Thanks everyone for your kind words 🙂 Day 6 is now done for me, I’m having a “day off” tomorrow as am going out with my husband (planned months ago). I won’t be recording calories but On the plus side I will be doing a lot of walking. Then I’ll be back on plan on Monday. I have already shopped for the groceries, so will definitely be sticking to plan (I hate food waste!)

Newby26 – I was advised by a Fast 800 health coach to aim for 20-30g fibre daily – I’m following Very Fast 800 High Fibre plan. To achieve this though you may need to go up to 900 calories. I just checked my macros in My Fitness Pal (which I’m using as well as the Fast 800
App), and my daily fibre is usually 16-20g, however I don’t always record low calorie veggies (spinach, lettuce etc), so actual
Fibre may be a bit more. I don’t really monitor it to be honest – I mainly focus on keeping carbs under 50g and protein at least 60g.

Cathy – well done on your results this week 🙂 I did the Low Impact Pilates exercises in the app today – it was only about 13 minutes and all done sitting down on a chair, with no equipment needed.

Mariet – welcome back! I’m sure you’ll enjoy the plan.

NEWBIE26 just another thought. I’ve heard Psyllium husk mentioned on this forum before. It’s a supplement in various forms which you can add to food to add fibre. Not used it personally but may be worth checking out?

Hi everyone, great so see so many wonderful results!
I am back from a fortnight camping and on weighing this morning I am unchanged. So now to get into the Fast 800 and see if I can stick to it as well as you are all managing to do.
I must have unticked myself from the thread and haven’t received any emails for ages. Looking forward to seeing how everyone is getting on.

CATHY what great progress! I’m really pleased for you. And, like you, I’m feeling very positive and motivated at the moment too 🥳

NEWBIE26 a really good question about fibre. Being honest, I don’t focus much on numbers and haven’t given much thought as to the amount of fibre involved. But you’re right, it’s important. And yet another thing to fit into the 800 calories! Hopefully the list I posted above will be of some help, and I’d also recommend using some of the recipes in the BSD and Fast 800 books as I find their macro balance pretty good and I’d expect them to factor in fibre too.

The other thing – which I’m sure you’re already aware of – is to remember to drink plenty of water. This helps in all sorts of ways, as well as keeping your body well hydrated and your digestive system functioning effectively.

Good luck! And keep us posted as to how you’re getting on 🤞

Hope that everyone has a good weekend X

S-g so sorry to hear your miserable news especially about your cat. Yes I’ve been there a few time too. It’s very sad but, yes, the time did sound right. Chin up things can only get better!

Hi Becca, thank you- don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere……I’m also on the fast 800 app and we have a cohort that started together….so, perhaps as I’m now trying to remember to post on 2 sites- or 2 strands of a site….that could be enough for now 😅😊

xx

Welcome to you, newbie, and I wish you well. I can’t give you as detailed a response as you might get from others, but I can tell you that the low calories plus low carbs brought my HBA1c down quite a bit (7.5 to 6.0) and I’m hoping to even get it below that.

Sunshine, my heart goes out to you and your husband at having to say goodbye to your dear kitty. Having been in that position several times, I understand so well that empty broken-hearted feeling. Sounds like it was definitely time, though.

Wendy, please don’t feel discouraged, as 1000 is still very low. Bear in mind that even with having lost 40 pounds now in the last 4 months (since mid-October), it’s largely because I have SO MUCH to lose — still have 130-140 pounds to go.

Tulip, sounds like things are going well with the program, in spite of you having to cater to so many family members’ tastes, so great job! One of the other forum boards (the 2026- We’ve Got This! one) has several people who just started the online program together about a week ago, so might be fun for you to check in there (but stay here, too, of course!)

Have a good weekend, everyone, and I wish you all the best. –Becca

thanks for help!

Thank you, Ive spent my evening reading all your posts from the beginning of the year and trying to take everything in. I need to learn and know what im dealing with so want to absorb all the advice you have to give, currently watching MM “Eat, Fast and live longer” as mentioned, ive watched a few other health programs aired this year which were good.
I’ll cut back on the finger pricks and just do first thing and bed time – that will save my fingers.
I’m currently on 500mg metformin 3 times per day, they wanted me to go to 4 tablets but after my 3 week review they had seen improvement in my BS levels that I didnt need to up it, and I told them I was starting the 800 diet so seemed ok about it, HBA1C blood test beginning of March so trying to make as much progress as I can, I know its all steady pace, but just want to prove to them I can reduce my BS level with diet.
So pleased to have finally found some support with like minded people all who want to live healthy lives and improve their health with eating the right foods

Hi all, I am still around but been a bad couple of days. Yesterday we were without electricity from 10pm the night before to around 8pm yesterday. Surprised at how boring it is after reading, playing cards, getting on to mobile data on my phone, visit from neighbour and made her a hot drink then gave her a thermos with boiling water for more drinks. She brought it back an hour later and I tried to explain the water would stay hot all day. Anyway, we are back on now but intermittent on and off, hubby just cooked dinner by candlelight and managed 20 mins to put his chips in the air fryer. This is why we insisted on a gas hob, can cook soup, boil a kettle etc.

Worst of all, we took our oldest cat to be put down this afternoon and it is a very sad time, especially for my husband as she was always his cat. It had to be done, dementia type symptoms, wandering around the house lost, crying all through the night not to mention the mess she was leaving behind her (poop and pee and vomit). It was time.

I will come back on tomorrow – electricity allowing – and answer any questions and give a greeting to Newbie 2026. Yes, stop testing so often and let me know what meds if you any are on so I can tailor my advice.

See you all tomorrow.

Just one for me…. eyesight is feeling really good!

Newbie …. first thing I can say to you is ‘relax’!
Please don’t drive yourself mad testing 4 times a day unless you are using insulin and if you are I’m sure sunshine-girl will jump in here.
Finger pricks at best are a ‘rough’ guide. Maybe first thing in the morning before you eat? They really are a very rough guide and you should take them as that. You will work out what your own rough average is. If mine first thing is in the fives fine, in the sixes I need to be careful, in the 7’s cut way back! You will get to know how your own body reacts to food.
Don’t worry too much about fibre now just concentrate on one marker at a time.

Thank you Verano for your response, im managing to keep my carbs to under 50g per day, I was never really a fan of bread, potatoes rice or pasta before all this so I don’t feel im missing them which is good. I know everyone is different, but can anyone tell me what my bsl should be approx, I still test 4 times a day although the nurse did say I could reduce to 2 (fasting and bedtime), I just need to know if im going the right way and doing the right thing. Im struggling with getting enough fiber into my day whilst still on 800 calories, how does everyone else do it? Ive got the list of fiber rich food which is helpful, but what do people eat in an average day? Im sorry for the stupid questions, im just at a loss

S-g hope you’re well?

Thanks for your good wishes Becca and Margaret. Promise I’m not missing one ‘drop’. My telephone stop watch has never been so well used!

Well done Becca and Tulip keep on keeping on…….

Welcome Newbie2026 and well done on your great loss so far. Yes this way of eating can be quite confusing at first. Can I just mention that weight loss per se is not the secret to keeping blood sugar in the normal range but rather carbohydrates. You may have heard of TOFI’s ‘thin on the outside fat on the inside’, being thin isn’t the secret to not being diabetic. Carbohydrates are the real secret. If you were to check your daily carbohydrate intake of your old ‘normal’ diet you were probably eating in excess of 300g a day plus even without ‘junk’ food. A sandwich, a packet of crisps and an apple could easily be over 125g and that’s just one meal! Just track your carbs with your diet at the moment and then try to stay around 50g or less if you aren’t already. That doesn’t mean you can’t have an apple, roughly 19g of carbs, or even the odd high carb ‘treat’ but try to average your carbs out over the week. Most people try to stay between 20-40g a day but you will find your own sweet spot to keep your blood sugar in the ‘normal’ range without medication.
I’ve been medication free since 2017 and my HbA1c has been within the normal range ever since. I’m not as strict now but I don’t eat cereals, bread, potatoes, rice or pasta apart from on a really odd occasion and that seems to work for me. Good luck and as Ben Bikman says…”… Control the Carbs, Prioritise Protein and Fill up with Fat and Fibre ( don’t fear fat)!

Hi Margaret, thank you:-)
Sounds like you are sticking to plan really well- and 1000 cals not much more than 800? But I appreciate the finer details make more of a difference to some more than others, and at different stages of the WOE etc. I know I could go faster with dropping cals a bit more (and am working on it too!), but if I continue to gradually and fairly consistently go downwards I’m quite happy. I’m thankful I can exercise fairly often as well at the moment so that is helping too.
🙂 🙂

Sorry me again, does everyone hit their fiber target daily? 800 calories doesn’t seem a lot when you have to get a lot of fiber in, I think my foods are all a bit wrong 😅

Wow Becca & Tulip1 very well done to you both losing weight so well. Sadly I have still not been able to stick strictly to 800 daily calories averaging 1000 but am still trying to do so and still doing TRE eating lunch at 1-0pm & then not after 7-0pm. The sun has been shining a little in the last two days but the grey rainy days have been getting me down 🙁. As the days get brighter I know that I will be able to get back on track 🤞
Welcome Newbie2026 and you have been doing so well losing two stone & starting the BSD. Have you bought Michael Mosleys Blood Sugar Diet book? he explains very well the whole reasons for eating low carb & the positive effect on our bodies 👍😀
Keep on going everyone 👏👏
Margaret xx

Thank you DCT, very helpful information, I shall make them my go to and alter my fitness pal accordingly so I can aim to hit the targets every day, very much hoping these forums will keep me on the right path and motivate me to carry on, you all seem so supportive of everyone’s achievements 😀

Hello everyone
Some great scores on the doors this week! It’s great to see that we have all got off to a great start for 2026. What a result for you Sue- I’m so happy for you. Dawn I am sure you’ll see some progress when you weigh on Monday. I have weighed myself and this morning I am 157 lb. 3lb more off! Woo hoo! So far since January I have lost 8.5 lb. I started off at 165.5 lb so I’m happy to be in the 150s! My plan was to lose 5lb by the end of February. I’ve found it quite challenging to stick to 800 calories but not found it difficult to skip breakfast. I had felt hungry so I think I probably need to eat a bit more salad or veg with my meals. My difficult time is evenings when I dream of having a packet of crisps and a G&T!! It’s psychological of course and I have admitted to being a crispoholic. I will have sparkling water with lemon. There will be no crisps passing my lips. I reckon my body wouldn’t even like them after such clean eating. I am going to be rigid with this WOE for the 12 week plan because it’s working and I’m determined to stay strong. It’s great to have support from my friends on this thread and it’s exciting to feel positive too. I’ve not felt so positive about weight loss for quite some time because nothing seemed to be happening! I obviously have to go quite low in calories to lose weight!
Looking forward to more scores coming in. Looking forward to warmer spring weather- winter has been difficult this year
My plan for the coming week is to start some exercise and I aim to lose 1lb a week until I reach my goal of 144lb. I know things will slow down and I am not going to let that scupper my plan. My hands are definitely less puffy.
Have a good week everyone. We’ve got this!

SUE what amazing results. Well done! Hope everyone else is doing ok too.

Just a quick welcome and response to NEWBIE26. You’ve done really well to lose 12lb since the beginning of January. That’s fantastic! As you say, with losing 2 stones last year there’s not far to go now. And your BMI is so nearly in the normal range too.

I think on the 800 cals per day you should aim for 50g carbs, and then protein at a ratio of 1 gram per 2.2lb of your body weight. I think healthy fats is around 30-40g : can anyone confirm/correct this?

As regards fibre, I took a look on the Fast 800 site. They recommend at least 30g of fibre every day, and there is a long list of fibre-rich foods which I will add at the end of this post. Hope that helps!

Best wishes, DCT

Fruits
Blackberries – 6.1g per 100g
Raspberries – 5.6g per 100g
Pears – 3.6g per 100g
Avocado – 3g per 100g
Strawberries – 2.5g per 100g
Apples – 2.3g per 100g

Vegetables
Cooked Celeriac – 5.5g per 100g
Brussels sprouts – 4.5g per 100g
Spinach – 4.1g per 100g
Carrots – 4g per 100g
Broccoli – 3.7g per 100g
Cooked Pumpkin – 3.4g per 100g
Cooked Jerusalem artichoke – 3.2g per 100g
Kale – 2.7g per 100g
Asparagus – 2.5g per 100g
Cabbage – 2.4g per 100g

Legumes
Kidney Beans – 6.5g per 100g
Cannellini Beans – 6.4g per 100g
Lentils – 5.2g per 100g
Edamame – 4.8g per 100g
Chickpeas – 4.7g per 100g

Grains
Raw Whole Rolled Oats – 9.7g per 100g
Cooked Quinoa – 3g per 100g
Steamed Brown Rice – 1.5g per 100g

Nuts and Seeds
Chia Seeds – 34.4g per 100g
Pumpkin Seeds – 10.5g per 100g
Sunflower Seeds – 10.5g per 100g
Sesame Seeds – 10.1g per 100g
Pistachio – 9g per 100g
Almonds – 7.4g per 100g
Walnuts – 6.4g per 100g

Other
Dark chocolate (85% cocoa) – 0.5g per 30g serve (depending on brand)
Air-popped popcorn – 3.2g per 20g serve

Crikey! I didnt get notified,so Ive missed loads of posts.
Looks like we have some great losers ( in the nicest possible sense! ) this month. It really does look like this is going to be our year! 🥳
Keep it up kiddoes! Progress not Perfection is a good mantra to bear in mind!
❤️💜💙🧡🩵💚 Happy weekend and a very happy Valentines/ Galentines tomorrow! ❤️💜💙🧡🩵💚
DCT a trip to New York!? How wonderful! Its somewhere Ive always wanted to go,I might have to jump into your suitcase! Xx

Morning all, so I’m new to here and to diabetes, I was diagnosed NYE 2025, a complete shock to the system to be honest. Ive been trying the 800 BSD for the last 3 weeks, but events keep getting in the way, i have lost 12lb since the beginning of Jan, with a bmi of 25.1, i lost 2 stone last year so nearly 3 stone down with surely not much left to lose I don’t think 😆. Just a quick question, how does everyone get enough fiber in per day, I have veggies and fruit every meal but still not eating enough. Can anyone advise how many grams of protein, fats, fiber and carbs we should have daily on the 800cals, thank you

Sue that’s a brilliant loss since Monday, well done. It’s helpful to see the response you got from the Fast800 team regarding calories. I have had a couple of days this week when I’ve gone totally off plan but there is hopefully still plenty of time to get back on track before I weigh myself on Monday. I hope everyone has a lovely weekend. Dawn X

I reached out to the Fast 800 team to ask about calories and they sent a really helpful response –
It was along the lines of – The Very Fast 800 approach is designed to provide you with the best nutrient ratios within an 800 to 1000 calorie range.
Because the plan uses real food it is difficult to get an exact 800 calorie count, but having calories in that range averages out over a week. An extra 50 or 100 calories here or there doesn’t usually hinder progress.
So my main takeaways from this and the article I read yesterday is I’m going to keep my calories around 900 at most, and importantly not snack!
Today is Day 5 for me and I’m feeling great. I’ve been doing the exercise routines, incorporated HIIT into my morning walk – and best of all have shed 2.6kg since Monday 🙂

Hey everyone, so I’m new to this, diagnosed NYE 2025 by pure fluke no symptoms no nothing. I feel like I’ve kind off been left to research and get on with life, been told to take medication as that was the easiest thing for the GP, however I’m wanting to reverse my T2 diagnosis. I started the 800 calorie BSD officially 3 weeks ago but had dropped my calories down since the beginning of the year, having lost 10lb so far, but already losing 2 stone from last year, so approaching the 3 stone mark, I’ve lost a lot of my visceral fat which is great, but how much more should I be looking to lose, my BS levels are still a little over the place, I haven’t been told what I should be aiming for, its all a bit hit and miss. I saw some of the forums you guys are on and you sound friendly so just thought I’d message on here as I’m a bit lost with it all. I run 3 times a week with a long distance run at weekends, and im still trying to keep to the 800 calories, just want opinions if im doing it right, sorry for the waffle, mmmm waffles 🧇 😅, anyway TIA 😊

Becca, that’s fab! 🙂
And everyone else keeping on keeping on…SG, you are an inspiration in perseverance.
I’m very happy….feeling good on the Fast 800, weight loss has slowed, but then I am eating over 800 cals as a rule, but the nutritious marvellousness of the food is making me feel great.
Also, I’ve lost a total 8lbs and 2″ off my waist in 5 weeks since I started, so I’m happy with progress 🙂 🙂
Plan- Just under 2 and a half stone to be comfortably into top of normal BMI for my height.

xxx

.

February 12 today, and I am happily down 6 pounds since February 1. I do some 800 days and some higher calorie days. The up-and-down seems to help keep things moving. Staying very low carb, too.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Becca

Thanks, its very useful even for me!

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CATHY it sounds as if you are doing really well and I hope that today is easier for you. But if you are struggling why not consider changing plans sooner rather than later. Perhaps to a three meals a day one or a less intensive one? I.m doing the 5:2 plan so there are two days at 800 calories and the rest are higher, around 1400-1500, but still with low carb count. So far I’ve found it easy and haven’t felt hungry – but bear in mind you’re a week ahead of me! And I’ve lost a couple of pounds which is great.

Whatever option you choose, we’re all cheering you on and wishing you well. You CAN do this!

Hello to everyone else too, especially those who have not posted for a while. Hope you’re doing ok, particularly two of our newer posters PATSNOTCARB and FIGHTINGT2. Do drop in and say hello if you get a chance.

HEIDI if you see this just want to say we’re thinking of you and hope you are getting through this X

CATHY – please ignore my advice/opinion about snacking!
I’ve just been reading some of the FAQs in the app and snacking is NOT recommended as it can increase insulin levels and also increase hunger!
Instead they advise adding more low calorie, non starchy vegetables to meals to prevent hunger.
If you search ‘snacking’ on the FAQ page you should be able to read the answer in full 🙂
Thankfully I haven’t needed to snack at all today (not even on a couple of almonds lol), it’s day 4 for me and I’ve only been hungry on 2 of those days, but I’m definitely going to start adding more veg in to prevent this.

It’s exciting to read about the group of you doing the online plan together! I considered joining, but actually did the trial about a year ago and remembered that the recipes seemed to require quite a few ingredients and perhaps a fair bit of prep time, and at the time I opted out and decided I’d rather just work out a more simple way to eat, with fewer groceries to buy and ability to buy according to what’s on sale, since I live alone and am on quite a tight budget. Still working toward that end! I also am trying to learn to listen to my body, have a little snack if I need one, and maybe alternate a bit between the low calorie days and some that are slightly higher. Am convinced that moving calories up and down a bit is helpful in keeping things moving. Weight loss is progressing — down 5.4 pounds so far in February, and very pleased with that. Also staying very low carb, which helps some with the cravings.

I’ve been using liquid pure allulose sweetener in my coffee and tea that I got off Amazon. Tastes very nice. The label says 12 gm carb, but have read on several medical sites that they aren’t actually carbs that the body can digest, so net effect is zero, and supposedly it even has some potential benefit for diabetics and those trying to lose weight. “Studies suggest it may help reduce fat storage in the liver, reduce abdominal fat, and increase GLP-1 (appetite control).”

Will be checking back to read about everyone’s experiences! Best of luck to all. –Becca

Cathy I hear you! I’m on the Very Fast 800 high fibre plan, with 3 meals a day. Calories work out around 900 – 930 each day (maybe because it’s 3 meals, or because I keep chopping and changing the meals to suit what I have in my fridge and pantry!). Anyway yesterday and day before I was really hungry between breakfast and lunch so I had a hard boiled egg that was in the fridge one day, and 5 almonds and a tablespoon of yoghurt the other day, Both did the trick for me, and my calories were still under 1000 for the day. I figure it’s better I do that than reach for the biscuits or chocolate.
I do also try having black coffee/tea/sparkling water first.
I’m glad your hands look slimmer! I thought my face looked marginally less fat this morning, and I just looked a bit brighter than usual. I think not having any wine is helping there. Yesterday when my husband had a beer or two, I stuck to sparkling water with a squeeze of lime, it did the trick and because I have the right mindset at the moment I didn’t feel like I was ‘missing out’.
I’m glad you have a holiday goal to work towards, I don’t really have anything like that at the moment, but am focusing on being at least a clothes size smaller by Easter. I was in Salvos yesterday (op/charity shop) and bought a summer dress and a pair of jeans (both new) for $2 each, in a size smaller than I am now – so one of my goals is to fit into those by Easter.
Hang in there! And in my opinion if you’re really hungry and fluids don’t cut it then have a small snack – I can’t imagine that it’s only 50-100 calories it would make much difference? Especially if not every day. I may make some clear vegetable soup today (with veggies from the low carb list) and have that as a snack, as I can freeze it easily.
I am also thinking of changing plans in 2 weeks – I’ll stick with the high fibre one until the end of next week and then maybe switch over to the keto plan.

Well done on ploughing through when things have been a bit tough, Cathy. It’s really valuable to identify triggers and what has been tripping you up. It gives you the opportunity to devise coping strategies, so you’re better equipped going forward. Think once you get to the end of your next week on plan, you’ll be finding it easier and you might well feel you can continue. I’m confident you’ll be reporting good things on Friday, so keep up the good work.

Today I’m fasting and for some reason it’s not feeling as easy as usual. Bedtime soon though and once I’m asleep it’ll get easier!

Hello everyone
I’ve been struggling a little today. Ive felt very hungry. I am doing two meals a day and the average is about 800 calories a day. Today i had some pesto, mushroom, feta and spinach egg muffins for lunch and they were delicious. Evening meal was paneer and broccoli. The food I’ve been eating and I’ve cooked from scratch all week has been absolutely delicious but I’ve realised how much i am missing a little snack! It also highlights where i have been going wrong over the years having the odd snack of a few nuts or a piece of chocolate or an even handful of fruit n fibre cereal! Tonight I had cup of decaf coffee after my meal and i really wanted to have a square of chocolate or some yoghurt and raspberries. I have done my first week on the fast 800 and I do feel proud of how well i have stuck 100% to plan but I’m concerned that i wont be able to sustain things long term. . I need to dig deep and i desperately don’t want to fail. I am sure that when i weigh on Friday I will see a nice loss I want my HbA1c to be back in the normal range in April so I have to lose weight and get my glucose levels down. I am also going away at the beginning of May so I want to feel good in my clothes and for the first time in a long time I do feel like I’ve got this. I might do another week on the fast 800 keto and then see how I feel about changing to another plan. How is everyone else getting on? I think my hands are looking leaner!

Well done Verano with your cataract surgery & after having my left one done I just bought cheap reading glasses to help me read until my eye settled down before going back to my optician for prescription reading glasses. I may need my right eye also doing in the future but now have almost perfect distance vision. It is important to keep using your prescription eye drops until your follow up check up 👍
I’m continuing to try to further reduce my daily calories & to keep low carb
Keep on going everyone & I just wish the rain would go away although the sun did appear for the morning today.
Margaret xx

Wow, Ms Verano, that is a big deal, having cataract surgery. I probably won’t be too far behind you. So glad to hear it went well. : )

Bouncing the positives thread up the list, in the hope someone will take a moment to identify some positives and post again.

Mine for today are …
🤍🤍 seeing drifts of snowdrops in the hedgerows and verges
🤍🤍 pedicure today, so sporting pampered piggies now
🤍🤍 packing list for our upcoming trip has been made, packing starts tomorrow
Oh and one more …
🤍🤍 scales reading down for the week … yay!🤸‍♀️

Just a quick ‘hello’.

I’ve not read through all the posts, I don’t seem to get notifications, but anyway, well done everyone. Losses are losses, water or otherwise. Feeling good and positive is a great way to be.

As for me I’ve just had my first cataract surgery yesterday. It’s all been a bit of a whirlwind. Saw the optician three or so weeks ago, appointment two days later for the following week but had to change it. Had assessment but hadn’t had my contacts out for long enough so had to go back four days later. Then got an appointment for 8 days later. All in all less than four weeks including all the hiccups. Pleased to say all is well. Not at all what I was expecting and actually looking forward to number two.

Anyway, back to today. Plodding along here with a small loss for January but maybe had other things on my mind. I keep seeing s-g counting down to her cruise so thought I should. We now have 10 weeks today to our next trip so plenty of time to make some headway.

Hope everyone has a good week.

Great work Sunny – a great weekly weight loss.
Half way to your first goal – you’ve got this.
I am reporting in a non scale victory as my blood glucose levels have come right down this week. This afternoon it is 4.4. Last week it was 7.0 when I woke up! I know I have to take the 3 month average for my HbA1 result in April and that is why I am totally focused on losing weight and reversing my pre diabetes over the next three months.
How is everyone getting on?

Hi all, back on track and already lost 1kg since yesterday, yes, probably carrying a lot of fluid. Worked out I only have 5 weeks now and my loss is down from 7.5lbs to 5.5lbs however, being the ever optimist, if I can do another 5.5lbs that will be 11lbs – so that is okay with me.

Glad you are enjoying the blog Becca. People say have you ever thought about journalling and I did recently buy the Jason Fung book which turned out to be pages asking the same questions – how are you feeling, what do you weigh, what did you eat, what can you do better and the same thing day after day. I think you can see from my real journal (blog) that I like to chat. It also shows how new this was and what comments I got from, your brain will shrivel up, one even said something like – you need to learn how to read. Yes, 10 years ago this diet was a total breakthrough that no-one had tried before. There had always been diets but this was for diabetics and it worked in reducing BG. People still say I shouldnt cut out carbs and I say yes if I am diabetic. Also, people dont understand the difference between good and bad carbs. I will eat carrots and apples even though these are pretty high but are full of goodness. I wont eat white carbs that have very little nutrient value.

But my blog also shows just how scared I was and the ups and downs and disappointments, the dispaire and highs. If I re-read it I can get a bit weepy at parts. BTW Sparkpeople is still going but it is only for paid subscriptions and it is in US dollars so incurs extra costs in exchange rates on my credit card. Besides that, I think I have said all I needed to say and now put my energies into helping people who are in my situation, be it overweight or diabetic or suffering from some sort of inflammatory condition which can be improved with this diet. I keep thinking I have nothing left to offer but posts like yours show me I do. I also do it for myself as it helps keep me on track.

Have a good week – wish this rain would stop – yes even here in France.

Some wonderful results being posted this week, well done everyone … special mention to Dawn, that was a really great discard! Seems the programme is really helping those who signed up.

I’m reporting in with a 1.5lb discard since last Tuesday, which for me is a good result. This means I’m currently just under half way to my first goal. However, time is not on my side as our next trip starts a week today, but I’ll stay focused and do my best to sneak closer to that initial target before then.

Still exercise snacking, which I’m finding easier to muster motivation for than long sessions, so means I’m including some exercise everyday at the moment.

Hope we can all report in with discards next week. Keep going everyone!

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Another note to you, Denise (S-G)… finally had some time this afternoon and have been reading through your old blog from Sparkpeople. I remember Sparkpeople! One of the many things I tried over the years. It’s a shame they closed it down. Hopefully that won’t happen with this forum… I do worry since it seems so quiet much of the time and so taken over by spam posts. By the way, thanks for all you do with reporting those. They should be paying you for all your diligence in helping to maintain the board.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know how much I’m enjoying and feeling motivated by your blog. I think I may start journaling myself, just to keep a record. The older I get, the more easily I forget things, and it would be nice to remember, down the line, how I finally lost the weight. : )

Becca

Thanks Sue. It sounds like your first day went really well. I’m having Bircher later in the week, it sounds nice so I’m looking forward to it.Dawn X

Cathy – I did the Week 1 exercise routine yesterday and it was very simple – took less than 5 minutes as there were only 5 exercises and each one took 20 seconds. There’s modifications you can do too. I had hand weights but you could use 2 cans of food instead. Only other equipment needed was a chair.
With th HIIT I plan to incorporate that into my walking, as in Week 1 it’s just 3 x 20
second intervals with 40 seconds break in between, so I’ll just increase my walking speed for 20’seconds. I’d imagine that the repetitions will increase over time, but initially it’s all very doable.

Dawn – well done on your loss so far 🙂

My day 1 went well, I had a Choc cherry smoothie for breakfast, this had chia seeds and cottage cheese in it so was quite filling. I had boiled egg, veggies and hommus for lunch. For dinner I made the speedy pizza from the Fast 800 book as I’d already planned to make that. I’m mainly cooking for myself and my husband, but also my 2 daughters 3-4 nights a week.
I made some Bircher Muesli last night (from the program), and the other 2 meals today look nice too, Haloumi kebabs and a chicken curry 🙂 it’s nice trying different meals and the shopping list is helpful.
I’ll check in at the end of the week, looking forward to reading everyone’s updates 🙂

Hi DCT
Your forthcoming holiday to New York is very exciting and I genuinely believe you could lose at least 7lb in the next three weeks by sticking to the menu plan. I opted to do the fast 800 keto vegetarian and I am feeling good whilst doing it. I am already in ketosis and absolutely enjoying my meals. I had a Greek Salad today. Last night I had Paneer and Peas and the food tastes so good. I’m having the same tonight. Looking forward to it too!
I am happy to make separate meals for my husband as he is slim and doesn’t need to lose weight but I can adapt some of the vegetarian meals into vegan meals which are healthy and nutritious. We both had a tofu stir fry this weekend which was really tasty. Like you suggested for your husband, I’ll bulk his out with rice and pasta and potatoes. I like measuring and weighing out the ingredients and knowing everything is calculated nutrition wise. Also, I’ve found out in settings how I can change plan so if I get fed up of keto I can do 5:2 or another version.
I need to think about exercise going forwards but for now I am just concentrating on food intake and walking.

Thanks DCT, I agree it’s really helpful having the food plan all set out and takes a lot of the having to think and organise away. I hope you really enjoy your first week. Dawn X

DAWN well done for such a great loss last week! I’m really pleased for you. And CATHY it’s great that you are also doing well on the online programme and feeling so motivated. It’s my first official day today – I’m in the 9th Feb cohort apparently – and so far so good. It’s recommending 5:2 and today is one of my fast days. I went out and did a huge food shop yesterday to make sure I had everything for this week’s recipes and still found I’d forgotten almonds for this morning’s breakfast! I will also substitute one or two meals this week for my own recipes as I have things to use up that I don’t want to go to waste.

But it’s great having the meal plan and recipes there right in front of you with calorie count and other macros – takes a lot of planning effort away. Like both of you, I will have to do two versions of meals. My husband is happy to lose weight but not prepared to go as low cal/carb as me. So it’ll be a case of padding his out with things like a baked potato, bread or rice etc. No big problem at all.

Wishing everyone on this thread – whether on the plan or not – a successful week. I’m off on my New York trip 3 weeks today so it would be lovely to lose a few pounds before then. Here’s hoping . . . .

Thanks Cathy, I’m actually finding it really helpful that a few of us are doing the online plan together, I think it’s making me more enthusiastic about it😀. I find the daily meal plans really user friendly and have managed to use the ‘swap’ option quite a bit to change meals to things I like using the ‘search’ option and have swapped meals to ‘eating out’ on days I haven’t been eating at home. I’m so pleased you are enjoying the online plan, like you I sometimes make something different for my husband and daughter but it’s worth it to keep myself on plan. I wasn’t keen on my breakfast this morning, mocha berry shake, but drank it and just won’t have that again. I’m having Portobello mushroom pizzas for lunch and chicken fajitas(using lettuce leaves instead of tortillas) for tea, I had it last week and enjoyed it, I just sliced chicken, peppers and red onions, tossed it all in a nice seasoning and olive oil, popped it in a Pyrex dish and cooked it in the air fryer so it didn’t take long at all. I managed to do the exercises every day and I’m reading the ‘knowledge’ and ‘mindfulness’ sections daily (I like clicking that ‘done’ tick😀). The exercises they’ve given me I think must be the easiest ones as I put my exercise level as low so they’re between 5 and 15 mins long. I didn’t think they could really be doing me any good but when I did them today I managed to do the warm up (which last week I found harder than the actual exercises!) a bit better than the same one last week and my balance was better (I didn’t have to hang on to a chair back) so hopefully that means that, although they’re very gentle, they are helping me in some way. It sounds like you are totally determined to stick with this so I’m sure at the end of the 12 weeks you will have great results!
Dawn X

Dawn- that is an incredible weight loss. The online recipes and meal plans are working well for you. What a boost! 5lb is a lot of weight. Keep strong and keep going. I too am following the daily meal plans and I’m thoroughly enjoying the food. I’m finding it difficult making two different meals each day as my husband is vegan and I am doing vegetarian keto so I’m having to make my meal and something different for him but I am going to stick with the plan. I was reading a book by Professor Taylor about reversing diabetes/pre diabetes and he reckons that 800 calories a day for 8-12 weeks is the best way to reverse diabetes and reduce weight quickly and that rapid weight loss isnt a bad thing especially for us slow losers who are then motivated by seeing our weight reduce quickly. I will weigh on Friday but I am sticking rigidly to the plan and am feeling good. I am grateful to you for sharing the information about the 12 week online course. I had been contemplating it since the New Year and I am really glad to be taking part with you and my other BSD friends.