Hi, I am planning to start tomorrow.. I have read the book done the shopping now just need to find the will power! I am the only one in the house doing this so will still need to cook ‘normal’ ‘meals for the rest of the family – does any one have any suggestions?
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Im going to finish reading the book today and hopefully start tomorrow.
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There as different strategies you can try.
I sometimes have the same as everybody else except I avoid or substitute the starchy carbs. eg cottage/shepherds pie- they have mash I have cauliflower mash, cooked breakfasts- I avoid toast and have extra mushroom instead, pasta dishes- I use courgetti instead of pasta.
Sometimes I choose to have something entirely different, especially if its going to be something the kids don’t like. I’m also trying to introduce them to more vegetables in their diets but it’s a very gradual process!
I generally find that I can pick a low carb option when going out too, so far the only time I lapsed big style was having fish and chips by the seafront whilst on holiday.
It’s not nearly as difficult as you might imagine if you plan ahead. Just weigh and measure where possible as it is very easy to go over your calorie limit especially at the beginning before your appetite has adjusted. Finally, clear food away quickly including anything left on plates- no picking! -
Hi Wannabe and DKendall – I’ve just replied to newbeginnings on the Welcome… forum – I’ll be starting (again) tomorrow too.
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Hi Wannabe healthy!
As well as the great suggestions from Tizzie may I suggest that if your family members have snacks…you put them away in a special cupboard or tin…well out of temptation!! and enlist your family’s help to stay on plan. It gets easier after the first few days as your appetite will decrease. Good luck😊
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Yes good idea, we have a ‘carb cupboard’ in our house where bread, crackers, cereal, crisps, biscuits and sweets live. It’s contents have reduced in the last couple of months but I’m not allowed to get rid of it completely!!
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Hi everyone, I am starting (again) tomorrow 12th September. I have about 14-21lbs to loose. I have signed up for a 10k locally at close of October, which means I am running 2-3 times a week to get fitter. I also need to do some RT to build muscle and tone up. Good luck everyone – we can do this and maintain a lighter weight too as a lifestyle. Carbs are not so hard to reduce, a lot of it is habit. In 5 months it’s my birthday 🙂
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Thanks everyone for the advice. I am going to try and stick to the 8 week plan in the book as I work long hours and don’t have a lot of time for planning meals etc. Think I am going to struggle with no bread/crisps or chocolate which are all my weaknesses 🙁
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Good luck DKendall, Wannabee and all other new starters, I’m starting tomorrow too, do I need to count the calories for all green veg, berries?
Thanks 🙂
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I’m setting off on a journey today to reverse my type 2 and get off blood pressure drugs. Dumped metformin 15 months ago and used 5:2 in an undisciplined way for 12 months. Time to get serious !
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Count everything Carl23. 800 calories isn’t a lot and veggies add up. It works though!
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Thanks garden green, had a Good look at myfitnesspal app and am on track so far! Who new that even green veg has a lot of cals. Been busy today at work and planned brekkie/lunch so ok……it’s the evenings which are tricky!
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Yes, I find I have to plan my meals for the day, otherwise I end up with 50 calories left for dinner 🤔
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I started yesterday too and am using recipes from the book – last night however, I got home from work with a pounding headache and threw up my dinner (what a waste of calories!) and had to take myself off to bed and didn’t get rid of the headache until 5am! – anyone else feeling really rough?
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Hi topcac – feeling rough and headaches are common early on, it’s your body’s way of protesting the withdrawal of carbs. It will pass and meanwhile, don’t be afraid to take painkillers if you need to. You will soon be feeling fitter, more vital physically and mentally and more energised than you have for some considerable time, so do your best not to give in to the demand for carbs.
Be gentle with yourself while you are feeling grim, if you need to rest, rest and don’t worry right now about the exercise thing, it will come. -
hI topcac
Hope you feel better today. I managed to stick to the plan yesterday, it was a bit rough but I did it!
I have had a pounding headache all day yesterday and today tho. I am drinking loads and just hope it will pass as my body gets used to the new diet. 🙁 -
Are you feeling any better today?
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Hi everyone getting started. I find trying to assess the carb load in a number of meal options quite tricky but often resort to eggs. I love onions and mushrooms so nice tasty mix.
I’m into day 5 and have been quite disciplined (does that glass of wine really count!). My fasting sugar this morning was 5.1! Never seen it that low. Often 7 – 8 first thing. I record my blood sugar regularly and find that motivating. Keeping everything on a spreadsheet – also motivating (and yes, working full time makes it a bit hectic). Good luck everyone I really believe in this philosophy and hope to prove it. -
How is everyone doing….day 3!
I’m finding it ok, the food is really tasty but prep is a bit of a hassle/time consuming (following the book), and have split my lunch into two as need a late pm snack to get me home from work On the plus side, I’ve lost 4lbs after weighing in today and found this very motivating. Also energy levels in the afternoon have been noticeably better, so the carbs must of been causing tiredness. I’ve not been craving the evening glass of Vin as much as expected either.
Ideally need to lose 2 stone, which feels a long way away at the moment…bit worried about the weekend!
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Hi all – sorry I lost this thread for a bit – I’m on Day 5 now and feeling loads better (although today a bit fluey but I believe that’s normal). I’m ignoring my body’s obvious protestations at the lack of carbs and just drinking water like it’s my second job, eating three meals a day and not snacking, recipes from the book and at the moment am nursing a green tea that my colleague made me, (after having waved Snickers bars in my face all week I think he’s finally got the message).
But the BEST news is that I got on the scales yesterday morning (start of Day 4) and I’m 5lbs down!! Wowzers. Never expected that. I started this journey because I am sick to death of being controlled by carbs – literally. I think about food all day every day – I am always thinking about my next meal and if I try to diet it’s always about the next ‘cheat’ day and I’m sick of it. So before I become a health hazard (my own ) I’m gonna get this under control – doing well so far
Hope your journeys are speeding along nicely and slimmingly xx
TC -
Hi topcac, glad you’re better and have stuck to the plan. I have done it for 5 days now and also have lost 5lbs which I am really pleased with. I am worried about the weekend as I don’t want it to stop me doing stuff with the rest if the family, we’ll have to see how it goes. Have a good weekend 🙂
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Hi topcac and Wannabe! I’m also at the end of day 5 and 5 pounds down! Obviously that’s normal 😃 Dreading the weekend though ‘cos it’s a family birthday and I have to eat in a restaurant 😳. Will gave to gave grilled chicken and salad! Lovely to find this forum! X
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Hey guys – great to hear of your successes and hope that the weekend wasn’t quite the devil you thought it might be. It’s so hard to stick to it when there is temptation around so I hope your resolve didn’t crumble and your first ‘official’ weekly weigh in was all you hope for.
I started this diet when I knew I didn’t have anything on at the weekends for 4 weeks so my weekend was actually easier than the week. I have a sedentary job so sit at my desk alot which makes not thinking about food HARD. Weekends I am up and doing stuff all the time, washing, cleaning, shopping (much cheaper now btw) and have started playing touch rugby to try to get fitter, plus two pooches to walk and a stepson to see off to Uni, so when I got on the scales this morning I had lost, in total for the week, 7lbs!!! Well chuffed with that – plus all the non scale victories of course – more energy, less bloated, not obsessed with food quite so much (that’ll be a hard one to fully crack!)
Looking forward to seeing how you’re all doing xxx
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Please can someone tell me what the book means by ‘plain yogurt’. Sorry if that’s stupid question but does it mean natural or something else? There are so many different yogurts in supermarket not sure which I should be using! Thanks. 🙂
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Wannabe that’s yoghurt with no flavours/fruit/crumble/honey added to it. Just yoghurt. Then you add your own flavour or not as you prefer. You might have to hunt around for the unflavoured stuff but will soon get your eye in. Lots feel the Greek yoghurt is more filling ( full fat not 0% fat ) and if you are in UK Fage ( however the biggest word on the packaging is TOTAL!) is the best again according to others posters. I live alone and can’t often get small pots of Fage so get full fat Yeo ( green packaging ). You could always make your own 🙂
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Thanks weescotty, I am in the UK, normally shop at Tesco. Is Yeo natural yogurt? I will have a look for Fage next time .
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Yeo has lots of different flavours but look out for this one if you’re after plain/natural: http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=251791087
I agree that Fage/Total full fat is the best one though! It definitely keeps me feeling full for longer than other yoghurts. I have it with berries for breakfast typically. Good luck with your shopping!
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Hello fellow 12 Sept starters – how is everyone doing?? It’s been over two weeks now (Week 3 Day 2) and I hope that weight and those blood sugar readings are dropping through the floor!
Two weeks saw me lose 7 3/4 lbs – (don’t forget the 3/4 – it’s very important – it means I hit a mini goal that I had set myself). Everything has started to feel looser (expect my bowels but let’s not go there….) and I THINK I feel better in myself. I still get the odd dizzy moment but I haven’t really felt hungry (apart from Sunday when a cube of cheese and a couple of slices of ham seemed to do the trick). A couple of times I’ve dreamed that I ate junk (crisps, sweets etc) and when I woke up I was SO relieved it was only a dream…sad eh? My partner and I have decided to branch out a bit from the recipes in the original book and bought the recipe book – things look delicious so we are looking forward to planning our meals for next week.Anyway, that’s my news, things are good, I would still kill for a bag of Doritos but I am slowly retraining my brain. Roll on Week 4 and the midpoint!!
Let me know how you guys are doing!
TC 🙂 -
Hi topcac, sounds like you are doing really well – well done 🙂
First week was good for me, lost 6.5 lbs and really pleased with that.
Last week, didn’t go so well, we had 2 family meals out and even though I was careful managed to gain 1/4 lb over the week, then felt sorry for myself and resorted to my old friends crisps and chocolates! 🙁
But gave myself a good talking to and determined to stick to plan this week and see how it goes. It is hubbies birthday this weekend and we are away so that’s going to be tough.
I have been power walking for 30 mins every morning during the week and think that is helping.Which recipe book have you bought?
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I bought the 8 week blood sugar diet recipe book – it’s about a tenner from Amazon. It looks really good because it has the calories for each meal but also the carbs, protein, fat and fibre which for me is great as I just don’t have time to log and calculate all that stuff on an app, plus most of the apps seems to differ wildly in that respect.
A 1/4 of a lb is just a big wee so don’t give yourself a hard time – glad to hear you’re back on the BSD wagon – good luck for the rest of the week!
Going away IS tough but just say to yourself at all times ‘meat and vegetables are my friends…..’ and try for just low carb instead of low cal as well, after all we’re only human!! -
So do you count calories, carbs, fat etc for all your meals? I am just trying to follow the 8 week plan in the book at the moment. No idea really what I should be aiming for each day as far as intake of carbs etc, just to stick to 800 cals a day at the moment.
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Hiya
I just eat recipes from the original book at the moment as I don’t have time to do much else. I am assuming that if I follow one breakfast, one lunch and one dinner then that will give me what I need – although I try to mix them so that I”m not over 800 cals on most days (although sometimes I go a bit over) and I assume that this gives me the right amount of carbs, fat and protein etc that I need (MM says that we should aim for under 50g of carbs a day). In my mind if it was only calories to think about we could all just eat two packets of Haribo Starmix every day!!! LOL!!!
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🙂 mmm haribo 🙂 !
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Macmillan coffee mornings are sent by the devil to break our resolve and leave us crumbling in a corner eating Spinach and pea onmlette and quietly weeping – or is that just me!!!!
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I think all cakes eaten in the name of charity should be officially declared calorie free 😉
Well done for resisting! -
I have to ‘show my face’ at 2 coffee mornings tomorrow, thought I had escaped one today by another appt but found there was a stall there too!!
Actually didn’t feel as tempted as I might once have been – though it is salty crisps that are a stronger weakness for me now.
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I’m just avoiding the canteen – seems to be ok at the moment….but I’m in charge of ‘clear up’ – wonder how much of that will be into my mouth!!! 😀
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Hello fellow 12 Sept BSD starters – how is everyone doing. We are nearly halfway through!!
I’ve had a tough week – official weigh in saw me put on a pound so I was gutted – but the day before, I took a spectacular nose dive off the wagon so I guess I deserved it (Two slabs of chocolate fudge case if anyone wants to know 🙁 . Was back on it the next day and have managed to lose the pound in the mid week weigh in but am away on business in the US for a week so, while I have plenty of opportunity to be good (I will have a car and there is a 24 hour supermarket opposite my hotel) I’m worried that temptation will just be too much. So I’ve decided to put my plans down here and then in a week, hopefully someone will ask me to account for what I had. Breakfast – blueberries and total yogurt (have already checked the website and Giant Eagle do it), lunch – cooked chicken and salad – or maybe , if we go out, chicken caesar salad, dinner (luckily no evenings out) – have checked the local restaurant menus and can have steak and salad every night – or fish, or chicken.
So that’s me – still only 7 3/4lbs lost in nearly four weeks – haven’t dared measure myself, my waist just doesn’t feel smaller, but my clothes are looser than 4 weeks ago and I feel better.
Hope to catch up soon
TC
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Hi everyone. Almost half way! I’ve lost 18 pounds and am back to a size 14. Yay! Just in the last few days, everyone at work has started noticing which is really motivating. Very proud of myself ‘cos I have stuck rigidly to 800 calories per day. Being flat-out at work has helped but got given loads of chocolate for my birthday which I had to lock away in a cupboard when normally I would have scoffed the lot! Hoping to lose another stone by the end of week 8! Need to try to drink more water now as don’t think I’m drinking enough. Big motivational hugs to everyone! MB xx
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So – on starting week 5 – I weighed in officially and my official numbers are 10lbs gone in 4 weeks. I lost the pound that I put on last week and a couple more besides so delighted with that. With only around 23lbs to lose I thought it would be a bit harder. But I’m not counting my chickens
I’m in the States this week and my colleagues can also see the difference (have lost about 17lbs since I last saw them) and out came the comments like ‘you don’t need to lose anymore’ etc etc but i just smile serenely and ignore them.
Yesterday was hard as I was travelling all day. I basically drank my bodyweight in water – about 4 litres, and tried to avoid the carb loaded plane food – luckily I was travelling business so there was a decent choice – however I did succumb to a very small chocolate cake with clotted cream – about 3 mouthfuls.
By the time dinner came around I had been traveling for 22 hours – I didn’t know whether to eat it or fall asleep in it – so I ate half (chicken caesar salad) and have the other half for lunch!
How are the rest of you doing – in week 5?
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Hi all
It seems I am the only one posting in this thread now but that’s OK, I will adopt it as my own little BSD diary and those that wish to read can do so.
So beginning Week 6 today and feeling quite positive. Another half pound gone which isn’t much but considering I was away most of last week in the States with no access to fridge, kitchen etc I am pretty pleased with that. I set myself a target just to maintain so a loss is great.
I attribute it mainly to two things. One, making low carb choices even though my calorie count was probably double what it should have been and two, getting straight back on it from Friday lunchtime when I got home.
If I needed any more motivation over the weekend then none was better than watching the Panorama programme from a couple of weeks back about diabesity. Amputations will definitely motivate you to stick to the plan!
So that’s where I am today fellow BSD-ers. I have a challenge on Wednesday when I am going for Tapas with my lovely OH, (who has lost 12lbs also) but it’s always helpful when you go out with someone watching carbs too.
Hope everyone else is steaming along lovely with some great losses – I have my positive pants on today so if anyone needs cheering up just let me know 🙂TC
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HI TC
Well done, sounds like you are doing really well.
I have been struggling and seem to have lost all motivation – definitely need to find some positive pants!!
Not been feeling well for a few days so have resorted to comfort food which probable makes me feel even worse but its a vicious circle. Have also had lots of family events and meals at friends houses where it is very difficult to stick to healthy options.Work/life is crazy at the moment so don’t have time to do a properly planned shop to stock up with all the right things.
All excuses I know, just need to stop feeling sorry for myself and get back on track. 🙁
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Hello. First of all many congratulations on doing so well despite all the temptations. I really went all out at the beginning and managed to lose 18lbs of the 36lbs I had to lose in just over 5 weeks, so was well pleased! However I then went on a Med cruise and waivered by the sixth day of twelve. When I returned on Saturday I had regained 5 lbs so currently still have 23 lbs to go. Travelling back from France tomorrow so can’t get back to it properly until Thursday but intend to be really strict then. Please continue to post, I find it all very motivating. Good luck. Sara 👍
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Well my positive pants can be rented free of charge so….. by all means…..otherwise I think Primark sell them 😉
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Omg, that panorama programme frightened the living daylight out of me !!!
I lost 4lb the first week then nothing the second week so the third week I haven’t been 100% but haven’t put any back on. Started again today with a good frame of mind. I have between a stone and stone and a half to loose and I am type 2 diabetic and take loads of tablets and my diabetes is quite under control but would like to be able to reduce tablets xx -
Hi Joanne6446
I had a blip in weeks 2/3 put on weight at the beginning for week three but then the next week had lost the pound I put on plus another 21/4lbs (don’t forget the 1/4 – vitally important!). I would try to go back to it 100% if you can find the motivation. It’s really hard if you’re not losing a lot – but with not much to lose I guess it will be slower. I would like to lose just another 13lbs which I know will be the hardest!
Today I am STARVING. Had smoked salmon and scrambled egg for breakfast but it did NOT hit the spot and now I have about another two hours until lunchtime! Have already had nearly 2 litres of water and will go out for a walk at lunchtime in the hopes that it eases the problem. I’m going out for dinner tonight as well (tapas) and I really don’t want to overeat – but if I do I know as least I will probably be able to make sensible choices – no carbs!!
Hope you’re back on it and enjoying all the yummy things we can eat 🙂
TC -
Topcac, do you like black coffee? that used to keep me going a little more on my 800cal
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Hi Joanne and all BSDers
Finished my 6th week today – started a few days ahead of you – and like you I am type 2 but have also been on steroids for 3 years for an inflammation issue (PMR).
Decided a year ago to dump the metformin as the side efforts were worse than the cure. Told my GP I was going to control it with diet and exercise. My HbA1c peaked at 52 and last test before I started this 8 week BSD was 51.
I am determined to reverse the diabetes thing!
Haven’t lost as much weight as some are reporting but keeping carbs and sugar at bay.
Wine hasn’t disappeared – maybe that’s my weakness! Seems to give me low (normal) late evening sugar readings though 5-6.
Killing the steroids completely soon will be hopefully a help. Hang in there. -
Hi Henry H – good luck with reversing the diabetes – it can be done! We all succumb to some temptations not and then so don’t worry too much about the wine.
Baristagirls – I can not stand coffee – black or otherwise which doesn’t help when I feel like I could chew through the desk.. I do, however, like this new tea I’ve found in Aldi called peppermint and licorice so I had one of those – plus I walked for over an hour at lunchtime yesterday which stemmed the hunger quite a bit and I managed to end yesterday without filling my face with junk. I had tapas but stuck with low carb options like chicken, meatballs, chorizo and prawns – heavy on the calories I know but weighed in at the same weight as Monday this morning so disaster averted. Less hungry today – dunno what it was but looked at the diary – might be ovulating (sorry men)….
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Well good morning all (I hope it is a good morning ) how are my fellow 12 Sept BSD-er getting on?
End of Week 6 – where has the time gone? Well I don’t know the answer to that but I know where the weight’s gone – off of me! I’m down another 3 1/4 lbs (don’t forget the 1/4 pound now) which makes a total of 13 3/4 lbs in the 6 weeks. Slightly miffed it wasn’t a neat round stone but delighted that I seem to be in the swing of things now.
I know that some people have had problems with plateau-ing and even putting on so I thought I would share my losses over the last 6 weeks so you can see the journey I’ve had so far.
Week 1 minus 6 3/4lbs
Week 2 minus 1lb
Week 3 plus 1lb 🙁
Week 4 minus 3 1/4lbs
week 5 minus 1/2lb
Week 6 minus 3 1/4lbs
Total 13 3/4lbsSo – not all plain sailing and some weeks you do wonder why you bother. However, I can pretty much say that craving for sweet stuff has more or less gone and I’m now thinking about what maintenance will look like for me. I think it’s important to give it some thought because otherwise the temptation is to just be lazy and go back to the way it was before. My OH has lost 13lbs too but needs to lose more than me so I’m going to stick with this until Christmas but maybe up my calories (from fat and protein) to 1000 and see how I get on.
Would love to hear how you’re all getting on
TC