I fell of the wagon this week because of…well, life 😉

Oh well, 1 kg found it’s way back, but when I measured my waist there was no change there. That felt good. My biggest concern now is that my old friend Mr. Sugar Craving is back in town. I suspect this next week will feel a bit like the first one.

I’m back on track and ready for the next 3 weeks of mostly 800 kcal. So inspiring to read all your stories.

Hello all, I haven’t been a frequent poster but I have been watching all of the posts and have found all of the information and advice very helpfull and motivating. It’s good to know that I have not been alone in my constant fight to lose weight for the past 20 years. I have not had a diabetes diagnosis but would consider myself at high risk. I am approx 3 stone overweight and carry most of my weight around my stomach. I also have a family history of type 2. I would imagine that I am insulin resistant which needs reversing. I am now on day 8. I have been having 2 meals a day, I was never a breakfast person so have not found that difficult and I think a daily fast to lower insulin release is a good idea. I have stuck steadfast to below 800 calories and have been keeping my daily carb count to below 30g.
I can’t say that it has been really easy because I find the portion sizes very small and it has been difficult cooking for 5 others in my household before I cook for myself. I work full time so lunches have to be organised the evening before. All is manageable though with a bit of planning and forethought.
I have been trying to up my daily steps and with the help from a friend have been walking every evening. I have managed to get from a poor 1000 steps a day to about 7000. I am aiming to manage 10,000.
Anyway, I just wanted to say it really works. I have lost 8lb this week and 6 cm from my waist measurement. This is a big motivator and is encouraging me to keep going.
So thank you for your posts and good luck for the next week.

Aargh. Today is Day 14 for me and I blew it the past 3 days when away Campervanning in the bush with a group.

I was going so well at home the first 11 days and was so pleased with myself. I’m now back home but am feeling that old sinking disappointment that Ive failed myself yet again stuff.

It’s nearly bedtime here in a continuing very hot Queensland, and I’m hoping I will restart “the program” in the morning but not as confident as I was 🙄

Great to read how well everyone is going though. Cheers.

Hi Nancy. That would be great. Will drop you a quick email now. Heather x

Jpscloud – funny to find I am not the only one who can be good all day at work and then come home and make the most disastrous food choices. Usually when bringing out the cake etc for the student or when, like Lucia’s other half, I am presented with the doughnuts he brought home to share with us! I have tried asking him to keep them away from me, but wherever they are I have an instinct for sniffing them out!

Lucia
As usual you speak to the soul. Spot on.
Have a good Sunday.
Julia

Esnecca – just catching up on posts this weekend and saw your excellent one on decisions above. Would you be able to send me the spreadsheet too? Sorry to gatecrash but it sounds like a game changer. Currently weighing up some difficult decisions regarding changing jobs. I am a massive emotional eater and anything which helps to remove a little emotion from life decisions has to be beneficial in terms of what goes into my mouth. juliabsd18@gmail.com if that would be possible.

Oh Lucia, I feel your pain, I really do. It’s tempting to sweep these thoughts under the carpet and feel that now we’ve all found this eliqusia(sp?) of life that it’s easy to follow and all will be well.

But it’s not easy. It’s hard to break a lifetime of habits and support mechanisms. Food to treat boredom, loneliness, stress etc is such an easy option. And no one ever reaches for the kale in a crisis.

You are doing so well. Keeping up the ideal even when the going gets tough. I’m sure your hubby means well, but could he show you how much he appreciates you in other ways, apart from cake?! It is easier when you only have to make choices for yourself, I do agree. And your choice for yourself has been to improve your health, so you will be around longer for your hubby!

Take care and carry on with your planning and one day it will all become second nature.

Hi,

Thank you all for your honesty and sharing your inner most feelings on food.
On reading them I learnt a lot.

My own feeling just about me is…
I am addicted to food.
I just want to sit down and eat nice food, sweets cake junk all day every day.
How many times have I, out if the blue said… oh I fancy cake, chicken, pasta, chips, chocolate. Etc etc.
When have I ever said… oh I fancy a bike ride, lift some weights, Hoover the whole house for exercise.. never.

To get me over my food addiction, I have to… believe it or not…. focus on the menu for the next day… plan it out…. I use that time to cut all the carbs out.
I then have a map of food, as I walk through the map .. bit by bit… I fight my urges for carbs… junk etc. I have to work on each hour, sometimes each five minutes just not to eat junk.

My hero, I wish I could copy is captain Lynn.
She read the book twice and followed it to the letter. She lost do much weight in such a short time, she got healthy in such a short time.
Lynn lives alone, is that the secret?
When hubby brings coffee and cake to you, it’s a hard temptation.
When hubby says he’s hungry and you make a meal for two when you really didn’t need to eat just then.
I am not blaming hubby, it’s my fault for not saying, oh not just now , put the cake back in the kitchen for later ( like never). Or I could just make him food and omit me.

I do eat more when I am bored, unhappy, lonely, tired, fed up, moody, angry, feeling badly done to, poor, ill, etc etc..

How many times I have come into the house, straight to the kitchen, put food in my mouth, and not noticed or even tasted it? Millions, zillions bagillions of times. It’s just programmed into my sub consciousness.

All the above is my burden, that I carry every day.

To me, I feel as if I am carrying a mountain, so easy to give up the struggle. It is SO HARD!!

That’s why I find it hard to change. I have to break a task down into baby steps.
I share my breaking things down smaller, or spreading the change over a week instead of immediate as I know how easy it is for me to stop/fail/give up/breakdown/say what’s the point/ or say I will just have this and start tomorrow/or I will start Monday.

I wish for a magic wand to change me into a person who eats to live not lives to eat.

Do you remember in Harry Potter, the wand lessons… swish and flick?
I will hold michaels book above my head and try swish and flicking it. See if the magic that’s within his book and in his words, comes out and works on me.

Love Lucia
Xxx

I am so glad I started this. I’ve lost a stone. A STONE!
<dances with joy>

Now for the next one. I’m coming for you!

Thank you Jmarie41 and Angela06. Everyone is so sad because she was such a lovely person and it happened so quickly.

Jmarie41 – I am so pleased your mom will be well enough to come out of hospital.

You are right that it was an amazingly fast response from our NHS. Our local doctors are trying out a new system where a nurse responds immediately to a request for a doctor to do a home visit – assesses the situation and then takes immediate action if it turns out to be serious. This very fast response gave her a few extra hours of life and her family were able to say their goodbyes which actually made them feel a lot better.

PEAK: JulesMaigret mentions on another thread that he now regards food as only providing nutrition and nothing else. Today I suddenly realised that previously – when I was upset over anything I would have gone on a massive carb fest to make myself feel better about the situation. Of course it never made me feel better and probably made me feel much worse.

This time I feel upset and this has made food much less appealing. This was not a conscious effort not to binge – I just wasn’t that hungry. So following the BSD and avoiding all the bad carbs and sugar since May last year has retrained my body to use food as fuel instead as an anaesthetic – so a very definite PEAK.

Well done Carb Addict you are back on track👍🏻I am loving decluttering it’s making me feel good. Today I am decluttering shoes!! Or handbags. One of my best friend only owns three bags😱. I wish …. . Less really makes life easier! If you only have to choose between three bags you will get ready to go out faster and it’s easier to put that bag back in its rightful place. I watched a video on utube yesterday where someone sorts out their bags and it was scary seeing her mountain of handbags. What do you all think…. how many bags does the average woman NEED?
My husband says two😂😂😂 I haven’t counted but I think I have about 25!!! When I have finished in the bedroom I am hitting the kitchen. The freezer is still full of non BSD foods and I am not sure how to tackle it. I have a gene inside of me that hates wasting food☹️ I have bagels, cakes and desserts in there which while out of sight was a bonus in helping me lose the weight. I just don’t know what will happen when I try to organize it all.
Oh well will cross that bridge etc etc…

MIss ZIggy

Hi everyone

SueBlue it really is the best way to go if you try and think of all the food you CAN eat and there is so much that we really shouldn’t have a problem.

I treated myself to an electric spiralizer a few months ago. Just one tip if you do courgette (zucchini) don’t use the smallest blade unless they are really firm otherwise they come out a bit ‘squishy’. Must admit it’s a great little machine and much easier to clean than the manual one.

Haven’t decided what to eat today but I think there will be chicken somewhere. Think I may try the mustard chicken with roasted cauliflower rice and some green vegetables.

Have a good day and may your food choices all turn out to be delicious!

A good weekend sticking to the diet which is amazing for me, weekends are usually disastrous, with wine and too much food. Large mushroom, tomato and scrambled egg for breakfast with 2 long blacks and a splash of milk, lunch was an apple and a mandarin, the one thing I miss so much is fruit, which I could easily live off. The mangoes, peaches, nectarines and apricots are all in season here, its so difficult to say no. Well the only saving grace is that I have dropped a dress size. Trouble is as I am no longer eating masses of fruit I have had to resort to buying psyllium husk, the exercise, extra veg, loads of water does not help me in the bowel department.

Hi Heath
Think we could help each other with support. My e-mail address is nancybutler27@hotmail.com. I am already in touch by e-mail with Susie3 in Australia. Do get in contact.
Day 5 for me today, finding it very difficult to forego my very milky coffees and teas. Like you I am finding it easier to control the calories by just having two meals, brunch and dinner with just 20g of nuts as a snack inbetween.
Nancy x

KrysiaD: I realised that I missed your post. It must be so hard losing a valued friend and neighbour but how wonderful that you were able to support each other through the years. You will surely miss her. I’ll be thinking of you and appreciating my own friends more!

Esnecca: that’s very kind of you to share the spreadsheet. I most certainly will find it interesting. We have all kinds of domestic projects to decide on and it would be good to remove the emotion from the process. And then with Brexit on the horizon there will probably be major decisions to be made as we live in France.

My email address is: ajbsd06@gmail.com

Thank you again and have a good day/night!

Hi Helen
I’ve been doing the med style plan since end of November. Started at 12st 3lbs now at 11st 2lbs. I don’t count the calories or carbs I stick to the principles. I don’t have T2D but my husband does so slowly we are trying to make changes and new habits together. This for me is about a long term way of life. I feel so much better physically and mentally eating this way. I find that I’ve gone from being someone who had to eat the minute I woke up in the morning to someone who can have a cup of coffee, not feel hungry and wait until lunch without struggling. I’d suggest ensuring you take on board the required amount of water. I’d also recommend variety with your meals. I too cook and freeze so that there are healthy ready meals in the freezer. I love and eat plenty of vegetables. I’ve cut right down on the wine (keeping it for occasions rather than every Friday night). I also don’t worry about what other people think. I’ve realised most people are too interested in what they are eating or doing or saying to even notice that I’m not eating the refined carbs. If I think of anything else I’ll let you know. I’ve found reading this forum excellent especially in the early days for help with motivation. I continue to read to take inspiration. Good luck.

For the record, much of the original research that the BSD is based on was done using prepared Atkins style meal replacements. It was a way for the researchers to keep a more accurate record of food intake by the participants.

For short term use they would ensure you are getting enough nutrients but they would be very expensive if you were on them permanently. I tried a few of them and I didn’t like the taste at all.

Fairyface you are such an inspiration! Your weight loss progress is AMAZING!!!! I’m so jealous but it’s a great reminder of the amazing progress that happens when you are consistent. My biggest weakness. Well done.

Faced the scales this morning. Still 1.5kgs heavier than I was at my lowest BSD weight but given that I had put on 4 kgs at one point with Christmas and comfort eating, my weight is coming down again. Got my very first ‘you are looking skinny’ comment the other day. I don’t see it yet – at 86kgs I’m clearly NOT skinny – but hurrah!

Given that I’m still yo-yoing in the same 6kg weight loss bracket since October I guess that I don’t have to worry about any rapid weight loss repercussions, lol. Slow and steady does it. I would love to smash the 1.5kgs emotional barrier this week if I can but that may be optimistic 🙂 That 1.5kgs will be a big deal to me as it will show that I’m really back on my way after the recent inconsistencies.

Feeling more in control of my life too and it’s showing. I have parted ways with my ‘night shift’ start-up colleagues to focus on my own primary business (‘the day job’) and/or getting a new job. Two businesses and a part-time Masters degree was not proving conducive to a healthy lifestyle or my sanity. Starting to understand that I can’t do it all without consequences. I was grabbing food on the go or ordering in out of tiredness again so it was not helping my diet either.

This week: carry on with Fast800; get out and see more daylight; go to bed earlier (now that I have ditched the ‘night shift job); declutter some more also, and start yoga again. And breathe….

Sarah x

KrysiaD~ I am so sorry to hear you lost your dear friend! Sounds like you had such a good relationship with her over the years. How nice to have someone who was there for you when you needed it and you for her. I’ll be thinking of you as you grieve her passing!
Your NHS was so quick!

Theodora~ Another lb. off! Congrats! You are very sweet to cook such a big breakfast for your O/H. It sounded delicious! He sounds like a good man. . .washing the dogs for you after they got all muddy. . .nice! :–)

Angela~ Glad to hear the sun came out after the heavy rain! Nice that you’ve had a good weekend and got a chance to enjoy the France-England match in front of the fire. I’ve never tried Sea Bream! Do you have a fish market close to your home? Fresh fish is always so delicious.

PEAK: I got my laundry folded and put away yesterday. Today I did the elliptical for 30 minutes and got a good sweat going! Later in the afternoon, my husband and I went out for a late lunch. We had meatballs and chopped salad that had roasted red pepper, chicken, small chunks of mozarella cheese, pepperchini, small pieces of salami, and cherry tomatoes with an Italian dressing. We ordered some white wine to go with it and the restaurant had run out of the one we ordered so they gave us an even pricer white wine instead. So nice of them! They only charged us the price of the wine we had originally ordered.

PIT: My mom had to be hospitalized for some bleeding. They did a lot of tests and feel it is her diverticula flaring up but no infection. She will probably be able to go home tomorrow. So good news!

I strongly agree with all the Med diet food recommendations. And all of Mr. Mosley’s related recommendations as well.
One question on diet remains, especially for those of us living in Asia – Is there an Asian equivalent of the Med diet? Lots of reports talk about people in Japan who eat seafood, veges, rice and work hard. What about Thai good etc.

That’s fantastic Theodora!
It is a bit quiet in here – I avoided posting a lot last week as I’d only lost 200grams in week 2, but I’ve been reading posts and lurking 🙂
I started Week 4 today, I was very pleased this morning when I stood on the scales and they read 99.7kg – I’ve been trying to get back under 100kg for ages! So that was my Woohoo a moment 🙂
Total loss, or rather, total fat gone in 3 weeks for me is 3.2kg (7lb). I’m really happy with that, as I have mentioned in other posts I haven’t been strict with the 800 cals per day.
This week should be easier though – no special occasions or nights out planned!

And enjoy your holiday, hope you have a great time!

Good luck Helen, my top tips are to 1) definitely drink lots of water – doesn’t have to be plain water. I have sparkling mineral water a few times a day as it keeps hunger at bay, also fruit teas (can have hot or cold).
2) Don’t be put off if you are really hungry in the first few days (doesn’t happen to everyone though) – it definitely gets easier. Yesterday for example I had less than 700 calories the whole day and wasn’t hungry. I found having some snacks on hand, in case I needed them, helped at first – a few almonds, small piece of cheese, tablespoon of yoghurt for example. I also keep tins of tuna, sachets of miso soup in my drawer at work.
3) plan as much as you can. Each afternoon/evening I plan the next days meals and enter it into My Fitness Pal app. You can always edit if needed.
4) Batch cook and freeze portions, or cook an extra portion or two when making meals. I had a few busy nights last week and it’s great to just pull out a container of chilli and a bag of cauliflower rice and dinner is ready in a few minutes 🙂
5) not sure if you are cooking for a family or not, but I’ve been giving my family the same meals, I just add pasta/potato/bread etc to theirs or give them a larger portion. I even had the family over for lunch on Australia Day and made all BSD friendly foods – no one realised they were eating “diet” foods!
6) I’m going to be honest. If you are following the 800 cal a day version of BSD then 800 is 800, and I’ve read some really good results on here. Then there’s people like me who occasionally (well ok a few times a week!) find it hard to stick to 800 calories, I go up to 900 or 1000. I’ve still managed to lose 3.2kg in 3 weeks (7lb) by sticking to the BSD principles. As I don’t have diabetes, have 20-25kg to lose, I’m happy for it to take a bit longer.
7) Don’t get too hung up by the number on the scales. You may have weeks where you don’t lose much weight at all but keep going anyway – others have described plateaus on here.
I lost 2.3kg in week 1, 0.2kg in week 2, and 0.7kg in week 3.
But I’ve had other benefits – I have a chronic health condition which has really improved in only 3 weeks and I have loads more energy, today I’m wearing a dress that I couldn’t button up a few weeks ago.
8) Keep reading the posts on these forums – they are so helpful and encouraging,
There you go, 8 tips for the 8 weeks! I’m sure other members will have more.
Hope this helps and good luck!

Thanks Theodora 🙂 I would love a wine cellar one day – just wouldn’t be good for me at the moment!
And we’ll done for being able to resist all that temptation!
I’m feeling very positive at the start of week 4, focussing on all the delicious foods I CAN eat rather than those I can’t.
I invested in an electric spiralizer today – Aldi had them for $34.99 so I thought it would be worth a try, it has 3 different blades so I’ll be able to make ribbons as well as noodles with zucchini and other veggies – can’t wait to try it 🙂

Hi All. Sounds like everyone doing good, which is great. I am doing ok. Felt hungry for first time today, although maybe I got away with it earlier in the week because I had a heavy cold. I am sticking to 2 meals per day lunchtime and evening and it generally feels fine. Has chicken korma out of bsd recipe book today – delicious!!
Nancy / Susie3 – I am starting from similar position as you. I am 57. Weighed 17st 9lb last Monday. Been overweight for last30yrs nearly. Tried every diet under sun, but never stuck with them. Last health check my blood sugar test was high and the gave me the jolt I needed to sort out my health.
I am going to weigh and measure again tomorrow – Monday mornings are always too rushed, so going to settle on Sundays as wi day.
Night everyone.

Susie3
It’s v late here in UK – 11.30pm at night – very tired about to go to bed. Well e-mail you in the morning.
Nancy x

Susie3
How incredible – we were posting at the same time just now. Yes, we are very similar. I am 5’8″ and weigh 17st 8lb and like you would like to lose 5 stone taking me down to 12st 8lb. Good idea to use e-mail, my address is nancybutler27@hotmail.com.

Slight typo in previous post – I did not eat ‘a chicken’ for dinner, I actually ate just a modest portion of chicken.
I joined Weightwatchers several months ago, I shall continue to attend the Tuesday evening weigh-in solely for the discipline of a weekly weigh-in on very accurate scales. I have told the leader of this Weightwatchers group that I am concentrating on the BSD diet and she is OK with that and I think she will be very supportive.

So I am just coming up to my third week on the BSD. I am surprised how I have adapted to 800cal per day, it seemed impossible to begin with. No longer have that hungry feeling as soon as I get out of bed in the morning, feeling brighter and of course lighter.

I think I am most definitely heading for a flat line/zero loss week though. Of course I knew to expect this….. I’ve got a week booked off work next week.

Hoping to try and be 100% on plan next week. I am an emotional eater and last week was very stressful, had cake. Wah 😣😑and snuck in toast too.

Any tips for staying on plan this week – planning to get some exercise in as well. Need to start blasting off fat all over.

Thanks xx

Hi everybody!
Shansu – 20,000 steps what a terrific achievement the weight will fall off you!
Day 4 for me, so far so good not hungry at all.
Had a v tasty garlic mushroom 2-egg omelette for brunch and for dinner a chicken with broccoli and spinach.
I will get my blood test results early next week and will find out how far down the road I am towards diabetes.
I must be honest with this board in that I do have a signficant psychiatric disorder – bipolar disorder – which has been very well controlled with medication for the last five years or so. Will be interesting to see if this diet affects my mood and wellbeing.
Feeling very determined.
Starting weight 17st 8lb – my goal is to be a ‘normal’ weight by end of June and in size 14 (UK) trousers.

Hi Nancy…hope you’ve had an encouraging weekend?! I seem to have lost my appetite, which is a mixed blessing as I’m forgetting to cook meals for everyone else 😉 They are very good though, and mostly fend for themselves…
Yes, of course I’d be happy to track with you over these weeks/months to weight loss and better health ☺! I don’t have a date in mind, but my goal is 75kg (11.8 stone), so I have a long way to go from my 16.7 stone today.
I’d probably find it easier & more personal if we used our own email though, rather than the forum? Mine is sue@sheehyclan.com – maybe drop me a line there if that would work for you?
Cheers, Sue x

Hi annie2

Yes I think this thread and the forum altogether is just terrific.

I’ve missed the Pear, brazil nut and chocolate brownies – got to have a look.

Flapjacks – a few of us have had granola – apparently the tip is to put them in the fridge before attempting to cut and get them out! That way they set hard. I’m going to try them again but I think they might be my achilles heel as they are far too delicious.

The party I went to last night was a buffet at an Italian restaurant and there was almost nothing BSD friendly – all deep fried or starchy carbs (or both, like Aranccini deep-fried balls of rice, and deep-fried pizza dough balls which is apparently a “thing” now). I had a few bits and pieces along with some salad (who knows what was in the dressing) and four glasses of water and I weigh the same this morning as I did yesterday so I think did ok!

Shanshu thanks for the suggestions. I don’t do meal replacements though – yuck! Real food only for me.

I also have a Fitbit but I’ve tried to wear it several times and after a couple of days it starts to rub my skin badly and it’s too uncomfortable. I’m impressed with people getting out in the dark and cold to exercise, here it’s the opposite with blistering heat.

Ok today has been alright. Went for a 8.5 mile walk and then went shopping for this evening’s meal to find that aubergines were not available any where. Ended up changing the recipe and using cauliflower rice instead. It wasn’t bad.

Felt very down today but that is probably not diet related.

Today’s summary:
Calories: 709
Carbs: 20g
Water: 3L
Steps: 20,009

Gday all, week 23 done and dusted. I think it’s to late snoop im addicted already, though have stuck to 1tbs a day so far. Im lucky that I have a local hobby bee keeper at work, only charges 8 dollars for 600gram jar and local organic grocery charges 15 dollars for 1kg jar, not too bad in sheme of things,cheaper than the load of pizzas I got in the past.
Weigh in result
121.3 kg
125cm waist
1.1kg loss for the week
38.6kg loss to date

Have a good one all

Top tips are; drink plenty of water as recommended, this is very important to get the weight shifting, full fat dairy is not only allowed but very useful in keeping you satiated, don’t go for low fat versions of anything, even if they have not got added sugar for palatability they may well have a higher proportion of carbs, watch carbs in general, and drop the proportion if not losing weight. Specifics will depend on where you are, if in the UK then Fage Total Greek style yoghurt is frequently recommended. If weight loss stalls try, upping exercise, upping water, upping fat, upping salt, cutting carbs. Do not cut calories further. If you succumb to temptation for one meal or one whole day, draw a line under it and get back to normal as soon as you can. You cannot break this way of life by having the odd blow out.

What a brilliant thread this is- thanks to all who are contributing and to CaptainLynne for starting it, and for great advice in the last post.

Morag- I’m not at maintenance yet either, (though I would have been if I’d stuck at it last year , rather than thinking “8 weeks and that’s it!)
I’m 5 weeks in this time, and the way I handle the occasional meals out and nights away is to simply leave out all the carbs, so no bread or other grains, potatoes, rice, pasta; also no pulses or root vegetables for now. So, a protein or English breakfast, soup or meat/fish and veg/salad for lunch, ditto dinner. Don’t give a thought to fat. There’s usually enough to choose from. One very small glass of wine if wished! My take on it (this time!) is that I’m in this for the long haul, and it’s a new, lifelong way of eating, so a few days like this without counting is not going to knock one off track. It’s worked well so far, I’m almost 12 lb down, and even lost half a pound in the week I went to le Manoir for lunch, and I didn’t starve or fast on other days that week either.

On another thread, these “challenges” were renamed “real life events”!
Mary

Hi Morag

I keep carbs low because I used to be diabetic and needed to low carb to get my blood sugars down to normal. Hot used to,that way of eating and don’t see any need to change it. It’s just what suits me.

Meals out and staying away from home. As you can imagine I’ve faced these challenges many times since I started the BSD. Meals out – conferences, social events etc. Staying away from home – residential conferences and holidays, both abroad (normally in Italy staying with friends) and in this country. So, how did I cope?

First, be aware that nobody else is worrying about what you do / do not eat. They are too busy eating what is on their own plate. So many people these days ask for amendments to menu items that staff don’t think it strange. In this country I eat my normal cooked breakfast, choosing BSD friendly foods. At other meals, it depends on the occasion. Buffet – cooked meat/poultry, salad, cheese, etc. No need to choose carbs. If I’m unsure what will be available, I pack something. If I’m presented with a menu, I make the best choices possible, asking for non-BSD foods to be omitted. And definitely no dessert. Abroad (or hotels,in this country that do a continental breakfast) there’s usually meat, cheese, eggs, sometimes salad. At my friends, I buy meat and cheese to eat while they eat their carbs for breakfast. Other meals, whether in hotels, eating out, or at my friend’s- again, make the best choices. Just because someone else is eating it doesn’t mean that we have to. My friends ordered pizza one evening. I had meat and cheese out of the fridge. Next time they ordered pizza, I asked for a kebab. Ate the meat and salad – enough for 2 meals! Even in Italy I’ve found it reasonably easy to stick to the BSD. Once taken to a really nice gelato cafe – nothing on the menu I could have, so enjoyed th conversation over black coffee.

When all else has failed, like arriving at a small train station to change trains, and needing food, all that was available was sandwiches and cakes. Best choice was a sandwich BLT). I sat on a bench on the platform with my black coffee and ate the filling from the sandwich and threw the bread away. Another time I was being driven to a conference when the diver stopped at a burger van. It was a long time until a late evening meal. I bought a bacon roll. Ate the bacon (burning my fingers!) and threw the bread roll away. Note to self – take plastic cutlery in bag when travelling.

I’ve not touched alcohol in many years, so that not a problem for me. I used to drink diet fizzy drinks, but stopped them a short time into the BSD. My drinks now are black coffee and water (preferably fizzy).

And don’t forget – you can always say “no, thank you”. It does become automatic.

Hope this helps. Any questions, please ask.

I agree Busybee, calories would have helped us. He does say calorie counting wasnt for him ! I suppose he was just trying to lose weight & not his blood sugars. As far as I know he was not diabetic.

I have a huge issue with potion control & so am using his recipes & trying to really keep my portions small. I am not diabetic & weight loss is my issue too. I dont have 11 stone to lose though !!

My Tapas style meal was a success, but a bit of a faff to make !! We all feel full-I hope I havent overdone the calories though !!!

My OH has remarked that we are having a huge variety of foods , I hope that doesnt mean for the last 30 years my cooking has been boring !!

Hi Mungbean
You are so right about the taste thing! I love the flavour in the veggies I eat. I got caught out the other day … breakfast on the hop, so I grabbed a bag of almonds and a bag of toasted coconut from a convenience store- the almonds were lovely, but the minute I tasted the coconut it was sickly sweet! Reading the label, they had added sugar. Go figure! Coconut is delicious without. Lesson learned!!!
If you really hate counting and measuring ( as do I) just try eating permitted foods without the count. I tend to go heavy on the veggies and a little more cautiously on the protein. E.g. I will fry up a big serve of chopped onion, peppers,courgettes,mushrooms etc in olive oil, add some chopped tinned tomatoes & seasoning, then poach 2 eggs in a couple of hollows in the mixture. Grill the top with a little added cheese and eat from the pan. No idea on the calories … it fills me up good & proper for at least 4 hours and often longer, so I would say it’s great value for my calorific buck! If you eat like this and still lose weight, then no need for the counting.
Good luck……

Thanks CaptainLynne for the advice on maintenance – I presumed when calories increased the carbs etc should increase proportionately. I don’t want to worry too much about maintenance at this point as that is probably half a year away but it is never something I have managed to do and I do see it as the bigger challenge to actually losing the weight.

I am trying two meals a day this weekend and have found it harder than three smaller meals today. The working week provides structure that I probably find easier. I do have a challenge coming up with at least 2 meals out in a week and an overnight stay away from home during half term – all advice gratefully received.

Morag x

Catbasket, I have a Kuuk spirallizer, does the job and not expensive, about £14 from Amazon. Don’t buy I little cheapie as your hand will give up before you get a meal.

I too like the Dopermine diet book – it is well presented with lovely pictures and good instructions. What a shame he didn’t include calories as well as carbs?
X B

Hi all

I’m starting on Tuesday and at the moment m reading through the book and about to start writing a shopping list and meal planning – does anyone have any good tips / must haves / recommendations / warnings?

I don’t have diabetes but have about 3stone to lose and have diabetes type 2 on the paternal side so think I should take action!

Any help would be much appreciated.

Helen x

Hi all

Day 4: Going well so far, with the help of my family. It’s been a bit tougher today, but I have stayed focused, drunk lots of water and eaten right; so all good.

I am trying to get my step count up. I have been off sick from work recently and the effects of the illness I had are still there somewhat, so I am taking it a bit easier on the exercise front until I am back to normal. That said I should make 7,000 steps today.

I also managed a 10 – 15 minutes mindfulness session. I’m in the UK, so the weather isn’t great. But the sun was shining this afternoon, so I sat out in the garden with the sun on my face and just calmed down, closed my eyes, listened to the birds and chilled out. I am no “tree hugging hippie”, but it really helped and I felt refreshed and a little less hungry afterward. So I will be trying to do this every day.

Brunch was a large Portobello mushroom, baked beans and scrambled egg (The mushroom was great, it was large, filled me up, but has virtually no carbs and just 10 calories!)

Dinner tonight will by lamb tagine with cous cous: I just need to be careful with portion control and fill up on the veg.
So I should be within the calorie and carb target for the day

I have also “discovered” raw sugar snap peas as a great mid-day snack, to tide me over until dinner.

Finally, the weight is falling off of me. Early days I know, but it’s very encouraging. I am a “part diagnosed” type 2, as the raised blood sugar was picked up in a blood test looking at other issues, so I am not doing my fasting blood test until the 10th Feb. I am really hoping that it will be in the normal range by then, fingers crossed. (Obviously, the diet / new way of eating will still go on until I hit my long term, “over-optimistic” target.

All the best.

Angela, you’ll find the process illuminating, I’m sure of it. I have a blank spreadsheet template and a filled in one I used when I was buying a house. My realtor literally got tears in his eyes when I first showed it to him. That was more than a decade ago. I recently saw him again and he told me he still gives out copies of it to his clients. In his experience, the ones who fill it in and use it find a house in half the time with far fewer arguments between couples.

There’s no private messaging system on this board, but I’d be glad to send you the spreadsheets via email if you’d like.

Good evening,

Topcac: I have dodgy neck pain, have had for years partially due to bra straps and bag straps. I’ll try the plank see if it helps. I’ll have to look up how to do it first though.

Theodora: congratulations on the continued weight loss and making OH a full English! Now that’s love!

JMarie: So sorry to hear of the bad night’s sleep. The appetite’s always really hard to control when tired. Well done on the work out!

Reasons to be cheerful today: It rained heavily all morning but cleared at lunchtime to a bright blue sky and brisk wind. Currently watching the France-England match in front of the fire and a nice sea bream for dinner to look forward to…It doesn’t come much better.
The Pit: not walking today, been busy with other domestic stuff.

Hi Libby — I can’t agree. I have nothing against Atkins as a company but I have a lot against highly refined, soy-heavy “fake” food — there is nothing natural about the nutrition in such products. I would never recommend them. Quick meals are easy to make — yogurt, salads, cheese — lots of good real-food options. Hold out for truly healthy food. These kinds of products cheat us in a thousand different ways.

PIT: my lovely friend died today. She has been our friend and neighbour for over 30 years. In the past she would take my doggie for a walk in the afternoons while I was at work and didn’t mind checking my house every time I thought I had left the iron on or had forgotten to lock the door. In the last few years – as she got older and more frail – our roles were reversed and we looked out for her. She had a sore throat Monday and I went out to get her some strepsils on Tuesday. Yesterday she suddenly got worse and had to be rushed to hospital by ambulance. She had double pneumonia and died this morning.

PEAK: having her as a friend for all these years.

PEAK: what a wonderful NHS we have. 8.30am rang the doctor. 9am nurse arrived to assess her. 9.30 she was in an ambulance heading for the hospital.