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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 thread 19

999 replies

thenewaveragebear1983 · 10/05/2020 22:25

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

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
35
Gilead · 21/05/2020 11:33

Thank you, @NathanNathan, that's reassuring!

ilovemydogandMrObama · 21/05/2020 11:38

lost we can be buddies as this is my goal also. Smile.

Initially I wanted to get to 10 stone 1 as this would make me officially not overweight per my BMI. So there's that milestone.

But in looking at my ideal weight, would like to be around 8 stone 5 lbs and until the DCs, was always quite slim, active.

Have looked at various diets, and really liked the idea of the Sirtfood Diet, and didn't Adele look great, but after getting the book, it's such a faff with all the various ingredients, and juicing.

A couple of days was so frustrated, and although wasn't giving up, had a normal type meal last night, chicken and spring greens, and then this morning weighed in and it's been a loss of 7 lbs over the week although think I really need to stop obsessing with the scales and just weigh in once a week.

Dim question, but what is 15:9?

Gymntonic · 21/05/2020 14:56

Hello everyoneSmile
I've dipped in and out of this woe and am back again. Day four and getting ingredients and recipes back again. Had a meringue style feta omelette with salad for lunch and looking at salmon with lentils and wilted greens for dinner. Morning is always a couple of coffees with a dash of creamWink.
Need to increase my water intake. Running 5k a day and trying to remember to do some yoga.
I always feel much calmer when I'm not eating wheat, potatoes, rice. I'm wondering if it's done kind of sugar inflammation effect? Anyone else?

Gymntonic · 21/05/2020 14:58

@ilovemydogandMrObama 15:9 is 15 hours fasting with a nine hour window to eat

thenewaveragebear1983 · 21/05/2020 15:17

@Gymntonic there are lots of studies that find links between gluten and anxiety and also dairy and anxiety. I definitely feel better generally when I eliminate both, but I miss dairy more and usually end up going back (although I do always have alpro milk and yoghurt) because I love cheese!

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Gymntonic · 21/05/2020 15:24

Thanks Bear. Interestingly, I don't really have a problem with dairy and although I love it I don't crave it iyswm. I do drink soya milk on tea as I prefer it to dairy milk which tends to make me feel queasy. So my dairy intake is either fat ( cheese and a bit of cream and butter) or fat and fermented (Greek yogurt). It probably comes back to sugar like most thingsWink
I think eating pulses prevents the real carb cravings and anxiety that some people describe.

Whattheladybirdsaidnext · 21/05/2020 18:04

784 cal and 14g carbs.
I had a horrible day (or wonderful....depending on your point of view...) yesterday and ate the world. I am meant to be doing my 5week weigh in tomorrow and my period is due any moment... so I’m dreading it a bit!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 21/05/2020 19:38

I'm just muddling along still. My food is actually great, no snacks and weirdly no sugar or even any desire to eat any which is very unlike me. But I'm not calorie counting or weighing portions tbh. Weigh in will be interesting tomorrow! I ran today, and did c25k with ds and have been busy doing jobs so maybe that will offset some!

Then I realise it's another bloody bank holiday and Dh is now off for a week as we were supposed to be going away so he's already in party mode. It's just one hurdle after another right now.

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RedLipsAndRosyCheeks · 21/05/2020 20:39

I'm still plugging away. Hoping for a loss on Monday for the end of week 4. If I can get 2lb off that will be a stone.

I'm surprised how quick it's been for me to switch off from wanting to eat all the time to not snacking and I actually quite enjoy doing 24hr fasts. I'm normally completely obsessed with what I can eat now and next so this is a revelation!

whensmynexthol1day · 21/05/2020 20:57

@RedLipsAndRosyCheeks I know what you mean a bit- I find the gnawing hunger I feel just before dinner a teeny bit satisfying.

Finished on 842 kcal and 14g carbs. The carbs looks good but mostly was because I was rubbish with eating many vegetables today. So need to do better tomorrow! I literally had 20 mins though between work meetings to do mine and the kids lunch so grabbed a very unsatisfying mushroom and tomato omelette for lunch. I'm much better when I have time to plan and time to cook!

LarryUnderwood · 21/05/2020 22:02

Finishing t0day on 1005 cals and 56g carbs. It's been a truly horrible day, I've been mega anxious although I dont know why, and the kids have been really hard work. Did manage over 10k steps though AND I have not succumbed to binging on chocolate to soothe my misery! Tomorrow is a new day, hope it brings a bit more calm to my house :)

lightlypoached · 22/05/2020 07:38

Hello everyone, may I join in please?

Added 4 kilos on during lockdown (working in the kitchen and snacking!) and hate that my clothes don't fit and that I have love handles and a wobbly middle bit. Confused I've never had a wobbly middle bit.

Have started 800 for last 3 days (have done 5:2 and 16:8 before to shed a few kgs successfully in the past). Issue is today's my birthday so I'll not be on 800 for the day. Will it matter do you think? Should I just treat as a blip and carry on with 800 tomorrow ?

whensmynexthol1day · 22/05/2020 07:58

@LarryUnderwood i emphathise - I've had so many days where I've felt anxious recently and it's not been something I've suffered from historically. I'm a typical introvert- enjoy interaction, but it drains me and given my life is now either at work where I have video calls every working hour or it's with my kids I just get no break! I want just 2 hours to myself! We'll get through it though...

whensmynexthol1day · 22/05/2020 08:00

@lightlypoached - welcome! I think all of us have had the odd day/days where it all goes to pot, but the general trajectory is downwards. You have two days of lower calories under your belt which you wouldn't have had if you'd have decided to start after your bday so that's got to make a difference!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 22/05/2020 08:07

Hi @lightlypoached , welcome.

Last few days have been odd; I've eaten a lot more than 800 cals but my carbs have been under 60g despite this (so %carbs has been low) and I feel very calm and in control. Things like not raiding the biscuits or bread, and avoiding this things that I know 'set me off', sticking just to meals and not snacking ... all good habits despite not being technically in plan.

Weighed in at 10.8.5 this morning, so a 2lb loss this week so far although obviously the weekend is looming. I started the month at 10.12/13 ish so I am content with an overall loss this month, and considering how on/off I've been on plan for the entire of lockdown, I am actually thrilled that I am effectively maintaining to within a few pounds.,

Today I plan to have as late a lunch as possible, with egg mayo and avocado. Then dinner we are having burgers although mine will be without bun, but probably with bacon and cheese, and celeriac fries.

I made some 'ice cream' yesterday by having frozen raspberries and adding a spoon of alpro yoghurt, mix it around and sort of let the berries freeze the yogurt. Then give it a bit of a mush to mix further (do you like my very technical instructions?). It was nice anyway, for a change from the usual.

Anyway, have a good day everyone! Busy day of jobs for me, no run, already done my yoga as was up at 6am

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Gymntonic · 22/05/2020 09:55

Salmon I'd planned for dinner had dematerialised from the freezer- young adults in the house. Had to make do with chunky fish fingers. Not quite the carb count I'd planned but around 1000 calories.
I find it easier to focus on the correct foods for the first few days and leave the calories until I'm no longer hungry and weaned off the carbs. Anyone else? Slower but better for me in the long run because if I get really hungry I nibble on bread, biscuits, crisps.

whensmynexthol1day · 22/05/2020 10:05

Reached a little landmark this morning. 10kg gone! Somehow lost 0.5kg overnight.
Been at this 10 weeks and now just a couple of lbs away from a healthy weight.

Want to lose another 7kg. Trying to decide whether I carry on full on doing 800kcal every day or start to ease slowly towards a 5:2 approach. I think I'll probably give it another 3 weeks and see how I'm doing. I know it's going to get tougher as life gets a bit more normal so probably need to take advantage of the lack of restaurants/coffee shops/ generally eating out side the home to just crack on....

Whattheladybirdsaidnext · 22/05/2020 10:29

I’m feeling somewhat sorry for myself. (It’s def induced) I had lost 1.6 kg on Tuesday morning. Then I ate everything in the kitchen and surrounding area on Wednesday and hopped neatly back on the wagon yesterday. This morning I did my 5 week weigh in to discover I had neatly wiped out the 1.6 kg loss and am back where I was. And I am SO CROSS with myself. Despite the fact that I came on this morning, so will be weighing heavy anyway and feel crazy bloated. And 24 hours in a world of diet doesn’t make all the difference and given another day or so, it will have balanced back out, probably with some extra, right now, I am just feeling low. Which is also the period I’m sure.

Must stay off the chocolate. I hate hormones!!

Whattheladybirdsaidnext · 22/05/2020 10:30

Self induced. Not def induced. Sorry

thenewaveragebear1983 · 22/05/2020 10:31

@Gymntonic I definitely do that, and actually it has sort of worked for me this week as I've still lost 2lb but not counter or weighed anything at all. Sometimes I just cannot get the mindset for 100% focus do it stops me derailing totally

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Lostmyunicorn · 22/05/2020 11:36

@ilovemydogandmrobama2
Sorry I got distracted yesterday... happy to be buddies, any motivation helps! I’m trying to fast for 15 hours and eat in a 9 hour window between 1 and 9pm ish (can be any hours obviously but that’s what fits in for me). I don’t eat breakfast then have lunch and dinner totalling night more than 800 cals within the window of 1-9pm.

NathanNathan · 22/05/2020 12:22

@Lostmyunicorn that's my eating hours too, it's an 8 hour window between 1 and 9, you're doing 16:8 without even realising 

@Whattheladybirdsaidnext I have had almost the exact same experience this week! But my bad day was Tuesday. Was very frustrated. But I got back on it properly for two days and I am back where I was on Monday as of today - keep the faith!

Theluggagerules · 22/05/2020 12:31

Hi have just started following, any advice on best app to track calories/carbs. Sorry if you've been asked this loads

Whattheladybirdsaidnext · 22/05/2020 14:42

Thanks nathan stomach cramps are such that I have only managed a cup of coffee today and have no appetite.... so who knows what will happen. Good to know it bounces back quick though.

Justasecondnow · 22/05/2020 16:25

Hello, I’m still chugging along. On day 4 and feel washed out and like can’t concentrate.. going to have some marmite in hot water and an extra bit of fat in my dinner to see if that helps... it has been a mega busy day though. Also I’ve been running 20 mins every day and really want to stick to it. Can’t imagine it from the couch right now!

Sorry not acknowledged anyone else or tried to help with anyone else’s probs...I’m blaming the concentration issue!

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