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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
fufulina · 07/06/2020 08:12

👋 Sunday morning! @Kimlek let me know what you think of Beauty pie!

Watermelon, feta and mint:
180g watermelon
Half a pack of feta (125g)
Some chopped fresh mint
1tbsp of olive oil.
Season

It serves 2 and does manage to last overnight in the fridge - but only really lasts one night.

Love the salad suggestions - thank you.

@thenewaveragebear1983 I’m a lapsed runner. I started running when still not fat about 3 years after DD 2 was born - was still low carb. I have a weight graph on MFP and the running precipitated a huge gain of 10kg over a year as I trained for my first half marathon. Of course it wasn’t the running, it was that I ‘rewarded’ myself with Pret Bircher muesli and cheese and ham toasties on the days I ran to work. And totally abandoned low carb principles. And then I did my third half marathon last year and then stopped and got even fatter. It’s really hard to run when your BMI is 31 (🙄). I’m conflicted whether I should start again given this history, but I also know that I did love it!

Another musing - I cannot see myself at all. I can’t see any difference in the 9.2kg (now just over 10% of body weight) lost so far. I said that to DH yesterday and his jaw dropped. I need to weigh myself. Because I cannot see the fat, or the not so fat, me. So I have to go on the numbers. Amazing brain shenanigans there that I cannot work out!

I remember when I was heavily pregnant with DD1 - I thought I didn’t look that pregnant... I had put on over six stone from a not very svelte starting point! Wtf!?

Anyway - love a Sunday. Long walk planned with the family, then Jamie’s tikka chicken in his 5 ingredient book. Then another long walk with a friend. This is day 7 of week 5, so weigh in tomorrow morning will give me my 5 week progress. Have lovely days everyone.

ilovemydogandmrobama2 · 07/06/2020 08:34

Algiz Wow - just wow. Smile

Fulfina - I know what you mean about not being able to tell about the weight loss. Think maybe I need to do targeted exercises directed at core to fully tone up otherwise will look like an empty bin bag if that makes sense Grin

But I am at 10 st 1lb Glitterball which means I am technically not overweight, which is a huge psychological milestone, and the rest of the weight loss is for me. I want to get to 9st 5 lbs next and then reassess.

Postmanbear · 07/06/2020 08:44

@Algiz that is an amazing story, well done!

@ilovemydogandMrObama congratulations on being in the healthy weight zone, that must feel amazing!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 07/06/2020 10:06

@Algiz amazing weight loss, well done!

@fufulina it really is a fine line with running/diet, isn't it? When I'm properly training I have to abandon the low carb or I literally can't do it, I end up eating so much sugar, so I have to increase carbs. I gained half a stone training for a half last year. I think it's partly because it builds those big muscles (glutes/quads/ calves) that we don't realise how heavy they can actually be, but can still be 'wobbly' elsewhere. I think you have to be very disciplined to lose weight running as it really Ramps up my appetite and I can seriously eat when I'm running a lot. I sometimes feel like it's a constant rollercoaster and all I do is maintain! I must be muscular because despite being almost overweight (bmi) I am a size 8-10 (maybe more a 10 at the moment!)

I am addicted to my scales because I have always seen the numbers as the truth and my view of how I look is based entirely on those numbers and not what I really look like. Especially in the modern world of filters and selfies. I definitely think that spending a bit of time really looking at yourself and also (this is key for me) thinking about where you are going, and imagining yourself at your desired weight, is so beneficial. Often if we've been on a diet for life, we actually don't know what we're working towards we're just blindly dieting with no idea what we're going to do when we get there!

OP posts:
Kimlek · 07/06/2020 10:08

I’m 10.8.2 this am. BMI now 24 which is just inside ok (want it to be nearer 20) and my renpho scales still have my fat too high (33% needs to be 25%) & muscle too low (38% needs to be 45%). Without the scales I’d probably stop & maintain now as I look ok. I’m size 12/14 rather than 16. And would think ‘this will do’. I saw some footage from the late 60’s the other day and couldn’t help be astounded at the thinness of both the men and women.

fufulina interesting that you don’t see the slimmer you! But great that your DH has noticed! Mine wouldn’t notice if I shaved off my hair. Re-running... not for me BUT if you enjoyed it you should. You’re likely much more mindful now about food rewards. Plus, if you started whilst doing this you’d set off with good habits and have all of us to help.

Hello Algiz you’ve done amazingly well and your photos are incredible. A stone a month for 9 months.... wow!! Great to hear that the BSD is working for you - 2 stone in the last 6 weeks is incredible. You’re obviously a very determined woman! Welcome!!

Kimlek · 07/06/2020 10:11

Ha ha fululina told you I don’t run. Ignore me and listen to bear!!! I’ll get back in my box. 😉

PhoenixMama · 07/06/2020 16:28

Hi all! Ok - I need to properly get back on the wagon. Took my measurements this morning and it is AWFUL. I've been doing Couch 2 5K as well but I haven't lost anything and my gaining is awful. In an ideal world I need to lose 20lbs by the end 2nd week of July due some work stuff I have going on. I know if I follow it I can lose weight (I lost 48lbs on this last year) but lockdown has destroyed me.

I'm still not sure how I can make it work plus run so I think I'm going to do 1000 cals on run days and 800 on the other 4 days. Otherwise my brain just shuts down. I'm also doing some weights at home, which I'm hoping will tone me up (especially my bingo wings!) I'm committing to checking in with you all every day and getting back to daily weigh ins! I need you all to kick my ass lol!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 07/06/2020 16:48

Hi @PhoenixMama , welcome back! You can do it!! I've really struggled with lockdown too, and tomorrow my own butt kicking will commence full pelt so hopefully we can inspire each other Smile

Currently in the kitchen: making chicken and cauliflower rice and fast800 slaw for dinner tonight, boiling up a few eggs for snacks, getting things from the freezer for tomorrow's dinner and I will now do a big tray of roasted veg too for salads etc for the next few days. All counted and portioned

OP posts:
thenewaveragebear1983 · 07/06/2020 18:50

Much much much better day today for me, although I haven't calorie counted, just stuck to the principles ready for a strict week to begin tomorrow. 15k steps (c25K and a family walk), and I reckon my carbs were pretty low.

Prepped my salads and extras ready, and have planned my menu. Dinner tomorrow will be the chicken and coconut curry from the book with cauliflower rice, and lunch will be salad, egg and coleslaw, although I will leave it as late as I can to eat to extend the fasting period.

Here's to a great week!

OP posts:
bluepixie · 07/06/2020 19:51

Not best day today . Sigh.
Really struggle at weekends.
Anyways meals prepped for week....planning 850 every day.
I need to keep mouth zipped next sat ow I’ll never move on the scales!!!

Postmanbear · 07/06/2020 20:14

I finish the day on 961 and 41g of carbs. Week 2 weigh in tomorrow and then I need to decide what to do next.

collywobble · 07/06/2020 20:51

A great day for me after being constantly hungry all day yesterday and feeling weak I woke up with so much energy . I've dropped another pound on the scales too this morning so maybe it was the weight burning away that made me so hungry . I just haven't felt hungry at all today so I skipped lunch until evening meal which was the beef redang from the fast 800 recipe book . It was a little runny but tasty enough . Followed by Greek yoghurt and rhubarb and a coffee with milk. Isn't it strange how our body can have similar food and be crying out for more one day and then nothing the next . Feeling happy and closing the kitchen at 720 cals .

Bestbees · 07/06/2020 22:01

Wow @agiz what an inspiration you are!

I hated running, then got into it with a few 10ks and a sprint triathlon. But since I have damaged my hamstring/pelvis I cant. Very frustrating as I liked how whereever you are you can just pop on your trainers and run. I stead I am focusing on walks, a bit of low impact hit and yoga.

Cream123 the weekends are harder! Could you plan and prep a delicious, luxurious Saturday which would be in the guidelines of not the cals? Like fruit, Yog and nuts for breakfast, lunch of cheese and meat platter with roasted veg, olives. Dinner of steak, blue cheese and salad with red wine. Yes it would be a higher count but might help you feel less.disheartened if you have planned it and it is all lovely!
Postman are you thinking of switching to 5:2?
Great day colly well done! I am still waiting to not feel hungry! However I had a pinch of salt in my black coffee this morning which was surprisingly delicious and helped I think.
My first week weigh in on Tuesday so hoping for a good loss, been weighing everyday but it is a bit up and down! For me this is an easier time to do this as I don't have social obligations which involve food.

Long timers what do you do when visiting friends and family? Do you just eat what they serve? Cannot imagine telling my mother in law that I don't want potatoes or bread!!

Food plan for tomorrow:
Lunch root veg soup with spinach and Greek yog. Piece of cheese.
Dinner turkey chilli with green veg.

Kimlek · 07/06/2020 23:33

bestbees salt in coffee???? I’m wondering if losing calories has you losing the plot too! 😉 When we were allowed to visit and socialise I’d just stick to the principles so yes, I’d say no to potatoes and bread (but yes to wine). We should be able to politely say no to whatever shouldn’t we? Instead we try not to offend and stuff we don’t want. I wonder why we do that? Females pleasing others... I know plenty of blokes who say no to greens & salad!
I’ve not had the best day either cream weekends are tricky but I’m now finding everyday a bit like a weekend. I’m freelance so work is very quiet.
Welcome back pheonixmama!! We can definitely kick ass! I remember you losing lots previously so you can do this. Both bear and fufulina!have highlighted the difficulty of losing weight & running, specifically cutting carbs. I’ve just been looking at ‘carb cycling’ which is an interesting concept, where you have low carb/high fat days that encourage weight loss then higher carb/lower fat days that increase leptins and decrease ghrelins thus keeping metabolism up. I guess you’d run on the higher carb days. It was interesting anyway.

Kimlek · 08/06/2020 08:38

Happy Monday everyone!!
I’m feeling positive today! Weight down another 1lb to 10.7.2... yeah
I’m going on a socially distanced dog walk shortly with a friend I’ve not seen since before lockdown. She’s partially deaf so I’m not sure how good our conversation will be, bless her. So looking forward to it though. I’m then going to do some batch cooking, make sure my click & collect order tomorrow tallies with my menu plan. I’m lining the inside of some kitchen cupboards with ‘write on’ white board vinyl stuff so everyone can see the menu/options and don’t go too off piste and mess up the meal planning. Sounds very controlling doesn’t it?
Happy Monday all x

Bestbees · 08/06/2020 09:12

Down to 10.2 this morning 😁
Honestly kimlek I know it sounds bonkers. I used pink Himalayan salt, just like three crystals. Done it again this morning and I feel so much better than usual. Definitely worth a try!

collywobble · 08/06/2020 09:56

Morning everyone. I'm down five pounds this week after a really good focused weekend with no alcohol. It seems to be the thing that stalls me usually where I gain a couple of pounds over the weekend and feel demotivated on a Monday morning so this week I'm raring to go again . I have a friends socially distanced birthday meet up later in the week in her garden and I'm planning a couple of gin and slimline tonics so I'm hoping that doesn't steal my willpower. I might take my non alcoholic gin along with me to be honest . I'll certainly have a clearer head the next day.

Hope everyone has a great Monday .

thenewaveragebear1983 · 08/06/2020 12:07

Morning all. I weighed in heavy this morning and it's really made me feel super determined this week. Been to the supermarket and have all my meals planned and I've not bought any of the things that usually derail me (even allowed things like peanut butter, nuts etc). Got my salads all prepped too.

@kimlek I always write the meals for the week on my blackboard, I find it really helps me to know exactly what we're having, plus I freeze a lot of the fresh meat so I know what I need to take out the next day.

OP posts:
ilovemydogandMrObama · 08/06/2020 12:47

Weighed in this morning still at 10st 1lb, but did have a celebratory gin and tonic last night Smile

Can't remember who it is on this thread who mentioned the Jamie Oliver recipe with tikka paste and veg? It's brilliant and am doing again this week, although need to now do it with 2 chickens Grin

Postmanbear · 08/06/2020 13:29

That was me who recommended the Jamie’s chicken tikka, glad you enjoyed it!

I’m down 1 pound on week two weigh in. I’m a bit disappointed tbh as I have been really good apart from one day with wine. It is still 7 pounds over two weeks though which is amazing.

I’m not sure what to do now. I can’t see why I would lose weight doing 5:2 when I didn’t doing 7 days! Need to have a think really. I’ve got 7 pounds left to lose.

bluepixie · 08/06/2020 13:36

Wow ur all amazing loosing after weekend
I’m terrible. I like ur idea though @Bestbees. I may do that. I usually be good and then at 5pm break it but I might just have BSD food but not calorie count and stay of the sugar.
Anyways back on today (need to catch up with you @Kimlek feeling a bit jel!!!)

Today - quark blueberry avo smoothie
Lunch - fast 800 goats cheese frittata
Dinner - fast 800 chicken drum stick with side salad

Tmrw will be same. Infact so will wed. Helps me to do that on work days as I’m too tired to cook and it’s al been made and ready in fridge on Sunday night to keep me going till wed.

Having my coffee black so must mean business.

Aim to be 10.8 by end of week (not sure if doable means I have to loose 2!)
Xxx

Kimlek · 08/06/2020 13:51

Yes! Come on cream catch up! Good to be envious it spurs us on!
bestbees where dyou read the salt thing? Is it in black coffee?

Bestbees · 08/06/2020 13:59

Kimlek, I think I heard about the salt thing on a podcast. Yep, just half a pinch in my black coffee (I have a double shot americano). It was tasty actually and I think it really helped. I find a salty boost helpful when fasting but usually wait until I feel awful. But this as a morning drink I think might stop me getting to that point. Worth a go anyway!

PhoenixMama · 08/06/2020 16:40

So weigh in this morning and I'm up 7lbs which is better than I was last week so being even slightly conscious has helped. I'm 9lbs from my first goal and 21 from my new overall goal.

Been good so far and just added a slice of sourdough to my 2 eggs for breakfast to help with the running this morning. Lunch was salad with a little bit of cold pork roast cubed for protein.

Dinner is courgetti with peas, pesto & goats cheese. Not been good on water so far today though!

bluepixie · 08/06/2020 17:28

Closed kitchen
850 and 23 carbs

Chicken was delicious as was frittata x

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