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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
yumyumpoppycat · 17/02/2017 22:52

All this talk of 5:2 has made me decide to bite the bullet join the other thread and try it properly for a few weeks to hopefully get the last chunk of weight off. I have been having a similar problem to you aplace yo-yoing between a few lbs.

Welcome firstseem.

Fingers crossed new average.

OP posts:
Scandicat · 18/02/2017 12:50

Good luck Poppycat. I think that's where I will head in the end. Have a little while still to go on 800 BSD first though.

So, made 6 weeks. This was my initial long term target, so pleased I got here. Smallest loss so far this week, only 1 pound which is a bit disappointing. But then, it was half term and I've eaten out 3 times, so I guess that's to be expected. At least I haven't gained!

After Xmas - 12.0
Start of BSD - 11.9.8
End of week 6 - 10.6.4
Total loss - 1 stone 7.6 pounds

I've also lost 7 inches off my waist, which is incredible and which has made a huge difference to the clothes I can wear.

Place - not decided what I'm wearing yet. I've got two dresses I got from AndOtherStories in the sale - bargains at £20 each. Both are quite short and fitted. Will probably wear the black and white spotty one. I've also got a couple of other old dresses that haven't fitted for a very long time that I really like though, so might try those on too. I think they are both still a bit small but we will see.

Hope everyone is having a good Saturday.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 18/02/2017 13:36

Despite not actually losing any weight and still being as lumpy as ever I bought this yesterday for a treat, and also some navy tights and some brown leather ankle boots- all from asda! Total cost £28- so at least I'm saving pounds if not losing them!

We've got our niece and nephew over today, going to the park this afternoon and then out tonight for the first time since Christmas!

blood sugar diet thread 5
yumyumpoppycat · 18/02/2017 14:29

Have a lovely time newaverage your outfit is bargainous and dress v cute .

Scandi going down from 12 to under 10 and a half stone - must be a very noticeable difference...also 1lb off with 3 meals out is a great result Star

Once fingers crossed I will be 'on it' by the time you join the 5:2 thread. I am aiming for Monday fast as my first 500.

OP posts:
Scandicat · 19/02/2017 21:01

I went to the party and people noticed and said nice things. It was a three course lunch and I also managed to be (relatively) healthy, although I did succumb and order tiramisu. Now home and having a glass of red wine and some cheese. It's a proper day off today. Back on it, possibly for another 6 weeks tomorrow. But today was my target and I felt so much better about myself. It was a joy to get dressed and have a choice of flattering outfits, not want to cry at what I could get into.

wrinkleseverywhere · 19/02/2017 23:10

Hello
I'm signing in having been around (under a different user name) on threads 2 & 3. I ate whatever I liked in December & put on almost a stone so was 11st just after Xmas. I was expecting a few pounds to disappear naturally in January but they didn't really and since then things have stalled. On the last four Saturdays, I have weighed in at 10st9; on the last three Mondays, I have weighed in at 10st11and expect tomorrow to be the same. Holiday at the beginning of April & I won't be able to get into my summery clothes at the size I am now.
Re-read the Michael Mosley book tonight, Sainsbury's delivery coming tomorrow with lots of BSD friendly food & have also dusted off my 30 day shred DVD.
Not diabetic or pre-diabetic but do have PCOS.

Scandicat · 20/02/2017 09:47

Hello Wrinkles. Good luck - when are you starting shred. It's on my list of things to do this week, although my heart does sink every time I think about it!

Oblomov17 · 20/02/2017 12:35

Scandi, really glad that people noticed at your party. I think that's the thing. Once people comment on your loss, that's makes it ALL worth it.
What dress did you wear in the end?

Bear, no news on your Hba1c must be good. But have they told you what number/ % it actually was yet?

I am STILL trying to get below 10 stone. Its just not happening. Every time I come on here and promise I'll be stricter, and then I don't do it. WHY? Hmm

Today I had no breakfast, then freezer courgetti and meatballs for lunch. But I have sausages and mash with peas planned for dh and ds's for tonight. GOD, I LOVE mash.
Maybe I should just bite the bullet and make myself do another 6 week programme, starting today. And not eat that dinner. I was just coming to the end of my first ever MM BSD, this time last year. So why shouldn't I do another one now?

thenewaveragebear1983 · 20/02/2017 12:58

Hi everyone.
No news on my hba1c - I might ring them today just to see.
I loved 30 day shred, I didn't stick to it mind you, but on YouTube there's various different ones. Might dig that out as well.
Oblov I feel the same- it was about this time last year when I first read about BSD and it was Easter when I finally did it after having the biggest creme egg binge (literally, bought a box of 12 and ate them all). I'm definitely up for a second proper 8 weeks.

I need to stop the weekend derailing me, which I think goes hand in hand with drinking. Dh and I aren't big drinkers, but we always share a bottle of red on a Friday and Saturday, and also sometimes one night in the week. And then I can't be arsed to cook, so we have a takeaway. And then I'll have toast with kids for breakfast, and maybe a coffee and cake at the shops......you get the idea. Weekends are what kills me every time.

I am determined to be a bit more motivated. I started a thread recently on a different topic about how I needed to overhaul my life as I just feel so blah all the time. It's inspired me to be a bit more proactive and have a bit more oomph about me. Hopefully this will filter through to my eating habits too!

First signs of Spring creeping in, daffodils out in my garden today. That means Warmer weather and summer clothes and I know I'll be feeling miserable if the summer comes and I still haven't got there, or at least made a dent in it.

StoatofDisarray · 20/02/2017 14:55

Hi there. I'm in! I started the BSD yesterday, with the aim of losing the extra fat I have gained over the last couple of years. I'm a 50 year old woman, and I've gone up by a couple of dress sizes since I was 40: I'm a UK dress size 14 now, and would like to be a size 10 again. Unlimited amounts of cakes and biscuits did it for me (I have a sweet tooth and convinced myself that the amount of exercise I do would burn it off: it doesn't).

I have a couple of questions, which I hope seasoned BSDieters can help me with. First, is there any consensus about roughly how much weight/size people lose over the 8 weeks? I'm asking because I'm feeling sluggish and hungry right now, and I could do with a bit of encouragement.

Secondly, I lift weights with a trainer 3 times a week (plus cardio on 2 more days), and I'm pretty strong (the 3rd strongest of the 50-odd people he trains, with 2 blokes in their 30s ahead of me, and level pegging with a guy who is also 50 years old - sorry, this isn't even a stealth boast Blush), and I wondered if anyone else out there who lifts regularly has done the BSD? Does it affect your ability to lift?

thenewaveragebear1983 · 20/02/2017 15:07

Hi stoat I lost 21lb in the 8 weeks and another 7 before I fell off the wagon, going from 13.7 to 11.7. I'll gloss over the fact that I'm now back to 12.7.

I think it hugely depends on how your body copes and how much a low carb diet is a change for you. It was a massive change for me and I lost 14lb very quickly in just a few weeks, the remaining 7 was slow like on a 'normal' diet plan. I did stick to zero sugar for the whole 8 but I didn't do 800 calories, more like 1000 most days. The biggest change for me was the energy, I literally skipped through the days, and mentality change, as once I 'd done the detox I didn't even miss sugar.

Oh how I wish I could have bottled that, I'd be taking a dose right now!

outnumbered38 · 20/02/2017 16:15

I've just started this today. Was hugely anxious beforehand but going ok so far! Hope I'll have the energy for my normal swim later.

StoatofDisarray · 20/02/2017 16:20

Thanks, outnumbered that is pretty encouraging, especially the bit about "skipping" through the days!

Scandicat · 20/02/2017 16:28

Hi Stoat. I'm 42 and my weight had crept up to the point I was struggling to fit a size 14. I've done 6 out of 8 weeks on BSD and I had also done 16:8 in December. So I was 12 stone on 1 January (having gained back the weight I'd lost in December). I did a couple of days 16:8 then started BSD. Have been very strict until the last couple of days (half term/family birthdays) and I have lost 1 stone 8.5 in total. I've also gone from my size 14 jeans being tight to fitting into my size 10s and I've lost 7 inches off my waist.

The initial weight loss was really fast, its slowed down now to about 2 pounds a week. So I reckon in 8 weeks I'll have lost 1 stone 12 pounds.

In terms of exercise, I don't do weights but I do run. My running had really suffered before because of the extra weight. I'm running now, despite only eating 800 calories and its the best I've run in a couple of years.

Good luck. It really does work. I feel like I've cured my sweet tooth and I also find I'm feeling pretty energetic most of the time.

StoatofDisarray · 20/02/2017 16:41

Blimey! That is very encouraging! Well done!

StoatofDisarray · 20/02/2017 17:04

Apologies, I should have been thanking thenewaveragebear for the bit about "skipping" through the days.

Good luck tonight, outnumbered!

Oblomov17 · 20/02/2017 17:32

I managed to not give in to sausages and mash. Made some fajita chicken instead.

blood sugar diet thread 5
Oblomov17 · 20/02/2017 18:03

I was 11.7, got down to 10 stone. I'm supposed to be 9. So, I lost 1.5 stone.

But now Have put 5lbs back on. So now need to lose at least another stone.

It didn't change my dress size that much. I was bursting out of my14 before, now they are too roomy.

I will keep trying though. I am a type 1 diabetic and my blood sugars whilst on the 8 week were fab. But I didn't feel any more healthy or better energy wise.

We have had runners : scandi and isn't yummy one? Or there have been a couple. But no weight lifters!! Can't advise on that, I'm afraid.

APlaceOnTheCouch · 20/02/2017 18:26

Welcome stoat Flowers
I started at 13.3 wearing size 16 jeans. I lost about 14lbs in the first 8 weeks. I didn't cut out sugar as I wasn't diabetic and knew that after the 8 weeks I didn't want to follow a WOE that was sugar-free.
I've tried to stick to low cal and low carb since my 8 weeks ended last May. I'm now 10.7 or 10.9 wearing size 10 jeans. My only exercise is walking so I can't advice on weights. I found the first 2 or 3 days of BSD difficult but then it just clicked. I started to realise how much 'proper' food (rather than empty calories) that I could eat on 800 cals.
However I am just back from a weekend away where I drank wine and G&Ts, and ate cakes and sweets. I'm starting to slowly come to terms with the fact that I'm maintaining now rather than losing any more.

ButtonBoo · 20/02/2017 19:15

Hello! Hope its ok to join in. Am about to start on 01 March. I started my own thread but onceupon kindly directed me here. Looks like I've got some serious reading to do...

Chipsandonionrings · 20/02/2017 20:11

I want to join you but I am using exante shakes and a veg soup - I tried doing it months ago and got in a flap with calorie counting and portion sizes. I have read the book and am just going back through the thread. First day tom! Some very good results in here. Hoping I can do the same.

yumyumpoppycat · 20/02/2017 22:06

Welcome stoat, buttons and chips!

Shakes were used in the trials so perfectly good idea to try them. Another idea is some decent ready meals and prepared soups. Possibly a good idea to try adding in some recipes too but have the shakes in your cupboard as a backup or for breakfast/ on the go/ really busy times etc.

Stoat I am pretty much a size 10 now a year later - I think I dropped 23lbs in the first 8 weeks and prob went from a tight size 16 to a tight size 12, (not 100% sure as started last Jan). I have moved to 5:2 to lose the last 10lbs as lifting weights/exercising (not all that heavy) and it will give me lots of days with higher cals which I am hoping will let me build up some muscle. Its prob fine to lift on the 800 if you feel ok and pay attention to protein etc but you could always consider a backwards version of BSD, start off with med style eating, if there is no loss add in 2 fast days at 800 or 500, then up to 800 everyday if needed?

OP posts:
wrinkleseverywhere · 20/02/2017 22:26

Hello
Day one was successful which is always good!
Breakfast - full day yogurt
Lunch - innards of chicken & leek pie, piles of peas, carrots & salad
Afternoon snack - apple
Supper - crudités with hummus and peanut butter; little gem & cottage cheese
A bit too much dairy today. More protein needed tomorrow.
I also managed Day three of level 1 of the 30 day shred.

wrinkleseverywhere · 20/02/2017 22:49

And I've just had some rhubarb with a dash of cream.
Two eggs are currently boiling so I can have them after I go to the gym tomorrow morning.

outnumbered38 · 21/02/2017 09:47

Hello, I'm new too. Day one was successful for me too but woke with a headache today. Will drink more water today and maybe try the marmite drink tip too.