Anyone on the 'fast' diet?

[supergolden88]

Fast as in fasting not fast-acting sadly... Having started a baking blog recently I have been eating WAY too much of the good stuff and not really exercising a lot. I would like to lose a bit of weight and go back to feeling fit(ter).

I have bought the book and am seriously considering it. It makes some pretty big claims not just about weight loss...

Anyone willing to be my 'fast' buddy?

[hellosailor]

No but I will be your buddy in making a chocolate fudge cake with salted caramel meringue buttercream..good recipe!

[supergolden88]

yeah the cake was epic. sigh

[Saffron]

I second what hellosailor said! Great blog!!

I need a children's birthday cake (that people will actually enjoy eating, not one of those sickly marzipan things that even the kids won't eat) for Sunday, and I'm in such a post-holiday frazzle that I haven't made any preparations at all. I would probably be a rubbish partner for fasting, but I'd happily buy your cakes!!! xx

[supergolden88]

oh wow... I have never baked for someone else. I would definitely consider doing it but need a bit more warning I think. Maybe something to think about doing in the not too distant future.

The chocolate fudge cake on the blog is a complete doddle to make. You dont even need a mixer for it. And if you topped it with the chocolate fudge icing (http://supergoldenbakes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/on-perils-of-making-promises.html)it would be a guaranteed crowd pleaser

But back to the fasting. Fasting is a complete misnomer - you do eat but only 500 calories. A slice of the cake is probably around that...

[Saffron]

I saw the BBC 2 (Horizon?) progam on intermittent fasting a while back. It was very interesting. I thought the 5:2 scenario looked really workable.

[supergolden88]

yes the book is based on the Horizon episode. I haven't seen it myself need to find it on youtube

[Bouncy]

I thought it looked really workable, too - then tried it and found it impossible! Just the wrong psychology for me in practice, I guess. Had much more success with South Beach - it really works (no, no affiliation!), and (crucially, it seems, for me) you're really not hungry on it...

[mrs.lotte]

I've been doing the 5:2, suits me, I just pick 2 days a week when I'm mega busy at work and not going out in evening then eat what I like guilt free during the rest of the week. In the month up to Xmas I lost over half a stone but put some back on over the Hols. Its a bit boring on "fast" days but I feel less hungry on those days than I do on normal days!

[Convex]

I was doing it and didn't lose that much weight, I think because I wasn't exercising. Have had a break as have been ill and going to start again shortly.

[Trish]

I've just started it super golden. I'm at the end of a fasting day today. Was starving and craving carbs but used the last of my calories on a lovely cup of tea which has sorted me out. I'm only in week 2 and can't pretend I've found it easy. Dr Michael Mosley is a colleague of mine and I do trust his advice. I saw him at Christmas and the first thing I noticed was his dramatic weight loss. I'm desperate to shift about half a stone so I'm determined to do this. The hardest thing is feeding the kids when you're starving but I'm learning what I have to do to make that situation easier now.

I've tried doing a lunch of around 120 calories and the rest in the evening, but today I tried saving all he calories for my vending meal. Until 3pm was fine but struggled a little after that.

I think I need to lock down some really tasty recipes to succeed at this.

[Bouncy]

That's interesting, mrs.lotte, that you don't feel hungry on the fast days - for me it was the opposite...think this indicates primarily that each of us individually just has to figure out what works, and that this is not universal - for me, the sustained intake of SB worked, and I felt good on it. I presume we all have different metabolisms, psychologies, etc (know a little about the latter but nothing of the former, so grasping here!) - so you have to find your own personal fit... What's also interesting to be about the fasting diet (as portrayed on Horizon) and SB is that they are both reasonably grounded in 'sensible' evidence and science (compared to some other diets), and that's one of the things that appealed me about both...

[Convex]

What do people eat on the fast days? I keep it simple and eat boiled egg for bfast, soup for lunch, soup for dinner and 2 small bananas as snacks. Maybe I don't keep to enough variety?

[mrs.lotte]

I have a coffe for breakfast (non negotiable), carrot sticks and hummus, fruit and an Alpen bar for lunch and salmon and salad leaves or scallops for supper. There is a good range of interesting flavoured skinny soups in Sainsbos. Could def do with some more ideas for lunch options.

[supergolden88]

Well I did my first fast day yesterday (I did not want to say that in case I failed miserably at it!)

I just had black coffee and water until I had a late breakfast at about 11 of a boiled egg and ryvita type cracker. I was not really hungry till then it was perfectly fine, but I was at home. Even went for a run.

I then had herbal teas (with splenda) and was fine apart from rumbly tummy until about 4.45 when had a spell of feeling slightly odd! I had a celery stick to compensate. I had dinner about 8.45 - Thai beef crunchy salad with celery and cucumber (only 120g of meat). The only time I felt really hungry and wanted more food (and something sweet) was AFTER dinner.

I was fine this morning, not starving. I am curious to see how the second fast day goes - I think I will do Monday or Tuesday and will be at work.

The question is how 'normally' do you eat on non-fast days? I already switched to latte type coffee (with 0% fat milk) and will continue with my baking. I will try to be more sensible about amount of naughty stuff!

re:tasty recipes I find Pinterest a real source of inspiration. I have pinned a few here

http://pinterest.com/supergolden88/healthy-new-year/

[Saffron]

So, are people mainly interested in fasting diets for weightloss? Is the book mainly about weightloss? The Horizen program also stressed a lot of other health benefits, even for people in a normal weight range.

That was what most intrigued me about calorie restricted diets, particularly the cellular switch from "building" to "repair" mode. I'm in a normal weight range already but would be interested in this diet type for its possible longterm health benefits.

However, I feel slightly concerned about getting enough minerals, particularly iron and calcium. What does the book say about it?

[sunflowerbath]

If it helps, I'm a baker too. I run my own business (bespokecakeslondon.com) and needed to lose weight. I started The Dukan Diet last week and lost 10lbs! It is the best diet and so easy to do. You don't even have to sign up online and pay all that money. You can find ur true weight online and then just buy the book! It's going really well!!

X

[vanessa520]

WOW Sunflowerebath 10lbs in one week, I think I need me some of that.

Had anybody tried Acai Berrys to help weight loss?

Vanessa

[supergolden88]

sunflowerbath - I lost over a stone on the Ducan about a year ago (over a period of months obviously) and it was great but the 'FAST' diet appeals because you eat without restriction most of the time. And the health benefits are impressive although I believe still being trialled. I will see how I get on with it. Fast day tomorrow!

[Helen GV]

Hubby's on the dukan but I started and couldn't continue after about three days, thinking this is a good alternative as my lovely sis has kindly road tested it a bit already :0)

How's it going for those following it?

[bawdy-nan]

I've been doing this (5 days eating normally 2 days "fasting") and have found it great. On the fast days I tend not to eat until about 2pm and then have had a miso soup or some sushi or a prepared salad then a huge plate of steamed vegetables for dinner. I find that I'm not especially hungry and when I do eat the food tastes incredibly delicious. I find, oddly, that I'm not so hungry on the days that I'm eating normally so am not gorging but eating what I fancy and when I fancy it.

[Convex]

Info in the Sunday times supplement today...

[NannyAdelle]

http://www.easyliving.co.uk/beauty/100-snacks-under-100-calories

Some food ideas.

Starting this fast diet today searched some ideas and thought I would share... Good luck everyone x

[supergolden88]

Thanks for sharing the food link. On my 4th fast day. First two went by quite easily. Third was a bit of a pain possibly because the lunch I had was not 200 calories - think it was less. Today is 4th and may be a bit difficult as it is freezing in the house

Must say I have been eating sweets, cake, pizza and all sorts of other fattening (and lovely) stuff on my non fast days. And with the snow my running has fallen behind too. So at this point I would be amazed if I lost weight. Am hoping I haven't put weight ON! I am supposed to have a health check at hospital on Thursday so will see what results are.

[mima08]

Hiya -I have been lurking on the thread and finally thought I'd jump in. I have run out of the excuse that the excess pounds are baby related - they are really chocs, cakes and wine related...so it's first fast day today!

Well done supergolden on your 4th day already - reading about the diet it appears that there is little difference in the results between those who ate a low fat diet vs those who had a high fat one; althought that might be more about the health benefits rather than weight loss....

Does anyone feel the "increased energy" benefits?

mx