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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
AccioNameChange · 19/01/2017 07:44

Hello all, just checking in at the end of week 2. Exactly a stone down in all, very pleased. Had a great week of one 1000 cal day and six at about 820.

Things I have noticed - it definitely does get easier after the first week, my willpower has improved SO much, although I'm still on constant alert... I so much better in myself and have so much more energy, I very rarely get tired in the afternoon and getting up in the morning is so much easier.

Expecting a bit of a plateau now after losing so much and based on others experiences, so going to have to try not to let that unmotivate me. Will try to add some exercises as haven't done that so far, just been trying to get step count up although not been getting to 10,000 that much...

In terms of eating with DH, he's having the same as me with some extras as he doesn't have much to lose, which has been so helpful as we'll cook about half and half meals for the week, I really do need things made simple for me to stick to them!

Thanks to all who replied about water, think I'm on track with that now.

CycleOnTheLEFT · 19/01/2017 09:36

Hi folks, I hope I can join you (again, though have name-changed) - I used to linger and occasionally post last year. My original weight was around 10st5, and I got down to about 8st10. I went from a 12-14 to an 8-10. My 'stretch' target was about 8st7. I let the whole thing go over Christmas (intentionally), and I'm finding it really hard to give up the snacking so I think I have to get back on the wagon for a few weeks. I'm currently around 8st12. Some aspects of the diet have stayed with me though. I NEVER eat cereal for breakfast anymore. I have yogurt with fruit/nuts about 90% of the time. And I've given up sandwiches for lunch and have humous/cheese/cold meat/vegetables and sometimes and apple instead. These changes have been really eye-opening for me.
I'll be trying to stick to the diet during the week, and relaxing it (a bit) at the weekend. I think I'll find it hardest to give up evening snacking and drinking, though I will be ocassionally saving a few calories for a small glass or red wine or a couple of squares of dark chocolate.
Got off to a reasonable start this morning with scrambled eggs (we were out of yogurt Sad).

Scandicat · 19/01/2017 10:20

I'm having a tough day today. Weight loss has slowed to what I lose doing 1200 cals on MFP. I've been so so good, no slips for 12 days (today is day 13) and I'm bored with the food and feeling really demotivated.

That's all really. About to walk dog and have a generally busy day so will keep out of kitchen and hope I feel better tomorrow

CycleOnTheLEFT · 19/01/2017 10:40

Hey Scandicat, don't get too disheartened. I've always found that the weight loss doesn't go in a straight-line - it zig-zags around allover the place for me, but goes gradually down over time - ie you can't always tell until you look back. I'm tracking my weight in mfp which I find quite good to look back on.

I don't get bored with the food though, because I'm generally quite hungry! What sort of things are you eating? Are you getting enough variety? What are you missing, or what's your favourite type of meal?

AccioNameChange · 19/01/2017 12:15

Good to hear that reminder about weight loss zigzags Cycle, think I'll need that next week.

Scandicat know what you mean about getting bored, while I'm hungry and want to eat it becomes a chore to think of something different to make. Cycle's questions about what you normally like are helpful I thought.

In cas it's any use, things I've eaten this week - medi platter and halloumi courgette from original book, love both of these, smoked salmon Niçoise salad, roasted peppers broccoli with some chicken and Stilton as a sort of salad, fish fingers sweet potato wedges and veg, when I don't know what to do I just get either a piece of cod or salmon, oven bake them and have with whatever veg is in the fridge with either some butter or bisto gravy on Blush

Also had a chicken breast with pesto in the middle and Parma ham wrapped round.

Amazed to find that all these things are find as long as you get the right portion size in MFP.

Scandicat · 19/01/2017 12:50

Thanks for the encouragement. Feeling a bit better now. Weighed myself when I got changed for dog walk and I had dropped a bit despite having had a glass of water and a cup of coffee. Have now asked DH to hide the scales (!) so I'm going to weigh less frequently to avoid it being demotivating now the early drop has stopped.

Food - I'm not great with vegetables which doesn't help. Feel like I've had lots of salmon and spinach and eggs! Just meal planned through to Monday though, which helps. I think I'm just finding everything from the book quite dry. I prefer foods with some kind of sauce. So going back to the curries etc, they are really good.

CycleOnTheLEFT · 19/01/2017 14:00

To be honest I just eat a lot of the foods I would normally eat (rather than recipes from the book), but omit the carbs - eg curry but no rice (substitute some grated carrot or courgette or some cauliflower 'rice'), bolognese without pasta etc. Maybe just try and tweak the things you would normally cook? And that way I am usually eating roughly the same meal as everyone else. Meal planning definitely helps.

Lovetunnocks · 19/01/2017 14:08

Loving everyone's posts - they're so encouraging!

Back from my work trip. All went well the first day - had the pret stuff as you suggested poppycat (thank you!) but then in a moment of madness that I still can't quite explain, convinced myself that it was a good idea to have a glass or four of wine. Had a stinking hangover yesterday which I tried to mop up by choosing a casserole with mash at lunchtime. Unsurprisingly I'm two pounds up this morning and so annoyed with myself! Back on the wagon today, have meal-planned and about to go for a good walk. Got another two nights away next week so determined not to repeat my mistakes.

APlaceOnTheCouch · 19/01/2017 15:15

Well I've just used up my daily carb allowance on crisps Blush
I'm making the BSD cottage pie for dinner. It looks amazing and I've developed a real fondness for cauliflower puree pretending to be mashed potatoes.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 19/01/2017 16:26

Failing miserably today. Weathers crap, kids are whinging, I feel rough and I started the day with toast so it was never going to end well, was it?
New day tomorrow.

AccioNameChange · 20/01/2017 10:13

Also had a useless day yesterday after days of being great! It's like I have to have a break about once a week. Slice of Christmas cake, bar of chocolate and some (lots of) peanuts... not to bad considering I'd have that every day before.

Back on it today. Maintaining momentum and not straying into several "days off" is the most important for me at the moment.

How was the cottage pie APlace?

AccioNameChange · 20/01/2017 10:13

*too bad

yumyumpoppycat · 20/01/2017 14:43

Hope you are feeling better today Bear - I had one of those days too yest - must have been something in the water. Accio hope you are on it too. I'm not entirely on it today but back with work with just enough time so going to quickly workout before picking up the kids and keep low cal this eve - pos soup or eggs. Planning a date night in (prosecco and a movie) with dp tomorrow so I will need to be focused on Sun with a really decent veg and protein filled 800 day. famous last words ;)

Aplace I would happily eat cauliflower shepherds pie over potato one there is a recipe with bacon and cream in that I made once that is yum!Low carb but not low cal that version though.

OP posts:
ragz134 · 20/01/2017 16:57

Hello all, made a lovely omelette pizza for lunch. One large egg with 30ml milk, beaten and cooked on both sides for a thin omelette. Topped with tomato puree, spring onions, salt, pepper, garlic granules and 40g cheddar. Grilled. 300 calories. Yum! Just made shepherds pie with swede and celeriac mash. Will have with kale for dinner. Haven't calorie counted the recipe...
Ruined it a bit by having 2 squares of dark choc this afternoon! Could be worse. Will be another higher cal day but still on plan.

ragz134 · 20/01/2017 16:58

The chocolate has made me feel really bloated/uncomfortable... Why??

APlaceOnTheCouch · 20/01/2017 17:33

Accio the cottage pie was nice. DH was very impressed by how good it looked. (He wasn't eating with us so didn't get to taste it). It was a little too tomatoe-y for me but the cauliflower topping was great. I have tonnes left so I'm going to add some more spices this evening (to try to balance the tomato) before reheating it.
I met friends for lunch today which wasn't ideal as, added to the cottage pie, it means today is going to be very high calorie (although ok for carbs).

Scandicat · 20/01/2017 18:37

Hi all, checking in. This was my day 14 so I've completed 2 weeks. Never thought I'd manage it. Two weeks was my original goal, with a second goal of 6 weeks if I managed. Six weeks from when I started is a birthday lunch for my mum - so now I plan to stick to it until then - hoping family all notice the difference.

Exciting non-scale victory. Remember my jeans I bought in a 12 to replace the 14s I got in November? Well I wanted some dark blue ones too and I was feeling brave, so I tried the 10s. AND I"M WEARING THEM!!!! OK, so I know they are massive 10s and probably a 12 in most shops, and I know I've still got two another stone and a half to lose, but I feel so much better about myself, I can't even begin to put it into words.

Hope everyone else is having a positive Friday and we all manage to tough out the weekend.

ragz134 · 21/01/2017 09:56

Scandicat well done on your progress and congratulations on the jeans!
R1W3D5 here, 13.8lbs down (so close!) - chicken stew for dinner tonight, going to slow cook the chicken in stock and then make stew with dumplings for family - no dumplings for me.
Lunch may be another omelette pizza. Unless I take the kids out in which case I may fast all day.
Have a good weekend everyone!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 21/01/2017 16:04

Great to hear all your inspiring losses!
I'm not really on it at the moment, I just can't seem to actually do it- and today looks like it's ending up the same as we have been working hard in the house all day and dh is about to go to the supermarket to get something for dinner so that won't be on plan. Combination of knackered, not feeling 100%, and due on- it's never going to end well is it??!

I'm drawing a line under it to be honest, going to reread the book tonight and the recipe book before I do the proper shop on Monday and starting the 8 weeks over again. I have found it helpful in the past to go through the calendar and mark on done key dates (such as family party in 3 weeks, could be 6lb down by then) and work out when my 8 weeks is done and what I could achieve by that date, so that is what I will do again. I found a pair of size 10 jeans in my wardrobe which fitted me after my last 8 weeks (and are now a distant memory!) so I will move them into my proper wardrobe as an incentive.

I've got a stressful week ahead; an employment complaint which has been active for over a year looks like it might finally be resolved on Wednesday and I hope then to be able to 'come to terms' with leaving my job which I loved, and fully embrace being at home with the Dc which up to now I've been struggling with- I feel like I need to 'find' myself in this new role and I haven't been able to due to this ongoing case.

Sorry for the essay! It's nice to get this off my chest a bit. I think for me, it's never just about food. The food is the easy bit. It's fitting it in around life that gets tricky!!

Scandicat · 21/01/2017 19:10

That last bit is so true Average. Life makes it very hard. I do hope you get your employment issue resolved.

Well my first two weeks are up and I lost 9.4 pounds and I've lost 13.6 since Xmas.

Tricky today, at in laws and just had to sit at table and watch everyone else (bar DH who is doing this with me) eat chocolate trifle. That was one of the toughest things yet. I'm not sure how long I can keep up with this willpower.

ragz134 · 22/01/2017 10:09

W3D6 total loss so far 14.4lbs - finally hit the stone off hurdle. I had anticipated week 3 plateau and I had been getting very cold (bad sign as shows metabolism slowing according to Jason Fung's Obesity Code) so I increased my calories most days to around 1000 adding extra fat, seems to have helped with the cold feeling and I have still lost a few pounds.
Made a cacao chia pudding yesterday, just milk, cream, chia seeds and cacao powder. Was nice, not sweet but chocolatey enough to feel like a treat. Also had chicken and veg stew for dinner and chili with cheese for lunch. Didn't count calories but all on plan. I'm sticking to two meals and the principles rather than fiercely counting. But will probably do several more strict 800cal days this week just to make sure I don't slip.

Scandicat · 22/01/2017 12:52

That's brilliant Ragz. Stone off is a huge achievement. I like the idea of having a few days of sticking to the plan but not necessarily 800 calories. Might try a couple of days like that in the next week if I am struggling.

Food today is yogurt and flapjack for brunch and then a roast chicken for dinner. No potatoes Sad but can have half a parsnip and am within 800 / 50g carbs although in writing this I realised I've forgotten to add oil. Oh well.

jaxxyj · 22/01/2017 14:13

End of week 1 for me. I've lost 7lbs! Been very strict all week (not sure I can keep this up, but I will try my best). I have been buying M&S low carb balanced for you ready meals for just over 300 calls then bump up with veg. I've found this easy as I don't really have time for cooking from scratch mid week. I was talking about BSD at work and one of my colleagues was part of the original research atNewcastle University, she lost 2 stone, lowered her BS and kept the weight off still, she said the original diet was 3 milk shakes and a portion of veg each day for 8 weeks Shock I'm wondering about getting the odd milk shake in for if I can't get to BSD food because of work, anyone done this?
It is really useful to see all your weight losses and tips thank you all!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 22/01/2017 18:43

Awesome Jax, that's a great first week!
I'm starting over tomorrow. I've been at a christening today with buffet food etc and have generally had a poor BSD weekend.
Big food shop tomorrow to stock up. I need to plan out my lunches so I'm not grazing all day and plan in some variety for dinners so I'm not getting bored. I like the idea of some low carb ready meals- maybe just for the first week to get me on track again.

yumyumpoppycat · 23/01/2017 07:17

Well done Jax 1 lb per day is great. I think there was a thread on the fasting topic and some people do use shakes. I think shakes are tempting as an option when on the go work etc so if you find one you like and use it a couple of times a week it might be a useful thing in you 'armory' to keep you on track. If you do find a nice one we can add it to stuffed peppers as a handy quick option. I tried one shake but found it a bit artificial so stick to prepared food like the boiled egg pots when its about saving time.

Well done to Ragz and Scandi, hope this is a good week for you Newaverage.

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