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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
thenewaveragebear1983 · 07/05/2020 08:21

@whensmynexthol1day sorry 1 tbsp! 1tbsp chia, 1 tbsp flaxseed.once it's all gloopy you can add it to a smoothie, (eg peanut butter, yoghurt, berries etc) or just eat it from the pot. Drink extra water with it.

@Cream123 Again, be mindful of dried fruit. 2 dates raise your blood sugar as much as an entire punnet if strawberries.

to be honest, I try and refrain from sweeteners, even 'natural' ones because just because they are derived from natural sources it is not a 'natural' food for us to eat. An occasional sweet treat made with something less 'bad' than sugar is yes, better than eating a mars bar or whatever, but it will keep you more hooked on sugar. Next time you're out for coffee I guarantee that the cake won't be sweetened with dates or erythritol. Sweeteners still have 'carbs' and a quick check on my app suggests erythritol has been entered as having zero carbs when in fact it has 1g net carbs per gram. It is 100% carbs. I'm just saying be mindful that's all. It's a glorious position to be in where you simply don't want sweets or cakes or puddings and it is achievable on this diet but it's a lot less likely if you are still having sweet foods every day even if they are 'zero net carbs'

I know I struggle, repeatedly, and am in no way 'perfect BSD girl' but all I will say is : If in doubt, refer back to the plan. Halo

OP posts:
bluepixie · 07/05/2020 09:11

Oh no I didn’t eat the cake with the dates! It was so my ds could do some baking and not have refined sugar in it. I think for my toddler I was just surprised how it was tasty for him and didn’t have refined sugar in it. He never really gets many treats like that as he thinks a blueberry is a sweet and pudding is usually plain Greek yoghurt with some fruit. I don’t want him having sugar cravings like me (although who knows if it will help when older!) But now and then when he gets something I try make tasty and refined sugar free. And this carrot cake worked for him.

Not sure I’ll never want to not have pudding!!! But I’m quite happy living life having it once a week....I know if I fully stop I’ll just have a terrible binge 2 months down the line and not get back onto maintaining.

I know the ideal is no sweeteners no sugar. I totally agree. But in real life I like a pudding once a week (well
More than that but I can handle once a week) :) I’ve never actually used sweeteners before I just got them for this pudding.

Anyone see the new study (very small) about how having a big brekkie better than a no brekkie and big dinner? Better for calorie burning in day and improving insulin sensitivity. (it’s on fitness ap when u log in today). It’s only 16 people but it makes sense...I know my bsd days r better with brekkie but I know most on here only have 2 meals.

bluepixie · 07/05/2020 09:16

I must say I don’t follow bsd 100 percent so no one listen to me! I’ve adapted the parts of it I like!

So med diet. A 16 hour fast daily. For me I finish eating at 5 and don’t eat till 8/9 next day. I try do 800 cals as much as I can atm. And when I’ve got to goal I’ll try doing it 2/3 days a week to maintain. I still have some white wine/processo/gin puddings I have one day off plan....(was a weekend but stalling loss too much so changed it to one day as of last week). This means slower weight loss but works for me my family job and long term plans for weight loss. I like the new food I’m discovering and I look fwd to my meals with olive oil / cheese / mayo/ full fat yoghurt rather than a dry tuna salad and miller light! I try avoid refined sugar and sweeteners but often they come into my diet 1/2 a week in form of diet drink or a pudding!

agteacht · 07/05/2020 10:13

Ohh I hope I haven't confused anyone with the sweetener. If I have really sorry!!

Agree it's better to have none but this one I've used since week 2 and I've found it helps me because it means I don't reach for something sweet and can do some baking with it.

I did a good bit of research into which sweetener to get and erithyrtol seemed the best from what I read and the reviews on Amazon support that. But agree with thenewaveragebear completely that it would be better to have none (this is in the scenario where having none isn't an option!)

Whattheladybirdsaidnext · 07/05/2020 10:17

I weighed myself today for the first time in 6 days and now am having a tiny internal strop... but I’m really not sure what I expected! It is the notorious 3rd week and I had 3 days of manic eating at the weekend. Unsurprisingly I have gained 0.8 of a kg... I suppose I was hoping to have compensated for the crazy weekend with my super low carbs... and of course it isn’t that easy.
I have to grit my teeth and carry on don’t I?

WellHurrahAndHuzzah · 07/05/2020 10:41

Day 6.

9 stone 2.

Plan for the day: berries, yoghurt and peanuts for breakfast.
Babybel as a morning snack
Tuna mayo with crudités for dinner.

Good luck everyone!

RobinsonXmas · 07/05/2020 11:01

Going well, 16:8, cut out carbs - bread, potatoes, upped the veg, logging on MFP 800 to 1000 but..... No weight loss for 5 days!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 07/05/2020 11:05

@agteacht @Cream123 I do understand about the sweetener. I love baking and love sweet treats so totally understand the desire to recreate that. Just I feel that it's probably wise to limit them because honestly, if there was a calorie free, totally healthy, zero carbs way to eat sweets then we'd all be thin right? As will everything, moderation is key. I just also think for new starters who are joining or lurking, it is worth saying that sweeteners are not really recommended and they can make it harder to stick to the plan.

OP posts:
NathanNathan · 07/05/2020 11:16

@Whattheladybirdsaidnext @RobinsonXmas I'm with you!

Week 3: 1 pound lost
Week 4: 0.4 pounds lost

I've not been perfect but pretty much bar one day... sticking with it, being stricter than ever and hoping it works!

RedLipsAndRosyCheeks · 07/05/2020 11:38

@RobinsonXmas if I eat on plan for more than two days then I expect at least a stone loss by the third day! It never quite works out like that....
I'm just waiting to have my lunch. Not had breakfast but plenty of water and two cups of bovril have kept me going nicely so far.

RobinsonXmas · 07/05/2020 12:32

I've not only been eating to plan, I've also been reading about it. There's a part of my brain that obviously transforms eyeball time into bonus weight loss.

I'm removing the tantrum bench
@Whattheladybirdsaidnext @NathanNathan @11:38RedLipsAndRosyCheeks
so we keep moving, looking forward to the triumphant 'get me and my mega loss posts'.

whensmynexthol1day · 07/05/2020 13:03

Pleased with a small drop in the scales today. (0.4kg down since Saturday) and a nsv- fit into two size 10 tops that I haven't worn for years. They're both a tiny bit tighter than I would like, but they fit with very minimal pulling across the chest which is amazing.

I also started wearing a pair of size 12 jeans which still had the labels on as I 'nearly' fit into them 2 years ago and thought I was going to lose the weight and fit into them. Only took me two years but I've done it! Good job I did keep some smaller clothes as shopping isn't that easy at the mo!

Whattheladybirdsaidnext · 07/05/2020 13:36

I’m glad it isn’t just me...!
We have also run out of milk and I am running at a severe coffee deficit!

NathanNathan · 07/05/2020 16:38

Hahah thanks @RobinsonXmas, we WILL all be back soon being smug

Whattheladybirdsaidnext · 07/05/2020 18:04

795cals and 22g carbs.

waterproofed · 07/05/2020 19:10

Just checking in with a couple of BSD friendly recipes.

The first one is pancakes - I made them today for the whole family, deliciously filling. Excellent use of your coconut flour @Cream123. The website is American and very annoying in terms of adds but the recipe really works a treat. I skipped the sweetener altogether.

www.wholesomeyum.com/recipes/keto-low-carb-pancakes-with-almond-flour-coconut-flour-paleo-gluten-free/

Recipe nr 2 is something I came up with for dinner when I had fewer than 200 kcal left in my allowance Shock. Courgetti, chicken breast and miso paste with 3ml of sesame oil. All the ingredients and kcals are on the picture.

@thenewaveragebear1983 super grateful for your advice wrt fibre and the amount of waste I’m going to be producing while eating so little.

@whensmynexthol1day thank you for the exercise tip. I run and/or do yoga most days and agree moving your body has a huge effect on your bowels.

Day 20, 5K run, 835kcal 32g carbs. I’m weighing myself tomorrow on my new scales.

Blood sugar diet and fast800 support thread #18
NathanNathan · 07/05/2020 19:30

Love a bit of miso paste! Did you stick all of that in a frying pan for a bit @waterproofed?

thenewaveragebear1983 · 07/05/2020 19:31

Thanks @waterproofed.

For new starters, FYI there is a recipe thread as well that's linked in the opening post; feel free to post recipes or any other things you find that are good BSD choices. I always forget to use it but every time i read it I get inspired from there.

I've had an ok day today food wise but god damn I feel miserable. I have a few good days and then BAM! Everything pisses me off. Dh went shopping and got loads of goodies for the kids for the weekend and I'm just sitting here seething because I now have a whole weekend trying not to eat all this junk that I don't even want. It makes it very difficult doesn't it?

I have just said to him that I need to stop eating the rubbish, need to stop drinking so much at the weekends and generally need to stop this constant treats/food/bbq/ snacks all the time. When I am disciplined I am so strong, but I'm tired and emotional and bored and these are my absolute danger zones. I am tired of the constant temptation and having to distract myself. He doesn't understand at all. I actually dread the weekend coming because I know all my work from the week will be undone.

My food today has been ok: tuna salad, piece of cheese, chicken tikka massala and broccoli rice, and alpro with berries. Higher than 800 but not too terrible. I'm doing a virtual 10km race tomorrow so it's ok to eat a bit more today if I plan to run fast.

Food tomorrow: I've made a chia and flaxseed pot for after my run, and we are going to bbq so dinner will be various meat/salad combinations.

OP posts:
waterproofed · 07/05/2020 19:38

@thenewaveragebear1983 I really hope your DH can be a little more supportive. Weekends are hard, I agree. I’ll try to remember to add recipes to the recipe thread.

@NathanNathan yep, pretty much. Chicken was cooked, so courgettes went in first into a dry wok, I then mixed the miso paste and sesame oil together with a bit of water and chucked it all in with the chicken to cover everything evenly and warm it through. Literally 5 minutes of effort because I am not one for spending days in the kitchen on this diet - it’s full of things I don’t want to eat but will end up putting in my mouth given a little time.

Teaismynewfriend · 07/05/2020 19:56

Hello All
Just popping in to let you know that I'm taking a pause in order to get on top of my escalating lockdown drinking. I'm all over the place at the moment after 2 months plus of lockdown and now facing the end of the lockdown on Monday, back to school etc and I'm anxious. So I'm giving myself a month off drinking to try and improve how I feel. I'll be back onto Fasting next week once I'm less preoccupied with giving up booze!!!

Enjoy the UK Bank Holiday!!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 07/05/2020 20:28

@Teaismynewfriend that's a good plan. The new thread will start in a few days (1k posts) so check back in to get the link to the new one.

OP posts:
RobinsonXmas · 07/05/2020 20:50

@Teaismynewfriend taking a break from drinking lead me to Fast 800. My drinking & then eating was all over the place with lock down. See you back soon.
I found Nomo, an app to count your number of days sober very comforting, I love checking in and seeing the time go up.
'Daybreak' an app supported by the Australian health service, was also really helpful in the first two weeks.

NathanNathan · 07/05/2020 21:23

Thanks @waterproofed I'll give that a go! Great work everyone with the not drinking... I'm also off free booze.

CiorstanMI · 07/05/2020 21:32

Back after a couple of days off, no catastrophes but just working really long hours so decided not to worry about counting cals and carbs for a couple of days - don't think I've done any damage 😄

So, back to counting today. Day 60 and closing the kitchen at 1,053 cals and 54g carbs.

LarryUnderwood · 07/05/2020 22:21

I've had a successful day at last! Yesterday after posting I went on a terrible misery-binge and ended up on about 2000 cals for the day. Doritos and mini eggs. And gin. Today I realised that I must be pre-menstrual - have been ratty with the kids, greasy hair and generally feeling really cross and miserable. Once I realised that it was much easier to stay in control of my eating. So closing the day on 870 cals, 35g carbs.

Tomorrow my street is having a social distancing VE day thing, with everyone having scones in their front gardens at 3pm. So I have made some almond 'scones' and low carb sugar free strawberry and blueberry jam.ive accounted for 2 with a blob of cream, and 2 large glasses of prosecco in my cals for the day (lunch will be small portion of BSD chicken korma, dinner will be scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and cucumber). This brings me to 1300 cals and 40g carbs. Am I kidding myself that this wont derail things?

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