The Fast 800 - add your questions for Dr Michael Mosley

Will taking tablets affect the whether your body goes into a fasting state? I want to try TRE 16:8 but have to take medication regularly (I can’t leave it 12 hrs or more) and I’m wondering if the body views these tablets as calories, rendering “fasting” from food useless?

Love the books, recipes and concept. Is the Fast 800 diet suitable for people with gout due to ketone v. uric acid excretion priority? Also is the 800 calories net of exercise so if I burn 150 in the gym I can eat 950?

Is it okay to do two fast days back to back? I find it easier this way.

Dr Mosley.Would it be okay to do 3 or 4 fast days a week ?

How to balance feeling like you need a "treat" on non-fast days with trying not to overdo it?

I am planning to consume 800 cals on 3 days a week, eating within an 8 hour window every day. I don't have any blood sugar issues so would prefer to eat carbs in a balanced diet. Will I still achieve the same health and weight benefits?

I have the same question as blackberrymama and most of the grandnetters. Thank you. Is the diet ok for type 2 diabetes, crohne disease plus medications for high BP, cholesterol, thyroid, adcal(calcium) .

Thank you

Thanks Cari!

Neenaw

Hello Dr Mosley, I would like to ask which is better for a) health benefits and b) weight loss...

The 16:8? Or the 5:2? Or is a combination of the two the most effective?

The 16:8 is known as Time Restricted Eating. It is a way of extending your overnight fast. So typically people who do it will stop eating around 8pm and not eat again till 12pm the next day. With 5:2 you are also restricting your calories, but only two days a week. Both have been shown to be an effective way to lose visceral (gut) fat and reduce inflammation. The 5:2 leads to greater weight loss, while 16:8 has other benefits, including improved sleep. The great thing is you can combine the two. My book, the Fast 800, goes into this in great depth. Most people will struggle to stick to 16:8 long term, which is why I encourage you to try 12;12 or 14:10 (having a 14 hour overnight fast)

shinka2

I have heard that intermittent fasting has lots of general health benefits, but I am not really sure what they are and why. Can you enlighten me?

They include greater loss of fat than on a conventional diet; reduced inflammation (helpful for rheumatoid arthritis); reduced blood pressure and, perhaps, improvements in brain function. The results of a 4 year trial doing 5:2 with people who are beginning to suffer memory loss will be available this summer

Grannyknot

Hi Dr Mosley, thanks for coming to answer questions on Gransnet.

What made you come to the decision to change the calorie allocation from 500 to 800?

Many people found they could stick to 500 calories for women and 600 for men, but others struggled. In the more recent medical trials they found that going up to 800 calories made little difference to weight loss and was still low enough to confer significant benefits

blackberrynana

I like the idea of the 5 2 diet but have never managed it because I couldn't make the 500 calorie limit work. 800 calories seems a lot more manageable. Is there a reason that it still works even if you are eating more? Also on the 5 days do you recommend a higher calorie limit? I assume that you can't go mad but I wanted to see if there was an ideal to aim for. Thankyou

See my answer above. I actually recommend you try eating a healthy Mediterranean diet on the other 5 days and not worry too much about the calories. Most people self regulate

mumofmadboys

Have the recent studies in the Lancet stressing the importance of 30 g fibre per day had any influence on your low carb dieting suggestions?

No, because the diet I recommend is already high in fibre. If you eat the recipes from the Fast 800 then you will be getting far more fibre than the average Brit

yoyoyo

I have a friend who does 4: 3 instead of 5: 2 so she fasts for three days. Is this a good or bad idea or does it make non difference? Also should you leave a gap between the fast days if you are only doing two I think I would prefer to get them out of the way and enjoy the rest of the week

Sunlover

Is it okay to do two fast days back to back? I find it easier this way.

Katyj

Dr Mosley.Would it be okay to do 3 or 4 fast days a week ?

Basically you have to see what works best for you. We are all different which is why I am not going to be prescriptive. You have to find something you will actually do

Katyj

Hi,I'm 61 with high blood pressure. Which would be the best way to bring it down.I'm doing the 5.2 at the moment, but do I need to do the 16.8 as well ? Thank you .

The 5:2 is a good way to bring blood pressure down, but if you add in 14:10 (extending your overnight fast to 14 hours) that will help. I think 16:8 is too difficult for many people to stick to

Lesleyann9

Hi Dr Moseley
There is a trend to recommend 800 calories a day everyday for people with diabetes to try and reverse the condition. What are your feelings in that. Icantmanage that but I feel Icould manage that for 2-3 days a week

Yes, this is based on a number of big studies. If you find 2-3 days a weeks more manageable then that is fine. It is about losing the visceral fat and the speed you do that doesn’t matter too much

Urmstongran

Hi Dr Moseley - we have tickets for your Manchester venue next month and I’m really looking forward to hearing your views on this subject.
Can I just ask whether carbs are allowed on fast days provided the calories are counted in?

Great, look forward to seeing you in Manchester! I will be signing books, taking questions and chatting. Anyone who wants to see me on tour can find tickets and availability at michaelmosley.co.uk

There are good carbs and bad carbs. Vegetables and legumes, for example, are a source of “good” carbs, while donuts are “bad”. So, yes, I would encourage you to load up with veg on your fast days

janeainsworth

I have not done the 5:2 diet, but I understand that there is no restriction on quantity or type of food on the non-fast days.

How is this healthy?
What if someone is consuming high quantities of sugar and other refined carbohydrates, or eating high-fat meals between the fast days? Or consuming very little fibre? Or not getting enough vitamins and minerals?
Thank you.

When my original book came out there were a lot of copy cats who wrote that it was fine to gorge on your non-fast days. I never wrote that. In fact I pointed out that gorging would undo the good. In my books there are healthy recipes for the non-fast days as well as the fast days. More information and recipes available at thefast800.com

Lazigirl

Do you think these type of diets are sustainable in the long term, as it has been evidenced that for any type of "diet regime", it can only be sustained for a period of time and then one returns to previous eating patterns?

Telly

Has there been any research on whether weight loss is maintained a year or two after following the 5:2? Or other quick loss diets come to that?

Yes these diets are sustainable and a big study was published recently in Australia where they followed people doing the 5:2 diet v a standard weight loss diet for over a year. Those doing 5:2 lost and kept off more weight, an average of nearly 8kg

chrismum

Hello, is it OK for the fasting day to be from 1pm until 1pm the next day?

Yes

BBbevan

Dr. Mosley. I was diagnose T2 diabetic in early 2016. I thought "No way" , and immediately went on your Reverse your diabetes in 8 weeks, diet. I lost 2 and a half stone in that time and my blood sugar fell to 5.4 , since then I have maintained my weight and BS by a 16.8 fast on 5 days a week. Low Carb breakfast at weekends. Is this the way to go.? I find it quite easy really, but sometimes need reassurance that I am on the right track.

You are absolutely on the right tracks and many congratulations

Lollin

Showing myself up here but what tips do you have to help someone actually trying to stick to such low calorie days, apart from going to bed as early as possible? I have had problems because life (family and friends and just being hectic so often) gets in the way constantly.

Dieting is tough and as you say, life gets in the way. I would recommend joining an online course, like the one available at thefast800.com, or a facebook group. You will get lots of tips and support from others.

Luckygirl

I have avoided these intermittent dieting ideas as I have gastritis and if my stomach is empty for too long I am in pain. Any ideas?

You could try The Clever Guts Diet Recipe book, which has lots of suggestions for those with gut problems.