Demi, at least you were naughty with something low carb, we can’t be good all the time and 7 miles is a great walk!

Hi Georgia thanks for the kind words! I spent the weekend in bed but am feeling better now and thinking about getting back into my exercise next week… Hope all goes well with you… ?

Anyone missing pancakes? I just made these…

http://www.nourishingdays.com/2010/07/fluffy-coconut-flour-pancakes/

they turned out nice, about 150 cals and 11.5g carbs for a quarter of the whole recipe.

This is my last day of week two, can’t believe that puts me 1/4 through the 8 weeks, although I will probably keep doing it for longer, I still have plenty to lose.

How is everyone doing today?

hello all!
I had a great week one weigh in of -3kg, and I’ve just come back from a pilates session at the physio after work, so I feel really good! I didn’t get a ‘zonked and blugh tired’ feeling this afternoon at work either, so I think I might be settling in a bit. I plan on mixing some tuna with some coconut flour and stuff to make a patty with some salad for tea – experiment one. I have backup yoghurt and strawberries if it all goes wrong though.

relaxing with a cuppa before the attempt though. Yay for Wales, what a beautiful part of the Uk that is! so many castles as well, I spent a week there a few years ago and soaked up the countryside – I expect it can get a bit gray and dreary after a while though, but its easier to walk on colder weather I think, so you have that going for you! Lucky!

Your creative corner sounds lovely, Izzy – I have a sewing room which is my version, I like to quilt and sew, I love bright colours and modern prints and applique and just mucking about with colour. VERY therapeutic – I don’t get in there as much as I could as I’m also a fool doing a degree part time as well as working fulltime – so I usually have uni work to do.

overall, today I feel good, and really starting to feel my head clear, which seems to be a symptom of cutting out processed simple carbs – wheat/sugar fog? anyone else notice this? 🙂 have a lovely day!

Hi Chongolola

Many of us are saying the same about thinking more clearly and even better concentration. We talk about the ‘carb fog’ – just one way those nasty carbs made us ill.

it seems to have blanked out the link I posted 🙁 Oh well.

Hi chongolongo I’m jealous that you can spare a whole room for your stuff! I’ll have to make do with my corner but it’s ok really! Sounds like you are doing great.

As for feeling more clear headed, yes, but I can’t say 100% what is to blame. I was ill at the beginning of the year and ended up on anti-depressant medication and iron tablets. It was awful I was in bed by 8 every night, no energy and I really did feel detached from reality walking around in my own little haze. I didn’t realise how foggy it was until I started to feel better. I’ve been feeling increasingly better over the last couple of months I would say, but I definitely feel that this way of eating is helping.

In the last couple of weeks I would say I’ve seen my energy increase, I’ve been up later at night. I see an enthusiasm in myself that I haven’t seen in a while. Long may it continue!

Chongolo, lots of us ‘BSD veterans’ can testify to the fact that cutting out simple carbs clears the brain fog – even if you didn’t know you had it you quickly realise your thinking and concentration becomes so much better 🙂

Hi everyone – great forum posted a little while ago on another thread that i was having a tough time finished the 8 weeks things were really good then decided to go back to my old eating pattern WHY, anyway after lovley encouraging comments I am back on track, back on the eating plan and feeling soooooo much better, so I just want to say to anyone struggling please don’t give up it is worth we all want a healthier life thanks once again for all the support

Must say, second day in and I already feel a lot better in myself, although a bit hungry at the moment has haven’t had lunch today (brunch at 10.30, and then an apple). I’m just about to go shopping for meals for the rest of the week. What could possibly go wrong?!

🌷Hashimoto I love your comment about clearing brain fog even if we didn’t know we have it! Haha so true

🌷Ollie- Congrats for getting back on – that takes some power I am sure! At least you know you can do it since you have done it once. That’s terrific!

🌷DemiMondaine, so glad you already feel great! I had a super rough first two days but it’s day 4 and Ibe lost 7 lbs and have no joint pain with BS dropping from 119 to 80 (under 100 is normal bs in US-I notice people post single digits so think those in other countries measure differently than in the US probably).
Keep at it! Good luck shopping!!

HI Izzy

Have moved my laptop now so I have to stand up to use it.
It starts to get uncomfortable standing so I am ready to move around again fairly quickly to find something else to do.
This will work for me and get me off my backside.
Sounds a rather Michael Mosely sort of idea too.

Ay, what a great idea!!!

I’m in bed with my laptop on my lap. In my defence my friend and I walked 18000 steps tonight along a coastal path. I’m scared to look at my foot as I know I have a blister haha. It was a lovely night though, love the in-between light of twilight and the sound of the sea 🙂

night all

Hi everyone, I started this a couple of months ago and lost 16 pounds in 6 weeks. Had a lot of family stress and lost the plot a bit. Starting again though because I know it works and the support on here is amazing. I have around 35 pounds to lose.I’m from Fife in Scotland and one of my aims is to get back out on my bike again. It’s great hearing how everyone else is doing – well done folks 😀

Hi Izzy, yup visiting is nice and you get to see the pretty stuff. Have my first diabetic clinic appt on the 9th so not sure if that will show any difference in blood sugar levels or anything really. It’s mad though, this is not a new way of looking at diabetic diets but a very old one which somehow got lost somewhere, probably in profitability of disease for big pharma…

not that i’m cynical or nothing 😛

Have been reading a blog on the harcombe diet website from 2010 when another woman was tracking her results through low carbing and they were all watching her progress with much interest there too!

Just seems that this diet has been a lot more publicised which is great 😀

Polly x

Chongololo,

I really miss uni. Graduated in 2004 and my brain really misses doing something that brings me in contact with like-minded people. Am looking after my mother with dementia at the moment so sort of stuck in all the time unless the sitter is here or she’s in day centre. Have started walking with friends on the day centre days which is helpful but I don’t think I’m dealing with the stress very well.

Polly x

Hi Polly,
So sorry you are dealing with your mom having dementia, it’s so hard….
Maybe you could do some simple
Exercises at home to help with your stress release?
Remember to do something kind for yourself everyday as the caregivers often neglect themselves.
So glad you are here!!

I’ve been doing a workout 3 times a week since January, sort of on the lines of HIIT and started going for walks with friends.. My OH is in Nottingham so when she is in respite I get to stay with him for a week – gives me a break and a change of scenery.

It has made me a bit withdrawn as before that my ex- partner had throat cancer and the treatment he went through caused all sorts of complications and he ended up in int care for a few months each on 3 separate occasions so after years of that I came to look after my mother. My ex is as ok as he’s going to be and we’re still good friends but I still worry a lot about him.

So I think the last 7 or so years have added to my naturally depressive state and helped to bring on type 2 diabetes. It’ll all get better and I’m trying to stay patient with my mother but we’ve also had a strained relationship and she is a lot of the cause of my issues with food and weight.

Polly x

Sounds like you’ve had a lot to cope with Polly, have you taken any help for your depression? Please do if you haven’t. It is important to look after yourself especially when you are looking after others. I had to have help myself in recent times.

Hope everyone is well, I’m still hobbling along on my blistered foot.

Good morning everyone from a beautiful sunny Wales. How lovely to read all your posts and see how we are all getting on, it’s very encouraging. I’m on day 6 and I’ve lost a few pounds so far and feeling great. I’m not diabetic but rather I have reactive hypoglycaemia, so I over produce insulin in response to a rise blood glucose, which then sinks into my boots. So it’s really good for me not to have glucose going into my blood in the first place, if that makes sense. Certainly feeling the benefit so far. Only one problem, does anyone else feel cold all the time?

Hi Bissell, Other BSDers have reported on various threads that they feel cold at times in the first week. Hopefully you’ll have a chance to have a break and sit out in the sunshine and warm up.

That’s useful to know, thanks Switzerland. I’m off to Cardiff later to look after my grandson and heavily pregnant daughter, so all the running around should burn a few calories! Hooray for the sunshine, it’s been a long time coming!
I’m following the diet plan from the book pretty closely as I know I will ‘overlook’ the odd calorie if I start making up my own recipes too soon. Because I am so grateful for food, all of them have been lush so far. Favourites so far are chicken Harissa, aubergine and lamb, avocado and poached egg, even the apple and almond butter! Who knew? Ok, I’m starving now, time to get up and have breakfast. Good luck with the day, everyone 👍😇

hope you feel warmer soon!

off to work for me 🙁

Hi Bissell, I’m cold all the time too and I’m in almost the 4th week now. Not sure if it’s dieting or something else.

Hi Izzy, I got sent on a course to do mindfulness but it was a group effort and I found it annoying. The trouble with depression and mindfulness is that you can’t be bothered to help yourself and I’m not a tablet sort of person. Trying to just get out when I can and not just stay in and enjoy being on my own on the day centre days.

Polly x

outside is definitely helpful, as is self care and enjoying the alone time. The mindfulness group didn’t help but chatting 1:1 with a counsellor might. Sounds like you are on the right track though 🙂

I’m also cold – but it *is* cold here today lol

And boiling today, did much more walking than i usually do which was nice. Nowhere near as much as I used to but I wear really flat trainers and I’ve managed to get blisters on both heels I think. They’ll be fine, just have to resist the temptation to pop them.

Getting away to the other half really helps too, even though he also is a depressive, it means he understands what I mean when I’m not having a good day and vice versa :D.

Polly x

That’s good that you guys understand each other I can imagine that is helpful.

Don’t pop the blisters!!!

Hi everyone, I have had one heck of a week Both good and bad. I will start off with the good. I have been on the diet exactly on week today and have lost 13 pounds. It hasn’t been easy. Two days into the diet I started having chest pains and have gone through a series of tests. Still don’t know the answers. It has been a very stressful week. Can’t tell you how many times I wanted to give up on the diet, but so happy I stuck with it. The only thing that got me through was by reading everyone’s posts.

Hi Georgianna,
I am so sorry you have had such a scare and I hope things resolve themselves quickly for you with happy results!!
On the other hand amazing news on the weight loss from your first week – AMAZING!!! I lost 9 pounds and thought I was doing well – I have a lot to lose!!
Re negative feelings and physical ailments I had several this week with the first two days also being the absolute worse…. I am still having tummy problems again too much.
Hang in there and I am wishing you the best always!!

Well done Georgianna and Happylife! Excellent loses! I’ve lost 7lbs in my first week and although I know it won’t continue like that I am really pleased. I’ve never lost that much in one week and believe me I’ve been on soooo many diets! On the whole I’m feels much clearer, if that makes any sense. And am keeping busy in a slightly manic way by digging on my allotment and painting furniture. The sunshine helps things along too, I find. I felt quite grumpy (!) yesterday and hungry too. But hey, that was yesterday. Now, what can I paint next?!
Good luck with the day!

Hi georgianna, bissel and HappyLife, you are doing so well! Congratulations to all three of you. It won’t be long before your clothes feel loose! 🙂

Sorry to hear about your scare, georgianna, hopefully it will turn out to be ‘ just one of those things ‘

Hi everyone
I am from Brisbane, Australia and I haven’t started yet- start Monday. I am trying to get psyched by reading all your posts and this thread seems like a lovely thread full of supportive people.
I have read through all your previous posts and can relate to little bits of most of your stories. I work full-time and have a Mum who I help care for outside of that – she had a catastrophic stroke a few years ago and my sister is her full-time carer. ( she has very high care needs) Her illness triggered a major depressive period for me – I stopped working and functioning. A lot better now but just very keen to get strong and lose weight. I was on a diet earlier this year which was along the same principles as this but much higher fat – made me very sick because I don’t have a gall bladder – so I will be going easy on too much fat on this diet.
I am married, have two teenage stepchildren and many animals 🐱🐔🐶. Also keen on art and painting but not much through the hard times – when you just feel like doing nothing.
I did the 5:2 just before my mum got sick and it was successful but just can’t seem to get back into it again so going for the full immersion diet this time. Have also bought the fast exercise book and have started the HIIT training.
I am worried I will give up if it gets too hard so I am going to keep checking in here for inspiration.

P.s where are all the men?

Hi kerri, welcome to the forums and the BSD way of life!
This is easier than 5:2 and your body quickly adjusts.
There are some men on the forums!!! But you may have to look at other threads to find them.

Good luck with your BSD journey. : )

Oh I am not looking for them!! 😳 – just find it curious that the forums are often predominantly women. Now that I think about it, the title of this one – chit chat – probably scared all the men away.

Oh, I worded that badly kerri, I know you weren’t looking, just making an observation. I can’t imagine a man joining ‘chit chat’ but they do exist on the forums. I’d like to bet more follow than post as well! 🙂

Oh don’t be silly- not worded badly at all😉
I suspect you are right about the followers. I hope I am not prying but you have hashimotos? One of my best mates does too.

You guys have had some awesome first week losses well done!! My first week was 6 but that’s stI’ll a lot so I’m still happy 🙂

Georgianna I hope your health is ok and those pains don’t return 🙁

And welcome KerriB 🙂 don’t put off starting just do it! The quicker you start the quicker you will see the benefits!

Many of those who’ve done it a while like Hashimoto are great support to the rest of us and lots of tips if you read around the forums. good luck 😊

Hi kerri, you’re not prying, I do have hashimoto’s, hence the moniker. At the time I joined the forums were mostly filled with T2 or pre diabetics – as you would expect for this diet. So I thought I would declare I wasn’t. There are quite a few of us with hypothyroidism on these forums.

Diabetes and Hashimoto’s are both metabolic diseases. No matter what I did I piled weight on. This diet was my last chance saloon. Following this diet is as beneficial for sufferers of Hashimoto’s as it is for diabetics. Clare(michael’s wife) explained in a post to me that my health improvements were due to reduced inflammatory markers in the body as this diet reduces insulin resistance.

I have lost 3 stones, have a BMI of 21.3. I have reduced my massive doses of steroids for my asthma and bronchiectasis. My acid reflux has gone. I sleep better. I have my life back as I am in better health and have much more energy.

You really should persuade your friend to follow this diet as it will prevent her from getting more health problems and improve how she feels now.

You really must warn her that a lot of people with Hashimoto’s develop gluten intolerance. Mine led to diverticulitis as I hadnt realised I had become intolerant of gluten and suffered awful symptoms for years. It is also possible to become ceoliac when you have hashimoto’s.

Wishing you (and your friend ) all the best 🙂

Kerri, like Izzy, I say just start it! Today is as good as any other 🙂

Wow Hashimoto that is a big loss and such a remarkable improvement in your health. How long have you being doing it?
My friend did the 5:2 and lost quite a lot but I will pass on the information you have mentioned as she is also trying for a pregnancy.

My ‘today’ is over here in Australia 💤🌙 And tomorrow is Mother’s Day here- so Monday it will have to be for d- day

Hi Kerri, I started in Mid January and lost 2 and a half stones by week 8. Since then I have increased my calories and still lost another half stone!!! I can actually eat more calories now than I could prior to the diet without putting weight on. I think your friend would benefit from just a few weeks of the BSD if she didn’t want to go on for longer. Cutting out all starchy carbs would also help her even if she did nothing else. But I think overall, a few weeks of 800 would do her the world of good 🙂
Perhaps she could be your diet buddy???? 🙂

The fast 800 is easier to do than the 5:2 and carries the health benefits that didn’t occur for me on 5:2 🙂

after 20 months of trying to get pregnant with my son (pcos sufferer) I eventually conceived when I was on the cambridge diet (a very low calorie low carb diet) it was costing me lots of cash and ultimately in retrospect… I think the BSD would have done just as well. Excess insulin can cause the ovaries not to function as well, so personally in my (very un-medical) opinion, anyone trying to conceive might benefit from going lower carb. I definitely think the BSD way of life could help your friend.

I didn’t know about Hashimoto’s I just thought it was a funky name. It was interesting to read that, and impressive results you have had Hashimoto!

Today I’m feeling super positive. I’m going to be a BSD success story too 🙂

Oh Kerri I also meant to say I also don’t have a gallbladder. Much to my relief I had it removed last year… I’m mid way through week 3 of following this and I haven’t suffered any ill effects.

Hi GEORGIANNA
Congratulations on your fab weight loss.
It’s concerning you have had the chest pains. Do hope all tests clear you of major problems. Please keep a paper daily diary of all you eat & how you are feeling. This is good health evidence for you & more importantly your GP.
It would be a good idea to monitor your own BP for a while. Talk to your pharmacist re best machine etc.
Keep those fluids up & if you feel really tired, rest & maybe up the calories a little for a while too. Your overall health is of prime importance always.
Enjoy the diet but keep a very good eye on yourself.