Hi

You know it could be any of many of us writing this! So many times so many of us have ‘been there, seen the film and have bought the t-shirt’!

Looks like you may be an ‘all or nothing’ girl. Have a look at the discussion a few days ago on the ‘Strictly’ thread … just search at the top on that and you should find it.

Some people just can’t have the odd day off or that half a potato whilst others can and still stay on track. Maybe when you are back to goal you should experiment with adding extra calories and carbs gradually until you find your own personal level. Have a look at captainlynne’s threads. She has a maintenance thread … Keep on keeping on… you may find that useful.

Good luck!l

Well done Verano, Trelawney, Mixnmatch, Snoop and Cleverblonde73 for your super weight losses.

Verano – I am glad the stilton in the soup worked well – I will try it next time. Will also do what you did and just simmer the broccoli in the stock rather than roasting it – much quicker. I also didn’t add the bacon garnish because I am not that keen on bacon.

Captainlynne
I am sure that you are absolutely right – that we over think it and actually other people don’t really care about what we eat or don’t eat. I have gradually come to realise it and it has given me a wonderful freedom to eat exactly what I want when I eat away from home.

Trelawney – in the beginning people were sceptical but now they are amazed at my weight loss and the reversing of the diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. Because I stuck completely to BSD food when daughters visited me it spooked them a bit and they mentioned concerns about eating disorders and anorexia. They were not used to me sticking with healthy eating in the face of temptation. But they quickly realised that no one with anorexia would tuck into the clotted cream with such gusto.

I agree that we are at the start of a revolution against the people who champion low fat cereal based diets and all the added sugar low fat entails. Unfortunately for the food industry this addictive way of eating means huge profits for them and also the drug companies who treat the ill health caused by this way of eating – so there will be a lot of resistance to this healthy way of eating.

This week I have stayed exactly the same at 9stone 9 1/2lbs. Am happy with that as I am only 2lbs off my target which will take me to exactly the middle of healthy BMI.

Also my shape is changing and I can see that lean muscle mass is building and replacing the fatty wobbly bits. I have had problems building muscle in the past but not on BSD.

Yesterday I did an amazing 18k steps and felt absolutely fine. I had a 5 hour break midday and I walked to the city centre (a half hour walk each way) had hair done and then walked around lots of clothes shops (it was lots) but didn’t see anything that really caught my eye. Then I taught classes for three hours in the evening. I couldn’t have done that when I started in May last year.

Hi Rachel,

Greetings from a cold and miserable early morning in Minnesota. Up early as body clock adjusts.

I’m still a long way off needing to worry about maintenance, but one thing this way of eating has helped me to do is to understand myself a bit better. On another thread there is a discussion about whether people are “all or nothing” or “everything in moderation” – I paraphrase mightily.

I know I am in the “all or nothing” camp. So maintenance will be difficult as the difference between one biscuit and a packet is difficult for me to judge, when I’m in that mood. I am guessing that I will move onto a BSD 1500-2000, with very low refined carbs and then experiment with the calorie and carb values to see where I end up. The concept of three or four days when I can eat “freely,” I reckon would end in disaster.

Good luck with your experiment.

Have to keep preaching Daisiesmum because its so easy to forget how things were!! We all need reminding that we don’t want to go back there.

Cleverblonde … you know we may have all said the same thing before we ‘saw the light’! When you think back to a ‘traditional’ diet you would wonder what on earth you would eat if you took out the bread, potatoes, rice and pasta. Just that we know better!!!!

Well done to everyone who has lost, especially those of us have been ‘challenged’ at times during the last week. There will be many more temptations over the coming month so if we can contain those AND keep losing that will be marvellous.

LOL Peapod.

More than a little chilly in my part of the northeast.

Bus from village to Bishop Auckland, now waiting for next bus – to Barnard Castle. Visiting someone very ill in hospital there. A couple of hours each way for a very brief visit.

I’ve got so many layers on. Tights, socks, thermal vest, blouse, cardigan, uniform jacket, skirt, scarf, woolly hat, gloves, coat and boots. Still cold.

Trelawny – Viva la Revolution! I will be spending time over Christmas with my sis who has been on a low-fat diet for around 30 years and has all the accompanying health issues – high cholesterol, pre-diabetes, etc despite being very slim.

We are from the low-fat, high carb generation and BSD seems counter intuitive to us, but WOW, what an eye opener this has been! I got off the low fat train a few years ago adopting an “all things in moderation” approach which kept my weight within reach, but my health still suffered, high bp, lethargy, sleepy, heart palpitations, acid reflux, foggy head etc. All of the above have improved greatly since going low carb. Oh here I go preaching again!

Lynne, glad the tights look good. It reminds me of a friend of mine who was wearing tights with a little robin pattern on them. At a family gathering her brother in law commented on them , she felt flattered until he rather ungallantly added ‘but I bet they turn into ruddy great vultures at the top ‘ .
Keep warm in those lovely tights, it’s a chilly day here in the North East !

Good morning. Wow its cold! At least its supposed to be a sunny one here in Sussex, so will hopefully make my lunch break walk.
Weigh in this morning at 64.9 kilos so about 10stone 3. I normally weigh on fridays and thats actually 0.7kilo off since Friday so am v pleased with that as had been stuck on a dreaded plateau for more than a week before.
Verano I chuckled at your post as a work collegue of mine i was chatting to yesterday about my progress who happens to be a nurse, said those very words! “I would starve without bread, rice, pasta etc”
Well done to everyone for carrying on through ups and downs and thankyou for the support you all bring.
Have a great day Hazel

Hi bloke41. What amazing results. Your target isn’t much further off than what you’ve already lost (I’m sounding a bit Ernie Wise there). That is one heck of an achievement.

My results are feeble in comparison but anything is better than nothing.
Now 80.4 kg, total loss 8.8 kg.

My weigh-in:
80.4 kg
Target for four weeks was 2.1 kg, now reversed and 1.2 kg. Looks impressive by my standards (I lose very slowly compared to some of you) but I think most of it was losing what I put on over a trip back to Britain. Even so, I’m quite surprised as I had a massive calorie and carb bust on Saturday and Sunday.

I think the way it works is you lose the fat on the diet, but it is replaced by water in the cells, eventually, and yes, a bigger more indulgent meal does often seem to be a trigger, this comes out leaving you lighter, that is the whoosh we experience. If it bothers you, try 2:5 instead of the full 800, I did this for a month and still lost weight regularly. (2 days at TDEE and 5 at 800 calories.)

Well done all those who have lost weight AND all those that are hanging on even when the scales don’t play ball!! Keep logging in and giving us your thoughts and reading about how others get by. I am pleased to say 1lb down. To begin I thought ‘1lb is that all!’ But gave myself a good talking to, I am 1lb nearer my goal another week into changing my eating habits forever. What’s not to celebrate?
What does everyone’s family and friends think of the BSD? Have any of them taken up the banner? My daughter gets it and my cousin and her husband have embraced it and are losing and feeling good. Other people I have mentiond it to disregard it straight away. Low fat, cereal based diets are so ingrained within us all. Let’s hope this is the start of the revolution against those who want to keep us fat ‘cos it puts big bucks in their pocket!!
Have a strong day everyone.

I love NSVs. Last year my husband kindly washed my wool boyfriend cardie and it shrunk big time but ta da yesterday it not only fit but was back to being baggy again.

I’m on the sleigh hanging on tight particularly over the bumps that are the Christmas meals etc

Good morning everyone, my weigh-in for week one of the Strictly challenge is a whopping four pounds in a week. Having said that, some has gone back on overnight/yesterday after my new low or it would have been five. So the challenge now is to navigate the holidays trying to learn how to maintain and end up on the 20th December after three big parties at still around the 10:13 to 11:00 stone mark, or maybe a little lighter if I continue with some fast days.

I just wanted to let you know I’ve signed up for the futurelearn course about diabetes. At the moment there’s a welcome page where people are introducing themselves. So far around 530 people have said ‘hello’. There are people from many different countries and different walks of life. There are lots of professionals: nurses, retired and practising, doctors, people with relatives with diabetes, those of us with diabetes and those trying to avoid getting it in the future.

Of the 530ish there appear to be maybe 4 of us who low carb! One person has reversed her diabetes with the Newcastle Plan, and there are two others who have confessed to low carb eating and me! One person asked what BSD is and when I told her her response was ‘I’ll starve without potatoes, pasta and rice’! Typical response I guess.

Anyway, I think it may be really interesting. I have a feeling the course leaders are going to cover, maybe even recommend, low carb eating. We’ll see!!!

Well done Lynne! Your maintenance plan is working beautifully.

I’ve been ‘maintaining’ for around four weeks when I really should have been losing! This challenge has got me back on track so now I must just keep going. You’re an inspiration to us all in showing what can be done when you stick to the plan!

Have a good day.

And it doesn’t take much to make me smile!! And you have! The pleasures of being slim … I’ve forgotten them but will remember them in 2017.

Have a good day even if it is freezing!

A very minor nsv today.

I’m wearing thick, warm, cable tights. So what? Not only are they size small (unlike my old extra large ordinary tights!) but the colour and pattern aren’t affected by fat legs!

The cables are not stretched.

Yippee!

Sorry, but it doesn’t take much to make me happy 😀

WEEK 2 DAY 1

Hi everyone

Week 2 starts here! Hope week 1 has been good to you all. Daisiesmum a loss is a loss!! I am really pleased to announce a 3.2lb loss!!! Best I have had for months. I think my soup day yesterday got me back to my pre-weekend weight. I wanted to lose 5lb before xmas and 7 if possible. I’m still going for the 5 that’s 1.8lbs away and then hopefully I can make the 7 but don’t want to put too many hurdles in the way.

Daisiesmum I’m with you on the cheese front. I made broccoli and stilton soup yesterday. I’ve not had stilton for ages and I only had about 30g but it was heaven. I’m now thinking I may forgo the pudding I’ve promised myself and have the cheese instead!

There are now 38 of us on this sleigh just hope everyone is still aboard for week 2!!

Have a good day.

Checking in before a cold, busy day – a two hour bus journey each way to visit someone who is very ill in hospital.

Since 22nd November my weight has stayed at 8st 9lb, with a couple of dips down to 8.8. So I am very happy with that.

Some unexpected party food appeared in front of me last night (salmon sandwiches, sausage rolls and lemon meringue pie). But I’d already eaten. So I sat with my black coffee and enjoyed the chats. I did eat the filling out of one of the cocktail size sausage rolls, but the pastry stayed on my plate. It was ok – nothing more than that. Another lady just ate the filling of her slice of lemon meringue – not dieting, just doesn’t like shortcrust pastry. A reminder that many people adapt the food provided, not just us. And nobody round that table commented. Sometimes it seems me overthink things and think others are more interested in what we eat, or don’t eat, while most really don’t care – they’re too busy talking or eating what’s in front of them.

Keep warm everyone, and I look forward to reading your posts later.

Had a cheat over the weekend. Christmas party etc… lost a further half inch off my waist and another 2 lbs after 3 weeks of absolutely nothing even though sticking religiously to the diet. Went back to be good yeaterday, suitably boosted and feeling that the reason I lost weight was because my whoosh was a long time coming.
Get on the scales this morning after being completely dedicated to being back on the diet… 2 lbs on, half an inch gained, willpower irreversibly damaged for forever. Any explanations for this at all?? I honestly feel like I’m going round in circles. Might do the pork roll diet instead, that seemed to work a lot better! 😉

Good morning, it’s a cold frosty one up here in the East Midlands….brr! I woke full of energy and vigour, I have even been on my mini rebounder (my favourite aerobic exercise besides walking). Who knew that curbing the carbs could be so life enhancing.
My scales aren’t exactly cooperating though. I’m only 0.2lb down on last week (sigh) but it was week 4 for me, and DrM says in the book it’s common to plateau around then so I’m grateful for any loss!

OiMadam, you’ve put images in my head I can’t unsee – hilarious, I have the same problem if I get on my rebounder before I’m fully dressed – ha ha!

Family and I have finally settled our Christmas plans (when who’s visiting whom) so I can strategise accordingly. It’s not looking too complicated. I think my biggest challenge will be not upsetting my long term low-fat diet loving, pre diabetic sister with my new found evangelical fervour for low carb, full fat!

Indulgent low carbs for me over Christmas will include macadamia nuts, gorgeous cheeses, double cream in my coffee and an occasional snifter of brandy. What do others suggest?

I’m looking forward to reading everybody’s posts today, progress, slip ups, Christmas tips and everything!

Here’s Wishing you all the best of everything.

I have been lurking in the forums for several months now, and have been inspired by the success and mutual support of the members, so I plucked up courage to start my own thread. The purpose of this is to have a record of my ups and downs in the vain hope that maybe, just maybe, I can stabilise my weight once and for all. It is a big ask, and my confidence in that goal is very low at the moment.

I have a chronic history of weight yo-yoing since the age of 10, 36 years ago. I have weighed as much as 97kg (about 15 stone) and as little as 67kg (about 10 and a half stone)(I am 175cm tall), and every weight in between multiple times. My heaviest weight (97kg) was in 2013, then that year I lost 29kg. I have rebounded up by 6kg twice since then, but both times managed to catch it in time (have failed at that in the past), once last year, and once this year. I have done every diet under the sun, like most people here.

I discovered BSD when it was serialised in the Daily Mail in September, bought the book, and in October lost 6kg in exactly one month and one day, easy-peasy. I absolutely love this diet and really felt it was something I could sustain.

However, I have piddled about inconsistently since getting back to goal (68kg) for the first couple of weeks, then, disastrously, tried to do a 5:2 version last week. WHAT A COMPLETE AND UTTER, MONSTROUS, ENORMOUS FAIL that was.

My two fasting days (non-consecutive) were great, 800cals, boom, too easy. But for some unknown, mystery reason, I literally could not stop eating every single one of the five other days. The works…..cake, chocolates, bread, wine, sweets, coffees…..just about everything that I hadn’t even missed, or been craving for the previous month! Some of it was stuff at home, but some was at work and I even went out and bought some of it, like ice-cream! Full on self-destruct mode.

So yesterday I got back on track, with a hangover from Sunday night wine and carb-fest, and upon weighing myself this morning am back to 70.8kg; up nearly 3kg in 3 weeks since back at goal.

I feel panicky and totally down on myself, annoyed, irritated, frustrated, which is why I have turned to the forums; if I record how I’m going, maybe I’ll feel a little more accountable, even if only to myself because it’s there in black and white. Why is this maintenance lark just so hard, it sucks, big time. I can be so disciplined, so focussed, but when the challenge of reaching the goal has gone, so goes the willpower, or whatever it is that makes me successful…….poof, into thin air……

I am doing well again today, so my plan is to just do 800cals a day to shake it off again, the try something OTHER than 5:2, because clearly as it works for most people, the concept of ‘a day off’ doesn’t work for me (even though I know, know, know all this stuff already!). Why do we do this to ourselves.

Thank you for reading if you got this far, hope everyone is doing well today, this lovely sunny day in Queensland 🙂

Rachel 🙂

I still have the pretty charm waiting for me to lose 5kg so I can put it on my bracelet! That is my non-food treat. I’ll get there eventually.

I spent the day Christmas shopping. Only about 6000 steps but my legs and feet are very tired. I think a long walk can be less tiring than shopping. I got quite a few presents which is great. Lots more still to get.

Flash21 … tough road but stay on the pathway
You will overcome the challenge

I haven’t eaten bread for 15 years, potatoes for 20
Totally grain free for 15 months

Easiest action is rid the house of anything you cannot eat.
If you live with others it’s tougher … remember what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. 😉
The biggest challenge is when going out and all there is to eat at an event is sandwiches, slices, cakes and biscuits. Drink lots of tea.

66 days is the key … if you can get past the not eating something, not doing something you are a winner … more importantly doing something new is the positive key.
It takes 66 days to create and normalise the creation of a new habbit.
This is the foundation of The One Thing … http://www.the1thing.com
This process just works … appreciating that we have choices and can stay the path, with support.
Go well

I had reached my weight loss plateau, again and was stuck for 3 weeks – just yo-yoing. We don’t use chilli in our recipes mainly because my husband definitely won’t eat it. Why make two meals with all the extra clutter and utensils, was my forever thought? So, on a whim I decided to use cayenne pepper, just sprinkled on my food after it was cooked – must admit i have put a little too much at times. And voila the weight is coming off again! Don’t know if it is the cayenne or not, but I’ll keep reaching for it and the tabasco sauce from now on, especially when the recipe calls for chilli! Thought I would add this incase someone else has the same problem or has reached a plateau they can’t get beyond. BTW, I was at my plateau weight for 2 years once before!

Thanks @shalimar
Am working on the stressors.
Did a Cortisol test and unbelievably it was all ok much to the surprise of my Dr and I
All good re how this place works … I’m on the other side of the pendulum when it comes to ITC stuff

Thanks Esnecca, there just happens to be a jar in the fridge. Will try anything that helps.

Posting to remind myself how I’m doing. 2 weeks in, total 5kg lost (only 1 kg this last week). Feeling much slimmer and moving easier already. I’ve ‘only’ got another 11kg to my goal, so hoping that I can keep up a 1kg loss per week average.

Mostly I have been finding it easy with few cravings, apart from yesterday. I’d managed to avoid any Diet Coke for a week but had some yesterday, and I’m sure that’s responsible for making me want to eat carbs! Fortunately only ‘succumbed ‘ to 2 Nairns chocolate oatcakes, which are fairly low in cals and carbs, so no major default, and I did enjoy the crunch!

I bought some sparkling water to help with the Coke urges; I’ve never liked it, but I think I could take to it! My tastes do seem to be changing, or at least heightened: I had a Pret chicken and mozzarella salad for lunch today, and the flavours and texture were amazing!

Raw sauerkraut! That stuff is probiotic magic, and because the sugars in the cabbage are fermented, it’s extremely low in carbs. Not to mention delicious. 🙂

Pleased you resisted temptation. It is so hard, especially if like me you ‘picked’ at food during the day before the diet. I have been having a teaspoon of peanut butter when the hunger strikes . Reading posts on here certainly helps too.

Well done Peapod, side effects are an interesting element of this diet.

In the last few days I have been really tempted to fall off the wagon and am having to keep myself in check. Weight loss has slowed right down but I think that may be to do with a lack of exercise as things keep stopping our walking. Tonight I had a cube of cheese to try to stop myself from eating carbs of some sort. Now I am typing into here the temptations have gone so I must make myself check into this forum in the evening which is when I am tempted.

Any suggestions for what to do to keep the threat of eating wrong things would be gratefully received!

That’s a good idea , have never used them before. Will count the calories in them too !

P.S. you can check the other threads and you can join in with any thread even if there is a date in it. Also there is a Search line at the top right here … you can search any topic you have a question on.

Hi Aussieute 🙂 HUGS

I to have disc problems.. some have eroded.

I see you have a lot of stress. Are you taking any measures to reduce that? Yoga, Walking, Meditation, etc.? The stress hormone Cortisol can play havoc.

Counting calories and carbs is not too bad. You can look up and write down the counts for your usual foods and that will cut down on the work. I just usually Google the name of the food and add the words calories carbs.

Some people do it all with computer apps. I am sure they will have some to recommend ..MyFatSecret etc. I am a Luddite so i don’t use them.

Good luck

Could maybe be a factor. You could google Antibiotics and weight gain. There are some hits there that say maybe … because they kill gut bacteria. Always a good idea to take those pre/pro biotics after a course of antibiotics.

Just a thought, I have been on antibiotics since Thursday. Wondering if they could be causing the gain.

Thanks for that LindaA and Baristagirls, and yes in Australia.
I’m not here to loose weight as I’m sub 70kg and 1.8m .. all about a reset.
Downloaded about 6 apps last night … all ad pushers and nigh on useless, and took more time than it was worth to update and maintain.
Linda I’ll check out EasyDietDiary, Baristagirls wasn’t a fan of your choice :-(, I ended up chatting to a friend last night who suggested I build a list of ingredients and meals and keeping a daily diary in .xlsx with carb counter.

Some background about my status here .. bit.ly/2gpq70z .. may be helps set the scene a tad better.

Thank you for the congrats KrysiaD and Trelawny!
I’m still holding at 17 lbs. down on Day 51.
Two of my granddaughters are here from North Carolina and leave tomorrow. They are busy making Gingerbread houses so there is a lot of candy, and cookies around but it is not bothering me at all! I’m really enjoying watching them as they moved far away a few years ago and I wasn’t sure I’d get these experiences as much with them.
I’m really enjoying reading all your posts. All the experiences everyone shares is such a support! The ups and downs of staying on track and knowing that once in a while we all stray but get back to our plan pays off!
I keep looking at each meal as how can I shaved off carbs and lower the calories but still enjoy my meal.
I’m also trying hard not to snack a lot because it adds up so quickly.

Welcome chicken106!

I’m in Sydney and use CalorieKing. It has lots of foods and you can program in your favourite recipes so you only need to do the work once per recipe.

Some background.
My gift of learning to my self, 16 years ago, was diabetes due to a terminal business issue, read distress.
I went through a rough time relationship wise and the medical solution was “take more insulin” when my sugars went up .. given that 25 units 4 times a day made no difference I figured there needed to be a different solution.
I did the Newcastle Diet about 12 months ago and was able to extract myself from all diabetes meds as my sugars were into the normal range. At that time there was no next step, like the BSD, and while my journey led me to Paleo, I needed a stricter framework.
Whilst that has been benificial in many ways over time mmol has crept up over time.
Since then some serious business issues (comes with the sector I work in) have got in the way and my sugars have skyrocketed again.
Also an accident provided a ruptured disc which put paid to my 10km runs each day.
I’ve now found BSD, which is great, and this forum, just brilliant, so I’m now starting the fast 800, not to loose weight as such, more about the system reset, that needs to occur.
Pre and post meal mmol’s are averaging 10 – 14 with a 2 point increase after meals. So it’s the double the target issue I’m addressing.
Time to get anal about carb and calorie counting, which is not in my DNA, so this is going to be a struggle. I have huge amount of self discipline, nevertheless having such a focus is an issue. We get waht we focus on and I’m now strategising on meal plans and ways to be able to eat “normally” when I’m out of the house for meals. One key bonus is I work from home so meal planning is way easier than if I worked elsewhere or travelled a lot.
That’s enough from me.
Looking forward to interacting and supporting others in this space.
Andrew

Hi Aussieute
If you’re in Australia, you don’t have to worry about calculating net carbs.
I’m in Sydney and I use EasyDietDiary. Most foods are already loaded and although it might be tedious for the first couple of days, once you get the hang of it, it’s quick and easy, especially if you tend to use the same things over and over like I did as it has a ‘recent ‘ foods catagory. Any questions, just ask.
Good luck
Cheers
Linda

Hi Ange
Welcome! I’m in Sydney.
This is a great way of eating that you can use for the rest of your life, not just diet that has an end date.
If you go back to your old habits, then you’ll go back to the way you don’t want to look with any accompanying health issues.
Any questions, don’t hesitate to ask, there’s always someone here that can help.
Keep posting and let us know how you go.
Cheers
Linda

I dread walking uphill so hope one day to be fit and energetic like you. Also, can’t wait to buy more fashionable clothes and enjoy wearing clothes again. It must be a fabulous feeling.

A big big thank you to Mixnmatch, Jenni from the block and Carb Addict for the support and advice you gave me last week when I was feeling a bit down, you gave me the boost I needed to stay on track and I’m glad to say at the end of week four I’ve lost nearly 3 ins off my bust and hips, 2 ins off my stomach and 1 in off my thighs, 10 lbs down and halved my BGLs. If I hadn’t got the support from this forum I could of easily have started cheating but thanks to you I feel I can finish this 8 week diet knowing there’s always help here. So thanks again ( not that after 8 weeks I’ll stop, I’ve got a way to go yet ).

Oh well done MIXY! XXX👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 XXX

Thank you lovelies. If I’m honest ‘run’ was a bit of an exaggeration. I quite like the term gallumphing instead – but inside my head I was sprinting. If I pull my jumper over my head I might let loose two clangers and could easily knock myself out! Xxx

Maharanni kitten 🙂 I love your list of non food treats!!

I promised myself spa treatments as a reward. I have a foot pedicure lined up. Don’t have the massage booked but i will. And if i find a purse i really really really like i will buy it even if it is 100 dollars.

Good luck with the bread making!!!

\

26 pounds was my final total for the eight weeks, very pleased with that. How did everyone else do? Are people continuing with the plan, or starting the other patterns?