Hi. Sorry to sound like a smug arse but this seems to work for me & my wife. I was a stone & a half overweight to start with. I’m a 53 year old man 6ft tall, (bald & occasionally bearded in case that is relevant!) not fat to look at but my trousers were too tight round the waist & I felt really heavy.
I think it just suits us, ostrich steak tonight with a huge quantity of broccoli, asparagus & yellow courgette finished in a pan with a chilli & a garlic clove fried in olive oil & 1 glass of red.
We have done the bolognese and chilli from the book with quorn & 5% beef mince & many of the other recipes.
The main changes to diet are 1 glass of red not a bottle!
No biscuits,cakes, sneaky toast & marmalade
No beer “sad face”
BASICALLY I CAN’T EAT RUBBISH ON THIS DIET & IT IS EASY
MFP says carbs are averaging 100g per day for me so plenty of energy. Jogging and cycling plus the usual golf and daily dog walks help.
Fasting blood thingy down from 6.3 to 5.5
Weight down from 13st 5.8 to 12st 7.5
BP down from 145/90 to 117/67
I’m sleeping better
Every toilet sit down is great – sparing the detail but awesome.
MFP to track calories.

Hoping everyone else has such good results

Hi Mel, Good luck. I’m so glad my post has been of benefit. I had a mega fruit craving yesterday which resulted in my also eating chocolate! I was so annoyed with myself. I’ve been busy today and very focussed, so all good. However I also think that this way of eating should be for life and therefore realistic. So I will have a glass of wine or two at weekends. My blood sugar is staying in the healthy range after only a few days of reducing carbs. I know the weight loss will slow, especially as I take thyroxin and immunosuppressant as well as prednisone. However I can accept the slowness knowing that it’s fat loss. Best Wishes.

Day 27 in the BSD house.

Hunger wasn’t too bad today, I did get peckish but I necked 500 ml of water and waited it out.

I have just rediscovered my liking for pickled onions and pickled beetroot, which might help with snack attacks.

Kept to WOE, didn’t give in to temptation.

HAVEN’T LOST ANY WEIGHT THIS WEEK………BUT I HAVEN’T GAINED EITHER.

FFBB X

Dear pharma, give it up, no one is interested.

KrysiaD, they have been on about 5 different threads and I have reported them on all of them, hopefully the team will get rid.

Esnecca – it was difficult to open the first time and I was so pleased when I realised that it had been properly fermented. For lunch I had sea bream with a salad and the sauerkraut – absolutely delicious. Definitely a delicious and healthy addition to my diet.

Krysia, the build up of gas is an unmistakable sign of real fermentation. Did you have a hard time opening the jar when you first got it? I always have to wrestle with the lid the first time, and even a few times afterwards because the fermentation continues. It just slows down in the fridge. I’m glad it was tasty. 🙂

SunnyB, my tofu mayo is the easiest thing in the world to make. The ingredients are a one-pound block of silken tofu, a clove of garlic, a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, a tablespoon of Dijon mustard, a half teaspoon of salt and a half teaspoon on smoked paprika. Drain the tofu in a mesh strainer over the sink for 10 minutes or so to get rid of the sloshiest of the liquid. In a food processor or blender, mince the garlic clove with the lemon juice and mustard. Add the tofu and process until it’s smooth. Add the salt and paprika and process some more. Taste and adjust the spices. I like it rather salty and smoky, so I usually end up increasing both.

The end product has the texture of mayo and a lovely aioli sort of flavor to it. I use it in so many things now it has become a staple. Unlike mayo, it is shelf stable so you can make, say, shrimp and dill salad and not have to worry about refrigeration. It can also be heated without breaking and acts as a creamy element in anything you need it for. I’ve made tzatziki with it, blue cheese dip/dressing, guacamole, dredged chicken breasts and fish fillets in it before coating them in almond flour or sunflower seeds, and as I mentioned above, added it to pulsed greens, garlic and parm to change them from mashed up veggies to a smooth and emulsified pesto.

Hi Krysia – I’m impressed that you could make anything out of that gibberish.

Hi Jan – so happy for your weight loss – you got this. Definitely different this time around. Sorry to hear you have a few blipey days – but we expect them now and just try and cope the best we can. As Verano so rightly advised me not so long ago – it’s not a race. I try and remember that when I go off course and try to be kind to myself. I haven’t walked in the last 3 days, and feeling a bit down today. But that’s ok. Work, family and life all takes it’s toll and I’m trying to factor all that in. I’ll go walking tomorrow hopefully. I know it’s a learning curve. My weigh day is tomorrow. So fingers crossed. My daily weighing habit shows a small loss so I am going to be as low carb as poss so I get a good reading – make me happy – lol. I feel we have a very similar history Jan. It would be lovely if we could see through to the end together. Are you up for it?

Verano – so lovely to see you here. You dragged me out of a hole when I was feeling very maudlin. Taking it a bit easier now following your advice. It’s hard to be ‘imperfect.’ but trying to be perfect did not work. I know what you mean about having large amounts to lose. It’s nice to be facing the same ‘problem’ together. So jump on board the rowing boat. Sorry we’re slumming it for now but we can all go for lovely cruise wearing our ‘incy wincy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikinis’- i would have had to have reached my target, though otherwise no chance – I wouldn’t inflict that vision on anybody. On the plus side you’ll have ‘guns of steel.’ It’s all win win on Jan’s thread here! 😀

Hi Issy – the first few days can definitely be a challenge – and don’t forget you have a young family to look after- that takes a lot of energy! You don’t have a lot of weight to lose, so I don’t know how you would feel about being a bit gentler with yourself. I struggled with your feelings too my first time around last year- still do occasionally – having a lacklustre day at the moment. I figured I had two choices – either be miserable (which I was during my 8 weeks last year) or allow myself a couple pieces of fruit per day which has natural sugars for energy. Having it with protein slows the insulin response which should do away hypoglycaemic rebound. Hope this helps in some way.

Pharmasmruti – have reported your post because it looks like advertising

Reporting in on sauerkraut and kimchi. Have just had a small portion of both with a little cold meat for lunch. The sauerkraut has a very clean taste, think the slightly peppery flavour comes from the cabbage itself. Only negative for me, is how small the cabbage is chopped, as would be easier to eat if it were finely shredded. Think it would lend itself to tweaking with additions like a sprinkle of caraway, or few chopped nuts. The kimchi is spiced, but not fiery and includes carrot, onions and a little sugar, so I think would come out higher on both cals and carbs (no nutritional values on the labels of the brand I bought), that said I don’t think either would be a bank breaker in small amounts. The kimchi also has some red peppers in it, which is something I don’t really like. The flavour was noticeable, but not so strong that I wouldn’t eat it. Enjoyed both and shall be including a little of both most days until it is finished and then I’ll decide if I purchase more of the same.

The courgette pickle is going well – despite a small mandolin injury! Anyway, it’s in jars and sitting in the fridge now, where it’s meant to be left to pickle for a few days, but it tasted so yummy while I was potting it, that I don’t think it will be more than a day or two, before I’m dipping in. Flavoured the pickling vinegar with mustard seed, turmeric and caraway – those last two are big flavours for me at the moment – love them. Will report properly when I try it after that stipulated ‘few days’.

Hi topcac, why not make your parents a lovely biryani from the BSD cookbook. At 390 cals with no bad carbs you will do fine, let your parents have a bit of rice if they want to.

Hiya Mary,

Well done you!

I was so addicted to carbs I was too scared to do the quiz.

Been on steroids for nearly 30 years and have despaired of ever losing weight, especially as the prednisolone resulted in stomach ulcers which feel so much better for stodgy foods. But your topic has given me hope, thank you so much!

Mel

What was deleted Theodora, did you report the previous post because I have.

Back to the OP question. Children do need more calories but not lots more. E.g. a 13 year old girl needs 1400 calories, while a boy of the same age needs 1600. Certainly not the number of calories recommended for an adult (which I think are ridiculously high anyway) at 2000 for a woman and 2500 for a man. I wouldn’t put a child on 800 calories but make sure they get good nutrition and their 1400 /1600 calories are made up of healthy foods and a snack or treat.

We have a problem starting with our 9 year old (my grandson) as he is starting to pile the weight on. Mum has control of his meals but it often too tired and choses MackieD or pizza on some days but it is mainly what he is snacking on and able to find in the cupboards like biscuits, crisps etc. I will have him with me for 11 days next month and will try to limit the snacks to lots of fruit instead of ice creams and plenty of exercise swimming etc. But it is not easy for busy mums. In our case, when he goes to dads twice a week he gets takeaways so there needs to be some serious conversations between mum, dad and other grandparents.

Just on the ‘dieting’ aspect, I think a lot of us here know that diets dont work, they are restrictive and cause cravings and resentment and eating, otherwise we would not all still be overweight. Reduce the carb heavy foods to reduce the cravings but stick with healthy eating and good nutrition and dont forget some treats.

Hello Sal,

Welcome to the forum. Really nice to meet you

I’m a newbie too…… day 7 today.

How are you managing with a family to feed? How are you getting on? Feeling ok?

I sort of have the opposite problem in that I live on my own and with an underlying medical condition (not diabetes) which can be quite debilitating at times, very often just can’t be BOTHERED to cook just for me and it’s all too easy to have a couple of slices of toast and marmite (even been known to have vegemite, yes it’s around in the UK!) and then have another one because it’s delicious and then I don’t have to cook at all.

But in fact, so far, it’s easier than I thought, but I do have a friend who is doing BSD too, she actively hates cooking, so I’m cooking for her in the evenings too, which has helped an awful lot…. so far!

The down side is, I’m singing in a concert on Saturday afternoon and before this diet was even a twinkle in Lee’s eye (she found the book browsing in a local supermarket a couple of weeks ago), I promised to take cakes, so will be baking for 40 this afternoon 🤣😫😫.

Keep up the good work and enjoy being fit and well…. and thin

Mel

Deleted

Hi, if you look in the original book by Dr M, on page 183 (although not numbered, Index for recipes) it says All calorie counts are for one portion. I have searched the BSD recipe book and cannot find that quote but all the recipes are by Dr Schenker in both books, shame she didn’t make it clear. Logic tells you that you cannot have a full meal for 85 calories unless it is lettuce and tomato salad, or just one egg.

Hey Verano, rowing is SUCH good exercise, very good for UBS😜 I know cos I have to do it physically (as opposed to metaphorically) rowing the tender out to our mooring and back😜

As far as compliments from husbands are concerned, I think they give up when we feel uncomfortable with the way we look – probably fed up getting their heads bitten off😜 Certainly my o/h had stopped mentioning the way I looked before I lost weight – if he said something nice, I didn’t believe him, if he said anything even vaguely negative it would upset me for the rest of the day. Poor man just couldn’t win😄 Now however it is a rare day that he doesn’t say something nice about either my appearance or how much fitter and energetic I am. I am, however, under no illusion that these comments will become much more rare as the novelty wears off, but at the moment I am enjoying them😊

Making a plan sounds like a plan to me, so go for it😜

Pleased to report that after the 5lbs (all my maintenance wriggle room) gain in just 3 days, after a very low cal/carb day yesterday the scales showed an encouraging drop of 2lbs this morning so I have at least a little bit of wriggle room to face the weekend of 5 house guests 😊 Just hope the weather here improves (torrential rain/hailstones /floods for the past few days ) otherwise we will probably spend the entire weekend holed up in the pub, with all the temptations that involves 😱

Hang in there, everyone.

Update to taste test – my friend tried it also and she said it was almost horseradishy but nothing like as strong.

Reporting back on the Sauerkraut from The Sauerkraut Company which arrived here 5 minutes ago.

Have immediately done a taste test. It is lovely – properly fermented – raw sauerkraut. Will be a fantastic addition to my diet. I bought the plain sauerkraut – it has an almost peppery kick to it even though there is no pepper in it. Husband tried it and I was surprised that he liked it – he said it was very good.

You could tell it was properly fermented by the taste, but also because it had a build up of gas in the jar.
Can’t wait to try their other flavours. What I did like was that it didn’t say that you had to eat it in 3 days which some of the commercial brands say. It just needs refrigerating.

Hello, hope you are all doing well. Great news one to watch. Received my new cossie today and it fits, size 14 instead of my usual 16 for the bust size. I usually buy tankinis from BHS – oh how I miss that store but I think they are still online, must look. Anyway, it looks great except for a bit of booby side bulge, hopefully that will go with another few pounds.

Weight down another quarter pound so that is 2.25 this week which get me back to where I was 3 weeks ago. Must be strong over the weekend and try not to blow it on my Sunday meal out. BG still going down now at 4.9 and on 20 units. No swimming yesterday due to weather and none today either by the look of it. Seems we are cloudy and overcast for a few days yet.

Made the bean chilli for dinner last night. Was okay and very filling but boy was it a windy night. Today for B Greek yog with passionfruit, L hummus dip with veggie sticks and for D I am making Hungarian Goulash from the BSD cookery book – total of 750. I am not sure about the hummus as it is quite high in calories but good for a change.

Are you all looking forward to the weekend – lets all be good but enjoy it.

P.S. Just looked at BHS online at tankinnis, when did they get so expensive, used to pay around £30 for a set, now more like £45.

haha Mary…. love Jovis’ 28 days!….I’d suggest letting post menopausal women run the world…then no issue!! (and the younger ones can work 3 weeks out of 4!) yes, my Michael is also thankfully a staunch feminist (good thing with 5 sons!!)

yes, Scott’s a great songwriter and I look forward to having him at our festival next year…on a more serious, but beautiful vein, check out his “Pass it Along” song (link at end of this post)

Renos are going as they do….we have a very creative and inventive plumber who will do our underfloor heating next week who (as he does) has currently gone underground….not called “the reluctant plumber” for no reason….holding out hope that he’ll return to the fold in good time!!
slept in this am as no plasterers at 7.30!!
Feel for you doing bathroom renos….flannel or bucket washes are no substitute for a decent shower unless you’re camping!

Grateful I pre-prepared for the week as meals have been relatively seamless (though a little over soup x 5 ways!!)

Crazy work week with endless meetings and a last minute funding application that the website said was due tonight….found out just before 4pm that I have another 10 days!!!!…good news, but could have done without the stress!!

IT’S THE WEEKEND!!!!!

here’s the next …Careful…I could bore the socks off you all with great music!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R0W_QbGHr8

Really feel for you Topcac – it’s a bummer when friends /colleagues try to sabotage our efforts. For goodness sake, it’s difficult enough to keep going with encouragement and support, particularly when the scales aren’t being kind😢 But you are a strong woman and you CAN do this – despite the odd derailment, you are still here and trying, which is as much as can be expected of anyone. So keep going – I have every faith in you. Have a good weekend with your, hopefully supportive, parents – just stay off the refined carbs – so definitely no biryani 😜

Thanks for the support guys – sorry to be harping on about it so much!! Still today is another day – no mistakes yet. But here’s just a taste of what I’m dealing with

Phone rings:
Topcac: Hello
Jacky (work colleague at other end of the office): I know you have brought your own food but Paula and I are ordering Chinese for lunch. Do you want some?
Topcac: No..but that sounds amazing
Jacky: Are you sure?????
Topcac: Yes, I’m fine, thank you (slams phone down at least three times to make sure it’s definitely cut off)

Honestly!!!

Haven’t weighed myself this morning (would usually do a mid week weigh in) but I just know that whatever the scales said I wouldn’t be happy (and if they hadn’t moved at all it would give me the excuse I need to continue eating rubbish) so I’m just going to hunker down for the weekend at my parents – fry up tomorrow morning and indian tomorrow night – I can (and will) choose wisely and within BSD principles (thanks for the advice Theodora)

Well done for all those hanging on to this for grim death. Thinking of you all

For the record –

Starting weight 15 days ago 82.6
Last week 80.6
This week 78.5

Will weight again on Monday after a nice 800’y weekend!

Thanks Julie! How is the week going for you? Do you have meals and activity planned for the weekend?

One thing I am not good at is the steps- I do quite a bit of exercise classes but I don’t walk enough for sure. I used to have a Shaw one but lost it and found it quite uncomfy on my wrist- anyone have a wearable they love?

Hi all I’ve only just noticed this thread and I hope you don’t mind if I join in.

Welcome back Jan!

My story is slightly different to yours of losing and regaining and now getting back on track. I lost, didn’t regain any but have sort of been in maintenance mode for the last few months when I should really still be in losing mode. But all the same I’d like to join in because it’s often difficult on threads where people are talking about losing when they really have very little to lose.

Mnm I think you’re right about 5:2. I’ve been trying but failing at 800/30 for months now and I think, realistically, I would be better trying 3:4. I think I’ll give that a go from Sunday.

Ah! How lovely Krysia and Theodora. I have a husband, of a similar number of years, who I swear wouldn’t notice if I walked around with a bag over my head! Anyway, a few weeks ago he called me ‘skinny’. Hardly with lots still to lose but much less of me than 12 months ago he’s actually noticed.

LainieUk I only know about Tenerife and all the islands have slightly different weather. It should still be warm, probably in the mid 70’s in October but it can be a bit mixed. I would think if you can go before the clocks go back then you’ll get longer days so it will be a little warmer for longer. I don’t know about Gran Canaria but Lanzarote is slightly warmer but breezier and Fuerteventura is windy all year round. I guess with all islands the weather can travel quickly or just ‘sit’. The weather in the Canaries is no longer as stable as it used to be and in fact I have just had a text from a friend there and she says for the last few days it’s been misty, cloudy and muggy. Sorry not much help really!

Oh and BTW Go for the interview Laine if you never try you’ll never know!

I’m going to take the advice of Marsie and write down a plan for the next few months probably from now until my birthday just before Christmas. I’ll try to be realistic and will start on Sunday which is the first day home after a few days away.

Not sure I like rowing boats, I do like cruising, but I’ll grab an oar anyway and start rowing with you!

Morning
Ooh dear had a few blipey days, my tiredness whatever it was really lowered my resistance, and had to do a 7 hour round trip yesterday , so eating not good, but amazingly weekly weigh in today, lost 1.3k so have lost 2.5 k in two weeks. Ooh so different from the first time. It feels definitely more of a challenge, but it is what it is. So onwards.
Sorry to hear about your migraine Hughsey, I used to get loads of them, but don’t now thank goodness, very debilitating.
DTNMore thank you for your encouragement when do you weigh in, how’s it going.
Of to do a shop today get weekly menus done, walk the dog, oh yes DTNMore good going on the steps, it feels good doesn’t it once you get used to it.
Hope you all have a good day 🙋🙋🙋jan

Hey Esnecca – thanks for sharing the extension of the pesto idea, will be trying pesto with all kinds of things now! Wonders, could you share your tofu mayo recipe perhaps? Very interested in how this might work.

I have been given a heap of courgettes/zucchini, so today I’m making some pickles and a chutney. Better get to it, as I have some other pressing stuff to sort today as well. But before I go, my offering for today is to always try to eat mindfully. Think twice before deciding to eat something, especially if it’s something not normally on the BSD list – do you really want it/do you really need it/how will it impact on your aim to lose weight/if you do eat it, what will you feel like afterwards? Obviously this won’t always work, but I’ve found it helpful on quite a few occasions and it’s helped me steel my resolve to resist temptation.

Anyway, have a good day everyone. I’m off to the kitchen to rattle some pots and pans.

Erin, I love this song. We should make it our anthem! Fellas Get out the Way! I played it to my lovely Jovis (who is the biggest feminist I have ever met), who thought it was hilarious but so true. Jovis always says if women had been educated and given equal rights, Cancer would be cured and the world would be at peace, with just a few skirmishes every 28 days lol.

Hope the renos are going well.

Nonna Mary
xxx

Thanks Marsie and Sunny. I was right – o/h raided fridge and all panna cottas now gone 😊 Just the pears and cream to resist now😜

You were right too – after one day low cal/carb and oodles of water, scales show I have 2lbs of wriggle room restored. Will have another low day today then will hopefully be back on track to face the weekend with a houseful of guests. 😊

Thanks for your support guys. X

Yes, hang in there Topcac x

Clever guts- predictive text! Sorry!

Just ordered the clever guys book to see where I can improve my diet. Incidentally I saw kefir in Sainsbury’s this week and I googled it and it’s made by a British manufacturer called bio-tiful kefir something like that.

The Tesco in Swansea is huge and had never heard of kefir.

I visit the UK a lot and I would love an inexpensive kefir source. I will bring some dried grains this fall when we visit.

Jan

–Just read your post Annie. Interesting.

Forgot to say, the kefir at the store I use is to be found in the refrigerated Polish foods section.

Hi Verano, yes in the East Midlands. I don’t do online shopping, I’m one of those strange creatures that enjoys ‘mooching’ along the supermarket aisles just looking. My husband often comments “you read that label last week and the week before”😀. Luckily he goes into his own world as we go round and only rarely says can we be quick this week. The Tesco I use is an ‘Extra’ so quite big, maybe only this grade of store carries it and not the smaller ones.

On the Lidl Greek style – I have looked on the yog bucket and can’t see anywhere that mentions live cultures or a list of them. For confirmed label reader that’s a fail for me – not to notice straight away! I’ve also looked online/Lidl website and can’t see any evidence of it being so. Maybe the ‘style’ takes out the need for the live bit? I have tried Skyr but did not like it at all.

BTW I forgot to add thin strips of ginger to my salmon recipe yesterday.

I have only eaten pesto once and wasn’t that happy with it but Esnecca and a SunnyB you have given us so many ideas I will definitely try it out again. I have to find one I like!

AnnieW I was really interested to hear that the Lidl Greek yogurt isn’t ‘live’ . I buy that when I’m away because I can’t get Fage but I’ll have to think again. I’ve just looked at Tesco online for kefir but it doesn’t seem to be available. Are you in England?

Change of plan last night and so I had sea bass on a bed of stir fried vegetables. It was really delicious. I think it had sugar or honey in it but I will make it at home but leave out the ‘sweet’ element, or use a little stevia. Don’t know why but it would never have occurred to me to put a fillet of fish on stir fry.

Hi!

I am almost one week in to the BSD (2 days to go), I must admit I have not been super strict about counting cals but have been eating from the recipe book and I chucked two fast days in as well, so far have lost 2 kilos: happy with that!

I am 38 years old, living in Melbourne, Australia and have recently completed my masters in Education (Primary). I also run a school holiday/after care music program for kids/teens and look after my own two kids (11 & 9), husband (Irishman) and two dogs (kelpie and a german shepherd). I also play guitar and sing in a few garage/punk all female bands which is a riot.

I realised I needed to take action when my clothes started feeling tight (some no longer fitting :0) and stepping on the scales I had gone up to 83 kgs which was my weight when I was 9 months preg with my second child (yes I was horrified as I thought I was still mid 70s – a bit heavy but nothing to stress over…WRONG!). I was overweight (84kgs was my highest) in my early 20s but after a Chinese Dr advised me to stop eating carbs to lose weight I went down quickly and easily to 66 kgs which I felt was perfect for me. I am keen to get down to the high 60s again which would put me in the healthy zone, so I have around 13kgs to go. Whew!

Anyway, I have been reading the forums and they seem really supportive and motivating, so I would love to connect with anyone for tips and to share stories, as I am looking for work atm I have a bit of time and think it’d be great to share the journey.
Cheers~Sal

Ohhh, panna cotta, yes, well, Theodora, we do put temptation into our own path, don’t we? I make a beautiful pcotta myself, only ever when guests are expected, and I now include a smaller cup for me so half the damage but not the feeling of being deprived. Yes, I know, but it’s MY logic…..?☺

Hang in there, topcac, hang in.

In fact, the same to us all. Let’s hang in there 💜

Also a welcome from me Elly…my story is a little similar…slim and fit until early 40s (even after 5 kids!) …I don’t drink that much, but when I do, my resolve not to overeat disappears…..yesterday I had a meeting with a 70 something yo priest (I’m working on a community project with him…not going back to my childhood Catholicism!)…..and he commented on my weight loss and how well I was looking!!….complements gratefully received from all!!

Liz…I love that you always mention Tasmania as distinct from the rest of Australia…it is quite a big little Island and we all do feel different way down here…maybe we should just defect!!

Speaking of origins…have come across this great Canadian (from Alberta,) singer/songwriter in my programming work
Now while I’m aware that most of us are blessed with wonderful and supportive OHs…but for those days we feel like snarling at them, or for those of you who struggle with support….here’s a gem for you all!
xxxx
Erin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1evEG_L9-zo

I just started the diet this week and lost one kilo! This is unbelievable for me. I have a thyroid issue and have not lost such a large amount of weight in many years. I am 45. I’m so excited to get stuck into the other 7 weeks of the 8 week diet and change my eating habits and life forever. This has to be the easiest diet I have ever been on.

Thank you SunnyB for such a generous welcome and for your words of advice and encouragement.

As I won’t be going to Lakeland soon, I think your idea of muslin and a loose lid is a brilliant one and will give it a go tomorrow…… I’d only heard of kimchi on the Archers, absolutely delighted you can make it yourself and can’t wait to give it a try.

Thanks for the reminder about counting carbs and cals, do you ever get used to it? Just this minute ordered a carb counter (book) so I don’t keep having to look things up on Google all the time. Surrounded by cookery books, perhaps the 3kg I’ve already lost are from lugging them around rather than the BSD!!!

In the meantime…..

Let’s raise a glass (of water with a slice of lemon in it) to us all

Mel

Issy, keep calm and carry on! I have the recipe book and by week 7 I have lost half a stone, dropped a dress size, have more energy than ever (and I am in my forties) and feel amazing! I haven’t followed 800/7 religiously but have cut out the majority of carbs. I have gone out and enjoyed myself and modified the food at restaurants e.g. ordering a veg dish instead of a carb side etc. I have adopted the Mediterranean diet principles but making it work for me. Keep drinking water and fluids and take vitamin supplements – I have an adult version of Bertie Bassetts! I reversed type 2 diabetes three months following diagnosis, but a year on need to lose weight more significantly and maintain a good weight for life!! Good luck!!

Hi folks – I got the recipe book and started on the BSD about three weeks before my copy of the BSD book arrived (I had to order it in), and I found the recipe book plus the website contained sufficient information to start on the BSD. When the BSD book arrived, I was relieved to know I’d been following it to the letter 🙂 I think the recipe book is fantastic – I have always loved cooking, and the recipe book showed me that I could still have fun cooking delicious food, and taught me a whole bunch of new ideas and ways of preparing food. Fantastic!

I’m four weeks in now and loving the diet. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this good in life.

BUT…. the calorie counts are often underestimated (as pointed out by others above), or sometimes inconsistent. For example, compare the ‘Apple and Cinnamon Porridge’ with ‘Spicy Fruit Porridge’ (they are on pp 34 and 36 of the Australian and New Zealand Edition). They have _exactly_ the same ingredients and quantities, except that the latter also has ‘a knob of butter’. Yet the calorie count is given as 260 for the former, and 210 for the latter – so, the knob of butter somehow ‘removes’ 50 calories from what is otherwise an identical list of ingredients 🙂 ??

Also, some recipes list ingredients and then don’t tell you what to do with them… like they are accidentally left out of the instructions. Luckily I could use my imagination and figure it out.

But I hope there will be a corrected edition before too long.

And having said all, that, when I make something out of the book (which is about half of the time) I just use the calorie count as in the book, and my progress on the BSD with regard to weight and waist circumference has been fantastic.

Hmm, I was _sure_ this information was in the book somewhere, because I knew it was per serving, and thought I got that in the book, but now that I’m looking for it I can’t find it… so maybe it’s there but very well hidden?

Please, please don’t give up. You are doing a fabulous thing for your body…… says she who is only on day 6!

I am so lucky that I don’t have diabetes, but I would KILL to have your BMI. My ancient mother has type 2, being even more obese than me, so I could see the writing on the wall, which is after a lifetime of dieting hope I’ve found one which works.

However, I too have had high blood pressure, since my late teens. Diagnosed with lupus nephritis after the birth of my second child, which is making me wonder if the medics are keeping a check on your kidneys? (They produce the hormone whIch controls blood pressure, if you didn’t know).

In the meantime, a teaspoon of organic cider vinegar in water 3 times a day is meant to be very good for high blood prssure, and I promise, you really DO get used to the taste.

And just think, you have given up all those carbs which have given you the immediate ‘hit’ to keep going; you work AND have 2 children, one of whom is probably still a baby (but I’m not assuming that is the case) to look after, not to mention managing the home, partner etc, not getting much sleep on a good day and you wonder why you are feeling lethargic?!!!!!!!!

You should be giving yourself a huge pat on the back for being strong enough to start this diet in the first place, Well done you and if all the blurb is true, just think how much better you are going to feel in the next weeks.

Keep up the good work,

And I’m sending you a big hug

Stick with it, Issy, it will pass. Carb flu is dreadful, and can be very debilitating – I know, I had it quite badly, plus I started in the depths of winter and I cannot TELL you how cold I felt, so at least you don’t have that to contend with. By this time next week, you’ll be bounding around full of energy and burning all your fat stores, so worry not 😜 Good luck.

Liz, if a steak and ale pie is your only vice, then you deserve it. This is a way of life and so we have to live too!

Good that mum was well enough for lunch. It must’ve been a relief for you and rightly celebrated… 😘

Hey Lardass Liz,

Steak and Ale Pie is amazing. It is well worth falling off the diet for, and if you enjoyed it, so much the better.
Take care.

Nonna Mary
xxxx