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.

Thanks very much @viccat and @GhostBustersFavouriteMum will look to integrate those into meals.

I am out for curry tonight and will try and make as much of a sensible choice as I can. Have only had cups of tea today so far to try and minimise the damage.

After the first few weeks losing a fair bit, I'm now losing about 1-2lbs a week. I'm feeling good though and I'm fitting back into my old jeans again. This has definitely been the most successful and speedy weight loss I've accomplished- just need to stick to it now.

UAEMum Is that the paid for plan on MM's website?
I didn't sign up for that so don't know what's in it. I just started... You could maybe start following the Mediterranean diet/BSD principles so cut out bread/cakes/biscuits/potatoes/chocolate etc. but don't worry about calories yet if you want to ease yourself into it.

@OhMrTumnus
You're doing amazingly well

Vicar, yes this is the 12 week programme. I was a bit disappointed as expected to be able to start but have an orientation week and i have no clue what i am meant to do in it. I guess as you say to just put the lid on the biscuit tin would be a good start.

Following along with interest!

Weight lost stalled a bit. I know why, I'm eating too many calories. I have put 0.1 of a pound on. Now this happens at the weekend to me. I believe this is because I don't want to impact our dc's view of healthy eating. So what I'm going to do is make protein and salad/veg for myself and dp and add some complex carbs for the dc's. Hopefully that will do the job to kick start the weight loss again. I have such a lot to lose. Anyone else having a week 2 stall?

As of this morning I am 2.2lbs down this week which seems like a piddling amount considering that I've been sticking to the diet - I've lost more on conventional diets! I feel like I should have lost at least 2 stone by now I have lost 10.2 lbs though in total and I'll weigh tomorrow morning to get the final week 2 result.

I am trying to remember that I always have a bad week 2 and then if I stick to any diet, it starts moving again but the issue has been that this is when I usually say 'sod it' and give up but not this time!

I'm starting my new job tomorrow so hopefully I'll be too busy to think about it and I'll be moving about more and have a fully engaged brain (I've been on leave for most of the two weeks before starting the new job).

I'm doing the right things, I'm eating well and sticking to the calories, I've exercised 4 times this week. I could probably drink more water though.

We've got this people. I refuse to give up.

I'm just getting into this. Bought the book a few days ago. I was always told eating less than 1200 a day would be 'unhealthy' but this diet seems to advocate 800 everyday and the book states this is safe for weeks or even months at a time. Are VLCD's back in fashion now or has new evidence shown they aren't as dangerous as we once thought? Interested to know your thoughts.

Hi can I join? I came across this thread last Saturday and it really inspired me to look more in to the Fast800/5:2 way of dieting as I didn't know much about it. I am severely overweight (think at least 8 stone to lose ).

Anyway I made a meal plan last Sunday, did a big shop and ordered the book online. I bit the bullet and started on Monday. Wow! I thought it was going to be a disaster but have been pleasantly surprised at how well I am able to stick to it. I have used mostly MMs recipes from the book and am just finishing reading the book. It all makes so much sense, not only to help shift the stones but at how much healthier this way of eating it for my insides...I am a convert!!

Have been weighing myself daily and by Thursday I had lost 9lbs...9lbs in 3 days!!! Weight stayed the same for the next couple of days but as of today, day 6, I have lost a whopping 11lbs and am feeling so motivated!!

What I want to ask you all though is, has anyone got cold/flu like symptoms in the first week? I don't know if it's just coincidence (I'm a nursery teacher so my little people looooovvvvee to share their germs) or if it is my body readjusting to the new WOE? Has anyone else experienced this?

This thread and the 5:2 long running one have been a great inspiration and support so thought it was time I contributed!

@windowWAG The book has quite a bit about the recent research into VLCD and I think there is a view that losing weight quickly is not only motivating but also a predictor of good results and keeping weight off. When you have a lot to lose the thought of only losing a lb a week and being on a diet forever and taking months to see a difference is really depressing. I know it's had a negative effect on me in the past.

@disillusionedteacher Welcome, the more the merrier! You've made a great start. I need to lose more than 7 stone so still a long way to go. I'm nearly at the end of week 2 and I felt really fluey and headachy in the first few days but it soon wore off. I just drank more. I think it was cutting down on carbs and sugar so drastically.

Well that's good news for me as I like quick results. It's just everyone I speak to seems to roll out the old adage if you lose weight quick you won't keep it off. I will prove them wrong !

windowWAG As with any diet, you need to permanently change your eating habits. I lost well on 5:2 before but didn't stick to the healthy habits and have gained it all back. I find the lifelong maintenance part much harder than any diet itself...

@DareDevil223 that's good to know it will go away soon...fingers crossed. I must say I am already finding my sugar cravings are starting to go away and I'm a major sugar addict! What I really need to motivate myself to do now is some exercise! I have a reasonably active job and rarely sit down during the working day but I am very lazy in the evenings. Think I will start with a brisk walk every evening for a few nights a week and maybe some muscle training.

Making a lovely pot of Moroccan soup at the minute for lunch for the next 3 days...smells delicious!

I'd like to add my welcome to all newcomers also. I'm glad it seems that the week 2 stall is a bit of a thing! I too have 8 stone to lose, it was 9 though so that's good at least
I'm going to print out the recipes for this week and see f that helps any. Good luck everyone!

I've recently read a book called 'Conquering Fat Logic' by Nadja Hermann, She lost over 13 stone and the book is a detailed scientific takedown of all the nonsense that we tell ourselves that makes it impossible to lose weight. She explains that rapid fatloss works, there's no such thing as starvation mode, you can't wreck your metabolism etc.It made me feel so much more hopeful about being able to succeed
I've attached a link to a Guardian interview with her if you're interested.

www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/05/truth-obesity-five-fat-myths-debunked.

I was wondering what everyone’s motivation is , apart from the obvious of being slimmer healthier etc

What one thing will give you delight and a feeling of

‘ I did it ‘
For me it will be able to shop in places like Zara and mango , who have small sizing , and not the m and s vanity sizing .
To motivate myself I have been looking at all the lovely summer stuff 😊

@DareDevil223 I really do believe this and I'm glad more and more people are talking about it. It's a myth and has been scientifically debunked. What's certain is rapid weight loss is massively motivating and should be encouraged.

Well done to you all with your amazing losses
Day 7 for me tomorrow , so actually looking forward to the weigh in
Also buying some decent scales so I can actually see the numbers ( have old style mechanical ) at the mo

Apart from health and wanting to be as strong and fit as I was a couple of years back when I was seriously weight training, I want to feel slim and attractive again and I have a wardrobe of lovely clothes to get back into. Most of them are 12/14 so this time I want to go all the way and get down to my target weight and be a 10/12.

So vanity is a lot of it! I've been looking at clothes too and imagining what I could look like I want to be the best I can be and I don;t want to waste any more of my life yo-yoing up and down.

That's a very interesting article @DareDevil223 and makes so much sense.

I suppose my initial motivation was vanity after seeing an awful picture of myself on a night out. I was also feeling sluggish and just meh all the time. The more I've read in to IF though the more motivated I am becoming to do it for internal health reasons. T2 diabetes runs in my family and I would like to avoid getting it at all costs.

I am definitely inspired by the thought of going in to a shop and being able to try on what I want and not just searching out the baggy tops etc too!

I am so determined to do this properly and for the long term this time!

Daredevil thanks I will read that article. I had started to wonder if calorie counting so rigidly had affected my metabolism, so hopefully this will proves I haven't!

Jack for me it was partly vanity, partly health. I had gestational diabetes and gained 4 stone three times due to being on insulin, and the third time my consultant said that it was 'not if, but when' with regards to developing T2. I had proven that in times of metabolic/hormonal stress, my body was unable to process sugars.
And secondly, I was so flipping sick of being the 'big one' everywhere- every family do, every holiday (my dh's family do lots of holidays/bbqs/social things), never huge (size 14-16) but the other women are size 10-12, naturally slim people. Always feeling uncomfortable, never knowing what to wear, always not quite 'right'. And I knew I needed drastic, fast weight loss. i fid my first round in 2016 and lost 21lb, regained a bit (most), and then restarted in jan 2017 but also took up running, this time losing 3 stone. The difference this time is the exercise, my body shape has changed so much. I have before and after photos somewhere, I will dig them out!

Hi all what an inspiring thread! I’m thinking of giving this a go.
I did low carb all last year and lost 11kg and now have 3-4 kg to go but I have fallen back into bad habits in the last few months after a bad bout of anxiety. Thankfully I don’t seem to have gained as much as I undoubtedly should have done - I guess it’s all the nervous energy - but I know when I’m eating better I feel better anxiety wise anyway.

Do I need to download the book to start?
I’m hoping that because I have low carbed before (no more than 60g a day) and already don’t eat pasta or potatoes and rarely eat bread that I will get along with this...

That looks great @daredevil I'll have a dekko at that in a minute.

As for motivation, two things for me. 1, I want to flick the V at my mother. My Mother was overweight for as long as I can remember and she had unregulated type 2 diabetes throughout my childhood. From what I can remember when I was a kid she lived on findus crispy pancakes, vermouth, and arctic roll.

She dealt with her weight and diabetes by using my Dads pension lump sum to pay for full bariatric surgery nearly10 years ago. Aside from looking a good ten years older than her years she's been left with a myriad of health issues and a neck vagina, for a vain woman this warrants much gin and Prozac whilst she 'saves for a facelift'. Just had snorty giggles remembering the tit tape at the back of the neck experiment ... Ever heard the joke about the wide mouth frog Anyway knowing what she knows about how much it's messed with her health and that my blood sugars run at 3 to 4 and my HDL cholesterol is 2.8. (my GP described me as 'Ox material' ...) She still spends every visit asking me when I'm going to get my stomach stapled.

Anyway motivation item number 2 ... I want to look in the mirror and feel sexy, not necessarily slim, just sexy to my eyes as it were. The last time I did I was 5 stone lighter than I am currently. The last time I felt really drop dead good was 20 years and 8 stone ago although on reflection that's probably got more to do with the fantasticly adventurous sex I was having at the time, ahhh youth ... So yeah giving a shout out for Vanity/revenge over here!

@Aber the book has some great info in it. But if you are familiar with low carb you should be able to do it without I would have thought ... At least until you get to the management stage anyway.

Brilliant article @dare thank you xx