) play a part in whether you'll have problems. Seems like you're fine so far so I wouldn't worry about changing anything too much.

[HonestIago]

bernhund said:

I'm really interested in this as I'm someone who has never needed to diet AND if I found myself having to at some future stage of my life, would struggle. This is because I can eat for 2 and at 6ft 1 weigh only 11.5 stone! Having to cut down on food would be very difficult.
I know nothing about nutrition/protein/carbs etc so would have to study the 'fasting' lifestyle carefully. The last thing I need is to lose weight, but I do like the idea of potentially having fewer problems with age. Not bothered about living to 100 but would like a comfortable existence until I turn up my toes!
My average day consists of 3 poached eggs and a cup of tea(milk and 1)at 7.30a.m, by 11 a.m I'm starving, so into a cafe for cheese and ham omelette chips and beans and a coffee, in the evening it will be 2 chicken fillets grilled (or salmon),broccoli, spuds and runner beans or similar. 1 -2 glasses of red.
What do you think? How will I cope and not lose weight?

What do you mean you can "eat for 2"? Your "average day" is barely 2,000cals by the look of it. You could still try fasting, certainly won't do you any harm. In fact I'd argue you'd be healthier by having two fasts per week and adding a few hundred calories of puddings/treats you like to the other days. Then your aggregate weekly calorie intake would be less affected but you'd still get the health benefits of fasting.

[bernhund]

HonestIago said:

bernhund said:

I'm really interested in this as I'm someone who has never needed to diet AND if I found myself having to at some future stage of my life, would struggle. This is because I can eat for 2 and at 6ft 1 weigh only 11.5 stone! Having to cut down on food would be very difficult.
I know nothing about nutrition/protein/carbs etc so would have to study the 'fasting' lifestyle carefully. The last thing I need is to lose weight, but I do like the idea of potentially having fewer problems with age. Not bothered about living to 100 but would like a comfortable existence until I turn up my toes!
My average day consists of 3 poached eggs and a cup of tea(milk and 1)at 7.30a.m, by 11 a.m I'm starving, so into a cafe for cheese and ham omelette chips and beans and a coffee, in the evening it will be 2 chicken fillets grilled (or salmon),broccoli, spuds and runner beans or similar. 1 -2 glasses of red.
What do you think? How will I cope and not lose weight?

What do you mean you can "eat for 2"? Your "average day" is barely 2,000cals by the look of it. You could still try fasting, certainly won't do you any harm. In fact I'd argue you'd be healthier by having two fasts per week and adding a few hundred calories of puddings/treats you like to the other days. Then your aggregate weekly calorie intake would be less affected but you'd still get the health benefits of fasting.

Told you I know nothing about nutrition! There are also a few more teas/coffees during the day and maybe an Aero or something, but I can't imagine that adds much calorific value. How many calories should an adult male consume per day? If I can not lose weight I'd definitely give the fasting a go. Do we know if 2 fasts per week are on consecutive days?

[bernhund]

Hoofy said:

bernhund said:

Had that checked out fairly recently and all was well, however my Dad has late onset diabetes and ticker problems. It would be foolish of me not to keep an eye on it, but I got the impression from the documentary that 'fasting' could create problems depending on your own metabolism etc?

Why does your dad have these health issues?

My Dad, during his 20's smoked 80 a day!!! He also ate a lot of rich foods at business lunches for many years and has always managed to get others to do the physical work perhaps he should have done. A recipe for late onset problems I imagine?

[Flibble]

bernhund said:

Told you I know nothing about nutrition! There are also a few more teas/coffees during the day and maybe an Aero or something, but I can't imagine that adds much calorific value. How many calories should an adult male consume per day? If I can not lose weight I'd definitely give the fasting a go. Do we know if 2 fasts per week are on consecutive days?

Depends if you have sugar or not in your tea/coffee. A white tea or coffee, no sugar is about 30-50 cals, sugar adds about 30 cals per spoon. An aero is a couple of hundred cals. So nothing huge. You're certainly not eating for 2 though!

[oldbanger]

I've followed a 20/4 fasting cycle for months at a time over the last couple of years (currently in an in between period but really ought to go back to it). This is only eating in a 4 hour window each day - so not quite the same. However I do find that the benefits of it even include increased concentration and improved mood.

[Hoofy]

bernhund said:

Hoofy said:

bernhund said:

Had that checked out fairly recently and all was well, however my Dad has late onset diabetes and ticker problems. It would be foolish of me not to keep an eye on it, but I got the impression from the documentary that 'fasting' could create problems depending on your own metabolism etc?

Why does your dad have these health issues?

My Dad, during his 20's smoked 80 a day!!! He also ate a lot of rich foods at business lunches for many years and has always managed to get others to do the physical work perhaps he should have done. A recipe for late onset problems I imagine?

Exactly. So you don't need to worry about it unless you're doing that kind of thing, too. None of that is hereditary which is what your post read as (but I might be reading too much into your post?).

[BenM77]

Some form of exercise will give more benefits than fasting surely ?


You need to get your heart rate up now and again, no good looking fit but having no engine IMO

[khushy]

interesting replies and experiences - fasting for two days a week is pretty easy for me - my challenge is to bring those two days together.

My Fasting days occur on my two intense training days at the VeloDrome which happen in the evening. If I eat anything more than a VERY light breakfast and a couple of pieces of fruit on those training days I have an overwhelming urge to puke it right up during the session in the evening and afterwards I am never hungry anyway - The sessions are VERY intense indeed - usually 2.5 to 3 hours with Welsh Cycling's fastest cycling talent.

I train on a Tuesday & Friday evening - so I am working out what to do about bringing the days together some how?!?!?!

khushy

[LordGrover]

Leangains has promoted training in a fasted state for some time - a few pointers here: click.

[Gun]

I'm going to give this a go as I've heard it's good for keeping diabetes and high blood pressure at bay? These are both rife in my family so I thought I'd best start doing something to increase my chances of avoiding them.

[LordGrover]

Halb & O_C - YHM.

[tori]

Alzheimer's and tissue repair that got me. Started immediately after the program and so far, have shed 2 kg but am going to put that down to fluid loss. I'm keen to see if reflexes improve (ruler drop?)

[Carrot]

Been doing this for two weeks now, just picking two 24 hour periods a week where I don't eat.

Working well, feeling great so far.

[didelydoo]

LordGrover said:

Leangains has promoted training in a fasted state for some time - a few pointers here: click.

Lean gains rocks. Also easy as (eating) pie.

[Halb]

LordGrover said:

Halb & O_C - YHM.

Ta man, not read it yet. I have a lot to read at the moment and a bust weekend!
After chatting to people, I may try the keto thing first. I need to sort out the fridge first though.

[T40ORA]

Interesting topic. I too have just started IF, based on Leangains, and find a 15 - 16 hour fast easy to do, between say 9pm and 1pm. I don't get hungry or tired, and my training hasn't suffered. I think that I will have to find and watch the TV programme too.

I assume that an occasional weekend splurge on a fry up won't diminish the benefits?

[wormburner]

khushy said:

I train on a Tuesday & Friday evening - so I am working out what to do about bringing the days together some how?!?!?!

That's going to require a lot of negotiation with a lot of people. Not sure I'd vote for it. There will be some who'd welcome losing Wednesday and Thursday altogether, but I don't think they're in the majority.

[T40ORA]

wormburner said:

khushy said:

I train on a Tuesday & Friday evening - so I am working out what to do about bringing the days together some how?!?!?!

That's going to require a lot of negotiation with a lot of people. Not sure I'd vote for it. There will be some who'd welcome losing Wednesday and Thursday altogether, but I don't think they're in the majority.

[Firefoot]

A chap at work has been doing this for the past couple of weeks since he watched the program. I tried explaining to him that fasting on 600 cals for 2 days will not negate the fact that on non fasting days he eats rather a lot (he has a 3 course meal plus wine for tea pretty much every evening and has done for as long as I've known him).

Having said that, even he has managed to see a couple of pounds come off so it must be doing something