Hi, Ive realised I really need to do this diet, I’m in terrible shape, but my massive stumbling block is that I cook all day every day for my business and I am really struggling with how to eat so little while cooking all the time. I also have no encouragement at home. Any advice on getting started under these circumstances is very welcome.

Hmm. That is a challenge Brambleberry.

I’ve got a catering business, but it’s only part time. Although sometimes, like next weekend, it means that Friday evening and all day Saturday (midday to midnight) I’ll be cooking naught food too!

I haven’t really though about what I’m going to do for that one, but for recent gigs that I’ve done, if I’ve needed to eat, I’ve just had a bite of whatever protein I’m cooking (e.g. fish but throwing the batter in the bin!) and some of the veg. The one thing I didn’t manage to achieve was to count calories of carbs on these days. That’s more of an issue for you as you will be doing it every day.

Hi, Brambleberry,

I take it you haven’t started yet?
You might find it difficult for the first few days but if you can stick with it and keep your fat intake up, you will find that you won’t feel hungry anyway.
I’m a chef (evenings) and made sure I ate before going in to work. Sometimes it’s hard to break the nibbling habit, though, if it’s there!
I’ve had a few stops and starts with BSD but throwing myself back into it from tomorrow.

Good luck!

Hi Brambleberry
Think susieb’s advise is sound. If possible, make sure you have had a satisfying meal before you start – preferably with a good fat content, as this will help you to feel full longer. Make sure you keep the fluids up, as this too helps to stave off the hunger pangs. And if you can, have meals/snacks planned and ready to go for during the day. As susieb says, you could alternatively have some of whatever protein you are preparing that day, with veg or salad. Have a little think about how you can make it work for you. Good luck.

I know it sounds weird (!) but if I’m cooking something I shouldn’t be eating, or dishing up the family’s food, or tempted to take another spoonful before I put leftovers in the fridge, I literally bite my lower lip! Not too hard, obviously, but it acts as a brake on my greed!

Sorry I’m not a cook so I can’t imagine how hard it would be to be surrounded by food all the time. I do struggle when I am preparing dinner everyday though. I find that if I grab some celery sticks, capsicum, carrot, beans first whatever fresh crunchy vegetables I have and keep them handy. So I can crunch and munch on something healthy when I feel the urge to put something in my mouth while getting dinner ready and the rest of the family are NOT low carb, so there’s plenty of temptation around.

Could anyone help. I am 15 days in & I have been really strict & stuck to diet. I’ve only lost 5lbs & today feel like I hit a brick wall. Felt so disheartened & I’ve just eaten 3 slices of bread, butter & honey. 😤😞 Why would I not be losing more weight?

Kerryanne43, it sounds like you have hit a plateau, which is common on the 800 but nonetheless frustrating because of that. Firstly, don’t beat yourself up for today’s transgression, just try to refocus and get back to the 800 tomorrow. Then, check that you are drinking enough, have enough fat in your diet – it helps the fat burning process – and have a look at the carbs you are eating – is there anything you are routinely eating, which is surprisingly high in carbs?

Best to try to pitch your carb intake at 50g or less and this should get things going again. I plateaued early on like you and it was checking my carbs and bring them down, which got me losing again. Try not to be disheartened – easier said I know – I understand how upsetting it is when things stall like this, but you will start to lose again as it’s inevitable at 800 cals a day, but it’s worth trying the above and you’ll hopefully see progress sooner rather than later.

Good luck, keep us posted.

As SunnyB says really. Don’t be too disheartened, it WILL work in the end. Water, some fats, making sure you measure everything, writing down everything that you consume, these are all suggestions that have helped me and others when the weight sticks. Measure yourself too, to give you extra encouragement. And don’t beat yourself up about the bread and honey. You won’t have undone all your hard work, so long as you get back on track and don’t feel ‘sod it, I’ve blown it, I may as well give up.’
Keep posting and stick with it, you CAN do it!

Yes plateaus are common – I’ve heard heaps of people worrying about them. But they end and you will start to lose again. I definitely had reduced my fat intake and increased my carbs so I totally agree about the carbs got to be under 50g.