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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 and Fast800 thread 14

999 replies

thenewaveragebear1983 · 13/03/2019 19:48

Here’s the new thread for the BSD followers, plus those following the Fast800 plan. Everyone is welcome to join us. Here’s a quick recap!

The BSD/fast 800 is a low carb, Mediterranean style way of eating, with the primary aim of stabilising your insulin response when you eat. You achieve this by: eating fewer carbs, cutting out sugar and sweet tasting foods including most fruit, and by following a low calorie plan that reduces your visceral fat meaning that everything functions more effectively. Less insulin means less fat storage (in a nutshell, although more info can be found on this online). The blood sugar diet was designed to reduce T2 diabetes symptoms (or even reverse it entirely) but can also be used for weightloss.

Eat:
Meats and fish
Oils
Eggs
Full fat dairy products
Nuts, seeds
Pulses/ beans
Veg that grows above ground
Limit fruit: apples, pears, berries- in moderation, with meals, with fats

Occasional alcoholic drinks allowed (spirits, red wine are preferable to beer, lager, etc) although alcohol is calorie heavy and can influence your appetite
Tea and coffee, herbal tea etc.
And water- drink lots of water!

Avoid
sugar, sweets, and ‘naturally occurring sugars’ such as fructose, maltose, honey, agave, puréed dates etc....

Potatoes of any variety
Pasta
Rice
Breakfast cereals (occasional steel cut oats are ok)
Breads/ flour based products

Exercise:
Michael Moseley recommends HIIT workouts to increase calorie burn and help to tone up, and recommends walking more (increasing your steps weekly until you hit around 10000 a day)

Mindfulness
MM also suggests a programme of mindfulness, meditation, practised for a few minutes each day.

How to follow the plan:
Fast800: follow the plan above, sticking to 800 calories every day for 2 weeks. Ideal to give your weightloss a real kick start, plus improve your insulin function and reduce your sugar cravings.
8 weeks BSD- 8 weeks, follow the guidelines above- 800 calories a day. You don’t need to count carbs grams because the diet is naturally self limiting.
BSD 5:2- for a more leisurely weightloss journey, or as maintenance, or once you’ve done an 8 week stint or 2 weeks of Fast800, you can play around with a combination of increased calorie count, ‘free eating’ and fasting days (800 cals) until you achieve your goals. Many of our long standing members now follow this approach.

You can stop 800 calorie days at any time once you achieve your goal. It’s advised to limit yourself to 12 weeks maximum of 800 calorie days, but you should get excellent results in 8 weeks. Depending on your weightloss goals, you can do further ‘rounds’ of either the 8 week BSD or the Fast800. We recommend you take your measurements before you begin, not just your weight. A target pair of jeans in a smaller size or even a photography or two can be very motivating!

Some useful links:

previous thread

meal planning thread

<a class="break-all" href="http://go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=healthyeater.com/important-tool-weight-loss" target="_blank">TDEE calculator to calculate your daily calorie requirement

information about the ‘whoosh’ phenomenon

OP posts:
Thread gallery
36
lasttimeround · 19/04/2019 17:18

Perfume... I have a sample order planned for my first celebration of weight loss milestone. Itchingvyo click buy as it's just a smidge away. Or really really good dark chocolate?

I was prompted by the better weather to change over to summer clothes. And ... drumroll... despite no inchloss on measuring tape.... lots of my smaller clothes fit. And they look still look right...I sm over the moon. In the smaller clothes the weight I've lost is much more obvious. Plus all the exercise is paying off. My arse looks both high and firm Grin

thenewaveragebear1983 · 19/04/2019 18:18

My weekend is so far panning out to be looking like a reasonable 60/40 balance of good meals, no snacks but then occasional pudding and wine. It's the most realistic for me really. For example, we had a bbq lunch today but I had no bread rolls or other carby sides, but then I did have a small piece of dessert. I have done a rather awful only 4K steps today though, lots of driving to family and sitting a lot! Tomorrow I will compensate with a day at home gardening and a long run in the morning behind it gets too hot. My kitchen is nearly finished and certainly almost useable, so that will help me somewhat as I miss cooking! I will need to be very careful next week because a combination of slight increase in carbs and tapering down my running in prep for my race, plus dc still off school could spell trouble! Still, even if it is terrible, it's only 1 week i suppose.
The last time I raced I gained 7lb in the run up but I did lose it fairly quickly afterwards.

Congratulations everyone on your scale and non scale victories. I remember the first time I did this diet, I started at Easter and in summer when I got all my stuff down from the loft everything literally fell off me. It was a real motivator as I don't think we really believe how much weight we've lost until we have actual proof do we?

OP posts:
Bythebeach · 19/04/2019 20:39

The teenager had 3 friends round for a sleepover. They are scoffing pizza and fries like it’s going out of fashion. All stick thin too......

purplespring · 20/04/2019 02:12

I had my first comment on my weight loss from a lovely colleague today :-) It’s been enough to help me avoid the amazing looking homemade cake being shared on shift tonight. Just heating up my chicken curry and cauliflower rice now.

Maccalenny · 20/04/2019 16:14

bythebeach - same here! - both my teenagers had friends round, lots of pizza, garlic bread (and alcohol by the older one and his friends) and everyone got about four hours sleep, me included. And they are all stick thin, and bouncing around this morning.....I miss being a teenager sometimes!

purplespring congratulations... great when other people notice your hard work is paying off!

I’m trying to broaden my menus a bit, as I move to weekdays at 800 and weekends not counting but on plan. Tonight I’m having chicken thighs, as recommended by bear and others, with some oven roasted veg. Tomorrow I’ve splashed out and bought some monkfish. I’ve never tried it but have wanted to. I’m planning to cook it fairly simply, and have lentil and mushroom stuffed peppers with it.

Maccalenny · 20/04/2019 16:28

This is my 8th week, now completed. In that time I’ve stuck very strictly to plan and to 800, with one random snacky day back in about week three (lots of nuts), one ikea meatballs and mash day, fish and chips last week, also two glasses of rosè last week ( didn’t like it, way too sweet for my tastes now). This week I haven’t counted so strictly, but have been around 1000-1200 cals with visitors here.

My graph this week shows the fish and chip impact clearly! But even with wine and chips I am down a little bit this week.

My total loss over the 8 weeks is 25.2lb. I’ve gone from a size 20 to a 16-18. I’ve got loads more energy and am feeling so much better about myself.

I need to lose just over a stone to be overweight, rather than obese, then another two to be healthy weight. Still a long way to go, not sure if I will get as far as healthy weight as it’s been nearly 19 years since I was last there....before I had kids. But if I can get to a steady ‘overweight’ and stay there, rather than keep yoyoing, I will be very very happy.

Blood Sugar Diet and Fast800 thread 14
lasttimeround · 20/04/2019 17:45

Macca that is amazing progress!! I'm all inspired- well done.

PhoenixMama · 20/04/2019 18:26

@lasttime & @macca well done! I too have pulled out the summer stuff and it's a combination of too big & 'oh my god that hasn't fit in years'

My plan to stick to the plan this weekend has basically flown out the window. Birthday treats abound! And tomorrow the chocolate descends. But the food news is my exercise has also increased. Did my first run in ages on Thursday and we cycles 20km today so at least I'm burning some. Will have to be very strict come Monday!

Maccalenny · 20/04/2019 18:31

I’m doing my wardrobe sort out tomorrow. I’m very excited to see what fits. Should keep me away from the chocolate!

onanothertrain · 21/04/2019 08:27

Happy birthday phoenix
macca I love a wardrobe clear out, it's so motivating. Have fun!

charlottelouise1234 · 21/04/2019 10:27

Hello! I have been trying unsuccessfully to do this for past couple of weeks, had lots of visitors etc so I have decided as of tomorrow I am starting my 8 weeks properly! I am currently 14 stone 7 and have 9 weeks till my daughter breaks up for summer! We relocated last year to spain and I spelt last summer uncomfortable and covering up! This year I am determined to wear my size 12s and wear my swimsuit! Do you do 800 every day? I was going to do the 2 week kick start and then have 1200 or 1500 Saturday and Sundays - my TDEE is 2000... Does anyone else do this? Also how is everyone else getting on? Any tips? Thanks for your help!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 21/04/2019 11:37

Morning all, hope everyone's enjoying the bank holiday. Glorious weather here, but I have to admit to rather a lot of bbq food (no bread though) and a few g&t last night. Plus today is pretty much a write off (although I did run 6km, and 16km yesterday to earn my Easter egg)- you could say I'm around 50% on plan!

I'll be back to basics tomorrow again, as per.

Welcome Charlotte. I'd suggest doing the 2 weeks kick start and see how you get on- some people do find it easier than they expected, and the initial weightloss is very motivating; you might want to continue for longer or switch to 5:2, or some other variation. Good luck!

OP posts:
lasttimeround · 21/04/2019 14:36

Welcome Charlotte. The 2 week kick start is really good for health and gets you into it. If it's hard to go straight to 800 cals spend a few days getting there while reducing carbs to keyo type levels or close to. Then the 800 gets easier. Another easy way is to go super hard for a day 500 cals then 800 feels easy.

I've lost a kilo again this week despite visitors. I'm really pleased I would have accepted maintainingad Stein given its Easterand we had guests. But I've stuck to the principles pretty much all week with one more relaxed meal. Bit more wine, dark chocolate berries and cream - didn't cal count that meal. And another 2 days with 1 glass of wine and a square of chocolate coming in at 900 - 1000 on those days.

I've done 4 weeks. Still struggling on my lifting days and will probably up cals for those 2 days. Otherwise I did my measurements and found I've lost a fair bit in weird places (my neck is a whole inch smaller!) and nothing in obvious places like waist and hips - although my big belly bulge is down lots. I'm keen on getting my middle to shrink both aesthetically but also as it's so unhealthy. So I'm going to try for another 2 weeks of being super struct like at the beginning. I think it did my liver a lot of good. My calf is up slightly, I guess that's the running but am pleased with that as it will make my ankles look smaller by comparison. Shapely is also good in my book Smile.

lasttimeround · 21/04/2019 18:32

Because we all love a graph. And the last 2 weeks at least half my meals have been fish eggs or veg. Huge reduction in red meat. Still need to work on veggie meals but I'm saving that for when I up carbs.

Macca - I'm hoping your wardrobe has yielded lots of lovely forgotten finds

Blood Sugar Diet and Fast800 thread 14
Bythebeach · 21/04/2019 18:35

Have not succumbed to any Easter eggs! (Yet!) Finding ricotta stuffed cherry peppers a vaguely Fast800 friendly treat and they are delicious!!

Bythebeach · 21/04/2019 18:36

Ooh great graph last!

PhoenixMama · 21/04/2019 18:45

Hi all - currently on a sugar crash. I thought I'd love eating whatever but all that's happened is I feel hungry despite just eating and I feel slightly ill.

Really looking forward to getting back to it tomorrow and staying strict. I've got a big birthday meal for a friend on Friday and then Saturday I'm having my birthday bbq with a bunch of friends. For a second earlier today I thought about cancelling the party but I can't cancel life so will need to adjust. I actually think I'm not going to drink at my party. Really don't need it and I'll just feel crappy the next day.

Well done @lasttime! Love that graph!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 21/04/2019 18:49

Me too Phoenix, actually looking forward to being back on the salads tomorrow!

OP posts:
Maccalenny · 21/04/2019 19:25

Charlotte good luck with your first day tomorrow. My advice would be to plan really well, and to make food ahead to keep in fridge or freezer so you are not ravenous and browsing the cupboards for what you can eat and stay on track.

last that’s a great-looking graph! I’m also reducing the meat, and upping the fish. I’m also trying to fit in beans and lentils, which is harder when keeping carbs low.

Maccalenny · 21/04/2019 19:34

I had Greek-style monkfish and stuffed peppers for tea, which was absolutely gorgeous. Leftover peppers still to be enjoyed tomorrow.
I also had pudding...actually the first in 8 weeks! Berries and yogurt, with a grating of 80% chocolate, as it is Easter after all.

The wardrobe sort out was a triumph. I’ve cleared out several bags of things too big, or things that now fit but it turns out I don’t like them. I feel like I have a whole new wardrobe, as so many things now fit!

Kateguide · 21/04/2019 19:45

Hello everyone, new to this thread and fast 800. Started about a week ago, so far so good, I am losing weight by following the book. I do feel hungry, but less so as time goes on. I have 2 queries:

  1. I am really missing my cup of tea in the morning with semi skimmed milk - how can I get this 1 ritual back in my life without harming the diet?
  2. I won't go into too much detail but a week today we are going to a very posh restaurant with my DH's family. It's his parents sapphire wedding anniversary, also his mum has terminal cancer. I have already decided that I am not going to follow the diet for this meal as I don't know how many of these celebrations we are going to have and it is a really good restaurant that we don't go to often.
My query is, if I have a bad diet day, does it bugger everything up? Will I put on a load of weight? Will I be back to square one? Any advice on this would be appreciated.
whitehalleve · 21/04/2019 19:56

Hi @Kateguide. I have my morning coffee with milk and it hasn't harmed my weight loss. I'm 2 weeks in and 9lb down. Good luck

thenewaveragebear1983 · 21/04/2019 20:23

I have milk in the morning too Katie
I am considering cutting it out, but that's more because of the sheer quantity of dairy I consume rather than the fast issue. Also, re your meal out. You'll be fine, take a day off. You might find you retain a bit of water overnight if you have excess carbs, but it will go quickly as well once you get back on it.

I'm not licensed to comment any more on the diet today as I have been an absolute little piggy!!! ( and yesterday) and I actually feel quite uncomfortable and bloated now. Stupid really because my food was actually ok but I got on to the bread and the hot cross buns and the chocolate. Oh dear.... Grin

I was thinking earlier how very unhealthy I actually feel right now, I've been letting more and more carbs creep in again and it makes me feel so sluggish and yucky. My meals are great but I snack terribly at times and I really feel it- considering physically I am the fittest I've ever been, I don't really feel it. I can't make too many drastic changes next week before my big run next Sunday, but then I'm all set for a strict 4 weeks until Whitsun holiday. Not so much for weight loss as I'm pretty much at target, but for that healthy, energised feeling.

Week ahead for me: I'm aiming for 800 for the next few days to shift my bloated feeling, then raising it to 1200 for the end of the week.

OP posts:
PhoenixMama · 22/04/2019 08:48

Ugh. Feel so gross. Stomach cramps last night & this morning, so bloated. Can't believe I used to eat like this all the time! It's really making me think about how I move forward, I used to think I'd go to a sort of cheat day once a week but I don't think I can handle it.

purplespring · 22/04/2019 11:52

Well according to my scales I’ve put 1.75lb on this week, which is rather rubbish considering I have absolutely stuck to 800 calories, at least 60g proteins and under 30g carbohydrates.

I’m putting down to nightshifts, ovulation and it being week 3 and hoping I have better numbers next week!