Thank you Squidgy for the warm welcome! It’s difficult for me to go against everything I have learned since I first started dieting at the age of 13. I have low fat, sugar free, diet, light, skimmed, low calorie, all drummed into my head, especially as I was a Weight Watchers leader last year! The plan did change my life, and really helped me to see the error of my ways with portion sizes and denial about my emotional eating, but it’s now time for me to take it up a level and focus on the nutrition and health benefits of the foods I am eating, rather than just the calories.

I am obsessed with my tummy, and was even considering liposculpture surgery a few weeks ago, until I came to my senses and realised that putting myself under unnecessary risk is incredibly irresponsible and lazy. If I want a bikini body, I’m going to have to do the work like everyone else! But I also want to feel fit and healthy and energised at the same time. I also suffer with borderline personality disorder which I am currently having psychotherapy for, and having a stable blood sugar will help with my moods too I’m sure.

I know I have willpower when the motivation is there, as I followed the painfully slow Weight Watchers plan for 1 year and 7 months to reach my initial goal. And part of my success was that every time I had a bad patch and fell off track, I got straight back on again as soon as possible. I know this forum will give me the accountability I need to keep me in check!

I’ll be back on here tomorrow to update how it’s going. I’ve had a carb overload today, like a last supper, so I’ve probably made it more difficult for myself! Here goes! 😀

Hashimoto – that’s a good idea about writing the calorie contents of food into a book.

Hi Noreen,
Check the nutrition panel on the packet. For such thin little morsels wraps are surprisingly high in carbs. Most are 16-20g of carb.
Bill has also put up a coconut flour flatbread recipe which works well. I added rosemary to the ones I made. Think I’ll add some crushed garlic to the next lot as well as the rosemary, and make it a low carb replacement for focaccia.

Hi,
I am on day 2 of FAST 800
I was told last Thursday that I have type 2 diabetes .
There were no symptoms.
They wanted to put me on medications.I refused this.
I have eaten about 120 bars of chocolate since Christmas.
Hoping to bring my sugar levels back to within normal limits on this fast 800
I have been addicted to carbs all my life…Weight Watchers is a regular method of weight loss for me…
Perhaps we can support each other in this.

Welcome Wide_Widow,
Great start to the fast 800! Since reducing carbs I don’t get the feeling I need to eat again soon after a meal either. I used to spend my evenings having a few crackers and cheese, dips, nuts or crisps or fruit. Way too many carbs. Carbs make you crave more whereas fat keeps you satisfied as you have found.
You are going to have so much more energy soon, as well as the bonus weight loss. Keep it up and let us know your progress. Every story inspires the next person.

Hi Graeme, awesome results. You must be so pleased with that. I love hearing the huge difference this lifestyle is making. The medical profession has to sit up and take notice now. There is going to be a revolution in diabetes management I hope.

Hi Loukc,
As you said, one of the side effects of mirtazepine is weight gain. Usually because it increases your appetite.
I think that it is still worth giving the diet a try because after the first couple of days most of us haven’t felt hungry and are satisfied with much less food. Try to stick closely to the diet and make sure you eat the full fat version of cheese, yoghurt, milk etc. as that will prevent hunger.
A few people have reported feeling low in mood for a few days, so watch out for that in your case. If it persists you might have to swap to a modified version of the diet. Mental health is too important to ignore so make sure you keep taking the med. Is your GP on board with the diet, if so he/ she will be the best one to advise you if you get into strife.
Sometimes Clare, Michael’s wife and a GP, comments on the posts so maybe she will have something to add. I’m not a doctor, I’m a nurse, so if you are really concerned speak to your GP before you start. I think you should be ok though.
Once the first few days are out the way, you will feel more energetic and clear headed than ever. Keep us informed of how you’re going, lots of knowledgeable people on here willing to help and support you. Read the other posts for inspiration and a good laugh. It helps to know we’re not alone in our battle for better health! 🙂

Sweetpea – you’ve done fantastically already by losing 3 stone, and if you’re like most people who start this plan it will really help you lose that last stone and your belly! You’re still young and going to be slim and fit too. How lucky are you!

Good luck (& once you stop the chocolate I’m sure you’ll be amazed how much you don’t miss it!)

Hi All – great feedback and good to know that I’m not the only one with this problem.

My pre dinner level is usually in the 5-7 range, even since I reduced my medication, so I’m sure this is the way forward.

Keep us posted if you see any changes – it’ll give the rest of us hope!

Well you have all been very busy while I’ve been asleep down here in Aussie land. Now I’m the one roflmao hearing all about you trying to get to grips with technology. I’m so not tech minded, but I do have kids who can help. Even my six year old can teach me things lol.
Aly you have made my day !! So glad you’ve turned the corner and are feeling better. When your veg are ready to harvest remember that I’m the world’s expert on dealing with a glut of zucchinis 😉 !! My sister is the only person who will still accept my ‘gifts’ of them. I have a freezer full of zucchini soup, and lasagne made with sliced zucchini instead of pasta. I’m going to miss them when the season ends. Not sure anyone else in my vicinity will though. My kids have become accustomed to a mug of zucchini soup when they get home from school, even though it has been summer here. My oldest boy drinks it cold on a hot day.
Hashimoto, I love your allotment story!! That’s serendipity. Nothing like home grown veg, maybe he’ll have enough to keep you supplied too. With any luck some of the Grandad’s old veg varieties will still be self seeding there. I am passionate about keeping heritage, open pollinated varieties going and belong to a seed savers group. So much nicer than supermarket stuff. Though I do have to supplement what I grow because the millipedes, earwigs and parrots sometimes decimate my crops.

Hi, I also use Excel. If you use a couple of the templates you can get it all in one book. In Excel, go into File, then New and you can search for online templates. If you put ‘Fitness’ into the search it will come up with many options. I selected on that was ‘fitness progress chart for women. It covers weight and BMI and helps estimate fat%. I wanted to monitor blood sugar and BP so I took and other template by searching on ‘medical’. There are a couple of options that have very good displays including colours when the reading are too high etc. I copies the medical book into the fitness spreadsheet – adding on 2 extra tabs and I now have it all together.
Hope that helps
Ruth

Hi Janet1973 & MBee

Look at forum Fast 800 , Topic : Percentages. It might be helpful
Eureka

Hi there not sure where to put this but I needed info on the meds I’m on and the BSD. I am currently on venlafaxine, mirtazapine and propranolol. I have put on a significant amount of weight due to the mirtazapine as it is a side affect. I have just read the book and want to start this diet and do more excersise as I am prediabetic. As the mirtazapine has increased my weight will I therefore lose any weight on these meds or will it just be harder to do?

Cheers Rose – I can do that, but was hoping for a more integrated tracker for weight as well as blood sugar.

Hi Kimgall,
The tiredness late afternoon seems to be quite common, as with most of the symptoms it soon passes. You might have to resort to a power nap for a while!
You have to be kind to yourself during this period while your body is adjusting to some pretty major changes. You will soon feel more energetic and clear headed.
Like you I love biscuits, don’t have much of a sweet tooth otherwise. A few strawberries and cream, counted in your cals/carbs of course, feel quite decadent and help. Strangely enough a slice of lemon in hot water helps too, not sure why, but it nips any cravings in the bud for me. Liquorice tea helps with hunger pangs too.
I manage to track my fat and protein with a food diary app. I have been vego since a child and eat a varied diet so not so much of a problem as you might think. I do supplement with a low carb protein powder in my breakfast.
My achievement has been to consistently have my blood sugar levels in the non diabetic range for the past couple of weeks. So pleased about that because as you may have read, a year ago the hospital wanted to start me on insulin. No threat of that now yay!!!
I am TOFI so don’t have to lose weight but can fully sympathise with those who do, having seen the truly awful physical and emotional battle fought by a close family member trying to lose weight.
Thank you for your kind comments. I think I am fairly positive, each day we get a fresh chance to get things right and change things for the better.

I had a similar problem a week ago when I had to attend a week long -unplanned as short notice- residential course. I was a bit stuck as all meals were provided and I had to choose very carefully what I could eat , which wasn’t very much! Even though I drank at least 3L of water a day after 4 days I resorted to a well known laxative ….. I think that eating the right amount and types of food as well as the water must be the answer ? Or perhaps it has something to do with our bodies adapting?

Thanks alot for the advice!

I’ve just weighed in after 3 weeks. 21lbs lost so far. Fasting blood sugars at 6-7 every morning. Blood sugars below 7 before bed.
Feeling amazing. I look healthier I feel even better.
I can’t believe how easy I have found it. I don’t feel hungry I can’t find 1 single negative point.

Visited doctor last – not required insulin for 3 weeks and have been taken off one of my meds. Doctor well please, cholesterol back in the normal level, blood pressure spot on.

Thinking about it – I have a negative point ….. I’m now having to braces to keep my trousers up !!!

I might be a diet bore but I don’t care. It’s simply amazing !!!

Hi Spirit
Thanks for the encouragement. I have read your story, and see you are now doing a very stict calorie reduction. It sounds too strict for me, but interesting that you are starting to lose weight. Its the belly fat, not the weight that is worrying me. I feel it will never go. However, it must go eventually, so carrying on regardless.

Hi Nidge64

Wow 27lbs in 4 weeks I amazing well done!!!!!!!
Like peeps and channelk I’ve lost some weight…. 10 lbs in 3 weeks.
Could you share a typical week of what you eat, how much exercise and if possible average grams of fat protien and carbs. I have summarised my weeks in my profile
Thank you,!

Hi peeps, have been doing the diet for 2 weeks and have lost half a stone although nothing for the last 4-5 days. It’s been great reading everyone’s posts to help me along at various times although now starting to worry I’m doing something wrong, maybe my protein/fat/carb ratios are out. Question to those of you who’ve been on it longer, how many grams of fat and protein should work?! I’m keeping below 50g of carbs. And also if I’m eating mountains of green veg taking me over 50g, will that have an impact on speed of weight loss? I’d like to be one of those people that is consistently losing weight on 800cals rather than not! Advice welcome.

MBee, I found one of the posts on carb intake and have started a new thread with it. Yes, 20 does seem very low. I read about it in Rose Elliot’s book the vegetarian low carb diet but she only recommends it for a two-week ‘carb cleanse’ before moving up to 60-80 a day.

I think I also remember another very informative post on carbs but I can’t remember which thread it is in. If anyone else can remember it or if the author can remember where they wrote it, perhaps you could add it on here?

A lot of people join our forums with this question in mind, so I have pulled this quote from an earlier thread called ‘what to aim for carbs wise’ which was posted on 20th February.

It seems like generally good advice, although I’m not sure how sound it is for followers with diabetes, you may have differing requirements perhaps.

How Many Carbs Should You Eat?
It is important to experiment and figure out a way to match your carb intake to your own goals and preferences.
That being said, these guidelines are reasonable:

100-150 grams per day: This is a decent maintenance range, and is good for people who exercise a lot.
50-100 grams per day: This should lead to automatic weight loss, and is a good maintenance range for people who don’t exercise that much.
20-50 grams per day: With a carb intake this low, you should lose weight quickly without experiencing much hunger. This carb range should put you into ketosis.

Hi everyone I bought the book last night & used Calorie King & Cronometer to check several recipes – many of them were way higher (sometimes double) what the book said. I have emailed the team about it. However, even with those discrepencies, the diet is likely to still be effective for most people – as evidenced by the stories both here & elsewhere.

Nope, still doesn’t work!

Oh, tea was a disappointment I have to say. I really like quorn sausages, though I would happily have them reduce the salty flavour a little. But tonight I had cauldren lincolnshire sausages and was really looking forward to them. Unfortunately they were a bit too chewy for me, which is why I stopped eating meat in the first place. So, I’m going back to my beloved quorn!

Thankyou! Not pre-diabetic or diabetic and hoping to keep it that way. 60 is a good benchmark then? Can’t imagine only consuming 20 – that must be nothing but meat and leaves? Will go and search for the thread you mention. Appreciate your reply!

Hi Kimgall
Welcome to our thread! Yes, we seem to have drifted off the point a little bit but its the most fun I’ve had in ages!

From what I have read your carb count is spot on, you can go right down to 20carbs if you really want to but around 60 is good for rapid weight loss. If you are diabetic or pre-diabetic you’d be better looking for a post someone did a couple of weeks ago that gives a really good breakdown.

Butternut squash is included in other recipes on the 800 and is not as carby as say sweet potatoes or potatoes. Personally I think its disgusting but if you like it, go ahead, knock yourself out!

Hi I got the book last night & tested several of the recipes in my calorie counter – almost all of them came back with much higher calorie counts than the book says.

Day 1 and the most surprising thing has been my lack of hunger and feeling of satisfaction. I usually end meals, however large, craving something else before I even put my fork down. Today I have genuinely felt full at the end of each meal despite looking at the plate at the beginning and thinking “how tiny is that!”.

I have eaten a much higher ratio of fat than I am used to, despite the reduction in calories – my body seems to like it.

My blood sugars are within the normal range throughout the day but move close to the pre-diabetic range by the end of the day. I was drawn to this diet after feeling periods of utter exhaustion after eating, fearing it was an insulin problem. Having checked the levels as suggested in the book I am surprised they have been so good.

None the less I am going to give this diet the full 8 weeks. If for no other reason than everything else I have tried has failed to stick and if I am not type 2 yet, my weight will put me there eventually.

Hi everyone so glad to confirm I’m not going mad! I bought the book last night & entered several recipes into my calorie counter – so many of them were wildly different than stated – some of them double calories!! I think I will use the recipe ideas but plug the calories in to check – otherwise we’ll be eating way more than the 800 cals required for these results. So incredibly frustrating!!

Hi NickF I have a similar concern about the recipes! I got the book last night & spent half an hour plugging recipes into a calorie counting app & found almost every single one of them was about double what it was supposed to be!!

Has anyone else had this problem?

Hello – I’m on my second day of doing this properly.

Putting everything though my fitness pal. Was going to have braised broccolli and baked butternut squash with a tahini dressing for supper – but MFP says my cup of baked squash is 22 carbs, bringing my day’s total to 59. Is that too high?

The rest are from veg and hummus.

Any advice before I eat it?

TIA

Brussel sprout birthday cake?? Is this the alternative to Fizzy Pop???

Love this thread … Janet1973 and auntylil … you two put a smile on my face!! x

Eek I’m starting tomorrow and very nervous! I am 30 years old, 5ft 1 and 9st 5, which is the top of a healthy BMI. I’d like to lose around a stone, but most importantly my massive belly that I still have, despite losing over 3 stone on Weight Watchers. My blood sugar is normal, but I am completely addicted to chocolate, to the extent that it’s really affecting my life and my moods.

I tried the Exante Diet last month, and just found the 600 kcal too restrictive, and spent 9 days feeling spaced out, hungry, angry, dizzy, faint and also had quite bad abdominal pain, and stopped as I was worried about my health. I am going to try the 800 kcal version on this plan for the first few days and see how I get on, but if it’s like previously, I’ll move up to 5:2.

I’m really looking forward to hopefully getting rid of my belly fat for good, and also getting fitter too, as I’ve already started the 30 Day Shred exercise DVD.

I’ve got all my fingers and toes crossed! 🙂

You can mix and match as much as you like, the only ‘rules’ are 1) 800 cals a day although lots of people here don’t count cals 2) low carb intake so no bread, potatoes, flour, pasta, rice 3) enjoy making lovely meals 4) tell us how you are getting on!

Hi Silver. As long as you stick to the guidelines in the book and to the 800 calories you should be fine. Lots of people seem to be doing that rather than following the weekly menus. Hope it goes well.

(Y) (N)

Thanks for your kind words Bill

Hashimoto, thanks for sharing your story. You’re doing really well. Looking forward to welcoming you at the end of your 8 weeks.

Well that didn’t work, just goes to show you can’t trust webland!

Ok, so I had to look this one up myself but apparently thumbs up is y between (). Here goes… (y)

14 hens, 3 cockerels, 10 ducks, 4 drakes and a pair of geese!
A small orchard of apples pears and plums, an established veg garden and a Polytunnel on order!
I have a beehive and our first nucleus is on order.
It is all a steep learning curve as I was a complete townie before moving here.

Thanks Janet. Now I need to find out how to make the thumbs up sign! Oh and I have learned they are called emojies not smilies. A lot of learning in one day ! 🙂

Aly, that’s fantastic!. So glad you are feeling better.
My son has just been told he is getting an allotment (he only applied 6 months ago!) I have always grown fruit and veg wherever I live, so he has grown up with it. Strangely I used to teach in the primary school not far from his allotment and a young child in my class ( about 26 years ago) always kept me entertained with tales of his grandfather’s allotment. I reminded my son of this before he set off and to his utter amazement he is being given that very grandfather’s allotment!!! He feels an attachment to it before he even starts working on it. Isn’t it a really small world?
I had dreamed of an allotment myself but my back is no longer up to it and I do have a number of fruit bushes/trees etc in the garden. I love being outside working in the garden. Making rose icecream from the most scented roses etc. Oh oh SUGAR! I’ll have to find out if icecream works without sugar.
How big is your fledgling small holding? Are you going to keep some live stock? I love making ratatouille from home grown veg. 🙂

Great read – read in 2 days..
So a little question – have just complied a shopping list for the first week – some things I am not keen on – can I mix and match or do I have to stick to those exact weekly menus – thanks

Great to see all the support for Aly and the wonderful advice you guys are providing.
Aly the first few days are the hardest and then things will get easier. As mentioned by other people you need to eat more fat and drink lots of water.
I am now in the middle of my 4th week and have lost 27lbs so far and like other guys on BSD I just guess what I think is 800 calories and eat plenty of fat.
I am finding each week easier than the last but do crave a curry with a few cold beers.
Hope you stick at it and reap the rewards.
Nidge

I really do laugh out loud! I’m afraid no matter what, auntylil, you have to stay with us as you keep us so roundly entertained. Not laughing at you, you understand, just with you!

I did the same as Mary with the 5:2 and ate everything in sight on the five days. But I think whenever I’m done with the bsd if I go for the 5:2 I know I’d have to stick to no carbs even on the five days and that will make the difference. I’m also thinking of just maybe a fairly relaxed approach with few carbs interspersed with a week of 800 every five or six weeks. Might work?

I bought coconut oil as well today for the coconut flatbreads. I also bought coconut flour and gram flour. I made one of Bill1954’s pancakes for 88 calories just to see what they are like and they are definitely a good idea. Veggie bangers and cauli mash for tea tonight. Fabulous!

I need to get my lettuces planted this week too…

Did someone mention allotment?
I have a fledgling small holding….you spoke my language!
By the way, feeling lots better and am doing myself a sort of ratatouille with some red kidney beans added.
Have noted the recipe for coconut flour bread which I plan to make tomorrow. That will sort out my lunch dilemma. I finally feel like I am winning. 👍