I am on the second week of the diet and we have been following the book (from the library) for one week, the cost of some of the ingredients are extortionate.
Coconut powder for example is only available in predominantly 1kg bags for £10.00, for someone who has a low income, these factors have not been thought of, and may not use these ingredients in the quantities sold for.
If not for the support of other members like on this forum, and the internet, the book has its flaws in this respect.
I have been trying to get on the Pre-dDabetes Programme via the NHS, but cannot they cannot find a venue which has wheelchair access in my area East Hertfordshire.

Hi London L, I can totally sympathise with the body betraying us as we age. Good on you for making the effort. Following a nasty fall where I buggered my left knee and shoulder (ligament in knee, tendon in shoulder), it’s taken 3 years and starting BSD and losing some weight to finally realise recovery can happen. I’ve found Pilates to be very helpful and would like to do aquarobics but the timing is wrong where I live…every gym has it on at the same time on the same day! But walking would be good as it is weight bearing so extra good for your bones.

Stay positive and I’m sure continued weight loss will help.

From Crabbycams

I agree with SunnyB. One goal at a time is enough and losing 3-4lbs in 3 weeks is a good place to start. Everyone is different and you need to find what works for you and stick with that. Good luck.

My advise is one min-goal at a time. Yes, we all have aspirations and targets beyond those, but to help to keep focused and not to feel overwhelmed by them, having just one mini-goal o get to at a time, helps to keep that feeling of ‘it can be done’ to the fore.

So probably best to hit your first goal of 3-4lb (or a little more), have your holiday, relax and enjoy …… and then set yourself a new mini-goal from there. If you really must have another mini-goal right now, take a look at any areas of the BSD you could improve on – e.g. increasing hydration, walking more or increasing exercise.

Whatever you decide to do, I hope that you are successful and will be reporting great results soon.

Oh Lord Liz, I have to go RIGHT NOW! Please, please don’t change your mind about this posting – I shall be looking forward it all day.

Iain

Me too! I was 40 and had gradually put on a load of weight in the past few years. I started the BSD in March and now I’ve lost more than 30lb and feel great. I just turned 41 on Monday, and feel so much better now than I did this time a year ago! It’s really life changing 😀

Hi, haven’t posted on here before…and need to focus and keep my motivation up.

Where I’m at: I’m coming towards the end of my first three weeks on BSD – started at 236lb on 2 June – lost loads in the first week, hit that hormonal time of the month and despite being really quite good I lost loads in the first 10 days (basically 10 lb), have weighed (me and food) and logged on MyFitness Pal every day, no more than 1000kcal on any day apart from this Mon when I was pretty fed up (still only 1500 – and for my body weight etc 2000kcal would maintain)…and for the last 9 days I’ve just been fluctiating between 225.2 at the lowest, and 228.6. Was below 800 and had 10g only carbs yesterday so hoping now hormones should even out and given the kickstart it will start falling off again. I have about 7st to lose!

So…!

Mini-goals:

1. Get below 16st by holiday on 13 July (lose 3-4 lb depending on how much I believe the scales) – but ideally would love to lose half a stone
2. Yesterday was exactly 14 weeks til my 40th birthday, so even if I lost just 1lb per week I’d be down to 15 something which would be good. But my dream really would be 13.13 or lower, which is what I was when I embarked om Weightwatchers back in 2003 and lost 4.5st for our wedding and in our first year of marriage – what is realistic though???

Any suggestions for other mini goals? (I’m not diabetic so no blood results)

Weighed in this morning as an overall 2lb loss from last week – lost 4 last week and regained 2.

Look what I’ve found. HIIT that we can do at home. Short and powerful: https://darebee.com/programs/30-days-of-hiit.html?showall=&start=1

Hello Fabulous Peeps,
I got my tits out in public!!! And Iain you would have been proud. Let me explain! Mindful of the crap week of worry I’ve just had, a dear girlfriend called this morning to announce she was picking me up for a treat and wasn’t taking no for an answer. She would only tell me we were going to a spa and meeting a couple of her friends there. Well, I packed my size 22 black swimsuit with the modesty skirt and tummy control, donned my black stretchy pants, black top and a suitably spa appropriate Thai meditation coat. (Never been to Thailand but got it in a charity shop—it has elephants and shit and gives a whole ‘Namaste” vibe which seemed appropriate.) On the drive down she mentioned that it was a clothing optional spa for women only prompting me to remember that I hadn’t shaved my legs…..in about a week…and a half….okay….maybe two. Fuck. Like it or not, my Zen vibe was rapidly being replaced by a hairy über Earth Mother/turbo feminist possible lezzer identity.

We arrived at a rather unassuming structure downtown and were greeted by friendly, fully clothed stick insects that gave us each towels, took our orders for herbal tea concoctions and showed us to the change rooms. So far, so good—no excess flesh in sight. Given the upscale vibe of the place I would have thought that individual cubicles would have been provided to change in but no such luck. Working through my mounting panic I pulled a Wonder Woman style move (remember how Linda Carter just had to spin about 4 times and poof, she was in her red gold and blue number?). Well, leaving on my fashionably earthy knee length meditation coat, I whipped my lower half off and wiggled my sensibly black costume over my generous frame, then, in a series of dazzlingly deft moves, I had my shirt and bra off and my wobblies safely ensconced with dignity still intact. Preparing to head to the pool deck I unfolded one of the crisp white towels to discover it was more suited to the girth of a praying mantis. Noting my angst, my friend gently offered the option of a plush robe. Thank you friend.

Despite my wholly discreet changing maneuvers I had attracted the attention of a gaggle of young Japanese girls who seemed to be fascinated by my height, and possibly girth, with one of their party making creepy use of a mirrored wall to observe me from an angle that provided more detail. Now, I’m not one to stereotype but, had it not been for the numerous USE OF CAMERAS OR CELLPHONES IN THE CHANGE ROOMS IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN signs, I believe I would soon be appearing in photo albums across the land of the rising sun under the caption “Enormous Furry Godzirra Sized Woman Spotted in Rady Spa, Toronto.” Bad Lizzie.

Well, summoning what courage I could harness, I headed into the ‘waters’ area. Wait, back up, one of our party met us at the change room wherein greetings were exchanged, superficial mention of the weather, lovely surroundings, what a good idea this was etc. Okay, so back on deck I lower myself into the first of a series of pools: The Dead Sea Pool and it was glorious! Not too hot, not too cool; just Goldilocks perfect. Not being the bravest of souls I had opted to place my glasses atop my head such that everything was in soft focus and truthfully I couldn’t really see if there was any nakedness in our midst but the arrival of the last member of our party deck side confirmed that niggling query. She appeared from behind me and in one swoosh settled beside me….naked as the day she was born. Startled, I offered an owl like “Helloooooooooooo” that reverberated from the rafters. I managed a further “well, this is nice” which is lame even for me after which she thankfully picked up the chat ball and ran with it.

After finally putting my glasses on I quickly noted that there were numerous ladies displaying various bits, and further that I was the only woman fully clad, so, under the safety of the roiling waters, I lowered my straps…..BOING, BOING!! Once released, and without warning, each of my overstuffed lady orbs popped to the surface and began dancing about like dumplings in a pot of simmering
stew. It would seem that Dead Sea Salts do in fact provide buoyancy!

I spent the better part of an hour soaking in the glorious pond often struggling to say beneath the surface as the saline saturation made it hard not to float to the surface. I went on to the Epsom Salt pool that was heated to 104F and it reached my soul–just glorious! But beginning to really feel the heat I moved on to the cold plunge pool which, after giving it a test flick with my fingers was, by even the most modest description, Santa’s Pole cold. Despite an ambitious and fully submerged naked Miss Ice Cone Tits giving me words of encouragement with ‘just do it’ (….fucking NIKE) I couldn’t– but as I was still feeling the heat in my entire head I opted for bending to submerge my face which saw my tits hit the water first which, in turn, prompted the release of a string of expletives that would shock even the most foul mouthed of sailors. Clearly not suited or brave enough for the cold plunge I retreated to a lounge chair with a cold cloth for my brow having delivered the nubile titsical princess a lesson on profanity she won’t soon forget.

I did consider having a sugar scrub and massage but upon learning that all treatments are conducted naked save for wearing a paper thong, and not sure if they meant her or me, I politely declined. But seriously? A paper thong?!! My first thought was a paper cut in the depths of the forbidden canyon or worse– the nearby hamlet of Fannyville. Happy with just having “taken the waters” and celebrating my brief dalliance with partial nudity, I left the spa and I felt amazing, energized, confident, refreshed and with my undercarriage intact.

After our spa treatment we returned to my house for a fabulous meal: 2 tbsp of hummus spread in the base of a rimmed pasta bowl, topped with shredded iceberg lettuce, 100g cooked ground lamb with Greek seasoning, thin sliced red onion, diced tomato, 6 black olives, 1 Tbsp crumbled feta, 2 tbsp of tzatziki and a drizzle of oil and red wine vinegar with a sprinkle of dried oregano. Even Kev enjoyed it!

Once my girlfriend had left Kev put the kettle on and purred “so tell me all about your day and spare no details.” Bless my pervy Kev.

For me, today was confidence building and fit beautifully with my “whole Liz” approach to this path I’m on. The BSD makes me feel just so good. My blood sugars are great, I’m losing the weight that has been strangling me and equally as important–I’m off the bottle. I can’t say that booze doesn’t cross my mind or the carrot cake at the bakery at the top of the road but when I feel a weak moment manifesting I get the kettle on and gaze at my app which is tracking my weight or put on music I like or just stand by the kitchen door and gather myself, reminding the strong me deep within about the path I want to stay true to. You’ll all get old urges but I promise they will pass and new habits will replace them. I really do promise.

I started this thread as a way to invite others to join me in my cyber kitchen on the way to work for a cup of tea, or on the way home from errands, a place to drop in and trade hopes, fears and stories of successful days and some not so great. I have a lovely kitchen here in Toronto with a huge fireplace, comfy chairs, a big farm kitchen table and plenty of tea. If you’re having a day that just seems like too much struggle to bear, picture yourself dropping by for a chat. I’ll put the kettle on and all of your friends here will listen and support you as we gather around the table for a chat. We’re in this together and together we can succeed!

Much love,
Lizzie Ice Tits
xo

Hi everyone
Just picking up on the insulin point – I’m due to have mine tested tomorrow. As the name suggests, I am a Tofi and had been rather despairing as simply hadnt been able to bring my fasting levels down despite trying all the various options detailed on the forums and reaching the lowest bmi for a healthy range. My hba1c came back after a few months having reduced to prediabetic but bearing in mind how strict I had been, I was gutted. I read a book called The Blood Code by a Dr Mercola and it seems to have really helped as it advises that my using body fat calipers you can work out if your issues are more diet or exercise related and it turns out mine were the latter and I needed to increase to 15 mins HIIT and 15 minutes strenuous resistance a day. Since doing that all my tests have been in the normal range! Something else it suggested is getting your insulin levels checked because that can tell you whether it is a case of having lots of insulin but your body being resistant to it or whether you have low insulin generally and need to focus on exercise to maximise the amount you have. This latter option often seems to be the case for lean diabetics and may mean I am not in fact a Tofi after all (ie my high sugar may have been caused by low insulin levels rather than visceral fat making me resistant) I’m also having the test for Type 1 so I can hopefully dismiss that as an option and am then going to have an appointment with a specialist to discuss all my questions, the possibility of LADA etc. Will keep you posted on what I discover.

Thanks sunshine-girl will have a look at the different ones available. Nurse warned me off the NHS dietician too lol – definitely going to save myself the trip and just stick with this ; )

Hi London L!
Googling this quickly, I think there are things you could do, but you’d have to be careful not to strain anything, so perhaps your local gym, a physio or a doctor could tell you? But walking is good! Anything but sitting down too long is good!

How did your first day go?

My fast day went brilliantly yesterday until the evening when I started eating again. Still stopped just under TDEE but definitely got ambushed by the carb monster. Carbs actually weren’t too much higher than a normal day in the end thanks to starting on a 16:8 pattern, but water retention hit, possibly because I was a little under hydrated yesterday, and I was back to out of my comfort zone this morning with a 11 stone 1.6 pounds. That is BMI 25 as well, so the first time back over that milestone since I hit my target. Fasted today instead, with a slightly high 1000 calories, but then I did play badminton so that should help it to count. It was a sub 40g carb day though.

Lee…sorry you had such a shitty time in the hospital. Hope you get the results you want soon. xxx

Welcome back on board JCH187, although I guess in many ways you’d prefer it not to be because of the weight gain and sugar addition. As long as you stick to the core principles of the BSD way of eating, you should see those pounds drop away again. Keep us posted on your progress and shout if you are struggling and need advise, support or encouragement.

Hope it goes well for you and you are soon posting positive results – best of luck.

Well I’m back….

Been a bit of a full blown week! Arrived at accident and emergency on Tuesday on doctors orders and was taken straight in. Electrolytes were still very low and I had so many blood test that I resembled a pin cushion. My veins began to quit under the pressure, actually moving away at one point. Go veins!

Full mot with ecg, chest x-ray and urine check. Finally released after 5 hours on a trolley and boy did my back ache!
I couldn’t stand for more than 20 minutes for the whole of the next day.

Had to go back on the Friday to have my levels checked and I was just about the lower level limit, which I was happy with.

Now for the bad news, they insisted that while I had done well on bsd in reducing my bs levels, they insisted I start metformin at 500mg twice a day. I’m resigned to it now for a while but long term I’m determined to get rid! They also want to scan my heart, pancreas and kidneys for any damage, so I’m waiting for that to come through!

I kept more or less to the principle of bsd throughout but was forced to up my calories for a week or so, but stuck to 1400 or less. I’m gradually reducing it now and it will hit 834 today. Despite all of this I have maintained at 10lbs down since I started, so I’m happy!

I’m off work this week with a planned “staycation” and have used the time to deep clean the house. I must be mad on this weather!! I have about 8 bags of stuff to go to the charity shop which they are collecting 1st weekend in July. I haven’t had this much energy in years!!

I’m also interspersing all this activity with some much needed “me” time with massages, facials and manicures all booked in and finishing up on Saturday with a hair cut and colour. I shall be a new woman when I return to work next Monday. (Indian head massage today. Bliss!!)

Also exciting as new shorts and vests arrived from next today. UK Size 14 no less!! Well chuffed with that!

Liz, so sorry to hear of your traumatic week with the lovely Kev and I’m so glad he’s on the road to recovery. I can’t tell you how excited I am for you that you got through it all without reaching for the bottle. That’s amazing.

So, that’s my update for now. Thanks for thinking of me. I’ve often thought of you all!

Lee xx

Gosh you all seem so sporty! I never have been although I was doing Zumba Gold which I just loved & had done yoga for years-& I enjoy walking but don’t get to do any long walks. This doesn’t mean I sit around all day though! But about 18 months ago I tore a cartilage in my left knee- getting out of the car can you believe! The pain was horrible but surgeon wasn’t interested. So I went to my osteo & he helped a lot. I was just thinking a few weeks ago that I might venture gently back to yoga at least & blow me, I sprained a ligament along the inside of my right knee & it hurts much more than the first one. At 70 I am reluctant to overdo things now. But when I can walk properly again I think that just walking might have to be it. I wonder if that will be enough-any thoughts please? Lx

Hey Baristagirls, not cheating, just a bit late to the party!

So so funny Canadaliz. The eggplant episode had me in tears too. Good to know ‘your Kev’ is on the mend. And you’re getting there through thick and thin. Can’t wait for tomorrow’s installment!

Stillnotstarteddumpty!

Me too-joined today for pretty much the same reasons as you! Sick of low fat diets that don’t work! L x

Hi everyone,
Water is a great idea, and I find I’m naturally drinking a lot (I live in Portugal BTW, so seriously hot here at the moment).

I wouldn’t take fluid retention tablets, Bonnie, unless you need them for medical reasons.

Yes, I think walking is a great idea. My fitbit stopped working, but MyFitnessPal tracks how far, fast and long I walk. Does anyone do any other exercise? I do a sort of wobbly roly poly run 3 times a week, using the 0-5k app. Strangely, I feel more energetic now than when I was loading up on carbs. I’ve also started doing squats, lunges, push ups and planks (sounds impressive until you know I only do 5 push ups and a 20 second plank is as much as I can do).

The best exercise is HIIT according to Mosley and my husband (he’s a GP and sports medicine specialist, and in really good shape, so he doesn’t understand me at all). I’m looking for daily alternatives (maybe a DVD?) but if you run, do 30 seconds of gradually increasing then decreasing acceleration, walk and do it again, several times. Any other suggestions?

This is day 4 for me, I’ve definitely lost weight already, although my stubborn tum still looks like a rubbery beach ball.

BTW, I’m 56, 5’7″, weigh 83Kg (that’s down from my max of 88kg in April), and my target is 65Kg. Ambitious targets are supposed to help. My blood sugar is pre-diabetic, and we have type 2 diabetes in the family. What’s worse is that clothes have stopped fitting me! Major motivation!

Good luck everyone!

Hi mesin1 — I’m going to agree with sunshine girl because I love exercise/all sports and my five months on the BSD was an eye opening experience for a sporty person — I lost weight MORE quickly with LESS exercise — completely unexpected and counter intuitive but I would recommend you cut back just a bit in the beginning — exercising enough to burn off 600-700 calories is a large amount of high intensity exercise and it might actually slow down your weight loss.
My theory after playing around with it for several weeks was that exercise was triggering “hoarding” on the part of my body because I was probably getting to a starvation level by burning off all my calories.
If you do work out that much, I would add back in calories (at least half).
My best loss was while I was doing a lazy Jazzercise hour five times a week — just wiggling and dancing — I had to do that for about a month when I hurt my knee — I lost faster and with less hunger than ever. I’m on maintenance now and back to my old sports but I just eat until I am full, keeping very low carb (40 grams/day).
I am like many women, I used exercise to keep my weight in control but as you get older, you just can’t work out as hard or as many (endless) hours as before — the funny thing is, it was always counter-productive but I didn’t know that! All those years, eating the wrong foods (carbs) and then trying to burn it off — what a joke.
It was ALWAYS easier and I just didn’t know it!

I didn’t weigh today!! Is it cheating to report in a day late.

Hi Bigeater — this must be the first case of “potato possession” I have heard of… Call the BSD priest! But seriously, no worries, just start again today — I think our brains come up with all KINDS of creative strategies to get us to eat more food — i remind myself that bodies and brains try to create a static environment and keep the status-quo even if it is unhealthy — and there we go disrupting the whole balanced thing by refusing to put food in our mouths (or refusing the kind of food we ate before) and of course our brain/body gets sneaky and tries to come up with ways to get us back on the path they are so comfortable with.
Your brain was very very creative!

Me too not diabetic or pre-diabetic but a family history of it. I tried last year, lost 28lbs on the 8 week program but then fell off the wagon. But I’m back and determined! Good luck x

I’m back after a year away. This time last year I lost 28lbs on the 8 week plan but I’ve fallen off the wagon in a spectacular fashion since then and my sugar addiction came back with a vengeance, I’m ashamed that all my hard work has been undone and then some. I don’t think I’m going to do the 8 week program but a version of it, I know what works for me on the diet, what doesn’t and I’ve done my BSD food shop so I’m ready to get started tonight. Wish me luck!

I have just this minute signed up too-can I join you too please? I started a week ago & lost 5lbs in that week which is very encouraging. Low fat diets are so depressing & don’t seem to work for me any more-I’ve been yo-yo dieting on them for over 50 years & could still do with losing 4 stone! I am following the 8 weeks of menus in the Recipe Book & think they are brilliant. Quick & easy-just what I need. Food that I enjoy-what a treat! I actually look forward to each meal now. I know it won’t always be as easy as it has been this week but with the wonderful support I have seen here, & the success I have already had, I feel very encouraged. L x

Well done on your progress so far! Similiar story to you, lost 28lbs on the 8 week plan last year but I’ve fallen off the wagon in a spectacular fashion since then and my sugar addiction came back with vengeance. I’ve just had my food shop delivered and I’m ready to start again. Good luck x

Yes we are doing this thing Polly – go us!!! lol. Feeling really great about life at the mo – amazing how many positive thoughts, vibes and feelings you get simply from being able to control what you eat – it’s so empowering! I have noticed that one or two tops I used to wear now hang straight down from my boobs without having to skirt over my big belly – yessssss! lol. Still a way to go but so hopeful that I will actually achieve my goal this time and more importantly maintain my weight loss – a different subject, shall tackle that one when the time comes. 🙂

Hi, Theodora – 8 or 9 miles is still putting me to shame! And, yes, I did enjoy the Pimms very much! 🙂

SunnyB – 1.2lb is great going. I”m on my 5th consecutive day back just below 10st, no new in-roads as yet but at least I’m holding station.

Am off to the pool for a swim shortly. Just hope the world & his wife don’t decide on the same idea.

Take care all.

Good Mantra, I am drinking laods of water as it also is helping my cravings for carbs today. has anyone tried water retention tablets, someone mentioned them to me yesterday and I was wondering if they might be a good idea? Although i do try and keep active, i find sometimes that my ankles are really stiff in the morning and not just in this heat.
Does anyone walk for weightloss , what excercies do you find is effective?
I was running at the gym , but have managed to pull a muscle in my thigh so am having to rest it at the moment.
The kids bought me a fitbit for my birthday and i was making sure to do the 10,000 steps everyday, I actually quite enjoyed it as I was taking a break in the middle of the day and walking the beautiful country lanes near where I live, which also works really well as a stress buster.

Anyway just off to get another glass of water.
stay cool

Keep on keeping on froggy (I’m loving your name!) doesn’t matter how many times we fall, just keep on getting up!
Sunnyb had some good pointers for us all, a mine of info she has. Thanks Sunnyb, I’ve just drizzled walnut oil on my salad and it was ok! Not so sure about cream in coffee, I did try it once, didn’t like it too much! I do like my coffee strong and black!
Good wishes everyone for the coming week, it’s so much easier to drink gallons of water now it’s soooooo blinkin’
Hot!!
Ann x

Hi Canadaliz, re your low BS (BTW well done), from my experience (in week 8 with meds halved at week 4 and no expert at all) it seems that the body has to take a while to adjust to the changes taking place in the body. I like to think of it as the pancreas and liver starting to work better than before as the visceral fat is eliminated. Your new waist?? That’s visceral fat going as well as the external stuff. At least, that’s what I think.

I had lots of lows (but not that low) before meds halved. Now starting to get back into the low 5s after jumping all over the place up to 7 last week (after a night out, first one since started diet and had a glass of wine).

I so admire you and all the others for whom alcohol is the devil. And it doesn’t matter if you fall off the wagon as long as it can be acknowledged and then the wagon rejoined with honesty. Only too easy to be a bit ‘Catholic’ and go forth and sin in the knowledge that you will be forgiven after confession and a bit of a penance!

As for the tit song, Wonderful. Mine are disappearing, which is a bit sad. The best thing about being overweight was a decent pair of ‘fun bags’ as an old boyfriend used to call them.

Stay well everyone. Keep on keeping on. The thing I’m most scared of is starting on the slippery slope after the 8 weeks end, nibbling at the thin edge of a wedge of cake! I know that the sugar devil would be right back raging every day. Even writing about it makes me want sugar, chocolate, something sweet.

Hugs to all on the journey

Crabbycams

Might you have some water retention going Froggy? You would certainly have had to be way off the BSD to put on 5lb in a week, so it’s much more likely to be water than fat gained. As your jeans are still loose, I’m sure there’s no reason to be overly concerned, but it is tough to stay positive in the face of these set backs.

Make sure you are drinking enough and staying well hydrated, which is especially important in this hotter weather and just have a quick review to see if there were any little slips or blips through the week.

Most importantly, start afresh from today and I’m sure you will be reporting good things next week – good luck.

Freckled, if you get at test kit try to do your test first think in the morning before you have eaten anything. You dont have to fully fast the night before so you will not be getting a fasting BG but a pretty close idea. Let us know what your readings are like.

DO NOT GO TO THE NUTRITIONIST – THAT’S WHAT GOT ME INTO THIS MESS – RECOMMENDED 6 HIGH CARBS A DAY. BG raging and weight up 5kg in 3 months – do not go….

Hi Charmain, do you have the 800 calories BSD book, the med diet is explained in there. Basically, you eat lots of good protiens like lean meat, chicken and fish, lots of lovely veg, think peppers, courgette, spinach, salads etc and cut right down on bread, potatoes, rice and pasta and, of course, processed or sugary foods. The recipes in the book and on this site can be adjusted for the Med diet, just dont worry about the 800 calories and stick to low carb food.

Well done, everyone! Inspiring to hear all your triumphs, although I feel I’m letting you down massively as have put on 5lbs this week. 5 lbs. On the plus side, my jeans feel just as loose as they did before the challenge so I’m trying not to be too down about the numbers. Will keep on keeping on.

froggy x

Just noticed that the thread JUNE TO JULY etc are doing very well. I think we will have to have a competition with them. A bit of motivation needed here.

Well Its so hot here in Manchester that my jar of coconut oil is totally liquid :0)
Thanks Julia18togo – the depression thread is really v interesting. We do tend to separate the mental from the physical when looking at the effects of good nutrition but they are vary closely linked and I think this diet should be advertised for mental health as well as Diabetes, but as discussed, it is all anecdotal evidence. Still, its certainly working for me! 🙂
Sorry I’m very intermittent in forum updates but I’m still here and keeping on keeping on! and reading your updates :0)
Coming up to the end of my first week. Saturday we had a last minute BBQ. I was virtuous, had some chicken, fish and plenty of salad with a G&T then sparkling water in my gin bubble glass for the rest of the eve. None of the other bbq’ers then harassed me as to why I wasn’t drinking ha!
I woke up on Sunday completely flat. I felt like the high of getting on track had run out. I lasted till around 3pm on scrambled eggs for brekky and a yogurt/apple combo. Suddenly I was snapping at the kids, pacing around and generally in a foul mood and too hot. Next thing I know, Ive got a burger bun in my mouth… old habits die hard aye!? Clearly I have triggers I need to be mindful of. Maybe I was dehydrated.
Got straight back in the game on monday morning and stayed at 700cals for the day. Today Im now in work preaching to my colleague who is complaining of lethargy/weigh gain… all the usual symptoms of sugar addiction. I’m making it my mission to convert her.

Keep up the good work everyone! Ive got to weigh in soon so will update asap. x

Thanks J-M, knew it was around that time, we were here on holiday and I remember the place we were staying had no air con so we spent a lot of time driving around. Pulled up to have lunch in Limeiul by the river and parked under dense trees and the temperature was 41 degrees. We hit 40 yesterday.

I have to confess I have regained 1.5lb of the 2lb I lost last week. Not good and not totally understandable as I have been swimming 40 or 50 minutes every day. Surely that amount of exercise would count for something. I know exercise doesn’t make you lose weight as you would have to do say 40 mins walking to burn off one digestive, but considering I am sticking with the plan (except for Saturday night) I should at least have stuck.

I have been reading through other posts and threads and it looks like a lot of people are struggling. Maybe something to do with the hot weather, fluid retention or something and also being rather lethargic. Even though I am swimming, the rest of the time I am doing as little as possible.

Anyway, this is the start of another week and still time to redeem ourselves starting right now.
B – scrambled egg with chilli and 20g cheese
L – Pho chicken soup – but I am letting it go cold
D – straight forward grilled lamb steaks with lots of veg and mint sauce.
S – cold chicken on a ryvita and maybe a piece of dark chocolate
Around 750 calories for the day and absolutely nothing else.

Onward and upwards everyone, how are you all doing. Heard from Julia18togo and Crabbycams but the rest of you are quiet.

That’s great news, SoulfulSunflower! Well done! Glad to hear you’ve perked up. Look forward and not back! It sounds like you’ve lost a lot of weight already which is a real achievement so further weightl-loss is definitely in your control. Half your body weight sounds very daunting and that can be demoralising in itself. Although you need to have that as a long-term target, maybe you need to divide that up into smaller targets? Half stones and stones motivate me. It ALL makes a big difference. Every half stone you lose will have a great impact on your health. I find the 8 weeks motivating because, although I know I won’t have lost my 3.5 stone at the end of it, I didn’t actually think I could manage 8 weeks of 800 at all when I started. Mostly sticking to that regime for that length of time is an achievement too. I also know that my stomach will have shrunk after 8 weeks. I don’t feel anywhere near as hungry now as I did 6 weeks ago. I’ve adapted to the calorie intake.
I function better with my banana pancake (2 eggs, one mashed banana) for breakfast then I’m not too starving if I don’t have lunch or just have a miso soup. And then I eat loads of salad and veg with cooked chicken, fish or a homemade Fast Diet chilli in the evening. Or I make up Borlotti Bean Bolognese. V low calories. I’m personally, not great at fasting all day until the evening. More likely to overdo it at the last minute. I’m better at keeping track throughout the day. But you have to do what suits you. It’s actually easier on the days I work (I don’t work Mondays and Tuesdays except for teaching a few piano lessons in the evening).
I’m nearly 5’7 and started at 15 stone 7 lbs and after almost 6 weeks, I’m 14 stone 4lbs. Even if I lose a total of 3.5 stone, I don’t think I actually hit my correct BMI but I always think BMI is slightly ludicrous. I don’t want to be gaunt or skinny. I just want to be healthy and to fit into a Size 14 and have increased self-esteem and confidence. Getting into the 13 stones is another small goal – got to shake off the next 4lbs fast!
Keep going!!!!!!

Hey SoulfulSunflower
Good to see you have not allowed your transgression to derail your efforts. My advise would be to have something small during the day if you need to – a little full fat yogurt or a small cube of cheese may be – so that you keep control and get to the point where you are desperate to eat and then give into a binge. Remember that keeping the fats up, helps to keep hunger at bay and get the fat burning process ticking.
Good luck with you fresh start and hope to see you posting some positive results soon.

Yay !! Excellent results everybody. I am down 3lbs too this week. Feels good. The best part is the cravings are gone.

Hey Pod – excellent result – congrats on hitting that 3st mark and getting into size 14 trousers. You’ll soon be in the size 12’s I’m sure. Have you tried a drizzle of olive oil on salad and a little double cream in coffee to help boost the fats? Actually, I bought a spray basil flavoured oil from Lidl, which is lovely squirted on salad.
I’ve taken to extending my overnight fast too and it seems to be going okay. My appetite seems to be a bit depressed by the humid weather and drinking more due to the heat definitely helps me hold out ’til lunch.
Keep going and I’ll look forward to reading good news from you next week too.

I’ve just read all the posts and they are really interesting. I’ve never been diagnosed with depression but I can definitely relate to the apathy and can’t be botheredness (probably not a real word but I use it a lot!!) I’ve read the link to the Ketovangelist blog and I’m going to follow that advice as much as I can. Thanks LindaA for sharing.

Thanks to all of you who have shared your inspirational stories and best of luck for the future.

OK all, so I am in danger of giving in to temptation today as I have a series of tasks to carry out at work, none of which I am relishing. So, posting here that I WILL wait for lunch before I eat anything. Have had a coke zero instead – I know that’s not recommended but it helps on the tough days to stop me consuming empty cals even if not good for the gut!
B- yoghurt and berries (yes, I know, same as last week!)
L – cauliflower cheese (not much cheese though) and chicken breast.
D – minced beef cooked with a tonne of celery, green beans.

Scales were right up at 84 this morning, I honestly don’t think that is the damage from the weekend, more likely fluid retention (always happens at this time of the month!) since I was at 82.3 the other day.

Older daughter gets back from visiting family in Spain tonight at midnight, so I will need to go to the airport late at night and sacrifice some sleep. So I have have further yoghurt/berries for a snack late tonight. This will take me over 800 but keep me low in carbs, so I am not going to stress about it. After the weekend, I am still struggling with self control so today is about managing to eat sensible food even if quantities are a little more than they should be.

Hope everyone is having a good day so far.

Thanks for the pep talk and visualisation – I’m assured by my GP they’re not worried abiut my blood sugar, but it can only be a matter of time as I’m 5’1.5″ and at my heaviest (last year) was 17st 8, now down to 16st 2 ish (was 16.13ish – but BMI etc says middle of healthy weight is about 8 stone something – so started off with half my body weight to lose. If that doesn’t say health problems on a plate I don’t know what does!

Am rebooting today with a fast til supper time. Already have food cooked so that’s easy. Drinking gallons of water and peppermint & liqorice tea (naturally sweet and boosts metabolism apparently!) – having a couple of psyllium fibre capsules to fill me up a bit too.

Feeling a bit mentally stronger today so am on this!! Wish me luck!

Wow! Well done everyone ! Seems we’re all having a good week!
I’ve removed 2lb this week, even after my all night binge early in the week! Hoping to see 11s on the scales next week, that will be so inspiring for me.. I managed to fit in size 14 trousers very comfortably, I don’t think it will be too long till I reach my size 12 goal.. I couldn’t have imagined feeling this good when I started this woe.. Actually, this is a milestone result for me, I’ve lost 3 stone!,
I’m trying to keep my fat intake up, more difficult than it sounds, I’m not a fan of fat! But I am getting used to advocado, half a day definitely helps the fat count. Also, I’m experimenting this week with eating in an 8 hour window 12miday till 8pm, I’ve done it a few days this week and at the moment I think it suits me. We shall see how I feel for the next week!
Thanks to all our friends for the lovely messages of support to us here in Britain, to everyone in Britain, let’s hope and pray that there is no more bad, bad news this week. Sometimes it’s just too much to bear. Let’s hope that people’s humanity keeps shining on through .
Keep on keeping on and movin’ on down!
Luv Ann x

Hi. I started the BSD way of eating on 12th December 2016. Purposefully before Christmas and New Year. To date I’ve lost 3 stones 9 lbs. I’ve learnt some important lessons 1) I hit a plateau several times, you just have to keep the faith and ‘you will’ start to lose weight again. 2) Drink water: I drink a minimum of 2 litres of plain water each day. 3) Alcohol really slows down weight loss. You can dress it up anyway you want, but, the red wine theory is a myth! 4) Exercise speeds up weight loss. I took up cycling after many years away. 5) I look at sugar content and not really carbs. If it shows under 5% of sugars, then fine, if above, then I avoid it. 6) I’m not diabetic, but I bought a blood glucose meter and test my blood sugar a) At different times during the week, and b) After foods which I’m trying out. This tells me if certain foods raise my blood sugar and when. I know this seems somewhat over the top, but, ‘seeing is believing.’ These are a few of my own personal experiences which I wanted to pass on. BSD works! Stick to it…for life! Good luck everyone! David.