Hello all, anyone starting on the 20th Feb like to keep me company. It’s my birthday 22nd April so I’m hoping for a real change by then. Only got a stone and a half to lose but it’s been there for few years so it’s quite stubborn!!!
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Hi Keid, I’m starting today so will join you. I have a lot more to lose than you do, but I am very prone to relapses and have failed many times. I’m not giving up though, and have spent some time preparing to start Fast 800 again, so hopeful this time I will make it.
Good luck!
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Hi everyone, I’m starting on Monday too! I’m one of those who has tried repeatedly to loose weight and am getting pretty desperate now! I store most of my fat around my middle which I know is the worst place for it. I’ve got young kids and I need to be healthier. Really want to stick to this so need as much support as possible please! I need really quick meal ideas, particularly for the evenings. Happy to help others with ideas too if I can. Good luck everyone!
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Hi Suse97! I’m going to try to get as close to doing the Fast 800 properly as I can but this time I’m going fairly easy on myself. I should probably just do the Med diet and would certainly lose weight on that, but if I aim for the Fast 800, even if I fail a bit, I will try harder than doing the Med diet. Not sure if that actually makes sense to anyone but me!
Some people on these forums have had amazing success and it’s so inspirational just being around them and reading their stories. Lots of great advice too, and I am totally convinced this is the right way to go.
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Hi All! I’m starting on the 20th Feb too so would love to join you too. The is the first time I’ve done this diet so I’m hoping it goes well. I’ve done Atkins in the past but have become a bit bored with it. I’m hoping to lose about 10kgs. I’m 164cm and currently weigh 72.5kgs. BMI 27. At 44 I’m finding it tougher to shift the midriff flab! Good luck everyone!
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Hi All, it’s good to see that there are a few of us starting on Monday. I’m going to buy a spiraliser today – I think I need to embrace vegetables properly (they’ve always resided firmly on the ‘side’ of my plate but I gather they need to play a more major role on this diet!). Does anyone know a good make of spiraliser? There seems to be a big variety on Amazon. I’m 5’6 and weigh 168lbs. I need to get under 140lbs but the real issue is the fat around my middle. I’ve heard that this diet is good for shifting stubborn fat so let’s hope so! Has anyone decided what to have for breakfast on Monday? I need to be super organised as I have 3 young children and the mornings are crazy! Have a good weekend all.
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Hi Suse97. If you need breakfast (many, including me, don’t) I think the quickest is full fat Greek yoghurt – Total Fage is a favourite on here, Lidl’s version is also good imo with a few berries. If you weigh some out the night before and add the berries (I use frozen which work out cheaper than fresh and if placed on top they do hold their shape and not go “mushy”) and cover in the fridge. Overnight oats would work too. For that I use 12g of oats grated Apple, frozen berries good tablespoon of yog, cinnamon and some seeds whatever I think of really. That makes a lot and is quite carby so depends how low on carbs you are going. Must say I usually have that for lunch.
A smoothie from the book? Eggs whichever way you choose,
cheese – could be wrapped in cooked meat.
Soup.
You can have anything just not toast and cereals.
It’s only your first meal of the day – technically my lunch is breakfast as that is the first time I eat in the day 😀I haven’t got a spiralizer yet, never seem to get round to it, I just use my potato peeler and a sharp knife.
This way of eating is so good. Best wishes
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Hi everyone – count me in! I have about 5 stone to shift and my willpower varies massively so I need all the encouragement I can get. I have made excuses for not starting this diet again since XMAS but it is time to commit to it. Looking forward to sharing the journey with some like minded people as I know I struggle to stick with it on my own.
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Don’t forget to do your starting measurements, even if you just do your waist, from what I’ve read they can very useful especially if you plateau as you can still see changes even if the scales don’t move that week!
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Ah thanks for that reminder Keid, I need to do my measurements. I’m not quite (but very nearly) back up to the weight I was before I started this last year. I have the fitbit charge hr and alba scales so will be using those to track progress too.
This morning was a little over on carbs and calories, but I will build on last night’s success and stay in control in the evening again, I hope.
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Can I ask for the 800 calories a day what proportion should I be aiming for in Carbohydrates, Protein and fat? So want to get this right from the start!
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Try to aim to have fats constitute around 40% of your calories, as these help you to feel full and stay that way for longer. Many of us aim for 50g carbs per day or less – I personally aim to be at about half of that as a maximum. Protein – well I confess this is not something I measure as a separate element, but hopefully someone else can offer advise on that. I think I read somewhere that for a female the daily intake should be around 50 or 60g, but I’m not confident I have remembered that correctly.
To be honest, I would say try to keep things simple, but do weigh and measure – at least in the early days – to be sure you are not over estimating the size or amount of a any given item. The things to keep an eye on is the calories, the carbs, the fats and keeping well hydrated. If you do this, you really can’t go too far wrong. Be sure to track and record what you are consuming and this will help you stay on course.
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HI All
I’m also looking to start on 20th, although have tried to go lower carb today so I don’t always just put off until next week! I would love to lose 3 stone but even 1 stone would be great….however really think I need to find a new way of improved eating for life, not just for a “diet”
good luck everybody, let’s hope it goes well for all of us! -
I am starting on the 20th and I am trying to set up my fitness pal app goals up. I have set 800 calories a day and now I need to enter the Carbohydrates, Protein and fat percentages . I know he total needs o add up to 100% but I am really struggling with the breakdown figure. Really want to get this right from the start. Any advice really welcomed. Have got my meal plan sorted for next week but would like to track on my fitness pal. Thanks all and good luck.
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Hi Allypally and welcome! I’ve spent most of my life after about 30 years of age starting to eat healthily in the morning, then by evening eating as much junk as I can get my hands on. I know I may not be able to change that but if I stop trying I will be accepting weight related diseases taking over my life.
So I’m fighting on, never mind failing at times, just keep on trying. I’m telling myself I’m doing fast 800 but actually I’m a bit of a fraud – I can’t do the virtually no-carb, no going over 800 calorie version that the very successful people on here have done – however if I aim for the fast 800 I will do a better job than if I tell myself just eating Med style is enough.
So today, I have stayed in control. A second day in proper control, which has happened so rarely that I don’t need a whole hand to count how many times it’s happened in my whole life!
I’m over 800 calories and I’ve had too many carbs, but I stayed in control… I did it. Now for tomorrow….
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Thanks Sunny B. I’ve been reading a lot of the forums and the advice there doesn’t seem to match the book…Ahhhh! Sounds more like the Atkins approach dare I say.
Anyway, I have found some lovely salad pots at Marks & Spencers that seem great in terms of Calories. I just tried the Chicken, Avocado Protein Pot with Quinoa & Spinach which was delicious (125g pack)! The nutrition info says 171 calories, 7g fat, protein 9g, sugars 0.3g and carbohydrates 10g. Is this the right type of thing I should be eating???
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Hi Jack
Start off by aiming for 50g or less of carbs.
Protein is 1-1.5g per kg of IDEAL body weight, so if your ideal weight is 60kg, then you can start with 90g of protein (reduce it later if you are not losing weight, same as with carbs), the rest is made up of fat.
Every body is different and everybody loses weight at different rates as there are far too many variables.
Just start and fine tune it as you go along. Remember that protein and carbs have 4 cals per gram and fat has 9 cals per gram. That will help you with your calculations.
Cheers
Linda -
Carbs amount is an individual preference. Several people have very successfully used the recipes in the book to lose weight without counting anything, and at the other end people like me have adopted the basic principles of avoiding the white stuff and played around with the delivery and rate of loss (5:2, 4:3, 2:5, Fast 800). My carbs vary depending on my calories in obviously but when I was on 800 calories a day I was aiming for 40g carbs, and roughly sticking to 40g per 800 calories on higher carb days, I have had a quick read of the new Atkins diet book and apart from his distrust of yoghurt it makes some sense. His view of carbs is more extreme than MM’s, but they are basically coming from the same place. I love the M&S protein pots, and they make an excellent meal/snack. Aldi do some similar ones as well now.
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Thanks Mix match. I’m really looking forward to the full fat Greek yogurt and mixed berries in the mornings! I will have a look at Aldi’s protein pots too. So handy when you don’t have time to prepare a meal.
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Please may I join you? I’m starting the 800 calories tomorrow. I’ve made my shopping list and heading out shortly…
First time trying this diet. Fingers crossed and good luck everyone! -
Hi Everyone, I’ll start tomorrow as well. I did four weeks of the BSD just before Xmas and lost 3kg and then had a ‘break’ for the festivities and put back on 2kg. I have so far, not managed to really stick at it again, I just need to get through those initial first few days and get used to eating 800 calories a day again. I have got just under a stone to lose and have done for some years now. I really just want to get on with it now because it’s a constant sore point in my life and gets me down….you’d think that would be enough to motivate me, wouldn’t you? I go to the gym quite happily and walk and do cardio at least 3 times a week, so I just need to get my erratic eating habits under control. Saying that, once in the swing of the BSD, I do quite enjoy it…
I’m hoping that the mutual support on here will keep me on the straight and narrow as well as My Fitness Pal and my Fitbit. I’ve also uploaded progress pictures onto My Fitness Pal which I find quite horrific right now, so they should spur me on. I am going to go with Keid’s dates and so by 22 April, I want to have lost these 6.5 kg and be done with this gaining and losing the same couple of kilos over and over again routine…..
Good luck everyone, let’s do it!!!!
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Hi Lottie and Cosmic, welcome aboard the good ship 20 Feb starters! I’ve managed a third day of control, amazingly. It’s not over yet but I swerved the takeaways that were calling. Good luck for tomorrow, all.
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Hi all I’m starting on the 20th too would really welcome the support. Just made my lunch for tomorrow- really feeling motivated for the change.
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Wow there seems to be quite a few of us jumping aboard tomorrow, we should be able to spur each other on.
Hellyshear you are more prepared than I am – though I have planned Mondays menu, just the weighing and inputting to MFP to sort out later on. I’m hoping that I can plan one day in advance at a time and will continue to look out for everyone’s hints and tips. I have tried BSD before and it was great but then life got in the way and it all went to pot. I know if I can be more organised it’ll be much easier to follow and stick to. I have even found the tape measure and will scare myself with that tonight as I have seen so many great posts to use shrinking measurements to keep you going when the scales stop moving 🙂
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Hi All
I am planning to start the 8week 800 on 20th Feb too. Any suggestions for doing it the vegetarian way (I do eat fish) would be welcome. I am hoping to lose around a stone in time to celebrate my 60th birthday in May. I am currently 12stone 12 BMI 26 – not too bad as I am 5’9″ but really need to lose round the hips and thighs. I suffer from fibromyalgia and arthritis, so am curious to see if the diet causes any changes. Good idea to measure before hand as I found this kept me going on previous diets where the weight loss wasn’t always happening.I have planned a week’s worth of recipes and made my shopping list! I think the only way I can do this is to be super organised for a change!
Good luck to everyone!
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Hi
Do you eat cheese and fish? I’ve bought feta cheese and some nuts too. I scared myself by weigh it all out but need to stick to it!
I’ve also put some walnuts into the salad too – will let you know how I get on tomorrow. I’ve taken my waistline and it 42 inches! I used to think I had an issue when it was 32inches!!! Lol
Good luck everyone -
Apple you made me LOL! I did my measurements today and scared myself too. Definitely not 36-24-36! Actually 42-35-41!!! Hoping to see some inches gone in the coming weeks!
Question: I love soups and was hoping to have them quite regularly throughout the week. Do any UK people have suggestions for shop bought soups that have worked well for them?
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So good to see so many people on here. I feel really daunted – it sounds pathetic but it’s scary to eat so little if you’ve never done a diet like this before (I was eating loads on Slimming World!). Thanks to everyone for all the advice. I’m new to MyFitnessPal and I’m finding the quantity for each item is an issue as it doesn’t let me add exactly how much of a particularly item I’ve had…. so if i have 130g of salmon tomorrow night how do I enter this? Sorry if I’m being thick! Thanks in advance.
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Hi everyone, I’m going to start tomorrow. I did a shakes diet last year which is similar in carbs/calories and I suppose just like the Newcastle diet itself. This worked very well for my diabetes and gave me great FBS. However, I have been quite naughty of late and back to my old carb-loaded eating habits. I’m looking forward to doing this as it’s real food therefore more manageable socially etc.
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Hello, hope tomorrow goes well for everyone starting.
I started on the 15th Feb so am on Day 5. The last couple of days have been tough but today I feel much better. Just focus on the first week and getting through that and for me, planning is the key so you never have to think on the spot about what to eat. If you’ve already planned your meals and bought the ingredients all you have to do is make it, then eat it! -
Hi everyone, here we go then! I’ve been preparing for the last few days (started Friday) by reducing calories and carbs as much as I could… yesterday felt a bit groggy at first but fine after that.
Today… well I am amazed. I have had some celeriac/celery/roasted pepper soup for breakfast. I am not actually hungry now… and it’s almost lunchtime! I do feel hungry at night and I had to remind myself over and over again yesterday that it’s my future, my ability to actively enjoy life, that I’m doing it for.
I know relapse is never far away for me, so I have to keep reminding myself it’s (hopefully) a cure for my recent decline into poor health, not a diet.
It’s half term this week (I work in education) so I can really focus and prepare for the weeks when I’m back at work.
How’s everyone’s first day going?
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Hello! Welcome everyone starting today (or near by!) how’s the first day going? What are you eating today?
I’m having:
Breakfast – small piece cheese, few nut & cup of tea
Lunch – eggs grilled over some chopped bacon, small amount chopped pepper, 1 chopped mushroom, chilli & paprika
Dinner – lamb burgers with morroccan spiced cauli rice
Snacks – (only if needed! As these will take me over my 800 limit but on first few days I think it’s best to not be hungry) big spoon of sugar free peanut butter or few more nuts, more tea!
Don’t forget to count the carbs in the milk if you have tea! Can really add up and catch you out x -
Hello everyone, I actually started last week all on my own so can I be an honorary member of the 20th Feb club?
I weighed myself this morning and have lost 8.5lb in my first week (no idea what that is in kg but google’s converter says it’s 3.8kg?), so I’m feeling really positive so far.
I can honestly say that I haven’t felt hungry once, but mentally still obsessing a bit about needing something sweet.
Have just eaten my lunch in my office because there were so many lovely cakes and snacks and sandwiches in the staff kitchen, I’m not sure I would have had the strength to sit in there yet! Venturing in shortly to top up the water bottle but may just have to run in and run out today! I know it will get better, but just for these first couple of weeks it will be so easy to fall off the wagon and I refuse to do that this time. I am determined this change to my eating will work!
I hope you all have a good first day – thinking positive thoughts for us all. xxxx -
Hi Apple
I’m in a similar boat to you but have even more weight to shift so I can totally sympathise with you. It can feel like an horrendous mountain to climb cant it?
I started last week and have been amazed at how quickly I have adapted to the dietary changes but and the weight loss on the scales this morning made me smile for the first time in a long long time. here’s hoping we both manage to reach our goals whatever they may be. Good Luck – Maggie xx -
Hi Maggie-may, I started a couple of days early too but jumping aboard here for support. I’m feeling physically great today, I found a bit of an unexpected spring in my step, which is a nice surprise.
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Hi Keid,
I am restarting today….lost track over Christmas and have kept “restarting” every couple of days so now am making myself more accountable by logging on here. I plan to go sugar free (by that I mean no processed foods, shop bought biscuits, cakes, chocolate) for the next 8 weeks and keep as close to 800 as I can Monday to Friday, then ease up a little on Saturday and Sunday – which does NOT mean let loose (Note to self!!). Skipped breakfast this am, then had sardines, avocado and homemade seed crackers for lunch and planning on chicken and roast veg for dinner. I am at 78.2 kg and need to drop 20kg to get into normal BMI range, so will be doing more than 8 weeks but for now, am planning one day at a time.
Also had a nice 30 min walk today – there are definitely echoes of spring out there!!
Best of luck all!! Corkie -
HI everyone, hope it’s going well
I had a boiled egg for breakfast – actually kept me going till lunchtime, when had mushrooms, tomatoes and goats cheese, now about to have steamed fish and veg for dinner…..
feeling very motivated today but feeling nervous about my staying power as I really need to change my way of eating long term – BUT think this may well be a diet/way of eating I could cope with.
Not sure about only 800 every day as have various times when I eat out with either work or family or whatever BUT note to self that 2 meals out of 21 in a week will not make the amount of difference I allow it to! ie if I stick to it the rest of the time and try to choose low carb options I will be fine, maybe a bit slower than some of you but still fine.
Really good luck to anyone who is struggling – delighted to have so many 20th feb starters, ( loosely 20th feb as some who have already done a few days but huge welcome to everyone)
Allypally x -
Found that I have lots of energy today, BG reading down a bit too.
Breakfast: HM soup (celeriac, celery, roasted peppers)
Lunch: Another bowl of soup
Dinner: Pork medallions fried up in a tablespoon of coconut oil with Cajun spices, cauliflower florets and chopped sproutsSnacks: I played around with the kidney bean/cacao recipe, reduced coconut oil and dates quite a bit, added some oatbran and made them as small patties, baked like biscuits. Very nice, as long as you don’t expect anything like a sweet biscuit. They actually taste a little bitter, but still very nice in the way bitter chocolate can be nice. I had two of them, and sadly, I think they awoke the carb monster. I had to fight the urge to make more. The dough is in the fridge, so I have to actually bake them individually, which helps me to not bother!
The sprouts are making for some windy nights… good thing I’m a singleton!
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Well done everyone!
I’ve managed today never drank so much water!
I had the green tea and blueberry shake for breakfast and it kept me going until 12.30!
Found lunch not as satisfying feta cheese and salad!Bolognaise was good with spiral courgette.
Just have to take it day by day but if I get a good weight loss like you Maggie-May I’ll be made up!
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I too started the 20th February. Looking forward to sharing thoughts about this. I am following this diet closely and found the first day quite good. Did get a few sugar cravings and a mild headache.
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Hi. I’ve started as well and glad to have found this forum. Being told on 31 Jan that I’m now in the pre diabetes range was a massive wake up call.
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Just trying to organise my lunch for today. How much cheese, ham and how many nuts should I be serving for the no-carb ploughmans?
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Wicked headache last night so I actually went to bed at 8:40pm to sleep it off and also to resist the temptation to snack!
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Hello Fabgab, i would do 30g cheese, 2 large slices of ham and simply a handful of nuts (not too big a handful) 🙂
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Morning! So my first day went ok, I’ve got a headache but I know that’s not unusual. I’ve read that a cup of broth can help so will try that with lunch. So food for me today:
Breakfast – cup of tea
Lunch – eggs, bacon & mushrooms
Dinner – chilli con carne, Greek yogurt & japalenos
Snack – 20g cheese or spoon of peanut butter
I really wanted to make the beetroot falafels in the BSD book but I can’t find fresh beetroot in any of my local supermarkets!
I sneakily checked my weight this morning already 1.2lb down! Yay.
Hope you have a successful bsd day K x -
I have a headache too – boo! But that’s what paracetamol are for – right?
Has anyone noticed that they feel less bloated already? Not sure how that works as I drank 2litres of fizzy water yesterday so I was expecting to be a bit gassy haha!
Skipped breakfast today as the salad for lunch filled me up for about half an hour yesterday. I am going to have a veggie and cheese frittata for lunch today to keep me going until tonight when it’s thai chicken stir fry. Me and the scales have fallen out big time after yesterday mornings weigh-in, so I’m steering well clear of them for a few days until I can pluck up the courage to see if they want to play nicely 🙂
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Hi all,
I started yesterday too – after speed reading the book at the weekend. Was aware of 5:2 – and did try it but feel this one will help train my brain in the right way …!? Def feeling less bloated this morning, and I too fell out with my scales yesterday morning 🙁Will try the recipes – but wing it a bit too. Good luck x
CMS -
Hi All,
I did very well yesterday until I looked into my cupboard for an evening snack and got attacked by a chocolate tart!! It is gone now (there were 4 of them but my sons kindly ate the other 3) but must remember to stay out of that cupboard in the evenings…. Today I got my snack out early in the day and put it in a non food cupboard. So note to self – visual prompts are your undoing. Avoid them as much as possible for these early weeks!!
Corkie X -
Just checking, are we all going to do a weekly weigh-in on Monday mornings?
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Hi, I started on 20th Feb too, so hope it is o.k to join you guys. I have never been on a forum before so it is a new experience. I have also been on diets before and they all work if I am in the ‘zone’. I am feeling in the ‘zone’ right now so let’s see if it lasts longer than a week! Sticking to 800 calories is tricky even without snacking. I figure though that as long as I am aiming for that if I go over slightly, I’ll still be losing weight. I’ll try to stick to 800 though. I haven’t decided if I am doing all seven days. Work days are o.k but it is harder at the weekends with the children. I have put on 2 stone since my second pregnancy so would like to lose that in the first instance. Then I will be back to trying to lose the stone I always lose and then gain again! Finding time to exercise is my problem- I enjoy it I just don’t have an hour left. Oh and maybe wine! Keep going everyone