I’m new to this forum, so hi everyone. I’ve been on the BSD for three weeks now I’ve dropped some weight and lost some inches. I just don’t feel right, I’ve taken electrolytes , added extra supplements.
But I still feel achy and very tense. Maybe this isn’t the right diet for me, I’ve read Michaels book and he suggests trying the 5.2 diet. I think I just need your reassurance, especially if anyone else has felt like I do . Looking forward to hearing from you all💖

Hi Dietgirl,
Stay calm (as much as you can) and DON’T QUIT. It is going to get easier as you move forward. It takes quite a while for your body to get used to a much lower carbohydrate intake — I would say I had to go back and forth on the diet for about two months before it finally started to feel “right”. I did not have instant success. You are already three weeks into it and so you have passed much of the early “carb-flu” that so many people experience.
I have a few suggestions: first, if you are achy, take some paracetamol (I took aspirin but I know the UK prefers paracetamol).
For tension, do some things that make you feel cared for, like a warm bath, a massage, a very slow walk in the woods (this is not for exercise but for mental calming), pet a dog or cat, strike up a conversation with a stranger at the coffee shop (get a nice chamomile tea), buy flowers for your entry or kitchen, buy new make-up, buy a low-carb recipe book and try a recipe — anything to make you feel connected, calm and reassured.
I do think that it takes a huge mental shift to manage this new way of eating because we have eaten improperly for SO LONG and also because we have been trained by society to eat lots and lots of carbohydrates. And, if you are like me, you have eaten too much food as a way to control your anxiety and now we don’t have that crutch anymore.
But please listen, your brain is already changing and it is changing in a way that is going to improve your life 1000%. You are on the right track. Let your poor brain and body adjust. You are asking your brain and body to change completely and that isn’t easy for anyone. Ask anyone here!
And the 5/2 program is fine but it is a bit slow, so if you go that way for a week or two, try to get back on the 800 even if you only get down to 1000 (or any number you can get to). Every day will help, but it can take time, so just keep trying. You can try adding in a couple of short fasts (12-15 hours) and keep working into it.
Don’t let “perfect’ be the enemy of “good enough”.
Julia

Hello Dietgirl …. welcome. As Julia/Californiagirl said, changing our whole approach to the way we eat, is a huge learning curve and one the can be very taxing to get our heads around. We have had a life time of being ‘fed’ the high carb/low fat approach, so when we turn that on its head, it’s not just our bodies that protest.

Be gentle with yourself though. Michael Mosley put great store in mindfulness, as being an essential part of this way if eating. So be kind to yourself, do something everyday just for you. Julia offered some good options, my suggestion is a short meditation, just a little time out – there are some really good guided meditations on YouTube, if going it alone feels daunting.

I’d also suggest make sure not to over complicate your menus. Keeping them simple means meals will be easy and quick to make and avoids having to purchase expensive ingredients you may not use again. Think in terms of a protein element, with plenty of above ground veg or salad. Use herbs and spices to ring the changes and add good fats with a few nuts/seeds or a drizzle of olive oil.

Feel free to join in on any threads on the forum, it really helps to be part of a supportive group and that is exactly what you will find here … no judgement and plenty of encouragement. Just jump on to any thread that feels right for you.

Finally, hope you will soon be more comfortable with the BSD and will join in on a thread or two, to let us know how you get on.

Dietgirl you are suffering from carb withdrawal or carb flu as we call it. It only lasts a few days as long as you keep off the carbs and once you have reduced the cravings this diet is so easy.

The diet might just not be the best fit for you. I’ve had similar issues before and switching it up helped. Maybe give the 5:2 a try and see if it feels better.