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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 16

996 replies

thenewaveragebear1983 · 21/08/2019 21:26

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 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)
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 at 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.

Some useful links

Meal planning ideas thread
Blood sugar diet recipe thread and menu planner 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

<a class="break-all" href="http://go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=caliberstrong.com/how-whooshes-impact-your-weight-loss/" target="_blank">information about the ‘whoosh’ phenomenon

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Thread gallery
37
bridgetreilly · 23/09/2019 19:54

Thanks, PhoenixMama, I had a look. They have quite a few things in the 10-25g range for carbs. I am definitely going to try some. My worst downfall is when I'm tired and busy and can't cook something proper. I do try to freeze portions of things, but it doesn't always work, so having a stash of these seems like a good idea.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 24/09/2019 06:28

Well, true to form I'm 3lbs down this morning after my good day yesterday. Feel grotty today though- sore throat has arrived overnight (it's been through the whole family so I guess it stands to reason that I'll get it too), plus was woken early by thunder and couldn't get back to sleep.

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Riddleofthesands · 24/09/2019 12:16

Weighed myself and I am the heaviest I have been all year! Feel dreadful too.

DD off school with a sudden bad cold and looks like DH has a chest infection. Asthmatics so not straight forward.

At least my period is finished. I know I really need to knuckle down and clear out fridge and larder and get back to eating veg and fish but I feel very blah. Haven’t eaten yet today.

MozzchopsThirty · 24/09/2019 18:16

Well done @thenewaveragebear1983

I'm not as heavy as I thought I would be
This week has been better than my last 2 efforts
Managing to stick to cals despite having no kitchen (STILL)

TheHammaconda · 24/09/2019 19:48

Not sure what has happened since Sunday but I've lost 1.5kg! The strange thing is, I've not been great - have gone slightly over the 800cals on each day. Take my total loss in 22 days to 6.8kg, so just over a stone in old money. Still a long old way to go but I'm pretty chuffed to be honest/

PhoenixMama · 24/09/2019 21:05

I was 2lbs down this morning so heading in the right direction but still not back to my lowest.

Just joined a friendly What's App with some acquaintances to try and keep me on track. Hoping to run tomorrow but scared that I'll be starving all day.

I'm not used to working (almost) full time and trying to run around DD (almost) full time, I'm pretty shattered. Still managed to stay mostly on track today, closing the kitchen at 873cals!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 25/09/2019 07:46

Yesterday went totally awry for me unfortunately, but I seem to have got away with it. Hopefully a better day today. I still feel incredibly grumpy- I have now trapped a nerve in my shoulder, so even though my hamstring injury has improved massively, I now have this constant twinge in my arm. Plus a nice cold, which isn't too bad now I'm up but meant that I had s disturbed and uncomfortable night with a very dry mouth. Horrible. I feel very 'woe is me'. Supermarket first thing, finally it's payday! Then a short run later provided my shoulder eases up.

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PhoenixMama · 25/09/2019 09:08

Bear cut yourself some slack! You're injured, training & have a cold! I know you want to see the scale move (who doesn't!) But keep in mind how amazing you're doing as a whole!

I'm down another lb, 1lb away from my lowest again. I'm desparate to see the other side of that number! It feels so bloody difficult.

I'm running today so am upping my cals to 1000 but with that extra 200cals mostly protein. Hopefully that will stop me turning into a ravenous monster!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 25/09/2019 16:14

Thanks Phoenix, you're right. I don't think I'm being very kind to myself these days. I have loads of really bitty things to do as well, a to-do list if multiple crappy tasks, which is never easy is it?
Did you get out for your run? How is the ravenous hunger? I got out too, just listened to a podcast and ran rather than 'trained' and it felt good to be back!

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MozzchopsThirty · 25/09/2019 19:12

I'm down 1.2lkg since Monday which I'm happy with Smile
Was totally winning at lunch today and this was delicious

Blood sugar diet and fast800 thread 16
thenewaveragebear1983 · 25/09/2019 19:44

Ooooh that looks good!

I ate cold meat for lunch, just grazed on it like an animal! Then dinner was a really nice beef goulash from a keto cookbook, with green beans and carrots. I've just had a nice pudding of sugar free jelly, frozen cherries, and alpro plain yoghurt. Annoyingly didn't count calories so I will do a guesstimate tally but it won't be accurate!

Tomorrow, maybe a quick run first thing. Lunch will be something cooked, probably eggs (Dh has come home from work today with 24 beautiful white free range eggs from one of his clients. Don't ask!) and dinner will be chicken in a wine and faux alpro cream sauce!

I bought some oxtail today to make oxtail soup- have never done this before so if anyone has a good recipe they recommend I'd be very grateful!

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thenewaveragebear1983 · 26/09/2019 07:37

Weighed in today at 10.7.5 so another 2lbs off. This seems to be my standard weekly flux these days.

Today I am making biscuits for Macmillan and also beginning to make the components of ds's birthday cake for Sunday so I think I'll need a quick run first!

My sugar free jelly was a godsend last night so I'm going to have that in stock over the weekend. I know it's not technically BSD but it's very low carb and cal and actually satisfied my sweet craving so i didn't pick at anything else.

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PhoenixMama · 26/09/2019 10:48

I did ok yesterday, slightly higher on the carbs than I would have liked but still within 1000cals and wasn't ravenous until dinner got delayed.

I did get out on my run too - and ran 25 mins without stopping for the first time in 6 years so that's definitely something!

No loss today but not up either so I'll take that!

PhoenixMama · 26/09/2019 16:57

Totally fell off the wagon. So cross with myself. A bit under the weather today and moping and I don't think I made enough food for myself (I'm also bunged up which doesn't help with the bloating) and I inhaled a butterscotch yum yum and a biscuit like they were going to save my life! Grrrr!!

MozzchopsThirty · 26/09/2019 16:59

Down to my lowest since starting on and off in the summer

59.2kg from 64.8 at my heaviest

Really happy with this

Now I'll ruin it all over the weekend 🤣🤣

maddenlightfoot · 26/09/2019 19:10

✋ four custard creams over here... I'm seriously pre-menstrual and ravenous.

Bear was it you who mentioned upthread the optimum week in your cycle for weight loss? I feel a bit deflated as this week is my worst week and even on good days my weight has stuck or crept up. Hoping for better results over the next week or so (if I can stay clear of the biscuit tin!)

thenewaveragebear1983 · 26/09/2019 19:27

Madden yep that's me. Mine goes like this
Day 1-7 - period
Day 8-15- feel like a normal human, not bloated, not craving rubbish, lose about 7lbs!
Day 14-18- ovulating- seem to get worse pmt here than when I'm due on. (Read a thread on here which confirms I'm not imagining it!)- terrible bloating
If I manage up rein myself in and not throw in the towel I can sometimes have another good few days here, til about day 26 when PMT lands like a monster.

It really does suck to be female doesn't it?!

However, it is always better and less severe peaks and troughs if I eat less sugar and much fewer carbs. I do know this. It's not always easy. Sometimes the bloating is so severe that even if I'm on plan I gain weight which makes it feel very difficult.

I'd love to find the solution to this but I've always been at the mercy of my hormones and I've sort of accepted it now.

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northwooddown · 26/09/2019 19:33

Hi everyone, I've had a busy few days at work so have just caught up. It's all looking pretty good for everyone, except for the colds. But lots of lbs down and lowest weights recorded. Well done all! Also considering darkness and cooler air and rain have hit us all, we are doing well!
I'm 10.8 which feels amazing! First time in 10 plus a single figure in a long time! And today I've been awake since 4am when the dog shat all over the floor. I couldn't drop off after the lengthy clean up - partly the anger, partly the smell floating up the stairs. Oh well. I've been shattered and feeling a bit weird all day. But normally when I'm crushed with tiredness there is nothing that can hold me back from slices of toast for breakfast, biscuits with coffee, sandwich for Lunch etc etc. But not today. Did my plodding old lady jog at 6am then went to work where I resisted all the Macmillan bake sale offerings. I did have wine tonight so slightly up on cals and carbs but blimey, two weeks ago I would drowned the day in white junk carbs and red wine. So that's good. I've just had vegetables, nuts and wine!

northwooddown · 26/09/2019 19:54

Interesting about all the hormonal related eating cycles. I know that sometimes when my period is so so heavy, I feel weak and drained so 'dieting' is not possible. I guess for a couple of days that's to be forgiven, out of sheer need to survive. But the cravings leading up to it are so tough, it's comforting to hear I'm not alone. I'll observe this month whether the low carb/sugar free makes a difference. My hormonal fluctuations hit me hard, they are almost a bit cliched. Once I know I'm near then I need chocolate, I need crisps, I need junk. So this month, I'll see if there is a change.

northwooddown · 26/09/2019 19:54

Hang in there Madden, it'll pass and I hope quickly for you x

thenewaveragebear1983 · 26/09/2019 19:58

North sounds like you've settled in really well. It's lovely how calm it feels around food all of a sudden when it kicks in.

I've had an ok day although I did bake a chocolate birthday cake, ice a fruit cake, and make 20 biscuits for Macmillan so inevitably I did have the odd taste for quality control. It didn't seem to switch me on to carb crazy though. I had a tuna salad for lunch and for dinner I've had chicken thighs, cooked in a white wine stock pot (a good tip if you like wine taste but want to save cals) with Bacon and mushrooms and veg. It was really tasty! Plus a bit of pudding of frozen berries and SF jelly. I'm not sure of the cals or carbs but I can't imagine it was too terrible (barring my icing/cake batter testing)

20k steps (6k was a run) and generally feeling pretty good.

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northwooddown · 26/09/2019 23:07

Thanks Bear, I do feel pretty in control and calm... but it's barely been a week and the weekend looms! We shall see. But for now, yes, feels good.
Well done on all that baking. You are strong. I'd have eaten literally a whole cake, not just a wee taste. Amazing!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 27/09/2019 08:01

North I bake so much that I can't eat too much of it, I would be huge! I will post a picture of ds's cake when its all assembled.

Didn't weigh this morning. I would love to get through this weekend with minimal damage, but it could potentially go awry. Two birthday cakes, Macmillan this morning, Dh has day off on Monday so we're going out for lunch plus...well it's the weekend isn't it? So, wine.
However: there's zero need for me to eat cake at Macmillan, I will just buy a few for the kids.
Saturday should be a completely normal day with no need for extra food
Sunday- I'm cooking the party food and doing sausages, homemade baked beans, mushroom chilli, etc so completely possible for it to be BSD
Monday- going to prezzo and I know there are good options here.

So basically, the only extras are birthday cake and alcohol.

Plus I will be at bootcamp tomorrow, and running on Monday, so really there is no reason to end the weekend several pounds heavier. I need to tell myself this because sometimes I think I throw in the towel too early and then it's inevitable.

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thenewaveragebear1983 · 27/09/2019 13:32

Look away now those with a sensitive disposition

Blood sugar diet and fast800 thread 16
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Maccalenny · 27/09/2019 19:02

I was on a training day from work today, requiring a train journey, that I go to every few months. When I went a year ago, I would have had breakfast at home, a coffee and flapjack waiting for the train, whatever was provided for lunch...usually sandwiches, chips and cake.....and probably had a snack on the train home. Then tea. When I went a few months back I was really proud to have stuck to diet - I bought some bits from asda on the way and managed to dodge the chips. Today just felt straightforward....I took my own food, wasn’t tempted, didn’t feel the need to pack extra in case I get hungry as I don’t have those blood sugar crashes any more. Feels great.

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