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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
thenewaveragebear1983 · 19/05/2019 14:38

Phoenix I'd suggest trying sugar free electrolyte tabs before gels

like these

I use them about an hour before a run of 10km or more, in a big glass of water. Especially useful if you get cramps/stitch or 'dead legs' in the week before your period?

I had never used gels until I did my half marathon, and performance wise I think they did make a difference. Obviously as a one off on a race, I didn't care how many I used or the calorie counts etc. I think I'll use one or two on my long run once each month, but I won't be using them in training as a rule; it seems silly to negate the calorie burn of the running with a calorie shot. I think it's probably the caffeine in them that really helps the pace/stamina so I might get some of those electrolyte tabs with added caffeine and compare the two.

OP posts:
Maccalenny · 19/05/2019 15:32

last - onwards and downwards! At least you’ve demonstrated to yourself that carb binges really really don’t feel good.

phoenix - fabulous stats!

Maccalenny · 19/05/2019 18:34

My third non-fasting weekend finished at about 1300 cals. I’m finding it weird...a big .part of my mind is jumping up and down screaming at me that I’ve blown the diet. Which I haven’t of course - everything on plan, just a bit more of it. I feel rather over-full, which does not feel good. I was up a lb this morning and probably more tomorrow - I know it will drop off again, like it has every other week, but it feels like I’m undoing all my good work. I guess I feel like I’m eating more than I need.
However, as we know, eating 800 forever is not a good option so I need to find a long-term way to keep losing that I feel comfortable with.

And what I really need to do is start exercising. I feel horribly flabby and lacking in muscle tone. I keep starting, sticking with it for a few days, then giving up again.

Sorry, feeling moany and mopey this evening, no idea why!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 19/05/2019 18:51

Macca what exercise do you think you'll do? Have you done anything previously? I found once I'd lost a fair bit, my body took on this kind of 'popped balloon' sort of look very attractive! , the exercise definitely helps with the toning! ----

OP posts:
thenewaveragebear1983 · 19/05/2019 19:03

Oh and I should add- no calorie counting again today, but all on plan. 21 days sugar free! (No noticeable adverse effects from the isotonic gel which is good)

lunch was salad, half a scotch egg and some blue cheese with mayo; Dinner was roast chicken, broccoli and a butternut squash and gruyere cheese gratin which was absolutely delicious. I have more than half of it left which I'm going to have tomorrow lunchtime with my salad. I've eaten 3 decent meals today, but no snacks or grazing, which is actually the best method for me if I'm not counting. I've done 25k steps (16.5k was my run though)

Tomorrow- fast 800 day (actually aiming for 4 fast800 days this week, and not going to weigh in until Friday at the earliest) - only thing in the way is Tuesday, when Dh and I are going out for a meal to celebrate 10 years since the day we met (so probably a nice pub and a few glasses of wine)

Hopefully a good week before going on holiday next sat. It's funny, because I know I'm not having sugar, (and I'm having very few carbs as a result because I'm not craving bread, potato etc) I've lost that 'clawing back' feeling; I don't feel like I'm in a spiral of gain/lose/gain/lose, and I haven't been weighing myself nearly as often because I'm not needing to check the damage. I suppose I am more able to trust my appetite and my food intake- I may regret this when I step on the scales, but my clothes feel looser (or at least, not tighter) and I feel slimmer overall than I have in ages.

OP posts:
StarJasmine · 19/05/2019 19:04

That sounds frustrating Macca that even increasing to just 1300 - surely still under your TDEE? - has such an impact. Is it increasing your carbs perhaps? I’m with you on finding exercise just an insurmountable obstacle sometimes. I’ve never been able to exercise regularly, never found anything I could stick at, apart from yoga, and at the moment I’m too fat to do that easily, plus too exhausted to even think about it anyway. You’ve made such a difference to your health already, hope you don’t feel mopey for long.

StarJasmine · 19/05/2019 19:14

Day 4 meals for me
B: scrambled egg ‘salad’ with rocket, sundried tomato, olives and feta
L: red pepper soup with a keto bread roll
D: 5-spice pork with stir fry veg

Over budget at 900cal, because I miscalculated the soup (tin not homemade - lesson learnt). The 5-spice pork was lovely and am surprised I didn’t miss the rice/noodle accompaniment (would have been easy to have Shirataki noodles I guess but haven’t not any in at the moment). The keto bread roll was lovely! Came across the recipe when I couldn’t sleep last night and when I realised I had the ingredients in I wanted to try it just to see. Can definitely recommend.

Blood Sugar Diet and Fast800 thread 14
Blood Sugar Diet and Fast800 thread 14
Blood Sugar Diet and Fast800 thread 14
Maccalenny · 19/05/2019 19:26

Bear it sounds like you are reaching a happy situation where you can listen to your body and feed it the amount it needs. Where are you going on holiday? - I’m sure you’ve said but apologies I’ve forgotten. What is your plan while you are away?

I’ve done various exercises but nothing very recently. Prior to kids I used the gym a bit and did exercise videos at home. I’ve done yoga classes - loved those - but can not afford to do those now. I’ve done some yoga from YouTube a few time, kept it up for a few weeks sometimes, then stopped again. Tried running...really hurt my knees. Same with 30 day shred. In the last couple of months I’ve tried the Emi Wong videos - they are a bit advanced for me but I’m happy to adapt and I liked them.

I think my problem is that I have the same mental attitude to exercise as I do to dieting, when/if I’m in completely the wrong mindset to diet. So I plan, I’m keen, I start, I do a few days, I miss a day, I’ve blown it, I stop again. Takes a few weeks to get motivated again, go through the cycle again. And again and again. And I’ve definitely got the ‘popped balloon’ look you mentioned, which I think is what has made me grumpy today. I’ve been sorting out my wardrobe again as quite a few things are getting too big. Trouble is, lots of things that do fit ok don’t look good because I have no muscle tone. Hence the grumps!

I think the thing that is really annoying me is that I know all I have to do is get off the settee, put on a sports bra ( which actually fits now!) and a pair of trainers and get on with it. For about 15 mins a day. It’s not a lot to ask of myself. In fact, if I was doing yoga, wouldn’t even need sports bra and trainers. I’m really lucky...no injuries, no physical conditions to have to work round. Except for huge lack of fitness!

I’m feeling too fed up with myself to try to start again this week. I’m going to try to get in a better mental place this week, then try again next week, over half term, I think.

Ohyesiam · 19/05/2019 20:43

Macca I love yoga too and have found it really toning. I bought a dvd from finddvd.com for about £5, from a great yoga teacher Barbara Curry, all her stuff is split into 10 min slots which even I managed not to procrastinate my way out of. Don’t know if that would help.

On another tack, I was reading about dog owners looking more and more like their dogs.
So I thought I’d get a greyhound? Could save a lot of carb avoiding.

StarJasmine · 19/05/2019 20:57

Haha that’s a good idea yesiam. Although I’m a short fatty and have a teensy (slim) chihuahua, what does that mean? Just back from a half hour stroll around the park with dog and DP, wipes me out for the night now.

macca maybe if you want to get back into the yoga habit but can’t necessarily face it full on yet you can set aside 10min each day and even if not doing yoga just sit and breathe, or do a mindfulness meditation or something. Get back in the habit without any of the physical stuff. That’s what I’m thinking of probably in a few weeks time - my focus is just food and drinking water at this point, that’s all I can cope with.

Illiantium · 19/05/2019 20:58

It's tough Macca but don't be too hard on yourself. I try and focus on what I do want rather than what I don't want. Rather than dreading the exercise I focus on being toned, feeling stronger that sort of thing. I also find if I don't get it out of the way first thing it just won't happen.

Maybe try and aim for no zero days. Do at least 1 full sun salutation when you get up in the morning (1 round per side). It sets your day up right and you have achieved an exercise goal.

I find the shred tough on the knees too. I wear good trainers and do the impact exercises on my yoga mat. I hate doing it but know it is effective and no exercise lasts longer than 1 minute. I just get through it 1 minute at a time!

Illiantium · 19/05/2019 21:28

Had a middling day here. Went over my carbs and ate about 1000 calories. Had awful sugar cravings after yesterday. I had a portion of Halo Top Cookie Dough with a few slices strawberries and a squirt of cream. It hit the spot though and could have been a lot worse. Made mushroom stroganoff for tea with parmesan and garlic cauliflower mash and green beans. It was delicious and very filling and there is another portion which we will have on Tuesday as DH is going out so we will be busy. Have also made Greek salad and beef kofte for lunches for a few days and boiled some eggs to have deviled for breakfast.

Really going to try and up my water and steps this week. Planning a busy active day tomorrow so I can stay off he bet and avoid GOT spoilers!

Hope everyone has a positive week.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 19/05/2019 21:42

Macca I find shred tough on my knees too, and yet the same exercises at circuits don't have the same bad effect- I think I need considerably more space than you'd think necessary to carry them out properly, so subconsciously I jar my knees. As a starting point for exercise, you could even compile a short workout yourself. I have a hiit timer app which I can set to do eg. 50 seconds exercise/10 seconds rest x 10. You could compile a list of 10 exercises- star jumps, squats, boxing arms, stepups onto the bottom stair etc etc, and do your ten minutes that way? Even just as a start. I began running by doing 10 minutes a day and as you know, I now do much more. The overwhelming realisation for me when I started it was that I was literally never making time for myself. With 3 young dc, I was a self inflicted martyr, and I very quickly got 'selfish' about my ten minutes.
Do you like podcasts? That's the other thing you could do- put a podcast on and walk round the block. I never make time to sit and listen to them, but I've listened to lots while walking. It can disguise the fact you are exercising!

OP posts:
StarJasmine · 19/05/2019 22:46

Mmmm mushroom stroganoff with parmesan and garlic cauliflower mash sounds amazing Illiantium, I might nick that for one night soon, I was thinking mushroom stroganoff but wasn’t sure what to have with it!

Illiantium · 19/05/2019 23:28

It was gorgeous Jasmine! Even DH wolfed it down. Just beware adding any extra liquids, all the recipes I saw called for cream/yogurt/cream cheese. I just blending the cauliflower, garlic and parmesan and it was perfect. Next time I will try roasting the garlic first rather than boiling with the cauliflower.

Maccalenny · 20/05/2019 04:58

Thanks to everyone for your support re. Exercise. Off to work now but this evening I will give it some thought and come up with a plan again.

goreousgirl · 20/05/2019 06:27

@last - I think the great thing about this diet is that you can get off an the horse! On Saturday night I went for a Chinese and scoffed the crispy duck (no pancakes) and had lettuce wraps with minced chicken plus 3 glasses of wine. That was having eaten two avocados and an egg in the morning. Clocked in at 2000 calories and felt awful. THEN I thought . Hang.on.a.minute.... 6 weeks ago before I read this AMAZING thread I would have eaten 3 times that every day and not thought about it!!! I’ve gone from 12st to 10.12.8 sine Apr 22 and am inspired every day by you guys!

Yesterday I had coconut and lime chicken escalopes from M&S with vibrant beetroot salad and shaved Parmesan- delicious and 200 cals.

Thought I’d share that I’m really enjoying a glass of rawsons retreat sparkling wine (put in a prosecco glass with a strawberry) for a lovely pretend drink with 14 cals per 100ml - low sugar, low carb. Lovely www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/295236926?sc_cmp=ppcGHS+-+Grocery+-+NewPX+%7C+Shopping+GSC+%7C+All+Products+%2B+Tesco+BrandNew:+F%26D:+Drinks:+DrinksPRODUCT_GROUP295236926*&gclsrc=aw.ds&ds_rl=1116019&ds_rl=1116016&ds_rl=1116019&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8on2xqyp4gIV5pXtCh1SmA4kEAQYASABEgJs8PD_BwE

Bottoms up everyone- you’re all doing BRILLIANTLY!

goreousgirl · 20/05/2019 06:28

‘Off and on’ the horse!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 20/05/2019 07:13

Macca maybe it would help to do a little for/against list type activity- so spend 2 minutes really quickly jotting down all the things you think hold you back- no time, bad knees, cost, too tired etc- then use that to help you plan your activity. I was lucky in that Dh had bought a treadmill in a moment of madness, he still never uses the damn thing so I decided ten minutes a day, first thing, and I would regularly do my 10 mins run in my pj's. I couldn't wriggle out of it because I'd made it such that it was manageable against all my well rehearsed excuses. I couldn't blame tiredness or the dc or not getting a sitter. It's so much a routine for me now that I plan my meals and my workouts every week, without fail and it's a priority for me, but in the beginning it was a chore that needed to be ticked off like any other.

Anyway, Monday morning again! Busy week ahead. I have caught Ds's cough/throat/cold which had been bothering him all week. I half expected it as I sneezed all day yesterday. No run today after my grueller yesterday, but I've found a 30 minute 'runners yoga' on YT which I'm going to try later on. Weighed in at 10.4.5, so about 'normal', but I feel quite 'lean' at the moment and wonder if I've added some muscle/lost some fat recently- no way to tell really, except a little less jiggly-bottomed and slightly looser clothes! Tummy is definitely less bloated after 3 weeks sugar free, and also doesn't pooch out by the evening as soon as I eat anything.

Have a great Monday y'all. Grin

OP posts:
Waterandlemonjuice · 20/05/2019 09:13

Hello everyone. Ate pizza at the weekend but am determined to be back on it, I was yesterday. Mackenny, me too on the ‘all or nothing’ - silly isn’t it? I’m seeing this weekend as a cheat weekend but I’m back to it today. We went out for Thai on Friday and I had chicken satay, which isn’t too bad but I also had wine and cocktails, having avoided alcohol since 28th April. And then a pizza on Saturday night and more wine. So I’m not going to weigh for a week as I don’t think it’ll be good.

Yesterday I had bacon and eggs, 2 small cheeses, an apple, a burger (no bun), salad, raspberries and some cashews. So back on track more or less.

teta · 20/05/2019 09:41

I didn’t want to weigh myself either this morning😀.
Luckily though, I’m the same as the beginning of the weekend. Normally I put on a pound or more. I have had more calories with some dark chocolate and cheese on saturday and gin and sodas on Friday/Saturday. I also made a crumble on Sunday with coconut flour and coconut oil. The kids weren’t impressed! I normally make flat Apple tartlets with left over apples and puff pastry and they scoff them straight away but then so do I.

Laska2Meryls · 20/05/2019 10:21

Bit down this morning, I am 2.5 lbs up after the weekend, Sad and thats 2/3 of what I lost last week

We had a BBQ but the only carbs I allowed myself were in the 3 sausages and 3 small jersey royals I ate and (ok it was a about a bottle and a half over the whole weekend) wine . I did also have a Seedlip with Feverfew light tonic (interesting to read that above about Feverfew, ill have to go back to Schweppes again ) .

Poo... looks like I cannot drink At All , if i want to lose weight, its only 5 weeks to holiday , and I am just not going to be able to see my bikini bottoms .. I shall still wear one though, I've noticed that on Greek beaches , size doesn't seem to matter much ..

Oh well , its just black coffee and herb tea for me till this evening then will have a chicken and veggie stir fry I think .. I've just got to pull this out of the bag somehow

lasttimeround · 20/05/2019 10:52

Got my first low carb day behind me yesterday. Back on track. Still feel low and weird. Resisting exercise strenuously. Bah.
Baby steps...

lasttimeround · 20/05/2019 10:54

I'm a kilo down. That leaves half a kilo of what is probably actual gain from my week off.

PhoenixMama · 20/05/2019 13:00

@laksa if I go up over the weekend I'm usually back on track by Weds & down s little more by Friday. Just be careful restricting too much because that doesn't always help. Also sadly agree about the booze. If you've only got 5 weeks to the hols, why not blitz it for 2 weeks, very strict, no booze & see how you get on. I find doing that shifts weight much more easily than the weekend yoyo.