Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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 · 06/01/2020 18:15

Evening all.

I have struggled today. I seem obsessed with food every minute suddenly and it's constantly on my thoughts.

The rest of the family are having Chinese takeaway tonight as well.... and I am having leftovers and a salad (and no wine) 😔

Anyway, I shall stay resolved.

But I wanted to do a few days of a water fast soon and the idea seems impossible at the moment 😆

CaptainBrickbeard · 06/01/2020 18:50

Phoenix if you were close to fainting, maybe you needed some extra calories - I wouldn’t worry about trying to ‘absorb’ them into your day too much. Hope you are feeling better now.

Youhavewonaprize I couldn’t contemplate serious exercise right now! On Day 5 and have been swimming every day except yesterday, but only a moderate breaststroke and I’m doing shorter swims than before, also going more slowly. Today I felt a bit of strength return so am hopeful I can get back to normal performance and that my body is adjusting.

I think I’m closer to 900 than 800 today but pretty happy overall. I’m being kind to myself in this diet - it’s a pretty hardcore plan and I’m not going to beat myself up about it. I was trying for 16 hour fasts but I’m just not there - it was too much, too soon. I can manage 14 hours without too much of a struggle so that will do for now.

Ijumpedtheshark I’m using the Fast 800 recipe book a lot to make it easier. I also have some of the shakes but am using them less than I expected. So far, I have had breakfasts of: Greek yoghurt, seeds and berries or scrambled eggs with leek/spinach. For lunch I’ve been making salads with some protein like tuna or feta. And for dinner, I’ve had fish and lentils with veg like broccoli or cabbage a couple of times. There is a lot of really satisfying and delicious food on this diet, just small portions which sometimes feel too few and far between!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 06/01/2020 19:20

Closing the kitchen on 894 cals, 70g carbs (seems a lot but I've had a lot of veg today) so I'm really pleased with that. It's considerably less than I have been eating recently and I have actually weighed and measured everything rather than guess.

Tomorrow: hurray, the kids go back to school!! I am going for a nice run in the morning, then will have another shake as a lunch/brunch type thing. I am working tomorrow night so will have tuna and salad at about 4.30 then dinner after work is veggie chilli and cauli rice. Should be a good day!

OP posts:
PhoenixMama · 06/01/2020 19:50

Closing the kitchen at 886 with extra snacks to help my little fainting spell.

Stuffed peppers for dinner tomorrow and the dreaded Day 6 of Adriene's 30 Days where she goes hard on abs! Might do stuffed mushrooms for lunch but might also do soup - will see how I'm feeling! No scale movement this morning but hoping to see a difference tomorrow!

KIMLek · 06/01/2020 20:01

Shiny new thread! Thanks bear

CaptainBrickbeard · 06/01/2020 20:32

I had cut out evening snacking before Christmas but fell back into it (along with drinking!) and now finding it really hard to resist. I think it’s the temptation to boredom-eat. I need to find a really engrossing book or tv show to keep my mind out of the fridge!

SegregateMumBev · 07/01/2020 07:10

I found a sachet of protein powder when clearing out the cupboards - Linwoods Hemp protein +

Are there any savoury recipes I can use it in?

Colourmylife1 · 07/01/2020 07:13

Day 6 today and down 1.2kg. Another 1.5-2kg to go. I will try to stay on 800 cals for another week and see where I am then. I have a 2 week work trip at the end of next week so will be trying to maintain during that. Last time I lost 3kg from food poisoning but will not be trying to repeat thatGrin
After weeks of snacking over Christmas I am finding it hard to break the habit.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 07/01/2020 07:13

2lbs down after my good day yesterday!

OP posts:
mumtumdocare · 07/01/2020 07:28

Starting this today, got the books etc, very excited as I have a 4 week holiday to lose weight for in 12 weeks and I know from past experience that low carb really suits me. Left to my own devices I am but a carb slave!
Thanks for having me! Smile
Going to make a fast800 friendly soup today, blue cheese & broccoli one looks delish.

Youhavewonaprize · 07/01/2020 08:11

Well done @Colourmylife1 and @thenewaveragebear1983 on your weight loss this morning! Day 7 and down 3.7kg. Lost 0.2kg each of the last two days, hoping this pattern keeps up for the next few weeks.

@mumtumdocare I’m also doing this for a holiday at the end of March. Planning to do 8 weeks on 800 and relax it a bit before holiday. Don’t want to go nuts on holiday either though so hopefully will have learned some good behaviours by then!

Hope everyone has a good day

Colourmylife1 · 07/01/2020 08:30

Some great results here! Very motivating to hear how everyone is doing. Low carb works best for me too. As a peri/menopausal woman it’s the only thing I’ve found to be effective.

FluffyEarMuffs · 07/01/2020 08:39

Morning.

Weight the same as yesterday. Disturbed dreams all night. Woken up with a bad headache.

I don't want to take a paracetamol on an empty stomach so just trying to drink lots of water.

Urgh. Day 6.

CaptainBrickbeard · 07/01/2020 08:44

Day 6 and I’ve lost half a stone which takes me below 17 stone for the first time in over a year. So happy!

PhoenixMama · 07/01/2020 08:47

@FluffyEarMuffs Sounds like Keto.flu! Loads of water (3L+) & extra salt, I also find magnesium helps too.

Ended up fighting DD intoned last night so not relaxing & then later than hoped so didn't do yoga when I got up, a decision I'm already regretting!

Down another 1lb this morning so back going the right way at least. Slightly backed up, which I expected but aim to solidly get water in me today which will help!

CaptainBrickbeard · 07/01/2020 09:00

I have a silly dilemma - really want to go and see Little Women but fear the temptation of cinema snacks will be too great!

Fluffy I know ibuprofen is a no-no on an empty stomach but I didn’t think paracetamol was? Water and coffee might help your head though. Hope it passes soon.

Is anyone else taking a multivitamin? I’m trying to remember and hoping it helps. It’s a Wellwoman one that has magnesium and potassium in it which I vaguely think might alleviate some carb flu feelings?

I’ve had the spiced fruit porridge for breakfast which was lovely. Working outside home today so setting off with a rather small looking salad for lunch! I won’t get many steps in today and haven’t got time for a swim either so going to try to stick as close to 800 cals as I can.

Riddleofthesands · 07/01/2020 09:36

Thanks for the new thread Bear, thought I posted yesterday but it hasn’t appeared.

Flat out here, last minute homework and hair appointments etc before return to school tomorrow.

D2 for me. D1 was good, no booze, chicken leftovers for lunch and omelette for dinner, 800 kc or a little under.

Hope everyone has a good day.

onanothertrain · 07/01/2020 11:15

Hi all, is it ok if I jump back in? Went solo and did well following the plan and maintained my loss. However an injury in November meant no exercise for 7 weeks and then Christmas happened Blush. Clothes still fitting fine but I feel a bit chunky round my middle and I'm getting married this year. So I'm here for some accountability and plan on 800 cals a day for at least a couple of weeks and then I'll decide on a weekly basis I think.

Moknicker · 07/01/2020 13:46

First day over. Im down a pound. Im not sure how to exactly count calories but roughly kept to 800. Did my gym class. Today is a step class so lets see how i fare.
Toughest bit for me is the afternoon when i crack. Got through yesterday with coffee and fizzy water.

mumtumdocare · 07/01/2020 14:12

I'm really struggling to get the advised amount of protein in per day. I do eat meat and eggs but don't really want to be eating these multiple times per day. Any tips on protein rich snacks with minimal calories? Bonus points for veggie.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 07/01/2020 14:19

Have you tried the quorn picnic eggs @mumtumdocare ? I bought some yesterday, they are nice, taste very authentic and are higher protein than the meat version because I'm guessing the meat version is pretty poor quality sausage meat/rusk. Other than that I'm getting mine from peanut butter powder and chia in my shakes, and quorn/meat subs. I bought little tins of tuna yesterday with flavourings, do you eat fish?

How are you calculating your protein requirements? I found something today that said 0.36g per pound of body weight so for me that's about 50-60g a day. I managed that meat-free yesterday, but I am closely monitoring it as I do a lot of exercise and find I get very weak quite quickly.

OP posts:
thenewaveragebear1983 · 07/01/2020 14:21

I should add, I think previously I've been eating way too much protein- and as a result not getting enough fat in. I was genuinely surprised that I hit my protein quota without meat or fish yesterday.

OP posts:
FluffyEarMuffs · 07/01/2020 14:28

Keto Flu is real

I admit to underestimating it as it has never affected me as bad as this before, but I had such an awful headache all morning and spent ages piteously and repeatedly throwing up in the sink of the copious amounts of the sparkling water I had been drinking 😔

I managed to take two paracetamol late morning (@CaptainBrickbeard I wish I'd read your reply earlier and checked re empty stomach!) and I kept those down. Had a vegetable bouillon drink. Dozed off. Woke up from my nap with a start and spilled cold bouillon all over the bed 😬🙄

BUT I have now come out the other side. I had lunch of half an avocado, some salad and some fried halloumi. And I feel absolutely fine now!!!!

I sincerely hope this really is the turning point. And as I have no wish to repeat this experience, I intend to stick with this diet!

Youhavewonaprize · 07/01/2020 14:58

fluffy I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better! Throwing up sounds awful!! My worst day was day 3 (no sick, thank god) but I did feel loads better once I’d eaten something even though it took me over 800, but it was protein/fat rather than carbs. Hopefully you still feel better tomorrow.

@mumtumdocare I think Greek yoghurt is quite high in protein as well as fat. I’ve been having some protein shakes as well -for goodness shakes and arla do low carb no added sugar ones

@Moknicker for calorie counting I use my fitness pal - it’s free from the App Store and easy to log everything you’ve eaten. You do need to weigh and measure everything though, it doesn’t work well for meals you haven’t prepped yourself, those you’ll have to guess. I generally find whenever I estimate how much I’m having I’m generally very much underestimating the actual number of calories so might be a good idea to log a few days, if not every day, so you know where you are.

Kimlek · 07/01/2020 15:02

fluffyears me too!! Weight same as yesterday and have a headache but it could be my rubbish contacts!
Played tennis today & took thedog for acwalk so at least I’ve done a few steps! I don’t have a fit bit so no idea how many but don’t think the numbers matter too much. Still need to find a good time to do HIIT.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread