Hi everyone, I’m new on the site but not new to BSD. Feb’24 I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, my GP asked how I felt about going on medication. I said no thanks. She suggest I read the BSD diet by Michael M. Hubby and I had a week off work so we ate out a few times, too many times 😁. My mentality was one less binge!
I read the book over this time so I was ready for lift off after my annual leave. I didn’t do 800 as it felt too restrictive for me. I didn’t calorie or carb count as after years of failed diets I didn’t want to track, count, point, syn or weigh food ever again. I wanted something easy (for me) to sustain. I cut out white and sweet potatoes, rice, pasta, cous cous, quinoa, bread, crisps, cake, biscuits, chocolate etc etc. Also fruit other than berries. I was mindful to only eat low carb foods. I ditched all low fat and half fat food. Bought full fat greek yoghurt, Feta, Hallumi 😍. Extra Virgin olive oil.

From Feb’24 to Sept’24 I lost 3 stone, it was actually really easy and I loved it. My blood pressure became normal and my GP was thrilled.
But then…… we went on holiday for 5 days in Sept and I ate CRAP then beat myself up. Sunk into a deep deep hole and from then to now have put the 3 stone back on.

To say I hate myself doesn’t come close to how I feel. I had managed to get clothes on I hadn’t worn in years, my relationship with Hubby was so much better as I was becoming happier and more confident which I’ve never been.
I was sleeping really well and physically felt better than I had in years.
I have a good 100lbs to lose and am hesitantly saying I’m going to start again tomorrow. I really really want to but I’ve spent 4 months saying I’ll start tomorrow.
Im hoping this forum and you guys might help keep me on track if you’ll have me 🤗

Hi Suzysunshine and welcome to the forum. There are many of us here who can relate to your story. I for one lost 42lb back in 2017 following the BSD and gradually over the years my weight he crept up. I’ve never put it all back on but I am heavier than I want to be and hence I am here and trying hard to get my weight back down to where I feel comfortable. Many starts and stops along the way as life has a habit of knocking me down. You will definitely get support, tips, advice and encouragement from the lovely people who frequent the forum. I am still here despite ups and downs and have made many friends on the forum.
Good luck to you as you start your journey. . Like you, I lost weight last year and in September when on a cruise where I put on a few pounds and I’ve never got them off so I am working hard to get my weight back to where I want it to be. Have a good look around the forum and you will see that you are in great company. Tomorrow is the start of your new journey. .

Hey Suze, OUCH!! I feel for you and I can only imagine how frustrated you are right now.
Ok, deep breath…this is fixable. It is a mountain but you can climb it — and the minute you start you are going to start feeling better. Trust the process. Trust your body. Trust yourself.
So first off, you had admirable success with your program last year. And you did it in a way that worked for you — that is key. Why not start there?
If today you walked into the kitchen and threw out all your non-BSD foods and then went to the grocery store and laid in all BSD friendly foods, that would kick start your plan.
You can start again at your very next meal.
As a person who had to start over and over and over again before I finally got my brain and body to understand, I KNOW that “just starting again” can work.
You know the first couple of days are going to be a struggle. That’s normal!! If you are totally starving eat a bit but eat some protein and NO CARBS. Chicken breast, eggs, steak, ham, cheese or anything protein — your only goal at first is to slay the carb monster.
You have gut bacteria that want carbohydrate — your goal is to starve those little creeps and feed the bacteria that want protein and vegetables. You are changing your gut biome and they are not going without a fight.
My best advice is to look up Dr Ben Bikman — he has the podcasts that changed my life. He is a researcher at BYU in Utah and his research dovetails the BSD but he tells you WHY it works. He is a very low carb advocate. I used his suggestions and the combination of BSD plus Bikman was my formula for success.
Please go listen to his podcasts — they are wonderful motivators — just Google his name.
Hope to hear back from you soon!

Hello from one sunshine to another. Are you prepared to start. If you have done it before you know to clear the cupboards as much as possible, buy in loads of godd stuff and be mentally ready.

Don’t say tomorrow. Wake up in the morning and say ‘todays the day’. Then get on with it. You will have no lack of support and you will probably find it harder the second time around as the initial endorphin flush of something new will be a little less, but don’t let that put you off. Head towards that woman you have left behind 3 stone lighter, she is still in there somewhere.

Good luck.

Thank you all.

Clarinetcathy, I had a rummage around the forum last night and can see I’m not alone. Life tends to throw me lots of curve balls as well but it’s reassuring to know there are lovely people out there who can spur us on.

Sunshine-girl I woke this morning tired and with my usual headache and a sleepy thought of I feel rough I need a costa then remembered I wasn’t doing that as ‘today is the day’ so I reached for the water I took to be bed in preparation and had that then my cuppa tea to make me semi human!

Californiagirl I cleared out my cupboards last night and feel ready to climb the mountain again you are totally right I can fix this is. I’m going to try your suggestion of protien and NO CARBS to slay the carb monster. I’m going to look up Dr Ben Bikman right now and start my day listening to him.

Thank you all so much, your advice and kind words mean alot.
I guess all we can do is try our best and keep trying even when the bumps come along.

Hi,
I really feel for you. I think many of us find that we relax our guard and then ‘give up’! BUT, I have found a huge amount of support on these forums and cannot better the advice already given.
I lost 4 stone in weight in 2016/17 and kept it off until 2020 when I started the downward spiral of “Just one won’t hurt”…”I had that so I might as well have this” and so on until I put all that weight back on and put even more on in the first 6 months of 2024. I had not heard of the BSD until I was desperate to reverse the Diabetes diagnosis in June last year. Since then I have been committed to this way of life…losing 5 stone in the last 6 months of 2024 and now maintaining my ‘ideal’ weight (10st 7lb) & keeping my diabetes in remission since Christmas!

I know if I slip, I will find friendship, advice and encouragement on this site. (Not judgement!! )

Good luck… xxxx

Suzy, kindness costs nothing but you will find more than that here. You will find empathy because we have all been there and we are there for you. Keep on keeping on…

BTW you wont wake up feeling rough tomorrow or maybe the next day – clean eating clears the mind and body.

Pootle congratulations on your weight loss, that’s really inspiring and more so that your diabetes is in remission. That’s amazing. It’s shocking how quickly you can spiral with the good old “Just one won’t hurt” and ”I had that so I might as well have this” 

Sunshine-girl roll on tomorrow’s clear head. I can’t wait to lose the rough headache mornings.

I’ve been listening to Dr Ben Bikman on YouTube, he makes a lot of sense. Especially the Ceo interview which I’ve not finished yet. It’s very long

Suzy, lots of us have been struggling with getting back to basics recently (myself included), so you are not alone. As others have said, the forum is all about providing support and encouragement, so feel free to join in on any of the threads and you’ll be sure of a warm welcome.

You’ve taken the first step, now you just need to keep going, each day it should be easier, but there will be ups and downs, so be sure to shout out if you’re struggling. Oh and please keep us posted on progress … we love to have an excuse to celebrate 🙂

Thank you SunnyB, I definitely feel better already so thats enough to spur me on, long may it last!

So…. I woke up this morning after day 1 and I didn’t have a headache, I wouldn’t say I jumped out of bed like I’d won the lottery but I got up pretty easy and didn’t straight away think of carbs. I’m in the office today and have prepared breakfast and lunch to take with me. Hopefully I can keep this up.
Thank you all so much for your support xx

Another successful step

How are you doing Suzysunshine?
Hope the carb monster has subsided a little and the headaches have receded!
Thinking of you.

Hi Pootle, I’m doing really really well thank you. Carb monster has done one, he didn’t stay long at all. I’ve not had one headache. I’m surprised and pleased at how well I’ve managed it. It’s funny how quickly that stage passes. Onwards and upwards now and hopefully that mind set stays! I’m not going to weigh until Friday so i would would have had about 10 days behind me then.
I used to weight every Friday as soon as I woke up. I did wonder this time about not weighing at all and just going by clothes. We’ll see.
Hope you and everyone else are doing OK too

Just adding a little update. So I weighed this morning now I have 10 days behind me, and bye bye 8lbs. I got on the scales 4 times to check that was correct! Im so pleased and proud of myself.
I have no headaches, I’m sleeping better but still a bit disturbed because I have some work and personal stresses going on. I get out of bed much easy and don’t hit snooze.
Food prep the night before is key as well. Especially when I’m in the office the next day or on sickness cover so might be called in. Which happened this week.
Thank you again for everyone’s advice and support I wouldn’t have had such a good week without you.
Hope everyone is also doing well

Great to have you with us and another person singing the praises of this diet.