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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

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Thread gallery
23
DottyDetective · 14/02/2020 09:03

They are the sort of family who constantly talk about food as “good” and “bad”, dieting and commenting on the weight and appearance of everyone they know. I have tried really hard not to expose my daughter to that sort of chatter so I never discuss my diet or weight with them. In fact I have to constantly ask them not to bring up these topics in front of her.

CaptainBrickbeard · 14/02/2020 09:23

Haven’t been very organised or bothered to plan ahead these past couple of days. Yesterday I ended up having a bar of 70% chocolate for lunch and this morning I’ve had a lump of Parmesan for breakfast. Calories and macros have been fine but it’s gone a bit questionable on the nourishment front! About to go away for the weekend and I suspect it will all go slightly awry.

Got down into a new stone bracket this morning though so feeling good!

Hope it goes better than you expect, dotty, that sounds hard.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 14/02/2020 09:51

@CaptainBrickbeard well done!
@DottyDetective I hope it goes better than you expect!

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Kimlek · 14/02/2020 10:24

Oh captain that made me laugh! At least it was 70% chocolate!!
I’m still 11.3 seem to have ended period after 2 days and ‘feel’ slimmer despite scales and tape measure saying differently.
Agh dotty I thought you were getting off too! Do hope it’s bearable.
I’ll fast til lunch and there’s avocado & salmon in the fridge so will have that. No idea what I’ll do for dinner as we fly at 6am so I’ve been emptying the fridge. Not going anywhere sunny though bear.
This week’s plan whilst on hols.... avoid the puddings (that’ll be hard as they’re amazing); try to drink lime sodas & not wine or cocktails!! They never have diet tonic so can’t even have a G&T annoyingly. Enjoy it and not be fixated on food!
Get back on it when I return and start Adrienne yoga.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 14/02/2020 17:14

Had s strange day so far- went for a run, finished my decorating, did day 4 yoga...and then realised that bar a slice of ham, I hadn't eaten all day! This never happens to me! So then concerned that if I drink tonight it will be on an empty stomach, so I've just had a piece of cheese, some olives and that will do me til teatime! Despite being very busy today I feel surprisingly chilled- it's probably due to being off work for a week, but I also wonder if it's a bit to do with the yoga?! Did any of you experience that? Today was the first one where I've not been counting every second; I seemed to just relax into it and it seemed to be over very quickly.

Buoyed up by the scales this morning, feeling very positive, eating well...I'm hoping that I end the weekend weighing the same as I started it (or hopefully less) and that's my motivation for the next few days

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thenewaveragebear1983 · 15/02/2020 07:08

Dinner was nice last night, but not exactly BSD friendly! I've woken up today with a growling, empty feeling stomach which isn't very pleasant. I wonder if that's due to wine?

Anyway, I'm off to bootcamp (storm Dennis is no match for me!) and I'm not going to eat until after I get back. Busy day at home with the kids doing jobs today so lots of steps on the cards

Dinner tonight will be vegan meatballs and pea pasta (this has been on the menu all week and I'm finally getting round to it! )

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MooPointCowsOpinion · 15/02/2020 13:00

I had a bad weekend last weekend, big work night out on the Friday with some heavy drinking and the next two days I was just trying to recover without eating too many comfort carbs! Put a couple of pounds back on, but have lost them all and more again this week. Now total loss is 16lbs and arms, thighs, waist, hips are all slimmer by inches.
I will have been doing this for 8 weeks very soon, do I have to stop? I’d like to lose another 16lbs! Can I just keep going or am I risking health issues?

Maccalenny · 15/02/2020 17:59

I’m hovering around the 11st8 mark - I think my body has decided that this is the weight for me. I’m eating more at weekends, a bit less in the week, and it feels entirely sustainable. I’m not eating sugar other than 85% chocolate, no wheat, and very occasional potato.

I’ve only missed 3 days of Adriene yoga since January 1st - huge triumph as I’ve been trying for the last year to start some type of exercise. My muscle tone is so much better - my daughter complimented my butt muscles yesterday! Finally my ample bottom is fashionable.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 15/02/2020 19:44

Good work @Maccalenny! I've just done day 5 but I found it tough and didn't feel as flexible as yesterday! I'm finding it easy enough to fit it in so I am hoping to do the full 30 days. It's odd though, my tummy feels considerably more 'pulled in' and as I said in post yesterday, I have this real
Lightness to my mood which I wonder if it's the yoga?!

Foodwise today has been fairly good. I have had more calories, and more carbs than true BSD but significantly less than I have previously been having at weekends. I had oat and chia porridge made with hazelnut milk for breakfast, chicken soup for lunch, and dinner was veggie meatballs. I've had a small sweet treat of a mini cherry bakewell. So not a perfect day by any stretch of the imagination, but much better than I have been.

Tomorrow, I'm not running- it's too cold and stormy and my leg hurts! So I'm going to do my yoga and also do a hiit workout using my new punchbag, which Dh and I have installed today! Very exciting! Food will be a light lunch (eggs) and pulled pork for dinner with lots of veg/salad .

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Kimlek · 15/02/2020 21:22

Well done moo and macca and of course bear! Yes moo you can keep going although you may want some rest days. Given you’ve been losing at a rate of 2lbs a week it may only take you another 8 weeks to reach your goal. Even if it slows down it’s worth sticking to (within reason) until you get to a healthy weight.
My food has been dreadful today as there was nothing at the airport other than crisps and shortbread as we were diverted to some private airfield due to the storm. On the actual flight only crisps & apple juice!! Finally arrived 12 hours later having consumed a vast amount of crisps, shortbread & apple juice!!! Had fish & broccoli for dinner but also half a bottle of wine. So definitely not BSD or 800!! I know I was going to relax a bit this week but not this was OTT!!!!

Fettyheather · 16/02/2020 08:55

Hi.can I jump on board? I've not read the whole thread but have dipped in and out.
I did 5:2 years ago and felt the best I ever have. I was a regular on the thread here. Then I went back to busy job, life took over and I put on weight and became a space to carbs!
I only have a stone to lose but find it really hard to shift. Two weeks last Friday I started BSD. Have to say I'm not doing it to the letter but have had no sweets, biscuit, bread, cakes, pasta. I feel so much better and am slimmer in that my clothes fit better (fodnt take measurements) but the scales are not budging!
In the first week I lost just over 3 pounds but since I have been either stuck or putting a pound back on.
I must say I've not added in exercise yet as I'm getting over a small operation but intend to start this week. Could that really be the difference?
Also my metabolism seems to have slowed. Don't feel constipated but think I must be! I didn't expect that with all the fibre, protein and veg. Is that normal?
I also thought it may be around my period but after my operation it's hard to tell.
I will stick with the eating as I feel the benefits but I'm getting really disheartened that I appear stuck and I'm only 3 pounds in!
Apologies for long post.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 16/02/2020 20:05

@Fettyheather hi, welcome!

I'm closing up the kitchen today on around 1500 cals and I have gone over on carbs because I did have dessert after dinner. But again, like yesterday, in comparison to recent weekends, I've been much more in control and have had mostly good BSD food. I've done a 40 minute boxercise workout and day 6 of yoga.

The week ahead will have its challenges; the kids are off school and the weather is rubbish, and food can go awry when routine goes out of the window. I plan to do my yoga every day and will be attending classes in the evenings instead of my usual running which will hopefully give my leg a rest too.

I haven't done my menu for the week or planned any meals but I am going to raid the freezer at least for the first few days to try to use up some stock!

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FluffyEarMuffs · 16/02/2020 20:09

Evening all and welcome @Fettyheather 😊

I had to have a few days off for various reasons. I've eaten no carbs today though and so I am back on it 😊 I fly a couple of long haul flights next Saturday, followed by at least half the days on my work trip not being in my eating control, so I think it's really important I stay strong and have zero bad carbs and alcohol for the next five days.

I have yoga tomorrow, and bootcamp on Wednesday and Friday.

There is cheesecake calling me from the fridge though 🙄

thenewaveragebear1983 · 17/02/2020 07:24

Well, very surprisingly I have weighed in this morning at 10.6.8, which is around 2lb off last week and the first time in a very long time that I have lost over a weekend. Maybe I've had an unexpected whoosh? I was so shocked I moved the scales and weighed again as I fully expected a gain!

So that's motivated me for the week ahead!

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MMC20 · 17/02/2020 08:41

Well done bear! It's an achievement for many of us to lose at the weekend. I'm still losing a slow but steady 1.5 to 2 pounds a week. Not rapid but feels sustainable at least. Might up the exercise this week as want to see new numbers next week ie, from being in the 160 pounds to 159 pounds.

MMC20 · 17/02/2020 08:42

Bear what was your starting weight and how long have you been doing this diet for? No need to answer if I'm being too nosy though.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 17/02/2020 08:51

@MMC20 I originally started at 13.5 ish and lost 21lbs in the first 8 weeks (this was in 2016), I then muddled along and regained quite a bit of that over a year or so. Then in jan 2018 I was 12.6 and restarted properly, that's when I started running. I actually told myself that I would diet for a year and whatever I weighed after that year was 'my weight' as I was so sick of dieting all the time and not getting anywhere! I lost 2stone quite quickly (maybe 6-8 months) and then since dinner 2018 have essentially maintained, going up to around 10.13 this last Christmas, and as low as 10.3. I'm aiming for 9.13 (purely for vanity reasons) but realistically 10.3 would be ideal for me. My body shape has changed so much due to exercise, even at the same weight so I'm probably slimmer looking now at 10.6 than I was before at 10.3. I've got photos somewhere, I'll try and find them!

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DottyDetective · 17/02/2020 08:55

Hi all! Bear congratulations! Moo I think MM says 12 weeks is ok then take a break before going again.

I’ve been home with family for the last few days. 2 meals out so far and lots of salt so feeling quite bloated. Managed at least 18 hours fasting and kept meals lower carb so hopefully it won’t be too disastrous (was well over 800kcals I’m certain). Just put on my topshop size 16 jeans which were getting tight (the motivating factor here!) and they’ve slid on easily so that’s a good sign I guess. Struggling with not weighing everyday though.

MMC20 · 17/02/2020 10:00

Bear. Thanks. I always find hearing about the ups and downs of people's journeys inspiring. You've done well to maintain over a long period now. Completely get it a out seeing the 9.13 too. You're allowed to be proud of yourself. The change in digits matter a lot here

CaptainBrickbeard · 17/02/2020 16:38

Had another weekend away, ate all the carbs I haven’t had all year - bread, pasta, potatoes with a load of wine and cheese and then got very ill and couldn’t eat at all for 24 hours. Not sure if it was a brutal hangover or indigestion, possibly both! So I came home at the same weight and somewhat chastened with a lesson learned about over indulgence! I think my body was just a bit overwhelmed after six weeks of this diet to get quite such a blowout in one go!

Now my period has started (so I was surprised I hadn’t gained anything in advance actually) and I just. Can’t. Stop. Eating. It’s all gone to shit today.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 17/02/2020 20:01

I'm closing the kitchen on around 1600 but 55g of carbs (which gives me macros of 13% carbs, 51% fat and 36% protein) so despite being over, I'm pleased with that. It's hard when the dc are off and we went for a meal (I had a burger, and left the bun) and I took the attitude that I could have anything but avoid the carbs as best as possible.
Boxercise for 1hr this morning, day 7 yoga this evening, 10k steps.

Tomorrow, we have friends coming round so I will probably have a salad/chicken lunch and then for dinner a vegetarian something from the freezer with veg or salad. I'm not running, going to circuits in the evening and day 8 yoga during the day at some point.

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FluffyEarMuffs · 17/02/2020 21:21

Evening everyone 😁

I walked 13,000+ steps and did yoga today. I struggle a little when my teenager is back home for the half term, but tonight went well. The rest of the family had pasta and spinach/halloumi/avocado salad, and I just had the salad!

Fettyheather · 18/02/2020 07:16

Hi.thank you for the welcome. Your post a are inspiring me, especially yours bear about being able to maintain it. Fluffy I hope your trips go well.
I lost another 1.4lbs. Over 2 weeks that is about 3.5lbs which I think is ok.
I am due to have couple of days away but will be self catering so plan to take my usual food and have maybe steak and salad out.
I've realised that I need to add in exercise. May give the yoga a go that you all seem to enjot. I have tried some short hiit work outs and feel more energised but am taking it steadily after my operation.
How do you work out macros/what exactly are they?! Thinking I haven't read the book carefully enough!
Hope everyone has a good day. Thanks for the support.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 18/02/2020 07:30

@Fettyheather the 'macros' are just the percentage of the 3 macronutrients in your foods: protein, fat, carbs. He doesn't really discuss them too much, but the low carb community do- a lot! So yesterday my carb percentage was 13% which is good for me. I actually find more cals but a lower percentage of carbs works best for me. You will find them if you use a tracker such as MFP, it will give you a breakdown of your food intake and your macros.

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Riddleofthesands · 18/02/2020 10:03

Hi everyone, I’m still here, not weighing for the moment. I have a friends birthday party on Saturday and I will want to back out of it if I haven’t lost so it’s best I just don’t weigh. I am going on measurements instead. Today is Caesar salad with chicken, will probably just have one big evening meal.

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