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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
JosieGrossie · 05/10/2021 11:02

@PhoenixMama thank you! I'm planning to weigh on Thursday, fingers crossed for some progress. I think I've started well, hidden all the nice snacks away (I can't throw them, DD wouldn't be happy!) I'm working from home too so the kitchen is always a temptation, but I've got some recipes I want to try that are low carb so that should take my mind off sugar!

1Adeline · 05/10/2021 17:51

@JosieGrossie good luck for weigh-in on Thursday. Let us know how the recipes go!

1Adeline · 06/10/2021 19:21

I’ve bought the fast 800 recipe book and fast 800 easy. I’m going to sit this evening and plan a few things to make this weekend for meals next week.

Hope everyone’s week is going ok. I was back in work today, feeling a bit better so was a bit hungrier this afternoon. I eat at about 7.30 am and 1pm, then nothing till next day - today the afternoon seemed long but I don’t feel hungry now - just a bit empty.

PhoenixMama · 06/10/2021 20:36

Ugh I ate 6 biscuits today. I've been so busy & so stressed. No food till 11 (which was part of the problem) then some biccies and a coffee then only a salad for lunch with a little bit of chicken. Dinner is supposed to be the cauliflower cheese from the bsd book but Im so shattered I might just skip it and turn in relatively early.

1Adeline · 07/10/2021 04:20

@Phoenixmama you so did well not to just throw the whole day away - that’s my bad habit - ‘start again tomorrow’ - once the day isn’t perfect. So much better to be able to get back on track that day - I’m hoping to get to the stage of being able to do that too. That would feel like being in control, for me - not losing a whole day to a blip.

Coconuts2020 · 07/10/2021 06:59

Could I ask some advice please - I’ve been lurking while starting this (again, first time failed!) I’ve been going for 4-5 weeks and I’ve lost just over a stone, but now seem to be stuck. I think in the last week to ten days there’s probably been no change at all. What have you done in this situation - do I just have to wait it out?

PhoenixMama · 07/10/2021 15:31

Thanks @1Adeline - I do try to get back on track! Being out of the house makes it all so much harder for me.

I'm down another lb this week so that's good. Not drinking this weekend is going to be tough - just so in the habit!

@Coconuts2020 I always got stuck with a plateau at 5 weeks (and every iteration of 5 weeks after that). It's hard but definitely stick to it and you'll get a whoosh. Are you drinking enough water? That always gets me! I need to drink at least 3Ls to lose weight!

1Adeline · 07/10/2021 19:05

Welcome @Coconuts2020. When I did this a couple of years back, I definitely remember a tricky week three, where I lost nothing, then getting stuck again around week six. I think that what I did that got it moving was a big carb meal! Not chosen deliberately for that effect, but I had gone somewhere that the fish and chips were amazing and had decided that I was having some. I was a couple of lbs up for a day or so, then starting losing quite steadily again. No idea if there is any scientific reason for that to work but it did!

As Phoenixmama said, if you stay on track you will lose eventually - bodies need more than 800 cals a day and the extra has to come from somewhere, which hopefully is our fat stores.

Coconuts2020 · 07/10/2021 20:23

Thank you! I will keep going - you’re right of course. I will keep the faith!

PhoenixMama · 08/10/2021 11:06

Ugh up a lb after yesterday (deserved!) and now out to a posh work lunch at Ottolenghi (must not drink wine must not drink wine must not drink wine!)

Also got my period early yesterday so hoping that will mean I'm a bit lower (although I'm away on a course next week which will take ALL of my will power not to drink and eat carbs throughout!)

1Adeline · 08/10/2021 18:46

@JosieGrossie, hope your weigh-in went ok yesterday and and you liked the numbers!

I’ve bought the Jamie Oliver 7 Ways cookbook - loads of lovely looking things with minimal adaptations needed - very excited to give a few a try! I’m going to spend much of the weekend planning some menus for next few weeks.

I weigh every day but do a ‘formal’ weigh-in on a Saturday - the week seems to have gone well so I’m hopeful the scales will be favourable tomorrow morning!

1Adeline · 08/10/2021 19:33

@Phoenixmama hope the meal was lovely. Do you know what the food will be like on the course next week? Is there any way you can make plans for what you will choose, or could it be anything? So hard when you are away from home.

1Adeline · 09/10/2021 07:09

My first Saturday weigh-in of this restart and I have lost 6lb! I started the week at 12st13.8 and am 12st7.8 this morning. I am rather pleased with that!

Overall the week has been really easy, if very monotonous food-wise, which suits me fine. I eat a big breakfast, medium lunch and no dinner. Work has been so busy that I’ve not had time to think about being hungry or raiding the biscuits, which has been good, and so tiring that I just want to crawl into bed early so no temptation to eat in the evenings. It was my daughter’s birthday on Thursday and I was not even tempted to a piece of cake!

I’m feeling very in control, which is such a great feeling.

PhoenixMama · 09/10/2021 09:09

Well done @1Adeline! I'm super jealous, scale this morning says I'm basically back where I started on Monday, I'm going to weigh in again tomorrow and be SUPER strict today and tomorrow.

Next week the food is pretty mixed, definitely some healthy options but also definitely loads of carbs and an INSANE amount of pastries during the day and wine at night. I'm actually thinking of telling my colleagues I'm on anti-biotics to get around the drinking thing. Is that terrible?

Lunch yesterday was good and mostly veggie based but I did have a dessert - although I didn't drink.

I am not feeling in control at all unfortunately and yesterday at lunch just felt so fat and frumpy it made me want to cry. I don't know what I need to do to get out of this very frustrating tired/stressed/eating cycle right now.

1Adeline · 09/10/2021 15:49

@Phoenixmama -not terrible at all to tell colleagues you cannot drink for any made-up reason that will work - we all know the pressure other people put on us to overindulge when we don’t want to, or are trying so hard not to. You could stretch it to a suspected gluten intolerance if you wanted to avoid the pastries too!

If you are just not in the right head-space to relaunch properly, could you do some damage limitation? Commit to something that does feel sustainable at the moment - eg low carb, or no wheat, or no sugar, or 1200 calories. You would be able to stick to it, not feel so stuck in the negative cycle, not put any weight on, and be ready to get back into 800 when you have time and energy to do it.

JosieGrossie · 09/10/2021 20:56

Thanks @1Adeline ! I didn't weigh in until today and I'm -3lbs which isn't the best start but I have been lazy this week and not getting my steps in. I need to stop making excuses and give myself a kick up the bum!

1Adeline · 10/10/2021 08:26

That is 3lb that you were carrying around last week and now don’t have to, @JosieGrossie
I’ve never been good at sticking to exercise intentions, and because I’m a bit ‘all or nothing’ , if I commit to exercise and then don’t do it, I’m more likely to slip on the diet as well. Something I definitely need to improve on.
Any nice meals planned for today?
I’m having sardine dip in lettuce boats, and chicken and veg skewers with celeriac chips. Will also be making a celeriac-topped cottage pie for meals for next week and hard-boiling a load of eggs for snacks and salads.

1Adeline · 10/10/2021 08:28

I also typed ‘well done’ @JosieGrossie but that bit of the message seems to have vanished ….

Well done! 3lb is a great loss for a week.

1Adeline · 10/10/2021 15:57

My chicken and veg skewers were good - daughter thought them too lemony, son said they were too herby, but I thought they were just right. Can’t please everyone! The sardine lettuce boats were ok - I think I will buy a better brand of sardines as the Asda ones went a bit soggy and grainy.

IAmADancer · 10/10/2021 17:32

Hello all,

Do you mind if I join? I am just about to start the veryfast800. I have always been very slim and very active but the last year weight seems to appear that will not budge! I already eat low carb but I am a bit daunted but only 800cals a day.

I exercise every day, a combination of hiit, cardio, weight training, yoga, running and strength training. I normally burn at least 400 cals doing this but I’m guessing I may not be able to carry on with training at this level in so few calories?

Also, are you hungry all the time?

1Adeline · 10/10/2021 18:44

Welcome @Iamadancer.
My experience regarding your last question - I did 800 for three months straight, then carried on during the week with breaks at weekends for about another 9 months. I’ve restarted now, and am on my second week. I’m hungry sometimes, and my hunger feels different at different times of day. If I’m hungry in the mornings I very occasionally feel lightheaded, faint and nauseous - if this happens I eat. In the later afternoons, I might feel empty but not exactly hungry - and never faint or lightheaded - it’s manageable. If I feel hungry in the evenings I know it is emotional eating and can usually manage to ignore it. But most of the time, I don’t feel hungry. I think low carb helps a lot to remove the hunger pangs, as you don’t crave sugar.

The exercise - I know lots of folks do manage to keep up with exercise on 800, but 400 calories’ worth every day wouldn’t leave you many calories to exist on! Someone else might be able to advise better on this.

Good luck!

1Adeline · 12/10/2021 18:36

How’s everyone getting on this week? @Phoenixmama, hope training is going ok and you are coping with all the pastries and alcohol!
There was a lot of chocolate gateau around at work today but I managed to resist. Also daughter had sushi - weirdly I found that harder to resist!

1Adeline · 13/10/2021 19:10

Woke up with a bad headache this morning - needed to eat so I could take some painkillers, so went for cheese. No idea why cheese - could have been worse I guess! But it will have put me around 1000 at least I would think. Normally I would go for toast when headachy, so I’m pleased I dodged that one.

IAmADancer · 14/10/2021 20:36

I must admit I am fairly confused on the exercise front.

My Apple Watch tells I have burnt 500cals just doing my general day to day and then I did a 30 min spin session. That burnt another 225cals.

So if I’m only eating 800 a day, I have burnt 725 of that. I know that apple watches aren’t always accurate but I’m still a bit confused.

If anyone has any advice, it would be much appreciated!

PhoenixMama · 14/10/2021 21:28

Hello! Nope training was pretty bad on the pastries front but I did limit drinking and generally avoid additional carbs with meals. Will weigh tomorrow morning to see how much damage has been done.

Then after this weekend I'm going to be very very strict with both exercise and food for a month (aside from 1 Saturday where we have a dinner party planned). I will hate myself if I don't do this and I can't do this to myself. I'm going to try to put some exercise in as well (not entirely sure what but yoga & something else) every day for the next month. I'm going to be shattered but I need to make this commitment to myself. I won't lose a stone in a month but if I can lose 10lbs then my clothes will def fit better!

@IAmADancer My understanding is the basic 'daily calories' burn isn't really accurate so you don't count that overall. You burned 225 doing a workout which should go towards losing faster. My experience of doing the Fast800 and exercising was very VERY hard and I was much more successful when I was just getting my 10k steps and doing it than when I was working out - I just kept getting so hungry and lightheaded I couldn't run and do 800 cals for example. Some people manage a bit but for me it made it much harder and I had to go up to 1000 cals to exercise (which slowed my weight loss down). Every body is different though so it might be worth playing around a bit and seeing how your body responds.