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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
Maccalenny · 15/05/2019 19:29

onanothertrain - the pea and parmesan mash sounds gorgeous!

onanothertrain · 15/05/2019 19:35

It was macca, could have been a bit dry as it was a tin of garden peas which I drained completely by accident so added a wee bit sour cream.

Illiantium · 16/05/2019 10:07

Thought I would jump on and jump in! Did the 5:2 diet a few years back and lost 2 stone and kept it off. Then piled on a stone quitting smoking before getting pregnant. Thanks to pregnancy and PND (I am actually 8lbs heavier than the week after I gave birth), I now have 3 stone to lose.

Started doing a traditional Atkins style low carb on Saturday and Sunday but it made me feel very sluggish and blergh so switched to fast 800 with 50g carbs and feel much better! As of yesterday I had lost 5 lbs since Saturday. Then my period started, yesterday was the first day I found tough and I normally gorge sugar all day. I upped my carb and calories counts to 75/1000 and coped very well. Today I am back to 50/800. Had gained 1.1 this morning but I know this is just water as everything that passed my lips (even the half strawberry I was chopping for DD) was logged on MFP. So I am still feeling good and positive and know I will see a big jump down if I stick at it. Am on day 3 of the shred too, if I can drag myself out of bed after the bad nights we have had with teething I can do it for the full 30.

We go on holiday 4 weeks on Friday and I would love to be a stone lighter and more toned by then. I'm really working on self care and using body lotion etc so hope to be much more polished too. Looking forward to sharing motivation and recipes!

Laska2Meryls · 16/05/2019 10:15

IIiantium Hi, I have just started again this week ( having also done the 5:2 a few years ago with great success. , My holiday is 6 weeks today , and Id like to lose a stone too - I need to lose more , overall- and be more skin polished/ toned too , so we have a joint goal here! Smile

So far I am 5lbs down! (but Monday was a v high weight for me and probably a post weekend blip, , so I'm counting 3, which is great ..
Ive not eaten yet today, just coffee , want to fast until midday , but feeling fine , and I have my lunch and dinner planned .

Laska2Meryls · 16/05/2019 10:17

I want to lose a stone from tnow .. which will still make me 11stone,Blush but I have quite a big frame, (10st and I start looking skinny !)

PhoenixMama · 16/05/2019 11:42

Hi lovelies! I had the yummiest dinner last night, smoked haddock in a milk & creme fraiche sauce with breadcrumb & cheese. So good and only 320cals.

Down a nother lb today but I do think that for the first time in my life is because sadness isn't making me want to eat. It's almost like, I realise that eating isn't going to take away the feelings and I don't see any reason why I should punish myself. I'll be honest it's really weird, is like I've got someone else's brain lol, but I've been doing a lot of therapy over the last 2 years so clearly it's working!

Lndnmummy · 16/05/2019 11:47

You all inspire me so much!! So my stooopid wine mistake cost me 1lbs. This really pissed me off and I go all childish and think “fine then, I’m just going to go and eat pizza anyway”. But then I thought that from a research perspective this is really interesting as it shows clearly how alcohol and lack of water slows weight loss and fat loss right down. I have also realised that as soon as I see positive results I falsely relax and start to wing it. Well no more, I’m back to super strict today. My carbflu is starting to lift thankfully I’m on day 4 today although I guess it could be the wine that got me out of ketosis? We will see but altering the eating times as well as eating real food instead of relying on bars and shakes has really helped me these last two days.

Would any of you long standing members share some before or after photos? With face all blurred etc obv. No worries at all if not of course, I’m just looking for inspiration.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 16/05/2019 13:37

LDN i love sharing mine, here you go!

Blood Sugar Diet and Fast800 thread 14
OP posts:
teta · 16/05/2019 14:27

Wow bear you’re so glam now.
How much have you lost?

boldlygoingsomewhere · 16/05/2019 14:37

Wow, bear what a transformation! That’s very inspiring.

Lifeisntadressrehearsal · 16/05/2019 14:42

Bear - you're smoking in those jeans - that's what I'm aiming for. Envy Grin

I'm going to keep going until I can wear jeans ( I haven't worn trousers of any kind for 30 years excepting leggings to go running etc - so I'm going to do this). This is probably outing me as this is my mantra at the moment.

Stayed the same all week although I've carried on doing the 800. I'm waiting for the whoosh - it will come. I've still lost over 6lbs in May to date though.

I'm feeling good - I'm going to do this.

Your updates are keeping the inspiration. Smile

thenewaveragebear1983 · 16/05/2019 14:52

Aw thanks BlushI've lost 3 stone in total but the pics are probably from when I'd already lost a stone (judging from the child on a lead reins in the first pic) There are very few photos of me before these, I hide from the camera!

OP posts:
Lndnmummy · 16/05/2019 16:06

Oh Bear! You look stunning!!! If that’s not motivation then I don’t know what is. So this “friend” at pickup today asked if I was sure I wasn’t pregnant Sad. Belly rub and everything, in front of lots of people! Why would she do that?! She knows how hard I’m trying to lose weight. So so hard and this week in particular has been so tough. I have cried for 30 minutes. Bear your photos give me hope. You should be so bloody proud of yourself

thenewaveragebear1983 · 16/05/2019 16:23

LND (have just realised I've been tagging you wrong since you joined!) - what a mean friend. Unless you were complaining of feeling sick or unexplained cravings for gherkins, then it's bloody uncalled for. Do you think maybe it's because she doesn't want you to lose weight and leave her behind? Other people dieting can go funny things to people. The carb flu feeling can make you a bit tearful so be kind to yourself, it will pass. Thanks

I'm very touched you find the photos motivating. This way of eating is life changing and everyone I know who's done it has had fab results. It's hard, it takes guts, and you have to say no to a million things- but it really does work if you work it.

I've been super strong today, I've made the 100 cupcakes and iced them, and three traybake and an orange polenta cake (all for school, I'm not having a party!) and I did not so much as taste a droplet of mixture or icing. I knew it was all or nothing so I could not let a morsel past my lips. Weird, but I was reminding myself that this was the new me, I can bake and not eat it, and I'm now 18 days sugar free!

OP posts:
fromnowhere · 16/05/2019 18:11

Hi all, not sure if anyone remembers me. I was on here a lot at the end of last year, and then Christmas happened and I fell off the wagon pretty hard Blush
I could kick myself as I was doing so well, but I think I plateaued, then temptation crept in and well, 5 months later I've put back on the 8lbs I lost in the fast 800.
So I started yesterday but haven't officially weighed myself yet (too scared). I feel better already. I'm craving sugar and carbs but mentally I am determined again. Hope you can all welcome me back, i need support! I was such a bloody zealot with my family last time then I fell off the waggon and I bet I look a right dick after waxing lyrical about how the low carb high fat thing had changed my life and I would never go back to eating bread and pasta Confused Blush

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 16/05/2019 18:18

Come on! You did it once and you can do it again! The weather is lovely and it’s ideal to feast on salads and fruit.

Lndnmummy · 16/05/2019 18:47

@thenewaveragebear1983 just can’t believe those photos. Stunning!!

Feelingfortyisntfun · 16/05/2019 19:00

Bear you looked wonderful, may I ask are you quite tall too?

How do you resist cupcakes?? I wonder what led to you starting this and sticking at it (?) sorry if answered previously.

Laska2Meryls · 16/05/2019 19:31

Kitchen Is Closed....On around 860 today

Black Coffee until 1pm,
Then a med avocado with lemon juice salt and pepper and two small chopped tomatoes

Dinner was about 5.30pm (and by heck it was hard to hold out that long, but I did) . H/M Mince bolognaise-type mix with , steamed white cabbage (with a little butter), peas and (quite a large ) sprinkle of mature Gouda..

...and so much water that I am floating..

thenewaveragebear1983 · 16/05/2019 19:37

Feeling I'm 5'7. I suppose what led me to this is actually a quite severe carb addiction. I'm a prolific failed dieter (as is my mum, she's been on a diet for 40 years +) and I had gestational diabetes and put on 4 stone with each pregnancy. After the 2nd, i slogged away at slimming world losing half a pound a week and then got pregnant with #3 and put it all back on again. After my 3rd, frankly I was miserable. I just couldn't find the motivation to lose weight and just ate rubbish, looking back now I probably had a touch of PND. Then I did a round of BSD in April 2016 after reading about it on here, (thread 2 or 3 of this!) and lost about 21lb. I then muddled along, gained a fair bit back on...y'know how it goes. Then in January 2018 I decided that I was going to give it one year, 100%, no excuses. Follow the plan and run for 10 minutes every day on the treadmill. And that's it really! I think the two in combination is what's caused the big physical changes and kept me motivated because even if my food isn't on track, my running is, and vice versa. The bottom picture in the blue dress on that collage is Jan 2018, so two/2.5 stone ish ago.

Other people have lost much more than me, and quicker- I've been slow and I've had relapses and over the last 18 months I've had some real issues with carbs and bingeing, but this thread really keeps me going. And re the cupcakes: I only managed to resist today because I know I can't resist them (if you see what I mean?) I know I wouldn't have had 1, I'd have had 6 ten and then felt shitty all evening, then all weekend.... I think all I need is that tiny bit of strength when the choice is there to say No Thanks.

My relationship with food is pretty screwed up tbh thanks mother and your bloody points and syns but on this plan when I'm 'on it', suddenly food isn't a big deal anymore- does anyone else feel that? It's very liberating.

OP posts:
Maccalenny · 16/05/2019 19:46

I love reading what other people are eating...gives me ideas and reminds me to buy things that have been off the shopping list for a few weeks. Time for some avocados I think.
I had fish pie, with celeriac and cauliflower mash on top. I didn’t have much fish so there was a lot of mushroom, spinach, onion, peas and boiled egg in there to pad it out! Then crustless quiche for lunch, and broccoli and cauliflower soup for tea. Few cups of black coffee and two white teas. Lots of water. About 820 calories and 25g carbs.

Maccalenny · 16/05/2019 19:50

bear I know what you mean about resisting because you can’t resist. I definitely find That for me it is easier not to start eating something, than to start, kick off the cravings then have to stop. Easier to be really strict than have treats.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 16/05/2019 20:06

Macca yes, and I'm learning that for me it has to be like that really. I still have no off switch for sugar once I start unfortunately.

I've not counted today as such, but I'd imagine I'm around 1200 cals but low carbs- I ate cheese and ham at lunchtime, then dinner was a really tasty tapas ready meal thing (made by Giraffe? It was on offer in Tesco!) which was a spicy lamb kofta in a Harrissa sauce which we had with salad, avocado and halloumi (so I'm guessing the calories stacked up!) No run today, 11k steps, day 18 sugar free!

Tomorrow I have such a busy day- got to go to town, go for a run, and then it's the school fair from 2pm- there will absolutely be wine tomorrow night! Not sure what food will be yet but I fancy something spicy!

OP posts:
careerchange456 · 16/05/2019 20:13

Hello all. I think I'm week 4 now - feeling good but I think I'm probably a bit over in cals every day. I didn't weight or measure at the start and slightly regretting it now as I'm sure I'd be pleased with the results.

We're supposed to be meeting friends tomorrow night and they're insisting on a take away - 'it'll be so much easier!' Confused Are there any options?? Or am I just going to have to take my own?

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