Good morning Zoomers!
Here’s the next 4 week challenge thread ready for Tuesday. Does anyone want to host or shall we just run it between ourselves this time?
Good luck everyone!
Kazzeexx

Thanks for setting this up, Kazzee. I’d vote for managing it between ourselves – that way hopefully no-one will get overloaded.

Caro
x

thank you, Kazz, for beginning the new thread, as well hosting the thread that concludes on Tuesday. I kind of
like the idea of a little oversight…not for all of us, but for new members just coming on board 🙂 I always hope
to make them feel very welcome!
V., so happy that you will be with us! NOW I will always know where to find you 🙂
See you all on Tuesday!

Allie

HI guys, I’m never sure if I’m on the right thread – but here goes!
I’m on Day 10 and my goodness, it’s going much better than I expected. I have so far lost 4 kilos. Having a few problem because the shakes I an using for 3 meals a day have been delayed so I am making it up a little. But by Wednesday should be backo track with 3 shakes and 1 salad a day. I never, ever, ever thought I would do shakes, but I have to admit (I have real problems about food habits and a LOT of weight to lose, I suppose half my weight though I am not aiming for that) using them really helps as no decisions apart from what flavour)
I’m no longer sure if I am ding the Newcastle Diet or MM’s BSD! But loving it!
Big thanks to all those on here who encouraged me to start (again) when I was dithering and procrastinating. X

Hi, Speedy! I never know where to go when one challenge is ending and a new one is just days away, either!
I’m so glad to hear that you are seeing such marvelous results in your first 10 days. Congrats 🙂 It didn’t escape
my notice that you commented that losing half your body weight would be a dream. Such dreams do come
true, Speedy, and I know that this way of life makes all things possible. It took me 10 months to do it, and you
can too 🙂 Set interim goals for yourself, and trust our community….We’re a powerful bunch!!

Best,

Allie

Hi all – lost my focus last challenge but geared up for the next 4 weeks would like to lose 12lb.
Right said it now – time to buckle down. 👍

Hey folks, can I join in on this challenge?
It’s my first day back on BSD since 2016. I did really well then, but over the last 2 years… Bugger.
Are you weighing in? Or is it a being there and supportive group? Or both!
Good luck with it regardless.

Hi Caro, Speedy, Oh2bthin, Theblackspot – good to see you all and great that you are joining the next 4 week challenge. Black spot – it’s both really. We post out weight loss each Tuesday. You could post your start weight here tomorrow and any goal if you have one by the end of the 4 weeks. There’s also a weekly challenge thread.
Allie, as always, your valuable support will be much appreciated!
My goal is to reach 14 stone 13 lbs by 10 July. Good luck to us all!
Kazzeexx

My goal for the four weeks is to see my blood sugars weekly average reduce. I have yet to get into the normal range, so my goal is to hit that. And I’d like to get into the next stone (no chance of that happening tomorrow, after the weekend I’ve had!).

Caro
x

Hello, I’ve never done this diet before, but am starting it today for the 8 weeks. I’ve got a lot to learn and am feeling very daunted by it all…I hope that this forum may be able to help? I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed I have quite a mountain to climb in terms of improving my health, losing weight and boosting my confidence. I would definitely like to lost weight with this diet…overall I could do with losing a stone and a half, but I would be happy with losing a stone for now…

Hi MrsThompson and welcome! You are in the best place for support and encouragement. Don’t feel daunted or overwhelmed – one meal at a time is exactly the way to approach this. You will very quickly get to grips with everything. I finished my first Fast800 a few weeks ago and yes, it was tough at times, but you need to keep your goals in mind (I printed mine out, laminated it and put it on the fridge so I’d see it frequently). If you haven’t written your goals down I’d really encourage you to. The BSD Recipe book is brilliant – it really helps you to see what you can eat and enjoy for 800kc but I’d agree with what someone else said – the recipes are not necessarily low carb enough and quite a lot of us have found that we need to keep carbs below 50g per day and in some cases, that around 20g per day suits us better. So you need to play around to see what works for you. I’ve found that the vast majority of the recipes are delicious and there are also threads on the forums with recipe ideas. I also find the list of what is good on the diet in the BSD book a really helpful reminder as well (p113), especially if you want to use your own recipes. You can log meals in myfitnesspal, to get the nutritional breakdown.

Good luck with your first day – post questions here and someone will answer! I’m a newbie but there are plenty of very experienced BSDers on this thread, who are very generous with their time and information.

Caro
x

Thank you Caro. I do actually have a question already…I bought a low calorie salad dressing, it doesn’t have many carbs but it says on the label it has artificial sweeteners…are sweeteners ok or should they be avoided? I also have some of those 10cal Hartley jelly pots which have sweetener in them…are they ok to have?

Insulin doesn’t just rise as a result of blood sugar levels, if you eat something that tastes sweet your body expects its going to raise blood sugar levels so starts to prepare by increasing insulin.

As all the benefits from this Way of Eating depend on bringing insulin levels under control, it means that anything using artificial sweeteners is also ruled out.

Right my current weight is 211lbs, my goal is to be 180lbs that Puts me back on the right side of the BMI. In this 4 week… Getting back under 200lbs would be brilliant!
Fingers crossed and good luck all.

Thanks JGwen…I was afraid this would be the answer! Bye bye jellies…

Mrs Thompson, I make my own salad dressing using 1 part lemon juice, 2 parts extra virgin olive all, a pinch of salt and black pepper. That’s a basic dressing. Then you can add 1 tspn of Dijon mustard, or 10g of blue cheese, or a half a tspn of chilli flakes, or chopped fresh herbs for variety. A couple of useful tools would be a stick blender with a mini processor attachment (good for the blue cheese dressing), digital food scales, American measuring cups and measuring spoons. 👍👍

Thank you! I shall try that for tomorrow’s salad!

Hi all
Not sure if on correct thread but lost 3 lb according to this mornings weigh in. I am unexpectedly away from home but have brought my own scales with with me!
I can swim here, so am getting up early and doing some lengths. Eating is more difficult whilst away from home but I am being very careful with my food choices and being as I won’t be home until 22 nd June I’m hoping to stay the same till I get back. It would be a bonus if I could weigh in next week with any kind of loss.
Keeping away from bread, and on the plane did not eat the sweet pudding offered!
Down we go!

Wow you used your luggage allowance to take your scales. Respect!!!

Ok will give it another go. Keep restarting BSD and getting sidelined. But it’s just over 4 weeks now till my holiday and I’d really like to shift around 7lb by then: currently not sure what my weight is due to dodgy scales but new digital ones arrive tomorrow so I will take a deep breath (cry, probably!) then get on the get go.

Good luck everyone!

Wow zinny well done you for packing your own scales! That’s really hard though to keep going when you’re not in your own home to be able to make your own food.
I was going to ask for advice about eating out…not that I do it often but on Sunday it’s Father’s Day and my family are going to pizza express…my daughter’s favourite…what would you recommend I order? Do you think maybe having half of one of the light pizzas? Not exactly the best low carb restaurant really…

Dreams come true you may get a pleasant surprise with your new scales! We can only hope 🤞🏻

Morning everyone hope it’s ok to jump aboard!
Ok so week 1 day 2…
107kg (16 1/2 st) aiming for below 100kg by the end of this challenge… or is that too ambitious? I want to get back to my old Rugby playing weight of 14st. eventually and ideally before the summer holidays. What do we think guys? Is that too much too soon or am I copping out?? I’ve never had to watch my weight before so I don’t really know what is a good goal to aim for each week/fortnight/month etc.

Looking forward to keeping in touch and for your help!!

Thanks KazzUK for setting up this thread. After a productive week last week. I am all set for next 4 week challenge. Cheers to us all.

Thanks for setting this up KazzUK,

My aim for the next 4 weeks is to get into a habit of eating low carb, low protein 4 days a week, and low carb the rest of the week. I am heading towards the end of this stage of the journey, having lost 6 stone so far, and have around one dress size to go. I don’t have loose skin at present, but its something that worries me, so I am going to try to ensure that I am benefiting from autophagy.

Hi MrsThompson – I’ve had a look at the pizza express menu. It’s a high carb nightmare isn’t it? ☹️ I’d go for the Niçoise salad but ask them if they could substitute the dough sticks with a bit extra salad and ask for the dressing on the side. Just explain for health reasons, you eat a low carb diet. Most restaurants are more than happy to accommodate dietary requests. We just have to get over our shyness and just ask. 😀 you’ll also impress your family! I’m sure they will soon be supportive of you if you show you are serious and determined. 👍👍😁. Good luck!
Well done, Zinny! I’ve made a note for the end of our 4 week June challenge.
Kazzee xx

Hi Vulcan. Good to have you on board. It is quite ambitious but you could get close if you were very strict and kept to no more than 20g carbs, zero alcohol, 2-3 litres of water each day. Fingers crossed for you. I shall follow with interest!
JGwen – you’re nearly there! I am very impressed at your single mindedness! Superb!
Kazzeex

Hi Zoomers!

No weightless to report but I’m very happy to be at my pre-holiday weight of a couple of weeks ago! My goal for this 4 week challenge is to get into the next stone (1.25lbs will get me there!) and improve my average weekly blood sugars by keeping low carb. I’m 5:2-ing at the moment and will be starting another Fast800 in a couple of week’s time. I put my goals down somewhere, possibly earlier in this thread, in which case sorry for repeating it!

Have a good day all.

Caro
x

Hi everyone – I’m on week 7 and I can’t believe it’s been that long! My weight loss to date is 19lbs, down from 163 to 144. To be honest I have been mixing it up a bit and added in some fasting because I know I’m easily defeated if the scales don’t tell me what I want to see!
In the final sprint to the end I’ll be pushing myself hard and hope to lose 6lbs. I know it’s ambitious but as long as I’m making progress I’m temptation proof. My mindset is still that it’s the scales that matter not the inches, which I know is crazy but I’ve managed to switch from counting calories to carbs so one step at a time!
Maggie

There was a discussion previously about if there was a need for a host to welcome and help hold the hands of newcomers to this thread. I felt at the time that we probably cope OK sharing that role between us without a formal host. – I know you feel differently Allie, so I felt it important to give people like yourselves who are outside the UK advance warning of a pattern I can see developing.

I saw an interview on BBC breakfast program this morning about the program on reversing T2 which will be on ITV this week. – Hummm, it appears from the interview with one of the participants that the theme is only people taken into specialist centres, under doctors supervision, can reverse T2 through diet, and its dangerous for anyone to try to do this at home.

If we think it through logically the ego, professional reputation ( and the risk of compensation claims,) of all the professors, experts, NHS staff, etc who have been saying that T2 can not be reversed through diet is going to impact on how the NHS reverses the message on carbs good, fat bad. – There is a host of reasons why they will not hold their hands up and say the advice we were giving you was wrong, and instead will say, new research, but we were right and the general public can’t make changes like this, it can only be done with medical supervision.

What does it mean for this forum. – My guess is we are likely to see an influx of newcomers in the next month, many of whom will be keen to break free from T2, but scared by line the NHS is going to take. There is also the possibility that there will be trolls circulating who want to discredit this forum to support the NHS line that its not safe for people to make the changes to their WoE without doctors supervision to reverse T2.

Okay, I’m just officially starting (dipped my toe in last week, but wasn’t being strict), so I’d like to join this monthly challenge. I am just doing this in an effort to get back into shape and prevent issues as I get older, not to reverse any existing issues.

Starting weight: 127.0 lbs
Goal for this month: 122.0 lbs
Goal overall: Eh, anywhere between 105 and 115 is probably reasonable. So let’s call it 110.
I have one vacation planned this month where I’ll need to eat what’s available, but I should otherwise be fine to prep and eat according to the plan. Even on that week, I feel like I can adjust to follow most of it, if not all!

Hi fellow Zoomers,
although sadly I have been zooming in all directions except the one I should!! Last challenge left me +2.5 been really bad last 7 days, no time to plan, then spiral & forget every principle!! Like JGwen I am aiming low carb life style and like dreams come true I have a holiday in just under 4 weeks and have set the challenge of 16lbs!! I will need to stay so focused & I think this is the only way so here goes!! Water water everywhere, 2 meals mainly salads walking & exercise!! Will try to post daily to keep me focused. Thanks in advance for the support any lifestyle advice gratefully received as find sustaining / self destructive behaviour difficult to overcome. Denise xx

Hi Zoomers,

Looking forward to this 4 week challenge! It nearly takes me to my holiday at the end of July and ideally I would love to loose 4kg by then I would be ecstatic! So far I don’t seem to be able to loose 1kg a week but I haven’t been sticking to it 100% all the time, so here goes!!

I am getting into fasting and I love the control it gives me, very much mind over matter and it’s a nice feeling to ignore the hunger pangs when previously I would have given into hunger pangs! I’m going to try and stick to the 10 thousand steps a day where possible and keep the fluid intake to 3 litres.
So I’m starting the month at 64.4 and I’m hoping to loose 4kg taking me to 60.4 ( 60 would be amazing)

Good luck everyone!!! 😊

Am also joining this challenge. My goal is to stay off the insulin for another 4 weeks and hopefully to see my after meal blood sugars reduce to fasting levels much quicker than they are at the moment.

JGwen I really do hope that this does not happen. Although I can quite see though that it could. It is beyond belief that anyone could suggest that only people taken into specialist centres, under doctors supervision, can reverse T2 through diet, and its dangerous for anyone to try to do this at home.

If anyone suggested that to me I would ask if following a LCHF diet to reverse diabetes was more dangerous than asking people with diabetes to base all their meals on starchy carbs and then to treat their deteriorating health with a cocktail of meds and then insulin and eye injections and foot amputations! Sorry rant over – but it actually does make me really angry that we have really been let down by the people we thought were helping us.

Hi all, it’s now day 2 for me and I have to say today has been tough. It’s not that I’m particularly hungry, I’m just tired and in a terribly grumpy mood…I’m snapping at everyone and am just generally angry, for not much of a reason! Please tell me this gets better! Normally when I’m tired or annoyed I eat, then I cheer up. I find if I have a big old chocolate cake or a whole slab of chocolate I instantly feel better. Then to keep that high I’ll have something else sweet and it spirals out of control. This evening I’m feeling tired and annoyed but my normal way of cheering myself up (i.e. By eating sugar) is not an option and I’m struggling with how to cope. Has anyone else experienced this/have advice? Any help gratefully received

Mrs. Thompson, the irritability sounds like a typical withdrawal symptom to me. Your body is in a state of
confusion right now, as it is used to expecting the refined carbs/sugar fix, and you are “denying it” what it wants.
This will all improve in a few days, when your body switches over to burning fat for energy, instead of carbs. Fill
up on water, try to distract yourself with a walk, or a relaxing soak in the tub…anything that gets your mind off of it.
You just have to fight your way through this brief period. Stay strong, it will pass 🙂

Allie

Thanks so much Allie, will stay strong and find something else to do…long bath sounds lovely! Good idea 👍🏻

Hi everyone,

I just love reading all of your posts…..the celebrations, the struggles, the encouragement and love. This is my first challenge and I’m excited for the possibilities. I finished Week 4 of my first 8 week round on Sunday and have been struggling with my mindset a bit. I’ve lost 11 pounds but nothing from my waist which is where I carry most of my weight. I’m praying that it’s because it’s taking longer for my liver and my pancreas to deplete it’s fat stores and once those areas are cleaned up, my visceral fat will start melting away. Even though I’m sticking strictly to less than 20 carb grams and under 800 calories, I seem to be stuck hovering between 170 and 172, I’m eating 18:6 and have thrown in a couple of extended fasts but it just won’t budge. I weigh and measure everything and faithfully enter all my food and drink into MFP. I’m exercising 30 mins a day and drinking lots of water. I’m KOKO but sometimes find myself getting a bit glum. I’ve decided that my goal for this challenge is to only weigh myself and take my measurements once a week, period!

My biggest celebration thus far, four weeks in, is that my blood sugars have stabilized between 80 and 85 every morning. For that I am so thankful and grateful and that keeps me motivated even when the more visible ‘signs’ of success aren’t jumping out at me. My second biggest celebration is that my carb cravings and hunger are gone, kaput! Of course, I still see ice cream or crusty bread and think “I bet that would taste divine” but I’m easily able to walk away from it without feeling deprived or upset. That’s HUGE! I’m pretty darn grateful for that, too!

Besides my once a week weigh/measure goal, I’m aiming for a consistent 167 by the end of this challenge. Glad to be walking this journey along with all of you!

🙂 Lisa

I am going to join this challenge too. I still seem to be stable at my new ‘set weight’ which is about a stone and a half above my old target weight, but stays the same no matter what level of carbs I throw at it. A lot of that weight is water and glycogen but not all of it as some of my size 10’s and even a couple of pairs of size 12 trousers that were very tight before no longer fit. I will be trying a couple of different strategies out, low carb 800, 800 FMD, 20:4 intermittent fasting or OMAD (one meal a day, no snacks) and probably a couple of days just on water/black coffee/herb tea. I will also have days where carbs and alcohol feature so this will be a true intermittent fasting journey, but I am heading to France in about 4 weeks and have a lovely pair of shorts I need to fit back into so that is the goal.

Hi folks. Had a fairly good day. I’ve been eating salad with very fried till its crunchy 8%fat pork mince that was rammed with garlic, Chinese 5 spice, chilli & soy sauce. And the dressing was more soy with lemon juice pepper.
About 300kc
Tea was… More Salad! Minted feta and peas on loads of green salad. 500 kc. Very tasty.
Trying to keep eating in the 16 hours off 8 hour feeding window. Didn’t quite manage that due to a late finish at work.
As a paramedic I can understand how the bad ‘eat carbs’ advice for years is very upsetting with what we know now. But for a long time, that was the ‘truth’. The Dr’s we see are trained and told what’s what by specialists. We are in the middle of a huge sea change for the better. So Thanks to the rule breakers who thought out of the box & to Michael Mosley for pushing the information out against what was excepted wisdom in the medical profession.
Good luck everyone for the rest of the 4 weeks! It’s going to take me right up to my birthday. & I think I might have a bit of a drink then…

Hi Blackspot
Nice to meet you. Are you really seeing a shift in the CPD doctors are being given on nutrition? It would be such good news to know that’s happening!
Maggie

Hi all, I’m back for another challenge. I just need to stay focussed as during the last one I had up and down weeks.
I go back to work in just under 3 weeks so would love to use this time to get back on track.
I batched cooked some BSD meals on the weekend and they are in the freezer.
My goal is to lose 3.5kg which will take me down into the next BMI bracket (currently obese and aiming for overweight).
Mrs Thompson – regarding the sweet cravings – a cup of fruit tea may help in the evenings, there are some delicious flavours, my favourite is raspberry & boysenberry, they are only 1 or 2 calories per cup. When I really feel
Like chocolate I have a square of 85% dark chocolate, it’s so rich that one square is enough.

Mrs Thompson, I am also a total eat-to-relieve-stress-er. My nemesis is eating after the kids are in bed, because I’ve been up and dealing with people and STUFF since 5 am, and all I want is bread with tons of butter and some internet to surf with it.

I think you should go easy on yourself for irritability for a while, at least. It’s totally okay to be irritable and angry, and people will deal with it and adjust for a while, and you definitely don’t need to feel bad about it. Feel it! :).

Also, maybe find some other substitutes like:
– writing a really irritated letter or journal entry that no one ever sees
– going for a brisk walk
– reading a hilarious or uplifting book
– watching a stupid cat video, or the equivalent

I find that running helps me, and books and time to myself where I don’t have to deal with anyone. I am a much happier person to live with (including living with myself), when I get these three things.

Good luck!

-hedwig6

P.S. I realized all my activities are solitary introvert ones, because that is what I am. Maybe someone else can suggest social extrovert ones – they all sound stressful to me so I can’t tell what will be helpful!

Hi everyone, finally posting in here after lurking for a while. I started the BSD two weeks ago – I did one week as a experiment to see if I could hack it before diving in (and finally weighing myself after a long time), so calling today my official Day Three.
I’m 79kg and hoping to get down to 65kg – preferably under 70kg for my 30th birthday in two months.
The low-carb brain fog and headaches have set in, and I have a week of work events at night, but I’m pretty determined and have prepped all my food for the week to try and combat temptation.
Once I get through this week, I’m going to try and refine my macros + implement the BSD exercise tips. Looking forward to reading all of your trips and tricks!

Good morning zoomers…day 3 today, hope you all have a fantastic day today…let’s keep going!
BlackSpot do you know I had never even thought of frying salad…that’s opened up a whole new world for me… I was just thinking what else can I do with salad 😂
Hedwig6 I’m also an introvert, so your suggestions (apart from running…I’m too lazy!) sound great…especially writing everything down. I have that same thought process after having dealt with everyone all day, by the time my daughter is finally asleep that’s when my cravings and need to relax is highest. SueBlue I hadn’t even thought of herbal teas that’s a great substitute! I hope that tea and my “anger diary” will help!
Thanks again everyone for the support and lets keep going!

Morning Zoomers realised I posted my loss on the June challenge yesterday but didn’t set my goal for this challenge: I finished the June challenge on 11 st 10.5lb I would love to get as close to 11st 1lb as possible by the time I go on holiday 3 weeks friday this would be a bmi of 25🎉Something that’s helping me for lunch at work is Tesco Mediterranean Chargrilled Veg from the frozen section. I cook a trayful at a time and put it straight in lunchboxes then add a protein. It’s a little high in carbs (20g for half a pack that )if you’re going full bsd but I’m sticking to youghurt and raspberries at night and black coffee. It’s more mediterranean than bsd but you could take some of the cherry tomatoes out xx

Morning all,

Day 3

So tough day yesterday 😕
The two day headache (I guess from caffeine withdrawal) continued unabbated.
I missed my lunchtime phys session I had promised myself as I got stuck in the office.
Buckled to the temption of an extra portion of evening meal as I was hungry/grumpy/it was scrummy!! (It was the skinny lasagne from the recipe book – but surely as its aubergine skinny moussaka would be more accurate?)
However on the positive
It was still only 1000cal for the day with zero nasty white carbs.
My girlfriend and I went for a lovely 6km evening walk along the coastal marshes by us.
My headache seems to have gone for now…

We have a couple of “bad” days on the horizon as I’m meeting up with my boys for the first time in months on Sunday for a Father’s Day brunch, then later my girlfriend and I are heading out for an overnight stay in London to watch a concert Sunday evening.
We have already promised ourselves a sinful breakfast on Monday and have agreed that we will be even more naughty and allow ourselves some wine or gin Sunday evening.
So all in all I realise there’s no way I’m going to drop the 7kg needed to get below the 100kg I wanted. But although the wagon is wobbling, it’s not falling off conpletely yet.

That’s tough Vulcan, going through carb AND caffeine withdrawal. Have you calculated your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) https://tdeecalculator.net – it gives you some numbers to work with. More information always helps.
Looks like you’re heading for a great weekend, enjoy it! The great thing now is that restaurants are so much more amenable to giving us what we want, subbing salads for carbs and so on; as for breakfast, indulgent breakfasts are right on plan.
Stick with it, the headaches will go. Just keep well hydrated.
Maggie

Hi everyone,
So, I’ve decide to join in this 4-week challenge after all – wasn’t going to originally. I’m at my target weight, bgls are good etc but I can just sense I’m at risk of slipping back if I’m not careful.

My goals for this month are
To re-establish my 10,000 daily step target – (I’m moving way more than when I started but inconsistent recently)
To re-establish my physical activity routine (I’ve not stopped exercising/gym, but again after being transferred out of an exercise on referral programme and recent changes at the gym I’ve not really managed to settle into a new routine).

As someone with type II diabetes, (and other markers of metabolic syndrome) this way of living has worked fantastically well. I’m acutely aware I’ve had an opportunity to reverse diabetes that other people (including some older members of my family) never had.

I’m not going to bugger it up now!

Go well everyone
Marie

Hi Maggie,

Thanks for kind words and for the link. Some bey quick maths on that site reckons that 2000cals would still lead to weight loss so I’m feeling a bit happier about that!
Yes the caffeine withdrawal is because I drink my coffee with sugar and my 8-10 cups a day norm means that is totally out of the question! Not really missing the carbs, although I do have some potatoes ready for harvest in the garden and so I might have to enjoy 1 or 2 of them a week just so they don’t go to waste!
Excited about what the rest of the week brings!