Hi SunnyB,

Thank you for your welcome and your reply, I have read about the dawn phenomenon but was not sure this applied to a non diabetic, we will keep going, thank you for your encouragement.

Odd I know, but it’s never occurred to me to cook the cauli rice! I have always have it cold. I find if it’s blitzed in short bursts in a processor, it works perfectly okay for me. Will try frying it at some point, to see how that works – might do it with a curry at the w/e.

Hi loopylou good to ‘see’ you after all this time. Are you just browsing or are you back with us? I’m here for the long haul I’m afraid!

Chocolate ginger OHHHHHH! I just love Lindt’s dark chocolate ginger but they’ve discontinued it. Sunshine-girl now I have the ‘taste’ for chocolate ginger I’m just going to have to search the internet until I can find a substitute!!!

Well done on getting back down to 73kg.

Welcome to the forum MGF and well done to both you and your husband for making such a great start. Don’t panic about the raised blood sugar, this is common and will eventually drop again. Like you, I was not diabetic or pre-diabetic. However, I decided to get a monitor to see where I was and to track my levels, as part of the BSD exercise. My fasting level started out around the 5.2-5.4 mark, this raised to 6.1-6.3, but then dropped again and now runs at 4.8 to 5 most of the time, although to be fair, I only occasionally check these days, as I have no health reason to worry about BS levels.

If you use the search box at the top right of the page, you will find that many have identified this phenomenon, but be assured it will come right.

Keep doing what you are doing and you will both reap health benefits.

I’m not entirely certain I agree with that article at all…. with the small exception about calories. A vegan diet is so easy to put weight on. Let’s face it…. we wouldn’t be in a weight loss support thread if we’d eaten correctly in the first place. My diet pre BSD was carbs and fat. I lived on savoury carbs (pasta potatoes rice bread etc) my sweet tooth was cured by peanut butter (pure, but by the jar full and with a spoon), dates (by the box full). Not a healthy diet…. may be a cruelty free diet, but far from healthy. That’s how I put two stone on over a 4 month period.
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of vegan junk food too (thankfully I never have as I’ve been a “clean” vegan- despite hating the term clean…. I refer to processed free, home cooked wholefood)…. so a vegan diet is definitely not the cure to losing weight, but maybe clearing your conscience.

Love the sound of those scallops, loopylou, definitely need to try those. Sounds like a very stylish celebration!

MK I too like to be organised. Every Sunday I type up a weekly menu and every night I check for the next day. If I didn’t do this I would go to the fridge and find that something I thought I would have is not there and maybe turn to something I shouldn’t have, although there is not much in my fridge or cupboards that aren’t BSD friendly. Like yesterday, I was having frittata for dinner and suddenly realised I had only 2 eggs (need 4 for the 2 of us) so I looked at my menu for the rest of the week and saw I had everything I needed for the Chinese pork balls – it did alter the calories a bit but at least in my favour. My husband says I am a control freak but really I am not that bad.

Today I got back down to 73 kg and just need to lose 0.1 kg to get me under and to my pre Christmas weight. Problem is, the weekend is looming and I have to be really strong and not have any wine. I know I can do it as I manage without most weekends, just need this final push. Strangely, although I have seen this before, my BG is up to 120 or 6.6, but that is still within the ideal range of between 80 and 120 (according to my doctor), must have had something, maybe too much cheese in one day or one square of milk chocolate (with ginger) instead of the 70% dark. One never knows.

Hi Theodora

I was wondering that too, about the fact that I’m not eating unnecessary rubbish anymore. No one who knows me can believe that the person who could pretty much polish off a tin of Quality Street at Christmas single handedly has absolutely no desire for chocolate.

So perhaps once a week is the new norm?

Hi everyone

On Valentines day I cooked scallops with a pea puree (small amount of peas cooked in chicken stock with a bit of butter) and a scattering of fried chorizo, followed by sea bass fillets over a stew of vegetables, baby onions, peas, bacon cooked in chicken stock with a dash of cream. Yummy. Didn’t count calories but probably a bit heavy but lovely for a special treat.

Verano, lovely to see you are still here after my three month absence.

Well Thursday is my weigh in day and I am please to say at the end of week 3 I have lost 5.5kg. Very happy and well on my way to my 10kg in 8 weeks total. Only part of the weight I need to lose but a great start. I actually brought new scales at the start but now I weigh on both. There can be up to a 2 kg difference but strangely the loss is with in 0.1kg of each other. I don’t know if its ok or not, but occasionally I really need to crunch on something and will have a small papadam cooked the the microwave. Nothing on it but a great crunchy snack. Good luck to everyone.

Hi, my name is Irina and I am vegan for over a year, now I am full of love and energy but the first month was very hard -than easier, most importantly do not give up! For beginners, I advise you to read this article! http://happybody.tv/vegan-diet-and-weight-loss/

Thankyou Julesmaigret I think i will do that.. feels good why stop can only do good

Today is my first day, and although I was busy shopping for my new menu I didn’t delay and started with dinner. I went through the shopping list at the front of the recipe book and bought everything on the list, adding extra veggies. I have made another list of food to buy already, as I’m still missing a few more ingredients. I chose to start with a recipe of my choice and with the shopping list I’d already purchased, which was Spanish chicken with chorizo and beans, and a small side of roast Mediterranean veggies sprinkled with chilli flakes. I hate olives.
But I added them anyway, and must say I thoroughly enjoyed the meal, flavour and all. I feel very full but I’m not bloated, just sufficiently satisfied. I’m used to big meals but really watched my portions and am pleasantly surprised at how full I feel. I am very scared starting this diet as I’m not a fish or seafood eater at all, but am going to start, cook everything on the weeks menu plan and at least try the food before I decide I don’t like it again. I would usually be looking for alternatives other than fish, salmon, anchovies etc but have decided to take a fresh approach and try it at least once before seeking seafood alternatives. Oh, and I also don’t eat yogurt! At all! But bought that too! I’m going to be brave! Tips anyone?

I have been on the blood sugar diet for nearly 5 weeks, I am on the diet with my husband, who is a diabetic, I needed to loose weight so had nothing to loose, we have both lost around 7 kgs and things are going well for my husband, but my fasting blood sugar in the mornings is around 6.1 – 6.5 which is wasn’t before I went on the diet, any ideas please.

Yes, I think the really low calorie aspect is aimed at getting the BS levels down; if diabetes is not a problem and it’s only the weight loss you’re after, then a higher cal intake (but low carb) will work fine, perhaps a bit slower but still effective and easier to manage, IMO! But if you are diabetic and need to get BS levels down, the really low 800 cal has been shown to work.

I’m lucky, not having diabetes, but I didn’t appreciate the difference when I started BSD last year; so I stuck with 800 for 8 weeks, but didn’t count carbs- I lost 21 lb in 8 weeks, but it was tough. And then put it all back on again by letting the carb monster back in! This time I’m sticking to the recipes, having about 1000+ cals a day, but counting the carbs as well, aiming at 50g. This has meant cutting out the pulses, root veg, and ALL grains including oats, so no porridge. I’ve lost 14 lbs in 6 weeks, and for me, it is much more sustainable. I’ll reintroduce the pulses and root veg when I get to maintaining, but the carb monster is banished forever!

Hi CathyM – Well done for resisting temptation.

I’m mid-week 5 and, like you, am sticking pretty rigidly to BSD800 and have lost 7.2k. And, also like you, have encountered the same as far as visits to the smallest room are concerned. I probably pay a visit every 4 – 5 days, but certainly don’t “feel” constipated in between, though I feel I should be more regular. I drink about 4 litres a day, use chia seeds etc, but it doesn’t seem to have any effect in this department. I can only assume that, because we are eating less, and FAR less indigestible rubbish, we have less “waste products”? But I shall be interested to hear everyone else’s experiences / tips etc……………..

Day four and I’m LOVING the eating plan. I probably only need to lose 18pounds and just under 5 off already since Monday! I know a lot of this will be fluid and obviously the rate will slow down but what better way to kick start a healthy eating plan? I’ve stuck religiously to the menu plan as I’m not great “off piste” but I did find I was doing a lot of cooking and washing up yesterday. Being on my own it’s quite hard to adapt some of the recipes for one. I’ve frozen some, I also think there is going to be quite a lot of food waste unless I repeat some of the days, and as we all know it’s not cheap to buy everything fresh. Had the portobello mushrooms with goats cheese for breakfast and was delicious. I actually look forward to the meals and it doesn’t feel like a hardship at all and the bonus is I’ve not been hungry or had any adverse reactions.
Thank you all so much for giving me the push to get this started!
Happy Thursday everyone!

Having tried various methods to get cauli rice just right (cooks too unevenly in the oven, some burnt, some too crunchy), this is what I’ve ended up with- chop into small pieces (food processing just ends up as mush) and stir fry about 5 mins with 1tsp coconut oil, salt, pepper and a tsp of cumin seed. Caraway seed works well too.
I haven’t tried microwaving, since this is not a method of cooking I like.

Verano – I think you are right that it is the rapid weightloss that is significant. I had forgotton that section of the book.

I don’t think that there’s a right answer to this. In my case, I felt great after 8 weeks so just carried on, I’d play it by ear and do what feels right for you.

Hi all,

Petip, is your diet sheet aimed at your high potassium rather than blood sugar? Otherwise it’s difficult to see why avocado, spinach, tinned tomatoes and mushrooms should be on a nono list!
Your plan of making every meal delicious is spot on- someone mentioned a “treat meal” recently, and I realised I don’t need special treat meals because everyone of mine on this plan IS a treat meal

Sweetpeahun, according to Cronometer, 6 cherry tomatoes are 18 cals and 2.7g net carbs- I wouldn’t call this high. 6 Olives are 27.6 cals and 0.7 carbs, so lower carbs, higher cals.

Those of you starting out- don’t worry about getting everything perfect straight away or all the time, there will be mistakes along the way, and you have to find what works for you. So Chelle, day 3 of 937 cals and 70 carbs is a great start, congratulations- it only needs a bit of tweaking! Lots of brilliant advice from others on this site, just browse and search.
Good luck to everyone!

In general, it’s an interesting read, but I agree it’s definitely in need of a decent editor – you could shave 30-40% out of the book and not lose anything of substance. I thought the history and research on the effects, if a bit detailed, were really interesting. However, I found it quite repetitive with the same evidence cited to support the same theories a number of times. Whilst not doubting the failings of the original research, I also found the whole “conspiracy theory” tone of certain sections got a bit tedious and a little bit “tin-foil hat” for my taste.
Spoiler alert: the bit at the end about carbs in general also seemed to come out of nowhere and almost seemed like an after-thought.

So definitely a 3/5 from me, a good idea poorly edited and/or not quite sure of its target audience. One for people with a real, deep interest in this area.

I am the same as most people on this forum. I started on the 3rd January when I had to go back to work. I have currently lost 6.4kg just over a stone and really really over the moon.
My main question is once we have done the 8 week mark – how long would you leave it before starting again?
Im looking to do the 5.2 in between for approximately 4 weeks then back on it again
Does this sound about right
I am so suprised how i have not even wanted the high carbs like bread, potatoes etc but thoroughly enjoying the substitutes I use.
I love this WOE and web page and get a lot of inspiration from the recipes added on here . So thank you all
I am not diabetic just doing this for myself still got a way to go but loving it

To the top

Hi All,
I’m hooked on avocados but need to reduce how much I’m having. I didn’t realise cherry toms were high in carbs either!! Are olives a viable alternative?
Yesterday was good, looking forward to making today even better.

Thanks… I think I used myfitnesspal a long time ago and had forgotten I had…. perhaps I should try again. I will have a look, I know there’s no magic bullet and not looking for one, but when you are starting out I think the recipe book could be easier if that makes sense.

Hi SunnyB

All comments welcome here!! What a clever idea I never even thought of substituting the flour! I have chickpea flour but that’s not much lower in carbs than white flour! Could try almond flour which really is low in carbs.

Also I’d forgotten about cauli mash with garlic. I have made it several times in the past. Maybe it’s time to bring the cauliflower thread back to the top!

Lovely link Bissell. Tonight I’m now having Asian style sea bass, found one in the freezer, with pak choi and broccoli. Thanks for the ideas.

Hey January Starters!
It’s the end of week 5 for me and I’m down another 2 pounds, so a total of 1 stone 2lb. Still heading in the right direction albeit more slowly now. I’ve also lost 5 1/2 in from my waist which I’m thrilled with as this is my problem area.
I’ve been really strict the whole time, and to be honest I’ve found it fairly easy to stick to up to now. But I had a major wobble mid week when I was preparing sandwiches for my grandchildren’s lunch. The smell of the bread was so tempting I could have eaten the lot right then. I literally had to take a step back and give myself a pep talk. ‘You’re only cheating yourself’ ‘Think of the end goal’ …I only hope I keep listening to myself!
The only thing that hasn’t stabilised yet (and I’m sorry if this is TMI) is going to the loo. I drink 2-3 litres of water a day and sprinkle chia seeds on yogurt, eggs, salad etc but I can still go a week without a visit to the smallest room. Any suggestions? It can’t be good to have that hanging around the lower intestines for so long!
Stick with it. I love reading this thread as it gives me so much encouragement to carry on. Everyone is so supportive and positive.

Hi – hope you don’t mind me chiming in on this one, but try making white sauce with almond flour. The consistency won’t be the same, but the flavour is fine. Haven’t tried it with coconut flour, as I find that has a distinct coconutty flavour, but it might work if you don’t mind the flavour included in your dish.

I made cottage pie last night, with a cauliflower and garlic mash topped with grated cheese and almond flour, to make it nice a crisp. Was yummy. I confess I didn’t calculate it as I was in a rush, but stuck to the BSD principles, so hopefully not too bad – will calculate it next time I make it.

I agree Verona, about the wetness of using courgettes. The sauce tastes fine, but I don’t like having to drain my food! I’ve made the chicken, chorizo and lentil meal from the recipe book to take down to my daughter. Quite high in carbs, but looks tasty.

I got an email from BBC foods yesterday, linking in a load of fish recipes. I struggle with fish sometimes, but there were loads of BSD friendly recipes, which I will try. Here’s the link

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/search/recipes?query=fish&cm_mmc=ExactTarget-_-email-_-Good-food-newsletter-535_2017_02_15-short-copy-test-_-email&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=Good-food-newsletter-535_2017_02_15-short-copy-test#query=fish&path=diet/healthy

Mutters to self ‘Must eat more fish. Must eat more fish.’

Have a great day everyone.

Hi ColeOz

You may find Fatsecret.co.uk useful as it seems to be a little easier to alter weights etc. than myfitnesspal. From memory there is another popular app used by many Australians something ‘diary’ maybe. The name just escapes me at the moment but I’m sure somebody will come back with the right name.
Good luck!

Good morning/evening

Well I made a Bolognese yesterday. Took me hours and I painstakingly logged every ingredient, even the herbs, into a new ‘recipe’ in fat secret. I made 12 portions and they came out at 340 calories and 15 carbs which wasn’t too bad. Anyway, I made a lasagne with courgette and used crème fraiche on the top layer with a little mozzarella, some parmesan and fresh basil.

Would I make it again? Possibly but with some changes. My Bolognese was wetter than normal and the courgettes are ‘wet’ so the whole thing was very ‘wet, so wet that I had to drain liquid from it!!’ Lovely flavour but I wasn’t that keen on the cooked crème fraiche so I think I will have to use the rest over courgetti. Still I tried and I would use sliced courgette again in another ‘layered’ recipe.

I just don’t think white sauce ‘substitutes’ work for me. I manage quite well without bread ‘substitutes’ so I think I will just forget recipes that use white sauces. There are lots of other things to choose.

So for tonight I really don’t know at the moment. Maybe soup and a salad.

Have a good day.

Hello ColeOz
I wish you all the best in your journey.
I tried a few recipes from the book on the days I had time, in my Fast800 8 weeks. I quite agree however with your comments and now I find it much easier to eat “any” food – or just whatever’s going – in small portion and low carb. In the second half of the 8 weeks I used hardly any recipes from the book at all and was still successful. I’d have some meat, vegetables, maybe cheese, egg, just anything along those lines, measured and weighed, and entered it all on myfitnesspal.com so I knew I was staying within limits.

You say: “If you know of a site or sites, then I would be grateful if you could reply to this post. I understand the principals of the diet and will endeavour to create my own menus for each day within the 800 calories for the 8 weeks.” That should stand you in fine stead, all I did was enter it onto myfitnesspal and kept below 50g carbs.

Thank you

I am lazy so need to be an organised and ‘prepped’ person around food as I make poor decisions if I don’t. am resisting exercise though I have gorgeous walks on my doorstep, a small gym 100 yards from my door, a swimming pool next to the nearest supermarket.
So. Have put out warm scarf, cosy coat and walking boots, set phone alarm for brisk 30 minute lunchtime walk today. . Rowing machine clothes ready for after work. Swimming bag for weekend ready to grab and go. Let’s see if it works! No excuses. After seven weeks of dithering, look out 2017, I’m off!! MKx

Thanks for the intel.
I’ll start with the liquids and see what happens. I guess it’s just to dig in and be persistent. Maybe add some moore excercise.
Love to hear some moore war stories about plateus since it’s, as you all say, really a downer and disheartning.

Manninman

My understanding, and it’s awhile since I read the book, is that the original research by Prof.Taylor, and subsequently this book were based, on the effects that bariatric surgery had on diabetes.

It was found that obese diabetic patients who had bariatric surgery, and who as a result, lost weight very quickly, also ‘reversed’ their diabetes. Prof. Taylor did a small study using calorie controlled drinks to replicate the fast weight loss after bariatric surgery and had similar results. Hence the Blood Sugar Diet.

I believe that the theory is that it is the speed of the weight loss that’s significant so if you have a similar number of carbs with around 2000 calories the weight loss, if any would be very much slower. Also I think you would find it very difficult to have a very low carb diet with 2000 calories unless you increased your intake of fats quite dramatically.

Sure somebody will correct me if I have the theory wrong.

I had this in week 4, went up a pound but hadn’t done anything differently.

There’s a ton of info – including posts on here – about hitting a plateau in weight loss when dieting, or even weight creeping up. It’s a well known phenomenon and everyone dieting tends to hit it sooner or later.

Doesn’t make it seem fair though. I had a complete hissy fit after that weigh in

‘how is it physically possible to put on a pound if you’re taking in fewer calories than your body needs to survive’

I raved whilst generally throwing my teddy bear out of my pram. The fact is, for reasons scientists would probably enjoy boring us with it is possible. It’ll pass, just grit your teeth and get another week done.

Hello

I have bought both of the books and looked at the plans. My Amazon review wasn’t favourable in terms of the recipes, there are no shopping lists prepared to make things easier, which to me would have been easier for the author of the recipes to do and are obviously missing.

The recipes aren’t exactly friendly for a single man, who doesn’t have much time to pre-prepare meals in advance and certainly with working commitments and commuting, cannot prepare cooked breakfasts and lunches. I don’t know what kind of lives dieticians live, but they aren’t those of ordinary people !! There needs to be a balance between practicality and obtaining foods not found in ordinary high street supermarkets and ones which take lots of preparation… and if your single.. god help you for single serving portion sizes !

Anyway, due to this I have found the recipes to be something I don’t ever see myself doing. I was wondering if people are using an internet website for calories counting and carb counting so that they can plan their own meals. I certainly don’t mind living simply and I prefer this approach.

If you know of a site or sites, then I would be grateful if you could reply to this post. I understand the principals of the diet and will endeavour to create my own menus for each day within the 800 calories for the 8 weeks.

A one stop shop in terms of website would be wonderful.

Thanks for reading and good luck.

Good morning

Theodora, oh well done. What is your secret? I’d love to know how you managed to lose weight on a boozy holiday 😉 I walk and walk but it doesn’t seem to have any impact on my weight…my legs are thinner though. Your walk sounds wonderful. I was hoping to do Hadrian’s trail this year but my fitness levels still aren’t great. Think I’ll have to join a gym!

Jmarie, I’m really liking the sound of your alternative valentine’s night. A lovely way to celebrate types of love other than the romantic. I hope your mother is doing well. Wonderful news about starting to lose the weekend weight. It’s heartening to see the scales go down and it motivates us to keep on.

I didn’t get the gastro thank goodness and the family is all bright eyed and bushy tailed again which is great as it’s the school hols. The February holidays are traditionally the ski holidays but in our corner it has been quite mild. There’s snow in the mountains behind us but I’ve heard it’s not good quality.

My peak for Wednesday was that I walked 8kms which was quite a big deal for me. I’ve been building up slowly, starting from the settee at practically 0 kms a day in January. The walk was flat and lovely, started by the sea then followed the river inland. I’ll do it again with my grandchildren. A find! My weight is down a little just 200g. And the violets are beginning to come out in my garden. Spring is on its way.

No pits at all….

Have a great day everyone.

Good luck with the eye exam Maharani kitten! I know how nerve wracking medical tests and exams can be, maybe. try a bit of mindfulness beforehand.

I have weighed this morning at 152.2 lb which is exactly bmi 27 for me, so I have new micro goals of getting into the 151s and bmi 26s. Hoping to do that by the end of this challenge!

2nd week in and I’m in the same place now. 1st week lost 9lb and then nothing for 3 days and this morning I’ve put on 1lb!

I’m doing around 800 caloried or less a day. Maybe I’m not drinking enough so I’ll try drinking more and see what happens. Trying to stay positive because I feel so much better.

Hello. So glad you started this thread SweetpeaHun.

Day 4 today. I’ve got to say it’s been tough going, but I’m determined to keep at it.

After starting day 1, my doctor told me i have high potassium levels and gave me a diet sheet as well as being borderline prediabetic; so I’ve been trying to adapt my meals. Foods to avoid include, but not limited to, legumes, avocado, tinned tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms arrrrgh! These are foods I usually eat plenty of. Been scouring the recipe board…

One of my coping strategies is to make each meal top notch delicious, so I look forward to the next meal and am less likely to dip the into the biscuit tin. It’s a challenge, but here goes!

Good luck this week everyone.

Fastfitness – I have just reported your post as it is advertising and not allowed on this site

When you are on the 800 your glycogen levels in your muscles and liver are already depleted. That is where the water loss the first week comes from, as glycogen is glucose combined with water. You don’t start burning fat until the glycogen is down.

Carbing up the night before will help to rebuild the levels of glycogen so you will have enough accessible energy to fuel your run.

Jan

Day 4. Also feeling much better. Feeling really full but was craving salt so ate some nobbys pork crackle which stupidly brought me up to 500 cals for the day. Just got dinner to go but should be able to do that easily for 300 calories..at least the nobbys stuff has no carbs..still not ideal. Naughty!
How’s everyone else travelling?

Some good losses and good news for many – inspiring stuff. Good and bad for me. 6lbs off (target is 7 by end of challenge so should make it) but blood sugars erratic and exercise regime still not established due to a bit of home and work stress, poor sleep and this wretched chest infection. No other explanation I can see as I’m doing nothing different. All this bs shenanigans seemed to start when I had my first hypo, quickly followed by another, about 3 weeks ago, one tablet of glicozide to blame I think. Hoping the coming of Spring will put a spring in my step and that next week’s first diabetic eye exam doesn’t throw up anything scary. A bit nervous, if honest. MKx

Day 4 today.. feeling much better. Just a little light headed… Not feeling hungry. Had omelette for breakfast… feeling lighter… How is everyone else going?

Thank you Theodora. How wise our parents were!
K8