Best and worst bits of fast 800?

[Beatrixslobber]

I’m on day three and it’s going ok so far but today all I can think about is food. I wouldn’t say that I’m hungry but it’s on my mind.

If you have done fast 800 what did you like or dislike most about it!

Good
It works in the short term, I lost nearly four stone in four months during lockdown

Bad
I lost a LOT of hair.
I gained it all back in the eighteen months following, it just wasn't sustainable once life got underway again.

Hi. I’ve tried it a couple of times but without great success as I’m a lousy dieter.

Good points: I liked the fact healthy oils, cheese and avocados featured in the recipes.
I was happy cooking everything from scratch and felt very healthy.
It was nice having menus generated for you. I also thought it was good the site generated a shopping list.

Bad points:
I thought the recipes on the site were often too healthy to be palatable. The recipes often seemed constructed on nutritional goals rather than if they’d be nice to eat. When you get to eat so little, it’s important you are looking forward to what you are allowed.
I really missed carbs. There was almost no bread at all and no potatoes (!).
There is a lack of nice traditional meals on the site.
you can’t add any meals yourself on the site.
meals from the books don’t feature.
There is very little fruit except berries and apples/ pears. I particularly like oranges so this was irksome.
There were too many salads during winter, menus not seasonal (most staff seem based in Australia).
There is no capacity for small weekend treats, a little wine, or snacks.
The forums weren’t great as many fellow dieters in Australia.
best of luck with it. People on it got great results when they stuck to it!

Thank you.

@WeKnowFrogsGoShaLaLaLaLa ohno, I don’t want hair loss!

@iamyourequal I’m being a bit creative with the menu as I have multiple allergies but am making sure that I’m getting enough protein and low carbs. I’m trying it for two weeks initially and then reassigning, possibly moving to 5:2 after.

I did it and it was the first diet I’ve managed to stick to because after a few days of almost no carbs, I really found my appetite disappeared. It obviously takes will power too but the method works, there's no way I could go that low calorie without cutting carbs and upping protein a lot!

However…like PP, my hair started falling out about 3 months after I started. I was upping my calories at that point but apparently hair loss is triggered by your body going into shock and the shedding starts about 3 months after the shock. It lasted about 3 months and was pretty awful but worth it on balance. The hair loss was due to fast weightloss rather than specific to fast 800.

Thanks @losingatlast sounds like hair loss is pretty common. Definitely agree regarding the carbs.

How are you getting on @Beatrixslobber?

I've just started today, I've read the book but never fully commited to it before. I have done OMAD which worked but was not sustainable longer term.

I need to lose as much weight in 4 weeks as I'm going to a wedding and don't want to go feeling as miserable as I currently am right now.

I read the book, started it but abandoned due to hair loss. Now I’m on Mounjaro eating 1400-1500 calories a day with ease (not very hungry) and the pounds are dropping off (1.5 stone in just over 7 weeks).

I’m able to eat sufficient protein to avoid hair loss on Mounjaro (fingers crossed so far) which I couldn’t manage on fast 800. I can’t afford to lose hair as mine is already fine, so it depends how important that is for you.

@baubletits really well! 5.5lbs off in a week. Not feeling deprived or hungry. I did however go out for a family birthday today and didn’t stick to plan (1377 calories today so almost double 🫣). I don’t want to be the grumpy idiot in the corner that doesn’t ever join in.

@WannabeHealthier after a few others said about that I am being careful and will stop if needed. This isn’t a long term plan, it’s a short sharp shock for my brain more than my body. The boredom snacking is already so last week 😂 I think after this I’ll look at upping the calories but prioritising protein and doing 5:2 plus 18:6 (or similar). I’m winging it tbh. I’m not sure that anyone would prescribe me mounjaro or similar as I am at the higher end of a healthy weight.

I lost a stone and half in 8 weeks several years ago doing this. I lost the bulk of the weight really quickly in this time. I needed a radical reset back then. Ultimately I went back to my old ways and didn't maintain the weight loss in the longer term. I read the book - it's a very easy read - and found it easy to stick to at the time. Since then I've come to conclusion I need a sustainable long term plan as there aren't really any quick fixes. I have no doubt there are some people whose health will quickly benefit from Fast 800.

Thanks @NigelHarmansNewWife is there anything that you would do differently if you did it again?

I wouldn't do it again. If I had proper health reasons for it I'd do something like a Mediterranean diet or 5:2 afterwards. But, I feel it messed with my attitude to food and made me unhealthily cut things out. You can lose weight eating carbs, for example, they are good for you!

Like: rapid weightloss, tasty meals, generous portions, cooking from scratch all fresh and healthy,, planning meals and fridge full of good things, bloating disappeared, felt much healthier and happier, better health outcomes.

Disliked hunger and headaches initially only then adapted, hard to eat out, difficult if fail to plan as quick food often more calories (sandwich).