Hi, I just read through these wonderful, inspirational posts and they have really motivated me. I am female, age 55, weigh 90kg. Until 12 years ago I was fit and healthy – gym junkie, runner, no junk food. Then I discovered alcohol! It started off a drink here and there then a bottle and for the past few years it’s two bottles most nights. I’ve gained 24kg, stopped exercising and am on medication for high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol. I”m determined to commit to the BSD for 8 weeks. I want my life back!

Sunny B – wow your comment about carbs hanging on to water was spot on for me! Weighed myself this morning and I’d lost another 900g – this was after gaining almost 3kg over the past week and then losing it again.
As soon as I had a couple of days back on the BSD properly and cutting down on the carbs my weight has started dropping again.
So lesson learnt there – not to panic after a weight gain but just to keep going and trust that this WOE does work 🙂

Hi all,
Started on 22 May and very little weight loss for 3 weeks. Then the whoosh and today am chuffed to say 1st 2lb off. Anyone demoralised at the start please stick with it as it will work.
I’m on 2 meals a day, cucumber sticks and homemade hummus for lunch, huge green salad/stir fry and quorn for dinner. 85% chocolate as a treat. I use my fitness pal daily or I’ll cheat. Best invention of mine so far is cottage cheese and a tsp of marmite. Put it on lettuce, quorn, anything really.

Where is everybody?
🙁

Hi, thanks for this. I am not vegan (was for a while) but I prefer to have most of my meals without meat and dairy. I didn’t think this plan would be possible without the meat and dairy. The reason I am able to stick to it is because it keeps me feeling full until the next meal. Don’t you struggle without it? Would love to stop eating so much meat & cheese, I’m not used to it and don’t digest well. What are your experiences?

Thanks SunnyB I will definitely try the cheese. I remember my mother making cheese from sour milk, many, many moons ago. She used to hang it out on the washing line in a stocking!

Krysia is kefir sour like normal yogurt? I love greek yogurt but am not keen on other the unflavoured stuff. I’m sure your sauerkraut will be better than mine you’ll have to let us know. It may just not be to my taste.

ClarinetCathy I have a similar treat with coffee but maybe less ‘friendly’ than yours. I have a square of 90% lindt with a Nairns Stem ginger biscuit. Works out at about 8g of carbs but really worth it when you need something indulgent. It reminds me of Borders chocolate ginger biscuits!

Thanks Marsie I just thought that the Clever Gut book may have pointed me towards a healthier diet or maybe I’m just looking for a change! I realise that I’ve been in maintenance mode for far too long when I still have lots to lose. I just need a good shake. I’m away for a couple of nights in a hotel from today and they say a change is as good as a rest so, maybe that will be enough to get me back into losing mode again when I come home.

Tonight we are going to a Cote Bistro which does a very good ‘Breton’ chicken breast so I will be ok today foodwise. I’m in such a rut at the moment that I really can’t think of a recipe to pass on today. I did have a very nice cannellini bean hummus at the weekend which was basically a normal hummus recipe with beans instead of chickpeas. It was more ‘delicate’ I think and one to try for a change.

Hello everyone.

I joined this forum yesterday and today is day SIX on the 800 cal diet. So far so good!

But my main reason for my post was I saw last night someone who had been asking about fermented foods. For the life of me I can’t find it again, but I too would be very interested to know if it is something we can have?

Also, this person said s/he had been having problems with lids blowing off because of the build up of gases…….

Well, if you are in the UK, I’ve recently had a Lakeland catalogue (yes I REALLY love food) and they have started doing fermenting jars, which have a one way valve in the lid. Problem solved!

Whoops, said I was new to all this. Never been in a forum before either. How did I manage to submit my comment more than once?

Hello Mrs Honey

I’m new to all this, but from all the research I’ve done, this diet should really have most of the minerals you need. I wonder if you might have an underlying condition which has become apparent once you started.

Do you think you might need to seek medical advise? I believe tingling in the hands and feet might be the sign of a liver problem for example. Not trying to worry you, but just to be on the safe side

Don’t give up yet

Also, you know how we are allowed to have a few nuts? Well I soak peanuts or almonds in warm water for an hour, drain them and then leave them for 24 hours. Absolutely delicious, and because they are getting ready to sprout, full of all sorts of goodness and are easy to digest because of the chemical changes which take place. Don’t leave them for too long or they go bitter

Hello Mrs Honey

I’m new to all this, but from all the research I’ve done, this diet should really have most of the minerals you need. I wonder if you might have an underlying condition which has become apparent once you started.

Do you think you might need to seek medical advise? I believe tingling in the hands and feet might be the sign of a liver problem for example. Not trying to worry you, but just to be on the safe side

Don’t give up yet x

Also, you know how we are allowed to have a few nuts? Well I soak peanuts or almonds in warm water for an hour, drain them and then leave them for 24 hours. Absolutely delicious, and because they are getting ready to sprout, full of all sorts of goodness and are easy to digest because of the chemical changes which take place. Don’t leave them for too long or they go bitter

Jande9 – Kefir is becoming more popular here in the UK but I haven’t seen it for sale anywhere. I was given some grains by a client and have been making it for a year. Even the Labradors love it. It’s a shame it isn’t widely available here as it is in Canada but I I believe you can get the proper grains online also.

SunnyB – your cheese looks as though it is really good for you as well as being delicious.

Have just had an email to say my sauerkraut has been dispatched. I hope it won’t be as disappointing as Verano’s was.

I don’t know if you’re still on here HypoGal, but I’m suffering these symptoms and am interested to know how you progressed? I’m at the point of giving up because the pins and needles/numbness symptoms are so disconcerting.

I’m still suffering these symptoms, in fact it’s got worse. I think I’m going to have to give up this diet, I won’t know if that’s what’s causing it or something else, unless I do. I didn’t realise this could cause so many side effects.

10 stone 5.0 this morning and was a little off plan again. Circumstances intervened so I missed badminton again, two days running 😣 and I am starting my holiday tomorrow, and today having a BBQ at work to celebrate breaking up so will be eating and drinking whatever is provided (though almost certainly without the bread). I didn’t quite make BMR on calories again but today will probably be a long way over, so I hope my body has recovered from the ‘fasting’. I think I will be stopping monitoring my diet closely for my entire two weeks holiday, as a bit of an experiment, after which I will return and report hopefully that I am back in my original comfort zone. I will be logging in intermittently only during the two weeks, as limited Internet access, so good luck again, and here’s to success at the end of your journeys, whatever your goals.

I don’t know what the presenters think but I love it, and used it intermittently throughout my weightloss period, along with cows milk and nut ‘milks’ for various uses. I love goats cheese as well. I think it is supposed to be lower in lactose and easier to digest than cows milk, but haven’t looked into benefits in any depth.

According to another one of Dr. Moseley’s TV shows, kefir is better than yogurt or even pharmaceutical pro-biotics for promoting gut health. It is full of over 20 different kinds of organisms. For some reason kefir is difficult to find and very expensive in the UK while here in Canada it is in the dairy section of every grocery store and at about the same price as yogurt.
You can make your own using kefir grains, which is some kind of symbiotic conglomeration of bacteria and yeasts that looks like clumps of fish eggs. You add it to milk and it turns into kefir in 12-24 hours at ordinary room temperature. If you take care of them they should last forever.
The grains are always multiplying so people generally are happy to share them so hopefully the use of kefir will spread and become more popular and cheaper in the UK.

Jan

Hi SunnyB, I can remember making labneh once, maybe 40 years ago, when I was also making my own yoghurt. Cannot recall now how I used it or even if I used it. I guess it wasn’t a success of I didn’t do it again. What do you use it with, SunnyB? In salads, snacks, or can you cook it like my favourite Haloumie?

Verano, I have read the CG book though in a very fitful way and intend to go through it again. Loaded with scientific information on different gut bacteria and their various actions/reactions but in Dr M’s easy style. Seems to answer some questions on what foods different people react to and why. Some of the recipes would be better suited to non-BSDers or, at least, those on maintenance. He does say in the book it is not specifically a weight loss diet although that may follow naturally.

ClarinetCathy, your dessert has made my mouth water☺

Have a great BSD day everyone xx

Thanks Sunshine-girl,

I’m pleased that i made my own humous tonight for tomorrow. Thanks for your advice, i made out a food plan & bought my food this afternoon.

Starting tomorrow with green eggs & ham, humous & veg for lunch & Thai chicken & caluflower rice tomorrow.

I’m going to try the B.S.D as need to shift belly fat fast! I bought bio oil & vitimin C so hopefully keep skin in good condition. I will try & drink 3 litres.

Good night & thank you.

Claire.

I would like to know if goats milk is allowed also 🙂

I’m 67 and have lost 47lbs (3st 5lbs) and am now maintaining. I really don’t have any problem with sagging skin – yes, of course I would like it to be a little tauter – who wouldn’t at 67, but I think any sag in my skin is down to age, not bsd and, truthfully, even if it were bsd, I would happily trade a few wrinkles for the new slender me☺

Thanks Nancy, I’m back and weighed. I stayed the same which I suppose I should be happy about but I really stuck to the low carbs thing all week and had a lot more exercise cycling etc. 🙁
The only treat I had all week was an all fruit ice lolly on the last day, I always ordered the salad without dressing and never ate so much as one chip!
The only thing I didn’t worry about was portion size, I thought surely a plate of salad doesn’t need counting?
So a little peed off I just ate a bowl of muesli 😋 I know naughty but back on it tomorrow.
Loss so far 6.5lbs and 2 inch off waist (I was bloated at first measurement)

How are you doing? Sober week? 😁

Oh yeah and I weighed myself today and have lost 4lb already! I know it’s water weight etc but yay!

Thank you! Seems like a friendly forum.

So my reason for doing this is – overweight apple shape with family history of diabetes!

First three days have been relatively easy but I’ve got this far before. I’ve tried to prepare as much as possible this time with lots of research and planning.

I’m using MFP to track calories and trying to focus on eating delicious stuff.

Starting weight 15 stone 2 pounds (I’m 5’4″). I’ve lost a stone over the last 10 months (mainly due to giving up added sugar for 6 weeks). I’ve basically yoyoed since the age of 13 though.

Hello all. Wonderful to catch up on all of your successes and stickability moments when facing, and overcoming, temptation. What a strong bunch of deserving individuals you all are. In fact, there is so much positivity on this thread and you are such a supportive bunch, that when I am faced with temptation (still have desperate carb cravings over last few days despite successful first two weeks) I think of all of you spurring each other on and jump on your positivity wave. So thank you all for that (big virtual hugs and smiles all round).
On reflection, my feelings of hunger were down to not drinking enough water so I have upped my intake again (even though it means multiple trips to the loo!)
Have a good week everyone; to those who show themselves and those who visit unspoken.
M xxx

Hey Theamazingshrinkingwoman – welcome! As you probably gather, if you have read any of the threads on the forum, you probably realize that we like to waffle on here, both to help inspire others and ourselves. It’s a safe place to vent when things are going badly and to celebrate even the smallest success and we like to provide encouragement and support wherever we can.

So feel free to join any of the threads that appeal to you. If you want to search for a particular topic, use the search box at the top of the page, as lots of topics have been covered. If you can’t find something in particular, shout out though, as someone will respond for sure.

Hope you will soon be posting positive results. Keep up the good work and best of luck on your quest.

It is pretty much all diary section if you don’t mind others occasionally butting in 😁 There are several group threads where people who start at the same time gather to share their experiences, there are challenge threads for those who have been doing it longer and want to change things up or focus on different areas, and of course there are the victory threads, like Target weight, 100 club and the mini-goals threads for non scale as well as scale victories. If you use the search box at the top you can jump into any that appeal to you, and by all means keep your diary here, and if you have any questions just ask them, and someone will usually be able to help.

I’ll definitely try making some of that cheese, maybe with some of my homemade yoghurt. I quite like the idea of the flavourings as well, very like proper cottage cheese.

3rd day done and all going well. An very hungry right now but have gone to bed ridiculously early to get away from food. Already feeling thinner!

Is there a diary section on this forum or shall I just waffle on here? 😉

Oh Lee, I wish you had an answer. But no news is good news. I had my gallbladder removed when I was 30. It was the first of many scars that criss-cross my stomach. So even though I was only 10 stone, I couldn’t wear a bikini. I think it was the beginning of my self esteem issues, though people who meet me don’t know I have any!
If I could make money out of lending Jovis out, I probably wouldn’t lol…it has taken me years to train him lol. Dinner was indeed lush, and my calories today come in at 796. So result all round.

Love
Nonna Mary
xxx

Mary, I think you need to lend me Jovis. That dinner sounds lush and just what I fancy!!!

So, had my ultrasound today and though she’s not the reporter, the technician saw my NHS badge so was fairly forthcoming with what she saw… which was absolutely nothing!

A little bit of gravel in the gallbladder but it’s not inflamed, so nowt to worry about. Even my liver doesn’t look pickled (which is surprising!) However, it does mean still no answer on my electrolyte issue. Arrgghh!!

L xx

Hi Hughsey34 – I’ve just realised I’ve been calling you Hughsey38 – I am so sorry – my brain must be pickled through lack of carbs!

Keep at it indeed Jan – that’s good going – great going in fact! Hope you feel better soon though. Yesterday’s steps 10,503 thanks to you and your dog. I’m baby sitting today and finished off the litttle one’s soup – tut tut.

Hi Hughsey38 – feel for you – but the good thing is that if it carb related that will stop soon. Good luck.

Just had a delicious after dinner dessert- a piece of Lindt 85% dark chocolate with six plump juicy raspberries and a few toasted seeds- blooming delicious with a cup of coffee!

Apparently you delete everything and just put removed post lol

How the hell do you remove a post?

removed post

Good Luck FFBB.

Please forgive me girls…..but can I gloat for just one post. I went to the pub on my way back from my lovely daughter and her ******* husband and I had a …..LEMONADE…..then I went home. I am feeling very righteous. Okay, gloat over.

About to have, Steak, onion and Mushrooms, with Broccoli, sprouts, courgettes and cabbage, in a cheese sauce. All cooked by Jovis…who says you can’t have it all.

By for now.
Saintly Nonna Mary
xxxx

If only! I am 51 currently and was 49 when I started this way of eating just before my actual birthday last year. Having said that, the Boditrax measurements I had recently pegged my metabolic age at 35, which was quite pleasing.

Day 25 in the BSD house.

Managed another day on the BSD, It’s not getting any easier but I am doing my very best. One day at a time.

Is it possible that having 2 days of “over eating” has kick-started my appetite and I now have to reset it to lower calories again?

Either way I am on top of it.

Right, now it’s time for the Martha years (Doctor Who) and fingers crossed we don’t get the oncoming storm.

FFBB X

If you are looking for high protein snacks to have while walking around, my favourites are biltong (only the really good stuff), pork scratchings/rind (again only really good stuff with no carbs/additives), edamame beans and the old favourites Baby-bel cheeses or similar.

Hi Grima004 – if you feel like an extra boost, I can absolutely recommend the Clever Guts diet book – it has totally changed the way I think about food! I agree with Baristagirls that the BSD book is probably the best for guidance on how to ‘do’ the diet, but Clever Guts is like the final piece of the jigsaw.
Good luck whatever you decide.
SSB

ClarinetCathy, you mentioned being bored with your food … you might find this thread interesting “7 Days to Renew your Enthusiam for BSD 11th July 2017”. Started by Verano, brilliantly as usual, for just this reason.

Good deal with the shorts topcac😊

Theodora, please! A little more confidence in yourself is warranted with what you have already achieved. Your BBQ so you have your choice of food and wine from which you may, and can, choose judiciously. This is where I’m missing Maharani kitten, I think she would have read you the riot act 😼

Wish you’d get to work on that formula, Natalie. Thanks in advance😀

SueBlue, you’re so right, we do all struggle at times and it is so very good to see that we’re all hanging in instead of doing what we would have done previously …i.e go off course and stay off! Just give up. Now, we acknowledge what happened and get back in gear. This forum, and all you wonderful posters, have done that for me, a typical yoyo dieter for a very long time. Absolutely grateful.

‘night all xx

Good for you green Janet! I felt great yesterday but have horrific migraine today. Hoping it’s just coincidence and not to do with carb cutting- fingers crossed 😞

Claire, unless those are flaxseed crackers or a similar alternative, you should ditch them. Tzatziki can be problematic as well if it’s ready made. Read the label to be sure there are no added sugars and that the sugars that are naturally in there from the yogurt and cucumber aren’t too high for your daily carb intake.

Good luck!

When I read your post, Topcac, it made me smile because all the things you ate- I LOVE and It seemed to me to be the best blow out ever! Sometimes the guilt we feel afterwards is so much worse than the blow out itself. You’ve got it all out of your system now and hopefully will be ready to draw a line under the episode and move swiftly on. A lot of us have had a bad week this week so let’s hope that the coming week is better for us all. Keep going everyone.

I had a delicious lunch today – 4 little gem lettuce leaves with hummus and roasted peppers and pine nuts from the book- so delicious and felt like I was eating a little sandwich. Yesterday I had two boiled eggs and that was so boring! I am going to look for some new food ideas because I realise now that I am getting really bored with the same old ideas. Keep going everyone!

Hi Claire – you shouldn’t need to worry – I’ve lost 2st 4lbs and I’ve had no problems at all – and I’m the wrong side of 40 – by quite a way!

Hi everyone,
I’m 44. I’m 2.5 stone over my idea weight. I have 2 Children 10 & 8. I have a few stretch marks from having children.

I will try more water, vitamin c & use cream or oil on my skin.

Going to supermarket now for food. On week one lunch is thin crackers & tzastziki.

I will take my measurements tonight & let you know how my first day goes.

Thanks for advice

Claire. 💞

Feeling the love guys – thank you

I got a headache after about 21 hours of fasting so I had some lunch, mexi platter with a few jalapenos flung in. It’s so lovely, as is all the BSD food. Really I have no idea why I’d want to eat crap! I also had two squares of 85% chocolate that lives in my drawer at work for emergencies. 🙂

Tonight is Moroccan meatballs with cauliflower rice and then I should be very much on track. Ready for a weekend at my parents – oh Lord – another challenge coming up. I think it’s the summer – it’s temptation after temptation. Seriously I have not a single weekend free until the middle of September. It’s a lovely problem but boy does it test one’s resolve lol.

However, I have been wearing a pair of shorts this week that I bought 10 years ago. They still had the tags on. I have never been able to wear them as I have always been too big in the summer. Not so this year. Wearing them with pride. Clinging to the non scale victories for grim death!

Don’t know if it helps, but I’m almost at goal weight and have lost just over 2st and whilst there is some slight wrinkling and crinkling in some areas, there isn’t any huge amounts of sagging skin and I am confident I look a hell of a lot better than I did before. I wouldn’t worry about a tiny extra bit of skin, what’s important is your general health, which will be improved by following the BSD.

Have a great holiday and wish you every success on the BSD when you start.

Although you have worded this question as if it is personal to you and your well being, I see this is research for your online business and you have an interest in low carb meals. I am diabetic so aiming for low blood sugar so might not be much help with your hypoglycaemic problems. But, if my BG goes too low I usually eat a few prunes and some Greek yoghurt trying to avoid the high carb loading I used to do before BSD. I was always told by doctor to have something like bread and honey or sweet fruit juice but that went against me trying to lose weight. I would do exercise, go low, eat and no weight loss so this way is better for me. I also try to time my exercise to suit mealtimes so I am not doing a run just before dinner etc. If you want to find low carb diets there are lots of other web sites (so may not be a business interest that many have not already taken on). Start with recipes on this site or look at Nomnom paleo, then there is thedietdoctor.com. But remember if you want to publish recipes you have to acknowledge they are not your own.