The FastDay Forum

Both myself and my husband have been doing 5:2 since last August and have found that when have a bout of over eating the effect always linger.vWe mainly do 5:2 for health reasons but also find that it keeps creeping weight gain at bay.Recently we were visiting friends in France for over a week and whilst there we ate and drank liberally. On our return we have found it really hard to cope with the hunger pangs on the diet days and the temptation to nibble during the evenings is huge. I must learn not to pig out on holiday , but the food there is so good!

Don't understand how it all works. I was away this weekend, mussels and chips on Saturday night, a Thai meal on Sunday, lunches (minimal bfast) and alcohol. And cake.

Couldn't face up to fasting on Monday as I had slept really badly, but did 16:8. Then normal day on Tuesday, but no indulgances.

Weighed this morning, 1/2lb down from Saturday! Then I may have ruined it with lasagne for lunch today....but I'll go easy on supper. And might to 16:8 again tomorrow (oh hello I hear you say, has she given up on 5:2? No no, just a little break. Have a feeling the next stone or two will take some time, but I don't mind).

Hi:

I have to start by saying I have no idea why your Chinese meal caused you to splurge a bit. Anything said above might have nailed it.

I wonder, though, over the years I have noticed that when my body needs something (for whatever reason), I get the urge to eat or drink foods that have whatever it is in them.

Is there anything (nutrients, types of foods, etc.) that you have left out of your diet for awhile that your body might want?

Kencc, I'm curious how much salt influences water retention. The pizza that messed with my weight and appetite did not contain MSG, but the effect was rather noticeable. I had assumed it was because of the wheat.

Normally I cook for myself using real ingredients, and I don't salt my food. I figure I get plenty from eating cheese regularly, and from eating out on weekends. The pizza would have had a much higher salt content than I'm used to, however so does feta cheese, which I have rarely, and feta has never affected me with bloating or increased appetite.

While I try to avoid MSG, I did have some noodles with MSG for one fast, and there was no bloating following that either.

Well, I suppose we are all different, so it's difficult to draw conclusions based on these few experiences.

Hi Caroline,

The thing about being on holiday is that, usually, you are not up early in the morning so if you feel you can do 16/8 then it should be easier, brunch is a lifesaver for those who are trying to skip breakfast. I have just survived almost a month in France and have not gained any weight. I modified my eating times so I could enjoy a morning croissant with my husband, in the sun, but it never seemed to be before 10 a.m. So lunch was then quite late. Within reason, enjoying myself and having a good time were more important but I still measured my waist every morning, how sad is that?

Have a great time when you go and just put 5:2 a little bit to the back of your mind, you know you can slip straight back into when you get home again,

Ballerina x

I have noticed a similar effect - cravings back for a few days - after a buffet chinese, and also after shared tapas ( luckily the latter was considerably less quantities than the chinese!). But I also remember feeling full quicker than normal at the chinese meal, and did stop eating before everyone else (which is a sign of how 5:2 affects your appetite) but still consumed a lot more than I had been having. I did get cravings the next few days (and was on holiday in Scotland, so thankfully no opportunity to weigh self ) I'm sure if I had, my weight would have gone up.

But at least we are noticing these things when they happen, and can work out a strategy to cope. Think Ballerina's advice is good, and she is proof it works - enjoy your holiday Caroline, especially the food, and make sure you have a proper break you deserve it!

I've seen it mentioned that increased water retention increases feelings of hunger but I'm not sure to what extent.

That is really interesting. I'll have to pay attention to my own reactions from now on, to see if that is the case for me.

If salt and carbs both promote water retention, then it makes perfect sense that a combination would mean even more water retention. I don't know what you all eat when you are at a Chinese buffet, but I do like fried noodles and popcorn shrimp, though I pick the breading off other fried meats.

Independently from that, I do think I have a strong negative reaction to wheat, with much bloating and belly rumbling. My mother and I both have a tendency toward IBS, and we've both noticed that eating bread can stimulate our hunger, in way rice or potatoes don't.

Don't know if this is quite on thread, but I have been away in Amsterdam and have eaten and drunk quite a lot, am now back, and OH is on holiday. I am still doing 5:2 (Tuesday and Friday) this week, and will be interested to see the scales on Saturday when I weigh. I digress. I have been doing a bit of experimenting over the past week with various foods, and I have found the following.

1. Having anything other than a bowl of soup makes me feel sleepy in the office in the afternoon.
2. Have reverted for today to what I used to have for lunch, eg bowl of soup, large sandwich with butter and filling, (baton roll type thing) and also had a few crisps.
3. I ate this about an hour ago, and now feel crap. I had wondered about that, and now I need wonder no more.I feel bloated and stuffed (that'll be because I am) and actually think that I am not going to try that for a while again.

Yep. Refined carbs make you crave more of the same and if you don't manage to stop it you get into a vicious cycle. I believe that there were some psychological effects here since you gained weight ( which was at first most likely from water retention) and this together with these cravings made you lose control even more. Next time even if you do end up eating too much either don't weight yourself the day after or convince yourself it is mainly water ( which is probably true) than avoid refined carbs for at least the day after and I'm sure the effects will be negligible.

This is interesting as I've had my first week of 5:2 blips, I started fasting Monday and failed, I started Tuesday and failed and Wednesday another failure! I also had a huge Chinese on Monday night and have (seemingly) gained loads this week! Am finally back on track today with fasting and after reading this thread am hopeful that my big weight gains are fluid related as although I've missed a fast I have done 16:8 the other days (accidentally), will be interesting to see what the scales say on Monday. Unsure whether I'll fit another fast in Saturday or not yet. Hope your scales are kind again to you soon :0)

Kencc, I'm curious how much salt influences water retention. The pizza that messed with my weight and appetite did not contain MSG, but the effect was rather noticeable. I had assumed it was because of the wheat.

I watched some basic Physiology lectures earlier this year and finally found out why salt increases water weight. It's to so with the body wanting a stable salt concentration, so you ingest salt, it goes into the body fluids and then water is retained to return the concentration to optimal.

Personally I think that over eating has little to do with hunger. Mine is often borne from some sort of obsessive compulsive wanting to eat something that tastes good, or that makes me feel not deprived, or I'm sick of being 'good' or I have forgotten what hunger really is, or just because I can. Carorees don't panic, you have done extremely well, you have been disciplined and have lost a lot of weight and have kept this WOE up for ages. You won't be putting on a stack of weight while you're away I'm sure, because now you can go without breakfast and or lunch...also you are very strong minded, you will succeed in your weight loss goals.

Just a comment that I have had similar experiences with Chinese and Thai food. Gained 2-3 kg in one day after such meals, so there is definitely something going on here.

There's a mystery variable in this WOE which I still haven't got sussed. I've been through a rather stressful and very busy time over the last 3 months. Managed to do 2 fast days each week but was eating for Britain the other 5 days (including sugary stuff which I normally avoid because it plays havoc with my candida) and still lost an average of half a pound a week.

And then I missed a week of fasting and started a 3 week weight loss plateau, even though things have eased off a lot and I have time now to eat sensibly on feed days.

The learning point I'm taking from this is "Go mad on feed days to ensure weight loss". Which surely can't be right?!

Sorry to hear about your moment of weakness with a Chinese, Caroline

I've done this too (and fessed up here and here) so welcome to the club!

I got over my indiscretion; I am sure you will too!