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Fasting / 5:2 diet

Talk about intermittent fasting and 5:2, including what’s worked for others. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

blood sugar diet thread 5

999 replies

yumyumpoppycat · 15/10/2016 17:12

Continuing thread for Blood Sugar Dieters:
Phase 1 lasts 2 - 8 weeks and involves restricting calories to 800 a day. Eating healthy fats is encouraged as is limiting carby foods (no specific guideline on this but some people aim for under 50g), small amounts of complex carbs are allowed but should be balanced ideally with green veg, protein and fat to lower the glycemic load and reduce the effect on blood sugar.

Tips
You may get headaches at first so drink lots of water, possibly try mixing a teaspoon of marmite into boiled water and having that to replenish salts etc
Exercise: aim for 10,000 steps a day and ideally consider adding in resistance training and some HIIT workouts.
Fasting some people find it helpful to have an eating window e.g 14:10 – 14 hours fasting and 10 hours to fit in the 800 cals. Avoid snacking and grazing - split your calories into 2 or 3 meals for potentially better weightloss.
Use the menu plans in the book or plan ahead on My fitness pal app

Foods to avoid
Sugar, sweets, milk chocolate, biscuits, cake
White bread, pasta, rice, chips etc
Processed Junky food with added sugar
Alcohol, fizzy drinks, juice etc
Diet foods, artificially low fat foods
High sugar fruit

Foods to eat
Full fat Natural/ Greek yoghurt
Fish in particular oily fish, Meat, eggs, nuts seeds
Non starchy veg, cauliflower, leafy greens, avocados, peppers, tomatoes, broccoli etc
Olive oil, coconut oil, rapseed oil

Berries and low sugar fruit (2 portions or less)
Lentils, beans etc

Foods to include in small amounts and be careful of
Full fat dairy is fine but some people do better with less of this
Starch veg such as sweet potatoes and squash
Wholegrains (quinoa, buckwheat etc) limit to 2 tablespoons
Low carb crackers and breads made with coconut flour, almond flour etc

Phase 2/ 3
for more sustainable continued weight loss and then maintenance add in some days with higher calories but still lower carbs, and have 2 – 5 days at 800 calories. Continue to avoid processed simple carbs like white bread, chocolate etc but possibly add in small amounts of dark chocolate and red wine or less sugary alcohol if you wish to.

Useful links:
My fitness pal
[[https://www.amazon.co.uk/8-Week-Blood-Sugar-Diet-Recipe/dp/1780722931/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1476547726&sr=1-1&keywords=blood+sugar+diet Bloodsugar diet recipe book
BigChocs Fasting exercise thread]]

For full recommendations and lists of those who should avoid this diet please see the BSD forum

OP posts:
Thread gallery
40
thenewaveragebear1983 · 05/01/2017 16:09

Dia I have the same from my naturally thin mil, who thinks its barbaric to try and cut out sugar, and even worse to do it to the children. I did point out that I was cutting out a food stuff that has zero nutritional value whatsoever therefore cannot possibly be detrimental, to which she replied that 'you've always been a bit bohemian though, haven't you?' As if being sugar free was on a par with veganism..,.no one would question someone saying I drink too much so I must cut down on alcohol, and they wouldn't think it was unhealthy to do so- well for me, carbs are as detrimental to my future health as alcohol would be.
With dh, I don't think he actually noticed what I eat or don't eat- he definitely noticed if his meal is carb free though!
Tonight, after my brief perusal of the fridge, we are having sausage, egg, mushrooms and no chips for bear. Not exactly healthy but high in protein!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 06/01/2017 12:15

It's day 5 for me and I had a little weigh in, I've lost 3.5lbs! Hopefully that should keep me motivated for the weekend! The kids are at MIL's tonight so dh and I will be having a glass of red, but I'm going to roast a chicken instead of dh's suggestion to get a takeaway and hopefully keep on track. I've not eaten yet today, instead I have been busy painting my dining room and I'm about to start a little up cycling project - so nice to have a child free day after being cooped up indoors with the pox all week!
Have a great Friday everyone

ragz134 · 06/01/2017 15:42

So far so good today. Had cream in my coffee twice today to keep me going. Lunch (in a bakery, everyone was eating pasties and cream cakes!) was chicken and veg broth soup (about 100 cals, if that) and a pack of M&S chicken salad bites (63 cals!) and dinner will be a big fat pork chop with loads of veg. Weight is going down!

BeyondTheStarryNight · 06/01/2017 18:06

Today I'm only 1.2lbs off my December weight and a few lbs off my lowest :) just had sausage, mushroom risotto and broccoli for dinner.

Going to my parents' for dinner on Sunday, will have to have a think how that will be managed...

AccioNameChange · 06/01/2017 22:30

Hello! I've been doing this for a week, but have not lost anything as yet. Maybe I'm weighing myself too soon, but wanted to know if anyone else had the same problem for the first week. I've been sticking to about 900 per day, recording in MFP, and weighing scales in same place, same clothes. Sad

APlaceOnTheCouch · 07/01/2017 00:51

Accio have you been keeping your carbs about 50g? At the times when I haven't lost it's either been because my carbs were too high or because I was losing inches rather than weight. Some other posters have found their eating window makes a big difference to whether they lose or not.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 07/01/2017 09:21

Morning all
Arnico it could be water as well, are you drinking enough? The one thing I've found with this plan is you really need to flush the fat out!

Well.....dh ended up ordering a Chinese takeaway last night, so I joined him because I'm weak willed and I'd had 2 glasses of red and....lots of excuses! I didn't have any rice though, I had a house special (which is mixed meat/prawns) and veg, so shouldn't have been too carb heavy, and half a portion of prawn toast, so the equivalent of about a slice of white bread deep fried obviously. So pretty bad, but could have been worse!

Now watching Jamie's superfood on Goodfood channel, and it's reminded me to dig that recipe book out for his delicious Laska recipe.....
Going to make a chunky chicken soup today, and we've got loads of jobs to do around the house so I should get my steps in. I'm waiting on the arrival of my step counter from Amazon as my last one broke, so hopefully that will arrive today!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 07/01/2017 09:21

Morning all
Arnico it could be water as well, are you drinking enough? The one thing I've found with this plan is you really need to flush the fat out!

Well.....dh ended up ordering a Chinese takeaway last night, so I joined him because I'm weak willed and I'd had 2 glasses of red and....lots of excuses! I didn't have any rice though, I had a house special (which is mixed meat/prawns) and veg, so shouldn't have been too carb heavy, and half a portion of prawn toast, so the equivalent of about a slice of white bread deep fried obviously. So pretty bad, but could have been worse!

Now watching Jamie's superfood on Goodfood channel, and it's reminded me to dig that recipe book out for his delicious Laska recipe.....
Going to make a chunky chicken soup today, and we've got loads of jobs to do around the house so I should get my steps in. I'm waiting on the arrival of my step counter from Amazon as my last one broke, so hopefully that will arrive today!

ragz134 · 07/01/2017 09:39

Day 5. Lost 7lb and 2 inches of my tummy.
Omelette for lunch and chili for dinner I think.
Treated myself to some bras that fit yesterday, I know I'll have to buy more in a few months when weight is gone but I needed them and my boobs are happier now.
Accio - hopefully your weight will all come off in a whoosh and amaze you! Have measurements changed?

ragz134 · 07/01/2017 12:20

Have just torn through my wardrobe and flung loads of clothes. Including all my size 16/18 summer stuff as I will not be needing it this summer. I aim to be size 14 at the most by then.

Lndnmummy · 07/01/2017 13:29

Hi everyone I am back! So I started back in September at 76kg. I ended up at 67kg and have just maintained for 6 weeks (late Nov) until now. I am thrilled to have managed to maintain, well pretty much I am 68kg now.

So I am ready for my next 8 week challenge on Monday. This time I have my dh onboard as well! Hoping I can join you guys again x

yumyumpoppycat · 07/01/2017 16:59

Arnico There has been an occasional person who hasn't lost on their first week. It is very strange, have you weighed every day or just at the beginning and end of the week? weightloss can be hidden by lots of tedious things but may have happened despite the scales.

Welcome back and well done Lnd

Good work Ragz, loving your positive attitude to clothes sorting!

Welldone lovetunnucks

Alley you will prob need more cals for long runs, if you pop on to the fasting exercise thread and BigChoc might be able to advise further. For average runs under half an hour the 800 would prob be ok? One option if you can hold off for 2 weeks on long runs is to do 2 weeks of 800 cals as this is when the big losses happen on this diet - then switch to 5:2 version so lower carb med style eating all week but only 2 days with 800 cals.

Hi to everyone else as have to post and run now!

OP posts:
LookingforHope · 07/01/2017 18:22

Hi can I join you again? Put on a lot of weight over December (relentless socialising all involving food and drink and just general 'resignation bingeing' between times) and am now in a place where I am 156lb (or I was on Tuesday morning) and desperate to lose at least 21 of those (and preferably 2 stone).

Have been on BSD since Tuesday, apart from last night when OH took us all out for a surprise Italian meal and nothing on the menu was for the 250 calories I had saved for my dinner. It is things like this that derail me, though stuck to low carb and no booze (as best I could, low-carb not being particularly easy in a pizzeria!)

Also am utterly starving on just under 900 calories a day which is the best I am managing. Any tips for hunger management? I am eating protein and some fat and carbs from vegetables only but am ravenous. I'm assuming it is just because my body is used to unhealthy ways and I will adjust but will struggle if I feel this hungry for 8 weeks.

Also have a few 'things' coming up - work dinners (always set menus, 3 courses), a friend's big birthday party, plus girls' weekend in London. I am wondering if I should do 2:5 (as opposed to 5:2) rather than saying I am doing the full 8 weeks of BSD and hating myself for my weekend socials. I would plan for a time when I had a few clear weeks, but realistically that never happens does it?

Sounds like I am making feeble excuses but I really do want to commit and lose the weight - just not to the point where I hibernate and avoid everyone for months. It's hard enough even at home, the family all scoff chocolate and crisps in front of me the whole time Angry which makes me wonder if the people who write 'keep your home free of temptations and throw out your unhealthy food' really live in the real world Sad

So I think I will definitely need the encouragement of this thread if I am to persevere - and although I am not diabetic or pre-diabetic, I honestly think I will become so if I don't counteract this middle aged spread NOW! Blush

Some very inspiring losses on here so I am hoping to learn from you all x

thenewaveragebear1983 · 07/01/2017 19:19

Hi hope I remember you from previous threads! I can only offer advice from my experience- I have virtually never stuck to 800 calories, and certainly not consistently. If you're genuinely hungry (starving) then you need to eat more because in the long run you will derail yourself. I would perhaps do a 5:2 approach, so do 2 days at 800 cals then 5 days without counting calories but aiming for allowed foods only. It's very hard to massively overeat if you don't have lots of carbs I always find, it's the sugar and empty calories and 'Moreish' foods that bump the calories up.
If it's social events that you cannot plan for, think of it as one meal out of 21 rather than 1 day out of seven, which I find helps stop the catastrophic thinking and binging. Stay on plan when you can, even if you know that the evening will be written off, still aim for your breakfast and lunch to be good.

Other than that, I will just say that we all struggle, I have had a good week this week but the previous 4 months have been atrocious! It's not nice to feel hungry, I usually find that it's because I've had too many carbs, and not enough water.

yumyumpoppycat · 07/01/2017 20:15

Lookingforhope like newaverage suggests 5:2 version is defo an option or the reverse 2 days without calorie counting and 5 days at 800.There are lots of possibilities with this diet - option 1 is to aim to get the weightloss part done quickly and to be really strict, but there is also a lot to be said for taking more of a long term approach and making changes that you will be able to keep up with just and just fit in as many 800 fast days as will work for you.

OP posts:
Lovetunnocks · 07/01/2017 20:19

Hello - checking in! Another three pounds down here which is amazing because I had a big night out where 'one glass of red' turned to three glasses of prosecco, a bottle and half of red, and the top layer of a box of christmas chocolates. Blush At least I got right back on plan the next morning despite mega hang-over-induced carb cravings.

averagebear I love what you say about thinking of one unanticipated 'off plan' meal as one meal of 21. I'm very prone to catastrophic thinking so that's very helpful.

Scandicat · 07/01/2017 20:33

Hello. Hope it's ok to post here. Today is my first day on BSD - DH and I both decided that we needed to change something fundamental, and this is what we are going to do.

I've set myself a target of sticking to the 800 strict regime for 14 days to start with. After that, I'm going to see how it goes. I've got roughly 2 stone to lose. I made a good start in December, losing six pounds before Xmas using MFP and 16:8. Then I got a bit derailed, but I've been back on that since 2 Jan and I'm only a little over where I was pre-Xmas. Because I already lost that first half a stone, I'm not necessarily expecting a massive loss in the first couple of weeks. But what I really want to do, more than anything, is change my eating habits. I am definitely addicted to sugar. Sad And my Dad has type 2 diabetes, so I do need to address this sooner rather than later.

I've managed ok today, although I do feel really hungry now and I've got the expected headache. So that's one day down. Hope you have all had good days too.

AccioNameChange · 08/01/2017 09:47

Thank you all for suggestions - really appreciate it. Will try more water, really looking at carb level specifically and then weigh next Saturday which will give me a good week of focus. Thanks for all your posts - really help with motivation!

ragz134 · 08/01/2017 10:56

Day 6. Lost 7.8lb so far. Had planned to have breakfast today but I'm not hungry, so I won't! Dinner tonight it roast pork belly, I will have mashed swede instead of potatoes, cabbage, leeks and carrots.
Lunch - not sure yet! I have cauliflower so tempted to make cauliflower and cheese soup. Or ham salad. Or eggs of some kind. Damn, should have decided yesterday! Suppose as dinner will be high fat (therefore high calorie) I should have something light.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 08/01/2017 11:08

Day 7 for me, I won't weigh in until tomorrow- but I'd imagine I've reduced my loss by having a few things last night that I shouldn't have Pringles.
I've made soup with real chicken stock which smells delicious so that will be lunch. Off to IKEA this afternoon so I shall try very hard to keep away from the daim bars and meatballs but I don't know how successfully I will execute that plan.
Dinner tonight is roast pork, I'll not have potatoes but will have all the veg so that shouldn't be too damaging.
I'm going to start properly calorie counting tomorrow, so I'll need to sit tonight and work out my menus for the next few days.
Some great losses on here, very motivating and inspiring

APlaceOnTheCouch · 08/01/2017 11:48

Finally back from all my parties, lunches and weekends away. I weighed in this morning and have put on 5lbs over Christmas and New Year.
Back into our normal routine tomorrow so I am starting BSD again then once I have hidden all the Christmas chocolates and crisps

BeyondTheStarryNight · 08/01/2017 13:53

Just checking in. So far today I had breakfast then an apple, to hopefully allow for the Sunday lunch at my parents... we'll see just how BSD friendly it is when I get there...

Lovetunnocks · 08/01/2017 16:37

Gnawing my hand off here waiting for dinner time. I went a bit early on 'brunch' but if I eat my dinner now I'll have to go to bed at eight to stop myself raiding the cupboards. Hope no one else is having a 'hungry' day!

Scandicat · 08/01/2017 19:06

I've almost made it to dinner on day 2. I had a spinach and feta omelette for brunch and about to have indian salmon from the BSD cook book with more spinach for dinner. I'm hungry but not unbearably so. Still feeling positive. Hope everyone else has had a good day today.

LookingforHope · 08/01/2017 19:26

Hi all! Thanks Bear and Popcat for the advice. It is encouraging to hear that there are other ways of looking at this. I too suffer from catastrophic thinking and not only write off a whole day after one bad meal, but can write off a whole week after two! I wrote off the whole of December which is why I'm so fat now Xmas Grin

Did respond yesterday but my post seems to have been lost. Weirdly, this is the first day I haven't felt hungry since starting on Tuesday. I think it might be because I had scrambled eggs and smoked salmon for breakfast. Had a snack of bouillion and 6 walnuts at lunchtime and realised I didn't want anything else, then for dinner I cooked a korma for the family but I had a huge salad with prawns, smoked salmon, leaves, cauliflower, peppers, tomatoes and Hellmanns Lighter than Light mayonnaise. The whole day came in at 755 and I'm stuffed. Think eggs are the way forward (or maybe I am just getting used to it).

Great to see all the positive posts on here. Ragz134 that is an amazing loss, congratulations! I have not weighed myself yet as terrified I will go off the rails if I haven't lost. Do not feel thinner, though am a bit less bloated.

Here's to a good week ahead all...

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