Hi everyone, I’ve been lurking for a little while. I’m just starting week 7 of my first round of Fast 800. So far I’ve lost 2 stone and really pleased with my progress. I was unofficially prediabetic (not confirmed by GP but self testing) and actually in the diabetic range when I started. Have PCOS too. Blood sugar is back well in the normal range now.

I still have around 6.5 stone to lose so what would people recommend? Is there any benefit from a break from Fast 800 continuing with 5:2/Mediterranean eating or carrying on without a break?

Thanks in advance

Louise

Hi Louise,

What a fabulous result so far! Congratulations on your hard work and perseverance already.

There are many others who have lost really large amounts who I’m sure will comment. Many people keep on going straight through until they are at their desired goal, others go on to 5:2 or non counting BSD principles. It’s up to you which you choose. those who have kept on going have had no ill effects- to my knowledge anyway 🙂

I am 6 months in with this way of eating and if I had my time over I think I might have done it a little differently. I did 16 weeks straight and lost 13.3kg in total or about 2 stone. I’ve decided to try to maintain here for a while and try to reset my body here before trying for another 3-6kg.

After my first 16 weeks I had a holiday (a cruise- all included) and put on a couple of kilos which fell away really quickly when I got back. I wonder now if it would have been better to have had a break every 8 weeks or so, resetting there and then going for another round may have accelerated the weight loss a little because it certainly slowed down, with lots of plateaus as the weeks went by.

Good luck whatever you decide to go and again, huge congratulations!

I don’t think there is one ‘best way’ and your own best way will probably find you as you go on, but I think if I was starting again I would do the 8 weeks, then have a recovery pattern of eating more each day to gradually increase calories back up to my TDEE which for me would take about 4 weeks at 50 calories extra per day. Maybe after that another 8 weeks, or 4 weeks just following the principles, or some BSD 5:2 before the next round, but I have found this gradual increase of calories very useful to ‘reset’ my metabolism. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Hi, Louise

I agree, the beauty in this way of eating is that your goals can be accomplished in many different ways. I’ve lost
142lbs in approximately 10 months. I think we all have different temperaments though. I went straight thru be-
cause I was sick and tired of being sick and tired all the time, felt great, and I was impatient to reach my goals.
I really wanted to reinforce new habits so just continued on. Sincere congratulations on a 2 stone loss in 6 weeks!
That’s tremendous, particularly since you have PCOS. I”m working on maintaining now, and reading this forum
is even more important now that I’m trying to figure out what that will look like for me. I hope you stay with us!
Best wishes,
Allie

Thanks for the advice. I think I’m going to do 5:2 for a week or 2 and see what happens and then likely start another round. See what I can lose before the end of the year.