My blood sugars have gone from T2 diabetic to normal levels and I am now maintaining at my target weight.

You may wish to look at a thread called ‘this has to work for me’. Bill, who started that thread, talks about his medication and retinopathy.

Hi and welcome. There are several people on here that have reversed T2. Also check out KrysiaD who has improved her retinopathy too. Have a good look around the forums there’s so much useful information on here and there’s always someone to answer questions. Good Luck with your journey.

Hi and welcome. As SunnyB says getting the book and cook book is a good idea. But in the meantime Google The Daily Mail as they have featured the BSD a couple of times. You may even find the article that features captain Lynne. Good Luck with your journey. I hope your partners comes on board.

Managed to weight myself for the first time tonight. I’m 18st 3/4 (blimey). Want to try get to 15st this year so least I have base line to work against.
Had nice tea, 3 bacon medallions (Aldi) with scrambled eggs (2) plus lettuce, best guess overall Cal’s 310( unsure on eggs overall Cal’s after scrambling) which puts me tad over 800 Cal’s.

You can do it
It’s no longer depressing because you have found a way to change it
If you lose a kilo a week which is certainly doable you will get there!
Just keep sticking to 800 calories
How has your weight loss been so far?
Are you managing to avoid the beer?
I am away this weekend with friends so determined not to ruin my good work
Weight loss a bit slow for me
2kg since Xmas but a few small cheats

Hi Daisymay,
I am using the free version of myfitnesspal too. You import the recipe through the url and then edit the ingredients until everything is right. Save the recipe making sure the number of servings is right, and then when you click on it it will show the complete nutrition breakdown.
Jan

Hi Daisiesmum

A few weeks ago I was a bit low, weight static of up/down a couple of pounds. I got my tape measure out to see where I was at and held the measure at my original waist size and I was stunned. I just hadn’t realised how far I’d come. Sometimes we just have to look at the positive!

Tomorrow is my 6 month anniversary on BSD and I will look back with pride at how far I’ve come.

Guess you’ll be watching ‘Sugar Farm’ next week as well then!!!

Sorry to hear that, a less stressful way to adapt your body to fat burning might be to just do the very basic version of the diet, not calorie counting, just avoiding the simple carbs for a while and then try again. You won’t lose as much weight, but the rest of the health benefits should still come. Best of luck.

I’d be happy for my brain to work flawlessly now!

Or Aldis one is wonderful as well and only £1.29

I’ve been quite active today. I’ve just nearly passed out fallen over and hit my head after going dizzy, so for now I am going to stop the diet, best of luck to you all and I am sure I will be back!

I’ve been quite active today. I’ve just nearly passed out fallen over and hit my head after going dizzy, so for now I am going to stop the diet, best of luck to you all and I am sure I will be back!

Hi Nomoresugarhighs — I am so glad to see you mention Grain Brain (Dr. Pearlmutter author) — I have mentioned it before and it seriously bears repeating — it is an excellent discussion of sugar/simple carbs damage to your brain and how it increases your risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Add those to the list of what the BSD can help with — and for me, these are the MOST important because although I am happy to not be fat anymore (6 months maintenance) my most important part of me is my brain and I want it to work flawlessly as long as possible!!
I love the “Grainbrain Cookbook” too — perfect match with BSD principles. Highly recommend!!
Thank you for mentioning!

Skyr Natural isn’t zero fat, it has less than the Greek but also twice as much Protein and half the calories and slightly higher carbs. Its still the best option in my opinion at a £1 per litre tub. Its all about balance and testing it for yourself.

Many thanks SunnyB. I’ll make a note of your suggestions so I don’t forget between now and end of Feb! Very useful advice.

Hi everyone,
I am a beginner and just started yesterday. I am insulin dependent type 2 diabetic and in October 2016 started a very low carb diet. Already seeing massive impact on my medication and lost 13kg so far. Starting the 8 weeks now as I want to kick start the weight loss again after Christmas. I have heart failure too so couple of extra challenges in there, but am determined. I want to lose 20kg, ideally by August as I am getting married!
It will be tough but quite excited and looking forward to the support from this forum!
x

jmarie, unfortunately I cannot blame the boys as I ate no carbs while with them, also my daughter is a food scientist for a famous chocolate factory but I resisted everything. It was when I was heading home that I decided to stuff my face and drink sweet drinks. This is the start of my 7th month and although my weight loss has not been great I have gone from HbA1c of 11.9, then 8.2, then 6.7 and I am now 5.9 and hoping for better in March. I hit 115 this morning but usually run around 80. We know this works so it is not a chore.

Hi LCB
Sorry to read of you current health issues, but great that you are planning ahead and looking to improve things going forward. Yes you can use soya cream in sauces etc and actually when used in this way, the taste is very similar to normal cream, as normally there are other flavours coming through as well. If a recipe stipulates yogurt, I see no reason why one made from Goat or Sheep milk wouldn’t work, but if its added to a sauce, to void curdling add it late in the cooking process and don’t allow it to boil.
As you have identified, there are lots of goat and sheep cheeses available these days. Think it is St Helen’s that do one in a log shape, that is very soft and creamy (a very young cheese), which would probably work well in any recipe requiring ricotta.
Thing to do is experiment a little and see what works and what doesn’t.
Good luck and I look forward to reading your progress.

Remember that fat is no longer the enemy and it is best to opt for full fat options when it comes to yogurt. Skyre is zero fat and of course the fruit flavoured ones are high in carbs too. One of the best value yogurts is the full fat Greek Yogurt from Lidls, which is £1.39 for a litre tub.

Hi everyone. I need to lose some body fat in the near future. Currently on chemo so not a good idea at present but st the end of Feb….. my problem is that although I can tolerate butter, many of the recipes have cream, creme fraiche, ricotta, Greek yoghurt, etc. Cheese I can find in the goat and sheep range ( didn’t realise that pecorino was made from sheeps’ milk until I got the allergic reaction to milk) but what do I use to replace other dairy products? I have to admit I am not overly keen on the soya ‘cream’ but would it work in cooked recipes? Once I come off chemo I can have goat’s or sheep’s yoghurt. Would that work? Anyone else with this problem who can help?
Many thanks and a Happy and Healthy New Year to all.

Well done everyone. A good day here in Dubai too, admittedly after another night of rubbish sleep alas, But I have cleaned the flat, had a leaking pipe fixed and am feeling so much more in control. It has showed in my food intake too, which is now back on track and I feel much better. Hoping I sleep better tonight now I’m more on top of things.

On the spiraliser topic, I started off with a hand-held twisty thing that I think I bought at Lakeland. Cheapest option but not easy to use I found, but the manual countertop ones looked so bulky so I was put off. However, during my Christmas break in the UK I found two electronic ones at Tesco that are MUCH prettier and neater (vertical rather than horizontal so take up slightly less space). Both were 30-35 quid (almost the same price as one of those manual countertop ones in Lakeland) so I have splashed out on a stainless steel Morphy Richards one and am VERY excited about it. Can’t tell you whether it’s any good yet however as I couldn’t fit it into my bulging suitcase so my parents will bring it out in March! I shall give you all a review in due course.

The other option for courgettes of course is to use a regular potato peeler (and then julienne the strips if you can be bothered). I admit that I don’t bother to – the potato peeler does a good enough job and produces nice thin but wide slices which saute like a dream. Especially if you fry them in a little coconut oil with a little bit of red chilli. Yum…. Lovely with a piece of grilled (and maybe spiced) fish on top.

Another tip: I brought a packet of roasted, chopped hazelnuts at Tescos too and have been adding them to breakfast yoghurt and salads. They have transformed a few dishes and you only need a small bit. I shall be roasting and chopping my own in my chopper when the Lazy Person’s Ready-Made Bag runs out!! Mmm, now I am thinking about courgetti with tiny chopped hazelnut pieces….

God I love food…..!!! And British supermarkets!!!

Can anybody help please? What are the calories etc for the cauliflower and chickpea curry recipe which is on the BSD site.

sunshine-girl, sounds like a nice first mini goal–you should for sure get the 4.5 lbs off in 2 weeks. I finished my first 8 weeks in the first week of December, took a break over the holiday, and started back on January 1st. I gained 3 lbs over the holiday and today am down 2.5 lbs. from that so only a half a pound more to go to get back to my weight loss at the end of my first 8 weeks.

Tomorrow is my first mini goal –a trip to my doctor for a check up. I haven’t weighed in at the doctor for a long, long time as i found it kept me from going for appointments. I’d turn down their request to have me get on the scale! Tomorrow I am actually looking forward to it.

Like you, sunshine-girl, I have grandchildren that I spent the holiday with and it was harder to stick to my BSD plan as they eat lots of carbs and want food often. I know it’s not an excuse for me but not easy to be around when I’m eating low calories. I’m really getting used to low carb eating though so that really helps.

My blood sugar readings went back up to 110 fasting over the holiday and just in 4 days are back to the high 80’s. This is such a healthier way of living for me.

The problem is the doctors haven’t read the book and haven’t done the diet, so how passionately can they sell it to the patients? Some will want an easy life of pills, but its about giving people the facts on how the pills will effect you long term and giving a choice. My doctor just wanted me to go on pills straight away, quick fix.

Icelandic Skyr is another good one is Sainsbury’s at £1 at the moment

Thanks for the input, Sunny. I think it boils down to what the difference between Warfarin and Pradaxa is. All I know is that they produce the same effect but in a totally different process. Warfarin has a lot of restrictions on eating greens and I guess this is where the difference is.

A year on and in total 3 stone lighter still (its been really easy to maintain), that was always the BIG question and still no longer a Diabetic.

I still can’t get over being a size 10, its the first time in my whole life and at 47 I feel heathier than I have ever before, I even do some running and bounce out of bed in the morning. You would think 12 months on I would have got over the impact this diet has had on my life, but I can’t, it has been such a BIG deal and I just love how I feel and am very passionate about the whole thing (which isn’t me normally).

To anyone reading this, its just 8 weeks of your life (in fact within 2 weeks you will see the difference in blood sugar readings), you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. It will make a MASSIVE difference to your whole life and health.

Hi ymgirl – welcome on board!
Hopefully you have the Fast 800 book, which contains a meal plan – if not, I would advise getting the book, as there is lots of useful info in there, as well as the meal plan and recipes. I’m not aware of there being a meal plan on the website, but there are recipes posted by members of the forum, a number of which have carbs and well as calories content stated. There are lots of Low Carb recipes and books available online as well, which would also offer you some additional meal options, however, for main meals, you can’t go far wrong in a good portion of protein – meal, fish, dairy – with plenty of green and leafy veggies.
The important thing is to remember to keep calories as close to 800 a day as possible; try to keep carbs at 50g or less per day; keep well hydrated and be sure to include enough fat in your diet, as this is important for feeling full and staying that way longer. It also helps to kick start the fat burning process – counterintuitive I know.
Hope the above helps, but shout out if you have other questions or need support, ‘cos someone is bound to make a response.
Good luck to both of you – hope you achieve your goals.

I personally think you would be best advised to consult your doctor on this one. Explain to them what you would like to do, in as much detail as you can, and hopefully they will be able either offer some support, or advise an alternative to the BSD if they don’t think it advisable for you to do it.

Good Luck.

It looks like The Kalettes have quite a following, maybe we could start an official Kalettes Fan Club 😉

I’m celebrating the small stuff today (two victories). I have been so focused on my Christmas gain (grrr) that I lost sight of the fact that I am considerably lighter than I was 2months ago! This morning I decided to try on a once favourite tailored dress lurking at the back of my wardrobe hoping I might be able to fit in it again. Not only did it fit even with a polo neck sweater and opaque tights underneath it was TOO BIG! Determined to wear it anyway I selected a fetching belt to gather up the excess… enter small victory number two, I had to punch two new holes in the belt!

I too watched the C4 programme How To Lose Weight Well, that’s an hour of my life I won’t get back again 🙁

I’ve finally signed up to a calorie/weight monitoring app. Quite an eye opener to see the breakdown of macros. My carbs are well within target, but protein a bit low which really surprises me. Do we have a recommendation for fat percentage?

Good to see so many of us finding our equilibrium after the holidays!

Hi, I started Feb last year on the BSD and have maintained my 3 stone loss and reversed my diabetes. Its now just a way of life and actually can’t stand some of the foods I used to like e.g milk chocolate. I used Celia Brooks 5:2 Vegetarian diet cook book to help expand my recipe choices and have used some o the Paleo recipes but you need to work out the calories is the only down side. I use Skyr yoghurt, tofu, quorn (occasionally).

Magnesium is a good supplement for cramps etc, so you might like to consider that as an option and turmeric (curcumin) is helpful for joint pain too.

Good luck.

Just back from 14 days of holiday feasting. My first mini goal is to lose the 4.5 lbs I gained in that time and I am giving myself 2 weeks to do that. Should not be too difficult if I am able to hop straight back into the plan with as much determination as I had first time round. I am doing another 8 weeks and want to shift about 10 lbs in total, so that is my next mini goal after the 4.5 lbs.

Keep on keeping on….

Thank you Yowzer – will pop into Tesco. We all love Fage yoghurt in our house (Labradors included) so it will be great to get it on special offer.

You are right about it being a bit pricey – but we are all saving so much because we don’t buy the bad stuff. We actually can’t get over how much lower are shopping bills are now.

That does sound yummy 🙂

She’s lost 2 ibs – she’s doing it of weight loss only – she has normal blood sugar levels, makes me so jealous!

We just had the Easy Quiche which she cooked and it tasted yummy 🙂

Well I had an interesting christmas. Featuring illness, allergies etc. But back on track now thankfully. Glad to see the new faces. Am reading a book called Grain Brain which is definitely consolidating my feelings about carbs! Well worth a read if you haven’t heard of it. Have a good week everyone. x

Very good afternoon – I’m a 41yr old T2 diabetic and after being given a link for the BSD by my training partner I’ll be starting on the 9/1/16.
I’m 5’08”, 95kgs with an Hba1c of 45.
Whilst I have managed to get control of my Hba1c I need to lose more weight and I desperately need to reduce my vísceral fat, (currently 15%).
I exercise on a regular basis, this year I did the NHS Couch to 5km challenge and I recomendar it to anyone, but I need to do more. I have had severe retinopathy in both eyes and if nothing else I want to stop the degeneration in my body and faculties. I’m not sure I can reverse this, (I’ve been a T2 since early 2009), but I’ll seenqht I can do.
I’ll also be blogging about my progress – with photos, Arghhhhh on my blog – http://www.cookeatexplore.wordpress.com if anyone wants to see my progress.
I’ll post here as much as I can too.
Wish me luck

Hi everyone I am finally back home. My confession is that, although I was careful throughout the holidays and only gained 2 lbs I put on another 2.5 over the last 2 days as I seem to have gone mad. First one the ferry I had a dessert which I never eat (all inclusive so I had paid for it mentality) then I ordered a cocktail. Yesterday I ate one of the macroons from the box of treats we received for booking a deluxe cabin and then tried to drink my drinks cabinet of any future temptations. Daft I know but it is over now and I am ready to get back into the plan. Also my BG was the highest it has been in 6 months, i.e. 6.2, but still within normal levels and I know that will be right down again by tomorrow.

Not so quick to disappear is the now 4.5 lbs I gained but I did allow myself 5 lbs so stayed within goal (bad goal though it is).

My day started with yoghurt and raspberries with a sprinkle of flaked almonds, not getting to the shop for veg I opened a can of WW chicken soup and tonight I am having harissa chicken from MMs book. Going for my big veg shop tomorrow as I dont like the supermarket veg that goes bad in 2 days when I can go to a wholesalers that do really fresh stuff because they have a big turnover.

Although I have started on a Wednesday this time I will be having my weekly weigh in on Tuesdays as in the past to look forward to reporting back then. Keep on keeping on….

@tonic LOL!

My Metformin I took by mistake gave me bad diarrhea but I guess not as productive, thanks that made me really chuckle.

Moggot, I did no excercise last time in the 2 weeks I tested the diet and I lost 9ibs – so I would agree with you 🙂

Thanks for the replies.

Oddly I don’t have a sweet tooth generally and can happily do without sweet things I just have a particular liking for diet coke (cannot stand the full fat stuff). Having given up everything else unless somebody can point to it doing something counter-productive to weight loss or blood sugar levels I am going to keep drinking it as it seems to fight the cravings to eat something better than water does and gives me a little lift in the absence of snacks and/or alcohol. Having perused the web it seems to just be a general feeling that additives and artificial stuff must be bad for you than anything specific.

@pcoventry I used to cycle to my current work place as well, 3-4 times a week(10 miles each way).
I have two routes, down the canal (ok for spring-summer) or the road. Even when cycling that distance my weight hardly changed.
Once again, I think its down to diet and not my fitness levels.
Although being a big fella, it is fun during the gym classes seeing much younger fitter looking people struggle to keep pace with me during classes.
I’m not going to be doing any classes while on the 8wks BSD, as they can be intense, instead opting for 30 min walk at lunch then on Friday weather permitting, take my skateboard over to a local basketball court at lunch time for a 30 min skate.

I am starting in January too.
Feel a little bit apprehensive as a lot of the foods I do not like but am going to persevere and do this. I would ideally love to be free of my diabetes so here goes.
Good luck all.

Hello everyone

I’m a complete newbie to low carbing and would love to join here to loose weight and improve my health.

I’ve had T2 diabetes for 16 years, pcos, irritable bowel syndrome and arthritis.

I’ve been a vegetarian all my life, no meat, eggs or fish but my food choices were always carb laden … Homemade cakes, biscuits, bread and potatoes.

I enjoy cooking from scratch as these days there’s too many foods that my digestive system doesn’t tolerate.

So I started low carbing yesterday and hope to pick up lots of tips and advice along the way.

Good luck everyone.

Glad to hear you are doing well, what about the missus. I have learned to love plain water but if I fancy something a bit different I put in a squeeze of lime or lemon juice, also, but not to use too often, a tiny dash of a pure fruit juice. Apple juice is used in one of the recipes (a breakfast shake) so it must be allowed or I use a dash of cranberry juice.

Hi Frog

Yes I did catch those parts of the diabetes course but I was just slightly disappointed overall.

Good idea with the ginger I do freeze it but usually whole and then it’s difficult to use!.
Following on from your celery and lentil recipe there’s a lovely Mary Berry recipe for haddock with puy lentils. It also makes a nice side dish if you make it without the fish.

I’ve just bought the kalettes and am interested to try them. Think I may be boring and just steam them this time.

Good weight loss. You can’t have put much on since you stopped weighing so maintaining ad you have us very impressive. I think maintaining is really hard.

Hi all hope everyone is doing well I have a quick question in the book the recipe for griddles chicken on white bean mash says it’s got 440 calories but when I put it in my Nutracheck last night it said that it was 554 alone for the cannelloni beans and that was for half a tin so my calories for the day was way over 1150 by the end of the day ,I didn’t think to check the calorie count on the beans individually.is my calorie checker wrong ??? Well I’m stearing well clear of that one and double checking recipes from now on .well today so far has been good did 2.2 miles today on treadmill and had 2 poached eggs this morning water doing well and my new best friend is the …..toilet lol well gotta go you all have a good productive day .

Hi Natalie

I know exactly what you mean! I have had similar feelings these last few days. My answer is soup for lunch, a few nuts, almonds or walnuts, and everyone else says water but for me it’s 2squares of Lindt 90% chocolate.

I don’t usually have all of them but I do find when I’m feeling ‘picky’ the chocolate works. I know it’s hot where you are so you could try a cold gazpacho or I have a lovely Jun Tanaka recipe for cold red pepper soup. Both last for several days in the fridge but aren’t at their best if frozen.

Guess it depends what motivation you have…. lots to lose, diabetes or other health issues. If you are lucky enough just to want to lose weight for purely cosmetic reasons, although that’s as a good a reason as any, it is definitely more difficult.

Looks like you may just have to dig deep and hand on in there for the next few days or so.

Kalettes nice stir fried with prawns and some smoked haddock mousse stuff reduced in Waitrose.

Hi Moggot,

All sounds good mate, and if skateboarding floats your boat then you go for it!

I have borrowed my dads electric bike for a few weeks. I know that I can push myself and if I get really tired I can turn the power on. I did 24 miles last Saturday on it – and I got so tired on the way back that I did 18 miles on just it’s power alone – which was 15mph so slow and steady but I got back in one piece lol

Whatever works – works..

Hello everyone
Carbaddict your tomato soup sounds delicious, I’m going to try it!
Miss Ziggy, great to hear you’re getting better, I don’t own any kind of spiralizer but am thinking of buying the one on Amazon as advertised on this website
I bought courgetti today, it comes prepared in a pack, lazy, I know, but brilliant when you don’t have the tools to make your own. I fried them in a little oil. I heated up 2 spoons of cream, added 50g of blue cheese and 50 g of leftover smoked salmon and threw it on top of the courgetti.
I have eaten like the Queen!!
Hopefully the rest of the day will be okay.
I’m back to a day at a time!!
The programme about the Best diet in the world spoke about the eating habits of different countries and I found it interesting. Countries that consumed large quantities of processed food and simple carbs were near the bottom of the list whereas countries that consumed fish, veg, fruit, good fat and some small amounts of carbs or complex carbs were near the top. Basically it didn’t tell us anything new but it does confirm what we already know!
Well done and thank you Dr. Mosely!
Cheers