HelloAll! I have only just seen this thread. Genius! Thank you melb100 for sharing the link. I’m looking forward to this – what fun!

Hi Rabbit – if you do a search there will be a lot of threads on this and some very good advice. I use fatsecret to log my protein, carbs, fat daily but there is another site alot of people use here not sure what it is called. I think most keep their carbs under 50 – I don’t as I have a specific diet which doesn’t include meat/dairy. Everyone’s body is as individual as their personality and what may work for one may not work for another. If you are doing this for T2 then my best advice is to eliminate all rice, potatoes, pasta and processed foods. If you do this you will soon find that carb intake reduces significantly and you are on your way! I eat a plant based diet so my carbs are much higher but got really good results despite this. Reversed T2 and lost a great amount of weight so far. The first couple weeks will be hard (damn hard) but once you break through you will be amazed at how good you feel. Just remember to drink plenty of water – gallons 🙂 and best of luck on your journey – it really does work.

Seriously, NO veg? What do you put in a beef stew? Most soups have some sort of veg in them too.
Tomatoes, pulses and onions are hard to avoid.
I guess it might be possible to get all the necessary vitamins and roughage that you would get from veg from fruit, but no veg at all is incredibly limiting to any kind of healthy eating.

Personally I’m finding that cutting out the starchier vegetables has significantly reduced my kitchen repertoire, and avoiding carrots and parsnips is especially frustrating, as they are my boys favourite veggies.

Thank you AnnieW

Hi I am just starting and would like to know if there is there a level of protein, carbs and fat in grams I should aim for each day?

Hi back home again now and the total damage is 5.6lbs. It could have been a lot worse so I’m not too upset. I’m spending the next eight days back on a ‘short, sharp shock’ to get me back into the zone for the last four weeks of this challenge.

This week I will stay with 900/40 to ease myself back into true low carb eating. Then for the last three weeks plan on doing 800/30. So here goes …. I’m keeping on keeping on …..

Hope you are all doing well.

Thanks for your reply. Sugars seem to be improving last couple of days so whether it just takes time for the body to adjust to no medication? I am hungry most of the time which happened when I first started low carbs a year ago. To be expected on 800 calories I suppose but when the weight isn’t coming off it is a bit demotivating. Yesterday I had smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for brunch and a large salad with tuna and few olives for dinner. Hungry all evening! Few walnuts to try and stave off the hunger pains. Sugars were ok. Can you give me an idea of your typical diet for a day? Thanks.

Jenni – I’m not in Australia but in rural Scotland – but how much sugar did they contain? Surely that’s the clincher. Sugar is changed in fortified wines or sweet whites fermenting – but it’s still sugar.
Mike

Hi all – How did you do Ruthie and all?

Have just put a post on my thread as I managed to gain 1lb. Eating the right things but being “relaxed” about measuring and weighing. So back in the wrong direction. Having said that, all the other benefits of the sugar free continue so I am pleased to see that it’s not just about the weight loss. Back to it! All the best.

Hi all.. I had a quiet week as I got a shoulder injury in a long story involving a shaggy dog, a sheep and a river rescue. Doh. I also thought I’ve got the hang of how much I should eat now so I can stop all the measuring and weighing.

Wrong.

I’ve gained 1lb. I’ve been eating the right things but too much of them. So back to weighing. The good things are still going on though as I have kept away from sugar. My weakness is nuts. I have at least one late night a week and then a long drive home and I need to eat something during that time. Most nut packs are far too big to come in under daily calorie allowance. Have just found some at ASDA which are around 100cals in a small tube. Perfect. I know I could measure them out myself. Yeah. Those calorie bombs just slip down so easily. I am 51 and I know myself. These little tubes from ASDA cost about 32p I think and that’s fine. I can stop myself opening a packet, but once opened…well.

I stopped drinking like a few others have mentioned. Five years ago I think. Happier for that. The personal cost: benefit ratio had reversed as I got older!

Sugar cravings have gone. Mouth feels fresh in mornings. Yes it does. Skin is good and sleeping much better. Just been eating too many calories so no weight loss. Interesting though to see that it’s not just the weight loss which is making us feel so good, it is the absence of sugar.

So, I’ve just completed week 3 and it’s been a lot easier than last week for sure. I initially managed to keep the carbs down, but I’ve found that, unless I eat tofu for breakfast, it’s very difficult to keep them below 80 or so on a vegan diet. It’s all “good” carbs, from vegetables, beans and berries, but I’ll still try and work on keeping them down. That said, I’ve had significantly more energy over the last few days. I even managed a couple of gentle gym sessions! So I doubt it’s too much of a problem.

One more week to go and I’ll be halfway there 🙂

3 weeks down, 5 to go. Starting weight 19st 8lbs, current weight 18st 0.5lbs.

Well today’s the day no going back i weighed myself this morning and i am 13 stone 10 (shock horror) don’t think i will weigh myself until next Monday morning. I have done alot of prepping over the weekend especially my lunches and put them in the freezer at work as it seems to be my downfall if i don’t take anything to work i will pop out for a sandwich but this morning i have had 2 boiled eggs, i have Spanish chickpea and Spinach soup for my lunch and for my tea later on i have skinny chilli and some steamed cabbage and i will have a long walk tonight with my dog. I see lot of people saying to increase there water intake is this just so you don’t get like the carb flu or does this help with flushing out didn’t know if it was just a myth and ideally how much do people drink of water in the day. Feeling motivated at the moment and organised lets hope it continues Happy Monday everyone enjoy your day.

Hi guys, I’m new here and starting the 800 cals a day today. Will be checking in for inspiration, recipes and tips along the way.

I have just checked 3 brands of organic Kombucha (in Australia). All of them come in at less than 10 grams of carbs for 330ml. Sugars are altered in the process of kombucha fermenting. As with any other food its up to each person how they make up their calories and carbs for the 800 calories.

It was a long, slow, frustrating month of plateaus and ups and downs even though I never, ever go off-plan, but I have finally achieved my mini-goal of getting my BMI out of the obese category. At 5’2″ and 155 pounds, I am officially overweight. 😀

Twenty pounds until my next mini-goal of entering the only distantly recalled healthy BMI range. I won’t risk the ire of the fickle weight loss deities by putting a time on it. The days of me easily and steadily losing 3-4 pounds a week are over now that I’m just 30 pounds from my final goal. It’s a good thing, I know, because it means I’m not carrying 200 excess pounds anymore, but it can mess with your head something fierce.

Anyway, nothing but positivity and encouraging success in this thread. Bye bye, obesity. Don’t let the door hitya where the good Lord splitya.

Hey Fba12, that’s no good that your sugars have been too high. What have you been eating? Maybe there’s something that’s causing that which you haven’t thought of, lots of dairy or fruit or high carb veggies like corn or beans?
Hopefully they’ll come back down so you can stay off the medication

Good luck Inka….don’t be too hard on yourself the alcohol is very tricksy and gets you when you don’t expect it. Tomorrow is another day.

Maryxxx

Well done on getting through Lee, Mary and FFBB, I too resisted the wine ( can’t say the same for the Irish whisky though😩) sooo annoyed and disappointed in myself. This morning I will pour out the remaining ginger beer that triggered my lapse ( would not have had it if I didn’t have a mixer!!!!)
Oh well, did ok on the food side at least. Stay strong girls!

Hi Californiagirl

I am inspired by what you have said but could you give me an example of 20gms of carbs per day would be?

It’s ok to do your own menu plans, many people do. If you are doing this for health reasons (T2?) The main thing to remember is to make sure the carbs, especially white ones, are reduced and remember to take plenty of fluids. Best wishes for your success .

Thank you Luckylinda, that’s sounds like good advice!!

Do I have to stick to the menu plan or can I do my own as long as I am within 800cal?

Hi all
Its been awhile since I posted. Great to find this thread and the familiar names. My aim to be 9stone anything by August is probably just about possible if I get myself together. I’m 10st 7. My lowest was 10 4. I’ve been staying around the 10.7 for awhile now. Wine has crept in and so too bread, rice this weekend and a few chips fell into my mouth. I feel I can still do this but need my mojo back. I’ve never counted on this way of eating so pondering that (again). Wondering if the clever guts would get me motivated again…. thoughts or opinions would be welcomed. Great to read all the inspirational stories again x

Hi Kazza,
What do you eat? Surely most foods are covered in that selection of recipes! If there’s anything you do like, I’ll see if I have some recipes for you.
P

Well done FFBB!
It’s sensible to remove yourself from situations until you feel better able to cope. And you will you know. The longer you do, the easier it gets…
L xx

Thank you FFBB. xxx

Stay strong Mary, you can do this…. I did X and you’re right, a poached egg does seem decadent.

You are still doing well Lee, back on it tomorrow. X

Happy birthday Liz.

Well Done Fattyfbb, recognising our problems and overcoming them is a brilliant thing to do.

Thanks Lee, I am a little calmer now. Have had a long shower, prepared and eaten a salad and a large glass of water. (yeuk).
I would still prefer to be drinking wine, but I know I can’t. I am not really, really strict about 800 a day. If I go over its not by much so I don’t care lol. As long as its around the right number (i.e. below 1000) and I rarely go above 900 I am happy.

Take care.
Mary
xxx

Sunday night blues Mary. You’ve got this.
I’m distracting myself writing a packing list for Galway….

But I will admit I have gone over on my calories for the day. Will end on 991. Eeek!! But I felt like I needed it tbh as haven’t felt great, so refuse to feel bad about myself….

You’re right Mike. It would be hard to fit any volume of Kombucha into the BSD. The need to keep the yeast alive means that you need a fair slab of sugar.

If they find a way of keeping the yeast growing without the sugar, I have a couple of clients who’d love to know what it is before they place next year’s molasses contracts …;)

Oh, and Jenni – I forgot to say – I don’t have Dr, Mosley’s Gut book – just the Blood Sugar Diet book, which has no mention of Kombucha – or if it does I missed it and it doesn’t appear in the index.
Mike

I tried finding adverts for commercial Kombucha – perhaps I didn’t try hard enough, but i could only find two that gave nutritional information – which always makes me suspicious of food items advertised in glowing terms. In a typical 250ml glass of Captain Kombucha there is 14.75g of sugar. A similar helping of Plant Organic Kombucha contains 9.75 g of sugar. Neither seem to sit very sensibly for folk on diets aiming to lower blood sugar levels.
Mike

Hi all,

My voluntary shift went well in the charity shop, nice and busy and 98 % nice folk and a regular customer complimented me on my weight loss! Finally someone outside my family (and boss) has noticed!

I sometimes think people don’t want to mention weight loss when they see it in case they offend (like we don’t know we are fa!t).

Successful day, WOE wise, as I stuck to my calories again but had an extra egg at breakfast so less almonds at lunch.

Resisted an invite to the riverside beer garden….I am not strong enough. I don’t need the temptation and I would not be able to stop at 1. A few weeks ago I ended up in the beer garden and got completely pissed, which triggered a week long bender of vodka, wine, crisps and soured cream and chive dip. This means I cannot go to a leaving do on Thursday as it is in the pub, I have given my apologies, I do have to be up early on Friday so that was my excuse.

I may WANT to drink alcohol and have junk food, but I don’t NEED to drink alcohol or have junk food. What I NEED to do is persevere and commit and get to be the best possible me that I can be.

As always, thank you for the the continuing support.

FFBB X

We really need “like buttons” on this forum. I have to admit it girls….I really want to relax and …drink!
I am angry with myself for feeling like this and poor Joe is catching the sharp edge of my tongue (don’t worry about him, he can take it).
I am going to prepare my salad, and drink some water. Hope that helps me!

Take care everyone.

Love Mary
xxxx

Definitely need a like button for that one, LLCC.

Note to self:
When you are an addict in recovery Don’t read the Waitrose Food made to order brochure if they deliver one along with your food….

Great poem, EC. Happy birthday, Liz.

And thanks to everyone for all the support.

Hi Mike – interesting article. I don’t like Kombucha as I don’t like sweetened teas anyway, so I think I’ll give it a miss.

Jenni – I’m sure like a lot of fermented foods it is a positive thing for the gut biome, but I would say for those trying to manage sugar levels through managing carb intake, Kombucha is probably one to avoid. The problem with trying to ferment non-starchy products is that you have to add sugar in some form, be it honey or molasses or plain white crystalline, to keep the SCOBY alive.

Hello again,
Just calculated my mileage for 16th-30th June inclusive: 64 miles, which pleases me as I’ve managed to increase things slightly this month (so I’m still on target to crack 1000 miles walked this year).
So that puts my grand total for walking to Rivendell at 336miles – a few days out from Weathertop & the attack on Frodo, trudging through a valley…
Happy travels, keep avoiding those Black Riders!

Hi POPPET, That depends on how low and how you are feeling. Word of warning, before this diet I was swimming 3 times daily and late afternoon (around 4pm) i was almost in a state of hypo. I sought advice to stop me from turning to the old advice of quick carbs – think honey on bread – or some other sweet carb laden remedy to bring me back quickly. I was scared of these episodes. I saw a nutritionist and she put me on a high carb 6 times daily i.e. cereal for breakfast, oat cakes mid morning, rice with lunch, plain biscuit in the afternoon and pasta or potatoes with dinner, not forgetting some toast before bed. This, she said, would keep my BG steady thoughout the day. 3 months later my BG was way out of control 190 (10.5) and one day 230 (12.7). For someone who normally ran at 100 to 120 this was more scary than a pre-hypo. Also in 3 months I gained 5kgs. At that time I had a HbA1c test and was 11.2 which was a disaster as my previous one was 5.9. At that point I cut out most of those carbs by myself and got my BG down around 145 with a HbA1c of 8.4. Then I found this diet and I now run under 100 (5.5) usually around 80 to 90. Even when I go really low i.e 60 or 65 I get the symptoms of weakness, shakes, blurred vision, so know straight away that I need food. Simple as that. Instead of bread and honey etc I now have 2 large spoonsful of full fat Greek yoghurt, leave it a while and retest, if it is still low I have a couple of prunes and if it is still low, a slice of ham or chicken. Slowly does it, give the food time to reach your blood, you dont need to bombard it with sugar.

By the way, my doctor was horrified when he saw my high results and when I showed him my diet sheet (from the nutritionist) he was even more horrified and said it was more than he ate in a day. Another point, I have only ever had one true hypo where I have lost consciousness and that was whilst on the high carb diet and I had just eaten a sugar laden cereal breakfast when it happened. My doctor said my body probably reacted to the high sugar and sent it haywire.

Now, my advice to you is to know your own body and reactions and learn how to look after yourself. For goodness sake, if you are truly hungry or going too low, eat something. Just make sure it is BSD friendly. Hope that helps.

P.S. home monitors are very inaccurate (even the medical ones) so you could be higher than you think as they are set to run on the side of caution.

higgy22 doing exercise and burning calories is a good thing but will go almost nowhere to weight loss. You mention your exercise burning 320 calories per hour. That depends on whether you did a full hour and you have to also consider that some of those calories are from your basal metabolic rate i.e. an average height woman of 10 stone burns 1600 calories daily just from breathing and being alive. I know we are not even eating that amount and that is why we lose weight on this plan. But back to the exercise, lets say your 320 calories equates to 250 calories and you actually did one hour solid. In order to burn one pound of fat you have to lose 3000 calories – so you would have to do that hour 12 times. Most people do some exercise, reduce food intake and generally lose around 1 to 2 lbs a week on a ‘normal’ diet. Just read your profile and see you are a man.

Your goal of 3 stone plus in 3 months is do-able, especially as men seem to lose more quickly than women (there are biological reasons around fat ratio etc) but please be aware that your weight loss will slow the closer you get to your goal. Dont let that stop you, the only way to get to goal is to keep on keeping on…

Keep to the 800 calories and continue with the exercise but disregard the calories burnt, they are irrelevant on this plan.

Hi, welcome to higgy22, enjoy Mallorca Julia, it has been horrible here is southern France but set to get back into the 30’s this week so you should get use of the pool. I agree about the splashers, I like to have a good swim. Moulay the plateau will pass and this is not a time to give up. You will wake up one morning and, whoosh, the weight will be heading down again.

I have nothing to report as I have kept away from the scales although I know I have lost half a pound – fingers crossed as that is an amount that could be a wee or a poo and could be back on in an instant. Weigh in for the end of week 4 is Tuesday so lets all make a big effort and keep on keeping on…

Hi fba12 no I’m not diabetic I just wanted a diet that works for me as I needed to lose 1.5 stones. Have you tried weight lifting at the gym?

I agree with Lee, EC lovely poem.

Hey Lee, like they say, whatever gets you through the day. Because it is Sunday and I have been so good (my halo will slip in a bit) I have had a poached egg on smoked salmon and water cress. Yummy and a little decadent.

Love Mary xxxx

What a lovely poem EC. Inspiration for us all but a lovely gift 🎁 to share for Liz on this day.

Got lovely blue skies here in London today. Got a online shopping delivery coming (not up to facing the big supermarket aisle yet!) this way I only get good foods!

Currently sat having a vanilla infused coffee with full cream milk. I guess with the vanilla it’s not strictly bsd but it works for me and feels so decadent that I’m keeping it as my weekend treat!! I’m also enjoying my Sunday tv treat. (An hour of the extreme weight loss show followed by the biggest loser USA) I may not be following their methods but find they inspire me for the week ahead. Whatever works right?

L xx

Have you read the article that I quoted?
Mike

Michael Mosely has a mention of Kombucha in his Gut book and many reputable practitioners in Australia suggest having some to get gut biome back on track..

still online, but about to have that bath!!! (and head southern Aus time bedwards)

welcome Boo and SO well done Lee. Lee… I also feel sad that Ian has left (though the time differnce meant that the offending posts were removed before I read them…..however we ALL need this type of support !!!

Am also away from Tuesday…while not in Ireland with all its beauty and temptations, will be staying with a friend whom I love dearly but is my true music and wine-buddy…so will be as good as possible in the circumstances, but also happy for maintenance (neither that belly, nor the chipmunk cheeks are welcome back!!)… I will do this for as long as it takes…8 weeks x 8 x 8 or whatever!!

…..Liz…you will be just waking to a new birthday and new year of YOU…may it be the best!!
here’s a birthday poem that I came across and may be a verse for all of us…a reminder that the creative in us needs nurturing

Peregrina

O mother of the sea
lend me a wave that is strong and true
to carry me from this Age which unbinds me

I do not need a ship, mother,
but make it a buoyant swell
to bear me up and float me on the sea’s dreaming
then beach me on some lighter shore

when I land there, give me warp an weft again,
and an urchin quill to remind me
how the prettiest barb can lodge under your skin
and leave you undone

Only lend me a loom and I will
take up the threads of this unravelled life.
I will weave a braid from three strands of seaweed
I will wind it three times around my finger
I will dig my salt-encrusted hands into the soil
and wed myself to the thirsty
brown roots of a new beginning

Sharon Blackie

That’s really disappointing IzzyEzzy but don’t give up – I have found that the weight-loss just isn’t consistent – I’ve just had two weeks with no loss then 2lbs down this morning (I don’t have a lot to lose, jus those stubborn last pounds!). If you are doing everything you can, the weight will come off – sometimes, the body has to ‘re-calibrate’ to its new weight.
Keep smiling.
SSB

Welcome Boo. We all have demons and this forum, led by the Divine Miss Canada Liz, is our weapon against them.

Lee you are a star. I haven’t given myself a target, because there is so much to lose, so I am just enjoying every bit that goes.
Don’t feel bad about Iain, I think he was either a troll or still drinking. He may still be there but not posting. I am like you in that I wish him every success.

I really, really, wish there was a ‘like; button on these posts though.

Have a great Sunday everyone.

Love Mary
xxxx