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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
LookingforHope · 14/01/2017 10:48

Bloody hell, weighed in this morning after 4 days on 2 meals a day, under 850 calories and under 50g carbs and still only another lb down Sad. I am a freak. A fat one Angry

ragz134 · 14/01/2017 13:57

Thenewaveragebear- not quite a dress size yet, though I am 5'10" so I carry my weight well. Clothes that were tight are certainly looser.
Lunch was scrambled egg with cream and butter, ham and mushrooms fried in butter. I HATE mushrooms. Am trying to like them, I managed more than half which is a huge achievement for me. Calories for lunch a bit too high, having chili tonight and DH is cooking so no idea of calories, likely to be a high day today but on plan so I'm happy with that.

AccioNameChange · 14/01/2017 14:49

Lookingforhope some of this may sound a bit cheesy but it's well intentioned!

Have you been drinking enough water? I thought I was, but really it was only about 5 glasses a day, as soon as I upped it to 8 or 9 (some tea, some water) that helped. I'm also not drinking any alcohol for these eight weeks.

You have lost a pound, which I totally appreciate doesn't feel like a lot. But I saw a thing either on Facebook or maybe on here the other day that showed a pound of fat in someone's hand - it's massive!

Have you been doing any HIIT? I've not tried this yet but others say it really helps. There's a whole exercise thread on the 5:2 bit of here if you've not already seen it.

Despite saying I wouldn't weigh myself until next week I did today and I've had three perfect days since my last weigh in and currently two pounds heavier apparently! I think it must just even put.

AccioNameChange · 14/01/2017 14:50

*out.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 14/01/2017 17:48

1lb fat

blood sugar diet thread 5
AccioNameChange · 14/01/2017 19:26

Thanks bear! Great picture.

Haggard1 · 14/01/2017 21:25

Hi, first time posting and 6 days in to the plan. My usual diet is based on FODMAP (but with loads of sugar Blush).

I'm finding the dairy and eggs really difficult - I had an omelette today for the first time in 7 years and I just cant tolerate that much egg in one go.

I have almond milk to replace cows milk - does anyone have any suggestions for quick breakfasts and egg and dairy replacements? Or any FODMAP followers who have cracked BSD?

Scandicat · 14/01/2017 21:27

I've pinned that picture on Pinterest. It definitely helps with motivation.

So, after 7 days, I've lost 7.2 pounds and 3 inches off my waist. I have been totally strict, no alcohol, no slips at all. With my 16:8 added in, that makes 11.4 pounds lost. I am totally thrilled.

But - imagine that lump of fat x 11. OMG.

I'm eating 800 calories and I feel full. How is that possible!

LookingforHope · 15/01/2017 09:00

Aw thanks Accio and not cheesy at all, I sincerely appreciate your efforts to help. But weighed in this morning and that lb is back on SadSadSad. Even without exercise my TDEE is over 1500 so how is this evening possible? I am so disheartened. Have a friend coming over today and we are having wine. So will probably be even bigger tonight but just have no motivation and feel like giving up. My body is so determined to be fat it is defying the laws of physics. I could stop eating altogether and not lose. Sorry to be such a downer on this thread, everyone else on here is doing brilliantly.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 15/01/2017 09:05

Well, as usual, went totally off piste yesterday....I did well until dinner, but as we'd been working all day dh went to sainsbury's and got a meal deal and bottle of wine.
Today, I need to try and get my steps in- my new counter must be pretty accurate compared to my last one because it really does only count steps. Yesterday we were really working hard, hammering and such trying to get these units down, but it has only counted my 'steps' - about 5000, not my 'movements' (which I know is the point, but I ache all over today so would have liked to see a bigger number!!)

Having a big batch cook today- lots of meat and veg to use up in the fridge, so I'm going to do a chicken casserole, a curry, probably some soup, and a stew, to portion up and freeze for the week.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 15/01/2017 09:06

Oh, and please can someone tell me what Fodmap is? I see it all the time on here and don't know what it means

ragz134 · 15/01/2017 10:25

It's an acronym for a load of long words that mean sugars, certain sugars that cause gas etc. Low fodmap can be good for IBS.
Up .2lbs today but I expected that after such a whoosh yesterday. My fat % is down though. No idea of meals, may attempt a soup.

ragz134 · 15/01/2017 10:27

Thenewaveragebear - are you on any meds that could be interfering? Two weeks without loss is defying the laws of physics on these calories and I am beginning to get seriously annoyed on your behalf!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 15/01/2017 13:36

Rags I think you mean lookingforhope?

Bear knows exactly why she isn't losing- Friday and Saturday!

yumyumpoppycat · 15/01/2017 16:50

Looking it i strange, could it be your scales - do your clothes feel any looser? might be worth getting your bloods checked for thyroid etc? MM says to try the diet for 2 weeks, as it is not for everyone. if you feel well on it then you could continue and maybe it will suddenly start to work but if you feel crap on top of not losing you should prob take a step back as there must be a reason.

Haggard what about coconut yog and berries or some kind of chia pudding for breakfast with chopped nuts?

well done scandi!

I am really not on this at the mo feel bad posting tbh! gained more weight and need a kick up the bum!

OP posts:
Haggard1 · 15/01/2017 18:00

Thanks yumyumpoppycat they're good ideas. I made the corgette and apple muffins which aren't too bad and chia is definitely on my list of ingredients to get to grips with. I'll have to search out some coconut yoghurt - they'd be easy to take to work.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 15/01/2017 20:29

This pretty much sums up my every weekend. I might try and not have a drink next weekend so I can at least stand some sort of chance of staying on plan. I don't drink loads, just share a bottle with dh, but it weakens my resolve massively.

blood sugar diet thread 5
APlaceOnTheCouch · 15/01/2017 21:27

Love the pic bear Grin My problem is that lots of stuff tastes better than skinny feels ...chocolate, cake, wine, crisps,gin...

thenewaveragebear1983 · 16/01/2017 07:42

Morning all! Well, I appear to have got away with it this time; weighed in at 12.1.5 which is a total loss of 4lb and means I didn't regain too much over the weekend. I'm really going to try and stick to 800s this week- realistically if I'm going to have a '2 steps forward, one step back' weightloss, then I need to make the two steps big ones!

My step counter is doing all sorts of crazyness, measured only 1400 steps yesterday and I know I did more than that. I'll be monitoring it today to see.
Big shop today so I can stock up for the week ahead, menu planned and I'm ready to go!

Have a good one

ragz134 · 16/01/2017 16:15

Hello all! Hope everyone is having a good day.
Made it back to the gym today, first time since November (it's uni gym and I was on placement in December). My muscles did struggle a bit (I don't eat breakfast so they probably miss the readily available glucose), but I did half an hour on weights and 10 mins light jogging. Back again tomorrow.
I need a step counter, my last one I only had a week before it fell in the canal lock (with me attached to it!) and unfortunately it never worked again after that.
Weight stayed the same today. I did have a very big dinner last night, I went over the top with the pork chops especially the fat so I'm not surprised. I need smaller portions...
Lunch today was lamb chili soup (basically I thinned down chili with water!). My soup flask didn't keep it very warm, need a new one of those too!
Dinner will be omelette as everyone else is having chicken nuggets and chips.

APlaceOnTheCouch · 16/01/2017 17:00

Well done bear 4lbs is a great start! I lost 3lbs this week but it included a 24 hrs stomach bug so I'm not expecting as much in the week ahead.
ragz I am 😯 at you falling in the canal. It's great that you survived going back to the gym. I'm trying to convince myself to go back too.

jaxxyj · 16/01/2017 18:48

Hello Everyone, can I join in please? I started BSD today and I am hoping to lose 11/2 stone before Easter. I have bought and read the book. I had a go last year but only lasted 2 weeks but I did lose about 2 stone then. I got weighed this morning and I've put 7lbs on over Christmas. Not surprised really! Before Christmas I had blood tests and gp said blood sugar was slightly raised so I want to nip it in the bud.
Today so far I have had sugar free muesli and soya milk, 2 satsumas and I am having a m&s balanced meal with added pepper to bulk up. I felt a bit shakey leaving work so I must watch out for that! I've also got a step counter and I am very shocked that I've only been doing about 2000 steps a day so I am aiming to up gradually starting with 3000 this week.
Sorry for the long post, looking forward to getting down to it over the next 8 plus weeks!

AccioNameChange · 16/01/2017 19:58

I have been all over it this week! Week 2 day 5, down another 4lbs half way through the week, let's see if it stays off at the end!

Goats cheese salad with homemade coleslaw for lunch, chicken stuffed with pesto wrapped in Parma ham with cauliflower, green beans, Greek yogurt and seeds - day done at 775.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 16/01/2017 21:04

That's awesome accio well done!

Today was going brilliantly, but then this afternoon it all went to rat shit weasel poo. I had a piece of tiger bread and butter, and a galaxy bar that I found in the back of the cupboard the other day and forgot about.

All prepped for tomorrow though- roasted red pepper soup made, eggs hard boiled for snacks, meatballs and tomato sauce (no pasta) for dinner.

My lunch today was cheddar and bacon stuffed mushrooms from asda, they were delicious, with salad.

I'm really not getting my steps in, did 5000 today but I was on the go all the time. I do 2x school runs and went to asda, so I think maybe pushing the trolley/ pushchair might affect it? Tomorrow if it's not raining I'm going to go for an actual walk and see if that's what is needed to hit 10k. I will never manage that every day though!

blood sugar diet thread 5
AccioNameChange · 16/01/2017 21:35

All of that food sounds great, thanks for the inspiration!

I would've gone way overboard once the tiger bread had happened, so I think that's pretty good Smile