7:2 fasting? Does it work?

Just been inspired by a guy on tv whose just done a 40 day fast, only consuming water. I couldn't do 40 days so going to try 7 days fast / 2 days eat healthily. Any thoughts?

[nobodysdriving]

I agree with APsnotFab, DO NOT fast for 7 days, the 5:2 diet mentioned above works just as well and it is much safer especially as a thyroid sufferer.

[Bears010]

Nooo fasting for more than 2 days can precipitate a crisis. Please don't do this.

[marram]

Such extreme restriction of food sends the body into starvation mode, and after the seven days fat is stored when the person eats again.

It is true that fasting for 40 days will cause weight loss, which would also include muscle loss. this would lead to an altered fat:muscle ratio which in a woman would create metabolic changes and cause even a healthy woman to tip into hypothyroidism. Fasting for 7 days and then eating for two on a regular basis would have a similar effect but more insidiously. There would be a long-term reduction in metabolism resulting in further laying down of fat.

This kind of food restriction can also cause essential nutrient deficiencies because it would be difficult to get the nutrients in the two days sufficient to make up for the 7 days of fasting, and such deficiencies can further inhibit thyroid activity. You also need some healthy carbohydrates to convert T4 to T3.

The best and most important factor in weight loss is to make sure that thyroid medication is optimal, and then to start a healthy eating and exercise programme, such as the Mary Shomon Thyroid Diet, which would ensure that you get all the nutrients your thyroid needs while also giving yourself the best chance to lose weight in a healthy manner.

I am sure that you would not wish for a beautiful slim body if the price were lacklustre hair, sallow skin, exhaustion and depression, which is what starvation on a regular basis would give you.

I know from my own experience that you can feel desperate to lose weight, but such extreme measures are not the answer because they create new problems.

Marie XX

[Bears010 in reply to marram]

Please follow my link in post about the national academy of hypothyroidism before you do this

[Hidden in reply to Bears010]

This is awesome!! I've sent this to my Occ health at work. They might listen now?!!

[Hidden in reply to marram]

Thanks Marie. I kind of know this already but you know what it's like when you get desperate! People think you're fat because you're lazy! Going to the TPA meeting in our area today so will hopefully pick some tips up! X

[marram in reply to Hidden]

I'm just under 5ft tall and was nearly 12 stone, believe me I completely understand and sympathise. After years of being hyper and mostly under 7 stone, my TT left me so huge I wanted to die. Someone once called me a 'fat cow' and I could not go out of the house for nearly 6 months.

Having got down to 9 and a half stone, then my Levo was reduced and it piled on again. I have had in increase and had a private consultation with Dr BDP and although it is early days,

I am following his advice and have lost 2lbs in 2 weeks. It centres around making sure that I am optimally medicated and eating sensibly. I am 68 so it is difficult, but we shall see.

I hope that you can achieve your goal while remaining healthy. Best wishes, Marie XXX

[TTLady]

This is a stupid idea. Enough said.

[Hidden in reply to TTLady]

Thanks TT very helpful!!

[Redjane]

If you do this you will be doing exactly what I have done all my life and reduce the conversion of T4 to T3 by up to 50% thus creating a further negative spiral of slower metabolism requiring less food etc etc.

5:2 sensibly done is a much better idea. Good luck. x

[Angel_of_the_North]

I don't know what it does if you are hypo, but two friends of mine (male) have been doing 5:2 for about 6 months and have lost tons of weight (from the right places) and both look healthier, have lowered cholesterol, etc.

Personally, I have never had any problems with fasting for a few days, but I'm only mildly hypo (although I have knackered adrenals). I usually feel better when I don't eat.

[marram in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

5:2 should not be a problem because the two days should not be consecutive and you still eat, albeit a restricted intake (500 calories for a female) That bears NO resemblance to drinking water only for 7 days and eating for only two. That would cause serious damage to an already impaired thyroid.

[Maggimay in reply to marram]

Hi

Latest info on intermittent fasting is for both men and women to eat 800 calls on the 2 low cal days. Think it is on MM blood sugar diet page. Am on tablet in dead of night and don't know how to go and look you see.

[PinkNinja]

Really don't do it! The 5:2 intermittent fasting that Marram describes has proven health benefits but what you are describing will put too much stress on your adrenals and your body in general.

Although the 'starvation mode' is rather controversial as to whether it would actually apply to someone on a diet, dieting of the more extreme nature does have a significant impact on conversion of T4 to T3 and also on production of thyroid hormones, particularly in those with thyroid disease. You could end up in an even worse situation than you are in now.

The link that Bears010 posted is also very good and explains this process in more detail.

I think it is shocking that we thyroid patients are left to get into the state where we consider such drastic action. I hope you find some solutions and that your doctor starts to listen to you. It sounds to me like you either need some help with your adrenals or you need some T3 added to your medication, or perhaps both! I'm not a doctor, though I wish I were!

Good luck xxx

Carolyn x

[3poppy3]

I can only go by my own experience of intermittent fasting which I have been doing since February this year. I usually fast on a Monday and a Thursday, I have a small meal around 1pm of around 250 calories and another meal around 7pm of the same. I have lost 15lbs, not a huge amount, but I am happy with this as most of the time there is no need to focus on what I am eating. I don't binge on non fasting days but do have treats when I want them, I don't exercise a great deal and have found this way of life much preferable to restrictive diets which usually fail in the end. I did get migraine headaches the first few times I fasted, but now I have no ill effects. I drink plenty of water on fasting days and also have a glass of diet lemonade if I feel like it, with lots of ice and lemon to make it seem like a treat. I am hypo so I guess this is why the weight loss is slow, the other good news is my cholesterol has come down as well.

[Hidden in reply to 3poppy3]

Thanks, that was helpful. A few people said they lost weight doing that diet so am going to try it starting tomorrow!! Wish me luck!!