Started Fast 800 today

[DareDevil223]

I've got lots to lose, I'm feeling lousy, so heavy, achy and sluggish and I can't bear to see myself in the mirror so I'm making a dramatic change. Losing a pound a week is not going to cut it.

I eat far too many carbs so I think this Mediterranean style of eating and the the drastic cut in calories will do me good. I've read the book, I've stocked up on the right foods and cleared out the crap. I haven't eaten yet but I'll have my first meal soon.

I know that it will be hard going at times but the promise of rapid weight loss is worth a bit of pain.

Wish me luck. I'll update on my progress as I go.

@PhoenixMama congratulations on the weight loss - great results! On the dress size question, I found it was around the 5-6 week mark that my clothes suddenly felt a lot baggier. I went from a 14 to size 10 from week 1-8 on the Fast800.

I'm now following 5:2 to maintain my weight as I'm happy with where I've got to now - 5ft 6.5 and 9.4 stone (am not of the petite frame).

This thread has been so great to read with so many successes - congratulations everyone!

I think there’s something in the diet drinks thing. I too love my Diet Coke but have cut it out and nowhere near as hungry. I read it can make the brain expect sweet stuff? I lost 2lb overnight but know that’s not real. But inspired to keep going
Had 2 veggie sausages and an egg breakfast and spinach, pepper and cucumbers with yogurt dressing at lunch with toast calufliwrt

@OhMrTumnus
Do you mind me asking your starting weight and how many lbs per week you lost?
You're the same height as me and I would LOVE to get to 9.4. Aiming for 10 stone though and it's really slow going.
This week I'm really struggling with the hunger so I'm looking for inspiration!

@froufroufoxes of course. I was 11.6 stone when I started in January and within 10 days had lost 11lbs. The following 5 weeks then slowed to 2-4lbs a week.

I was super strict and cut out pasta, white rice, alcohol, snacks etc entirely for 3 weeks and just ate eggs, fish, chicken and lots of veg, weighing everything for the first but then relaxed at weekends (drank alcohol, allowed some treats) to make it easier to keep on track for the rest of the week. Drank lots of water and herbal tea.

I tried 16:8 but was more like 15:9 or 14:10 for fasting most days. I didn't do much exercise but am active with two young children and walk a lot.

How many weeks are you in now? The weight loss slowed right down around week 3-4 for me and was a bit slower and steadier after that. And I got hangry/struggled around the 3rd and 4th weeks. I got to 9.4 exactly 2 months after starting the diet. I was a massive carb and snack queen before I started so think cutting it out was a shock.

I had always wanted to get to 10 stone and was so pleased to be able to get under it. I feel like I have hit my ideal, healthy weight. Good luck and keep at it, it's definitely worth it.

@OhMrTumnus you've done amazingly well!
I'm only on week 2 and also had the weekend off (but didn't go tooooo crazy).
I lost 2.5lb in the first five days and put a lb on over the weekend.
I found the first week ok but I'm really hungry this week. I think I'm ovulating so this might have something to do with.
I'm currently standing at 3.5lb weight loss.
I started at 11.1.

I also have two small kids and I am slightly struggling to keep up with them/wobbly legs going up stairs etc.

I'm going to push through... you've inspired me

Oh also I am doing 6:18. I eat at 12 and then again about 6pm

@OhMrTumnus you've inspired me too! I'm on week 3 and have hit the plateau -not lost an ounce in the last 4/5 days which I'm finding a bit disheartening. You've reminded me it's a long game...

@Balloondog @froufroufoxes you are definitely at the point I found hardest to keep motivated - at that point, I went back to the book and reread some of it to remind myself why I wanted to be healthier. I also looked on Instagram for some meal inspiration and found some of the posts there helped.

TOTM is also a tricky time as I just craved biscuits and chocolate as it approached and I found the weight doesn't shift around that time either.

Definitely keep going - I've just treated myself to some new clothes and feel so much better.

Whoops & Concerned I am on week two and have continued to run. I find that when I first start to run I feel like my legs are empty, but once I get going it is fine. However, I cannot run up hills at the moment.

I completed a parkrun on Saturday, which was day 6, and my time was only slightly slower than normal. I also completed a 5k race on Tuesday, which went well apart from a steep hill, which I had to fast walk up on both laps. My time was similar to my regular parkrun times despite the walking.

Glad your race went well Suffolk. If you like podcasts there's an interesting one by the South African marathon runner Tim Noakes- he basically took on Gatorade and challenged the 'high carb diet' theory for endurance athletes, way back a few decades ago. It caused him no end of grief, but he's continued to pioneer the research into keto training diets for runners. It's available on 'run to the top'. There's definitely science to say that the traditional 'carb loading' before a race doesn't work for women as effectively as it does for men, and once you're properly fat adapted you should find you don't notice any drop in energy.

Hi all, hope you don't mind me joining! I started 2 days ago and think I'm doing ok?
I'm using my fitness pal to count the calories and today its told me I'm going to go over my recommended fat intake, am I correct to stick to this, or am I not supposed to be cutting back on fat?

I’d lost 3lb this morning but have put a pound back on tonight though my period just arrived with a rush of rage and tears and whoosh it was there. . And I’ve had a blueberry cake a friend made but that makes me at 900 calories so not a disaster but I’m mad at myself. I’m doing a run in the morning g so hopefully that will help keep me motivated
MrTumness - that’s so inspiring to read. I want to be 9 r 4 too!

My stomach is making the weirdest noises. Is it the unexpected sugar? Madness but fascinating

Hi @IcanDoThis
I don't know for sure but I think good fats are encouraged but carbs are not.

I'm sure someone with more knowledge will be along soon.
Good luck!

@ican you can (I almost always do) go over your fat count but carbs is the one to avoid. The fat is actually what fills you up & makes you less hungry.

@whoops some 900 cal days are just the reality of eating like this. The most surprising things can put you over. Don't worry too much, I've had the odd 900cal day & still lost. Although are you weighing more than once a day? That way madness lies!

I'm thinking of starting this next week. Can I ask how you incorporate eating out or going to dinner parties / work events please?

Well done everyone on the losses!

I've had a couple of days where I've succumbed and Jammie Dodgers and choc digestives which have tipped me into the 1k calorie mark. Initially I felt so upset with myself but then thought maybe I needed that biscuit in order to see me through to the 8 weeks on the diet as without I'd have given up after 2 so actually in the long run it's OK! And like Phoenix I've still lost despite it so don't beat yourselves up on those days.

@I'mgoing are you keeping under 60g of carbs? That's the most important thing! I can have 900 cal days but that's still without any white carbs, biscuits, pasta, bread, etc. I think you need to stay strict on your carbs more than your calories!

I haven't been tracking my carb consumption until now, just counting calories. I've completely cut out bread, pasta and potatoes. I've now lost 15lbs in 4 weeks which I'm over the moon with. But I am finding the weight loss is slowing now so I'll start looking at my Carb intake-thanks for the heads up!

@LadyGagasMeatDress If eating out of the home (infrequent), I try to really cut down for the rest of the day, & keep carbs to a minimum. For example, if eating at someone else's home and the meal was spaghetti bolognese, I'd ask for / serve myself a teeny portion of spaghetti. I'm not brave enough to say that I don't want any at all, for fear of offending the host. Ditto dessert- just have a v small serving.
At a restaurant, choose wisely - steak but swap the chips for extra mushrooms. Curry without rice and naan etc.
I haven't found it's affected my weight loss but I don't really eat out of the home more than once a week.

Hi! I've not RTWT but am starting 800 cals a day today - 8 weeks until my summer holiday. I plan to be strict 5 days a week (when I'm working) and maybe give myself 1200 a day on my days off.
I really struggle to find the time to exercise (and hate it), but will dust off the exercise bike and try and make myself do 20 mins in the evenings.
How's everyone else getting on?

Also my plan for the day is
B - 30g sugar free muesli, 60g Soya sugar free Yogurt, 1/4 banana and tsp honey
L - home made leek and potato soup with 3 rice crackers
D - 1 salmon fillet with roast veg.

All comes in at 817 cals

Hi @MissBax. I'm starting today too with a similar focus and timeframe as you.

Hi @LadyGaga & @MissBax Welcome to the thread! This is a really helpful and encouraging group and there are some great losses!

3 things that I wish I knew when I was starting: count carbs (no more than 60g/day) not just calories, really up your water consumption (I do more than 3L a day now) and add salt & magnesium.

Good luck!

Well done everyone on your losses!

Week two completed, 2 lb down making a total of 9. Total inches lost 7.

Not been as active this week due to a really bad cold. Starting to feel a bit better today so will hopefully get out for a run later.