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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
PhoenixMama · 03/01/2020 08:44

Lost 4lbs from yesterday & that's even with the Mexican food (which was mostly rice, beans, tortillas & cheese!) Think it was the long restriction window!

Colour As long as you keep your carbs low you should def be able to drop that in 2 weeks, but you will need to be strict!

PhoenixMama · 03/01/2020 09:25

And day 2 of 30 Days of Yoga done too!

Youhavewonaprize · 03/01/2020 12:37

Thanks macca it’s mostly foods we usually have that can be decarbed for me, but I got some veggie cookbooks for Xmas (not veggie but just eating less meat) that I’m trying to test the least carby recipes from.

Had a for goodness shake protein shake for breakfast this morning. I’m feeling pretty rough but actually managed the whole shake despite not being a milk drinker. My concentration has lapsed a bit today as well and I had a terrible nights sleep (bar the baby’s usual 3am wake up). Hoping will be better tomorrow.

Day 3 today and down to 81.8kg, 2.7kg lost so far. Maybe will be around 5kg down after a week?! I’m under no illusions that this is fat (suspect mostly liver stores and water) but colour, yes, you could lose all 3kg in two weeks! I guess probably more than 3kg but you will regain a bit when you’ve finished depending on what you eat

Looking forward to my dhal for dinner later. Eating lunch now and already hungry for the next meal!!

Colourmylife1 · 03/01/2020 14:16

@PhoenixMama I aim to be strict! I aim to post on here daily to keep me on track.
My aim is to weigh myself every 3 or 4 days.

Colourmylife1 · 03/01/2020 14:19

@Youhavewonaprize that’s an amazing result in 3 days. It’s so motivating to see the quick weight loss at the outset.

MooPointCowsOpinion · 03/01/2020 14:21

@thenewaveragebear1983 you were right, had rolled oats for breakfast, thinking about carbs all bloody day!
Had tuna salad for lunch, snacked on peanut butter and celery. I need something good for dinner, I bought salmon but I might need to switch because it’s just not going to feel fulfilling to eat!

Maccalenny · 03/01/2020 16:26

Fabulous to hear how well everyone is doing! Amazing starts all round.

I’ve had a really ‘off’ day today...slept badly so really tired, then just hungry all day. I’ve not eaten anything awful but do seem to have had my head in the fridge rather frequently. Really looking forward to getting back into routine next week where I cannot graze.

Phoenix I do my yoga before I go to bed....you obviously do your first thing in the morning! I loved day 1 - usually I clock-watch through all exercise and struggle to keep going, but I really enjoyed it and didn’t check the time once. I couldn’t work out why a ‘downdog’ felt so different....my belly doesn’t get in the way any more! Day two coming up before bed tonight.

CaptainBrickbeard · 03/01/2020 17:17

Day 2 and I haven’t felt hungry all day. I was most worried about the hunger when contemplating this diet so it has surprised me a bit. I had cabbage and bacon for breakfast after a swim, a Fast 800 shake and an apple for lunch and having chicken in tomato sauce for dinner. I have made the children’s meals without feeling tempted and got through several post-Christmas board games without biscuits or wine! Done over 10,000 steps as well.

I have a weekend at Center Parcs booked for the end of the month and hoping to get into a bikini that’s currently a bit too tight for that. I like to have small, frequent goals to aim for!

Youhavewonaprize · 03/01/2020 17:22

I cracked this afternoon and ate a cold sausage out of the fridge Blush. Could have been so much worse so not feeling too bad about it. Plus it’s made me feel soo much better!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 03/01/2020 18:55

I slept terribly last night which is not unusual after a few good low carb days for me unfortunately. Ended up reading my book at 2.30 am!

However, food has been okay today, although I didn't calorie count again. Will start properly from Monday. I had chicken and salad for lunch, a tiny coconut macaroon (not bsd), a spoon of peanut butter, and dinner will be falafel and celeriac hash (if I can be bothered) or salad (if I can't)

Tomorrow: bootcamp at 8am. I am dreading it after 3 weeks off. Then hoping to fast all morning. Homemade shake for lunch (already soaking my chia seeds) and then dinner will be huevros rancheros (Mexican baked eggs)

I miss wine. Wine

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CaptainBrickbeard · 03/01/2020 18:59

I have read that insomnia is common on low carb. When I’ve done it previously, I’ve woken very early like 5/5.30am but didn’t mind that as I would go for a run. I also like that time of morning to write. However, being awake at 2.30 sucks! Do you find it hard to stick to the plan and exercise when that happens?

FluffyEarMuffs · 03/01/2020 20:05

Evening all!

Day two done. For the second time 😁 But I am sticking to it this go around and I am determined to lose everything without another break.

I had a shake for lunch, and then a cauliflower and dahl dish from the book (not the separate recipe book) for dinner. I have also just stuck to eating within an 8 hour window - despite work trying to interfere!!

I don't massively like the specific recipe book. It's way too basic and easy and the flavours are just a bit bland I found before. Searching now for recipes in it though to do a meal plan for as I have a chance to do some shopping in the morning.

For me at the moment, I am eating 16:8 and sticking to 800 calories. I have also massively upped my walking every day and I intend to look harder for a yoga class I can fit in. Later, I will do a short water-only fast and then in a few weeks more, I will up the exercise. My issue before was I launched into intense exercise at the same time as starting 800 and it simply didn't work.

And please nobody suggest running quite yet. It's so bloody hilly where I live 😆

I am missing wine. A lot. I am determined not to drink any alcohol for at least 30 days though.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 03/01/2020 20:07

@CaptainBrickbeard yes I really do. I am very insulin sensitive so a really bad night just makes me incredibly insulin resistant. I listened to a podcast once where the doctor presenter said that just one bad night's sleep increases insulin resistance by some large amount, and several back to back can drive insulin resistance and blood sugar levels to the level of pre-diabetes. I can certainly believe that!

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CaptainBrickbeard · 03/01/2020 20:20

That’s so interesting that poor sleep increases insulin resistance so much. My youngest child was an extremely bad sleeper and I have recently come out of years of terrible sleep deprivation - coupled with a stressful job and maybe that’s why I’m the heaviest I have ever been!

PhoenixMama · 03/01/2020 20:21

I've had a rubbish day, grocery shop delivered late, plans changed and bad food choices made all round. And I just realised my coffee pods were missed off my grocery order 😭

My proper start was going to be Monday when dd goes back to school but didn't think it would go quite so wrong today!

I'm also late which probably doesn't help!

@Maccalenny Love that we're doing our yoga opposites! Honestly I love it do much - think the 30 day challenge is the highlight of my year!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 03/01/2020 20:47

@CaptainBrickbeard there is a series of podcasts by rangan chatterjee called 'feel better, live more' and it was one of those about sleep where there was reference to that study. The whole series is really interesting and informative actually, but I found the sleep one very good. But yes, it definitely affects me badly. You start to recognise your insulin fluctuations on this diet (it's what I used to think too much sugar felt like but it's actually insulin and it makes me feel properly weird, with that horrible 'not hungry but want to eat' constant feeling. I find it makes me very restless as well)

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Kimlek · 04/01/2020 00:09

Had a reasonable day today coming in at 830cals. And no alcohol 😇 had Belvoir cordial (rose something) with soda water. Really nice!
I made the tuna prawn egg fried rice for dinner from the recipe book, which wasn’t great. Everyone ate it but not enough flavours. I know exactly what you mean fluffyearmuffs some of the recipes are a bit meh.
I’m definitely sleep deprived and very interested in the studies you found bear. I’m especially interested to know more about the ‘want to eat but not hungry’ phenomena as I often feel like this... weirdly after I’ve just eaten!

Parsley1234 · 04/01/2020 00:17

Liking to start Monday VLCD has anyone done the meal replacements to get a good start then gone to food ? Planning on doing 800 16/8 but I normally just overwhelm myself by thinking oh I’ll do 30 days yoga coach to 5k and 800 and 16/8 then I get freaked out and eat I need to calm down ! Do I just need to take one day at a time ! Probably

CaptainBrickbeard · 04/01/2020 07:01

Parsley I have the meal replacement shakes but it’s recommended to only have 1-2 a day or 6-8 a week. So I’m having one for either breakfast or lunch and real food for the other 600 calories. It’s pleasantly surprising how satisfying that 600 calories can be, it’s nice to eat plenty of fresh vegetables after the Christmas feasting and it’s less isolating. I’ve done full on meal replacement shakes before for months and it gets depressing always eating differently to other people. Plus, it didn’t help me with good habits when I went back to real food hence me needing to lose weight again now! This way, I can make dinner for my children and eat with them - except I’m not having the pasta or potatoes.

For the first week, I’m just swimming and walking for exercise. I’ll bring in HIIT later (I’m planning on doing Ripped in 30 and actually making it past Level 2 at some point!) but whilst I haven’t been very hungry these first two days, I have felt weaker and more lightheaded so I’m keeping it gentle for now!

I am another two and a half pounds down this morning and it’s sooooooo motivating to see the numbers drop so quickly!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 04/01/2020 07:33

@Kimlek it's insulin resistance. There's lots of articles online, but I found the book 'the obesity code' to be the most informative I'd read. Robert lustig's 'fat chance' is also informative but a more heavy going read.
Ironically, I started reading thrilling books about blood sugar because I'm a chronic insomniac and chose something as dull as I could possibly find to read to help me sleep. How was I to know if would be so fascinating!
There are also loads of mini documentaries on YouTube if you search 'blood sugar' or insulin, you can find 'lectures' on it from universities etc.

I'll try and find some links but right now I'm off to bootcamp. This will NOT be pretty after 3 weeks off.

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Parsley1234 · 04/01/2020 08:11

@CaptainBrickbeard I’m thinking porridge latte With bar then meal with veggies on 16/8 I did 1 stone in a month last December before going on a fab holiday now I think it’s more like 2 but it’s getting into the right headspace and believing I can even though I have before

Parsley1234 · 04/01/2020 08:12

@thenewaveragebear1983 @Kimlek yes I feal like that too after eating I thought it was just me Blush

FluffyEarMuffs · 04/01/2020 08:13

@CaptainBrickbeard I tried a shake (vanilla) for the first time yesterday, and it was a bit bitty, but not unpleasant. I mixed it in my mixer, but I am pondering a small blender instead and to add some ice as it wasn't cold enough. Any tips?

I also thought it was 300 calories with almond milk. Do you use water instead of milk? I might try that today.

I have issues with lunches when I was working so my plan is to have one for lunch and then cook dinner properly. I don't eat breakfast.

blackistheneworange · 04/01/2020 08:34

One week down and I've lost 6lb! This is with an evening completely off it as we were at friends for New Year, although I still managed to limit my eating window on New Year's Eve.

I'm so happy! I tried losing weight with slimming world last year (yo-yo dieter) but had been convinced that my pre-menopausal state was stopping me, I signed up for 12 weeks and was heavier at the end of it than when I started! Blush

It's a small step in my journey but it's a start and has made me feel so positive about my chances of doing this!

CaptainBrickbeard · 04/01/2020 09:12

Fluffy I use water and yes, it’s very bitty! Not bad but not great! I am using them just for convenience, but once a day is definitely enough!

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