Hi everyone. I was on this lovely group about three years ago. I was 15st and got down to 13 in three months. I’m a 51 year old 5’8 male, so I needed to lose another stone and a half but stopped for a rest and gradually fell into bad habits. I never eat junk or processed food and am reasonably fit, my weakness is cheese and wine. Anyway, this time having turned 50, I have turned a corner and this time it will stay off.

I started the fast800 three weeks ago. I was 14st at the start, so a bit of a head start. I weigh in every Monday. Last week I’d lost half a stone. I am noticeably losing weight so very excited and have had no temptations at all. Hoping tomorrow will bring more good news.

My only frustration is that this Saturday I’m going to a gig and have to have dinner with my friend beforehand. I don’t want to break the rules so trying to find some sort of option on menus, but generally, if you end up going over 800 or over the carb count, just once, does it set you back terribly?

Hi SimonforSure,
I know that there are many more experienced people on this forum who will advise…but…
I started the BSD in mid June and, like you, rapidly lost weight…going from 15 1/2 st to just under 11st 10lb. I have been very strict with calorie and carb counting, only ‘falling off the Wagon” a couple of times. I found that, as long as I got straight back to the diet and was strict with myself afterwards, it didn’t seem to set me back!
I am also going to have to relax the calorie and carb counting for a few days in a couple of weeks time, as I am going to be away in a hotel for work. I understand that the important thing is to try to avoid the obvious things…and only eat carbs after lining the stomach with salad or meat, but this may be because I am diabetic and trying to get down out of the diabetic range, as well as lose weight. Hence the BSD rather than the fast 800!
I have succeeded in dropping down from diabetic to pre diabetic…and am delighted! Just need to lose another stone…and get out of the pre range if possible!

Good Luck 🤞. Let us know how you get on!

Hi Simon, a weekend can really mess things up. I have been on the BSD (Im diabetic) for 8 years and every time I take a break my weight shoots up. This weekend I gave myself a free pass and allowed in a couple of bottled of wine (over 3 days) and have gained 3lbs. However, I do know that 50% of that is fluid and will be gone in 2 days. You just have to think is it worth it, can I deal with a gain without letting it put me totally off track. Even though I didnt have carbs like bread or potato the wine was enough carbs in itself. My guess is you want to have a few drinks with a friend. There are tips to help, as Pootle said, line your gut with vegetable or salad matter it slows down the digestion of carbs, try to avoid the bread, in fact avoid any bad carbs and ask for extra veg. Most important is that you get straight back on plan when your night out is over. You know from experience what happens when you let things slide. You know life is for living so just enjoy yourself.

Hi Simon, just re-read your post and notice you have only been on the plan for 3 weeks and lost 7lb. Be aware you could easily regain 3 or 4 lbs of that and wonder whether you think it is worth it.

On a good note I got straight back on plan and stuck to around 700 cals yesterday and have already lost 2 or the 3lbs gained. So it is possible to make a quick recovery if you are determined.

Hi, thanks so much for this. Just to be clear, I won’t be drinking alcohol, only water. My problem is we are going for dinner first and it will be impossible find anything which is under 800 cals and low carb. The closest I can find is a chicken Caesar salad at pizza express but it’s still over the amount, hence my question. (I can try not to eat it all, I guess!)

Simon a couple of tips: the Caesar should be ok if you ask for the dressing on the side so you can monitor how much you have and leave out the croutons. That shouldn’t be too bad.

Great – thank you that’s excellent.
I’m not going to let anything spoil this as I’m finding it so easy. The only thing I am noticing is that I’m struggling a bit with the gym, unlike previous times when I’m done it. I do feel the lack of energy more this time. Getting older I guess!

Back again – weighed in this week (one month since I started) and only 2lbs lost – so now at 13st 2lbs. A total of ten pounds in a month though, which I’m very pleased with and seeing as I did go over on Saturday evening, I’m happy with that.

What I have noticed though in the last week is less evidence of ketosis. No listlessness, not much of that taste on your breath. So perhaps I’m having the inevitable plateau?. It’s no problem, I’m certainly not losing any motivation. My TRE remains mostly either 16:8 or 14:10. Feel sure I’ll have hit a whole stone off by next week!

Hi Simon36 on the subject of ketosis the body very quickly learns how to replace the lack of glucose (carbs etc) by converting the ketones into the energy you need, especially for the brain. That is why it is not true that we need glucose to live, our bodies are more than capable of making its own. So don’t expect the obvious signs of ketosis to last.

Glad you were able to enjoy your weekend without any real damage. Sounds like you had a plan. As for a plateau, you are probably due one while your body readjusts to its new size, weight etc, it needs to rebalance things out. This is also the time when people throw in the towel but I am sure you wont do that, just ride with it, keep up with the diet and you will get what we call a whoosh moment when the body realises it is not going to starve and lets go of fluid and any glucose it has been storing. The plateau can last from a few days to a couple of weeks so keep the faith.

Good luck.

Thanks so much – you’re so helpful and inspiring.

I absolutely love the flavour of the banana shake but find that in water they just are so lumpy, so today blitzed one with some Greek yoghurt and had it with blueberries and it was fabulous. Another little win!

Had a ten-mile walk yesterday and was much more tired than normal after it, due to the lack of calories I suspect. However, when I got home I looked in the mirror and was disappointed to see how bloated I looked around the stomach. I measured my stomach and it was more or less the same as last week, possibly an inch more. How is this possible? It seems a little less disappointing today. The science of it all still rather baffles me! This is week five – perhaps I am suffering for having had fhat evening off last Saturday and going over!

Simon, bloating can have many causes and I am assuming you are a man so it is not what first comes to mind for a woman. Too much gas caused by certain foods, upset stomach, indigestion, intolerance to a certain food, fluid retention, constipation, can all account for it.

You will find exercise a big more difficult at first but then your body will learn to run on fat – make sure you get enough of the good fats in your diet, it is your sustenance instead of carb burning. MM used to say take it a bit easy in the first few weeks until your body adjusts.

I still look in the mirror and feel big and I have lost just under 2 stone. Did you take some photos of when you were bigger. If not, do it now, always wearing the same thing. I now think ‘if I think I am big now how bad must I have been before’. I can ask my hubby if I look slimmer and he says he sees me every day so cannot see a difference. Strangers will say ‘oh you have lost weight’, so it is all a matter of perspective.

Thank you as always for your excellent wisdom. Feel so much better and look better today – think it was just a blip, whether it was imagined or just a fluke!

Glad to be of help

Hi Simon, just to add my twopenn’orth🙂. There are times when I look bigger than expected, or clothes just don’t look right on me that were ok the day before, it’s one of life’s mysteries! out of habit I weigh and measure myself most days and the measurements do often increase one day and reduce the next: sometimes I can put it down to what type of food was eaten, sometimes not. It could also be down to food in transit.
As for exercise, your body will catch up to using fat for fuel and you won’t feel so tired. I used to run regularly (pre injury) and I often ran half marathon distance and further, fully fasted, on Sunday mornings.