to recommend the 800 cals a day diet?

[Settle59]

I know a book has been written on this - the fast 800 - by Dr Michael Mosley. I haven't followed his recommendations in the book to the letter and his recommended recipes but I still stick to 800 cals daily - since April 14th this year I've started this diet and the results in 4 weeks have been amazing. When I started I was 5ft 1 and around 12 - 12 and a half stone - now I'm around 11st 4. I know I'm still overweight but feel so much fitter. I also run for at least 30 mins every day. My previously tight size 16 clothes feel looser. I had so much difficulty losing weight before- for the past 3 years I've not been able to diet and binge eaten a lot. However, now I've stuck to this for nearly 5 weeks I feel I'm on a roll and determined to keep it going. Has anyone else tried this diet and had similar success?

BabbleBee - I totally agree with the first sentence of your first post - but to be honest - after 3 years of a cycle of binge eating and not being able to stick to any diet for any real length of time and hovering at about 13 and a half stone at my heaviest - I admit I wanted quick results even though I'd probably still lose at around 1200 cals/day - but it's the quick results that drive me!!

MonsteraCheeseplant - I read somewhere that if someone for example weighs 7 and a half stone at 5 ft 1 - to maintain that you need to eat no more than about 1300 cals/day - but I get things vary according to muscle mass and activity levels etc

Thanks PumpkinPie2016 - congrats on your weight loss - I've also in the past lost weight on a similar diet /exercise plan that you're describing - it's great when you notice the difference in your clothes!

whensmynexthol1day - I'm exactly the same as you with regard to quick results - I also find that high protein foods such as ready packaged chicken/ready cooked prawns etc keep you fuller longer

I mean I've lost 3.5 stone and kept it off just by sticking to appropriate portion sizes and cutting out the snacks. Still eat carbs, full fat dairy, sugar.

I love eating and I love food and I feel I have finally fixed my shitty relationship with it after years of diets, including the one you refer to in your op.

You cannot be seriously recommending a diet when you eat mainly 800 calories of digestive biscuits a day and nothing else?!

Yabu, it's dangerous for many people.. a 500 calorie deficit will cause weight loss without needing to restrict calories so low.

Alittleshortforaspacepooper - 3 weeks on the 800 diet is enough to see results though! Well done on your intermittent fasting diet - sounds like it's working! With the 800 - yes I find that going 'off script' - definitely gives you a bit more autonomy with regard to different foods

OP has an eating disorder - binge eating alternated with restricted eating is a mental health issue. Please get proper medical help, stop reading diet books.

That’s absolutely crazy - you do not need to be in calorie deficit that much to lose weight! That’s not a diet, it’s a crash course in being unhealthy and you even admit that you’re not eating well.

Lots of evidence that fasting is incredibly good for you.

800 calories isn't fasting.. it's extreme calorie restriction....

"Eating disorder" springs to mind. I don't think you should be recommending or encouraging this to others.

This is a mainstream and popular diet. Hardly niche given its author and popularity.

whensmynexthol1day - thanks for the forum recommendation

cansu - yes I agree that 1000 is sensible - I'd definitely lose weight relatively quickly on this amount

BabbleBee - definitely not binge eating - because since April 14th Ive never exceeded 1150 cals a day - one day I did go over the 800 - but 1150 is still a 'dieting level' of calorie intake iyswim.
In an ideal world I would not eat digestive biscuits - but I'm on a money saving drive. However, the 800 cal aspect I have found effective.

I’m hypothyroid and very low calorie diets are not recommended if you have this condition. The thyroid needs a moderate regular calorie intake to support its function. Someone I know with the condition went down to 900 calories a day and still didn’t lose weight.

I'm hypo too and low carb fasting works brilliantly for me where not much else does. I am rubbish at sticking to it but wish I could as it makes me feel great.

NaturalBornWoman - that's excellent news about your husband's diabetes!
I will try some of the recipes at some point

800 calories isn't fasting.. it's extreme calorie restriction....

Well it's called fasting by the dr who wrote the book...

Wilmalovescake - I feel my appetite has also decreased since sticking to this. Good luck and stick with it!

The responses here are quite funny really.

You haven't exceeded your very low calorie limit since April...That isn't long enough to know that it wont lead to binging... I don't see why you need your calories to be this low when a 500 calorie deficit will cause weight loss at a good rate.

I did this and lost absolutely loads of weight, on reflection I looked ill and developed a bit it a probably with food. Having overcome that I've put on weight as it's not sustainable

Could anyone give an example of what they eat on their fast days please? At 800 - 1000 calls?
I could maybe manage 5:2 but no more than that. I love food and also get headaches easily when I mess around with food.

800

I can JUST manage on 1600

Well done you

NerforMuffin - Well done on your weight loss - sounds like it's been really beneficial to your health. I've never personally done a meal replacement diet but I've been tempted to - I think they're convenient because everything's already counted out for you

Could anyone give an example of what they eat on their fast days please? At 800 - 1000 calls?

There's a whole MN board on this. Here's the current thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/fasting_diet/3905496-blood-sugar-diet-and-fast800-thread-19