Nonna Mary don’t you dare beat yourself up.
You may not be seeing results on the scales. YET but you will. You are also so much healthier on the inside and mentally so strong.

If I were you, I would truly celebrate your anniversary. Don’t spend the evening feeling deprived or resenting what you can’t eat. Have what you want and celebrate your life with the lovely Jovis.

Lots of love xxx

Ha ha! It would appear that my 3lb gain is actually an 800gram gain and hopefully not even that. I was (to use polite phraseology) a little bit backed up due to painkiller use with my back. It appears to be resolving now and this morning I was 142.8lbs. Very happy now.

Madmare full kudos on doing so well in Tuscany. I would find the food very hard to resist.

FFBB, well done on your meal out. I find being out of routine really tough to manage.

Crabbycams I’m with you on the bread 🍞. I miss thick white toast with real butter like nothing else. And what I wouldn’t give for some sourdough….

EC, chin up on the renos. Just concentrate on how fab it will all be when done. I’d love to do some bits to my place but not really in a position to do it just yet.

Nonna. Big hugs, just for being you.

Finally well done kitty 🐱 on day 1. Hope you haven’t found it too hard. The walk was a great start. Having just re-engaged myself I’m struggling with hunger today but will just have to power through.

I may have bought a pair of bright purple jeggings today on my way home but will plead the 5th if challenged!!

L 😘

FFBB, I am glad you enjoyed your late lunch, it is difficult to deny yourself all the time.

I am having a bad day….not because I want to drink, or eat, but because I tried a dress on in Marks and Spencers and I looked absolutely HUGE! I know and have known for a long time that I am fat, but honestly it came as such a shock! I have been bigger, (at one time at least 20 stone). I really didn’t recognise myself. Ridiculous I know!
If it wasn’t for the weigh in tomorrow morning, I think I would probably derail myself and go out! It is my wedding anniversary on Saturday and I think we will be going to our favourite Italian restaurant, which means fattening food and Prosecco (although I might not have the wine). Anyway…moan over. I hope you do lose weight, we all work so hard at it, we deserve to.
Love,
Nonna Mary
xxxx

Personally speaking Id go for the Greek yoghurt. Don’t heat it too quickly as it will split which won’t spoil the taste, just the look of the dish. You could try each one in turn to see which you prefer. Some good ideas from MnM.

I would go for full fat greek yoghurt, if a thinner consistency is required for some recipes you could thin it with milk, I suppose. I really do like creme fraiche though as well, so maybe treat yourself to a pot to see if it is worth the occasional purchase, and maybe grouping a few recipes using it together. Cauliflower mash, or broccoli and cauli mash is fantastic with a tablespoon of it stirred in along with a chilli pepper and some garlic, and can be had as an accompaniment with any protein source if you want to use the pot up.

Day 30 in the BSD house.

Just come back from having a late lunch out, did the best I could food wise but did have a couple glasses chardonnay. I don’t think I had more than a bottle but I wasn’t pouring. Each time I went to the loo my glass was topped up but in between glasses I did have a large glass of water.

If you drink slowly the tipsiness doesn’t turn into drunk without you knowing it.

I made sure I savoured every bite and every mouthful….though I think I ate too much as I have a tummy ache!

I will wait to see if this effects my weight loss this week, I had alcohol on Friday the 14th and didn’t lose any weight in the next 7 days.

FFBB X

I have been having a hot sugar free blackcurrant squash when the sweet craving strikes in the evening. Would something like that help?

Can I join you even though I started last week?

Thanks will do SunnyB!

Animalmad, I don’t know what livelife seeded bread is, but baked beans are very high in carbs and sugars. There are some legume dishes in the BSD recipe books, none of them made with brown sugar, molasses, raisins, etc. I avoid beans altogether because I keep my daily carb very low (less than 20 grams) but other BSDers make them and enjoy them with no deleterious effects. If you do want to eat beans they should be savory, not sweet.

I notice the BSD calls for either Greek Yogurt, Creme Fraiche or Plain Yogurt in various recipes, I live on my own so I do not want to buy pots of different dairy only to throw them away unused, money in the bin!! Is there just ONE of these that can used as an all rounder? then there is no waste? I figure myself its the full fat Greek Yogurt after a little research online, but that’s is not as easy as one may think!! Anyone know for sure?

Hi Daisy.
I too have today started this diet today , after reading the BloodSugar book and reading quite a few posts. Like you I don’t have (I think – a BG tester is not cheap!) any BG issues but am obese (BMI = 32) and have high cholesterol. So I am fat too. Also family history of heart disease and type 2 (not related are we? 🙂 ).
I have a biology background and am convinced by the science M Mosley explains, so I am trying to be positive about the outcomes. Today I am very hungry, but as it’s day 1, I expect this.
I anticipate the hardest thing will be that my wife will not be on the diet (tho she will support me) and as I have always done most of the cooking, I am looking for my self-control – it would be sensible to ask wife to prepare her own food, for at least a couple of weeks I think.
I think these posts will help (I have never used a forum before) so thanks for your post Daisy and best of luck.
First day I am 15st 7lbs – 217 pounds.

It takes a huge mental shift to go from thirty years of “low-fat” teaching to embracing fats and letting go of lots of grains, lots of fruit and carbohydrates. For so long we have been taught to focus on the foods that actually do us harm and make it almost impossible to lose weight.
From reading these posts for over a year, it is the people who are brave enough to try the difference out for themselves who find success. Once you spend a few months on a low carb diet, going back to carbs is just weird and feels unhealthy.
The thing is, early dietary research before WW2 was leading to BSD-type recommendations. It got off base in the 1960’s and never recovered.
Great book on this is Gary Taubes “Good Calories Bad Calories” — fantastic history of how our current dietary recommendations evolved and why they are wrong. I re-read this book tegularly to stay focused when I am tempted to eat garbage (pretty rarely now after 18 months following BSD principles).

Well. Started today. Not because I have any blood sugar related problems but I am just FAT. My father and uncle both had type 2 diabetes so chances are if I don’t do something I am at risk.
This evening, or any evening come to that, is going to be the most difficult because I always crave something sweet after my evening meal.
So, first day 178 lbs, 40 inch waist. Shameful I know. Lets see if there is any change next week.

Hey Verano – the first batch I made with approx. 500g yogurt, just to see how the cheese making worked. More recently, I have made it with 1kg, but really, it depends how many of you will be eating it as it doesn’t have a long shelf life. I’d start off with 500g yogurt and see how you go.

Hi Lynny, I’d love to join you. I’m a 62 year old 4ft 9inch female with 5 stone to lose. I’ve recently been diagnosed with Coronary heart disease and prediabetic. No other diet has ever worked for me beyond the first few weeks so this is sort of last chance saloon. Fingers crossed I’ll make it this time. By the way my starting weight is 12st. 3lbs.

Hey Guys,

Amazing stuff St James and really awesome Lee !!

Sorry, been away for a while from the forum. Work had me in Korea for 4 weeks. It was tough there with an expense account, some awesome food on offer and all that. But luckily, the self control (that I didn’t know existed) still won out. Those bakeries, ice cream shops, fine dines were left behind without so much as a splash of regret. This thing has changed me in immeasurable ways. Had one day that I busted 800 calories, but kept with the diet, the weight measurements and blood sugar readings.

So the stats. Started at 87.4 Kgs, Ended at 73.1Kg. 14Kgs. 5 inches less rounder. Michelin tyres seem like not being replaced. HBa1c from 10 to below 7. Fasting from 300 mg/dl to 90 mg/dl. Off Insulin, BP and cholesterol meds. 13 pills a day to 1 pill. Only maintainence metformin. What was I doing for the last 15 years ???

You guys were amazing. I couldn’t write much, but hearing everyone was what kept me going. Especially the times when the knees started to weaken a little bit. So big big thanks.

Now into maintainance mode. First to check how my blood sugar stays as I up the calorie intake to 1200-1500 gradually. Seems like the craving for burgers and ice creams is totally gone for now 🙂

Thanks! We really need to calculate to input regular or daily calorie! I got better info on how many calories do you need to take a day here – https://calculatorservice.com/health/how-many-calories-should-i-eat-a-day/

I’m glad to hear that your hunger pangs have gone, Theamazingshrinkingwoman. It does get easier as time goes by. I’d stay at 800 calories for longer if I wasn’t worried about potential loose skin.

Hi Lynny, I’ll join you! Hopefully it’ll be easier with some buddies on board!

I’m 48, female, and would like to lose 3 stone (yikes!) before a holiday at Christmas. I’ve been doing the BSD for a whole 3 days, and have so far lost 4ibs, so am very happy with it so far.
My main problem I think will be sugar cravings, although so far, so good with those. I’ve found it easy at the moment, but I am a bit worried about the next few weeks, when I have a lot of work on, and thats the time I tend to eat rubbish instead of proper meals (especially as I work from home, so can always get to the biscuits!)
I think planning will be the key for me

Hi all – how’s everyone doing?
I’ve fallen by the wayside over the last week as we had a weeks holiday – no cruise for us 🙁 just a week at home to tackle the garden and catch up on some domestics – what can I say total disaster with food & drink but that was last week and I’m now focused again and back to basics. Day 1 (again) 😀 Looking forward to getting back in control x

Life is too short to eat food you don’t like – bin everything yuck. It would be more of a waste to eat it, not be able to stick to the plan and then need to eat the nice stuff the next week.

You’re doing brilliantly.

Clarinet – just looking back at your posts and wonder if adding in some cooked green veg would be more satisfying for you? I find if I do 6oz of greens with main meals it helps a lot with hunger?

My goal for the 11th August is 2.5 kilos whic would take me from 78.5 to 76. I’ve stayed the same for last four days so hoping for a whoosh soon!

Onetowatch I would not worry about the scales – likely as not they’ll be down tomorrow. I find weight fluctuates hugely day to day, it’s possible if you up the water intake the scales will say less tomorrow or the next day. Keep at it, numbers are not everything. Just got the book you mentioned on my Kindle. Thanks for the tip. I would say whenever I go off plan it is due to stress, with the possible exception of holidays, which only happens once a year!

Verano as a struggler myself I wanted to recommend never binge again. It’s a really good book on behaviour change and I have felt so much more in charge since I read it and I have tried everything!

Up 300g this Monday since last Thursday-bit disappointed but I did go over to around 900-1200 I’ve the weekend so fair enough.

Today massive mushroom with 30g blue cheese spread and an egg baked.

Turmeric chicken stew – celery onion carrots and chicken wigs with a good two teaspoons turmeric and 800g wings.

Had four with some salad and a nectarine.

Dinner is veg soup a half of butternut squash with some smoked sackeeel pate. Yum

Dear Willow, You say you envy those with willpower? How much willpower did it take to drive a 30 mile round trip. I wouldn’t have done it, I couldn’t be arsed. You showed you have the power, you just need to re-direct it.
I know how you feel re the weight loss. I have been following this plan for 4 weeks, the first week 6 pounds, the next three 1 pound a week and no budge from the inches. However, I KNOW, that eventually it has to come off, so I will persevere.
If you are not into cooking each night. Make a batch of foods you do like and freeze them. I made my own minestrone, stews, vegetable bakes. Then I know how many calories and I don’t have to keep cooking. It also helps to plan and keep a record of everything you like. I am not a fan of celeriac mash, but my husband likes it. However I like cauli rice and he doesn’t.
It is not an easy way of life, but then, what is. You can do this.
Best wishes,

Mary xxx

Hello Rhoda Willowherb!

Please keep the faith – I think that you will get there. Try if at all possible to look at your weight loss in the round rather than week by week – 5 lbs over 3 weeks is good going – so try to hold on to that when you are weakening.

Like you I had 5st to lose when I started out at the end of March, but no blood sugar issues that I was aware of. Like you I had a good 8 week period to have a serious crack at the Fast 800. I really focussed for the 8 weeks averaging around 950 calories and 50g of carbohydrate (albeit with some slip ups along the way; but calculated and measured slip ups). For the last 10 weeks I’ve been around 1200 calories and 100g of carbohydrate. I am over 3 st lighter than I was in April and have ordered some size 14 jeans to keep me honest for the next 2 st! I am no saint. I am someone who can wilfully plough through bags of crisps and chocolate, but for some reason I have been in the right frame of mind to persevere. Next time you are tempted to make the 30 mile trip for chocolate, try to find something to ask yourself that just gives you pause for thought – maybe “what would the Japanese do?” !! or find something chocolatey that scratches the itch but in a less damaging way? I have at times made a sort of skinny hot chocolate with cocoa, water and a touch of coconut oil – not great but it worked. However, I am with you and if you are feeling wilful you will get in the car and get that chocolate, dammit! Just don’t let it derail you. Count it in to your week’s calories and move on.

I think that the eggs for breakfast, soup for lunch plan is a sound one. I found that eggs in the morning/or brunch-isn have really helped from a “satiation” perspective. Egg “muffins” are a good portable alternative – basically omelette mix baked in a muffin pan. As regards evening meals, I understand your frustrations. Most of my evening meals now are variations on a theme of chicken breast (from frozen bag) or fish fillet with flavouring (pesto, asian spices, chorizo/peppers) or something stir fried (pork or beef strips) and either asian-ey or stroganoff-ish. No real cooking required and no small measures of funny ingredients. Add to that some frozen green veg and you’ll be sorted with minimum fuss.

It sounds as if you are 90% of the way there, please keep going – it can be done!

Smaus

I seem to have plateaued at 12,6, but I’m pretty sure it’s because I’m building muscle.
I had been losing about 1lb a day, but then I went swimming and did 10 (33m) lengths and a bit of treading water, hoping to lose a bit more, as well as tone up the bingo wings, but instead of going down more, the scales stuck. 🙁
I’ve dipped to 12,4 but bounced straight back up again, but again, I’m sure it’s due to building muscle as I have been trying out various workouts.
I’m sure I must have lost muscle in the past due to being protein deficient, but it didn’t show, but what I thought was poor muscle tone, causing bingo wings, turns out to be simply soft fat. With the exercises I’ve been doing, I can now feel my triceps, and they are tiny, inside a significant layer of fat. My biceps are actually quite good, and only have a thin layer of fat, and my forearms are the same.
My belly is a big problem, but I’m hoping that will also succumb to the diet and exercise eventually. All in all, I’m just really, really happy that I now actually have the energy to do simple workouts and go swimming once a week or so!

Dont worry, it will come if you are truly sticking to it. It is called a whoosh moment. After a big loss of 6lbs your body needs to adjust and will try to store fat just in case you are not going to be getting enough food. Stick with the diet and when your body recognises the new regime you will start to lose again. This is not the time to give up and try to stay away from the bread. Remember you have a perfect 8 weeks to fit this in, you will not regret it. By the way, I am 64.

I started the diet on Thursday 6th, got prepared, did all my shopping, wrote out my meals for the week and pinned it to the fridge, and all went fantastically well. I lost 7lbs in the first week. I need to lose about 5 stone altogether so I was feeling optimistic.
Week 2: Not finding it too difficult until I weighed myself, not lost a single ounce. That really knocked me back. All the cravings for bread and mashed potato suddenly resurfaced. I was determined to keep going but something obviously went wrong cos by the end of the week I’d put on 2lbs! Didn’t go massively off track but just the extra bit of Feta cheese and a couple of slices of bread made the difference. Also started having a coffee with milk in the mornings, I needed it.

I started the diet because I’m clinically obese (!?!) at 5 stone overweight and I hate looking in the mirror. I’m not diabetic but I do have hypertension and all my fat is round my middle. I was watching a program on TV about the Japanese artist Hokusai, and according to the Japanese, your first life lasts 60 years, and then you start a new one. Being in my 61st year I thought what a perfect time to start a diet, I’m also taking a break from work for 8 weeks so perfect timing, I’ll have time to cook proper food.

Unfortunately, cooking isn’t one of my favourite things, I’m not very adventurous with food, and I live on my own so buying fresh food in small enough quantities is difficult. I started the 2nd week by trying to organise my menu around what was left in the fridge, I hate wasting food so I was eating things that I’d tried in the first week but actually didn’t really like – who invented celeriac mash – I used to love Fish Pie. Also I like my food wet and there aren’t a lot of recipes with sauces.

Week 3: Still not lost any more weight, stuck at minus 5 lbs. Last night I made a 30 mile round trip to get a bar of chocolate, now that is just stupid, I thought this morning. This is just you feeling sorry for yourself. Get a grip, and make it work. So, I’ve decided that rather than trying to cook and eat food that I don’t actually like, I will just make shakes or eggs for breakfast, I love soup so I will have homemade soup for lunch, and pick out some simple recipes that I do like for my evening meal.

I envy all you who have willpower.

Hi Kitty, and welcome.

As Mary has said try not to compare your weight loss to everybody else (easier said than done). I started at 259 lbs on 24th June and have lost 13 lbs so far. I have said in other posts how much I was drinking and I knew I was on a very slippery slope and alongside the alcohol I would have a 150 g bag of crisps with a 200 g pot of soured cream and chive dip on the side! (an extra 2500 – 3000 calories approx!). With regards to the booze, I have fallen off the wagon and then got back on but whilst off the wagon I did not have any crisps!.

The main advice I can give you is do not use a blip as a “fuck it” moment. When I fell off the wagon I was conscious of it, I enjoyed every bloody second and when the pizzas arrived I left. Sometimes life gets in our way. Do as Mary did with regards to giving yourself permission to drink another day (i.e “Tomorrow I can have a drink” then repeat) Have you read the book? I have taken to reading it once a week. Try not to give up too much. I would concentrate on the booze first and getting to grips with the 800 calories daily average (I am happy if my daily average is less than 1000 calories) Drink plenty of water and I mean PLENTY. Have you joined a website for tracking your calories/macros? Have you bought a food scale? (salter digital scales are essential for me) I am not menopausal but my PMT has improved vastly on this WOE (way of eating) and my sleep is better than it has been in years. When I wake in the night I fall straight back to sleep.

Use this website and this thread to report/record/moan/ask questions/offer advice. Mary and I seem to be the only daily posters on this thread. I use it hold myself accountable.

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@madmare Hope you are enjoying your holiday.

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@crabbycams I never buy or eat bread I haven’t made myself but I no longer make it myself as one slice of toast with butter and my mum’s homemade jam leads to another and another.

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@ec As I live alone I have only myself to shop for…….I used to do it mindlessly on auto pilot and come home with crisps and dip, now I do what Dr. Mosley says in his book and really look at the ingredients and nutritional value. If I lived with other people I would have to have the junk food locked away and not have the key. How long have the renos been going on for?

FFBB X

HI all

Apologies I have been in hiding forum-wise. Rubbish Friday and Saturday on the food front due to stressful situations – emotional eating is always my downfall. Have decided though that I must get back on track – like Verano, I have just over 8 weeks before my friend’s wedding in Japan. I go back down to a 3 day week come the end of this week, after which point stress should reduce hugely. I walked in this morning and going to walk back again too. Have sensible food choices today. Yoghurt grapes for breakfast, miso soup and some salad at lunch time and lentil/chorizo stew for dinner with cauli mash.

Onetowatch – hope your Monday weigh in gives you the results you are hoping for. Cleverblonde and Sunshine-girl, well done on those results. Verano that plan sounds good. I too need to focus on smaller chunks, much smaller in my case: going to focus on today as my first one on 800 plus an hour’s walking, then the next 2 I plan on running each day and sticking to BSD. Reward to self today if I am successful is hot bath (rather than usual quick shower) and an hour working in the garden in the evening – these are always relaxing ‘treats’ for me. I need to plan food for the week this evening too, and will think out a series of small non-food rewards for each day I get there.

You’re doing so well! Every time I flag a bit I go back and read people’s success stories. I’ve just finished week one and am no longer hungry.

I’m a mother of 3 and a house full of toddlers traumatises me, you’re not alone.

Hi everyone, had a good meal out yesterday and, better still, no weight gain although I did drink too much I can always manage to stay away from the carbs (no carbs in alcohol what????) Just joking. BG was 4.3 this morning so will stick with 20 units for a bit longer.

Too cold to swim so might go for a walk later. Have a good day everyone and see you all for weigh in tomorrow.

Good morning everyone,

I hope you had a good weekeend. Verano good to see you here too, I think I am closer to 1000/50 myself and dont stress about getting too much lower.

I had a steady weekend with the odd blip. On the whole I kept to plan but am public confessing to giving in to the cadburys chocolate fingers! The perils and tempation and having a 2 year old.

Still, I ended my first week with a 3lb loss which is what I was expecting. Previously I lost slow and steady, so 1-2lbs a week from here on I will be happy with. Next thing to aim for is my nieces wedding on 26th August, I am hoping to be back at 10 1/2 stone by then which is only 6lb so not being over ambitious. She has just asked me if I would do a reading at the ceremony, so added incentive to make sure I am looking good!

Have a happy and successful week everyone 🙂

I generally use the Sukrin bread mix which is about 1g carbs per slice and is really easy to do – you add water to the mix (it comes with its own foil container to bake in) and you bake a small loaf in around an hour. Tastes fab toasted and with lovely hummus and other toppings.

I’m restarting the 800 cal diet today, if anyone starting or restarting would like to join me – I find that it’s a little more bearable with company! I did the 800 cal diet for 8 weeks in April/May this year and it worked pretty well; also, after the intial horrendous bout of carb flu, I found it… not easy, but definitely not as hard or as miserable as I would have expected. I am restarting today because I’ve put a few pounds back on since I stopped and to be honest, I preferred the way I felt when I was on the diet; right now I feel a bit sluggish and blobby and I’m sure it’s the carbs and sugars doing their nasty thing!
I’m 42, female, I don’t have a huge amount of weight to lose and I’m not diabetic, just trying for a healthier way of life and to be the best version of myself that I can. Would love some fellow dieters along for the ride, if you fancy it! 🙂

Have weighed in this morning. Am going to try to weigh few days now as I am scared my mood will depend on a loss. I know to expect a plateau at some point and am trying to mentally prepare myself!

So week one – 8lbs!!!!!!

Thrilled to bits. And I feel fantastic!

Hi lovely ladies
Welcome Kitty
This is a great group and glad you have joined us
I an in Tuscany and its absolute heaven.
Had a bad few weeks mum in and out of hospital after falling over cutting her head etc etc.
Until the very last minute i was not sure that i was going to get here.
The diet went out of the window. The bad news is that the goal of a nine pound weight loss for my holiday didn’t happen. The good news is that Mum is on the mend and I have not put any weight on!
Being in the land of pasta, bruschetta and prosecco is going to be a challenge. Pasta and bruschetta I can manage but the prosecco will be or more accurately is more challenging.
The good thing is I share a bottle with our friends and then play cards with the godchildren. They are ensuring I work off excess calories in the pool.
Let you know how I got on!

Hope the week goes well for you

Ciao babies.
Blissfully yours
Mad mare

Hi everyone,
Just got back from my walk, it took an hour and I look like I’ve just completed a marathon!
I used to walk a lot but this is the 1 st time I’ve walked being this over weight( approx 4 stone overweight)
Oh my goodness I’m in pain!,
My addictions are definitely alcohol and carbs. So with BSD it’s going to be like going cold turkey 😎Also in an attempt to reduce hot flushes I’m cutting out caffeine…. I’m either brave or stupid!!
Onwards and upwards… I hope you’ all have a good day 🐱

Interesting article Marsie given my body weight to water ratio I’m highly unlikely to drink too much!! I struggle to drink 1.5 litres of water a day and I only have maybe 3 or 4 hot drinks.

I made my Asian salmon last night but I think I may whizz all the ingredients together next time and then use the sauce as a marinade for about 15/20 minutes. It was very nice but I think the flavour may be enhanced with a marinade.

I have ordered cheesecloth from Amazon and hope it will be here later this week. SunnyB how much yogurt do you use to make the cheese? Really looking forward to making it.

I think I may try and get some Kimchi from one of the Chinese supermarkets just to try it out and then I’ll decide whether or not fermented vegetables are for me.

Hope you all have a good week.

Forum is playing up. Apologies if this is a double post.

So, I’ve finished week 6 and I’ve lost another 5lbs. I’m hoping to get down to 16st 8lbs by the end of the 8 weeks for a round 3 stone loss, but in reality, whatever weight I finish at, completing the 8 weeks will be the real achievement.

The diet has gotten easier as time has passed. Last week I managed several trips to the gym, as well as a couple of full days decorating the house. On one day, due to it taking longer than I thought, I didn’t eat dinner until gone 11pm. I was hungry, but not desperate to eat, like I was early on in the diet. The only difficult day was Saturday. I went to my friends’ housewarming / childs 1st birthday party. As a single man, frankly I am slightly traumatised by the amount of chaos (and especially noise) that a house full of toddlers can create. It took a lot of willpower to just stick to water and not to indulge in the free drinks, snacks and cakes on offer, but I managed it and left with only a bit of a hunger and mild PTSD.

While the initial phase of the diet has gotten easier, I’m looking forward to increasing my calories in a healthy and sustainable way when it is over. Ideally, it’ll take ~4-6 weeks to transition to a sustainable diet where I’m losing about 7lbs a month. I’m aiming to get down to my final goal of 12st 7lbs by my birthday in April.

Thanks for all the advice and support. I’m looking forward to seeing your replies.

6 weeks down, 2 to go. Starting weight 19st 8lbs, current weight 17st 1lbs.

Thanks Jan. I know if I go back to eating carbs my diabetes could run riot. At the moment my medication has been reduced by 50% and my aim is to come off medication completely. I have an HbA1c test in just over 3 weeks so I need to keep going at least until then but in reality for the rest of my life!!! Hope you are back into the swing of things now.

So, I’ve finished week 6 and I’ve lost another 5lbs. I’m hoping to get down to 16st 8lbs by the end of the 8 weeks for a round 3 stone loss, but in reality, whatever weight I finish at, completing the 8 weeks will be the real achievement.

The diet has gotten easier as time has passed. Last week I managed several trips to the gym, as well as a couple of full days decorating the house. On one day, due to it taking longer than I thought, I didn’t eat dinner until gone 11pm. I was hungry, but not desperate to eat, like I was early on in the diet. The only difficult day was Saturday. I went to my friends’ housewarming / childs 1st birthday party. As a single man, frankly I am slightly traumatised by the amount of chaos (and especially noise) that a house full of toddlers can create. It took a lot of willpower to just stick to water and not to indulge in the free drinks, snacks and cakes on offer, but I managed it and left with only a bit of a hunger and mild PTSD.

While the initial phase of the diet has gotten easier, I’m looking forward to increasing my calories in a healthy and sustainable way when it is over. Ideally, it’ll take ~4-6 weeks to transition to a sustainable diet where I’m losing about 7lbs a month. I’m aiming to get down to my final goal of 12st 7lbs by my birthday in April.

Thanks for all the advice and support. I’m looking forward to seeing your replies.

6 weeks down, 2 to go. Starting weight 19st 8lbs, current weight 17st 1lbs.

Hi Kitty. FFBB, Leelee and all the jolly warriors in this forum.

My addition is to carbs, specifically bread. For various reasons life has got quite frantic and I was down to the final couple of slices of my home made sourdough bread. I was unable to make a new loaf (one of those various reasons) and once the slices were gone I became very anxious that I had no bread! I’m proud of myself for not buying bread since I learned to make my own last October, but it wasn’t that that made me anxious. It was being without my carb comfort food; my go to thing.

Who’d a thunk that bread would have such an effect! Thinking about it I wondered if it was also linked with it being the ‘staff of life’.

Whatever, at least I can limit how much I have I a day. And will now start trying to go one day a week without, increase to two etc.

On other matters, my shoulders have lost weight! My man size polo shirts now look too big on my shoulders.

Forgot to weigh myself this morning, will do so tomorrow.

Onwards and downwards my fellow travellers.

Thank heaven for great people like you loversghost – we just have to keep spreading the word. I work in a school and I know so many staff who are forever on diets and failing because they keep to the low-fat/high-carb advice. I have managed to convert a few who have been delighted with the results but others cannot let go of the ‘low-fat’ mantra.
Keep up the good work!
SSB

Keep at it! I am at the start of week 4 and though I seemed to lose very little in weeks 2 and 3 I am down 12lbs at the end of 4wks. Not everyone has huge losses – but if you stick at it, you will get results. Also, the scales are not always the best way of gauging weight loss – do your clothes fit better? Are your measurements less? If so, then you are losing fat – which is the main thing.

Hi,
Well I’m an NHS practice nurse who also does clinics for people with diabetes and I am trying valiantly to give people the correct advice (which I don’t believe is as NHS Choices would have you believe above). Diabetes UK are finally (sort of) getting on board with the issue of carbs, but so many people I see are still eating breakfasts of orange juice, porridge and wholewheat bread because they think it’s ‘healthy’ and wondering why their diabetes control isn’t great. I also practice what I preach because my brother has type 2 and had a gastric bypass last year because his weight and control had got to such a poor state. I am NOT going there, and anyhow, I LIKE this way of eating. It fits into normal life with a few adjustments (when eating out, say). I don’t tell anyone I am on a ‘diet’ (because I’m not) and I have found ways to substitute other things for carbs and it works fine. I will keep trying! 🙂

Dear Dr Mosley and all BSDers,
How depressing is this advice from the NHS on eating ‘healthily’?
‘Have a balanced diet – this is eating a variety of food from the five main groups of fruit and vegetables, carbohydrates such as pasta and potatoes, protein like pulses, fish, eggs and meat, dairy such as milk and yoghurt and fats
Have a healthy breakfast every day to avoid snacking on high fat and sugar foods
Get at least your five-a-day of fruit and vegetables
Get fibre from wholegrain foods and nuts
Make carbs just over a third of the food you eat. Carbohydrates, including bread, potatoes, rice, pasta and oats, are an important source of energy
Have protein every day which can include fish, eggs and pulses
Eat two portions of fish a week, only one should be oily fish like salmon or mackerel
For dairy – try and choose low-fat options of milk, yoghurt and hard cheese
Limit food and drinks high in fat and sugar like fizzy drinks and biscuits
Choose healthy snacks such as salad vegetables, hummus, and vegetable soup
Source: NHS Choices’

That seems a recipe to condemn so many people to a life of over-weight and ill-health while they feel a complete failure because they are desperately trying to do the ‘right’ thing.
It makes me so angry that the powers that be refuse to look at current science and stick to out-dated, and completely wrong, advice.
I think it has to be up to us BSDers to keep spreading the word.
Sorry – rant over…

SSB

Good morning!
I’m just getting up and have decided to go for a walk round the village. I think it’s maybe a couple of miles so that’s a good start! I will plan my meals later on and go shopping . Have a good day everyone
Love Kitty 🐱