Not at all stupid and one I spent a lot of time considering. My initial thought was to use BMI, but then saw that normal for me was around 13 and a half stone, which isn’t realistic. As I am diabetic, my overall plan is to use this until it works, but for a more practical approach (and to give my diabetic nurse and me some targets to talk about, I decided initially to go for seven stone off as that would take me to 16.5 stone. Then very unscientifically, I reduced the target weight by two pounds so the overall loss would be 100lb.

I know I will aim to get under this level to give me some wriggle room, but I will also be looking at the effect on BS and BP and if I have to carry on, then so be it.

Sorry not much help, but I’m not sure there is a aone-size fits all way of calculating the target.

Rosebery sounds like you are making good choices, even in those tempting surroundings 🙂

sunshine-girl, dinner sounds delicious!

Monday here and the weather has brightened, forecast for sun and heat finally. Time for ‘work face’.

As the book says, there is a lot of “conventional wisdom” around diets and weight loss, but there are very few rules supported by actual studies. You need to listen to other people’s ideas and then figure out what works best for you.
The book suggests a weekly weigh-in. Some people weigh themselves less often, while others weigh themselves more often. Whichever schedule helps you the most is the right one for you. There is no right way or wrong way, just your way.

Thanks so much – Way of Life, Mixnmatch, Jande9 – for your suggestions ! Will definitely look into seeds/nuts/pulses/beans and Skyr…
My week is up tomorrow and it is my first weighing ! I can honestly say that week 1 has been fine. I just find all the calculating for food portions etc irksome. But have just installed FatSecret and it looks promising. ..hope all of bsd followers are doing well… keep up the efforts !

This is probably a stupid question but how do you work out your Target Weight?

On p23 of the Recipe book it states ‘once you have reached your target weight……..’ but I’ve obviously missed the section saying how to calculate it

I’ve looked in the Contents & Index but “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”

David

Hi kiddo, I lost 7 pounds in the first 6 days and nothing in the last 8 days so don’t think you’re alone. We just have to persevere. The body can’t hold onto the fat no matter how hard it tries, we will win 😄

I have never seen a diabetic specialist but mainly due to not having the language skills when we first came here. Now I don’t need one. My GP is always going off on courses and learning new things plus he really listens to me and if I tell him about something like this diet he will research it for himself. I did go an see a nutritionist about 2 years ago and she nearly killed me, I told her I couldn’t eat all the carbs she wanted me to and she made me promise to follow the diet for diabetes control and weight loss. 6 months later I had gained 5 kgs and my HbA1c had gone from a regular 5.7 to 8.2. I couldn’t get it down no matter what I tried and then I found this diet and I am now back at 5.9. So that’s one professional I would never trust.

Hardest thing for me today is making my husband a portion of sage and onion stuffing to go with his chicken so just done my BG to remind myself why I am not allow it, 4.8 happy face. At least he didn’t want any roasted potatoes with dinner although I am doing him mash. I am having left over mashed celeriac with horseradish sauce in it. It is delicious.

I will be allowing myself a vodka and tonic a bit later and maybe a glass of red wine with dinner. Life is for living.

Keep going everyone.

Most people in uk who have diabetes don’t see a specialist diabetes nurse. Instead they see a practice nurse at the GP surgery. Most with diabetes are diagnosed by the General Practitioner who is very much a generalist and some of those are reluctant to refer atypical cases to specialists, as each referral has a cost.
I see mistakes in our health service every day. As I told my sister recently “for God’s sake don’t just trust us!”.

Kiddo, you sound similar to me, I am a 44 year old woman, needed to lose just over 2.5 stone, it’s what I have gained over the past 2 years when I stopped doing 5:2. I’m 5’6″ I have now lost 9 pounds first week (but think some of that loss because I finished my period), am trying out doing 800cals during the week then not cal counting over the weekend. But still strict low carb (except the 3 glass of wine!) I may knock that on the head if I plateau for too long at any point, but am hoping in another 5 weeks I can switch to the 5:2 version as calorie counting long term will wreck my head!

Fingers crossed your scales show good results on Tuesday!

Ps I find when I have cravings I just eat a couple of Brazil nuts and they go away again

Thanks you two! I’m a 42yr old woman; 5ft 9 with two stone to lose. I know I won’t get the dramatic losses that some will but was going for something steady.

Tbh my period is 12 days away so maybe that hasn’t helped. I didn’t take any measurements apart from weight because I hate my body I can barely look at it let alone be confronted with measuring it… 😕

I am determined to continue. Tuesday is my proper weigh-in day so maybe I’ll have had some results by then.

On the plus side, I’m loving the food and am beginning to accept that mild hunger is the new normal.

I’ve not experienced cramps, but could this be salt related? Because the diet allows so little processed food and so much water is drunk it can deplete electrolytes. Just a thought.

You are experiencing a plateau. It is totally normal if a bit frustrating, but if you are sticking to the 800 calories, you are burning fat. What happens I believe is the fat cells do not collapse until they have emptied completely and they replace a fat molecule with a water molecule. This means that you will lose weight in whooshes, where a whole fat cell gives up the water at once and your weight can change by 2-3 pounds overnight. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water, some people have reported that upping their intake to 4 litres can help, add a little extra salt to your diet if you are not already doing this, and it can help reassure you that the fat is going if you use measurements rather than weight during a plateau. Are clothes feeling looser? Has your belt gone in a hole or two? Water takes up less space than the fat so many people report these things happening while their weight does not change. Search for plateau and whoosh on the forum to see just how common this is 😊

Thank you Miss Ziggy & Fairyface I did kick my butt today doing 20mins of Jane Fonda exercise with light weights😇🏋🏻‍♀️🏋🏻‍♀️
Margaret xx

Hi Kiddo, to be honest I am totally expecting the same kind of result for myself this coming second week, I have lost so much this first week (9 pounds in 6 days) that I know my body and it tends to have a big initial reaction and then stalls, I just think you need to hang on in there in the absolute knowledge that it will restart, I don’t know enough about the science to be able to tell you why, but I have watched enough diet programmes (notably Biggest loser) and had enough of my own experience of dieting over the years to see this happen frequently.

Are you a man or woman? If a woman could it be hormonal related? I gain weight (water retention?) before my period. Or maybe it’s possible to retain water for men too?

Could you try a burst of exercise? A brisk walk up a steep hill and see what happens tomorrow? It is disheartening though when the scales aren’t showing numbers that encourage! Have you measured yourself at the beginning? Are you tracking that too?

point taken Donnyman but you can see from what you said, it was a difference between Type 1 and Type 2. I am sure when David sees the diabetic nurse it will all become clear and it is a good point that he should be referred to a diabetic specialist. Isn’t everyone. I don’t live in the UK so am not familiar with the process. In the case you quote, someone made a mistake, and it happens. As for the slim part, I was not at all overweight and I exercised regularly and was aged 53. Another reason for giving T2 different names, more people are getting it younger, so they call it early onset or later called latent onset and so on. I don’t know how old David is, don’t think he has said.

My point to David regarding getting the diagnosis checked was really because Type 2 is unusual in slim fit people – not unheard of, but often other forms of diabetes are misdiagnosed as Type 2. A colleague got her diagnosis at the same time as I did (type 2) and collapsed in the office 6 weeks later as she was a slow onset type 1- we were all surprised as she was 42 years old.

I started almost 2 weeks ago and while i last 6lbs in wk1 I have stayed the same this week. How can that be possible on 800 cals a day?!

I was a massive snacker who lived on chocolate, wine and pasta so the shift in diet had been dramatic. Has anyone else had a slow time of it. I’m trying not to get disheartened…

David, a little red wine is allowed, however, it has to fit in with your calorie allowance and at a low rate of calories most people prefer to save it for food. You are also allowed 70% dark chocolate in small amounts.

Donnyman, I cannot go into the full pathophysiology of the various types of diabetes here. There is lots of reading you can do. Where Type 2 can be called different things but still be Type 2 is because the end result is the same although the cause might be different. For example, most type 2 starts later in life but more and more it is starting earlier (i.e. 40s and 50s where as it was 60s and 70s) so it has a new label of early onset diabetes but it is still Type 2, then there is standard Type 2 caused by the pancreas not creating enough insulin, then there is another Type 2 where the pancreas creates the insulin but it does not do its job efficiently, also known as Type 3, then there is latent diabetes, usually caused by either a brain injury or malfunction which causes the pancreas to not produce enough insulin or not use it efficiently but this is a special case and extremely rare as to rarely get a mention and very little is known about it. Type 1 is where the pancreas has never been able to produce insulin or has completely packed up in early life. There is no insulin, end of story. Type 2 there is insulin, just not enough or quality. Gestational only occurs in pregnancy so is treated as a special case as it can disappear as soon as the pregnancy is over or can lead to Type 2 in the future.

So, to summarise, Type 1 no insulin at all, Type 2 some insulin but inefficient (for various reasons so given different names) Type 3 unknown origin unknown physiology and rare, Gestational occurring in pregnancy. Having said I wouldn’t go through it all I seem to have.

Donnyman, are you asking because you are interested, or are you asking because you want me to justify my statement. If you know something different please share it with us as you seem to think what I am saying is wrong. If you want to learn about it do the 2 weeks course with http://www.futurelearn.com called The Diabetes Epidemic.

Thanks Angela06

I’ve realised over the last day or so how little I know about Diabetes; I really must get to find-out more & have added the YouTube lectures to my growing ‘to do’ list.

1 thing I hope NOT to find-out is that wine is packed with carbs. It is 1 of life’s ‘little pleasures’ & a life devoid of little pleasures doesn’t bear thinking about…….

David

I did it Aug/Sept without weighing but keeping small portions and principles. I Lost 12 kg 10% body weight, my dog was taking me for regular walks. Been too loose with it since then, but trying to get refocused.

The 800 cal is the best for quickest weight loss and blood sugar reset – but can be higher cal so you can follow this plan without being too strict, be slower etc but if it fits with your life better and can stick at it then only good.

We need to manage this in daily life, so whatever helps you do that is fine.

How are the other types you mentioned “technically type 2”?

I have done my first week weigh in this morning and have lost 4.5 lb. I must have done something right but am going to read the book again because I am not sure that I am doing the diet totally correctly but have been following the recipes in the books and have eaten no bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, sugar etc. I am a vegetarian so have eaten eggs, cottage cheese, nuts, lentils etc. Have limited fruit to berries with yoghurt at breakfast and a pear or an apple with my cottage cheese. I am enjoying this forum for tips and advice. Good luck everyone. Looking forward to week two. I am not going to try not weigh myself until next Sunday!

Congratulations happyvegan! For me the first 2-3 weeks were the hardest, mainly working out what to eat and stopping snacking 🙁 . It will start getting easier by the week…..

Hi all! Thanks for your very helpful responses 🙂

I just weighed myself and found I’d lost 1.8kgs so I’m very happy with that as previously on diets I lose less than 1lb a week!

Just wanted to ask a question, I’m experiencing the worst menstrual cramps I’ve had in a long time (as in since before going onto a contraceptive pill 2 years ago) and I was wondering if that’s anything to do with the diet? Regardless, most of my day is now going to be spent with a heatpack doing some assignments and taking it easy (Went for a walk this morning, did not help the cramps!)

I started the BSD diet last Sunday 8th January. I am a vegetarian who has tried various diets over the last thirty years with limited success and found it a slow and difficult process. I have found my first week on this diet quite easy and have enjoyed the food I have eaten. Ate avocado for the first time and enjoyed it with eggs for my lunch! I have not felt hungry. I have drank a lot of water. This morning when I got on the scales I was 4.5 lb lighter! Looking forward to week 2. I am going to try and up my walking this week to help with my weight loss. However I have a bad knee so will take things steady! . I feel really motivated by reading the success stories on this site. Just off to have home made lentil soup from the recipe section of this website. Looks delicious! Good luck everyone!

C’mon Wend 1947 we are with you on this journey. Like MissZiggy says….kick your plateaus butt…..hard;-)
Good advice Mixmatch.

WEndy…..don’t get sad get even!! Kick your plateaus butt! …..hard👍🏻

MIss ZIggy 🙂

I do so feel for you. Unfortunately it is very, very easy to underestimate calories in something like a piece of cheese. Personally I have found that guessing only works if you restrict yourself to salads with no dressing or similar. It’s only for a few weeks, and you might find the weight loss reward makes the weighing a bit less of a chore. A lot of things don’t really need to be weighed, only the calorie dense. Good luck

per person, so no you cant have the fruit sponge pudding thinking it is only 350 divided by 4. Yes you could eat your whole days allowance in one meal, you just have to plan very carefully.

Thanks Marsie, there is always fish and salad on the buffet and I have generally avoided desserts, potatoes,rice and bread. I have had a couple of small slices of a very dark bread that seems to be made mainly of seeds without any BG issues. But certainly more calories overall than usual!

Yes Snoop, it was 0.88 of a pound, my error was that it took me to 11.7 and a quarter so that was on my mind as I really wanted to be 11.7 exact.

This may be a silly question but does the calorie measure shown against each recipe in the recipe book represent the calorie measure per serve or for the whole recipe; eg pork chops with red cabbage, serves 2, has a calorie measure of 420 calories, is this the measure for the whole recipe or for each individual serve? If you then have roasted Mediterranean veg, serves 4, calorie count 130, with the pork chops, as an individual serve would give a total of 550 calories.Then, if you had fruit sponge pudding, serves 4, calorie measure of 350, you would have ‘achieved’ your 800 calories in one meal! is this correct?

I have read the book and I am keen to try the 800 but I don’t want to weigh everything I eat. I have two toddlers to look after. Has anyone done this and roughly estimated things and lost weight? Cheers

sunshine-girl, might you have lost more than you think? Or have I misunderstood? 0.4 of a kg is nearer a pound than a quarter of a pound.

The muffins look brilliant, Esneca – I’ll be trying them for work lunches next week (already batch cooked for this coming week! )
Some great ideas here.
Julia

The peeled ones are definitely all hard boiled, having said that I find it hard even with the unpeeled ones done myself to get that yolk consistency. I will try making some mini scotch eggs with some some time, sounds like a great idea for healthy finger food.

Well I have heard the saying ‘life is too short to peel a mushroom’ so why not quails eggs. I would be worried as to how soft or hard boiled they were when you want a nice oozy yolk.

I have a question about apps. I don’t have a mobile phone let alone a super smart one. Can these apps be downloaded onto my computer instead. I know you are all laughing at me, my daughter does.

Rosebery, spent a memorable week on one of the Hurtigruten Line ferries a few years ago. So stunning, but I do remember the food as being a little carb-laden…..so, well done you for staying in control. That is a good feeling👏👏👏

many thanks
does any one else have any more ideas ?

Oh thank you Mixnmatch I had forgotten about plateaus because my common sense went out the window! Yes of course I will keep going & fit in a little more exercise today😀I hope you are doing well.
Margaretxx

I can’t answer re the effect on blood sugar or pressure, but I used one Centrum Performance supplement every two days while on the 800 fast diet.

Hi Margaret, don’t give up hope, it sounds like you are on a plateau, and that can be followed by quite a considerable whoosh if you just stick to the plan. Go over everything again. Are you drinking plenty, 3 litres a day is what I try to stick to but some people have gone as high as 4 for a short period. Weigh ingredients, in the early days you can quite easily get amounts wrong if estimating. Plateaus can happen because the fat you are burning is replaced in the fat cells by water molecules and these take up less space, so it can be helpful to measure instead, inches will go while the weight doesn’t change at all. Most of us had one or more plateaus of a week or more, and the weight still went. Finally don’t worry about it, stress can cause water retention on its own so is counterproductive. Just keep on keeping on, check your size change against tight clothing or measure. Good luck for the next few days and that whoosh moment.

Getyourcarbon
Very good weight loss so far, I also used your soup and feeling good my weigh in tomorrow , well done

Oh well done Fairyface & hope your day went well Sarah
Margaretxx

Sunday 14th January end of week 2.
I have lost 1/2lb which I am very disappointed about😿😿🤔!
My husband has lost two pounds eating more than me & returned to within a pound of his ideal weight but his blood today was 8 but he had a beer last night.
I am feeling very fed up but I suppose I haven’t gained weight. I had hoped to lose seven pounds this month & it doesn’t look like I will manage that. I am aiming to first reach a BMI of 29 to be in the overweight range & then to weigh less than my husband! So to achieve the former I need to lose seven pounds & the latter to lose thirteen pounds.😾😾
At the rate I’m going I won’t even manage that in my first eight weeks block. I feel like having a tantrum like a two year old & swearing like a trooper but probably don’t know enough swear words😂😂

Hi everybody, new and old.

It is amazing to see the activity this thread is receiving! I have heard it said that statistically the 2nd weekend in January is when many people give up on their new year resolution diets. Well I say most of those people don’t have the BSD to follow and a bunch of like minded and fabulous individuals on a great forum like this one. So don’t be tempted to become a statistic and keep up the good work. For myself I am still very enthusiastic and for someone who in the past did enjoyed very little the whole cooking routine, I am experiencing quite a conversion.

Down to the facts that matter, Sunday weigh in :
Weight lost since last Sunday : .2.2 kg
Total weight lost since the 1st : 5.3 kg
I am happy with that.

My target for January’s end is 6kg, so looking forward to not only reach it but surpass it.

Keep losing!!!

Noel

Gettourcarbon and toby101 great going! You have both lost similar I think (we’re not all great at metric here in the UK!!) but looks about the same, and I have weighed in again today (daily works better for me) and lost another pound, so am now 12 7 down from 13 02 starting 6 days ago. 9 pounds so I think that’s a 4.5kg loss. I had 450ml wine on Friday and 250ml yesterday, but won’t have anymore now til next Friday or Saturday. Also didn’t calorie count t yesterday, need to have the weekends off that stress, especially with young children around, but will be strictly back to 800 cals and counting at work tomorrow.

Now I have to get my head around making a pancake brunch for family and not being tempted! Bacon and blueberries for me!

Good morning, just on day 11 of my 12 days on the hurtigruten ferry up and down the coast of Norway. Have tried to mostly keep low carb and all my clothes still fit including belts so hoping that the damage is minimal. Blood sugars all normal except on waking, that’s usually in the low 6s and drops as soon as I eat. So still some work to do on the liver. I guess! Weighing in on Tuesday when I get home, fingers crossed!
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