If you read the book MM talks about metabolism. Apparently the studies were done just after the war and carried out on men who had been in concentration camps and whose bodies had completely shut down. In the past studies were only carried out to the scientific ability available. For example, now they can put you in a metabolic chamber and measure everything accurately. No, this diet does not slow down the metabolism, and yes, you will regain weight if you start over eating or eating rubbish, just like you would after any diet. I think the difference is that you are not expected to go back to your old ways, this is a way of life. On other diets I believe the number of people who regain all their weight or more is around 95%, although don’t quote me on exact numbers.

Hi Sunshine girl

Thanks for your reply – I’m not on insulin – in fact it was my surgery’s suggestion that I start which prompted me to try the BSD. I will stick on the 40Mg / day to see how things settle down. I’ve been doing quite a lot of exercise as well, which is clearly having an effect. Thanks you for encouragement! I must admit – I cracked last night and had a leftover mince pie! 🙂

Welcome Sarah. Find a thread that interests you or start your own, just hop on board and enjoy the ride.

You have probably discovered the reason. You are not massively overweight, unless you are 4 foot 2. No bowel movement could be accounting for your lack of weight movement, you could add something like chia seeds or other fibre to help with that.

Hello All

So many inspiring and motivating posts! I’m trying to keep up with them all but probably wont post often myself as I’m not good at this sort of thing and always seem short of time.

I started on Tuesday and nearly 4lbs off when I weighed in today, which I am delighted with.

I’ve been using ‘my fat secret’ to record food and exercise and although I have tried to plan, im not finding it easy to stick below 800 cals or 60g carbs. I need to look at my menus and see where I can shave off a few cals and carbs. The food I’m eating is healthy but we tend to eat the higher carb veg like peppers, onions etc. I probably need to go with more of the green stuff and of course cauli. Im not veggie but try not to have meat too often sticking mainly to chicken and fish. Eggs feature heavily at breakfast!
I’m thinking as I get more into the bsd mode, I might skip breakfast if I don’t feel hungry. That should help to keep within the cal/carb targets.

I’m so happy to have found this forum – I’m feeling very optimistic that I can avoid diabetes by eating this way – thanks all – keep up the good work x

My husband and I will be doing this together. We are newbies and plan to start in a couple of days time – I need to get the larder sorted first!

Here comes the advice bit – we are 82 and 67 respectively. He is a well man, although has skeletal spinal mobility problems and needs to lose weight (guess that holds for all of us, eh?)! He wants to do the low carb plan. Is there any reason why he should not?

Hi
I sometime find that the entries listed don’t agree with what I am looking for – sometimes members have added them wrongly or just different manufacturers vary. If I am stuck I add my own food entry with the correct figures in. You can make these public or not. Sometimes I will add a food, make it private and call it by something I will recognise next time.

Hope this helps.

Thanks sunshine-girl…starting weight of 13st 9lbs, doing the 800 fast, drinking 2.5 litres per day – I am peeing gallons but nothing on the bowel motion front!!! Fingers crossed it will start to happen!

I am new to the BSD I am on day four and would like to be in touch with individuals also doing the diet.

I’m in!! I’m motivated to lose weight by a holiday at the end of February.

I joined a gym today and have booked an induction session tomorrow, also just ordered the BSD book and recipe book (and even paid extra for fast delivery!) so I’m heading in the right direction.

I’ve eaten my own body-weight in food and chocolates over Christmas and feel absolutely ashamed of myself – so it serves me right that I can’t get into any of my clothes – and I’m damned if I’m buying any larger sizes.

So – I’m excited at joining you all in our ‘shape-up’ journey. Let’s go for it!!

As long as it is not a low fat version (i.e. full of chemicals and not natural) then it should be okay. The only thing I know about soya products is that it encourages women to store fat because of the estrogen. I am guessing you are a man so no worries there then.

Are you doing the 800 Fast or just the BSD (although i’m not sure what the difference is). How much do you weigh. I was 12st 10lb and only lost 3.5 lbs in week one. I know some people see losses of up to 10 lbs but turns out they have a lot to lose. Have you been dieting before you started this. Are you eating the right kinds of food and drinking lots and lots of water, are you peeing loads, how are your bowel movements. So many variables. You might just be unlucky and your body does not react in the same way as some others.

Don’t worry, stick with it and the weight will come off. Some people who lose lots in weeks 1 and 2 then go on to stick for a couple of weeks, we are all different. Keep up with it, it does work.

Congratulations on a great weight loss and good BG results. I had the same problem (although not really a problem). I was having lows of around 3.5 in the afternoon and read that it is Gliclazide that can cause serious lows so I was on 90mg and cut to 60mg. I am also on insulin so I have slowly reduced from 38 units at night to 24 units. However, this has been over a 6 month period. I asked my doctor, what do I get rid of first, the insulin or Gliclazide and he said insulin then reduce the Glic even further if I am getting low or normal readings.

You have only been on the diet for one week and already drastically reduced the Glic from 200 to 40 mg. If you are on insulin I would reduce that first. If not on insulin I would leave the Glic at 40 mg until your body stabilises. Give it until the 8 weeks are up or until your next official HbA1c, as the readings you get on a daily basis may not be your true overall reading e.g. my BG daily runs at around 3.8 to 5.0 but my HbA1c was 5.9. The only caveat to that would be if your BG constantly drops really low, just reduce a bit more. I see you are going to discuss with medical team, remember they might be totally against it. My doctor knew I had reduced my Glic but kept my prescription for the full amount until last month when he dropped it to the 60mg I am taking. He says you never know what might happen to derail the good results, ie greed, hunger, Christmas, birthdays, holidays, infection, illness, many things.

I am sure that now you have found this plan and know that it really does work you will not go back to your old way but give yourself some leeway for those days you just cannot resist that cake or pizza and dont chuck the meds just yet.

Hi all…started the Bsd 7days ago – have stuck rigidly to it and done 10,000 steps per day but I’ve only lost 2 pounds. Feeling slightly gutted considering the hard work and I’m freezing all the time. Has this happened to anyone else?

On whether this diet is restrictive or not is dependent on each individual, not so much in terms of what you choose to eat but what your body needs. I never realised till just a few weeks back that my RDI when I reach my target weight will be just 1200 calories (I just read the blurb on food packaging and assumed it applied to me, but seeing as I’m a shorty, it doesn’t). The upshot is that for me to drop to 800 calories of healthy food now is not a massive problem. But if you’re a six-foot bloke, then 800 is restrictive. And hats off to anyone achieving it or thereabouts.

There are a couple of people in my life whose attitude to food and exercise I really admire. Neither are skinny minnies, their weight tends to be seasonal, bit chunkier in winter. The key thing about them both is that they see food purely as fuel for their bodies. Right amount of good fuel in, good performance, wrong amount of bad fuel in, worse performance in every aspect of life. No angst, no guilt. No ‘ooh, let’s be ‘naughty’ and have a treat’ – everything they eat is something they want – they just make better choices.

Food isn’t a treat, or a punishment, or a reward, or a consolation for them. It’s just the fuel that helps them live the life they want to live. Coming from a family and a culture where food could be any or all of these things, this was a huge revelation that didn’t kick in till my forties. At a truly desperate point in my life, one of these lovely people showed me how doing exercise I liked – swimming, cycling, Zumba – would make me more inclined to do it, feel better. He set me achievable targets until I was cycling 100 miles in the rain – and loving it. Low carb eating suited me and I didn’t find it hard.

T2d diagnosis and associated meds after 8 years of stable weight on low carb derailed me for 6 months. Why me? Poor me…and I now see I’d fallen into my old consolation pit. But actually, why not. Limiting fuel, putting the right stuff in, making the right choices, will fix me. It’s just fuel. I’d forgotten that for a while.
MK x

Hi everyone, welcome to newbies and us oldies (only been BSD 1week lol), really good to read all the posts and yes i feel i can associate with every one of them, ups and downs! I’m happy to report that BSD is working, my first weign in and I’ve lost 2.5kg , so I am very happy with that. Natalie, welcome back, you can and will do it this time👍you were such an inspiration and full of hints and tips on your previous attempt. Good choices today everyone, oh and i’m intrigued how the rose-hip oil helps?

The only thing I can see against kefir is the one cup has around 150 calories but it is rich in nutrients, depends how you want to use your calories if you are on 800.

Hi. I’ve just finished my first week on the 800/day BSD and I’ve lost 10 lbs. The most surprising effect is on my my need to continue my medication. I’m checking my BS 4-5 times per day, and it’s come down remarkably to the point that I’ve reduced from 200Mg/day Gliclazide to just 40Mg/day and my BS is still around 4 (used to be 8 – 10). I’m just a bit concerned that It’s coming down so quickly – what are other peoples experiences? And I know I need to speak to my doctor/diabetic nurse!

Looking at Soya yoghurt, for example Alpro with coconut or almond, I see that the card and sugar content is less than full fat natural yoghurt. Just wondered if this is a better option or is there something I’m missing? Thanks for any feedback.

This is a popular thread…it’s so nice to meet such like minded people. Congratulations to all losers out there and to all those who’ve made the decision to adopt a great eating plan.

This is my second 8 week stint having lost 11kg last autumn and I’m happy to be back in control…usually…but today has been really painful, I’ve been absolutely consumed by the desire to eat any and everything. I’m feeling a little better just now having lunched but may have to go out so I don’t consume the contents of the fridge.

For dinner last night I had white fish with some lentil dahl. If i eat carbs it’s normally at lunchtime so I wonder if the timing derailed me. Anyway I won’t be having my lentils in the evening again…i have them once a week because of the benefits they bring.

Have a great Sunday afternoon.

He is such a snob, bob bon dish indeed

sunshine-girl……I have just spit my cuppa out laughing about your husbands comments.

I have had my first proper…..you have lost weight Fairyface……:-) from someone I have not seen for two years.

Frog / Krysia I dont even like chocolate much except my 85% very dark which I have one square per day after dinner but it is my hand that just dips when it shouldn’t. We went to Portugal with the family last year and my daughter emptied a big bag of Haribo sweets into a bowl and left them on the sideboard and I reckon I ate at least 3 or 4 a day and that can add up.

I had a bad night last night and drank about 3 glasses of wine and it showed on the scales this morning knocking off the half pound I had lost the day before. I had an upsetting conversation with my best friend and we had a disagreement, that was around 11pm on Skype so I should have just gone to bed but I cried a lot and turned to the wine. Silly girl that I am.

Anyway, I might not have a best friend anymore but I still have to think about my health instead of wallowing. BG 88 (4.8) and weight still down 1.75 lbs.

Lovely reading all your updating posts.
I have just been calorie counting this week having to use up leftovers & tried to really limit my carbs but my husband has been eating leftover Christmas pudding with brandy butter, Christmas cake & nuts!
Weigh in on day 7. I have lost 3 & 3/4 lbs & disappointed but couldn’t manage a daily 800 calories more like 950!!
My husband has gained 3lbs giving himself more leeway trying to maintain his weight with bloods up to 11!
I suspect that has been caused by the pudding & cake & that some of the weight gain is water but I’ve recommended he gain extra calories this week by going back to low carb & eating breakfast instead.
I must admit on the vegetables & fruit front we are going back to BSD ones but I do like sweetcorn & mango & my husband will go back to eating oranges. So I suppose I’m going to be low carb & calorie counting to 800 days because I am not very good at identifying & counting carb “points”. I know it’s a bit of a compromise but it’s what I can manage & I am not pre-diabetic & just want to lose my extra weight.
Good luck everyone for the second week😀👍👍🍀🍀🍀 onwards & downwards!

Going! Not bing! Terrible typing skills.

Tyrefighting, how are you going? I realised my answer to you a while ago didn’t post but was so interested to hear about your time in Australia. Hope all is bing well at your end and you are still fighting the good fight!

Congratulations on your mini goals everyone, or just for keeping on going, which is massive!
Maharani kitten and Linda, I’m another Capricorn, I’m on the 13th! Happy birthday to you both this week and may all your BSD wishes come true!!

Hi Determinedthistime, so glad you tried the rosehip oil is working, it’s great stuff, starting my third bottle!
I’m having a similar pattern as you, a great day or two and the scales going in the right direction then the next day I seem to lose my head completely and eat every carb in sight!! Fortunately my husband is back to work tomorrow so that might help me ditch the holiday mentality and make me focus! Will start with a batch of broccoli and cheddar soup and some zucchini fritters do I have no excuse to raid the white bread!!
Wishing you a very successful week and I look forward to hearing how you are going.
You are so right, this does work, it can be done!!
Good luck to everyone on this thread as we head into a new week, the positivity and shared stories and support are the only thing keeping me going some days!!

I casually started on Wednesday. I avoided sugar and starchy carbs whilst I read the book. My shop arrived Friday, and I attempted a soup from the book which was really good. i have done atkins twice before, so am not unfamiliar with low carb eating. I’m hoping this will be easier as I can eat more veg and fruit and suspect having less animal protein/more pulses will keep my cholesterol from peaking. I have retained the use of almond milk over cows milk as I now prefer the taste. It’s also low in carbs. I’ve also been using slim noodles (0 carbs and 20 calories) and almond muffins. I’m hoping that I will be able to make more meals from the recipe book next week and feel I have enough energy to add some excercise.

Well done Getyourcarbon to both you and your wife.
I start day 2. I survived the first day!
Most people seem to find day 3 the worst, so I am prepared now if mine ends up on day 4 or 5, thanks for that warning.
Best of luck for the next week
Kate

Suzcaps – I make Kefir every day and as JulesMaigret says it is good with seeds. It is really similar to yoghurt which is included in the BSD.

I particularly like it with ground flaxseeds and I also add Inulin as both give me extra fibre which I need because I still restrict carbs to under 50g. The flaxseeds are a particular favourite of mine and they thicken the Kefir so I can add other things. I often add fage yoghurt or mascarpone cheese as a topping and sprinkle on top of that some flaked almonds. Of course a few blueberries go well on top also. All very healthy and filling.

Verano – great decision regarding the clothes. The charity shop will be really pleased to get the clothes – especially the unworn ones.

I have just discovered frozen ginger at Tesco and it is brilliant – so easy to use. Plus frozen garlic, coriander, mixed herbs and also lemon zest (disclaimer – no I don’t work for Tesco😀)

Sunshine-girl – obviously your husband thinks you are Wonder Woman and would not be in the least tempted by a selection of non BSD chocolate displayed in a bonbon dish.

Clients in my last class on Saturday have known me for many years and have seen all my previous weight losses (and gains). The new non baggy clothes triggered quite a discussion and they commented that I have never lost the weight around my middle before even when I had lost weight in other areas. They said that they have absolutely never ever seen me with a small waist before.

Thinking about it – they are so right. Even though I have lost weight before it has never gone from my middle. I was still restricted to buying clothes that his the rolls of fat around my middle. So pleased that I have found the BSD as it is the only way of eating that works for me and has got rid of the visceral fat. They also said that they have never seen me look so well in all the years they have known me. Another plus for the BSD.

Morning
I started on Jan 1st with my wife
I’ve eaten more soup than her and she eats meat and I don’t

Started at 93.1kg and I have lost 4.1kg : 9lb

My wife had lost 2.5kg and she’s delighted

I had a blow out last night but managed to keep
it to 2000 calories

Felt great at weigh in this morning and stuck to 800 cals today and as i am back to work tomorrow after a Xmas 3 week break I know I am better placed to stick with the plan

I’m 5 ft 11 so to lose 4.1kg in a week is pretty something. A lot of water I’m sure which I can’t lose next week but even if I only lose 1.5kg next week I’m well on track for losing the 16kg in 8 weeks

More salad, more soup, more veg, more Fish, 2 egg omelette with the works and my fav Oats Cocao powder blueberries and plain yoghurt

The worst days were 4 and 5
On day 8 I feel fine as does my wife

Here’s to next Sunday’s weigh in

Well I love cheese and hate sweet potato so that is an easy one!

Reminds me of when I went to a diabetes course a few years ago. The instructor gave me a full-fat product and a low-fat version and asked which one I’d choose. I said the full-fat one because it had less fake stuff in it, I’d just eat less of it. She didn’t like that answer at all!

We have Easter Eggs on the shelves here in Australia too. Ridiculous.

3 days later than hoped but have reached my first mini goal of the year and have dropped into the next stone!!!!

So next goal a smallish one again to lose 4lbs in the next two weeks. Maybe a bit ambitious but will give it my best shot!

Hope you are all well and keeping on keeping on.

I’m not exactly new to BSD but I’ve been off the rails since before Christmas (actually since my son’s birthday cake, I incorrectly thought I could have one slice and get straight back on the diet) so I’m restarting on Monday (again)! For an extra bit of motivation, my twelve-year-old daughter is going gluten-free for three weeks to see if it’s causing her skin problems. We can avoid bread, pasta, biscuits and cake together! But she will still be eating other carbs.

Just a thought AlanNI – the fibre content of the healthy veggies is such an important part of our diet. I have an expensive juicer that completely extracts the fibre from the juice – you would be amazed how much fibre fruit and veg contains. I had to ditch the juicing when I started on insulin because it was scary how much the juice spiked my blood sugar.

I am glad you posted your question because it reminded me that it is tucked away in a cupboard somewhere. I will dig it out and sell it even though, and I know this is probably silly, it makes me feel a bit guilty selling something that could be detrimental to someone’s health.

Hi gang,

You are stranded on an island and you are hungry and find two things to eat BUT you can only pick one.
A sweet potato and a piece of cheese.

One is a vegetable, we are told all veg is healthy sine we were kids
One is dairy, full fat. We are told fat is bad since we were kids.

What would you go for and why.

Oh and you can only have one as this is a weird island and you will find various food dotted around it.
You are not injured.
There are no canibals so it’s not your last meal.
Yes you want to be healthy and fit into your grass skirt and two half cocunut outfit.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

……oh yes, and who would have guessed. Two of my new fave foods are cauliflower rice and courgetti! 🙂

Hi everyone,
Made a start on bed before. Rubbish willpower. Am trying again. Started 7th Jan. Health is motivating factor but I still find it difficult to hold to resolution. Am keeping a diary this time.

Ahh right! I knew I was removing the fibre, and so would have made a very sweet fruit juice that would send blood sugar’s soaring…. But I thought that I’d be in the clear if I stuck to a veg juice for breakfast, to give me (what I thought) was a low cal boost of nutrients!

Morning losers 😉
It is amazing the boost you get when you are part of a group of like minded individuals. This thread does appear to be very popular and even though I have not read every post there is generally a healthy thread of very encouraging ones.
I have found the last week relatively easy to get through with minimal cravings and not many sugar withdrawal symptoms. Admittedly I am relying on coffee to keep me distracted. I know not everyone has it easy in the beginning so I do feel fortunate.
Had my first post start weight in this morning and lost a tad over 3kg in the last six days (started Monday) so quite happy with that. Most of it was water I am sure so managing my expectations for the weeks to come. My wish is to have a loss of 1.5 kg a week which I believe is feasible.
Good wishes to all you fellow losers (really winners) and a big virtual thumbs up. Let’s make this happen.
Noel

A further note to ‘advertising’ and the role it plays. My daughter works in Public Heath, mainly within childrens’ health. Quite a number of years ago she had a mother who thought that by feeding her child ‘a well known brand of chocolate’ every day the child was getting 1 and a half glasses of milk!! I’m sure you all remember that advert.

The food industry does have a lot to answer for, especially with its advertising, but at the end of the day we all need to eat. It is, however, OUR choice as to what we eat, as several people have already pointed out.

Strangely enough I’ve not really thought of this plan as ‘restrictive’. I think that any diet only feels ‘restrictive’ if you are following a plan that ‘deprives’ you. I have never felt deprived eating this way and in fact I think that as time goes on you just don’t miss the simple carbs anymore. I’m not saying that I’m a saint and don’t eat any carby foods anymore but in general they just don’t hold any attraction for me.

We were out in an Indian restaurant a few nights ago. For the first time someone did actually comment on what I was eating. Why aren’t you eating poppadums? You must be starving you’ve had no starter! In fact I had a main meal of chicken tikka and salad and couldn’t finish it! I enjoyed what I had and the company we were with. Where’s the restriction or deprivation in that?

As has been said, it all comes down to personal choice and not the availability or otherwise of certain foods.

Hi all,
I started on the 6th Jan and have just spent a couple of hours reading this entire thread. I can’t recall who wrote it, but I also put on weight before starting a new diet, and I’ve done it again, putting on 3.5kg (7lb) since Christmas Day! I have 64kg (142lb) to lose. I love food and wine and eat way too much. I’m looking at this as a lifestyle change because if I view it as a diet, then I’ll do what I’ve always done and put it all back on again when I fall back into my old habits when I stop the diet.
Saw this quote on the internet…”I’m not losing weight. I’M GETTING RID OF IT. I have no intention of finding it again.”
I use the ‘EasyDietDiary’ app and find it quite intuitive. Day 3 for me today and I have a migraine which I am guessing is down to carb and/or sugar withdrawal. I have set myself a goal of drinking 1litre of water before lunch and another litre before dinner which has worked so far, but then it has been over 30 the last 2 days in Melbourne!
Good luck everyone and thanks for the inspiring and helpful posts.

DAY 6 … WEEK 2

Good morning/evening

I have made a decision to send my now ‘oversized’ clothes to a charity shop. There’s no point in making them smaller as they will never fit properly and I won’t be needing them again as they are ! So even though some are unworn they have to go.

I think I’ve discovered why green tea aids weight loss …. it’s so foul it stops you eating!! Think may try a ginger infusion instead.

Just two days of this week left and then we’re half way through this 4 week fix. If you’re still struggling to get back on track maybe reading a few chapters of the book again might help motivation or for those with pre/diabetes try and watch the Panorama program on Diabetes screened on 3rd October 2016, which I’m sure is available for 12 months from that date.

For those maintaining or losing … great!

Have a good day.

Hi Verano. The guidelines for the challenge say it’s an average of 2.75 miles a day. Realistically I know there are some days when that just won’t happen so I just do what I can, when I can. In a way, its like starting the BSD. Changes to routine/habits, small goals rather than focussing on the final goal, etc. I walked to the next village to a meeting the other day, rather than wait for the bus. Enjoyed the walk and wondered why I not done it before. Admittedly there normally nothing in that village that I would go to, but the bus passes through it in the way to my preferred shopping destination of Durham. So, although I rarely have the time to walk the 7 miles to Durham, I can walk to the next village and catch the bus there. Been checking out local maps for more ideas. Looks like I may sometimes be walking to the supermarkets (4 miles) but bus back with shopping.

Well done Lynne! Looks like you may manage a few 1000 miles this year. I’m sure I read that it was an average of 2.?? miles a week so you’re now into February!!!

Well I am a long term dieter have been on every diet under the sun since I was 16 and am now 62 and I can assure everyone this one works. I feel full and can have a small glass of red wine every night if I want. The recipes are excellent, except for the muffins which are foul and a disaster, so dont bother. My husband and I started the diet on 27 December, I lost 2 kilos and he lost 3 in our first week. In our second week my daughter, who is 20, and not on a diet joined us, I add potato, pasta, rice or bread to her meals and she thoroughly enjoys them. The food is a little expensive for us that live in Western Australia as most things have to be shipped in and locally grown produce is expensive, but what price do you put on your health. I would recommend planning the weekly menu a week in advance and having some hard boiled eggs handy incase you get hungry, as I did after the green tea and blueberry shake. Also dont forget to get in your 10,000 steps a day, I have a border collie so I walk, walk everywhere. Good luck to everyone and will keep you posted to how much, if any weight I loose next week.