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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.

BSD and Fast800 support thread #17

999 replies

thenewaveragebear1983 · 06/01/2020 10:51

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.

Time restricted eating/TRE :
In addition to the fast800/ BSD plan you can incorporate a strategy of time restricted eating. Put simply, this means only eating between certain times each day to maximise your fasting time. TRE has shown to have positive results for weightloss, even if there is no calorie restriction, and increases insulin sensitivity/reduces insulin resistance. At first, try for a clear 12 hours without food each 24 hours, increasing to 16:8 as you get more adept at fasting.

Some useful links:

previous thread

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

information about the ‘whoosh’ phenomenon

OP posts:
Thread gallery
23
onanothertrain · 21/01/2020 17:57

Another good day Yoghurt and Raspberries for breakfast, egg salad for lunch and quorn Sausages, cauliflower and broccoli cheese with roast peppers for dinner. Did a hiit and a yoga YouTube video too.

Kimlek · 21/01/2020 19:40

I saw the TK diet programme too and felt horrified!
I’m closing the kitchen at 1000 cals as had a latte whilst waiting for daughter’s hospital appointment... my carbs are high as had beans at lunch (speedy spicy albeit weren’t very spicy) and then tuna patties which had chickpeas in plus ratouille. Quite a few of the recipes are still quite carby despite being low cal. I may start putting carbs in my plan as well as cals. Must remember to measure tomorrow am!!

Gjem · 21/01/2020 20:42

I’ve been on the verge all day of eating chocolate/cake/anything I’m not meant to be eating. Have resisted besides 4 chocolate buttons (the tiny ones!) so I’m taking that as a win. Mozzarella tofu tomatoes guac & tzatziki for lunch, and Thai pork mince stir fry for dinner taking me to 800 cals.

Today’s the first day it hasn’t felt easy - hope weigh in in the morning is kind to me!

Gillster · 21/01/2020 23:14

2lbs off this morning so pleased with that although still a 1lb heavier than my lowest weight last week.

Have drunk over 2.5litres of water and have done lots of steps in going to the toilet! Around 10,500 steps today so have kept up with my 10,000 steps per day for every day in Jan - only another 10 days to go.

Had a black coffee this morning, chicken caesar-ish salad for lunch, frozen blueberries and Greek yogurt as a late afternoon snack and chicken Tika Masala with cauli rice for tea. It will be over 800 calories but I would struggle on less. Feel absolutely stuffed at the moment and can't imagine I've lost any weight given how full I currently feel.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 22/01/2020 06:15

10.9.6 today, so nearly a pound off.

I tend to have a good fasting day on a Wednesday because I work over lunchtime and provided I can keep out of the fridge after school I can have just my dinner and maybe some yoghurt.

Food today is a salmon parcel using filo pastry and salmon which I will marinade in soy and ginger all day, then wrap in filo later. I have a big bag of stir fry veg to go with that.

OP posts:
CaptainBrickbeard · 22/01/2020 06:33

Oh for fuck’s sake. I have now officially stalled all the way through Week 3. I fasted 15 and a half hours yesterday, stuck to calories, hardly any carbs, felt weak and shitty all day but dragged myself out to get my steps in, drank a ton of water and herbal tea. Still stuck on 13lbs loss total. Still can’t say I’ve lost a stone. Honestly feel like crying.

Gjem · 22/01/2020 08:01

@CaptainBrickbeard I’m with you. Today I’m finally back down to what I weighed on Sunday. Meaning this week I’ve lost a whole 1.5kg/3.3lbs (I have a lot to lose!). I had an 18 hour fast yesterday, every single day this week I haven’t strayed from the plan, drank minimum 2.5L water. Argh. My carbs are around 25g with both fat and protein being between 50-60g.

Annoyed. We’re away for a few days Sunday to Wednesday so was hoping for a great loss before then, and I have birthday celebrations Saturday so I won’t weigh for a few days after Friday. Hoping for a whoosh in the next couple of days.

PhoenixMama · 22/01/2020 08:47

Hey @CaptainBrickbeard that sucks. I know the feeling well! Do you want to post your macros & we can take a look? Have you lost any inches? Also are you getting enough salt? I have to put loads of salt on everything with this woe.

@Gjem I think your protein is a bit low tbh try aiming for 70g. Also I need 3L of water minimum to see loss, 2.5L does nothing for me.

Down another lb this morning which is good but still not back to my lowest. Wondering if the cold has something to do.with it? Woke up starving & wanting carbs so not ideal. Am going to have a super early night tonight & try to get more hot beverages in me.

Dinner tonight is BSD chicken wrapped in Parma ham with loads of greens & lunch is soup so should be on track today! As long as I don't derail myself!

Riddleofthesands · 22/01/2020 09:50

How frustrating CaptainBrickbeard, your body is fighting you, if it were me I would try something different for a day, more fat and protein go up a couple of hundred calories.

I am having a cold smoked mackerel fillet and salad leaves for lunch, dinner is baked eggs with spinach and mushrooms, with a side of steamed broccoli.

Gjem · 22/01/2020 10:02

Thanks @PhoenixMama that’s helpful, I’ll try that. Today’s food is already planned and bought so I’ll be having 51g but will try to increase it tomorrow. Well done on your lb loss - I think being ill always affects weight so hopefully you’ll lose a bit more when you’re feeling better.

TheForgetfulCat · 22/01/2020 10:03

CaptainBrickbeard many sympathies! But actually don't forget that 13lb off in 3 weeks is bloody amazing. I started when you did and am officially on 9 and a bit at end of week 3. So you're well ahead of me.
This is a great diet and the only one I've ever lost weight on, but I do think it perhaps over promises a little bit?

I'm sure more will come off soon!

FantasticButtocks · 22/01/2020 10:09

I have upped my water intake now, and am so grateful for that reminder! And now my weight is down after a few weeks of staying around 10 stone. I am today 9st9!!! And I'm thrilled and delighted, considering a year ago I was nearly 13 stone! Now I just need to keep going, and hopefully I've reversed the pre-diabetes Smile

FantasticButtocks · 22/01/2020 10:11

When I say 'keep going' I mean stay here at this weight, don't go backwards! Keep going with this type of eating - for the rest of my life!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 22/01/2020 10:21

@FantasticButtocks well done
@TheForgetfulCat well done to you too!
I agree that we can sometimes hear these amazing weight losses and obviously want a bit of that for ourselves- but they don't take into account people's starting weights, metabolism, activity levels, etc etc plus how much visceral fat you have and how insulin resistant you are in the first place. I'm a fairly slow loser now as I retain a lot of water, I have no visceral fat, and I probably don't eat enough fat. I never get into ketosis.

@CaptainBrickbeard you have done really well so stick with it, plateaus are common on this plan as you know, and if you look at your loss over 3 weeks it's still amazing!

@PhoenixMama I definitely find that when I've got a cold brewing my appetite for carbs Ramps right up.

I believe I am still very insulin resistant, despite doing this plan for years. I just think my physiology is very hormone dependent, I have PCOS, I had gestational diabetes and I've always been a hormonal moody grump for half the month. It is what it is.

OP posts:
TheForgetfulCat · 22/01/2020 13:57

It is all a bit about working out how your body functions and going with that isn't it?

I've just been on the NHS BMI app to see if I was in healthy weight range yet (nearly) and it advised me I needed between 1600 and 2000 cals and to stick to the lower end of the range to lose 1-2lb per week. Nice idea but I fear my peri menopausal metabolism would be very happy with 1600 plus cals a day!

Hellsbells0509 · 22/01/2020 14:14

Following as doing the 8 week 800 cal BSD. Currently in 2nd week.

Kimlek · 22/01/2020 17:45

Hello hellsbells welcome!

I agree that it’s easy to get frustrated when weight loss slows down as we hear about huge losses especially at the beginning. There’s a BSD chat that I keep stumbling upon and there’s lots of complaints about the 3rd week being problematic. to be honest I think 13lb in 3 weeks is fabulous captain so well done you!! Keep it up!

I’ve been starving all day!! Fasted until 1pm then had the remainder of the spicy beans. Was still hungry and despite drinking 1.5l of herbal tea, still hungry... 20 almonds later and mire herbal tea! Gave in at 430pm and made my dinner early - Tuna patties & ratatouille. I’m a bit concerned that I’ll be hungry again around 7/8pm but with 784 calories already consumed I’m not too sure what I could do.

Pajamagirl · 22/01/2020 17:53

Can someone please give me the recipe for spicy beans , thanks

TheForgetfulCat · 22/01/2020 18:05

Just enjoyed a Hairy Dieters recipe which is also very BSD friendly. We have several of the Hairy Dieters books. This one is turkey laab - Thai salad. Shredded Chinese cabbage, grated carrot, spring onions and radishes. Then turkey mince sautéed with garlic, ginger and chilis and some fish sauce and freshly squeezed lime juice.

Highly recommended Smile

thenewaveragebear1983 · 22/01/2020 18:51

That sounds delicious @TheForgetfulCat

I'm closing the kitchen on 1250 cals, 80g carbs (had loads of veg) and I know I haven't had nearly enough water today. I have that usual Wednesday night exhaustion setting in! My food was delicious though, I wrapped salmon fillets (frozen ones) in a single sheet of filo pastry (50 cals) and sprinkled with lemon and thyme salt. It was so tasty! Served with stir fry veg.

Tomorrow I'm invigilating at a local school exams, so will need to eat something light or my stomach with rumble all morning! So will probably skip lunch.
I am then baking 100 cupcakes for the pta along with a salted caramel popcorn cake with cream cheese frosting (sorry, sorry...) which will test my resolve somewhat.
Dinner will be a vegan ready meal as Dh is away and the kids will have sausages so I will just have that from the freezer when I get in from work at 8.30. I haven't checked the stats in it, but it's lentil, squash and quinoa so I'm guessing it will be pretty hefty although overall cals are low.

OP posts:
TheForgetfulCat · 22/01/2020 18:56

Here's an online recipe for anyone else who fancies:

www.onwardsdownwards.co.uk/2018/05/22/hairy-dieters-thai-turkey-mince-salad/

Salmon sounds lovely too! Have chilli and ginger salmon on the menu later.

Making 100 cupcakes would test the patience of a saint! I'd have at least one, plus probably three more in mixture. Enjoy, anyway.

Maccalenny · 22/01/2020 19:43

I definitely agree with week three being a problem...I know I stalled there, and there was a lot of talk on the thread with others who started at same time having the same week three plateau. Hang in there ‘captainbrickbeard it will be all worth it!

onanothertrain · 22/01/2020 20:16

Another day on plan with a rather random dinner of Courgette fritters, fried egg and Brussel sprouts. Was good though and I'm stuffed now.

CaptainBrickbeard · 22/01/2020 20:38

Thanks for all the words of encouragement! I don’t know what my calorie or carb count is today because I went out for lunch - ordered a vegan salad which was homemade slaw (very vinegary and delicious!), roasted root veg, lentils, leaves and beetroot topped off with hummus. It was amazing! I’ve felt hungrier than usual all day and sooooo tempted to snaffle some chocolate or similar but kept it to two squares of 70% dark. Breakfast and dinner were on plan but I went over on calories for sure. 3l of water/herbal tea and I added salt to my food.

Leaving aside the weight loss, I have got to just feel good about all the veg I’ve eaten and water I’ve drunk in the past three weeks - not to mention the drastic reduction in sugar. It’s got to have done me so much good!

Kimlek · 22/01/2020 20:45

@Pajamagirl the speedy spicy beans recipe is p54 in the 8 week BSD recipe book but for two people is- 1 chopped onion sautéed in tbsp oil, add 1 chopped courgette, 1 chopped red pepper, 2 garlic cloves, 2 tsp chilli flakes, once softened add 1 tin of low sugar baked beans, splash of Worcester sauce. 250 cals but 37g carbs for each person.

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