So good to hear you are better Verano! Cellulitis is a nasty customer and it is good you caught it early. I contracted cellulitis from a tick bite about three years ago and ended up on IV antibiotics — it was pretty scary actually, hugely swollen arm and high fever — the doctor thought that perhaps the tick was carrying an unusual bacteria that lives in wild animal populations and was transmitted to me — it has made me even more aware of ticks when I am out gardening. I am glad you are back home — I hope your recuperation is easy. Take care.
Julia

Hi all – a little advice please.

I am just finishing my 2nd week and managing to stick to BSD800 quite easily as the food is so delicious and, in fact, my carb per day average is only about 27. Disappointed that I haven’t lost weight (or inches) this week, after a really encouraging start but I know that, if I stick with it, this will come – how can it not, on less than 800 calories a day?

My problem is that I am SOOOO cold all the time – normally I don’t feel the cold. I know the weather has been very cold recently, but my heating is going full blast, no one else in the house seems to feel cold and in fact my O/H keeps wanting to turn it down – he is walking around in Tshirts. I, on the other hand, am wearing full skiing thermals, 2 jumpers, a fleece jacket, 3 pairs of socks and, when I sit down, a big fluffy fleece rug tucked around my legs and I am STILL FREEZING!!! This seems to have become my “uniform” since starting BSD800 and, not only do I look like an old bag lady, feeling so cold all the time is making me miserable. Plus, even, if I lose loads of weight, I’ll still look fat with so very many layers on! I am drinking loads of water, and have increased it considerably this week, plus I have a constant cup of tea to hand (don’t take milk, and like it very weak, so almost as good as water) and I use it not only to keep up my fluids, but to warm my frozen hands on.

I think, if I can’t get over this, it is the one and only reason that may force me to give up, so any suggestions would be very gratefully received – I am averaging about 35 – 40g of fat a day, and occasionally much more – yesterday was 56g but didn’t make me feel any warmer! 🙁

Training for my 26 mile walk in the Autumn started this weekend. This thread is apt as it is in the Peak district

PEAK – Did 11 rainy miles (25,500 steps and 68 flights of Fitbit stairs) yesterday in just over five hours and the legs don’t hurt too bad this morning. Drank about 5 litres of water/green tea and ate pure BSD although about 1000 calories.

PIT – Stitching in the trusty Quests is failing so need some new boots…..

PEAK – Did my tax return today

PIT – Owe the taxman £5k – need to find some discounted boots 😉

Keep smiling

Hello all

I’m starting too on 30 January. (Actually, I’ve been trying to start all year.) I have managed a few days at a time and have then sort of fallen by the wayside. I did a good eight week stint before Christmas and managed to lose 10kg. I’ve still got a way to go, so need some help getting some momentum going. Let’s see how we do.

There’s nothing wrong with bumping an old thread, Shyshihtzu. Leeanne may be subscribed in which case she’ll get an email notification of your answer, and even if she doesn’t, someone else can still profit from your contribution. Me, for instance! 😀

May I ask what kind of peanut butter your husband eats? Does it have added sugar or is it only the natural sugars found in peanuts causing his BG to rise?

The book doesn’t advocate any pasta, as far as I can recall. Pasta is in the easily digestible carb category with bread, potatoes, cereal and rice, and thus should ideally be avoided all together. Besides, it’s so high in carbs that one 2 oz serving could easily max out your allotted daily carb grams, and that’s one of those serving sizes that is very often overshot because 2 oz is a tiny amount.

I would say that most people on this diet don’t eat any pasta as it encourages us to continue with a carb craving. Getting rid of all starchy carbs completely gives your body a chance to get over any cravings. No pasta, no rice, no potatoes, no bread, and so on, not of any type or colour. The operative word in your post I WHEAT, which turns to sugar in the blood stream. If you are being strict and doing the BDS800 then there is no wriggle room for the number of calories in pasta eighter. it might be fine for you if you are not intending to be as strict as 800 cals or even low carbs, but it will slow down your weight loss and not help your blood glucose (I note you are not diabetic). Hope that helps.

Not a stupid question. Per person – so dont eat a whole meal for 2 thinking you are only having xxxx calories, someone else did that, easily done. Most of the recipes are for 2 so easy to divide up the meal but, for example, the skinny chilli is for 8 so you could have been in trouble there.

Thanks LindaA, that is thoughtful of you, but I don’t have iTunes and will not pay for something I dont need. I will search for it in UTube talks when I get a min.

All is well right now, after reducing insulin to 22 units and glicazides I am running at 4.6 in the morning and 4.1 at 7pm. Still need to keep a careful eye on it. I do want to be 5.5 at my next HbA1c (they are always higher than the daily home test) and be 6 lbs lighter. That will be around 8th March just before I go back to see doctor. My weight goal for this 4 weeks is 3.5 lbs and struggling a bit, only lost quarter of a pound since last Tuesday, still, the week is not over yet.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone.

Hi Gillykins

I’ve started the BSD once before, last summer, and lost around 10lb before gradually drifting back to my old eating habits. I’m keen to restart (and this time, stick to it!) so I’d like to join you on 30th January – hopefully having a buddy or two will keep me accountable this time. I was just thinking I wasn’t quite ready to start yet, need to shop, etc, but realise that I have enough stuff in to get me started and so NO MORE EXCUSES!!!

Off to look for a suitable app to help, thanks Theodora for recommendations…

Hi, this is my first time on the BSD and I started on the 01st Jan along with my usual dry January. I have had great weight loss in the first three weeks totalling 25lb however this week I have hit a brick wall and lost 0lbs. I am going to the gym three times a week but doing the same thing so I think I need to mix it up a bit. Perhaps my body is getting used to it, no cravings thank goodness and not missing the carbs. If anyone else hit a brick wall let me know what you did to get moving again.
Regards
Sue

Lots of yummy things are low carb, though. Berries lower carb than most fruit, in moderation, so a little bowl of lovely ripe raspberries stirred into full fat thick Greek yoghurt, a couple of squares of 90% dark choc (if you can stop at 2 – don’t try till you can) and you can eat cheese, calories permitting – as your appetite decreases (and it will!) there’s nothing nicer than a little chunk of really flavoursome cheese and some fresh crunchy celery. I find the key to keeping carbs low is to get most of my calories from green soups, green veg and fat – I eat very little meat, but love fish and find it easy-ish to do 30g carbs with the help of a low carb cookbook and a carb counter. With enough fats, you don’t feel hungry. Think the key is not to think about what you can’t eat – when I first started eating low carb 6 years ago I railed against having so little fruit and craved it all the time until I bedded in and started to enjoy all the things you can have on a low carb diet that you can’t have at all on other plans.

Good luck everyone – the start of another week and another chance to make good choices. MKx

I have been doing the BSD for a week now, lost 4lbs in my first week…quite pleased with that and considering I am a long term “chocaholic”, “you name it and I’ll eat it aholic”!!!! I haven’t felt too hungry… have gone over the 800 calories a little some days but weight still seems to come off and I am loving trying new recipes and eating foods I have never eaten before….feel better in myself too. Good luck with your journey and look forward to hearing how you are doing….

Hi Gillykins
I am also starting tomorrow 30.1.17. I have dabbled with the BSD in the past but am determined to complete the 8 weeks! I would welcome someone to buddy up with although I know the forum members here are all good with advice and recipes etc.

probably asking a very stupid question here!!!! have been doing this for week and a half – first week lost 4lbs! and forging ahead to week 2 – very happy and not feeling too sugar deprived…….. the calories in the recipes – are they per recipes or per person?

My friend and I are starting 1st Feb, committing for the month of Feb to each other and see how we do. I am hoping that we will be spurred on a month at a time.

In November I had some tests as my blood sugar is high and they have established that I am not diabetic however it is the weight that I am carrying that is causing the high blood sugar. In between tests I went sugar free found it remarkably easy and did reduce the sugar count and lost a few pounds. Then went on holiday to Florida with my husband and when I returned had quite a few hideous (work wise) weeks in the run up to Xmas. Have not managed to get back on the wagon.

However, one of my work colleagues, who was recently diagnosed Type 2 told me that after dry Jan people were switching to Fab Feb for sugar free. Thought I would give it a go.

I am fairly sure in the book that Egg Pasta was advocated over Whole Wheat Pasta. Having looked at the nutritional content it seems that Whole Wheat comes out top although for taste for me it would be egg pasta. I have found some recipes for Whole Wheat Egg Pasta and in fact Waitrose do a fresh version that just consists of Whole Wheat Flour, Semolina, Eggs and Water.

Your thoughts please.

Thanks Mixnmatch, good advice on the salt. A new wardrobe could get expensive, but I am resisting any purchase until I reach my goal, although suits/trousers may start looking a bit baggy before then!

Thanks for getting back to me. Great, I’ve been doing the 8WBSD for a few weeks now but I’ve found it hard to stay focussed to a goad, so this is a great forum that I can use to check in and hopefully find a focus. So today I’m starting my activity challenge. Two years ago I did the London marathon and since stopping the training I have pulled the weight on. I know too many carbs aren’t great for my weight. I don’t eat meat, but do eat fish, but I find that a mainly veggie diet isn’t great for reducing the carbs. So from today I’m going to aim to start on 30 mins a day on the treadmill or walking outside. Hopefully build up by the end of the 4 weeks to achieving a 1 hour run on treadmill/outdoors. I’m not sticking ridgidly to the 800 calls per day but I am trying to stick to the 20 g per day in carbs. Wish me luck!

So 4 weeks in half way – probs around 1000 calories a day plus wine at weekend but very strict about low carb

103kg 16 stone 3 pounds down to 93.5kg 14 stone 12 pounds

Fasting blood sugar down from pre-diabetic to middle of normal range

3 inches off waist (weight seems to have mostly come off chest and upper abdomen so far)

Blood pressure down from 140/90 to 120/70

Only real problem I have is slight insomnia due to hunger that seems to only come on at night

Absolutely delighted – to anyone starting out – it is definitely worth sticking with

Hi Pipsterpippinashe, all you have to do is define what your personal challenge is for the next four weeks. Starting yesterday for example I intend to up my exercise, and have committed to this as part of my challenge. Goals could be a certain weight loss target (but be realistic) or going down a clothes size, or fitting in a certain item of clothing that you currently can’t get into. If you have measured yourself you could choose inches/cm off instead. The sky is the limit.

Linda,
Thank you for that link about salt. Fascinating stuff. We are so brainwashed into being careful about our salt intake that we forget how important it is to get enough. Now that I’m eating mainly fresh and no processed (and therefore salt laden) food I can see how I’m not getting my recommended amount.
I’ll consciously start adding it from now on.
This diet is a real learning curve!

If you are craving salty things like peanut butter or marmite but don’t want to use up calories you may just be short of salt. On one of the other threads people have suggested just having a few crunchy salt crystals instead and the cravings go away. 4 lbs a week is a fantastic rate of weight loss, well done. I relate to the trying on coats feeling. Spotted a lovely turquoise and gold anorak/blouson style jacket in a local charity shop, almost put it back on the rail when I saw it was XS size, but tried it on and it fitted perfectly! I am skinnier I think than I have ever been, as I have never before been lower than a size 12/medium. This way of eating really is life transforming and you will meet your goals. I also relate to the desk bound sedentary job, and have started running up stairs whenever possible, and going the long way round, including running up an extra floor worth of stairs, after going to the loo. All I need to do now is get myself motivated to go for a walk every lunchtime, and I might edge closer to making 10000 steps each day.

I’ve just noticed the date when you 1st raised this subject. Sorry, I’m new on here. Hopefully, I won’t do it again 😕

Hi there, I know that peanut butter affects my husband’s bs. He had a hypo earlier on in the week and a friend told us to try a teaspoon or 2 before bed, as this may help prevent another hypo. We have noticed that if he has it too often, (or too much!) his bs are raised quite dramatically. I think we may have to stop buying the wicked stuff 😠 Hey ho, it’s a learning curve ☺

Hi All,
Four week weigh-in yesterday. I have lost a further 4 lbs, making a total of 15.5 lbs since 1st January. I’m really pleased with this, averaging just under 4 lbs a week. I don’t think my weight loss is quite as dramatic as some on the forum in the first four weeks, but I haven’t been counting calories/carbs religiously, and some meals that I have been having with the family are as I used to have before the diet, just without the potatoes/rice/pasta etc. Also I am still far too sedentary in my largely desk-bound job, and know that I must start to get more active.
I should say I am not type 2 diabetic, but the diet seemed do-able for me, more than any other diet I have tried in the past.
My goal for next week is to lose the 3 lbs that would take me to 12.5 stone, which I have not been for 10 – 12 years. My ultimate goal would be to get to 11 stone (and then maintain it!!).
Yesterday I tried on some medium sized coats in Debenhams and was able to fit into them ( have been buying large for too long), so that was a real buzz!
Keep going everyone!

Eureka! So that’s that then…..I am now tech savvy 👍Well, not really, but thanks to your combined efforts, I may be able to join in a bit more. 😊

so it seems the honey you add is not interfering with your weight loss. that’s great. i’ve just started adding ACV to my diet. i tried it before starting BSD and couldn’t stomach it. now i actually like it. some people have suggested adding mineral water and i’m gonna give that a go.

Sunday 29th January & end of four weeks more or less back on BSD!
I have lost 6 & 1/2 lbs since 1st January that is a little disappointing but I’m almost reaching 30 BMI & anticipate at the end of the eight week block at the end of February to have a 29 BMI in the overweight range & to be weighing 11stone something. I have managed to keep going downwards & hope to continue doing so & I have definitely lost inches because I am having to shorten trousers because my thighs are slimmer & all my trouser waists too big. However I can’t yet get into the next size down but those trousers are hanging on my wardrobe door challenging me to be able to wear them.
I hope all your family is feeling better HappyGirl, well done Fairyface on your weight loss & I hope everyone else is feeling well & belated Happy Birthday Pat.
Come on everyone we are halfway through eight weeks👍👍
Margaret xx

Week 3 day 1 for me and this week I lost 1lb making my weight loss so far in three weeks is 9.5 lbs. I am delighted that the weight is moving in the right direction. I am 5’1″ and my start weight was 12.7. I want to get down to under 10 stone. I am now 11.11. I am going to follow the suggestion of creating mini goals. Today I am going to plan my evening meals better for next week. Last week I relied on roasted cauliflower a lot! My first goal will be to get to 11.7 and then that will mean one stone lost! Good luck to everyone this week. I have got two meals out with friends this week which will be challenging! Last night I was out with work colleagues and I had a tomato and mozzarella salad to start and a courgette and aubergine bake with veg for my main course. . I ordered a large bottle of sparkling water and when my tiramisu came I only ate a spoonful of the cream! Weighed this morning and was the same as yesterday! Was happy with that! Have a good week everyone. After this week I am half way through the 8 week plan!

Having posted, consider yourself joined Pipsterpippinashe. It is open to all.

Hi, Can you tell me how I join the 4 week challenge please?

Hi Shyshihtzu. You need to be logged in and go to the last page of the thread that you’re responding to. I’ve found that if you’re not on the last page when you type your post and press submit, it disappears!

I had a bad day yesterday,our disabled son up all night,hasn’t slept much all week so neither have we.We have a visitor who knew we were exhausted so made us delicious pancakes and fajitas so we didn’t have to cook yesterday.I couldn’t say no as he was so kind to make them.Anyway,had a half decent sleep last night so it’s back to the plan.I didn’t even record what I ate yesterday!Looking back on these last few days,I’ve done ok calorie wise,between 800-900 but the carbs are way over what they should be.I hadn’t really looked at the carbs to be honest,just trying to work on the calories,35 for a sharon fruit and 16 for an apple!This next week I’ll concentrate on getting the carbs down,how on earth do people keep them at around 20?!It’s really motivating reading about people going shopping for smaller size clothing.Thinking back to yesterday,I didn’t have cakes(cream cakes were in the house),biscuits ,chocolate or anything like that so it could have been much worse.Hope everyone has a good day.

Good Morning from a wet and cold Cornwall! NSV – bought new work tops and cardigans 2 sizes down!! 18 down to 14, so scales not showing much of a loss but obviously the fat is going!! I was a fat child, and wore hand me downs from thin people! So consequently I have a waistline carved into my fat. It has been there all my life so know that won’t shift, but am hopeful for the rest of my body! Have a good low carb day everyone.

Hi Shyshihtzu
I am a tech numpty also and have just lost a post to you by coming off the website before your post had posted on the site.

Will try again.

You can post on any thread by typing your reply in the box at the bottom of each thread. Or if you press the reply button next to the new topic button at the right hand side of the post you are reading it will take you to the reply box at the bottom of each thread.

Hope that is helpful.

Sue126
Well done for your weight loss and your good hba1c. You have done really well in such a short time and the next test will be even better.

It is sunny here in East Anglia (rain forecast later) so I am just off for a walk also.

Linda – thank you for the link. I just hadn’t realised just how important salt is. I just thought of it as a cure for my horrible night cramps (I keep a little container of salt on my bedside cabinet – a teaspoon of salt completely gets rid of of the cramp). Looking back at my food diary it looks as though I am chronically salt deprived.

I know that I have read over and over again on this forum that salt is important to add when you are not eating all that processed food and drinking more water. It’s just that I had so completely taken on board the low salt message that I haven’t adjusted my salt intake to allow for the fact that this way of eating can be too low in salt.

I have bookmarked the link just to remind myself that I must add salt to my meals.

Hi All

Sorry I didn’t get to achieve my mini goal of posting more often – even worse, I’ve not even had time to catch up with the forum since Tuesday so I’m well behind!! I have promised myself I will dedicate some time this evening to catch up.

I hope everyone is doing well and I know any strugglers will have been helped along the way.

I’m very happy to report another 2lb down. I had a HBA1c in September which confirmed I am pre diabetic (45) delighted to say that it was repeated this week and is now down to 42, I know this is still in the pre diabetic range but Ive only been doing BSD since beginning of January so I think next time it’s done, I will be well below the lower limit. I feel very optimistic.
To be honest this is the best thing I’ve ever done for weight loss – I do feel hungry at times (jealous of those who don’t!) but I have a hot drink or a small snack of nuts or a little cheese to get over i., I’m not even sure it’s real hunger – I am or should I say was a massive overeater – I really didn’t need to be hungry to stuff my face can tell you!!!
Its a beautiful sunny but cold morning here in UK so I’m off for a walk – have a great day everyone and will catch up later.
Sx

Hello all,
Just checking in – things seem to have gone a bit better this week – finally ending a week weighing LESS than I did at the beginning. I reached a mini-target (10st 2lb – upper limit of my “Healthy” BMI weight) this week – yes, I’ve had a bit of an upward bounce (practically a tradition now) but since it was only a couple of ounces (equivalent to a 50g ball of knitting yarn) I’m not worrying about it. The body has hopefully decided to join the party again.
Soup seems to be the main dietary aid at the moment (cup-a-soups for work as well as home-made) – help to keep me warm & they up the fluid intake.
Next mini-target is to get BELOW 10st 2lb, preferably below 10st. It’s only 2lbs…

Good luck everyone with your continuing efforts.

Thanks KrysiaD, I was pleasantly surprised myself lol. I have logged in each day, and would ask more questions, if I could figure out how to post comments without having to start a new thread every time. I only managed to post my weight because I hopped on the back of a previous one! I’ve tried searching, but to no avail. There should be an idiot sheet for numpties like me 😶

Thanks again everyone.

Yes cellulitis is nasty, and painful! Interestingly, they are not sure where it comes from but think it’s from a scratch or insect bite that then becomes infected by the bacteria that naturally live on our skin. So if they don’t really know where it comes from, they can’t say how to avoid it in the future!!

Just a couple of points to be aware of. It seems that people with T2 are more prone to this infection and also it appears that fluid retention can be a contributory factor. So two lessons I guess …. keep your diabetes under control, at the very least, and keep mobile! If you cant keep mobile put your legs up if you have swollen ankles etc.

Just one more thing I learnt was that BG can go very low when you’re ill. Mine was down in the 4’s some days which is unheard of for me. I think I may also have had a hypo. I suddenly ‘dropped out’ and came round very light headed, not knowing where I was and sweating profusely. If that was a hypo I don’t want one again!!! I know you’re not suppose to have hypos with metformin but maybe we should all be a little careful when eating LCHF. I suppose it just makes sense to have you medication checked/adjusted by your doctor if your BG is coming down.

Hope you are all well.

Great weight loss Shyshihtzu. Any questions just ask – there is so much expertise and support on this forum. It’s an invaluable resource – I log on every day as it has really helped me.

Well, not too bad for my first week. ….I’ve lost 5lbs! Still feel like I’m treading treacle re BSD, but I will read the book again and get things even clearer in my head. Thanks KrysiaD for your support, albeit through cyberspace 😊

As there’s been a bit of talk about salt, when I read this today, I thought others may also be interested. It’s from the Ketovangelist website.
https://www.ketovangelist.com/salt-the-prize-jewel-of-keto/
Cheers
Linda

Week 1 results 8.5lbs lost very pleased. I always find week 2 of any diet the hardest one, when I am more likely to give up. I have been fine so far but with a busy start to the week ahead some serious planning to avoid going off the rails needed I think.

Morag x

Good morning.

Tom K’s book is getting a fair amount of publicity in the media which is good, the low carb message is getting through bit by bit!

I hope everyone is looking forward to a great day. I’m going to friends for lunch, they know I don’t eat sugar or carbs and are interested in my new lifestyle so it should be fairly easy to navigate! More than all that, they are great friends and a lot of fun 🙂

Happy BSD Sunday all.

Verano, so glad to see you are home from the hospital. Wishing you a very speedy return to good health. Take care. x

Hi sunshine-girl
I listened to a podcast this morning that addressed the very issue about low blood sugar but feeling fine and I thought of you. I thought it may answer some questions for you.
Here’s the link:
https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/fasting-talk/id1192105323?mt=2&i=1000380496063
Cheers
Linda

Hello everyone,
I’m new and a bit late in starting, but would like to join too.
I have done two weeks now and have lost 3.5lb the first week but only 0.5lb week two.
Just bought the recipe book for inspiration and found the forum with all your posts.
Looking forward to being part of the group.