Latest forum posts

  • LTC, my maintenance strategy has been very similar to Allie’s. I’m eating more or less the same as when losing, just a bit more of it. We entertain and eat out a lot (hence Allie’s ref to partying) when I relax a bit, then rein back in immediately to compensate.

    Allie – what ON EARTH do you think the odd glass or two of vino is, if not extra fruit?!!😉 Always counted as one of the 5 a day in this house😜

    And if you think I’m even capable of going “all quiet on you”, then you don’t know me quite as well as you think, my friend! And, while we’re at it, why not hitch a ride on the threatened drone and drop in (literally) for our next house party? 🚁

    Right, off to get ready for yet another (sigh) supper out at the pub with friends. And yes, a few extra portions of fruit will be partaken of🍷🍷🍷

  • After losing so much last week, I have ended this challenge up by 300g from my lowest point. So 82.7kg or just back over 13st for now. It is a bit disappointing to have gained a bit back, especially as yesterday was a fast day, but I have been trying to eat a few more calories on non-fast days, and I’m having transit issues at the moment, so it is not really unexpected. I did end up losing 3.2kg on this challenge, so that is something to celebrate. I’ll definitely be joining the next challenge to keep me on track as I keep trying the 5:2 pattern.

  • Hello Veiled 1

    Welcome to BSD and congratulations on your weight loss so far. I am one of the slow losers on the forum and have had many plateaux along my journey and wondered would it work for me! I started in January this year and have lost 3 stone since then and it was slow. I achieved my goal weight a couple of weeks ago. There were some weeks when the scales didn’t show a loss but my clothes felt really loose. I think I lost fat but it didn’t always register on the scale. I have always found it difficult to lose weight but BSD really did work for me. My top tip would be not to compare your loss to anyone else. We are all different. Keep on with the plan and it will work even if it doesn’t work as quickly as you would wish.

  • No “little analysis”, Theo. After you took a very careful look at my stats and suggested
    I recalculate my TDEE, I realized that I was under each day by 207 cal. ( LTC, I hate to
    exercise in the heat and humidity of a New England summer so I was using a number
    for an inactive person and had totally forgotten to revisit it when I began to walk and do
    a little weight training 3 x week). If Theo hadn’t suggested this, I might be still losing
    2 mystery lbs. a month! LTC, I didn’t make any real changes in my weight loss regimen
    each day, so I picked up the extra calories needed to approach a correct TDEE with extra
    greek yogurt and cacao nibs, a small portions of roasted root vegetables, maybe
    a larger chunk of avocado, an extra hardboiled egg, a few more nuts, these sorts of
    things. Not very adventurous, I know! I’ve never really thought to seek out low carb
    bread or any substitutes because I’m just not focused on returning to old habits. Others
    do fine with the occasional indulgences. Theo and I laugh that while we don’t in any
    way advocate wine to get in enough calories each day, for some crazy reason we seem
    to get away with it 3 times a week or so without any consequences. Some use extra
    fruit when they arrive at maintenance……….Today my carbs usually come in at 25-35.
    During weight loss it was <20. I’m really getting into soup now that it’s cold, often
    containing fire roasted tomatoes. I just compensate for those additional carbs by skipping
    the morning serving of raspberries as compensation. I know that you are a very
    accomplished cook, so I hope this doesn’t sound too bleak to you 🙂 🙂 🙂 I’ll see how
    I feel about the upcoming holiday festivities when it is upon us.
    Theo, you are certainly NOT going to be allowed to go at all silent! I will find you wherever
    you are….I’m not at all above catching a ride with a drone and circling above your house
    and giving explicit instructions to be dropped on your doorstep. I know how much fun
    is going on in your house, and I never like to miss out on a party! Beware, my sweet 🙂

    Talk to you both soon,

    Allie

  • Some great news on this thread this month. It has felt like a really positive challenge. I have finished the month at 132.8 and started at 134.4. Just a little under 2lb lost but I achieved my goal weight during this challenge of 133 lb and am aiming to lose another 3lb before 21st December when I go to see my son in Washington for Christmas. This will give me a little buffer for whilst I am away. I have decided not to partake in the December challenge as I feel I need to take a rest and refocus for my continued maintenance. I am100% committed to BSD and will be reading the forum daily and posting when appropriate and of course will be following your progress. I have got a busy time for the next couple of weeks, singing in a choir and playing my clarinet etc as it is that time of year. I love being part of the forum and it has helped me so much on my BSD journey. Well done everyone for your continued commitment and enthusiasm for our new found way of life. Good luck to everyone for the next challenge.

    Cathy x

  • Hi Marsie,

    Just reading your comment about taking magnesium reminded me of something. I remember a clip of an interview with Jason Fung who was saying people with diabetes are often low in magnesium and he was advocating buying Epsom Salts and throwing a cupful into your bathwater every now and again.

    Not a tip for you as such, but thought it might be worth putting out there. Don’t know if anyone has ever tried it ?

    Marie x

  • Hi Handstands and welcome to the Forum.

    I’m not a TOFI (Thin Outside, Fat Inside) but wondered if you’d read the 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet book itself. I know Michael Mosley described himself as a TOFI. I don’t remember there being much about it in the book itself other than what you probably already know, but he does refer to a number of different research studies and wondered if any of those may lead to more info for you.

    Hopefully, there may be other people on here who are also TOFI’s who may be able to share their experiences with you. Also, have you tried the Diabetes websites – I visit the Diabetes.co.uk website (the red one) quite often and have learnt a lot from there about Diabetes generally – again particularly through the Forum.

    Will be interested to hear what you discover.

    Regards
    Marie x

  • Marsie, of course we’re going to continue to cheer you all on – we’ll be looking for more and more of you to be heading towards full membership on the maintainers thread, after all. But, if I go a bit quiet on the challenge thread, I’m always happy to have a friendly stalker 😉

    Hey, Allie, a stable weight for 10 days is fantastic news. Well done you, maybe my little analysis did help, after all. See you over on After reaching target. ………..

  • posted by  Luvtcook on New life choice for determined alcoholic
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Mary, I am with you. I did a 4 day fast, followed by a very reasonable Thanksgiving holiday…..and am down only 2 lbs over 10 days. The same 2 lbs I would have had WITHOUT the fast.

    Do not know what is going on ….only explanation I have is that a fast is supposed to restore gut bacteria and we are supposed to have 4 lbs of gut bacteria (yes….4lbs….yikes).

    Is it possible that our guts were not in great shape and the fasts do help the healthy bacteria “come back to life”….and maybe multiply to the extent that a lb or 2 could actually be added?

    I am trying to be patient to wait it out and see if the loss I expected shows up down the line, and may do another 2 fast starting tomorrow.

    I have cut my already low alcohol consumitons down to next to nothing (did do 1 glass of wine with Thanksgiving dinner and 1/2 a lite beer over the weekend) but plan to cut even that to zero during the DEC challenge.

    Hope you are not too discouraged to return to the group….you will be much missed. We have to feed our souls as well as our bodies and you and the others on this thread feed my soul. Not losing is frustrating, but going off the plan and actually seeing a permenant gain would be even worse.

    Hope to see you again soon….slog along with me. We can do it even if it takes a bit longer than we would like.

    LTCook

  • Veiled1 – a stone in a month is wonderful. But even more wonderful is a whole 6 inches off your waist which, for a healthy life, is the area that matters. Just think how much visceral fat has gone!! And how much healthier your internal organs are without it.

    Like Allie, I have been in maintenance for 7 months but when I embarked on BSD, whilst I was losing weight, it took WEEKS AND WEEKS before my waist showed any measurable reduction. It was quite dispiriting. But everything eventually evened out and am now easily a UK size 8. Never in a million years did I ever think I’d be able to say that again!!!

    Just stick with it and the results will come. Shout when you are struggling, join is as many threads as you fancy. State your goals, give and receive support – it’s all very motivational. Good luck.

    PS Obviously this has to be a WOE for life. Once you reach target, if you go back to your previous eating habits, then obviously the pounds will go back on. So I just want to reassure you that this WOE is doable for life – obviously we can relax a little once our goal is reached but we still need to adhere to the principles, at least most of the time. I lead an incredibly active social life, entertain a lot, eat out at least 3 times a week, and have still managed to stay more than half a stone under goal. One just has to be mindful.

  • Well done on a whole stone lost in 4 weeks, Veiled1 – and all those inches gone too! You are doing great and the current situation will pass, as long as you stick with the 800 cals, keep an eye of the carbs, keep well hydrated and keep up the exercise. Once your body has adjusted, the pounds will start to drop again. Weight loss is not linear, there will be stalls and even the occasional small gain, but overall, you will see the weight decrease – keep an eye on the big picture. Try not to measure your success against that of others, as we are all unique and our bodies all behave a little differently.

    Some good advice above, about finding non-scale victories to help keep you focused. Using clothes as a motivator is a good way to go, as regardless what the scales are saying, if you can fit into the next size down, it’ll give you a real boost. Also setting mini-goals along the way, helps to give a sense of achievement as you progress – getting into the next stone band, losing the next half stone, fitting into a garment you always loved but haven’t been able to wear in ages, etc.

    Hope you stick with it and don’t give up. We all go through glum days, when we wonder why we are bothering, but when you take stock of progress and notice benefits other than the pounds lost, it helps to bring things into perspective and spurs you along. And soon, your palate and tastes will change and most of those things you used to eat and enjoy and right now want again, will fail to appeal in the same way.

    Best of luck to you – hope you get to where you really want to be, Veiled1.

  • sunshine-girl, I’ve been forgetting to say thank you for the soap-in-the-bed tip. It’s been so good for banishing cramps. I’d been hoping it might be beneficial also for restless legs but nevermind, no cramps in legs or feet is a blessing. Thanks for passing that on.

    I’m already taking magnesium for the restless legs so if anyone has any added thoughts I’d be very interested.

  • 29 posts already! I really need to come online x2/day just to keep up with all the great stories☺ It’s lovely to see all the new names, and the returning names, along with the hardy regulars.

    I’m starting this challenge at 62kg, still overweight on the BMI scale due to being only 152cm. The 57kg on the scales needed to break through to normal weight seems a little unattainable and I’m setting my goal for this challenge at 60kg i.e lose 2kg.

    Best wishes to us all in the “silly season” ie the very social lead-up to Christmas💜

  • Congratulations to all who are finishing up this challenge with losses to report. A loss
    is still a loss, after all 🙂 Some of you are getting so close to target. This WILL be the
    month!!
    Sunshine-girl, it’s great to see you back on track, and stepping up for the new Dec.
    challenge.
    I’d really like to follow everyone’s progress and pop in for a word of encouragement
    on the way, but I think Theo may be correct. Best we take our lamentations about
    anxieties over continuing weight loss over to the maintenance thread. I’m doing
    better in that I haven’t lost any more weight in 10 days. If I can keep that up for the
    weeks leading into Christmas, I may have it figured it out.
    Best of luck to everyone committed to their Dec. goals. I’ll be cheering you on as
    you go. I haven’t retired my pompoms, I promise! 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Allie

  • Good evening, fellow challengers. Late in the day for me to be reporting my morning weigh-in but here it is, 62kg. This is the same as last weekbut 1.4 kg loss for the challenge. I’m very happy with that as I’ve pretty much been hanging around here doing not much more than moan about my lack of intent. Thanks all for your patience.

    This has been a great challenge for many, and for all of us ….well done for taking charge of our own welfare. 👏👏👏

    I’m glad you’ll be popping in SunnyB, and Theodora, we’ll miss you and if we don’t hear from you I just might find myself searching for you elsewhere on the forum😊

    See you all on the new challenge💜

  • Hello There,
    I have just discovered this Forum. I was astounded to have an HbA1c level of 42mmol/mol (prediabetes) in February. Also I had a BMI of 19. Trying to find info on ‘thin diabetics’ had been difficult. I have been able to reduce my HBA1c but at the cost of more weight loss. Not a good situation as I have osteoporosis (no treatment) I have been told that no action will be taken as to what type of diabetes I am likely to have until I get a diagnosis of diabetes. ?? LADA. I have decided to take some advice outside the NHS…..so watch this space.
    PS I am a retired Practice Nurse, and was beginning to suspect that the prescribed dietary advice was not keeping up with changes in thinking when I finished four years ago.

  • Yes definitely the way to go. I try on clothes that motivates me and then find a dress that I can squeeze into but needs work and hang it on the wardrobe and have a date to wear . You should write down all the things that now fit because you are slimmer/ benefits of how you feel and what motivates you to keep going plus find some brilliant food that fits into 800. I bought the mimi Spencer’s book about this time and it really helped as I felt I was eating nice food. Bring on that xmas outfit !! Make it red and cheery!!

  • Hi Ally
    I have been walking most days weather permitting. I always get minimum 10000 steps. I have never been over my 800 by more than say 7 cals . I didnt realise drinking water was such a huge thing, but I have been drinking more anyway as I seem to be very thirsty, but
    maybe I should drink more still. I will join the Dec group. Thanks

  • Thanks for the replies, you are right, every time i do other diets and stop I just put even more weight on. My measurements have changed to be fair, I have lost 6 inches off my waist and 2 inches from my hips, but I have this number in my head weight wise. I will stick at. My carbs are very low anyway. Maybe I will drink more water. Onwards and upwards…

  • Good morning, Veiled1. There many maintainers here like myself, along with others
    who are far along on this WOE. There are a myriad of suggestions and tips that we
    would be happy to share with you, but without more information on the specifics
    of how you have done your weight loss so far, we would simply be speculating
    blindly. (carb levels, amount of water, exercise if any, etc. etc. etc.). Just want to
    let you know that I lost 10 stone in 10 months, and have been maintaining for the
    past 7 months losing an additional 7 lbs. along the way. I never lost more than
    14 lbs. in any one month either. Every journey is a unique experience, and it’s
    always best not to compare your rate of loss to others. I noticed that you’ve
    also only posted a few times in your four weeks. I think it would be invaluable
    to you to join the new Dec. challenge. The support available is what gets us
    through the moments of discouragement and/or frustration, and you will meet
    some extraordinary and knowledgeable people along the way.
    I’d be delighted to help, but need more information 🙂
    Best wishes,

    Allie

  • Hi there, I am joining until 19th Dec when I go away. I like to be in a challenge and it is something new to aim for and goal setting. So my weight today is 12st 3/4lb and I would like to be 11.11 by the end date. As I said on another post, my husband is going away on Thursday and wont be back until Monday evening so I am going to need a lot of encouragement and cuddles from you lot to keep me on track. My biggest problem might be boredom and I am planning on a couple of trips out on Saturday and Sunday.

    Good luck everyone and keep on keeping on…

  • Well done you have lost a stone and that is a massive amount. Yes, this is just a normal plateau and not the time to give up or sneak in old habits. You say you have lost weight before and still eaten bread so why are you on yet another diet, because going back does not work and you have probably ended up heavier each time. As LessMT says, start using other measurements as the scales are not always a true representation of what is happening.

    Right now your body is readjusting to its new weight and you will start to lose again but only if you dont pack it in. When the going gets tough the tough keep going. You could try lowering your carbs a little and drinking lots and lots of water or you could just keep on and wait for this phase to pass. Whatever you do, stick with it.

  • Well done to all those who have lost during this challenge. I started on this at 12st 3lbs and now weigh 12st 3/4 lbs so 2.25 lbs loss. Not really good considering I lost 3.5lbs in the first week and then managed to gain it again and then lose some of it. Well it is still a loss so i’ll take that. Just done 50 mins aerobics in front of the TV.

    I am going to find it hard going at the end of this week as my husband is going away for 5 days. Hurry I shout but then it is a long time to be on my own day and night. I intend to go market shopping on Saturday and it is our village Xmas fete on Sunday. I just hope I dont resort to snacking due to boredom although there is very little in our house to snack on. I will join the next challenge to keep be on track so will see you over there.

  • This is the time to take your measurements and body fat. I went through a phase about weeks 5 and 6 which was slow and then it all moved again but in that time I went down a couple of inches on my waist which has become a perm reduction. Basically if you keep up 800 calories and keep going it will happen. If you are craving something then have it in 800. You have lost a stone obviously 🙄 it is working!!!

  • Hi all
    So I have completed my first four weeks. (Week 1-) 8lb lost,( week 2) – 3 lb lost, (week 3 )- 2lb (week 4 )- 1lb lost
    really disappointed as its getting less and less, and its making me less motivated. I keep getting that niggling thought that if Im not even losing weight why arent I eating all the things I enjoy as its not working anyway…I feel really de motivated. Yes I have lost a stone in a month, but to be fair I have done this on other diets and still eaten bread etc. Please can somebody tell me that this is just a normal plateau and weight loss will resume as I dont want to give up. Has anyone else had this issue?? Please help as I still have over 2 stone to lose and dont want to blow it. Many thanks in advance……

  • Wow! Some brilliant results being posted, both for the week and the challenge overall. I joined the challenge a week late and freely admit I’ve coasted on and off ever since. Anyway, my result is not stupendous, but is one that I am content with – 0.6lb loss for the week, 1.6lb loss since taking up the challenge. None of this is earth shattering, but as I am in maintenance I’m pleased to be under target weight by 2.4lb. Not a huge margin admittedly, though I am still trying to build that a little more. Seem to be maintaining with only small fluctuations and not yet been back up the target weight, so feel in general things are going well.

    Whilst I’m not planning to actively join the next challenge, I will pop in to see what’s happening with you all and offer comment if appropriate. Most of you seem to be on a roll and I’m sure you will all be reporting more good things before the festive season. To those who have struggled, stick with it – mind-set and determination is a big part of the battle and I’m confident you can all be posting good results if you keep right on.

  • Hello all – I’m wading in too – have had a 2lbs loss this week at the last of the November Challenge but am still a long way off what I would like to be, and where I was this time last year – however, trying to be more realistic than I have been of late and my goal is to lose 3lbs in this challenge, and to walk at least 30 minutes, three times a week.

    Will also try to check in more often but work is really busy and I’ve just started a Coaching and Mentoring course – no rest for the wicked!!

  • posted by  Buggerlugs on Confused about carbs vs calories
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Sunshine Girl, actually we’re ok with 800 calories. We’re coming from 5:2 where the limit for females is 500. We have cleared out pantry and fridge. I think breakfast is the highest carb meal we have, so the challenge is/was to reduce the carbs there. But we are slowly getting there.
    Thank you for your reply and advice.
    Best wishes
    Buggerlugs

  • posted by  Buggerlugs on Confused about carbs vs calories
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Allie, thank you for response. Congratulations on your weight loss, that’s amazing success. I’m looking forward to see what we can achieve. It’s a big learning curve and definitely a complete change in lifestyle. We are trying to stick to 20g of carbs a day and that seems to correlate with 800cal. At the moment we have lots of delicious summer fruits coming into season, so it’ll be a challenge to resist eating them in bulk! 😁😁

    Best wishes
    Buggerlugs

  • Morning challenge buddies and many congratulations to all you losers out there – there are many of you and that’s wonderful to see, especially since we are entering the festive season – keep going!

    I finish this challenge at exactly the same weight as I started it – 10 stone. I still haven’t upped my exercise and carbs are still controlling me on some days BUT – I am 1lb ahead of my target to lose 5lbs by Christmas (which was the challenge I set myself last week) – just 3lbs to go, and four weeks to do it.

    See you on the December challenge everyone!

  • Hi Sueonit,

    Let’s both cheer each other on now and in 2018… that would be lovely!

    When I first started I couldn’t think about how many stones I needed to lose. Like you, for me it was just too dispiriting. So, I’ve just focused on small targets that are achievable but meaningful to me. Being successful in meeting them has helped keep me going. It’s only in the last couple of weeks that I’ve looked up a bit and can see the healthy BMI coming into sight.

    I am also focused because of my diabetes diagnosis – like Bill1954 (old thread you might have seen) this has to work for me – and it has. The most important thing for me has been getting my blood sugars down and I’ve done it – now I’ve just got to maintain it.

    As for getting on the scales, when I get on them I still do the old trick of shifting around, leaning sideways, lifting one foot up if I see the slightest flicker downwards on the lb side ’til I get the lower number. And so we go on ………

    We’re both doing brilliantly, in fact we’re all doing brilliantly. Three cheers for us!

    Marie x

    Right, I’m off to Pilates. I never thought I’d be saying that six months ago!

  • posted by  Inka13 on New life choice for determined alcoholic
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Dear Nonna Mary,
    You and I are so alike, the slightest blip and I put on heaps yet it takes weeks to lose!! This is why I rarely post anymore, so tired of saying the same things over and over and hardly ever losing let alone maintaining! It’s been a long 14 months….
    SO. Maybe you and I are slower losers but we are still here and still trying. Imagine the state we’d be in if we weren’t.
    I still love this way of eating and will keep it up forever, it makes me feel great so let’s both of us keep going!!! xxxxxx

  • posted by  KazzUK on New life choice for determined alcoholic
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Mary – I am so effin fed up for you also! I’ve also noticed how quickly I can gain after a weekend of more calories than perhaps in the week, and that it takes longer to lose it again. My only advice would be change your weigh in day to Friday mornings. Do not peep in between as we fluctuate most days and weighing every day and seeing this is very disheartening. But for now, have a break from this and re-charge. You’ve been working so hard at BSD for the best part of a year I think? Don’t go too mad though and never come back… otherwise I’ll hunt you down! 🙂 Lots and lots of cyber hugs xxxxxxxxxxxxx

  • Looks like a successful challenge for most, so very well done to you all.

    My challenge was to maintain and stay exactly the same or even put on a pound or two. Failed in that, but not too dramatically as I’m finishing the challenge only 2lbs lighter than I began it which I’ll settle for as, at one stage, I was 5.5lbs below.

    I won’t be joining the next challenge as I feel uncomfortable bemoaning too much weight loss when others are struggling to reach their goals. But I will continue to try to balance maintenance and report in our maintenance thread instead. I will of course be cheering you all on from the sidelines however and hoping you all attain your Christmas goals.

  • Hi

    I would like to join as well. I too like Movex don’t do well with low carb. The only 2 x I have tried in my life
    I have ended up I’ll. so after illness and a holiday an up 7lbs but am redoing 8 weeks the way I did in the beginning sticking to 800 calories and copying a man in the book who tried to eat the nicest and most for his 800 calories. I have discovered new things on this woe like cream in my coffee 1x a day avoids a biscuit and a tomato based curry from the fast cook book …. I eat it 2 x a week I crave it! With cauli rice . Have bought a whole new wardrobe so need to stay on this size 10 / 12 zone or less!

  • Hi Marie,
    just read your post congratulations on your weight loss, that is amazing. It will be a great start to the new year 2018. I will cheer you on….
    From your post you sound so focused 👀
    I get REALLY nervous stepping on the scales and for a long time the MENTION of having such a high BMI AND BEING classed as morbidly obese made me feel physically sick! I seemed to self sabotage myself!!! I feel more in control with the BSD and I am getting results.
    So my target 🎯for this challenge is 4lbs and I will start 2018 being nearer to that lower BMI, 😊

  • Good mornings my fellow Challenger’s
    This seems to have been a very successful challenge and for me it has been th most successful. I have lost another pound this week which means I have lost a total of 8 pounds over the four weeks. I did see a new low earlier in the week which took me over the three stone of mark but have bounced up a bit by 1 pound which takes me back over. I am not concerned about it as last ttime me I lost half stone quickly it took my poor old body a while to accept the new low.
    Now for the next few weeks.
    Keeping on………..”
    X B

  • posted by  alliecat on New life choice for determined alcoholic
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Dearest Mary, I feel heartsick that you are having such a difficult time and can’t find
    a way out of it at the moment. I never had to fight for every pound as you have, and
    know I would be feeling the same way you are today if that had ever been the case.
    You may feel you need to clear your head and stop thinking about the BSD every
    waking hour. Be kind to yourself, please. It’s so important! You know how to find
    me, either privately or on the forum. Don’t hesitate to do so, okay? I am at a loss to
    help you find the answers, but do pray that someone else who has had the same
    issues will be along to help. I think I might start with a complete physical, but
    only you know what is best for you. Just know that you are much loved here.
    I’ll be “on call” and happy to help in any way I can.( insert heart here)

    Allie
    xoxoxo

  • posted by  marie123 on I will get to my goal weight!!!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Andy,
    That would be a great result wouldn’t it – to be classed in the healthy weight range. Hopefully, that’ll be one of my first goals in 2018. I noticed that we’ve just both joined the December challenge so I’ll look forward to cheering you on from the sidelines when you lose those 2lbs – and hopefully more!

    By the way, brilliant weight loss to date – congratulations.

    Marie x