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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.

Blood sugar diet and fast800 support thread #18

998 replies

thenewaveragebear1983 · 10/03/2020 17:03

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:
BSD and Fast800 support thread #17
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/fasting_diet/3787860-bsd-and-fast800-support-thread-17

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
31
ILiveInSalemsLot · 21/04/2020 07:54

@CiorstanMI that’s an amazing weight loss. I would love that. Well done.

Today I’m going to make a tomato soup for lunch and some fish for dinner.
Exercise as usual.
I haven’t weighed myself in a while but I’m going to go with how clothes feel.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 21/04/2020 07:56

Down to 10.4.6 which is around 4lbs off so far this week which I am pleased with as I haven't been 100% on plan either. Still haven't come on so now am 3 days late and feel very uncomfortable and bloated as well.

Feeling positive for the day ahead!

Well done @CiorstanMI Star

OP posts:
NathanNathan · 21/04/2020 08:04

It's not official weigh in day yet (Thursday) but I weigh myself each day to keep motivated and it's still coming off at about 1/2 a pound a day as of today - day 13.

It's testing my resolve all the time, not because I'm hungry but because I am definitely weak willed and a binge eater, but the consistent loss so far is really helping.

bluepixie · 21/04/2020 08:10

Ps my brekkie was delicious! Was
Almond flour porridge u spoke of @agteacht
Yum!

agteacht · 21/04/2020 08:37

Oh glad you liked it @Cream123 - am actually finding it quite addictive 😂
Keeps me full for ages. Need to find somewhere to buy bigger bags of flaxseed though as going through it!

bluepixie · 21/04/2020 09:33

It’s all the good fats in it ! I put chia flaxseed and almond flour in mine and top with a few rasberries . I use the almond milk to make it.
How do u make urs? Mine was 190 cals this am!

agteacht · 21/04/2020 11:29

Mines the same minus the chia. Might try that tomorrow. See what I mean about never eating oats so simple again when you can have that for about 20g less carbs 😂
I'm a changed woman... 😂

IgglePiggleNotInBed · 21/04/2020 11:46

I've made a cauliflower and chickpea curry today, I'm assuming chickpeas are OK, I'm sure he mentions pulses in the book. Came to about 380 cals and I've made 4 portions. Tesco delivery came yesterday so have loads of chicken and salad stuff! Got a bit of curry for the baby too, so glad he eats everything!

bluepixie · 21/04/2020 11:48

Yeah chickpeas are the type of carbs he says r good it often makes me go over my carb allowance though unless I’m super low rest of day. But they r full of good stuff and I still eat them!

@agteacht how do u make urs? I’m having a hungry day. Hoping this black coffee keeps me going. Ow a spoon of almond butter maybe!

agteacht · 21/04/2020 12:36

@Cream123 I have 2tbsp of almond flour and 2tbsp of flaxseed with 120ml of almond milk. Then I add some frozen raspberries after defrosting then. Dead easy.

I have baked Tom Kerridge's almond soda bread this morning too and I cannot recommend it enough!!

@IgglePiggleNotInBed how old is your little one? My daughter is 4 months old, going to have to start looking into weaning soon enough

IgglePiggleNotInBed · 21/04/2020 12:40

Ah thanks @Cream123, I have the book online so it's hard just to flick to correct page to check!
@agteacht he is going to be 10 months next week! I'm loving him at this age, will eat pretty much anything I put in front of him now.

CiorstanMI · 21/04/2020 14:05

Well done to you too @thenewaveragebear1983 that's pretty impressive in one week.

Teaismynewfriend · 21/04/2020 15:07

Wow some great results... Well done everyone!!
Today and tomorrow are my fast days, after being relaxed at the weekend I've actually looked forward to the discipline again. Why is moderation so hard, does anyone know??? Its actually easier to stick to a a strict plan than to try and moderate without. I've had all sorts all weekend. Not huge meals but quite a bit of chocolate and alcohol, and birthday cake (had no choice, my daughter made it!)
It'll be very interesting to see whether I have offset all of my hard work when I weigh in on Thursday. I am so determined to learn to live moderately! Without binge eating chocolate or having too much wine "just because"!!!!

bluepixie · 21/04/2020 16:57

@Teaismynewfriend this is my exact problem. I can’t do middle. I’m all or nothing and it def is stumbling my diet! But slowly slowly I’ll get there

Closing kitchen on 880 and 28g carbs plus 2 bites of my DS pitta and hummus!!!!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 21/04/2020 17:24

@Teaismynewfriend for me it's because I've always been on a diet, except when I've been off my diet wagon. It really is all or nothing for me. Every time I have relaxed for any length of time it's been catastrophic, Weight loss wise. I suppose this time round is the only time I have 'maintained' for any length of time, although for me it doesn't feel like a nice smooth 'I've made it', it feels sometimes like I'm lurching between again being very strict and losing down to my lowest, or spiralling out of control towards my very maximum that I will tolerate (which is about 10.9/ 10.10) in a very dramatic zig zag fashion. It's only about 5/7 lbs but I gain and lose it regularly. Maybe that actually is what maintenance is?

I am very interested in hypnotherapy for weightloss and I'm reading a new book this week which discusses this in depth. The things we believe about ourselves from a lifetime of dieting (and it is a lifetime, I first thought I was fat when I was about 10, I cannot ever remember a time my mum wasn't on a diet), but I think that comes from the type of diets we used to do, which are doomed to fail (eg low fat, high carb).

This one really is different, it is possible to relax more and eat bigger portions and more calories - but you will need to keep carbs low as a general rule, long term.

The first few months on this diet are such a learning curve; you will discover things about how and why and what you eat that you've never realised before, and you can use that to shape your future eating lifestyle. That will inform the 'maintenance' element of the diet. So even a 'bad' day isn't 100% bad because if you reflect on it, you will learn and in theory make better choices next time.

OP posts:
thenewaveragebear1983 · 21/04/2020 17:30

Here's a little fun visualisation exercise from this book I'm reading.

Ok, so sit quietly and visualise this. Really go inside the image. You step on the scales and you're target weight. You are trying on clothes in a shop and you slip into that goal size perfectly. (And I mean really your ideal goal size and not the size you've told yourself is the smallest you'll ever be), you look amazing. You feel amazing. You go out and everyone says how amazing you look, at work, at social events, family events. You have made it! Really feel how fabulous that feels.

Now, imagine you're in the supermarket. Imagine wandering round the aisles. Try and find a food that will make you feel as good as you did in that first visual. Bread? Pizza? Cake? Chocolate? Imagine holding it in your hand and only put it in your trolley if it makes you feel absolutely amazing. Now imagine walking down the street and seeing loads of takeaways- only step inside if it will make you feel that good. Imagine the fridge and cupboards at home, visualise opening every door and looking for snacks- but only eat them if they make you feel as good as those slinky jeans or dress did.

I tried this this morning and a few times today I've been in the kitchen rustling about but came out empty handed....

OP posts:
bluepixie · 21/04/2020 17:59

I’ll give it a go.
I’m terrible and wanting to raid the biscuit tin. I know it won’t get it where I want to be! And I’ve not lost anything this week doing things like this...

So I will not!!!! I might have a shower after ds is in bed and read fast 800 again! And try ur trick! Ugh so hard!

IgglePiggleNotInBed · 21/04/2020 18:38

Don't raid the biscuit tin Cream!! I'm finishing today on 870 cals and 38g carbs. Got a few meals prepped for the rest of the week too!

bluepixie · 21/04/2020 19:05

I didn’t
Going for a walk instead Halo
Not had my one a day today!

CiorstanMI · 21/04/2020 19:25

Day 44 and closing the kitchen at 864 calories and 47g carbs.

Well done for resisting that biscuit tin @Cream123

Teaismynewfriend · 21/04/2020 19:42

@thenewaveragebear1983 I do believe that visualisation and hypnotherapy can work. It's the discipline of doing it regularly enough I suppose, a bit like meditation. I loved your visualisation and I'm going to try and practise it every day. Thanks for sharing

waterproofed · 21/04/2020 20:59

Hello lovely people, I’ve been lurking for a few days and already benefitted hugely from the wisdom shared on this thread - thank you!

I first did the 5:2 diet after having my kids (now nearly 9 and 5). Even though I had never been overweight (normally my BMI hovers around 20), I had bad pregnancy cravings and an insatiable appetite and put on 25kg (over 4 stone) with each baby. Once babies were out, my BMI was around 25 but I breastfed and followed the intermittent fasting regime after establishing supply and I was back to my happy weight of 62-65kg.

I maintained this without much difficulty for years until a couple of years ago I started going through a professional upheaval which ultimately led to a complete career change with a new desk job. I steadily put weight on, then the old lockdown happened and I very nearly hit 70kg a couple of weeks ago, which was a bit of a wake up call. At 177cm (5’10”) that’s still well within the healthy BMI range, but the heaviest I’ve ever been (outside of pregnancies) and my waist disappeared almost completely.

My downfall is sugar - what a shock, I know. Even when I was maintaining my carb intake was insane. Often more than half my calories would come from chocolate. I would still fast regularly but only because I wanted to binge on chocolate on my days off. I thought about treats all the time and I knew something was quite wrong with my sugar addiction, but my GP literally said to me to just enjoy my metabolism while I can. However, I scored ridiculously high on the carb addiction test in Mosley’s book. My diet wasn’t fine.

Also, I was not enjoying it. Sugar cravings for me just meant I kept chasing a bigger hit each time and it left me starving and miserable, then sick.

I’m doing the 800 blood sugar diet with my mum (we live together) who is slightly shorter and slightly lighter than me, but carries all her weight around her belly.

I started running in lockdown and now average about 20km a week. I also regularly do yoga. My goal weight is a super trim 59kg.

I started 5:2 again last week, but my cravings were out of control. On Sunday, I switched to the 800 blood sugar diet after devouring the book and I feel so much better on it already. I weighed myself this morning and I’m down to 66.9kg, so a loss of 2.6kg in under two weeks.

Kitchen closed today at 807kcal, 25g of carbs.

Sorry this is so wordy and well done if you got this far Wink. I need a word limit, people.

NathanNathan · 21/04/2020 22:41

Hi @waterproofed.

Sounds like you've had a fab first couple of weeks Smile

I'm the same height as you, but nowhere near in weight, I'm currently 97kg! My ultimate goal is to be down in the 59 - 62kg range too, but I've never been that weight before that I can remember!

Do you find you look good at that weight? I guess so as it's your usual, I've just always wondered if I'd look too thin at my goal.

Anyway now I'm rambling - welcome!

waterproofed · 21/04/2020 23:50

Hi @NathanNathan and thank you for the warm welcome. I’m ravenous tonight but feeling better for having read your message.

Weirdly enough, at 70kg I was still the same size I was at 62kg, which is a 10 in most shops. Sure, things were getting quite tight, and I could no longer fit comfortably in the 8s hanging in my wardrobe, but the difference was not as dramatic as you’d expect from over a stone difference in weight because of my height. I guess what I am trying to say is that I did not think I looked too thin. I’ll try to attach a picture of what I looked like at 62kg.

Blood sugar diet and fast800 support thread #18
IgglePiggleNotInBed · 22/04/2020 07:08

My goal is also to be 59-62kg. Weighed myself this morning and have "gained" a pound. Annoying but I know its probably water retention. What drinks do you all have? I normally drink coffee no sugar maybe 2 a day and then water or squash. Can we drink zero sugar fizzy drinks?