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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

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35
Postmanbear · 31/05/2020 09:52

Welcome @mumoflittlemice sounds like you are doing really well!

I’ve been feeling down the past couple of days and normally I would comfort eat and drink alcohol to cheer myself up so now I can’t I’m not really sure what to do with myself! I ended up going to bed early last night instead.

I’ve menu planned for the week ahead and it is perfectly doable if I don’t crack.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 31/05/2020 10:18

@Kimlek you could try Emi Wong, she does hiit type workouts, or fitness blenders - just out beginners hiit into YouTube and you'll find various options. Or you could get a hiit timer app and just go freestyle? If you are totally beginner you could go 30 seconds on/30 seconds rest x 10 and just alternate between a cardio exercise such as star jumps to something body weight/ resistance based such as squats or press-ups or sit ups?

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Kimlek · 31/05/2020 10:41

Thank you bear will find EMI Wong on YouTube as id have no idea myself.
Ahhh @postmanbear it’s tough when we rely on food & booze isn’t it. I’ve found a quick FaceTime chat with a friend has lifted my spirits immensely!! But an early nights not such a bad idea either. Hope you feel better today. Flowers

bluepixie · 31/05/2020 17:58

705 and 35g carbs

Am feeling super focused. Just spent an hour cooking cutting planning my meals for next 3 days. Busy week at work so need to keep focussed

I can do this. Just spotted a glass of wine left from last night. Threw it away!!! Halo

bluepixie · 31/05/2020 17:59

Kimlek what date is urs :)!
Once I’ve lost my binge weight and back at 10.9 I plan on setting my self a goal for my bday...(I’m Hoping it’s off this week As some must be water!)

Justasecondnow · 31/05/2020 18:32

So I have gone a bit off piste this weekend up to 1500 cals both days. (One day watch suggests I’ve burnt 1000 cals which makes me feel a bit better, but that’s def not my strategy to off set as don’t think it really works for me).

I had intended to ease up on weekends but not this early - week 2! If I still lose on fri it’s all good, if not lesson learnt. I don’t feel too terrible about it as I didn’t fall into a vat of ice cream.. it was a few little things seeing people (socially distant of course) that accumulated. But I did do lots of good stuff too, I still feel having a bbq and burger with no bun is worthy of some sort of award.

Right I am motivated for next week. Which seems to be the general theme of the thread at the mo. We can do this!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 31/05/2020 18:46

I have had a really good day today and I'm closing up the kitchen on 1034 cals, 16g carbs, and 19k steps (6km run) after a busy day in the garden.

Tomorrow, I am running again first thing before the sun gets too hot. Not sure on food as I am going to the supermarket in the morning so I will consult my plan!

I was 10.13 when I weighed in this morning which means I'm 10lbs above my lowest weight and that's my first target for myself. Feeling motivated but I know I will need to keep going through next weekend to actually get it. It's ds's birthday on weds too which is another potential derail although currently feel confident I can navigate through with just one piece of cake!

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Kimlek · 31/05/2020 22:34

@Cream123 mines 15th
Stuck to plan quite well until after dinner zoom session with friends where we seemed to go through several bottles of wine!!!! 😱😱😱😱 I think lockdown socialising is worse than real life. My snacks today (After 8pm) are over 800 cals 😱😱😱 Im really not very good at this!!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 31/05/2020 23:54

Grrrr must have had a low carb day because tonight I am absolutely wired and cannot sleep at all!!

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thenewaveragebear1983 · 01/06/2020 07:01

10.10 this morning meaning 3lbs off - water obviously- but a good start. I really struggled to sleep last night, combination of a v low carb day and and being due on. Lay awake in the lounge with the kitten pawing at my face until about 1.30. I hope it doesn't affect my day today too much.

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Postmanbear · 01/06/2020 07:43

Week 1 weigh in and I’ve lost 6 pounds and I’m down at 10:2. Very pleased with that but finding it hard! I think I’m going to try to do one more week at 800 and then relax a bit.

How much weight in the first week do you think is water weight?

My first aim is to get to 10 stone as that is my pre baby weight. My happy weight is 9:7-10 but I’ve not been that in 5 years.

Hope you have a good day @thenewaveragebear1983 sleep deprivation is awful.

Bestbees · 01/06/2020 07:51

Hi can I join?
I have done a bit of fasting before but a hamstring injury plus lock down have meant I am at my heaviest weight.
@Postmanbear I am basically you. I am 10.8 but my happy weight is same as yours. I am hoping for a couple of weeks at 800 then move to 5:2, or maybe 2:5.

It's my birthday today but from tomorrow it is on! Reread the book and planning on sticking some motivational photos/words on the fridge.

I imagine the first week will be super hard so would love some top tips!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 01/06/2020 07:55

@Postmanbear , thanks. I find I hold a lot of water, often 3/4/5 lbs but I don't think that's normal really. Maybe the first initial 2/3 lbs would be water? It's hard to tell. It still has to go though, 1kg of water measures 1000 cubic cm, it's still body mass and if you have two or 3 of those on your tummy you'll notice it- so don't discredit your great loss as being just 'water weight' Smile

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Justasecondnow · 01/06/2020 12:00

Well done postman that’s a great start. I have no clue re the water though, sorry!

And I’m early days bestbees but some good advice I’ve seen here is take measurements! I weigh once a week as more doesn’t suit me. But frequently check measurements, they change slower but seem to fluctuate less and it’s really encouraging. Plus I don’t have the same roller coaster relationship with a tape measure as I do the scales!

bluepixie · 01/06/2020 13:51

I’ve lost 2 of my 5 gain from being a naughty one.
So 3 to go hopefully off by end of week

I think first 2-4 can be water for me anyways once I start I loose those very quickly then after is when it slows down.

It’s so warm! I ended yest on 709 and 25 carbs

Hoping for 800 and 25 carbs today

Bestbees · 01/06/2020 16:53

Thanks @Justasecondnow I have never measured before so good idea.

Meal plan tomorrow: no breakfast due to the fact that I am likely to eat a lot of cheese tonight!
Lunch: salad with cheese, olives and avocado
Dinner: pork tenderloin with lentils and green veg.

Aiming for two meals a day with then a range of low cal mini meals at my disposal. I am more likely to eat them in the evening as being at home with the kids means lunch at 12ish and dinner at 5ish. Have a list of things like boiled eggs, cheese, nuts and olives, Yog and berries etc so if needed I can have them.

Will weigh out the left over cheese from tonight into portions, some cut into little cubes with a few olives or nuts as a ready made mini meal/snack. I know snacking isn't ideal but better to be prepped and they can always be used to top salads or omlette.
Will also chill some green tea for these hot days.

bluepixie · 01/06/2020 19:00

890 and 32g carbs
Kitchen closed !

mumoflittlemice · 01/06/2020 19:17

Thanks @Postmanbear and @Kimlek Smile

Well, I've found the past couple of days hard going to be honest and it's been a shock to the system after a great start initially. Probably hasn't helped that my weight hasn't altered for these 2 days either, except actually a few ounces gained the day before yesterday taking me to 10st 12.8 - bit of a minor kick in the teeth but I know I have to focus on what I have achieved and stick with it.

I think part of the issue is general boredom, with the food sometimes (even those I've been really enjoying it up to now) and also the lockdown more generally making me prone to those ho hum feelings. I do find it hard without that buzz of the scales dropping their numbers in the morning!!

One piece of good news though, I tried my own version of the beef stir fry with asparagus and sesame seeds from the BSD recipe book and it was absolutely delicious! I had to substitute a few of the ingredients such as the mirin or sherry as I had neither and just winged it with fresh lime juice instead. I used a tiny amount of chilli flakes instead of the fresh chilli and skipped the sesame seeds and black beans, chucking in some sliced sliced peppers. Lush! And really filling - hurrah!

Also had my first foray into cauliflower rice and in spite of my skepticism, I really liked it served with this stir fry. It did help with those food boredom blues! It's a little hard to devote the necessary time to the prep and as a result I was eating later than I would have liked to ideally.

I just really hope I get a little result soon to keep me on the straight and narrow. At least those Keto-flu symptoms seem to have eased off so something else to be glad for Smile

bluepixie · 01/06/2020 20:05

Anyone got any ideas for packed lunches at work which don’t involve cheese
I have tuna salad
Egg salad
Chicken salad
On my list! And the rest involve cheese - salad or frittata like or my fav brocolli and Stilton soup.

Postmanbear · 01/06/2020 20:16

821 and 22g of carbs today.

I did Jamie’s 5 ingredient chicken tikka for dinner. If you haven’t done it you put a whole chicken over a roasting tray of cauliflower (and anything else you fancy but needs to have cauliflower). You rub the chicken with tikka paste (I used 30g and it was plenty). You then rub the paste left on your hands into the veg and then roast the whole thing for however long the chicken needs. The juice from her chicken makes the veg all very tasty. I added halved new potatoes for the rest of my family. Took 5 mins to prepare and it’s great.

@cream123 I always have leftovers for lunch so you could just make more of your dinner the night before?

thenewaveragebear1983 · 01/06/2020 20:50

@Cream123 could you take a portion of an evening meal from the week? You could freeze in pots. I love salad so for me any of your suggestions would be great, although why no cheese?

Another good day today for me, ending on 1013 cals, 17g carbs, 14k steps. No run today, after my terrible night I couldn't face it. Will go tomorrow first thing. Had pepper chicken stir fry from the fast800, it was lovely. I must confess it's the first recipe I've done from there. I lost the cashew nuts I bought from Lidl so there were fewer cals than there should have been, but it was still lovely.

Blood sugar diet and fast800 thread 19
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bluepixie · 01/06/2020 21:10

Well done @thenewaveragebear1983 ur dinner looks delicious. What’s the flavouring in that?

Just end up having cheese most days recently and I’m aware I don’t know my cholesterol! I don’t mind having it half the week but seems to be my lunch of choice (coz so yummy and low carb)!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 01/06/2020 21:13

It's ginger, soy sauce and 5 spice powder. The recipe uses cornflour and marinades the chicken but I just omitted the flour and added the marinade to the chicken once it was cooked. Then added the veg and another tbsp soy sauce and a splash of water. It was very quick and delicious!

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bluepixie · 01/06/2020 21:19

Will make it this week tmrw plan is

Boiled egg and heck sausages
Feta (!) salad with olives
Harrisa marinated chicken and grilled veg

50 mls of milk allowance

Kimlek · 01/06/2020 23:13

I’m so impressed with these low calorie carbs amounts!! How on Earth do you only manage 17g carbs in 1000 cals bear. My carbs today are shocking but it’s drinking! No alcohol but a blooming glass of Schweppes ginger ale that I thought was ‘light’ but wasn’t! 27g carbs 😱 I really struggle to drink plain water but think I’ve just got to force it as I’m undoing my strict eating
with either alcohol or a nice alcohol replacement.
mumoflittlemice I make the beef and asparagus a lot but hardly ever with the correct ingredients but seems pretty foolproof. You can buy frozen cauli rice but it goes mushy for me. Or you can grate a load in advance and freeze it raw. I buy those bare naked Konjac noodles a lot now as I hate grating cauli. Loving the sound of the tikka chicken with cauliflower postman. I have the same book but never ever done a recipe from it.
cream123 The fast800 Chinese chicken drumsticks were divine on the BBQ. I did marinade them overnight though! Similar to bear’s marinade... soy, garlic and Chinese 5 spice. Another idea for lunch maybe?
Kitchen closed at 842 cals but 47 carbs

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