Want to lose a stone in 21 days – and stop craving chocolate? The answer is to eat MORE protein: DR MICHAEL MOSLEY reveals his revolutionary Fast 800 Keto diet
For most of my life, I have been surprised (and depressed) that I can so easily keep on eating long after my stomach is full, polishing off an entire packet of biscuits in one sitting and powerless to resist the calling of chocolate if there is any in the house.
I know I’m not alone in being frustrated by the fact that our bodies and brains drive us so insistently towards unhealthy foods when we’re not even hungry.
So I was fascinated to come across new research by two Australian academics which helps to explain why so many of us, me included, seem hard-wired to overeat.
Dr Michael Mosley with his wife Dr Clare Bailey. Dr Mosley says his new plan ‘will not only stop you feeling hungry and falling off the wagon, but it’s good for your muscles as well’
Professors David Raubenheimer and Steve Simpson, from the University of Sydney, argue in their recent book 5 Appetites that we don’t just have one appetite for food, we have five: one each for protein, fat, carbohydrates, calcium and salt.
They point out that we have sensors in our mouth, in the linings of our gut and within the brain to detect the presence of these nutrients, and if we don’t get enough of them, we develop cravings.
Their research shows that the need for protein (which includes meat, fish, eggs and tofu) dominates the others and drives us to eat and keep on eating until the body’s protein needs are met.
Based on research, Dr Mosley and Dr Bailey ‘have ensured that you get plenty of protein on every single day of our new Fast 800 Keto plan which is being serialised exclusively in The Mail on Sunday and Daily Mail’
When hunger strikes
Sip a cup of black tea, herbal tea or coffee (up to four cups a day) with a splash of almond milk (which is lower in carbohydrate than cow’s milk)
Eat too little protein, they say, and you’ll be tormented by cravings and likely to over-indulge in all the wrong foods. Whereas on a higher-protein diet, your appetite can be satisfied on far fewer calories.
They call this the ‘Protein Leverage Hypothesis’ and it explains why we go on eating with no restraint until we have satisfied our protein hunger if we are surrounded by foods that are rich in fats and carbs but low in protein.
A chocolate biscuit of the type I love is 60 per cent carbs and only six per cent protein.
If I ate all the biscuits in a packet, which I am quite capable of, I would consume 1,300 calories – almost my entire daily allowance – but only 16g of protein, a fraction of my daily need. No wonder I can just keep going.
If, on the other hand, I were offered a plate of fish or chicken, which comes in at close to 30 per cent protein, I wouldn’t be able to eat anything like as much before my protein appetite was satisfied.
Based on their research, we have ensured that you get plenty of protein on every single day of our new Fast 800 Keto plan which is being serialised exclusively in The Mail on Sunday and Daily Mail.
It will not only stop you feeling hungry and falling off the wagon, but it’s good for your muscles as well.
Why is getting plenty of protein so important?
We know that fat is vital as an energy reserve, for insulation and protection of our organs, and for absorption and transport of fat-soluble vitamins.
Carbohydrates, meanwhile, provide energy and, in the Fast 800 Keto plan, they are an important source of the fibre your gut needs to function effectively.
But protein is, in many ways, even more essential. We need it to build muscles, enzymes and much of the infrastructure of our bodies.
Every cell in the body contains protein and eating enough of it is vital for growth and repair.
Lack of good-quality protein in our diet also helps explain why we are getting fatter. Britain has some of the highest rates of obesity in the world and that is largely because, over recent years, we have increasingly been filling up on ultra-processed foods, convenience foods which come in bright packaging and which are woefully lacking in protein.
With so many families relying on cheap and cheerful processed foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Protein Leverage Hypothesis helps explain why we are in the middle of an ever-growing obesity epidemic.
Professors Raubenheimer and Simpson conducted a study where they showed that volunteers ate about 200 calories more per day in the form of snacks when on a lower-protein diet than on days when they were eating more protein.
When hunger strikes
Ensure the fridge is stocked with healthy protein snacks (see box) or crudites, but cupboards are cleared of tempting treats so you cannot get your hands on chocolate, crisps or biscuits
The volunteers also reported feeling much hungrier a couple of hours after eating a lower-protein breakfast, despite consuming the same number of calories as on higher-protein days.
That is certainly what I find. When I eat eggs or fish for breakfast, I stay full until lunchtime. If I eat the same number of calories in the form of cereal or toast, I will be craving a snack by mid-morning.
Medical note: Rapid weight loss does not suit everyone. If you have a significant underlying medical condition, are on insulin, have type 2 diabetes and are on medication, are on blood-pressure medication, have moderate or severe retinopathy, or have epilepsy or gallstones, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before going on this diet.
It is not suitable for teenagers, anyone with a history of an eating disorder, people with a psychiatric illness or who are unwell, undeweight or doing endurance exercise.
- Extracted by LOUISE ATKINSON from The Fast 800 Keto, by Dr Michael Mosley, Short Books, £9.99. To order a copy for £8.99, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over £20. Promotional price valid until February 9, 2022.
How much protein do we need? As we get older, we need more
A key claim of the Protein Leverage Hypothesis is that to satisfy our protein hunger, most of us need to get about 15 to 20 per cent of our calories in the form of protein.
Go below that and your protein hunger will make you want to eat more.
Current health guidelines say that women should be aiming to eat about 45g of protein a day, and 55g for men.
But many experts think these numbers are far too low.
As you get older, it becomes even more important to raise your protein intake to avoid age-related muscle loss.
Some studies recommend that when we reach mid-life, we should be aiming to eat 1 to 1.5g of protein per kg of body weight per day. This means that someone who weighs 80kg (12st 8lb), as I do, should be eating 80 to 120g of protein a day, which is far higher than the current official recommended levels.
The classic Mediterranean diet, on which my Fast 800 Keto plan is based, contains about 20 per cent protein, and I have tweaked the plan (and the recipes devised by my wife, Dr Clare Bailey, working with food writer Kathryn Bruton and nutritional therapist Caroline Barton have been adjusted accordingly) to increase the protein content.
The first rapid weight loss stage of the Fast 800 Keto plan is calibrated so that about 20 to 25 per cent of your diet is high-quality protein.
When you move to Stage Two, you’ll be eating more calories on non-fasting days and you can boost your protein intake.
By the time you are happily at your target weight and on the maintenance Stage Three of the diet plan, you can – and should – ensure that your protein intake is around 70 to 80g per day for women and 90 to 100g for men.
This is higher than official recommendations, but I believe in the power of this emerging science.
Having said that, if you have kidney problems, there is a risk that a higher-protein diet could make it worse, so do talk to your doctor before starting on the plan.
Our recipes will get you burning fat – but without going hungry
Ensuring you eat enough good-quality protein every day is the best way to reduce hunger, avoid cravings and preserve your muscles. But don’t overdo it.
As I explained in yesterday’s Daily Mail, most of the time, your body is fuelled by a combination of fat and sugar.
Only when your glucose stores start to run down (because you are fasting, exercising heavily or haven’t eaten any carbs for a while), it switches over to burning fat in a major way.
Your body does this by releasing fatty acids from your fat stores and converting them into chemicals called ketone bodies. These can be used by most cells in your body as fuel.
This is the fat-burning state we are aiming at.
But too much protein (more than 30 per cent) can hinder this process.
My wife and a team of nutritionists have developed delicious recipes with exactly the right calibration of proteins and carbohydrates to help you get all the nutrients you need to ensure you are burning fat but without going hungry.
You’ll find a selection of these recipes in the Daily Mail from tomorrow until Wednesday.
Shopping list of proteins to stop the munchies
On this diet plan, even though you should aim to stick to 800 to 900 calories per day in the initial weight-loss phase, you can include extra protein into your diet on hungry days without fear of compromising your weight-loss success (it’s far better than giving in to a craving and reaching for a pastry, a chocolate bar or a packet of crisps):
BACON 1 tbsp (7g) chopped dry-fried: 23 cals/1.7g protein
CHORIZO 1 tbsp (10g): 40cals or 2.7g protein
CHICKEN BREAST 75g: 115cals/22.6g protein
CHICKEN BREAST 75g: 115cals/22.6g protein (file photo used)
TUNA 45g drained in oil: 85kcals/5g protein
ANCHOVIES 4 drained in oil: 23kcals/3g protein
PRAWNS 75g prawns: 59kcals/10g protein
CHORIZO 1 tbsp (10g): 40cals or 2.7g protein (file photo used)
GREEK YOGURT 1 tbsp (about 40g) full-fat live Greek yogurt: 53kcals/2.2g protein
PARMESAN 10g: 42kcals/3.5g protein
FETA 15g full-fat feta: 37kcals/2.3g protein
EDAMAME BEANS 80g cooked shelled beans: 110kcals/9g protein (file photo used)
CHEDDAR 30g (matchbox- sized piece): 124kcals/7.5g protein
HALLOUMI 30g, lightly fried in 1 tsp olive oil: 145kcals/6g protein
EGG 1 medium egg: 78kcals/7.7g protein
GREEK YOGURT 1 tbsp (about 40g) full-fat live Greek yogurt: 53kcals/2.2g protein (file photo used)
SEEDS 15g mixed seeds: 55kcals/2.2g protein
SESAME SEEDS 2 tsp (about 10g): 60kcals/2.1g protein
EDAMAME BEANS 80g cooked shelled beans: 110kcals/9g protein
FETA 15g full-fat feta: 37kcals/2.3g protein (file photo used)
ALMONDS 15g: 95kcals/3.8g protein
WALNUTS 30g: 185kcals/7.6g protein
PUY LENTILS 100g cooked: 143kcals/10.6g protein
ALMONDS 15g: 95kcals/3.8g protein (file photo used)
BEANS 100g canned beans: 109cals/7g protein
QUINOA 100g cooked quinoa: 185cals/6g protein
TOFU 100g tofu: 123cals/12.5g protein
The fast 800 keto plan in a nutshell
STAGE ONE: RAPID WEIGHT LOSS
● 800 to 900 calories a day for two to 12 weeks with protein add-ons to take you to 1,000 calories when needed.
● This will lead to rapid weight loss and health benefits such as falling blood pressure, blood sugars and blood fats, without leaving you hungry.
● Follow the recipes, which are packed full of flavour and nutrients and are based on a 50:50 rule – more than 50g of protein and less than 50g carbs per day, and you should lose about 2kg per week.
STAGE TWO: INTERMITTENT FASTING
● 800 to 900 calories on four or five consecutive days a week and a more relaxed but portion-controlled approach on non-fasting days (increasing protein to 60 to 80g). You can also include ‘time-restricted eating’ which restricts your eating window to ten or eight hours.
STAGE THREE: MAINTENANCE
● No calorie-counting but keep an eye on your weight and waistline.
● Eat a healthy Mediterranean-style diet with 1g of protein per kg of body weight per day.
I lost 4st to marry in my dream dress
Kristen Mitchell, 50, is early years adviser for Cambridge City Council and lives near Bury St Edmunds with her husband Carl.
She lost 4st in six months (dropping from 14st) to fit into a size 10 dress for her wedding last summer.
This diet plan has been life-changing. I lost four stone in six months and was thrilled to get married in the dream dress that sparked my weight-loss challenge.
BEFORE: Kristen Mitchell, 50, lost 4st in six months (dropping from 14st) to fit into a size 10 dress for her wedding last summer.
When hunger strikes
Plan activities or exercise sessions for key craving trigger points in your day to distract from the potential diet-breaking 3pm energy slump or pre-dinner munchies
I bought it in a size 10 when my husband Carl proposed, in 2019, vowing to get into it. On the day, it fitted like a glove.
For the first time ever I understand why I’d been gaining weight. I’m 5ft tall with a slow metabolism, so I can’t get away with eating the way I used to eat.
I was always out of breath on walks. I felt uncomfortable in clothes. Even putting on shoes or boots was a struggle. Although 800 calories a day didn’t sound a lot, I’ve never felt hungry.
I love the recipes. They’re delicious and filling. My husband, who didn’t need to lose weight, has been eating them with me and been surprised by how much he enjoys them, too. He’s much healthier as a result.
I’m so happy to cut out breakfast, just have lunch at 1pm and eat nothing after 7pm dinner. Having just two meals a day suits me. It’s also been great to have so many high-protein, low-carb lunch options I can take to work.
AFTER: Ms Mitchell said of her wedding dress: ‘I bought it in a size 10 when my husband Carl proposed, in 2019, vowing to get into it. On the day, it fitted like a glove’
My favourite is frittatas (which I freeze in batches, then heat in the work microwave) or a salmon dip, which I eat with celery sticks.
I signed up to the Fast 800 online programme (thefast800.com) and I keep my weight stable following a 5:2 or 3:4 pattern, always eating within an eight-hour window every day. It suits me and my body feels better.
If my weight fluctuates, as it did after a cruise with my mum and my sisters, I know how to get things back in line. I simply return to Stage One of the plan, eating 800 calories a day for 12 weeks. It works a treat every time.
Now I’ve fallen in love with running
Dr Gary Lamph, 44, is a psychotherapist and a senior research fellow at the University of Central Lancashire.
He lives near Liverpool with his wife and two teenage sons. He started the Fast 800 Keto 12 months ago and has lost 5st, dropping from 17st 10 lb to 12st 10 lb.
During the pandemic, it was clear that overweight men were coming off worse. I was certainly one of those big guys.
BEFORE: Dr Gary Lamph, 44, started the Fast 800 Keto 12 months ago and has lost 5st, dropping from 17st 10 lb to 12st 10 lb
On this plan, though, I’ve kept my weight under 13 stone for the past six months. At no point have I felt as if I was depriving myself.
The easiest change has been to cut breakfast. I eat my first meal at midday and I finish supper by 7pm.
Only water or black coffee pass my lips outside of that eating window.
For the first 12 weeks, I was very strict, following the plan to the letter, but since then, I’ve found that following a 3:4 pattern works for me – I eat ‘clean’ Monday to Friday, then I’m more relaxed at the weekends, maybe enjoying a meal out and a bottle of wine with my wife.
I know my body now and what I need to eat. I still enjoy the occasional slice of toast, but I’m more likely to eat cauliflower rice and turnip chips instead of normal rice and French fries.
AFTER: Dr Lamph said: ‘I know my body now and what I need to eat. I still enjoy the occasional slice of toast, but I’m more likely to eat cauliflower rice and turnip chips instead of normal rice and French fries’
Possibly the biggest transformation is falling in love with running. Before, I couldn’t even walk very far but now I’m running three to four times a week, even half-marathon distances.
If I ever fall off the plan, I won’t feel any sense of failure, as I might have done on previous diets.
I’ve decided I’m allowed to fail, and I expect setbacks. But I’ve now got a clear method to correct any weight gain. I can exercise intensively, go back to Stage One and neutralise any setback.
Flip that metabolic switch – and now you’re burning lots of fat…
After a few days on the Fast 800 Keto and excess body fat is burned as fuel, fatty acids are released from your fat stores and converted into chemicals called ketone bodies which can be used by most cells in the body and brain.
My wife can always tell when I’ve ‘flipped the metabolic switch’ and gone into ketosis because my breath starts to smell sweet – like nail polish remover.
It’s an exciting moment, because it means the diet is working and I am burning lots of fat!
A more scientific way to check if you are in ketosis is to use keto strips. Available cheaply from pharmacies or online, these thin strips of plastic have an active agent on one end which you dip into your urine stream.
The agent changes colour if it detects ketones. It’s VERY motivating to see the strip turn red and a surprisingly useful deterrent if you are tempted by a biscuit!
The strips were originally created for people with type 1 diabetes, to detect a dangerous condition called diabetic ketoacidosis, but this should not happen on a keto diet – you are merely looking for mild changes.
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