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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.

Original poster

The 8 weeks of BSD

98 replies

bridgetreilly · 13/09/2019 10:58

I know there's the ongoing excellent threads for people doing BSD/Fast800 etc, but I wondered if we could also have a thread for those who are on the actual 8 weeks of BSD, rather than maintaining or doing other versions.

I did it a couple of years ago, lost a couple of stone, felt great, but then lots of life happened and I put it all back on and more. Recently I have had a huge wake-up call with some serious health issues, including a type-2 diabetes diagnosis. So I am very grateful that I already read the book and know what to do. But I need to be serious and strict about it.

I am monitoring my blood pressure at home and I am monitoring my blood sugars via the GP. My goal is to reverse the diabetes, and to come off all my medication. My GP and nurse practitioner are absolutely on board with this goal, though I think they are more cautious about how long it might take than I am.

My current eating pattern is:
Breakfast: full fat natural yoghurt, half a dozen blueberries, pinch of toasted flaked almonds, cup of tea with milk.

Lunch: lettuce cup with tuna mayo, 5 cherry tomatoes, 2 walnuts.

Dinner: something from the BSD book or recipe book.

I can't and won't measure everything and calorie count. That's why I like to use the recipe books so I can follow their portion sizes and know that I'll be in the right ball park.

My starting weight was 18'2, I'm currently on Day 5 of week 1 and I have lost 7 pounds. I've been to the gym once and plan to go again today. This is the beginning of the rest of my life.

OP posts:
Hackahacka · 14/09/2019 09:04

Wow 7lbs! Well done you.
I'm starting again today so have just come onto this board to see if I could find a helpful thread!
I tend to use the meal plans in the recipe books for the first couple of weeks to get me back on track. Like you, I did well on this a couple of years ago but put all the weight and more back on.
I'm aware now of the need to maintain at the end so I'm hoping to find a better, sensible way of eating once I've got rid of my excess (1.5 stone).

Original poster
bridgetreilly · 14/09/2019 16:23

Great! I find it much easier to use the meal plans rather than count and weigh and calculate everything.

OP posts:
Original poster
bridgetreilly · 22/09/2019 13:08

It hasn't been the best week, with a conference for two days and a meal out with family where there were no good low-carb options, but I am still 2 lbs down on this time last week, so I'm counting that as a win.

OP posts:
Original poster
bridgetreilly · 07/10/2019 14:51

4 weeks in to BSD and I have lost 15 lbs (plus the 8 lbs I lost before starting), and the really good news is that I am coming off one of my blood pressure medications. I am still on two others, plus the metformin for high blood sugar which they don't want to test again until it's been 3 months, but it's all looking good.

OP posts:
ILiveInSalemsLot · 08/10/2019 21:18

Oh wow how inspiring. I was just browsing the boards looking for inspiration to do the bsd.
I’m going to give it a go.

ShakespearesSisters · 12/10/2019 17:50

Well done, I'm getting the book off my MIL tomorrow, she bought it for my FIL who was told he was T2 diabetic almost 2 years ago. He followed it and is no longer classed as diabetic.
I've been doing 16:8 since the beginning of october while I've been waiting. I've not really changed what I'm eating but just limited the time I can eat.
I'm currently 8 weeks post op from a foot operation so not eating in the morning has been easy as it's such a bloody effort to make things while on crutches!
I didn't weigh myself before I started unfortunately, it's not easy balancing on a scales with one foot, and I was wearing a cast so didn't bother.
For my 1st 6 weeks I sat on the sofa and stuffed my face with the chocolates and cakes people brought round so I imagine I put some weight on.
Anyway, 4 days after starting I had my cast off and went into an airbootwhich I was able to take off, I weighed the same as I did pre op. And this morning I'm 7lbs down :-)
I'm going to attempt to follow the diet more closely when I get the book.
Good luck to you.

Original poster
bridgetreilly · 16/10/2019 21:46

Definitely do it, both of you!

OP posts:
ILiveInSalemsLot · 17/10/2019 22:20

I started yesterday.
It’s not easy but I need to do something quite urgently as I feel like I’m just getting heavier and feeling more lethargic.
I’ll report back on how I’m doing Smile
Hope you’re doing well.

wowfudge · 18/10/2019 21:00

I'm two weeks in. Didn't weigh myself at the start or take measurements but have definitely lost some weight already. Need to keep it up until we go away in about a month.

I did the six weeks of BSD about three years ago and lost a stone and a half. I kept it off for ages too but didn't do anything to maintain and slid back to bad habits. I am determined not to be fat and middle aged.

Peachypips78 · 19/10/2019 18:35

Hi everyone- I'm glad to find as slightly smaller thread for current 8-weekers. Can I join you?

I too have lost weight in the past with various diets and have put it back on. I am now the heaviest I have been apart from immediately after birth.

I have tried 5.2 and it hasn't worked as I can't control myself around carbs and the weight loss was just too slow. I want to stick to the 8-12 weeks, get the weight off then follow a really intentional maintenance plan so I don't put it back on- I'm so fed up with being overweight.

My plan is to follow the menu for the 12 weeks. I need to lose around 3 stone- I am currently 13 stone ish but am 5'2" so it isn't a good look. My maintenance plan is to initially do the Med diet all the time with three days a week at 800 cals. If I continue to lose then I'll think about reducing it to two days per week. I will weigh every day starting next Monday.

ILiveInSalemsLot · 19/10/2019 19:41

I can’t control myself around carbs either. I felt so down when the dcs had my favourite breakfast this morning - marmite on toast. I could quite happily live off toast. Marmite, cheese, marmalade.
But toast is why I’m in this situation. I think I seriously have to accept that I should never eat it again Sad

wowfudge · 19/10/2019 23:25

I was out for around twelve hours today from 8am and was really careful about what I ate - a small Skyr pot in Eat and a chicken and kale salad for lunch and chicken with veg for tea. Had half a bottle of red wine this evening, but as a one off after over seven hours on my feet, I'm not going to be hard on myself.

Peachypips78 · 21/10/2019 10:16

Funnily enough toast is my downfall too. I LOVE marmite, real butter and white bread. Sad

However, I'm doing this. I feel massive! Am doing a stepped approach- for the next five days I am carb free but not counting my 800. Hoping this will minimise the carb flu before I drop my calories. Starting counting on Sat. Argh.

wowfudge · 21/10/2019 20:39

I use My Fitness Pal to track calories - very handy. I have 50 calories spare today and I'm not hungry. Found some really nice, smooth Skyr at lunchtime which would be good for breakfast or a pudding. It was in M&S.

wowfudge · 21/10/2019 20:41

I've been taking one a day vitamin D tablets for a couple of weeks too - I find I'm much more inclined to eat large amounts of sugary and carby stuff if I'm feeling down. I do think my mood has improved.

Peachypips78 · 25/10/2019 11:15

How is everyone getting on? I have finished my lead up week of low carb and am reducing to 800 tomorrow. I am weighing for the first time in the morning.

I'm not really hungry so hoping that this will be it!

wowfudge · 25/10/2019 14:50

Hi Peachy - I'm doing well. Had one blip on one day. Other than that, I'm happy and can tell I'm losing weight.

ILiveInSalemsLot · 25/10/2019 19:18

I’m doing ok too. Have lost a few lbs. I’m not getting too excited yet as things usually fall apart after the first 2 weeks.
I’m finding it easy so far and getting lots of inspiration from YouTube so fingers crossed I’ll be able to stick to it and lose those 2 stone I want.

wowfudge · 25/10/2019 19:22

You'll be fine. If you really want to do it, you will.

Original poster
bridgetreilly · 26/10/2019 10:16

Well done, everyone!

I'm almost at 7 weeks and have lost 27 lbs so far. Need to go back to the doctors in a couple of weeks for another blood test, so I plan to stick pretty strictly to the BSD at least until then, and then maybe move to 5:2 or something.

OP posts:
Peachypips78 · 26/10/2019 20:05

Salem- i always struggle at two weeks too when the novelty wears off.

Well done others- all really encouraging to read. 27lbs is incredible. I weighed in this morning for the first time. 13 st 3 pounds. Looking forward to seeing that number go down.

Original poster
bridgetreilly · 27/10/2019 14:13

One of the things I like about BSD is that it is time-limited. At 2 weeks, you're a quarter of the way through! Only 6 weeks to go. Anyone can do that, two weeks at a time.

OP posts:
Original poster
bridgetreilly · 05/11/2019 23:16

I was busy yesterday and forgot to post - my 8 weeks was up and 32 lbs lost. It's another 2 weeks before I can get an appointment to go back and have more tests and see where I'm at. I know my blood pressure is still good, so I'm hopeful I can come off more of that medication, and I am really hoping that the blood sugars will also be sufficiently improved to come off that one too. I need to stay pretty much on plan until then, so that's good motivation to keep going.

OP posts:
PenelopeFlintstone · 06/11/2019 01:08

Wow!! That’s fantastic!!
(And also very inspiring.)

Original poster
bridgetreilly · 06/11/2019 10:05

Thanks! It works if you work it.

OP posts:
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