Wonderful news Sarah health & heartwise & I agree withsunshine-girl on olive oil! Michael Mosleys Trust me I’m a Doctor series last year showed a Scottish university research on the heart benefit of using one tablespoon of olive oil daily compared with other vegetable oils & olive oil was the only one with measurable good effects on the heart. It has more active features I think polyphenols? that might be wrong! But it boosts good cholesterol & reduces the bad! It’s suggested that’s why a Mediterranean diet is good as well as all the veg etc.
Let’s hope things improve on the job front for you. Both my sons are now searching for new IT contracts & so far no success so my husband & I are getting worried about them. Oh well I suppose they know it’s part of contracting work & both don’t want to return to class 1 employment.
I have been decluttering encouraged by posts here & so far underwear & socks sorted😀
I’m trying to stay below 800 calories but have wobbled on a couple of days & had lunch out last Sunday with wine so still compensating!
Keep on going everyone👍👍
Margaret xx

Thank you so so much for your replies. I’m feeling a lot calmer after one day of having good food on BSD and lots of water. Hoping I will wake up feeling 100 percent better than I did this morning, and am repeating all of the good advice to myself that you have all written. I will keep you all posted as to the weight over the next week or so as this could help someone else who may panic like I have…

Thank you again xx xx

It is far from as bad as you are thinking. I had much the same effect from a week of ‘anything I fancy’ over Christmas and New Year, and put 10 pounds on my pre-Christmas weight, but quickly worked out that it couldn’t all be fat, as it takes 3,500 calories over and above your TDEE to put on a pound of fat. For you, that would mean that for all of those six days you would have had to eat more than 8,000 calories a day, and that isn’t easy, even eating carbs and sugar. I took two weeks of relatively relaxed 5:2 to get back down to where I was, which also suggests that a lot of it was water since the same equation holds true for burning fat, my intake wasn’t that low compared to my TDEE, and I certainly wasn’t burning it that fast. What I think happens is that on the low carb med style, your glycogen stores remain relatively depleted, and when copious carbs come along the body grabs them and stores them. This is heavy because it stores water as well. When you drop back to lower carb this will be used up in exercise so you will see quick weight loss again. My advice to you would be to try to track what exactly you ate over those days, add up the calories and actually work out how much if any of the added weight could be fat. If you can’t remember though, don’t worry. Just get back on the maintenance wagon, and include an extra fast day until your body resets.

There are so many yummy teas out there, so don’t force yourself to drink one you hate! I have a redbush tea with vanilla that is very nice and can be drunk with cream too. If you need a small ‘hit’ of fat to get you through to the next meal, you could try a small cube of cheese instead of cream added to a drink. Or you could have a hot chocolate made with 200ml unsweetened almond milk, 4g cacao powder and 6g vanilla protein powder for approx. 60cals and just 2g carbs.

You’ll soon find though, that you rarely get those pesky hunger pangs and needing something to tide you over will not be an issue.

Keep going – it’s so worth it!

Hi Angelsand! Ok, so “overly exuberant eating” happens — I doubt very seriously (in fact I would take a big wager on it and travel for a year on my winnings) that you are alone in this (well, actually, I have insider information ha ha 😜). I know very well and completely relate to the psychological panic that sets in when we feel we are losing control. I mean, how could we NOT feel panic? We’ve been here before and we know where it takes us.
So? Deep breath and long exhale. Start with the fact that it is not black and white — you haven’t destroyed anything. Eleven pounds is probably half water-weight so we’re down to about 5. Not too bad for a slip up — will be gone in no time.
Throw everything non-BSD friendly out of your kitchen, purse, workspace. Go buy some really expensive amazing herbal tea and make a big pot. Sit down and enjoy it.
And just start again quietly and calmly. Don’t weigh yourself for a week (that can feel like punishment and you are not “atoning” for this — you’re just starting again).
And think about what triggered this and write down on a piece of paper two coping strategies you will do next time if you are in the same place.
Then write down one good thing that happened today no matter how trivial.
If you start to panic, replace the panic with your good thought.

Thank you for the recipe suggestions. I want to try the brussel sprout ones as they are a particular favourite of ours but those in the shop were too weary looking to buy. Maybe next week though I guess we’re coming to the end of winter veg. It’ll soon be strawberry time. Can we eat strawberries and cream?

Prices in the shop had dropped a little today so I bought 2 heads of cauliflower and two of broccoli, one for broccoli and blue cheese soup. Yum!

I made ratatouille this week:

1 onion sliced 127g
2 small aubergines in chunks or diced 560g total
2 courgettes in chunks or diced 392g
2 tins of tomato pulp 2x400g
2 cloves garlic sliced
Herbes de provence

Fry the onion till its soft then add all the other ingredients and cook till soft. Add water if the sauce looks dry. I usually cook it slowly for an hour.

This came in at 436 calories and 22g carbs. However it makes at least 4 generous servings at 5g carb and 109 calories per portion. We eat it alone or as an accompaniment to chicken or lamb.

Captain Lynne: I hope you’re feeling better. Sore throats aren’t fun especially when you need to use it for work!

Reasons to be cheerful today are that I had a great walk this morning with 2 friends. I’d like to do a proper long walk but really need to work on stamina. And my weight continues to drop. After losing and regaining the same kilo for 2 weeks my body suddenly seems to have caught on…

Pit….my grandson has now gone down with the vomiting virus that’s doing the rounds. I’m dreading the thought that it’ll be me next as I picked him up yesterday from school!

Impressive and inspirational!

Thank you Carb_Addict. Good News for you on the heart front, its a bitter sweet result for you really.
So you have got to move about a bit more have you? That is the only thing I am struggling with at the moment. I am not motivated at all to get out when it is cold and wet.

Hubby and I went out for a curry on Monday night. I had a starter of two samosas and an onion thingy…. vegetable curry, no rice. plus a gin and tonic.
I have been on the scales and am up by 500g. I don’t know if its because I am not moving much or so overweight that if I don’t stick to the recipe book I gain weight. Goodness knows what the scales will show on Saturday.

I have just made the salmon pie from the diet doctor site. Its really nice. We are out for the day tomorrow so will take two portions with us with a salad and freeze the others for lunch next week. 6gms per portion.

Carb_Addict……if you have a step counter and time I will post my steps (very few) and try and increase them if you would like to have a walking partner. Bit of support for each other. Not to worry if you do not want to.

Hand holding to those who need the extra support and encouragement on this journey. Seems as though most have fallen along the wayside.

Congratulations, so well done 👏👏

The cranes must have been a lovely sight, sunshine-girl. We’ve got the first tentative signs of almond blossom here. I always take that as a sign that spring is not far off, though we often have a very cold spell between now and the end of February. Roll on longer daylight hours!

We are having good weather in France, up to around 13 degrees C today and forecast for 17 next week. We have a thing here, when the cranes fly south winter is coming (November usually) and when they fly north the Spring is just around the corner. Today there were about 30 circling above our house, seems a bit early but you never know.

Welcome back sunshine-girl, bonjour to you too (although from me in Perth it is really bon nuit, I guess.)

Wondering how our ‘Eastern Staters’ are getting on with the awful weather, hear its going to be 45° tomorrow, today for you now as you are 2, 2.5 or 3 hrs ahead of us. Perth is in the middle of the most unseasonable weather for Feb, rain, rain, rain. And today, Thursday, we had a maximum of 16°c, the lowest February day since 1942. Outdoor opening event of the annual Perth International Arts Festival Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights. It’s always a free event and several thousands of people show up so I hope we have some let-up in the rain on those evenings.

Anyway, food, we’re going to a quiz night fundraiser tomorrow night and I was asked to take along a bowl of my home made rocky road. Torture to make now as it is definitely not BSD friendly. Succumbed to a couple of taste tests,ho hum.

Cheers everyone x

Don’t cut out the good fats. It has been proven that olive oil is the elixir of life and can help reduce heart disease. I know eating full fat food like cheese and butter in moderation as well as having oil, avocados and nuts have helped reduce my cholesterol and triglycerides. Fat is not the enemy, trans fats are, processed foods are and chemically enhanced food (like margarine) and low fat alternatives are. So are carbs which clog us the liver making it harder to do its job.

Angelsand I think you should just quit, right now QUIT beating yourself up, QUIT blaming yourself and QUIT thinking you cant do this. Now you can start again with new knowledge, everything is a learning curve even making mistakes. I have just had a few days off and gained a few pounds but that wont stop me from picking myself up and getting back on the plan. Start planning your meals, especially for the weekend, which is also my worst time as my hubby likes a whiskey and a few glasses or red and that makes me feel like it is so unfair. I know if I have one I will end up having loads so I am just going to say no for now, not forever but prove I can do this. I am certain that if I get through this weekend on track fully on plan I will lose the weight I have gained and will be ready to do better.

Good luck.

Hello everyone.

Good news from this end: I had the results of my blood tests back today and my new cardiologist confirmed that I do not have the same potentially killer cardiovascular syndrome as my brother. So that is a major relief. (Not that it makes me any less sad about my brother’s condition of course.)

In fact, all my tests came back as good (including blood sugar!) except one, which is a marker for potential future heart disease. Needless to say, given that I am carrying more than five stone extra for my height, it was pointed out as being the likely prime reason behind it. So we have mutually agreed that I will go back in three months having lost some weight for a re-test. It seems that my blood sugar levels are good but my blood fat levels are still slightly too high. So I need to cut fat as well as sugar now too. Upping the exercise is critical too apparently. I got a real telling off about how little I move…

(My liver profile also came back as good, which is gratifying seeing I was diagnosed with stage 2 non-alcoholic liver disease this time six years ago. I have now been in remission for 4.5 years which has been wholly due to previous diet changes and the beginning of my understanding about how my body does not tolerate all the carbs I stuff into it.)

So it’s onwards and downwards, now with the added incentive of having a scientific internal gauge into the mix, not just my dress size! I recommend having some bloodwork done if you can to establish a baseline on your health. Physical changes on the outside are great motivators but so is having access to some ‘science’ to see it working on the inside too!

Hope you are enjoying your new hair-do Fairyface! You remain an inspiration.

Sarah x

Hi NancyB – that was probably my post ‘Positive Vibes Needed’?

I was going to post that in here but I thought that it was broad enough to require its own topic. My thing was that my spots have cleared up but someone else mentioned sleeping better and I haven’t had to get up so much to wee in the night – certainly not every night like I used to (despite drinking a lot of water on this new diet).

You are totally excused for mentioning your ‘splats’ as you’ve saved me the embarrassment of broaching the conversation myself. And yes for the most part mine has improved too. I also haven’t needed a Rennie since I started the diet.

Congratulations.:-)

Brilliant news. Congratulations! You must be so pleased.

Hi everybody!
Somebody just asked if people are experiencing other benefits of the BSD apart from weight loss and lower BS levels. Well I definitely have, and please excuse me for mentioning this, but for a long time I have been producing ‘splats’ or ‘cowpats’ but since I started the BSD 9 days ago I am producing properly formed stools – so sorry to bring this subject up! Anyone else notice a difference in this department?
Apparently diabetes can affect the whole digestive tract from mouth to the other end. This could explain the increasing bouts of acid reflux I’ve been having.
Had my blood test results two days ago, my fasting blood sugar is 7.9. The test is to be repeated in a month, if my blood sugar levels are still high then my doctor will label me a Type 2 diabetic. My health deteriorated quickly from Christmas, finding I’m making a lot of urine in the night, getting up at least twice to wee.
I broke out in spots a few days ago first time in decades (diabetic acne) but notice today they have cleared up.
Find I’m not hungry at all.
Keep going everybody – starting this diet is one of the best things I’ve done.
Nancy x

Thanks JulesMaigret – Aldo is much more convenient for me so that’s useful to know.

Ebs….that is exactly what my husband and I have said. I have a Diet Doctor recipe in the oven, just 6carbs a portion (salmon quiche).
I don’t think we have eaten so well.

I believe that the Smoled almon in Aldi is also sugar-free, but be careful there are two sorts….

I gained 4 pounds from a bag of popcorn the first week in January. It came off quickly and by the end of the month I’d lost 14 pounds plus the 4 I had to relose.

Try as much as possible to shut down the recriminations and self-loathing cycle. If you feel your mind going there, distract it with something shiny and actively work on thinking about or doing something else. You know what you have to do. Get back on the BSD. Go full Michael Corleone on yourself: it’s business, not personal.

Just wanted to say how delicious the recipes are in both the BSD and the cookbook. My hubby and I were remarking today, that if we had not taken this journey we would never have experienced such flavoursome food. Its great to experiment with herbs and spices, cauliflower rice is a fantastic substitute for rice, mushrooms in place of breadcrumbs are fantastic and who would have thought that chia seeds were so versatile. Not only are we loosing weight, our taste buds are once more coming alive and appreciating good wholesome food and my blood sugar levels are gradually improving.

Angelsand, I feel convinced it will be weight easily re-lost once back on track. Plus, that carb monster in me isn’t dead. I’m sure our bodies remember the old carb cravings and constantly try thrusting them at us!
Keep going….

Hi both – thanks for answering. It’s doing a good job in distracting me.

SunnyB – I’m trying to make myself drink Lemon and Ginger tea (unfortunately I dislike tea or coffee) but that won’t help the fat thing. Maybe I should try a couple of olives… Actually I have noticed I’m sleeping better – or at least not getting up to pee early in the morning! That’s definitely something to be positive about.

Baristagirls – ooh nice idea. I will go through my photos soon and find one. There’s actually one I love a lot where my weight was where I want to be now and that too was taken in Paris! And that’s a very positive outcome – I hate headaches, especially first thing int he morning!

Firstly Angelsand, you are not alone and there is nothing to be gained by beating yourself up. It’s understandable you are angry with yourself, but it’s a waste of energy and counterproductive to spend time punishing yourself. Secondly, it is very unlikely that the whole 11lb was gained in fat, so get back on track immediately with all the BSD principles and I am sure you will see a huge improvement very quickly.

The good thing that has come from this event, is that you now know your weak spot and potential pitfalls, so in future you will be more aware of these and so will be better equipped to avoid a similar incident.

Hopefully you will let us know how you progress and I am confident you will be posting positive results in just a few days. Chin up and fight on!

1) I kept looking at a photo of me when I was slim and visiting Paris, and battled on thinking I MUST get to that again

2) I no longer awake each morning with a splitting headache

It can be done. I can hardly believe it! but the blood tests don’t lie. Diagnosed in mid November and cholesterol and Hbac1 well into normal ranges by 2nd week in January. Lost 3 stone, but weight loss still a way to go so will continue (not the VLC just the med diet).
Loving it actually. Learned a huge amount about food/science.

Okay here goes …..

1) If you are struggling to get to the next meal, sacrifice a few calories to a tea or coffee with cream or coconut milk, as the fat will help to tide you through.

2) I sleep better and have more energy.

I’ve had a good think and finally forgiven myself for starting the bsd every morning and failing every evening.

So today I’m going all Lucia on it and when I get home(without stopping for takeaway -yes I really am that bad) I will bounce up and down on my rebounder for a few minutes until I’m out of breath.

Then I’ll have my tea and do my best to leave it at that. I May fail. But I will keep trying.

Thanks for the recommendation – I downloaded it before I started the diet but haven’t given it any further thought.

Maybe its time to change that!

Hi Mungbean,

I feel the same as you about calorie counting. It cannot be the case that 800 is right for everyone regardless of size metabolism and exercise levels so it must, by definition be a fairly arbitrary figure designed to give you an idea of how much you should be cutting down. I calorie counted for first two weeks (although at 1000, not 800 – as a large active man 800 felt too low) and now just cook my own recipes estimating calorie count by eye and avoiding sugar, rice, pasta, potatoes and bread.

Mine…

1) UK PEOPLE – LIDL has a sale on Sunday on Sports equipment. I plan to go get a yoga mat and some weights 😉

2) My skin has completely cleared up. Normally I have at least one spot on my face and sometimes I have so many, you’d think I was 17 not 37. However, not a spot in sight. I didn’t even need to get the coverstick out this morning (as whilst I don’t tend to wear make-up, I do try to make the spots less obvious). Anyway I’m really happy about that.

Hungry, hungry, hungry!! However, am delaying lunch so that there isn’t such a big gap between that and dinner as I’m finding afternoons difficult (it’s Day 11 for me).

Positive vibes are needed for me and I’m sure others so I have two tasks for you:

1) Give a tip or trick that helped you or you think others would benefit from

2) Tell me something positive that has come out of you doing the 800 diet (that isn’t simply weight loss or high blood sugar reversal)

Hi Gled33 – well done on your weight loss. That’s brilliant!!

And thanks for the tip about the smoked salmon – I’ll check that out.

Julesmaigret – You HbAiC down to 35 from 60’s is very nice, this my goal also, mine has been 40, 37, now 39 so I want to SLASH this down and as you say do some exercise as well as this will help.
Sunshine-girl – Your HbA1C is too low I think, it must be another reading for example my 39Mmol HbA1C is 5.7 on some other reading. Your 8.2 reading would be 66, my 39 would be 5.7
https://freestylediabetes.co.uk/https://freestylediabetes.co.uk/what-is-diabetes/what-makes-glucose-levels-rise-and-fall/HbA1c

I can be very honest and say it was all carbs and sugar. Total overindulgence. I had an important scan last Friday and part of it was celebrating my clear results so I think this also got carried away. Feel so angry with myself. Has anyone else had such a crazy weight gain or am I in a league of my own…? Xxx thank you for reading.

Hello Angelsand…. I’m sure you aren’t the only one. And don’t punish yourself! Its a vicious cycle.
Maybe a lot of the weight gain is water or monthly reasons?
Also I understand you have eaten “over calories” but how much would have been carbs and sugar?

Hi everyone
Hope everyone is feeling good and doing well!
I often browse on the forums for support but wanted to make a post of my own today. I had got to my goal weight after eight weeks of bsd and have found it such a pleasure to do as I love many of the foods you can have.

Since Xmas I have been maintaining by doing bsd in the week and relaxing on a weekend. This has really worked well for me as I have two children, busy job so I’m very occupied in the week. Although… This week I have had my first major wobble and it’s really panicked me..

Last Friday /Saturday I had my usual relaxed days and Sunday is the day I just tend to do the 800 again for the week. Sunday, for some unknown reason I just couldn’t get back on the horse.. This then went into Monday, tue, and Wednesday. In 6 days I have gained 11lbs and to say I am upset and mortified is an understatement…

I totally know it my fault, I’ve been in self Destruct mode and have weighed myself daily to punish myself. I’ve ended up taking the day off work today to have a serious word with myself about what I have been playing at this week.

Has anyone else experienced this? I am just so shocked how much weight I have put back on. I’ve been in tears all day. Any advice appreciated. Xx xx

Hi all

Just wanted to say I empathise with those who are stalling. I made great progress in first 4 weeks but since then I have pretty much flat-lined. I am continuing to do what I have done from day 1 – around 1000 calories (800 too little for me to make it doable) no refined carbs and some relaxation for wine at the weekends. However, my body shape seems to be changing (frustratingly my chest is getting scrawny faster than my belly is reducing) and am sure weight will start coming off again. I know I use up around 2500 calories a day so I don’t see how it cannot!

Romina, if you look at page 183 (although it is not numbered that is where it is) headed Recipes and Menu Plans, at the bottom it says ‘all calorie counts are for one portion’ it also says, ‘for the sake of simplicity, all calorie counts have been rounded up or down to the nearest 10’. Although you might find some recipes are more accurate than others. For the chicken a piece weighing 125 grams will give you 150 calories and is a decent size piece. Hope that helps.

Bonjour a tous (hello everyone) back after my naughty time, just needed to get something out of my system and now feeling ready to carry on. I was only carb bad at my birthday lunch with one very small slice of bread (it was more holes than bread), 2 chips (big fat ones) and half a tiramisu (chestnut flavour). Weight has been gained but tant pis (so what) it was well deserved weight and I am hoping it will help me get into actually losing something as I have been sat at the same for 3 weeks, gain a pound, lose a pound. Funny thing is my BG was only 5.0 this morning so maybe not too much damage done.

To treat myself kindly I have had my favourite lunch of roasted chicken breast with roasted asparagus and red pepper with a yoghurt and garlic dressing. When I looked at it I though ‘hmmm that looks big enough for an evening meal’ so that is what I will do and at 270 calories will help keep to 800.

Have a good day everyone.

Hi Thelwellpony,

I noticed this thread in my search for LBSD Valentines Day recipes – I wanted to drop a line and say I hope your 8 weeks have gone well and as you come to the end of the 8 weeks you feel you have done well – I am sure you have!

Good luck xxx

Quick response to question earlier in thread. You can buy Norwegian smoked salmon from Lidl which is sugarfree

End of the first week for me yesterday Total loss to date 6.4 lbs

Hey January Starters!
It’s my 4 week weigh in today and I’ve lost exactly a stone which I’m thrilled about, but more importantly I’ve lost 5 inches from my waist. I’ve not changed a dress size but because I tend to store fat round my middle and I’m quite tall it means that I could usually disguise it. But now my clothes are certainly fitting better.
Checking my BMI, I’m now technically ‘overweight’ rather than ‘obese’ so heading in the right direction. 2.5 stone more should get me into the acceptable range.
This is the most determined I’ve ever been to make a diet work for life and I really enjoy reading this thread and how encouraging everyone is. So thank you all for posting.

Wow there’s a lot of knowledge here. Its good that there are so many studies but in my life I have to keep things very simple or I fall off this wagon and the next.
What works for me, is what I stick to.
It works for me to incorporate fats into my diet. Takes the edge off the hunger, and for the first time in years, I’m not fat. So it’s not making me fat 🙂
As for higher carb, from experience of mini binges since I went low-carb… I feel ill. Period. And feel flatter and happier when I come off it.

Hi Topcac,

Thank you for this. I don’t often get stuck because I spend my Sunday batch cooking for the freezer and luckily LBSD is so good for having lots of options (which is why It feels more like a lifestyle than a diet to me) – I can buy cooked chicken in every shop now and bagged salads etc. if I forget my lunch.

On very rare occasions if I forget my lunch but I am unable to leave the office to buy something that is when I was thinking about having a small stock of bars or shakes in the cupboard for times of absolutely no options.

I live by the LBSD cookbook and love this new way of living and eating! I tell all my friends about it and have even managed to convert some to join me on the 8 week journey 😉

Thank you again for your help, and congratulations on being in maintain! I hope to reach my goal soon too and look forward to maintaining a healthy happy weight 🙂

Libby x

Well done for sticking with it grannysharon. The first few days can be a bit of a struggle, as the body gets used to the carb withdrawal. You are definitely thinking of the BSD in the right way – it really is not ‘just a diet’, but a change of lifestyle to a healthy way of eating. Hope to read some positive news from you on Monday – that’s my weekly weigh-in day as well and I have fingers crossed for a better result than I had last time!