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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
FluffyEarMuffs · 26/01/2020 12:38

@CaptainBrickbeard I am also up 2lbs. You are not alone!!!

Let's both go back to basics next week and try and add something extra walking/exercise wise in??

thenewaveragebear1983 · 26/01/2020 14:53

Here's my schedule for the week, the butternut squash I've just seen on Sunday Brunch and it looked amazing. Other than that my food feels a bit Samey but they are the staple things I know we will eat.
I've also made the decision to reintroduce a bit of dairy into my diet. I am struggling to get the fat in without it plus the dairy subs tend to be high in carbs (eg dairy free cheese has potato starch in it?) I will monitor my digestive symptoms and my rosacea and see whether it is affecting those to reintroduce a small amount.
I haven't calorie counted this yet but I know I can do these two meals each day at 800 or less and I can also factor in some yogurt and berries without exceeding 1000 (it helps me a great deal to have this 'treat' available)
My workouts are all planned in as well and in on the long run days I can get a bit more flexible as if I run 10k I can afford to add a few extra calories.

BSD and Fast800 support thread #17
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PhoenixMama · 26/01/2020 21:10

Arrrggggg. My day and my weekend has been so out of control! I don't even want to think about how many carbs I've eaten. I will actually cry if I do. Got a call yesterday from a friend to help her with a work project which is amazing for me career-wise but has meant I've had to try to work at home today with DD doing her best to drive me bonkers and be totally needy. None of my menu planning has been done, haven't done my online shop, have no real food in the house. Dinner was take away pizza. Seriously. Today has been a mess. Going to bed so I can't get it even more wrong! Looking forward to clawing myself back tomorrow!

Kimlek · 27/01/2020 07:06

Happy scale says I’ve lost 3lbs in 7 days but I’ve been static for the last 5! I’ve lost 6lbs since starting on 1st Jan. 6lbs is better than nothing but I’m finding it frustratingly slow. Going to up my water as not sure if I’ve drink enough over the last few days.

TheForgetfulCat · 27/01/2020 07:25

Well that's interesting and depressing. Having let myself off the leash for DHs birthday and my brothers wedding day, the scales say 12 st 5 again, up from 12 st 1 on Thursday.

Bloody well hope at least some of it is water and will vanish as fast as it arrived, but hey ho. Back to the grindstone.

Happy Monday to everyone else!

PhoenixMama · 27/01/2020 07:38

I'm up 5lbs since Friday - most of that is water from the booze, back on it today!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 27/01/2020 07:55

I'm up a few as well but I came on finally today so I'd imagine that is largely bloating and water retention.
Going to Boxing this morning, not planning to eat until lunchtime. It's proper focus time for me this week- I am dangerously close to 11.0 stone and I really don't want to go up a stone bracket so it's back to basics for me this week. I'm not going to weigh myself til Friday though, I'm going to give it a good shot for a few days first

Meals today will be Tuna salad and dinner will be a baked butternut squash thing with garlic and herb spinach and hazelnuts with feta cheese (looked v nice on cookery show).

Have a great week everyone!

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FluffyEarMuffs · 27/01/2020 08:02

I am still up 2lbs, but period started.

I think I'll try and fast all day, but I have some avocado and eggs to poach if it gets too much.

I am just feeling low this morning. I need something to read to keep me going when it gets like this.

Hellsbells0509 · 27/01/2020 10:18

Week 3 meal plan for me. My OH is away wth work all week and I'm juggling 3 kids, work and all the usual house stuff on my own which spells danger for the diet.

Children wake up really early (7 year old was awake at 4.30 whistling this morning)  so I feel Like I've done a full day already. And with no one to share the wake ups I'm going to be seriously sleep deprived (and carb craving) in no time.

8lbs off in 2 weeks - I'm pleased with but feel like it's starting to slow/stall already! I'm with you @thenewaveragebear1983 sticking to the basics And @Kimlek drinking more water. Hope to stick on track with you all

BSD and Fast800 support thread #17
Kimlek · 27/01/2020 11:35

bear can you post your butternut squash recipe that you’re making this eve please as I think my lot would like that!
hellsbells I have 3 kids too but mine are older so easier and I love DH being away!! We eat so much healthier when he’s away. He's a bugger for buying pies, lovely bread & last night returned home with several bags of tobelerones!! Including dark ones that the kids don’t like but I do. He’s such a sabotager.
I’m having spinach & lentils for lunch & courgette puttanesca for dinner. I had a coffee with full fat milk this am and don’t plan on anymore. Just herbal tea & water. So that comes in at around 550 cals. So I’ll probably need a mid afternoon snack. Looking at my nutrients fats are high but protein low. Anyone got a good idea for a 200 cal high protein snack? I don’t like boiled eggs. I’ve walked the dog for an hour and have an hours pilates later. I’m going to post my plan and cals on here everyday to help monitor/commit.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 27/01/2020 13:05

@Kimlek it was on Sunday brunch yesterday morning, and the recipes aren't online yet. Basically It was a butternut squash sliced in half and baked in the skin. On a frying pan sauté some spinach, garlic, butter, herbs. Toast some hazelnuts. Serve the spinach in the roast BNS and top with the hazelnuts and maybe some feta cheese or goats cheese

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Riddleofthesands · 27/01/2020 13:07

Hi Kimlek I love lentils and spinach too, you could have 200 kc snack from these, I think the protein should be good, celery and humous, small mackerel fillet, salmon/tuna/chicken portion, cheese and almonds, apple and peanut butter.

Kimlek · 27/01/2020 14:53

Thanks riddle
bear I record Sunday kitchen so will watch but that sounds delicious!!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 27/01/2020 16:45

@Kimlek I've had to move it to tomorrow as I found something in the fridge that needed eaten today! Will keep you posted

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Kimlek · 27/01/2020 17:57

bear Grin that made me giggle as I do that all the time!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 27/01/2020 20:25

I've ended up a bit over today after my 11th hour menu change.... but the meal we had was nice, it was a pre made coq au vin so was very tasty. I have had a few nuts as a snack during the day as well.

Despite being over, there's been no sugar at all for the first time in ages, which is a massive positive. I did an hours boxercise this morning, and have done 14k steps.

Looking forward to a fairly relaxed day tomorrow. I'm going to go for a good long run which I am looking forward to and other than that have a quiet day before work in the evening. Food will be a salad lunch probably with egg, and dinner will be the butternut squash that was supposed to be tonight!

I haven't drunk enough today and will try to get a few pints in tonight and try to increase tomorrow.

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FluffyEarMuffs · 27/01/2020 21:28

Evening everyone 👋🏻

I have done a water fast today. I have some lovely fish arriving though in my Abel and Cole delivery in the morning, and so am planning fish tomorrow evening. If I can, I'll fast until then so it's 48+ hours as I last ate yesterday mid afternoon, but if not, I'll have a couple of poached eggs at lunch with salad as I have some fresh ones of those coming tomorrow too.

I did a yoga class this evening, and a brisk dog walk. It's been crazy today at work, I barely moved from my desk. My work has been negatively affected by the issues in China and is losing a lot of money. If I don't make myself, I end up working straight through lunch, etc.

When I am doing an extended fast though, I have found that mentally I am powering through my To Do lists with a completely clear head. That side of it is great. I also don't feel hungry at all, and can now cook two lots of dinners when fasting and not even lick the hummus spoon 😆

Once I am in the zone, I am fine!

Kimlek · 28/01/2020 06:56

I’m up a 1lb this morning. How is that possible? Static for 5 days and then up. I don’t mind been static but gaining!! Especially when it’s only been 5lbs since I started on 1st Jan. Feeling very grumpy this morning as it makes no sense. I’ve logged everything on MFP and I’m between 750-1000 but mostly 850 mark since Jan 1st. Grrr! Not sure what I’m doing wrong.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 28/01/2020 07:43

I am feeling quite positive today, I slept well and haven't weighed this morning as per my plan (not weighing til Friday)

Sorry to hear you're struggling @Kimlek , I'm sure you're doing the right things and it's just water but just run through the checklist: carbs, fat, protein in the right proportions? Enough water? Enough salt? Enough sleep? Have you recently started or increased exercising?

I'd definitely suggest doing measurements as at times like this it can be because you're losing inches and it's as if the body can't do both at the same time!

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Kimlek · 28/01/2020 09:02

Thanks bear and pleased you feel positive! I feel quite bloated but not due on. I’m still not sure what the proportions should be. I find it hard to get protein to a decent level. Carbs are generally around 30g and never over 50g but fats & proteins seem to vary massively!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 28/01/2020 09:15

@Kimlek does your app give you a percentage of macros as well as grams? This is my predicted menu today so fat is by far the biggest proportion. It is possible to eat too much protein and that can affect your blood sugars as well and it could be just that you are especially insulin sensitive so you haven't adjusted your insulin response as quickly as some people do.

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PhoenixMama · 28/01/2020 10:12

Morning all. Sorry you're struggling @Kimlek, that's really frustrating. But remember a pound will be water. Not getting enough protein really does slow me down. I've started have 2 fried eggs a day, around 11 and it keeps me going most of the day but is also great protein! I also used to buy chicken tikka pieces from Waitrose and have them in my bag when I'm on the go - that helped too.

I'm down 2lb today but I'm also due on in a day or so so I know it's going to be out of whack for 5 or 6 days so will try to be patient!

FluffyEarMuffs · 28/01/2020 12:08

Morning all

I am still half a lb up from where I was last Friday 🙄 I am hoping that drops soon.

I am adding in another early morning fitness class tomorrow. I hate the thought, but I need results.

Yoga last night was good and it made me think of a question. What is the 30 days of yoga a few of you are doing? I have tried googling and there seems to be a few options? Is it a paid for thing? Do you have to start it at the beginning of a month??

thenewaveragebear1983 · 28/01/2020 12:42

@Kimlek I realise I didn't add my picture to my post

BSD and Fast800 support thread #17
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Kimlek · 28/01/2020 13:58

Thank you all.
These are my macros for yesterday bear very different to my goal macros. I’m not sure why there’s so much fat & so little protein. I had the BSD spinach lentils for lunch, 100g chicken as a snack (as noticed protein low) & courgetti puttanesca for dinner, I also had half a Freddie frog. All counted on MFP to be 830 cals. I also drank lots of herbal tea.

BSD and Fast800 support thread #17
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