I am about to start the BSD…..right after Christmas! Have read the 8-week blood sugar diet and am browsing the recipe book. Reading all the info on this forum is very encouraging so hope I can stick to this. I am a type 2 diabetic, am approx. 2 stone overweight and have high triglycerides and cholesterol. Clearly I have some work to do. In my favour, I do enjoy working out and attend the gym 2-3 times weekly. Will likely be looking for some support in the upcoming weeks.

Hello Donnaellen – there’s lots of support on the forum, which is populated by many friendly and supportive people. It certainly got me through some sticky times and eventually to my ultimate goal. Every four weeks, there is a four week challenge kicked off, which is definitely worth joining, as everyone posts a goal for the four weeks and reports on progress, supporting each other when things aren’t going well and helping you celebrate successes.

Could I suggest starting to cut out at least some of the carbs from your daily intake now, so that you begin to acclimatise – it may even result in a pound or two dropped, even before you start the BSD proper. It’s also worth making sure you are hydrating well, another step you can take before actually starting on this new way of eating.

Make good use of the forum, it’s a great place to vent when things are not going so well and someone will respond with advice and encouragement to help you push ahead and stick with it.

Have a great festive season and best of luck to you when you start the BSD properly.

Great advice about using this week for preparation. I too am starting after Christmas (not my first time though, I’ve done BSD three (? I think) times before over the past two years) and I’m using this time to plan some meals and increase water.

Good luck Natalie. I have done it once….but not with any real commitment! And didn’t prepare for it. This time my husband will doing it too, so I can get all the junk food out of the house. Giving up my wine will be my biggest challenge.

Wine isn’t a problem for me Donnaellen – but a world full of Doritos is!

Hi Donnaellen,

What a great way to start the new year! I add my voice to making any preparation you can fit in between now and your official start. I didn’t, just jumped straight in and ended up with carb flu for a couple of days and having to scramble to get all the delicious carbs out of the house. It worked out fine but would have been a littke less dramatic if I’d planned and eased in a bit.

I made the big ‘no alcohol for 8 weeks’ commitment at the start, and was quite worried about this element. I love good wine, it’s a part of most of my social get togethers and meals out, and meals in for that matter. It is summer here so perfect for delicious icy limey gin and tonics at the end of the day.

Anyway, I figured I owed it to myself to take this effort seriously and give myself the best chance to reclaim my health and vitality. I’m just starting week 6 of my first round and have maintained my no alcohol approach. Longest I’ve gone without wine since my two pregnancies some 30 years ago.

It’s not always easy, I’ve been in a couple of uncomfortable situations, where a friend has felt awkward to be drinking alone or someone at a function tried to apply pressure to get me to join in, and I would have to chant – ‘lordie, it’s only 8 weeks’ quietly to myself.

BUT, it has always felt just a little bit fabulous to be sticking to my commitment to myself. I just didn’t know what I was capable of until I gave it a real go.. And I’m quite sure no alcohol definitely gives your system more space to get on with healing and strengthening. I have never, ever, felt this good.

8 weeks goes by quickly but a lot of life happens in 8 weeks – we can each only do our best and the results keep coming.

See you in the new year!

Thanks everyone for all the support. Just want Christmas out of the way now so I can get started. Feeling motivated.