Thanks ever so much for reply. I think BNS lasagne will be a treat in future.

Hi Bigeater – Michael Mosley’s 5:2 website has a good TDEE reckoner.
SSB

Put it into a nutrition calculator and see how many calories and carbs it has per 100 g. Also compare it to other carbs like potatoes, I believe sweet potatoes are higher than white potatoes although lots of people think they are okay, they are not. If you are on 800 cals and around 50 to 100 carbs you will have your answer. Personally I only have squashes now and then.

I have just done the check for you and 100 g butternut squash is 12 g of carbs and 45 calories. Compare to cauliflower which has 5g carbs and 25 calories, you can see where you can be saving on both carbs and cals. Also remember it is the type of carbs that are bad for diabetics and should be cut out, all underground so you would think BNS is okay but I would say again only occasionally.

Hi Mariet & Luckylinda

I’m mid week of first week knuckling down and I am starving 🙁 worse than I ever was back in Feb – never mind ploughing on got determination written all over me lol

I’ve been doing this little 6minute full body toning exercise routine by Zana Morris (on YouTube) which isn’t much but I think it has helped with toning – am now upping it to morning and night everyday and trying to put in a few 5k runs a week (eh hmmm – well maybe 2, knees aren’t what they used to be) – I also like PIYO but my flexibility is shocking – ridiculous as I know I have to do it to improve flexibility and its all about the core so should try and do it more often – all the usual excuses family, working, too tired, can’t be bothered………..

LL – interesting about the pasta and not enjoying it now, pasta and rice use to be my go to foods and had one with every meal (and mounds of it – thanks sliming world!) can’t believe I have not missed them.

Hope everyone keeping on x

Still here! Well done Angie, that’s awesome. I eat eggs for breakfast every day and always have 100g of cooked meat (usually chicken) for lunch and fish or chicken or steak for dinner. If you’re veggo though, obviously that won’t work for you!

I’ve just hit my first goal weight (getting under 80kg/176lbs), which I haven’t been since 2013! I can also fit into a whole lot of clothes I haven’t been able to fit into for ages.

So I’ve lost 5.2kg (11lb) since the start of May. I could have lost lots more if I didn’t drink alcohol and eat chocolate and pizza on the weekends, but it goes to show it does still work even if you’re not super strict 🙂 About to go on 4.5weeks holiday to America this weekend though, so I’m hoping to stick to the principles as much as possible and not put on too much (unlike usual!)

Hi DTNMore and Verano
Thank you girls for your kind support , remotivated and moving forward. Will try your tips.

Keep going
🙋🙋🙋

Hi Perseverance,

Well done on the weightloss so far. My personal thoughts are that your rate of loss is very steady and on track. You are starting from a lower base than many people, and with that into account I wouldnt be concerned about averages.

You are also very active and you may be losing fat and gaining muscle mass. Have you been taking measurements as well? As I know people often find on slower weighloss periods it shows more on the tape measure.

I will be honest I am not sure on the age factor.

Are you drinking plenty of water?

best wishes

Hi all

Oh Jan know how hard it gets at times. Like dumptynomore I find 8 weeks very hard to sustain and it can become overwhelming. I find 4 week chunks much easier to stick to.

Sometimes it’s really hard to get your head back into gear when you’ve been following a plan for a long time. I think you get stale and fall into a rut with same food over and over again. I have found my ‘7days to renew enthusiasm ‘ thread really useful with some great ideas for varying your diet. Otherwise a new cook book, Tom Kerridge is very good if you’ve not read it. Even re-reading The BSD book helps too.

I’ve posted a link below from an email from Myfitnesspal that came this morning. It may just give you some inspiration. One of the tips is dumptynomores …. concentrate on what you can have not what you can’t.

’21 Dietitian-Approved Tips to Jump-Start Weight Loss’ – http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/21-dietitian-approved-tips-jump-start-weight-loss/

We’ll all get to where we want to be eventually it’s just a case of helping each other through the rough patches. What’s gone is gone you can only make today better.

Hello everyone, newbie here.

Hubs and I are starting the BDS on Monday having purchased the recipe book yesterday.

Hubs is type 2 diabetic and I need to lose a stone and a half.

My question is about BNS, is it ok to have this instead of cauliflower rice and courgettie?

I make a mean BNS lasagne and was wondering if I could incorporate it in to the plan.

Thanks for reading!

Hi, does anyone have a reliable or reputable site that measures tdee. I have been to a couple and get a variance of 1300 calories. Would be good to have a bit more clarity,

Thanks
Bigeater

Oh, Jan- I know that feeling so well where I can’t seem to stop eating even when I really really want to. I did that for the first 6 months of the year and then really had to give my self a right good talking to. I had got to the stage where I couldn’t actually walk for more than 5 mins. What I have learned is that just easing into gradually, first reducing refined sugars then cutting out, then work on eating protein at each meal – concentrating on what I can have rather than what I can’t. And you know this too – it becomes second nature in a very short time. I don’t know if this helps but what i have done is is make a list of breakfasts, a list of lunches a list of snacks a list of evening meals . The night before I choose from each list write it my diary. Takes away the ‘eating ad lib’ factor. It seems to be helping (who knows for how long though! Watch this space!).
Anyhoo, go Barbie ! Paul McKenna (yep – tried that too) used to say -visualise where you want to be really think it, see it, feel it, own it wihyour eyes closed. He also had a DVD that was titled something like ‘Secrets of a thin person’ – turns out thin people eat everything in moderation. My problem is that I eat everything to excess! Therein lies the problem. You go girl – post as often as you like! You know you will always know I’m with you, doing this to the best of our ability, every step of this way. We all are!
Come on Jan , we can do this! I say this to encourage myself too and everybody else too. Never mind the blips! We’re only human after all! Haven’t been walking so far today – tut tut! Bucketing with rain. Used to work with a doctor -when I said I wasn’t going for my lunchtime walk because it was raining, she would say ‘you’re not going to melt.’ Very true -but my hair will frizz up – 😀

Everybody else – keep going, for today only! And if it goes belly up (oh dear!) tomorrow is a brand new day – a clean slate!

From the soft and gentle thread by the sisters of mercy – 😀

We have a weekly weigh in club at work, helps with incentive. Lost 2lb in week how , no idea. For me that is 40lb down from last October.

I started 3 1/2 weeks ago and have stuck to the 800 calorie blood sugar diet and increased activity. I swim 30 mins a day and walk 10000 steps ( some of this playing golf) . Sometimes I use the exercise bike for 20 mins or 10 mins on the 20 second burst system suggested by Dr M Moselely
I initially lost 3kg but now weight loss is slowing to about 1kg a week despite having upped the exercise and continuing to follow the 800 cals low carb diet. I have the book and recipe book and really haven’t cheated. At this rate I will not lose the average 14K that it is suggested should be achieved.
Has anyone else found a slow down in weight loss and how can I kick start it again? Starting weight 81kg currently 74.9KG
Is it harder to lose weight the older you are? I am female age 70

Hi guys.
We should rename this thread the soft and gentle thread by the sisters of mercy. We are all working sensibly and kindly for long term results, I’ve had an awful few days eating wise, my 3 days, triggered everything of for me, and was just eating any old rubbish, of course stopped logging it on MFP worst thing to do as it’s so easy to forget, we’ll sort of for days. I find logging it keeps me in the real world, not the barbie shaped one where I can eat alsorts of stuff and look like her. What a laugh who am I kidding, but there you go the internals of a fat persons mind. Hehe
Anyway, back to it today, but as a consequence I’ve put on 1k so weigh day Friday, and it won’t be water as it’s over many days, it will be a miserable experience I think.
But onwards and downwards, got to eat, so may as well make it healthy. Just to test myself just had poached eggs on toast and can’t say I particularly enjoyed it, used to love this for breakfast. So back to 1000 cals trying for low carb but not pedantically, I just can’t seem to sustain it anymore. But talking on these blogs definitely keeps me sane.
Happy Wednesday 🙋💃🙋💃🙋💃🙋

S-g that’s great you’ll soon be out of the ‘twenties’ and into the ‘teens’. It must be so satisfying to be moving down with both insulin and weight.

Well done NancyB shouldn’t be too long before you get into the 16’s and why not aim for 14 by Xmas it’s still many months away.

Julia I often average out my calories and carbs over a week or a few days that evens out any damage and is less demoralising.

Well I’m off to have my yogurt and berries too Sumo.

Scales dropped by a smidgeon today so I can actually report an overall loss for this challenge at last! I’d love another challenge after this one but it will only be 5 weeks for me. I really do need to carry on while I have my head in gear! Have a good day.

Hi Everyone,
How’s it going so far?
I’m now 5 days in and have lost 6 lbs, very pleased!
I’m finding it ok, not really missing sugar yet, which surprises me. I know I have to avoid it completely though, because I know if I have a tiny bit of chocolate, I’ll go on to eat the whole bar!
Today won’t be too good for the diet though, as it’s my 20th wedding anniversary, and my husband is taking me out to dinner. I’ve already checked out the menu, and found some good choices, but I know I’ll be having a glass of two of champagne! Im just going to enjoy it, and get back on track tomorrow !

First a huge THANK YOU, for all your support, it really, really helps.

Kitty, well done on the walking. You are great. Just a little caveat, make sure that a)… its something you like doing and… b) it is sustainable when the weather changes.

It is persisting down here at the moment and I am about to do my wii fit. I am lucky that my dogs hate walking in the rain, so they are just going to watch me and sleep (what a life), I always feel sorry for people and dogs who walk in the rain, the dogs don’t look happy and the owners are soaking wet. Not much fun for either.

That’s all for now. Will check in later and see how everyone is doing.

Much love
Nonna Mary
xxx

LOL! Go on Esnecca,, if you have the time let us know what we should do with Brazil nuts. I was just having a conversation with somebody yesterday who was saying that, here in the UK, they have become very scarce because of a drought in South America so we may have to wait to try the recipe out.

Last night, as a change from mashed cauliflower, I made butterbean mash. I softened half a red onion and two cloves of garlic in a tbsp. of olive oil. Added 100ml of milk, juice of a lemon and the butterbeans with a tsp of mixed Italian herbs, but any herbs would be fine. Cooked for 10 minutes then smashed with a hand blender. I didn’t work out the calories or carbs but it made a nice change and I only had a couple of tablespoons full.

Woken up to a negative feeling. I know that it’s just a passing thing (or at least I hope it is). Had my breakfast at 9am and think I might regret that. It’s the earliest I’ve eaten since starting.

It’s all about the mental game today. I can feel that little bit of my brain that persuades me to eat doing its best to be heard. So I hear you, I acknowledge you but I’m worth more than that. I deserve to be healthy. I am not going to die prematurely just because you won’t shut up. I’m going to go for a long walk in damp woods with my gorgeous children. So there.

Hi Pirellibelli, if you take a look at the Clever Guts book, MM says that two things happen when we go on a diet – I.e reduce calories – the first is that we produce more grehlin – the hormone that makes us feel hungry, and less leptin – the hormone that tells us we’re full! I’m guessing this is an ancestral mechanism to guard against starvation but obviously for those of us who are reducing calories to lose weight seems like nature trying to sabotage our efforts. The good news is that if you can ‘tough it out’, these hormones do eventually recalibrate. Studies have shown that if people can keep weight off for a year, their bodies ‘get used’ to the new weight and so they are less likely to re-gain weight. Remember that the BSD is a way of life for health – the weight-loss is just one of the benefits.
Keep going – you will get there.

SSB

Thank you KrysiaD!

I have now had a good nose around the forum and the motivational aspects of the posts are brilliant! There are certainly a few times over the past year when I could have done with some of the wisdom here!

Still, onwards and upwards… keep on keeping on!

Been doing great all week, lots of graft in evolving garden, summer house up, need the little bits doing to finish off, new hot tube craned over house, so good for soaking the aches and pains away.
When I say great, I have not been near the scales this week, so maybe not so great come Saturday morning?
Just had my 150g of full fat Greek style yogurt with fresh Raspberries and Strawberries, yum

Well done NancyB!
I had a good day Monday, yesterday not so easy, but reasonable, but at work today, so easy to stick to BSD as I take my food in with me. Hope everyone’s week is going well so far.

The flaxseed crackers are very little hands-on work, really. Just a lot of waiting. I admit I do tend to complicate recipes. I like to aim for the best possible outcome, and in my experience, the ultimate success of the dish is all in the details. This tendency has only gotten worse with the BSD because my palate has become much more sensitive. Also we only have 800 calories to play with and I want to pack as much flavor in those 800 calories as possible. You don’t want to know about my new method of seasoning Brazil nuts. I cannot tell a lie. It’s insane. 😀

Forgot to say… didn’t get swimming but did go for 2nd walk this evening 🚶‍♀️

Well said Lee, good night everyone x
Kitty 🐱

Good luck Elizabethflorence – can’t wait to here your results! I only weighed in this morning 13 st 1 lb. Ugh. Roll on my first weigh in. Today went ok I’m heading to bed soon – can feel some hunger pains. Anyone got tips to get through the night – this is usually were I wake at 4 am starving. Hopefully the low carb will knock me out.

Thank you for posting. I think I now know what caused it and how to avoid it next time. I’m having a super early night and watching trashy tv to distract myself!

I haven’t really been counting carbs just avoiding the crap ones. Maybe I should move towards that.

Couldn’t keep up with all the posts today. So lovely to see so many of you around.

However, couldn’t have the day draw to a close without H66 getting an extra big hug. Every mothers worst nightmare. ❤️❤️❤️

L 😘

OMG Mary. I’m so feckin proud of you! 🎉
It’s just what you deserve after mirror gate. Told ya it would happen….
Of course I’m going to give credit to Jovis and his amazing sounding steak and veg xxx

When you start out, most of what you think is hunger is actually cravings. You will find that as you withdraw from the effect of the easy carbs that cause the cravings you will begin to recognise, and even sometimes welcome real hunger. Keep on keeping on, and it will definitely get better.

Hi folks, not weighing in today as I am several hundred miles away from my scales, and having a bit of another indulgent few days on holiday 😊 enjoyed one of my favourite ice creams today, and having a glass of sparkling wine tonight after a Thai takeaway (no rice or noodles, though), although some of that may be mitigated by the 15,000 plus steps I have done every day since getting here. Good work everyone, whether or not your challenge is going to plan. Just remember that by just being here and focused on your health, you are doing far better than you would be without that mindfulness.

Topcac – hope your back gets better soon 🙂 you comment about snow and shine made me chuckle. Here in Sydney it is supposedly mid-winter, but on Sunday they are forecasting the warmest July day on record with a sunny 26 degrees. It has been warm and sunny during the day all this week, more like Spring – so certainly no Snowing here!
Pod – I had a 6lb gain recently but it was gone within the week and now I’m back on plan my weight is going down again. I’m sure it’s only a temporary gain for you 🙂
Sunny B – I’m always satisfied with no loss or small losses too – always relieved it isn’t an increase.
Theodora – Since someone put ‘Hotel Theodora’ on here I keep thinking of the Eagles song ‘Hotel California’ – Welcome to the Hotel Theodora…. lol. It would be difficult trying to follow this WOE while entertaining and having guests. It’s good that the months you worked so hard to lose weight gave you some wriggle room for the summer 🙂
I really regret that in the past I didn’t keep a closer check on my weight (don’t we all) – it would be so much easier to just be reversing small gains all the time than trying to lose 28 kilograms at once like I’m doing now.

Well done, in remaining in control in the face of a craving like that you are building good habits for the future. Don’t worry about going over carbs if necessary, just keep what you eat on plan, or try drinking a glass of water. Distraction sometimes helps as well.

Once again, a very mixed bag of reports for this week it seems.

Like me, you have been learning a lesson Pod. It seems we have to do these things to ourselves, to realise we can’t go back. For me this week was trashed by errant ways on Saturday and consequently, my report is of a tiny 0.2lb loss. To be honest, I’m content that it isn’t an increase. This means I am actually 0.8lb from goal weight, so in with a shot at getting there for the end of the challenge – but then this week is being disrupted by grandchildren, so who knows!

To those reporting a loss – congratulations and to those reporting a gain – commiserations. Keep at it everyone and do good things this week.

Narrowly avoided a binge. I hope. Had a square of dark choc which means I am over my calories but think it stopped me eating all the things. Took me by surprise as thought i was doing fine today.

Hi Ancient Weaver
Good on you for doing lots of exercise – just wondering how old you are? I am 57 and need to get alot more active.
I was weighed at WeightWatchers earlier and really happy to report another 3lb off, so I’m now down in the 15s – 15st 11lb.
Came home and had delicious and very filling stirfry beef with asparagus and mangetout from the BSD recipe book, served with cauliflower rice.
This thread seems very quiet – I am now on ‘Seriously Doing the 800 Fast, Join Me’ which is much livelier.
Nancy x

Hi everybody!
Weighed at WeightWatchers earlier – and delighted with 3lb off this week and I am now in the 15s at last!! 15st 11lb. So I have lost 25lb since I first started the 800 BSD 1st February this year.
Came home and ate the other half of the stirfy beef with asparagus and mangetout with cauliflower rice – absolutely delicious and very filling.
My size 18 trousers are getting rather loose – noticed this last few days, but I still can’t get into 16s so I suppose for now I’ll have to keep the baggy 18s up with string – or braces lol!!! I would be so happy if I could get into size 14s by Xmas.
Treating myself to a tin of Morrison’s gin and diet tonic – 50 cals in total.
Stick with it – it works!!!
Nancy x

Thanks Mary. I will get there, I just have to stick with the programme.

No change on the scales this morning but noticed I didn’t get quite as wedged into the bath as usual! Still feeling really good.

Today’s test was a picnic at a NT place. I took a ham and egg salad and a tangerine. I was full and satisfied and my friend was jealous of my lovely lunch. Lots of water and lots of walking. I was definitely less puffed on the hills than normal (it’s an extremely hilly place).

Nothing too difficult tomorrow – walk in the woods as it’s going to be raining and I’ve got my friend’s little boys for the day. We’ll be back here for lunch and luckily the woods have no sweet shops or icecream vans so no temptation…

Camping is going to be really difficult but I am part way through formulating a plan!

Oh FFBB, I wish I could help. It will work honest….I know its not easy…i found the first 3 days the hardest. Psychologists say it takes 3 times to reset a habit….now I keep thinking, why would I want to ruin all that hard work. You will get there. I love your determination.

Love Nonna Mary
xxx

It really does get easier very quickly! I promise.

Day 31 in the BSD house.

Nowt much to report. Felt like crap this morning and I have been hungry all day again…..totally my own fault.

Revised plan…. no more alcohol until I can fasten AND sit down in the size 16 jeans. If this means no socialising then so be it. Luckily the short cut (which is a foot bridge) into the village by the pub on the river is being removed and replaced so I will be walking the long way to and from home and not seeing temptation.

Still I am taking it one day at a time.

FFBB X

Well done Mary, losing 4lbs is just brilliant. Shows what can be done when you put your mind t it!!

I had masses of weight to lose when I started the BSD too. I’d already lost a few pounds cutting out all simple carbs (bread, pasta, rice, cereals, sugar) in the six months before I started so I was already used to that aspect. Weighing and measuring everything was a whole new ball of wax, a revelation even, because I realized that for my whole life I had no idea what portion sizes really amounted to.

That was August 1st, 2016. It’ll be my BSD birthday in a week, and I’ve lost more than 150 pounds. You can do it, Pirellibelli. Keep an open mind about food, drink like you just crossed the Sahara and seek out high fiber foods (avocado, soy beans, cooking greens) to fight hunger.

Good luck!

I’m so glad I’m not alone!
ive had scrambled eggs and mackeral pate – the only thing which seems to be working for me is ive had a few cups of strong black coffee and a pint of water. im up to 5 pints already haha.

Keep at it, think of your thinner, happier self. 🙂

Hi Angie TW I’m still here and stuck on 1st 2lb but pleased with the last 8 weeks so I’m carrying on with it. I aim to lose another 2 stone and this diet is great. I’m vegetarian so my protein is cheese, cottage cheese, hummus and a lot of quorn in its varying forms. Quorn strips are great in stir fries, I use sliced beef quorn in salads for work. Their peppered steaks are great with salads too.

Oh my goodness please tell me it gets easier? So far I’ve had portobello mushrooms with goats cheese and pine nuts, and jewelled feta stuffed peppers. Sooo hungry!!

Hi Pirellibelli – loving the name btw – welcome and good luck. There is another thread called Here Goes with a couple of people who started yesterday, so if you would like some company on your BSD journey, maybe you could join in with them?

But as s-g says above, if you need any help / advice / support, just shout. Someone will answer your plea😃

ManTooBig – just thought I would make a comment regarding you doing the cooking and your wife not doing BSD800. I did two rounds of 800 from early Jan to early May, and lost 3st 5lbs (which far exceeded my original hoped for goal, which was 2st) whilst cooking for my husband and, very frequently, my 2 sons who all have HUGE appetites but who are all slim. I really didn’t find it overly difficult, on the whole they had the same as me (the food you are allowed is delicious) but with added carbs – potatoes, pasta and bread. They also generally have 3 courses at their evening meal, I had always only had two, but I reduced that to just one during my 800 rounds. I have now been maintaining for almost 3 months and find I no longer want the refined carbs, but still provide them for my menfolk. I do now, however, have 2 courses, and frequently a glass of wine. So, even if cooking for someone who is not partaking in this WOE, it is perfectly doable.

Good luck to all you new starters, and please shout if you need any help / advice / support from us “old-timers” 😜