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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:
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OnceUponATimeInLondon · 09/02/2017 16:10

Similar problem here dog but I really have developed amazing self control these past few weeks and am fine with stuff at work. Biscuits in my own house in the evening are still a work in progress. I should just throw them away, but I'm desperate to get to the point where I can have them there and eat one.

Was weigh in day for me today, 13st 5.4 at the end of week 5. 18 and a half pounds off.

Scandicat · 09/02/2017 16:30

Thanks Once. And well done on your loss. You must be so pleased.

Not cracked yet. Walked the dog then slept for a while. Can have a cup of coffee with real milk not almond milk and half a bsd flapjack when I've finished being a child taxi service later. Holding out for that. Hate having a cold!!

Neenook · 09/02/2017 18:28

So, despite saying I wasn't going to dtart until after half term - ours doesn't start until the week after next - I seem to have inadvertently started this today! When I got up this morning I just didn't want to fill myself with the rubbish I've been eating recently and the thought of doing it for the next fortnight filled me with disgust. So I'm in! I'm going to fully commit for the next two weeks and then try my best whilst we're away, but I'll factor in an extra week to the 8 to make up for any alcohol slips.

Very inspired by you all! I really didn't expect to feel this wasy this morning at all.

I'm not going to weigh again until the end (I can get a bit obsessive and then demoralised by the slightest gain) but am 12st now. I'll check in as much as I can, but might not be every day.

OnceUponATimeInLondon · 09/02/2017 18:47

After all that I fell into biscuits. No more!

HemanOrSheRa · 09/02/2017 18:59

Good evening! There are some spectacular loses and great will power here. I'm not starting until 20th but I did do a 800cal day yesterday - I had the spicy chicken and lentils from the original book. It was very nice weekday dinner and a massive amount of food I thought. I had to double check the amounts and look at the photo in the middle of the book to make sure I'd got it right. Definitely one to add to the meal planner, although I think I will make the veg/lentils on the hob and griddle the chicken next time - much quicker!

I'm not going to weigh every week either Nee. I've always gone to SW when I need to lose weight but I know after many years that it doesn't address my issues with portion control and the weekly weigh in absolutely ties me up in knots.

I have a question! Does anyone 'skip' breakfast in order to have an afternoon snack? I can take or leave breakfast on weekdays because of my working hours. I've been having a look on the BSD website and on one of the threads they were talking about just having a coffee with a tbsp of double cream first thing. The BSD of a bulletproof coffee, I guess!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 09/02/2017 19:16

Heman I skip breakfast. That's probably the biggest change this plan has made to me because I have always always eaten breakfast. I'm not on the ball enough to do cooked breakfast and obviously all usual breakfast staples are out (fruit, toast, cereal etc). I tend to just wait until I'm actually hungry and then have a piece of cheese or ham to sort of see me through til lunchtime.

This week I've not been calorie counting, but gave streamlined my plan so I've been having similar goods each day at each meal. So, no breakfast, soup for lunch, few snacks of chicken leg, piece cheese or HB egg during the day, evening meal and a PM treat/snack of an oat biscuit thing (not technically BSD friendly but I need something to help me sleep these days!) I also have 100ml milk spread over 2 or 3 coffees during the day.

Today I bucked my trend though and had a carvery lunch, with 2 roasties, and lots of veg. I couldn't finish it all even despite sharing with ds as well, and it had a stodgy pudding free with it (sponge and custard) which I also couldn't stomach. Bizarre! So not a terrible day despite going out for lunch.

I am feeling rough though. Cannot shift this cold/cough and have what we affectionately call 'the creeping body rot' where something different hurts each day. Not ill per se, but meh . I have bought metatone tonic, echinacea and magnesium to try to boost me up but the tonic has sugar in so I'll have to try and control the resulting carb urges.

APlaceOnTheCouch · 09/02/2017 20:07

I usually skip breakfast too. I've never been a fan of breakfast. I find the earlier I start eating, the more I eat. Although if I'm making an omelette for DS then I might have half but that's probably about once a week.

bear it's funny you mentioned buying supplements. I was reading an article today about the symptoms of different vitamin deficiencies and thinking I have to get back into the habit of taking a multi-vitamin. I hope you start to feel better soon. Flowers

Scandicat · 09/02/2017 20:37

I don't eat breakfast either. I was doing 16:8 before this so it was already a habit. It seems to work really well for me. I find I miss the idea of it when everyone else is having it, but then get through to 12/1 quite easily before I eat.

Bear - I've been taking multi vits for a while and was smug about my lack of colds etc this winter. Until yesterday...!

Survived the day in the end. Not had the 1/2 flapjack or the coffee yet so I might not bother now. Distraction seems to be the key.

HemanOrSheRa · 09/02/2017 20:46

Thank you bear and Place. I'm quite happy to skip breakfast even if I feel peckish. I always feel hungrier the earlier I eat, no matter what. Strange. I'd much rather eat a good lunch and a dinner with a snack at midday or mid afternoon depending on what I'm doing.

Have you tried a tincture bear? Golden Seal + Echinacea is excellent for fighting random yucky things in the head, throat, nose. Mind you DS and me are both a bit 'throaty' with burning eyes etc. We've been lucky so far .

OnceUponATimeInLondon · 09/02/2017 20:48

Same as APlace less I eat earlier better. If that makes any sense. I wait until lunch at 1.30pm now!

HemanOrSheRa · 09/02/2017 21:00

Thank you too Scandi. I'm the same. Although I do enjoy a good brunchy type breakfast at weekends or days off. If I can't do that though, I'd rather not bother. Every other 'diet' I've done encourages breakfast, but for me it's another meal to think about. Also I guess it naturally gives you a fasting window Scandi and is much more of a Mediterranean way of eating.

HemanOrSheRa · 09/02/2017 21:15

Good grief. Sorry Once. I was trying to post whilst fielding a preteen 'OMG. IT'S LITERALLY NOT FAIR. YOU ARE LITERALLY LIKE TRYING TO RUIN MY LIFE' thing about putting away clean laundry Confused.

Thank you all you experts! It's a bit scary thinking about dropping down from massive amounts to 800 or so cals. I actually think I can do it this time.

MrsFrisbyMouse · 10/02/2017 10:30

OMG - Panic stations this morning as NO YOGURT LEFT!!!! Didn't feel like eggs - so had berries and cream. But that wasn't a good idea as now hungry! Might go and boil an egg.

I have no excuse for the yogurt -as as have lots of turkish and greek grocers at the end of the road who stock the most amazing yogurts! (and fresh stuff generally)

Must be better prepared...

Hope you're all better prepared than me for the coming weekend!

MrsFrisbyMouse · 10/02/2017 10:35

dogday Well done on the flapjack swerving! The biscuits were a mild detour. You'll be back on track quickly...

onceuponatime hurray well down on the weigh in weightloss!

neenok now is always a good time to start! I think it's also important to know yourself and know what trips you up - and there are there ways of knowing you're being successful without the numbers on the scale.

thenewaveragebear Hope you're feeling better soon.

Oblomov17 · 10/02/2017 11:27

Heman, like Bear,Couch and Scandi, I often now skip breakfast, mainly on work days. I do find I need to drink lots of water and tea though, and also I need to have my lunch quite early. That seems to work quite well.

Scandicat · 10/02/2017 17:45

Today I actually ate breakfast because I knew I wasn't going to get lunch. Definiltey prefer waiting, I've decided. Managed to stick to diet although I was struggling at about 3 o'clock.

This is the end of week 5 for me. Very slow week on the scales though, so not expecting anything exciting tomorrow. Hopefully that means better next week. My family party is a week on Sunday...

yumyumpoppycat · 10/02/2017 18:45

Just for an alternative to skipping bf, I found when I got to the last couple of weeks of the strict phase, switching to earlier meals (so all done by 4.00 except tea and coffee), sped up my weight loss a bit - pretty much every day it would drop down a tiny bit on the scales - it was strange but kept me motivated.

Today was my proper high cal day for the week, I feel like I have eaten and drank too much, I feel a bit ill. will try and log though. Had a glass of tesco finest sparkling wine from a £10 meal deal we bought a few weeks ago but it is syrupy sweet so not going to drink any more.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

OP posts:
Scandicat · 11/02/2017 12:24

5 weeks done. The end of this week has been tough and half term is going to be really hard. But the stats are still good, so I hope they will help me keep my motivation going.

After Xmas - 12.0
Start of BSD - 11.9.8
End of week 5 - 10.7.4
Total loss - 1 stone 6.6 pounds

This is the lightest I've been since Autumn 2013.

I was really hoping to have lost a stone and a half by my family party and that is definitely looking likely now, I've got a week to lose another 0.6 pounds.

And in non-scale victories, I can now get on and do up my beloved cropped jeans without lying flat on the bed and contorting myself Grin. Still too tight to wear but since its snowing here, I think there's still time! They haven't fitted for at least two summers and I've kept them because I love them and have never found another pair I like as much.

Thank you everyone who kept me going this week. In the book, MM says you should find a buddy to do this with. Everyone on this board has been my buddy and I'm not sure I'd have kept going without your support.

dogdaydisaster · 11/02/2017 14:27

I slipped sat night and had a few beers, but back 100% today. Am 1 lb up on scales but not too worried.

Had a small porridge this morning and popping out now with DD. Might have a salad in subway but might wait til dinner - were doing he valentines dine in M&S deal. DH is choosing but he knows the menu needs to be meaty/fishy/ veggie so think he'll do OK.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 12/02/2017 11:35

Family party last night so off plan. The house is full of nice goodies today, leftover desserts and bread and dips etc. Can't throw them away as the children want them so will put everything out for lunch and what's left will be binned.

Feeling a bit less rough today so my vitamins may be working.

Scandicat · 12/02/2017 19:32

Survived dinner in gourmet burger kitchen. In a small miracle, ordered chicken skewers. May have pinched a few of DS's sweet potato fries, but feeling amazingly virtuous.

OnceUponATimeInLondon · 12/02/2017 21:32

Scandi you are doing AMAZING. Sounds like you have it totally nailed, and are sticking to it so well! Great inspiration - thank you!

bear I also was a bit off plan yesterday (and a bit today...) but scales seem to still be going down and I did A LOT of walking so fingers crossed. Back strictly on it tomorrow.

APlaceOnTheCouch · 12/02/2017 22:53

I had a party this weekend so my carbs were high but tbh it was totally worth it Grin
Quite a few people commented on how much weight I've lost. The funny thing is that I saw them in Dec so actually I've not lost much since then. I have however bought new clothes and I think that has made the weight loss more noticeable.

dogdaydisaster · 13/02/2017 09:49

Gah this weekend wasn't great, and the scales have crept up 2lbs.

So, I'm pressing reset and starting week 3 over. I've lost a stone and I'm not putting it back on. It's half term but that will be a good challenge and while I'm feeling determined I should be ok.

So I'm in work, have had scrambled eggs for breakfast and have the lettuce wraps with peppers and hummus for lunch. I am going to try and knock the 2lbs on the head by Wednesday and keep rolling downwards.

Scandicat · 13/02/2017 10:38

Thanks Once. I think the trouble is I'm all or nothing and I'm terrified that if I deviate even for one meal, it will all be over and I'll put all the weight back on. I actually think it would be good for me to take a proper day off and prove to myself I can have one day off and then get back on it. But then I keep thinking about health and how bad sugar is and how its like a drug/tobacco in terms of long term damage. Not sure my relationship with food is all that healthy TBH.

I've got a friend coming over for coffee this morning. Not seen her since Xmas so I'm a stone and a half lighter. Chosen an outfit that I think shows it off. Hope she notices!