Hello Jo19

I agree with Verano that you definitely DO need to see the GP. It seems quite likely that they may diagnose diabetes, though you need to find out if it is Type 1 or Type 2. This diet is not for Type 1 (though a low carb regime can be helpful with that too I believe). If it IS type 2, whether you get a hostile reception to the idea of the BSD depends very much on your individual GP and diabetes nurse (you’ll be referred to see her too). My GP was fine – not knowledgable about the diet, but fine with my decision to reverse it with diet initially (again, if your levels are considered very high, you may need to start with meds but should be able to come off them before too long). The nurse however was very antagonistic, had never heard of the BSD (and her attitude made plain she had no intention of finding out about what she seemed to consider some crackpot idea (the dangers of ignorance!) She urged me to follow NHS advice re diet, which includes filling a third of your plate with carbs (bread, pasta, rice etc). No wonder people get worse! Thousands now HAVE ignored this advice and have put their diabetes in complete remission. They are now med free, a healthy weight, and often (as in my case too) have been able to stop other meds for cholesterol, high blood pressure etc.

The diet is much easier to stick to than you may imagine, and for many of us it is now a way of eating (WOE) that we have embraced for life. If you don’t continue with the low carbs, you will gain the weight again, and your glucose levels will go up again and you will have all the inherent risks of diabetes, which are not insignificant. So, join us! Loads of support here and on other sites. You CAN do it!

Just one reason really so that you can have a full set of blood tests, including an HbA1c which measures your average blood sugar level over the last 8 to 12 weeks. Then you have a starting point from which to work and you can be monitored. Usually, when you are diagnosed with T2 diabetes you are given dietary ‘advice ‘ and three months to lose weight before being prescribed medication. At that point you can ask for 3 months to lose weight if it isn’t offered unless your blood sugar is dangerously high. You can then follow the BSD and see how you go.

So I would say the answer to your question is YES!

Good morning everyone. Today I have reached the grand age of 70!!! So there I’ve given away my secret now. So just one positive for me today….. I’ve reached my goal!

I decided a while ago that I wanted to be medication free by my birthday and I am! I was taking metformin which was stopped in August when my diabetes was finally recognised as being in remission. My only other tablets were painkillers which became redundant soon after my hip surgery in September. So here I am today able to say I’m so much healthier than before I started this WOE 17 months ago. An added bonus is that in that time I’ve lost 63lbs including a small loss from pre BSD days.

So today I’m feeling very positive and I hope you are too.

Hi All,

I’ve had a few symptoms of what could be diabetes – tired, thirsty, vision is sometimes blurry plus I’m very overweight. I did an at-home fasting blood test this morning which read 15.2 which is high from what I can gather, but hard to understand. Been told I must go to the doctor but I have yet to find visiting my doctor useful for anything related to weight loss. I don’t often go so have no relationship with my GP and imagine that anything I say about starting the Blood Sugar Diet would be dismissed, and I’d find myself on meds. So – if I am planning on doing this diet, which I started today, and have joined the online one starting in January – is there a reason to go to the doctor? Should I be on meds?

Thanks for your thoughts X

Hi alliecat

I am so impressed with your weight loss! Like you though, I’m not going to obsess about the wrinkly skin; nice if it does diminish a bit, but it’s not visible under clothes, and I don’t worry what the medics think of my body. I don’t have an “other half” to think about, and I’m certainly not going under the knife! Similarly to you, my face hasn’t suffered either. Perhaps, with all the muscles we have in our faces for expression, the skin retains more elasticity than other less animated bits of us! By the way, yes, the 52 is year of birth – I’m 65, but don’t generally feel it!

Best wishes
LIz

Good morning – or whatever time of day you browse the threads! Ancient Weaver, I like your rule-breaking! I think I do them all too except for skipping meals. Because I hate fake food I’ve always had full fat dairy rather than extra-processed skim stuff (don’t they add something to give it a more palatable texture?) and butter not marg etc. and I love salt and have no blood pressure problems, actually it can go a bit low at times. My husband has high blood pressure despite being fit and not overweight and never eating much salt. It’s stress in his case, very stressful job.

I don’t think I will try fasting (a couple of 600 cal days, the five higher cal days), it just doesn’t appeal. I’ll stick with a general Med diet in this festive season then get back on proper 800 BSD. Something about having some days on and some days off – I feel like I couldn’t get into a rhythm. And I don’t want to skip meals, I don’t think that would suit me, at least not now. So 800 a day it is/will be. I’ve done it a couple of times before so I know I can.

JGwen you asked about Christmas substitutions. I’ll probably just have turkey and veges and some roast potato without trying to substitute things (which things?) I guess I do put a bit of flour in the pan juices for the gravy – is there a good substitute for that? Other family members will bring things that I don’t have to eat (whisper: I don’t much like their cooking anyway). Then there is dessert… hmm. Fruit salad is nice on a hot summer day. But I think it’s likely I will sample other dessert/s too. Little piece. I don’t have a sweet tooth, savoury is my thing. Frequent secret family-size bags of chips is how I got this size, not occasional desserts.

The substitutions that have stuck with me are zoodles (zucchini noodles for pasta, also called courgetti) and cauliflower rice. I still have both of those regularly even when I’m not following BSD or ‘on a diet’ because I like them more than the originals!

Calling LTC! Luv, I think I’m going to use your chicken, spinach and proscuitto dish for
Christmas Eve for the 2 of us. I’d like to use fontina because I prefer it as a melting
cheese. My question is, can I leave out the cream cheese, and do I need to add more
fontina to compensate? Thanks in advance for your reply 🙂

Allie

Bread and Chocolate

Many BSD folks have found they can do without and do not miss bread. I like it and am happy with the low carb bread alternatives out there.

This is a duplicate post per a response to a poster on another thread:

I make a loaf every other week or so and they keep well in the frig (don’t go stale like wheat bread). Occassionally I like a very thin slice for breakfast toasted….with cream cheese or salmon on it, or sometimes a fried egg. Toasted with tuna fish salad on for lunch, etc. Also make crumbs out of it for meatballs as it really lightens them up and have tried meatballs/meatloaf without filler and find I don’t care for them (dry and pretty tough).

Links to favorite breads are here:

https://www.lowcarbmaven.com/the-best-psyllium-flax-bread/ this is a bit of a fuss but goes a long way, keeps well in frig or frozen. I don’t bother with a bread pan…..just cook it Italian loaf style on a baking sheet.

https://www.lowcarbreviews.com/swedish-breakfast-buns/ I use hemp seed instead of sunflower seeds in this one for a softer texture. This is the softest of the three. I sometimes make as one big bun and slice into wedges.

https://www.lowcarbmaven.com/low-carb-rolls-keto/ this one is the easiest of the lot….makes nice dinner rolls, and excellent breadcrumbs for filler.

Save scraps from any/all of them and freeze in a bag for filler when I need it.

I also make/augment my own low carb chocolates. I use a bar of low carb chocolate such as Lily ,,,,break it up into chunks and put in a glass pyrex measuring cup. Add 1 1/2 Tbs of coconut oil, tiny pinch of salt and microwave until just melted (30 sec). Add 1/2 tsp of vanilla and any other flavor I want (mint, orange, almond, cinnamon, etc).

I pour/spoon this into a silicone mold such as this one ( https://smile.amazon.com/Freshware-CB-114RD-30-Cavity-Silicone-Chocolate/dp/B003VPW0V8/ref=sr_1_68?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1513452054&sr=1-68&keywords=silicone+mold) that gives me different shapes. Can do a different flavor for each shape.

Can add fillers to this….a piece of walnut in some, cocoa nibs in another, some unsweetened dried coconut, piece of blanched orange peel or ginger in another. Pop the silicone form into the frig for them to firm up. Then pop them out and put in a pretty tin and keep in the frig. The addition of the coconut oil gives them a silky texture that melts in the mouth like the finest chocolates…..but they get too soft if not kept in the frig. I love them and 2 of these small chocolates make a fine dessert once or twice a week after supper and feel very decadent for very few calories or carbs.

JGwen, I do make low carb bread. I make a loaf every other week or so and they keep well in the frig (dont go stale like wheat bread). Occassionally I like a very thin slice for breakfast toasted….with cream cheese or salmon on it, or sometimes a fried egg. Toasted with tuna fish salad on for lunch, etc. Also make crumbs out of it for meatballs as it really lightens them up and have tried meatballs/meatloaf without filler and find I don’t care for them (dry and pretty tough).

Links to favorite breads are here:

https://www.lowcarbmaven.com/the-best-psyllium-flax-bread/ this is a bit of a fuss but goes a long way, keeps well in frig or frozen. I don’t bother with a bread pan…..just cook it Italian loaf style on a baking sheet.

https://www.lowcarbreviews.com/swedish-breakfast-buns/ I use hemp seed instead of sunflower seeds in this one for a softer texture. This is the softest of the three. I sometimes make as one big bun and slice into wedges.

https://www.lowcarbmaven.com/low-carb-rolls-keto/ this one is the easiest of the lot….makes nice dinner rolls, and excellent breadcrumbs for filler.

Save scraps from any/all of them and freeze in a bag for filler when I need it.

I also make/augment my own low carb chocolates. I use a bar of low carb chocolate such as Lily ,,,,break it up into chunks and put in a glass pyrex measuring cup. Add 1 1/2 Tbs of coconut oil, tiny pinch of salt and microwave until just melted (30 sec). Add 1/2 tsp of vanilla and any other flavor I want (mint, orange, almond, cinnamon, etc).

I pour/spoon this into a silicone mold such as this one ( https://smile.amazon.com/Freshware-CB-114RD-30-Cavity-Silicone-Chocolate/dp/B003VPW0V8/ref=sr_1_68?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1513452054&sr=1-68&keywords=silicone+mold) that gives me different shapes. Can do a different flavor for each shape.

Can add fillers to this….a piece of walnut in some, cocoa nibs in another, some unsweetened dried coconut, piece of blanched orange peel or ginger in another. Pop the silicone form into the frig for them to firm up. Then pop them out and put in a pretty tin and keep in the frig. The addition of the coconut oil gives them a silky texture that melts in the mouth like the finest chocolates…..but they get too soft if not kept in the frig. I love them and 2 of these small chocolates make a fine dessert once or twice a week after supper and feel very decadent for very few calories or carbs. I plan to make a batch for Xmas for myself and a batch as a gift for my son.

I am going to post a duplicate of this on the Good Eats thread in case anyone wants to find it more easily later.

Hope this helps.

Hi, Eliza52. Here is a positive thought for you today! Others here have told me that
skin can take up to 2 years to tighten up 🙂 Don’t despair! I’m also waiting to see what
happens! I’ve lost 10st7lbs, so I definitely have this issue, too. Oddly enough, my
face escaped this fate. I don’t know if the “52” in your username is reflective of your
date of birth, but I just turned 69, and feel very alive and more like 40!. Some of these
results with respect to how are skin adapts is age and genetics related, and we can’t
do much about that. We all lose the ability to produce collagen after a certain age,
which is the basis for elasticity. Even if I don’t see any improvement in the next 2
years, the effects of weight loss are all disguised by clothing, and no one sees this
but my o/h, cardiologist and internist. Probably my bathing suit days are over, unless
I slip into the sea under cover of darkness, but I can certainly live with that! Only a few
days until your daughter returns from this side of the pond. You must be beside
yourself with excitement! I’ll be waiting to hear about her reaction to the new you…

Best,

Allie

Yes, Flick & Maggie, really weird these weight plateaus, but it does seem normal. Back home after 4 work days in Ljubljana surrounded by buffets of food and biscuits and baking and wine. I felt almost nauseated by seeing colleagues eat so much every day. I did indulge a bit, but not too much. Probably 1200 cals a day instead of 800. Glad to see my weight stayed the same and didn’t go back up. Now another week of 800 cals and bits of running and I should fit in a nice dress for Xmas.

One other thought, Theo…Take another dive into the back of your wardrobe, and
see if you have one of these: Oversize wool challis scarf/shawl! I just found a
beautiful one, circa 1981-1984, black ground with flowers in magenta, pumpkin,
and light grey. I used to have auburn hair, but it still works because of the grey
in the scarf. Now I REALLY need to stop playing around an get to the fish market!
Real life is so tedious 🙂 🙂 🙂

As I’ve already lost over 3 stone, my rate of loss has slowed somewhat, though I had rather hoped to reach 11 stone by Christmas, but the scales were firmly at 11st 1 1/2, and I wasn’t overly optimistic. Yesterday I ate more calories than usual (lovely succulent roast chicken thighs – note, plural, THIGHS!) so I suspected that I might creep up a notch, or hopefully remain the same, but this morming the scales said 10 (yes, TEN!) stone 13 1/2 lbs. I got on and off three times, but it came back with the same answer! With a whole week to go!

On another note, someone else (sorry, can’t remember who) said they now had wrinkly skin, which I too now have. However, I haven’t really done any exercise in the past three months (or previously, before anyone thinks that perversely I gave up doing it when I started the diet!). We do live in the 3-storey house, so I do a reasonable amount of stairs (the living room and kitchen are on the middle floor but bathrooms, with bedrooms, are at the top, and there’s a bathroom on the ground floor where we work) and I work standing up most of the time, and moving around, so I’m not sitting around all day, but still….it’s not “exercise” as such, and I’ve also not been great with drinking (I very rarely feel thirsty, and I just forget to drink). However, our local health club has a weeks’ free use of the gym in January, and I”m going to sign up with the intention of continuing on a monthly subscription (off-peak for over 55’s is quite reasonable – £26 a month). So good intentions, and the hope that at least some of wrinkly skin might be coaxed into tightening up a bit!

Thanks Verano. Good on you for getting organized enough to be making plans for 2018. My positives today are:

1. Having some lovely family time.
2. Still maintaining at close to 4lb under target.
3. Excited to be making my own yogurt for the first time. Am looking forward to trying it later this evening.

Yes, Theo, Flick and Kazzi, this is a fabulous thread, and I echo the thanks directed to
Essie for starting it! It’s a great antidote to more serious things going on in our lives,
isn’t it? I can’t express how happy it makes me to see Essie discovering her own sense
of style after being deprived of that adventure for 2 decades, or to even see you, Flick,
playing with red lipstick! It brings back so many memories, like a time machine, for
Theo and I, too 🙂 If anyone has a recommendation about which iphone model to
purchase, I’d really appreciate it. Also, does anyone have a special wardrobe indulgence
that is planned as a holiday gift to oneself? I think a 21st century iphone should
do it for me. Come on ladies, “spill” your pleasure!!!

re: iphone, I don’t need all the bells and whistles, just a good size screen and a keyboard
that can accommodate long fingernails (now bright vermillion in honor of the season)!

Back later, to help you deplete your wallets 🙂 🙂 🙂

Allie

Lol JGwen, I weigh myself so much I know that I only lose weight at night. 🙂

I don’t make low carb bread, (I’ve stopped eating bread altogether) but I do make crackers. 🙂
I did have a phase of making cakes with almond flour rather than regular flour, but these days I satisfy my sweet tooth with fruit.
I find good quality dark chocolate satisfies the craving for chocolate quite quickly, I never need more than 25g in a day, and more often have half that or less, sometimes none at all, but that’s not very often. If I can get to the shop before Christmas, I will buy a(nother) box of Thornton’s reduced sugar chocolates, and ration myself. I know I can do it because I still have a few left in the box I bought in the summer.

Hi
Thought I would report back now that I’ve finished the online program in case anybody is interested. I enjoyed the recipes very much and lost 22 pounds quite painlessly. I’m now trying hard to maintain my current weight through the Christmas holiday and then I will move on to the 5/2 plan in the new year as I still have some weight to lose.

The only downside I have found to this way of eating so far is that I have developed a fair amount of new wrinkly skin (I’m 64) and should have tried much harder to DRINK THE WATER as I think it might have helped.

Happy Christmas everybody and please DRINK THE WATER

Hi Guys,

I think I understand what you mean by a whooosh moment. I was following the plan but over a few days my weight had crept up by 0.9kg and then suddenly it dropped by 2.1 kg one day and dropped for the next three days. – I am still at the dancing around on the scales double checking it gives the same reading a few times stage. Then there is compare the readings if I get up during the night (when the central heating isn’t on) to the readings the scales give once the heating is on routine. And compare the readings before and after running the shower, increased moisture in the air changes the reading 🙂

I wondered how far people take the low carb woe. Does anyone go to the level of making low carb bread? What are your views about making low carb chocolates or substitutes for traditional dishes for Christmas Day?

Yay! I’ve finally broken the 11,3 barrier! And that’s without counting! I was actually 11,2 yesterday, but I don’t post or alter my profile until I’ve logged the new low at least twice. I pigged myself a bit last night, as I had some veggies that needed to be finished, and was feeling a bit run down, so ate quite a bit of cheese to increase my protein intake again. (I’d not been bothering to keep track, but it caught up with me in the end, easily sorted though and I feel good again this morning.) Anyways, as a result of pigging it a bit last night, I was dreading an increase on the scales this morning, but it hasn’t happened, so I am super pleased. This pattern of eating is really easy for me, I think I will stick with it permanently. (Well, as long as it keeps working!)

I’ve been musing on just how many of the standard advice rules I am breaking though. The ‘eatwell’ plate that Jim47 mentions had played a large part in keeping me ill for the last 20 years, as well as the dieting advice of cut down a little bit of everything being behind my giving up dieting each time, due to extreme fatigue and chills. With hindsight, I know that I wasn’t eating enough protein, and eating even less (of everything including protein) to lose weight, I got even worse.
So that’s the first rule I am breaking; 1. I eat more than the (UK) recommended amount of protein on a regular basis.
2. The next is carbohydrate, as with everyone on this WOE, I don’t eat anything like the recommended amount of carbohydrates, at least, not the digestible calorie giving kinds, as indicated on the pie chart.
3. I probably eat more fat, proportionately than is advised too, as I never bought into the fat is bad for you dogma, and have always eaten butter rather than marg. and full cream milk rather than skimmed, and always avoid anything with ‘low fat’ on the label.
4. Same again for salt, although this one I had bought into for a long time, but always had cravings for crisps . . . I’ll skip the long explanation, but will mention that I do not have any problems with blood pressure.
5. I not only don’t eat before 11 o’clock, I don’t have breakfast or lunch at all! I figure that skipping meals can only be bad for you if you are used to having meals regularly.
6. My recommended calorie intake is between 1800 and 2000cals, but weird things happened when I increased my protein intake for health reasons, and I started putting on weight at 1800 cals, so cut down on carbs, to stop, and found that if I ate more than 1200cals, I would put on weight.

I think there are others, but can’t think of any more atm. 😀

Natalie, if you want to try fasting again, try cutting down for a few days before you cut out a meal completely.

I too have elevated liver enzymes since doing the diet. When I had been doing it for 4 weeks I had a medication review and all was normal except APT which was 67 ul. So I had another after the 8 weeks and it had increased to 129. I have been following BSD to the letter apart from the odd glass of wine which I am now giving up and am due another test in 4 weeks. Everything thing else in the test is within normal range, and I have lost 1stone 7 lb. has anyone else had the same results? Any idea how I can improve the result?

Good morning everyone. SunnyB your parents sound amazing.

So for yesterday…..
1. I reorganised my fridges and stocked one with lots of water … now I just have to drink it! Also popped in a good few bottles of prossecco!
2. Ordered a few more presents just one or two left to sort out now.
3. Weight stable, over the moon, and am starting to reflect on 2017 and make a plan for 2018.

May start a thread soon for 2018 plans?

Pancita – I thought it was the combination fen-phen that was banned but they found phentermine by itself was ok? My doctor (in Australia) only gave me one month prescriptions at a time, starting with lowest dose then increasing to medium, with a check up each month before another script, and only the recommended 3 months in total. So I felt like it was as safe as such a significant drug could be. Safer than being so obese maybe, or surgery. I didn’t have any serious side effects, would have stopped straight away if I had. But I totally understand your concerns, I have always been very anti-drug in fact I rarely even take Panadol. I ended up very happy with my Duromine (phentermine) experience and I feel it’s given me a good start. I haven’t been this light since having children.

Luvtocook – that’s true about the body being trainable. I just still find it hard to imagine skipping meals. I’ve always had a very bad physical reaction to going too long without food; shaky, weak, irritable, unable to think or make decisions. It’s a horrible feeling. I’m pre-diabetic now but I was like that even as a normal-weight child. So I’m not sure if my body would get used it it or not. I guess it’s lucky I don’t have to.

Flick – I’m surprised that the MM diet Day had only 24 g of carbs, I know a lot of people aim for 20 or so but it’s lower than I was expecting. I don’t try to go under 50 g, I am miserable on really low carb diets. Depressed miserable. I did a low carb diet before my wedding, never again! I think 50 g of nutritious carbs is fine, personally, it’s still pretty low and it works for me. It took some years of experimenting to arrive at that number, too low and I’m miserable but too high and I get cravings and don’t lose weight! As long as I stick to fruit and veges and stay away from processed carbs I’m fine. Processed carbs make me sleepy and bloated and dopey. And fat.

Hi all, just a quick check in before I head off to the beach. After a seven day stall (stable weight 😏) but sticking to the plan regardless, I woke this morning to reguster a loss of just under 1 kg – 0.900g. Whoo hoo! Despite having read about these whooses I have to say i was quite startled and had to doubke check a couole of times.

Any way I’m absolutely thrilled – I’m now just over a third of the way to my healthy target weight. As I anticipate more stalling to come, I may not make my December challenge target of 70kg.

Natalie, all the best wishes with your weight loss challenges in the New Year, looks like you are off to a great start.

I’m one of those people who only eats lunch and dinner, and genuinely I’m never hungry until somewhere between 12 and 2 when I eat a delicious lunch, featuring plenty of veg. I spend the afternoon happily not hungry until it gets to dinner time somewhere between 6 and 7pm. The bonus for me is that I (my poor old liver) get the benefit of intermittent fasting AND 2 decent sized meals to sooth that eye brain connection. I’m also keeping carbs down as I need to get results fast. I am easily discouraged, love love love delicious carbs, so the type of person who needs to see an excellent cost/benefit return. But that is just me.

I love how this forum shows us how different all our bodies are, how different approaches work for different people and I agree with you, hats off to everyone who is giving it a crack and finding their own best path to gain control over their health.

It is interesting that MM is not explicit about what level of macronutritients BSDers should shoot for, other than broadly stating, low carb, 45 g of protein for your average woman is reasonable, and good fats are good. I expect this is in part to do with creating the necessary space for everyone to find levels within that broad framework and 800 cals, to settle on what works best for them and actually keep going. i did a rough count on the first day of the new cookbook meal plan – my maths (which is not my strong point) came out at rougly 24 grams carbs, 28 grams protein and 65 grams fat. I expect the proportion would vary between days and average out higher on the carbs and proteins across a week but haven’t added them up.

Cheers everyone, talk to you on Tuesday weigh in day for me and end of Week 5 and on the downhill run for the 8 week commitment.

Wow, Allie and Essie – the phrases “long, lean and gorgeous” and “crazy long legs” are two I never in a million years would have thought anyone would apply to me!!!! But thank you so much, quite made my day 😃 O/H however refers to me as “tiny” every single day now – better than what he used to affectionately call me!!

Essie, I’m rather in love (again) with the sequin jacket and am secretly rather pleased that I rediscovered it bang in the middle of the party season, so I may actually get to wear it before my darling granddaughter even knows it exists 😄 Though to be fair, so far at least, it’s only been my fabulous collection of 60s clothes that she has purloined. She is a total “one-off” style wise and has always had a very eclectic fashion sense, which started when she was 2 (now 17) and my daughter felt obliged to make her wear a little badge saying “Mummy didn’t style me – I did it all by myself!” which raised a few smiles😉😃😉

Sadly my mother, a very stylish lady, even now in her 90s, is one of those people who believes that, if something hasn’t been worn / used for a year (and often less), it belongs in the charity shop. So much so that one local charity shop makes a monthly collection from her 😢 When I think about all those vintage designer goodies I could have purloined now, it breaks my heart 😢😠

Allie, forgot to mention how fantastic that boot website is – spent a happy half hour browsing. And purrrrleease – go and buy a smart phone tomorrow!!!! I didn’t know mobiles without decent cameras and Internet access still existed 😜 And yes, you have described my style exactly – have always loved black/navy classic clothes with a little bit of quirkiness on the side, and see no reason to change that now. See – I knew we were twins, separated at birth 😉

Flick – yes, I’m with you, girl – lipsticks are fast becoming one of my “quirks”. I’m gaining quite a collection 😁 But very sensible to save your major clothes splurge until you reach maintenance. I didn’t – well I thought I did, but then moved the goalposts and lost another 20lbs or so and now most of my lovely new UK size 10s (US 6) absolutely drown me. Now wearing UK 8s and 6s (US 4 / 2). So bide your time and keep your splurging to lipsticks for the moment.

Just loving this thread, Essie, thank you so much for starting it.😚

Natalie, I am one of the people that befuddle you…..do not eat breakfast. And, I am the LAST person who thought I would ever be saying that. I have always eaten a good portein filled breakfast. And I was someone who was always looking at the clock counting the minutes to my next meal. And worst of all….felt I absolutley would NOT be able to get to sleep with the hungy empty fealing in my belly after 8 pm.

And low and behold: its all learned. Every bit of it. I have been doing low carb for 5-6 years now, and in the early weeks when I first started was amazed how “not hungry” I was. Then over months and then years, I quit losing weight on low carb alone, and the “hungries” came back. Not as bad….but still needed a snack if the breaks between meals went beyond 4 1/2 – 5 hr.

When I started BSD I started with the thought that I would eat when hungry. Day 1 had a late-ish breakfast of eggs and bacon at about 9:30, and just waited to see to see when I really thought I “had” to eat. Found not all the hungry until dinner. Ate the rest of what I had left of my 800 cals for dinner….but I really really wanted a snack at night, but too bad, calories all gone. Ditto for Day 2. Day 3 I had breakfast but come dinner time, was not really hungry.

At that point I decided I would prefer two 400 calorie meals a day instead of breaking such a low number or calories up into 3 smaller meals. And no snacks. None.

Part of the issue with less hunger is LOW carbs. They make you hungry….at least they certainly did me.

And nobody is more surprised than I am that 2 meals a day does it for me. I have black coffee first thing in the morning, a lunch or breakfast (depending on what kind of food I want) around 11:00 and then dinner at 5:30 or 6:00.

The evening snack was the hardest thing for me to break but it went too.

The body is very very trainable. I have worked in the medical field all my life and had been an Assistant Administrator for two rehab hospitals over my career. It was amazing for me to learn that rehab nurses can actually retrain bowl regularity in a quadraplegic patients who have had a massive spinal cord injurys. Initially regularity is stimulated with drugs, but then the body learns the schedule and can do it on its own. Just as you may wake up at the same time each morning minutes before your alarm goes off.

In the same way you can train your body when to expect meals. And some folks feel that it is best to “keep your body off guard” and switch up when and how many meals they have.

So it is different strokes for different folks. You may have an uncomfortable couple of days, but your body will let go of past habits and old expectations.

And you are right….regardless of what we are eating we need a good balance of all the vitamins and nutrients. But there are many ways to get there….and ways to avoid the more problematic carbs in doing so. It may be challenging, but it is possible. The veg is the most important thing, but the fat helps keeps you satiated, provides key omega 3s, and as you said, helps with so many critical nutrients that are fat soluable.

Hi all, this is such a great thread – so much gorgeousness!

I’m a third (35% to be precise) towards my target so making do with clothes and finding things in the cupboard that are thrillingly beginning to fit, so saving up for the big splurge at the end.

In the meantime as little puffs rise up from my ash heap, my style is definitely changing.

Gals, can we talk about lipstick! My gosh, I’m increasingly bypassing my usual light coloured gloss, slapped on as I leave the house and gravitating towards …. RED glosses and lipstick. This thinner face seems to require it and it feel totally fabulous.

Hello,
Excuse me for jumping in but I’m surprised to read about anyone taking Phentermine. This has been banned in the UK for nearly 20 years because of its side-effects; is it actually prescribed by doctors in Australia?
Just professional interest!
P xx

I’m always a bit befuddled and daunted by people who don’t eat until lunchtime or only one meal a day and say they are not hungry. I’ve successfully done BSD in the past but never like that! Three meals a day for me please. And an afternoon snack.

It’s funny how people (including doctors) generally react with horror if you tell them you’re only eating 800 calories, but if you’re having weight loss surgery that’s what they tell you to eat – after and even before! Even when I was on Duromine forums, people would argue that someone else’s calorie intake was too low, but then others would say ‘isn’t that why we’re taking these pills?’

I was a sceptic about 800 calories at first but now I think quality is more important than quantity. We need to nourish our bodies. I am not always in agreement here about BSDers focus on fat and protein to the exclusion of fruits and vegetables, yes I know they contain carbs but so many other good things too (and the BSD diet as outlined by Dr M isn’t ‘low carb’ anyway). My mother had a salicylate intolerance and had to avoid most fruit, veges and spices and it wasn’t healthy. Anyway, those are my morning thoughts. You do what works for you. You have to balance the advantages of weight loss against the disadvantages of cutting out lots of vitamins. I lean towards a more plant based BSD than fat based BSD. But still with fat. Olive oil even helps you absorb the vitamins from the plants.

No idea why I went off on that little tangent, as I sit here digesting my breakfast bacon. Love you all, have a great day!

Aww Seaside grandad! I love it Seaside nana, so happy for you and glad your move went well. You certainly have a lot to celebrate this Christmas 🙂
Cathy – have a wonderful time with your son in Washington! It must be so much nicer for you going over there at your new weight. I’m sure you would have a good time either way but it’s lovely when you feel comfortable with your body and can fit into clothes, not having to struggle to find something to wear that you look good in etc.

DCT – sounds like you are going well, well done and good luck for reaching your goal in January.

Theodora – Its great that you have some
wriggle room for Christmas 🙂 I wish I could say the same! I’ve been struggling a bit for the past few weeks, but luckily haven’t put on weight, have just been maintaining really.

I’m planning on just steadying the course for these last few weeks of the year. I’m going to enjoy myself on Christmas & Boxing Day and eat what I want to (and drink!). But on all of the other days where I don’t have any social occasions then I’m going to stick to BSD principles. Usually by now I would be tucking into the mince pies, but I’m holding out till Christmas Eve this year, and then only having one 🙂
It was looking at a photo taken last Christmas Day that inspired me to start BSD. Although I haven’t got to goal yet I’m still thankful I did start and that I have lost 12.5kg now.
I was looking at numbers this week, and healthy BMI, and I’ve decided I’d like to lose another 18kg. So that’s my goal for next year ‘Lose 18kg in 2018’. I now have the tools to do this, and should be off Prednisone (steroids) by February which will make it easier.
Hope everyone on this thread has a lovely Christmas and New Year, 🎄🎅🎉
I can’t believe it will be our 1 year anniversaries soon! I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d still be posting here almost a year later 🙂

Hi Esnecca, You have hit the nail on the head.

The confusing part of these feelings is suspicion, quite unexpected. Suspicion about the incredible results these simple changes to eating habits (not necessarily simple to adopt but definitely a simple framework, no junk, no processed carbs, minimal other carbs, moderate protein, high fat) produce but also suspicion that I am doing it so … consistently and, really apart from theoretical ponderings about the joys of risotto and beetroot etc., or the occasional stress related knee jerk thought about salty crackers or sweet pick me up, pretty painlessly.

The only thing to do is breath deeply, stick to the plan, be patient during the stalls, celebrate the results and trust that between them, the gnomes and whoosh fairies will work it out. I think I’d better get a walk in the sun in before I’m collected for the trip to the beach.

Thank you, my friends! I didn’t hold out high hopes for the box grater, but I do have
a heavy, well weighted chef’s knife, and will use that. LTC, GoldMineNaturalFoods is a
great site, and I’m never without 2/32oz jars of kimchi in the refrig. at all times. Too
spicy for o/h, but I feed him the kraut every day. E., they even sell kimchi juice too,
don’t they? I need to go back thru your replies to locate your brussel sprouts salad
as well. Love the fact that it can be made in advance and improves with age. I prefer
to eat seasonally and locally, so brussel sprouts are definitely on the menu now!
This is a great thread. Thank you for all the time consuming posts that contribute to
it!

Allie

No worries Luvtcook – the show was recorded quite a while ago. I think it is an interesting example of how strong the initial skeptical response to the BSD low carb, high fat approach was/is. How slow and careful the medical community is to embrace some types of new knowledge. Thank god Prof Taylor and MM are so persistent.

Also interesting that hunger was an issue for some of the prticipants. The low carb message seemed a bit mixed.

I can’t watch BBC catch up here in Australia for similar licensing rules. Not IT savvy enough to set up international isp.

I couldn’t be happier to have you join me in the kelp fan club, LTC. So far we’re a party of two. I’ve replied to you in the Low Carb recipe thread. Maybe together we can lure more people into our tangled web of kelp noodles.

Allie, Mom and I had such a wonderful time playing in the pretty clothes. It was just like when I was a kid and I would go through her closet for dress-up, only I got to keep whatever I wanted this time. 🙂

It doesn’t sound dramatic to me. I had much the same experience, a sense that the world was tilting around me or the magnetic poles flipping or something. Sometimes it was pure euphoria, a sense of empowerment and understanding that for years I thought were simply foreign to me. Other times I was so deeply suspicious. It just seemed impossible. I told my OH I couldn’t help but feel that gnomes with breaking into the house at night and recalibrating the scale either up or down just to mess with my head, that none of this was real. Fortunately he was used to me sounding crazy by then, so he never felt the need to call in the men in white lab coats. 😀

Definitely mush. I tried to make my brussels sprout slaw with a grater once and it was an abject failure. Also more than a little blood was spilled because there’s no way to get purchase on a little sphere. Allie, like Luv said, if you don’t have the slicey side of the box grater, cut in half through the stem, lie flat and slice thinly crosswise. It sounds fiddly but it’s easy and fast.

Yippee finally a kelp noodle convert! I’ve been waiting so long for this day. Now the solution to all your problems. Luvtocook, meet Gold Mine: http://shop.goldminenaturalfoods.com/GLUTEN-FREE-KELP-NOODLES-2-LB/productinfo/1601-1902/ They’re Sea Tangle noodles, by the way, just custom packaged in larger sizes exclusively for Gold Mine. While you’re there, check out the sea vegetables category because it is a miracle wonderland: http://shop.goldminenaturalfoods.com/Japanese/products/28/. Their seaweed salad mix is beautiful. Oh, and Allie can confirm this, they make the some of the greatest sauerkraut and kimchi you’ve ever had: http://shop.goldminenaturalfoods.com/Sauerkraut-Kimchi/products/61/. And they carry the best organic traditional Japanese miso which is otherwise very hard to find: http://shop.goldminenaturalfoods.com/OHSAWA-YAMAKI-ORGANIC-2-YR-SOYBEAN-MISO-1-LB/productinfo/0407-1001/

Drum roll … 71.2 on the scales this morning. That’s a drop of 0.9 kg(1.9lb) overnight. 🎉🌟🌟. I couldn’t quite believe it. I’ve read so many forum threads reporting just this woosh effect but still found it totally discombobulating, stepping on and off the scales, checking I was remembering yesterday’s weight correctly. So surprised I didn’t even whoop whoop, happy dance. I think I still can’t quite believe it. I had my emotions prepped for a very long ‘stable. Suddenly, week 4.5 and I’ve lost just over 7kg! What tha?

What a great extra motivator to help me remain focussed over this weekend dive trip. This weekend is the last of my challenging, silly season challenges. Staying on track at the formal sit down dinner (total minefield) and hosting Christmas drinks with my special group of friends, quite happily, is triggering a big change in how I think about social activites, in a good self care kind of way. I feel as though something in my core is shifting. I can see that sounds a bit dramatic. i feel quite strange.

Happy weekend everyone, hope it is filled with love and happiness.

Haha, Essie, I thought Sundance might drive you mad! I received a catalog last
spring, and found some unusual tops/tunics to order, and of course remembered
the boots…Just serendipity that I remembered the name when Kazzi was dreaming
of cowboy boots of the future. I have such joyful thoughts of you in Mother’s attic
swanning around playing dress up in our fashions of yesteryear!

Theo: love your vintage jacket in all its permutations. Very classy with some zing. Rock on.

Esnecca, I don’t know whether to hug you or curse you…..you have turned me into a kelp noodle addict. I realize that the seaweed salad I like so much at the local Japanese restaurants have been using a blend of wakame and kelp glass noodles. Not the same without the kelp noodles. Now when I make it I am using the blend and am crazy about it. Have used up my supply and now must do a road trip to the Korean grocer in the next town to get more kelp noodles. So filling and so much good fiber….great vehilcle for good Asian dressing.

And love your recipe…..adding hot flakes makes it sing.

Your box grater probably has a slot cutter on its narrow side to slice veg…..mine does (mine has various size grated grids on 3 sides and on the 4th a small slicer).

If yours does not, I would go with hand slicing (cut the sprouts in half and lay the flat side down so you slice safely).

You can try the large holes on the box grated but I think you are going to end up with confetti or worse, mush.

Good luck!

LTC – this sounds luscious! How do you think I might fare using a box grater on the
largest opening? I can’t locate my mandoline. Would it be worthwhile investing in
a new one for this salad?

Brussels Sprouts Salad with Walnuts and Stilton

Nice crunchy salad that is an alternative to a cooked veg when you want some variety.

SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS
1 lb. brussels sprouts
2 cups toasted walnut halves
3 Tbs of crumbled Stilton (or can use 1/3 cup grated pecorino), plus more for garnish
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnish
Juice of 1 lemon (sherry vinegar would be a nice alternative for a different flavor)
Kosher salt and coarsely ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Working over a large bowl, shave brussels sprouts into very thin slices on a mandoline (or by hand), starting from each sprout’s top while holding it between thumb and forefinger by its stem. Discard stems.

2. Add walnuts, cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, and black pepper to taste. Depending on the saltiness of the cheese, season lightly with salt to taste.

3. Toss with a spoon until just combined and divide salad between 4 bowls or small plates. Crumble a bit more cheese over the top; drizzle with more olive oil and add more pepper to taste.

Guys – I’m too excited now! I’m dribbling!

Esnecca – I had a saddle bag back in the 90s. Why didn’t I keep it? I’ll never throw anything away ever again! Thank you for the bag tips. I’ve never put an outfit together because I just bought what I could get to fit and as long as patterns and colours didn’t clash, that’s all I worried about!

Allie – thanks for the links – I am beside myself and just dare not look any further but I’ve made a note of the website. I love those cute Eskimo booties with the fringes too. I cannot believe the array of cowboy boots – ohhhhhhh 🙂

Theo – you look magnificent!

Absolutely well done all of you!

Kazzee xx

Flick, the link worked perfectly. I am not able to watch SBS videos directly in the US (message comes up that there is a licensing issue ) but can watch if it is via a UK forum such as this. So thanks so much for that…..really appreciate it.

And congratulations to all of you (Jim and emu, others) seeing such good blood sugar numbers! You all must be feeling so wonderful about that. Well done!

Articfox…glad to hear your horse is finally doing better. What a relief after such a long slog.

Flick, thanks for the link.

Marie123, thanks for the online records tip. We are UK based (‘Emu’ refers to a tendency to ignore issues and stick my head in the sand!). Might check it out as we’ve a new GP. But yes, I know you have to careful to make sure you want unfettered access to the data!

And Liz, interesting on the bleeding gums. OH plans to get the various aspects checked out as the GP says he’s probably at higher risk generally of these effects (if not a full diabetic), but gums was not something mentioned … and yet in recent years he’s had terrible gum issues. Will mention it to see if he notices an improvement.

Our next challenge is planning a BSD WOE Christmas dinner … it’s the non-BSD guests who might be a challenge!

Posts crossed, Theo, so I’ve just seen part 2 of your fashion show today. Love, love
both jackets! Would you say that you’ve always worn a lot of basic black with unique
accessories? That’s always been my personal style too. These days I’m not really
searching for a new style, but more returning to the me that I used to know. My
philosophy has always to wear what made me feel good, and not be at the mercy
of what sadistic designers tell us to acquire. I think women who have a confident
sense of their own style can wear anything 🙂 I wouldn’t hesitate to wear any of
those outfits. Create your OWN style! That’s what I’m going to do once again,
after descending into clothes hell and digging my way out of it again. Our vintage
pieces are undoubtedly better made than what’s available today. Isn’t that true
of everything?
Keep the photos coming, I’m enjoying the show!

Allie

Allie, you have unleashed a power you can’t possibly control with that link to the boots. I’m going to have to toss my credit cards on a bonfire to keep from buying that shop out. What an incredible variety of beautifully crafted pieces.

Kazz, I didn’t buy anything until I was at goal too, except for two of three make-do items so I could be ambulatory without my pants falling to my ankles. You’re going to have such a blast celebrating your achievement with a fashion explosion. With cowboy boots, I’m partial to a satchel bag. They have a bit of a saddle inspiration going on without being actual saddle bags (not that they aren’t great too because they are), and they come in a million different styles and colors. They also have both handles and a shoulder strap which makes them very useable and versatile. For a less structured look, a lovely slouchy, soft leather bucket bag or a hobo bag would be my preference.

I think yes hell yes you could get away with them! They’re fabulous! Even with extra volume on the hip the jumpsuit still makes your legs look crazy long. You’re so tiny now that you can easily afford a little poofiness without it making you look like you’re filling in a larger space than you do. Paired with the gold sequined jacket the look can only be described as slamming. I love that jacket more than is decent. I’m amazed your granddaughter hasn’t already made off with it never to return. 😀

Awesome, awesome selfies, Theo. Thank you for starting off my day with a turbo boost of 80s shine.

Oh Theo, you look long and lean and gorgeous!!! And what a beautiful small waist!
I think the jumpsuit is probably now too big in the hips and thighs, but I don’t think
it makes you look “too” hippy. I’m feeling really deprived that I don’t have a smart
phone so I can play this game! A little christmas gift for myself is now entering
my conscious thoughts. I’ve got a batwing sequin relic from the 80’s too, that
I’d like to parade before you. And a few politically incorrect fur coats…I may really
go bold and include my head! 🙂

And an old favourite rediscovered jacket, from the late 70s / early 80s….

https://s7.postimg.org/k88aoqq5n/20171215_121132-1.jpg

worn 2 ways……first with the vintage jump suit

https://s7.postimg.org/oimyjv5e3/20171215_120357-1.jpg

and secondly with a midi skirt and long suede boots (excuse hairy mutt lurking behind me – he always likes to get in on the act!)

https://s7.postimg.org/99x166jgb/20171215_121801-1.jpg

I actually think I could wear all these outfits again and get away with them not looked passe – what do you think?