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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.

Original poster

Blood Sugar Diet & Fast 800 Diet | Thread 23

999 replies

Tinselandlights · 25/05/2021 19:55

Happily starting a new thread as the other is almost full!

Perhaps useful to go over our stats:
Current weight: 10 stone 3lbs
Starting weight: 11 stone 4.5lbs
Weeks on Fast 800 Diet so far: 6

OP posts:
Thread gallery
18
LotsOfTrees · 28/05/2021 20:30

Thanks @Tinselandlights. I got quite a fright as I continued to gain weight over lockdown because I tried a couple of diets but just couldn’t shift the weight and was just getting more and more hungry and piling on the weight. I now understand a little bit as to why - I was eating loads of carbs and constantly looking for a sugar hit. I’m amazed at how satisfying and enjoyable I’m finding Fast 800 and it has opened my eyes increasingly to how I need to aim to eat regularly longer term. I’ve got more energy now, my clothes fit so much better and my weight loss is obvious - and I could still drop another chunk before our holiday in July just as my 12 weeks ends and 5:2 begins.

MercedesBenz · 28/05/2021 20:36

@LotsOfTrees
Wow that is amazing !
Well done 👏
Thanks for the stats , that was very interesting to see
I’m currently 196 lb

ToffeeNotCoffee · 28/05/2021 20:42

@DaisyWaldron

I'm starting Fast 800 in June but not until about mid/late June as we will be going away for a few days for an emotionally charged family event in early June.

I've been reading the Fast 800 book. I've also got the Fast 800 recipe book.

MercedesBenz · 29/05/2021 09:37

Another 1 lb down , I have been at 14s2lb forever so 3lb down since thur seems amazing . Last night was hard , no fri night nibbles although I did have glass wine , and had to drink lots water and take a headache tab due to bad headache
Now o need to make sensible choices at lunch out today ( cleverly scheduled for 1400hrs ) and have a light eve meal to balance it out ,
Happy sat everyone

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 29/05/2021 09:47

Following, as DH and I are going to start this together. I've read the book, understand the reasoning behind the diet, feel motivated. Just need to follow through :)

Original poster
Tinselandlights · 29/05/2021 21:46

Welcome @IsFuzzyBeagMise! My DH and I eat loads of the recipes and even though he's not on the diet, he loves them. We've not had any duds yet.

Great work @MercedesBenz!

Welcome @ToffeeNotCoffee!

@LotsOfTrees the penny has completely dropped with this diet/way of eating for me, this time. I've done Slimming World, Slimfast, WeightWatchers and not been able to sustain them. I'm good at losing weight but terrible at maintaining a steady weight. However, this time it really doesn't feel like I'm working against my body and has felt so healthy. Definitely not easy in the early week or two, but I'm seven weeks in and feel absolutely great.

As a side effect, I'm also epileptic so ketosis is great for epilepsy sufferers (which is how it was first developed).

OP posts:
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 29/05/2021 22:16

Thanks for the welcome @Tinselandlights!
Day one done for me.
It wasn't too bad at all. Having plenty of water,tea and coffee helped during the day. I got the recipe book today and I must read it properly for meal planning next week. It looks good. I'm glad to hear you like the recipes.
I want to shift ten/twelve pounds and I'm hoping the new way of eating will lower my cholesterol. DH has three stone to lose. He is generally healthy otherwise but his weight has crept up. We tried 5.2 before and it was effective, but I found the 500 calories allowance hard to stick to. I'm feeling more optimistic this time.

Original poster
Tinselandlights · 30/05/2021 07:53

@IsFuzzyBeagMise that sounds great! If you can get past day four it all gets much, much easier to manage and seems better. I tried the 5:2 about eight years ago but kept waking up hungry in the night so I fell off the wagon. Just take painkillers if you need too, salt your food properly, and drink lots of water.

That extra 300 calories here compared to the 5:2 make it much more manageable, the recipes are delicious and really varied. I feel as though loads of effort has gone into making the meals work in the books.

OP posts:
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 30/05/2021 08:57

Hopefully, Tinsel. Thanks for the tips. I tried 16.8 as well before but found the fasting window too long. Twelve hours is fine and up to fourteen at a push is okay, sixteen was too long for me. Also, I was probably eating too many carbs during the eight hours to lose much weight.

LotsOfTrees · 30/05/2021 14:53

That all sounds great @Tinselandlights. I have tried the diets you mention and found exactly the same. This time I can see how I could continue longer term with this way of eating. I didn’t know that about epilepsy.

Well done for getting started @IsFuzzyBeagMise and good luck as you prepare for week one @DaisyWaldron and @ToffeeNotCoffee!

DaisyWaldron · 30/05/2021 18:26

Thanks for the good luck everyone. I read the website and was just going to go with that, but might get a copy of the book, too. So, plan for Tuesday is to eat a bit over 800 calories if I get absolutely starving, but any extra calories will be from chicken and green veg, and I'll taper down to 800 over a couple of days if I need to. Drink lots and lots, and include salt. Take painkillers for headaches, and plan on going to bed early for a few days. I normally do rowing workouts, but I'll focus on walking more instead until my body's adjusted to the change of diet.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 30/05/2021 19:11

Good luck for tomorrow DaisyWaldron!
Yes, the recipe book is very good. There's a lot of reading in it; plenty of variation and nothing complicated.

Original poster
Tinselandlights · 30/05/2021 23:15

@DaisyWaldron it sounds like you've got a good plan there, particularly on the exercise!

This is the first period I've ever had where I haven't been scoffing enormous amounts of chocolate and sweet things. I have been a bit more snappy/emotional (poor DH!) without my crutch of carbs, but I think it's been significant not to have had any chocolate at all. I had a mug of cocoa on Friday and that was it. I'll be interested to see where my scales are as I feel very bloated/wobbly but haven't had any carbs. Just being with my feelings is definitely new to me, I crave carbs/sweets when stressed so am trying to find new ways.

We had a bbq tonight and I definitely went over calories but didn't go off plan iyswim, I had an extra bit of steak and some halloumi, and ate my DD's leftover sausage but didn't have any bread, ketchup or brioche buns. I used a Keto stick tonight and am still in keto so I'm having that as a win!

OP posts:
LotsOfTrees · 31/05/2021 09:13

2.25lbs total lost for me in week 7. On to week 8!

Mycatismadeofstringcheese · 31/05/2021 09:30

I’m thinking of doing this. Does anyone do this with intermittent fasting or do you find it easier to have three small meals a day?

LotsOfTrees · 31/05/2021 09:42

Hi @Mycatismadeofstringcheese I have just two meals a day - lunch and dinner - and that has worked well for me.

Movealongmovealong · 31/05/2021 10:31

Hello everyone. I signed up for this on a free weeks trial on Thursday. My day 1 was today. I did my weeks shop yesterday and told DD and DH what I was doing and that they can either eat what I'm eating or cook for themselves for 12 weeks .. all supportive which is good.

Just need to ask .. the cost on line is £100. Which is doable but a bit of a struggle. I also find the website a bit non user friendly.. and then I have seen people on this thread mentioning books . Which would you recommend, the website or the books ?

Starting weight 208 lbs
BMI 33
Carry all my weight around my tummy. Look 10 months pregnant. Off to buy a tape measure now to find out just how big I am.

HeeHiHoHum · 31/05/2021 10:41

Is it ok to pop in to ask something? I’ve finished the 12 weeks and have shifted some weight which is great but still have a stone and a half to go. What is the best way to proceed now? It’s not a case of wanting to maintain as I haven’t reached goal weight yet but I know it’s not advised to stick to 800 calories daily beyond the 12 weeks. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

traintraveller · 31/05/2021 10:42

Movingalong i don't use the book or the online group, I just follow the basic principles especially for the first few weeks. So I avoid obvious carbs such as potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, cereal etc, aim for less than 800 cals and 50g carbs per day.
I'm now on week 7 and started a 28 day fat burn challenge on Friday also aiming for at least 10000 steps per day. I can fasten all my jeans now although one pair still gives me an impressive muffin top!

LotsOfTrees · 31/05/2021 11:01

Hi @Movealongmovealong - I bought the books (Fast 800 diet book and 2 recipe books) and haven’t needed the online group. You could probably make do with either of the 2 recipe books as the principles are covered in the introduction to those. I’m also like @traintraveller avoiding obvious cards, trying to stay under 50g carbs a day and under 800 calories.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 31/05/2021 11:36

@Mycatismadeofstringcheese

I’m thinking of doing this. Does anyone do this with intermittent fasting or do you find it easier to have three small meals a day?
Hi @Mycatismadeofstringcheese, I'm doing three small meals and hot drinks or water in between, and a fasting window of twelve or thirteen hours. I've been used to eating/snacking regularly, so I feel this is easier to do. Whatever works for you, good luck!
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 31/05/2021 11:36

@LotsOfTrees

Hi *@Movealongmovealong - I bought the books (Fast 800 diet book and 2 recipe books) and haven’t needed the online group. You could probably make do with either of the 2 recipe books as the principles are covered in the introduction to those. I’m also like @traintraveller* avoiding obvious cards, trying to stay under 50g carbs a day and under 800 calories.
The same here. Good advice!
MercedesBenz · 31/05/2021 11:56

Hi
I am following 16:8 , so eat lunch and dinner , cutting down on the carbs and aiming for approx 800 cals ( so pretty much same as lots of trees and traintraveller, I have the books , never looked at website , but if you google meals under 300 cals for eaxample loads come up

I do 300 at lunch and 500 for Main meal

Have struggled a bit this weekend but back on it each day rather than thinking I’ve blown it
Ohhh and lots of water too

MercedesBenz · 31/05/2021 11:57

@LotsOfTrees
Well done ! You are smashing this 😄

LotsOfTrees · 31/05/2021 13:36

Thank you @MercedesBenz, I’ve really appreciated all the encouragement and advice on this thread.

@HeeHiHoHum I’m not sure many of us are in the position of having completed the 12 weeks. I’ll still have weight to lose when I get to the end of 12 weeks and plan to move to 5:2. I’d appreciate any advice but I’ll probably continue to restrict my calories somewhat on the 5 days (1200, 1600?) and then do 800 on the other 2.