Hey Patc aww bless you. Willpower is the biggest tool you can have when trying to lose. I’m old school will only weigh once a week. Sooo Next week same day weigh again you could lose a chunk of weight but look out for the NSW (non scales weight) when your clothes feel better that’s just the best.
Keep on smiling your doing just great!! X

I started today so far so good! When I think I feel hungry I have a glass of sparkling water which I have on my desk and although not always practical go and clean my teeth!!

I started today too so far so good but reading through everything preparation is the key. I shop and cook for myself during the week so weekends will be the test as my other half works away and returns home at the weekend. So I have to plan for that but like you any hints and tips would be most welcome.

I seem to be fine on around 40g per day, but am not diabetic, if that helps. I haven’t tried any other level mind you, although I might if I get a really long plateau.

My first day today. Anyone else just starting. If anyone has any good ideas any help support would be very much appreciated 😄

Only one of the breads was low carb 10.5p per slice, (8g if you leave out the raisins) so an occasional treat if you’re keeping carbs ultra low, but it does taste amazing
I have posted the recipe “Low Carb grain free soda bread”

A medium Green, Red, Orange, or Yellow pepper is 30 cal according to MY Fitness Pal (6 carbs, 1 protein, 3 sugars)

I started on the 800 calorie–8 week BSD on Sunday, October 9th and today is my 9th day.
I have lost 8.5 lbs (3.85 kg.) so far.
So far, my most difficult days were day 2 and 3 due to the headache I had even with drinking a lot of fluids and yesterday (day 8).
I’m not really sure why yesterday was difficult! I felt a bit cranky and serious which is different than my usual self. I am usually a very even tempered, cheerful person! Today, I am feeling much better.

I keep reminding myself that “it’s only 8 weeks” out of my entire life, but these 8 weeks will be life changing for me. Already I have blood sugar readings in the 80’s. This morning my fasting blood sugar was 81. Wow! Before I started the BSD, my morning fasting blood sugar would be 110 or so. My blood sugar during the day hasn’t gone over 97. That is amazing for me! I had gestational diabetes years ago when I was pregnant with my 3 child and had to give myself insulin shots. Luckily I didn’t have to continue medication after the pregnancy but have been pre-diabetic for years. Now that I am getting close to 60 years of age, I feel time is running out to get complete control of my BS and now’s the time for action.

My measurements so far haven’t changed but I think that will be coming soon with the next 5 lb. loss and I’m looking forward to it. I am short in stature at 5 ft. tall (152.4 centimeters) and I started out on the BSD weighing in at 157.5 lbs. (71.44 kg.). This morning I weighed 149 lbs. (67.58 kg.) I haven’t been lower than 140 lbs. (63.5 kg.) in many years but my all time high was 178 lbs (80.73 kg) about 10 years ago and this wasn’t when I was pregnant. About 5 years ago, I lost 35 lbs. (15.87 kg.). I recently started gaining some weight back and noticing my blood sugar rising, so I decided it was time to go into action and get both of these numbers down. I am so thankful to have found the BSD!!

When I married my husband at age 19 (39 years ago), I weighed 92 lbs (41.73 kg), so I have put on a lot of weight over the years. I don’t plan to ever weigh that again, but I’d love to be back to the low 130’s (58 kg) or high 120’s (54 kg)

What helped me this past week was making homemade soup with just meat and vegetable and broth. So delicious! It has kept me satiated for hours.

To help with constipation, I take a teaspoonful of Metamucil twice a day and drink a lot of fluids. Even though the Metamucil has some carbs, it is worth it to me to keep things moving. :–)

On Saturday night, I had 5 ounces of red wine. My big treat for the week. I really, really enjoyed it! I am used to the nightly vodka tonic so this is a big change for me. I feel so much better giving up the nightly cocktail and am sleeping better.

For sure the low carb diet is keeping the hunger away. When I have dieted by just lowering calories and not carbs, I have been extremely hungry and edgy. I haven’t felt that way on the BSD at all. So far, I have not had any rice, bread, pasta, or sweets of any kind. I have had a low carb tortilla with my dinner on 2 different nights. the low carb tortilla has 50 calories, 7 grams of fiber and 11 carbs.

I haven’t eaten any fruit. The vegetables I’ve eaten are dark leafy lettuce, zucchini and yellow crook neck squash, broccoli, cauliflower rice, onion, celery, red peppers and cherry tomatoes. The meats I’ve eaten are chicken breast, 85% lean ground beef, and halibut. I have one cup of coffee every morning with 4 tablespoons of half and half (half cream-half milk) and look forward to getting out of bed for it every morning. For breakfast I’ve been eating FAGE greek yogurt with a few nuts or 2 eggs scrambled.
I’m taking a daily vitamin.

So far 800 calories doesn’t seem like much food to me! I guess I’ve been used to eating at least twice that amount of calories and the nightly cocktail, so it will take a while for me to get used to this change.

My husband is very supportive of my weight loss plan and has joined me in the low carb part of it. That has helped a lot.

I have always enjoyed working out so that helps me a lot! I get in at least 10,000 steps a day and use the treadmill, stationary bike, rower, walk or ride my outdoor bike. I also weight train! This past week, I noticed I was very tired when working out but I did push myself to do it. I hope my energy level improves!!

Where ever you are in your BSD journey, I wish you all the best! I love reading everyone’s posting and I’m grateful for the support of everyone here on this blog.

Wishing you all a successful week!

PS. I hope I got all the conversions correct. :–)

Morning campers!

Thanks for the boost. I love the support on this board!
Yesterday I took Dad out for dinner at a fast food place. He had a single with cheese combo and I had a small chicken caesar and a small chilli AND I used half of the chilli for dressing! Like a Taco salad without the tortilla chips! It was a nice change from the chicken caesars that have become a staple of my restaurant adventures.

Today I need to venture out from my office to the drug store, takes me right through the dangerzone. But I will prevail  even though the voices in my head are already justifying a donut. They are going to go hungry today.

PatC – Rant AWAY! You are doing FANTASTIC. Everyone loses at different speeds and we all have been or are going to be where you are. You did SO well in the face of all that temptation and are an inspiration. Your body may have been hanging onto lbs because you were so active (it sometimes takes a couple of days to register, IMO), or maybe the fat gods were just sleeping on the job 😉 Just make sure you’re getting enough water!

Hugs to all!

Keep on keeping on!

Cheers,

Deb

Great results Plumptious 😃💐. I’m with you on growing old disgracefully (and slowly). As in “When I am old I will wear purple”!

Rose – I found keep trying to get into swimming. It would be good for me😱 Who knows – one day!

Angiebabe- best wishes for your hospital appointment 💐

Hi Apollo29

You don’t say if you’re a diabetic. Some of us on here have needed to go to around 25g carbohydrate to bring our blood sugars down, and some non-diabetics have had to go around that level to lose weight. It seems our tolerance of carbohydrates is another thing that is individual. As Natalie says, trial and error.

It is wonderful to have someone to cook for you. He is very good at making BSD friendly food – so I think the aroma of overnight bread is the price I have to pay for having lots of my meals cooked for me.

The predictive text is at it again. I am having salmon and boursin cream cheese when I get back to work.

Hi Hammerbabe, welcome to the BSD forum. You’ve set yourself quite an ambitious goal. Good luck on your journey.

You can get a paperback book ; you can join MyFatSecret ; or you can just Google the food item … or even recipe and add the word “calories”.
There are tons of free calorie counters …. although a book will cost.

Thanks Shalimar. I need to try and find a calorie counter.

yes Avila, where would you be without her (other than eating lunch 🙂 )

Hi Krysia, thanks – today was good, have just posted again on that thread.

I quite like the idea of having someone to cook – just a shame about his overnight bread thought!
Feeling very full after eating lots of soup and tasting the low carb bread.

Hi
I’m beginning to regret the title of this thread – it’s actually quite good, had to listen to a bit of “should never skip breakfast” and “we all need carbs” this morning – but hey, I’m the one that ‘s stopped taking medication and have blood glucose in the normal range!

We did soups today – two of them were low carb recipes that I’d found and suggested
http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/2013/10/10-best-low-carb-soup-recipes-fall.html

The broccoli and cheese one was AMAZING
I worked out the Nutrition using Fat secret, and calculated it at about 240 calories and 8.4g of carb
From the same site, I made the Mexican chili and lime – it was a bit to spicy for me, but they didn’t have the right mexican chilli sauce, so it was made using Paprika instead – I’m really unused to cooking in such large quantities (2 kilos of chicken!), and I think I put too much in. Some people liked it.
I also found it a bit too thin – if I made it again I would use less spice, and zap it in a blender.

There was also an excellent carrot and coriander soup that was delicious, but I haven’t double checked the carb count yet, and two allegedly low carb soda breads – I had a taste and liked them both. If they are low carb when I’ve double checked, I’ll post the recipes.

Many congrats on the fantastic loss you’re a new woman and proof it can be done it’s great to hear such bold successes. I wonder if your skin will settle down over the next few months ?

I have a way to go to reach my healthy BMi but will keep chugging along I’m halfway there having lost 61 lbs kind of downhill from now!😀I wouldn’t be surprised if it takes a year in total. There are days I would like to wave a magic wand and be done. I’m off to see the orthopaedic consultant this week a bit nervous as I am expecting a knee replacement to be on the cards but walking is more and more painful so it is time. Has anyone had one?

Congrats again and enjoy !

You can eat it any way you want …. if you eat whatever you are dipping with … you have to count those calories.

2 weeks down; 3kgs lost and bloods being checked by Dr tomorrow for the first time.
Even though I’m losing, I keep having the odd blip which I need to stop. This morning it was a packet of crisps (these are my downfall) for breakfast – why?! Who in their right mind has crisps for breakfast?! I did make up for it by punishing myself with 2 beetroot falafels for lunch though. Lamb tagine in oven for supper too.
RANDAM – the sea view sounds amazing. Well done on managing the move.

Frog – I love your updates on your diabetic cookery course. Looking forward to hearing what soups they think are good for us with diabetes. I forgot to post my carbs and calories for yesterday. 29 carbs and 826 calories.

Chicken and veg casserole for dinner salmon and a little bit of hours in cream cheese for lunch today.

Hello, in the BSD book on week two, Day-one lunch is hummus 3-ways and it says each recipe (which I have made), is three portions. So I guess that means there are three portions in each made-up jar. My question is, do I eat a portion with a spoon or am I allowed to dip in some chopped peppers?

Hey all,

@patc – I suffered the indignity of an almost 2lbs gain a few days ago but it disappeared with interest today, making it a total of 9lbs I’ve lost altogether half way through week 2. So don’t be down, just stick to the plan and I bet it will be the same for you.

I’m celebrating making it to a BMI which is no longer in the ‘obese’ category. Who knew that I could be so happy being officially classified as ‘overweight’!?!

I did go a bit over my 800cals today, however. Gonna be super strict tomorrow to make up for it. I’ve also been enjoying being able to fit back into clothes that I had put away because they were too tight. Real concrete evidence that this is WORKING!!

Hi All,

I have just started and so far finding it all ok. Some of the recipes look very tasty and am looking forward to trying them out. I am at the moment 18st 11lbs (115kg) and am hoping to lose at least 3 stone (20kg) by Christmas.

I am determined this time that I am going to stick this out as so many times I have tried and failed.

Thank you everyone who tried to lift my spirits – isn’t it the most amazing thing that this Worldwide group of friends are so supportive, kind and wonderful people who all understand so well every up and down , of not only your weight – your emotions too – -and how a set of scales and a blip in weight can make you feel so happy or sad. Only people who have gone through years of looking at themselves in shop windows and not liking what they see can understand how we feel – we who have dieted for so long find it’s so hard to believe a diet will work – I believe this one will work despite my angst today.

love to you all and once again thank you – you lovely peeps x

A quick week 5 summary and update on my progress.

Another week of nightshifts, followed by 20 hours of house renovation at the weekend resulted in a 1Kg loss in week 5.

The scales are ticking over nicely with 18.1Kg/40lb lost so far.

4.6Kg to go to get to my 8 week target – I’m locked on to it and I will succeed!

Hello all.
Just turned 60 and, after dieting most of my life, found this website and book and really hope to have found ‘the answer’.
As I have got older my weight loss efforts are too slow which results in me getting disheartened and going back to the giant chocolate buttons….which I do not share!!!
I was drawn to this message thread and am inspired at your collective efforts and results. Well done all.
So it is BSD day 1, 18 stone 5 (257lbs) (OMG I don’t like admitting that!) and I am sorting out a few meals for this week from the book.
I do like that you folks have been able to tweak the foods to suit your own tastes and will keep reading to get ideas for future weeks.
Good week to all

Welcome, Paulette.
Good for you for making the decision to do something positive. If you’ve got the books, take the time to study them & plan your menus (and your shopping). You’ll have good days & bad days – if you ever feel like things aren’t working you will find plenty of sound advice in the books & on these message boards (use the Search option). The great thing about the BSD is that you can adapt it to something that suits you/your way of life.
Good luck!

Good Morning everyone haven’t posted much recently but still reading about all your success – well done to everyone.
I too has some wine at the weekend, it was sooooo lovely and to be honest the little treat I needed after quite a stressful week at work. Went out for dinner last night and had Chicken breast stuffed with basil, wrapped in Bacon and salad with olive oil and balsamic which I thought was extremely restrained!! This morning weigh in lost a total of 7.5lb which I am very pleased with. Would be very happy with 3lb this week – keep going everyone you are all amazing!!! xxx

Hello Plumptious Mk2 & Lynne,
Sorry didn’t see your previous messages – I’ve been sidetracked by a few things and only just got back to looking at the forums when I saw my handle in Plumptious’ latest posting.

Plumptious, Congrats on making it below the 10st line!!!! I still dream of that happy day – I am still hovering just above the 10st mark but still within the Healthy section of the BMI. Am trying recipes from the new BSD recipe book, along with some plain chocolate (maybe that’s why I’ve not broken into 9st territory – durr, you think! Unfortunately, I’m a sucker for a 1/2 price offer…). Like your baggy balloon analogy!

In my last post on this thread I mentioned starting up swimming again – well, I finally managed it. Have been a couple of times now – a bit out of practice & sticking to the slow lane but the stamina is still there. I’m no Michael Phelps!

Lynne, sorry to read about your traumas with things aquatic. I’m a bit like that with diving – there was always a desperate struggle to reach the surface! Swimming is not everyone’s cup of tea. I like it because I can exercise & not overheat (getting too hot usually gives me a headache), which is why it was so daft of me to let things slip for 6 years. But if I get back into a routine then I’ve got an alternative to walking in cold/wet/windy winter weather.

Ta ta for now,
Rose

Hello lovely PatC Sydneysider.

Here’s a little bit of science for you: to put on 2 lbs of fat you need to consume 7000 kcals more than you burn off. Clearly you didn’t do this – so it’s not real weight you have gained, it is just water shifting around inside you. Which means it will come off again – fast.

I know I’m weighing myself daily but I do recognise that the scales have the ability to make or break our day when we are desperate to see the numbers come down. Just remember that a step on the scales is a snapshot in time and not necessarily reflective of reality. I don’t know about you but I can +/- several lbs in a single day. It’s not a real number!

Go easy on yourself chook. Up your water intake to encourage any retention to flush out. But keep going: persistence is the only way these numbers will come down at all. Good luck!

Hello everyone! How’s Monday going so far? Start of another week, I weighed myself this morning, lost 1/2 kg so pleased it is still going down. Going to keep going and really try to drink enough! I’m enjoying Greek yoghurt with nuts on in the mornings. Don’t miss bread and cereal at all!
Well done on all the fantastic losses and for staying motivated and keeping it up into another week!! Xv

Good morning everyone! Haven’t posted much lately, been a little busy and really trying to get some walking in today’s 2 week weigh in went well down 14lbs total. Wasn’t too sure after last week’s roller coaster. I think I’m starting to notice a little bit better sleeping and I know I’m not getting tired as easily as I was, definitely a plus. Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

Hi
Just completed week 1 and have lost 6lbs. Very happy with that although most of it came off within the first three days and then nothing more for the rest of the week.
Week 2 starts today and have already completed 65 minutes in the gym. Energy levels are certainly not affected 😀💪🏾 Good luck all and I will check in next week
Xxx

Morning all, Captain Lynne & Rozydozy.
Hope you are all ok.
well I finally got through the 10 stone barrier… now 9, 13 and quarter of a pound lol! I have been careful but not “exact weighing of salad “careful. I went to a vegan festival in Manchester on Saturday with a friend and as well as a full portion of delicious healthy veg soup had quite a few free samples of yummy treats, vegan cheese replacement products, chocolate and raw flapjack but only small tastes of each. Clocked up over 8,000 steps walking around the city centre so all in all a good day and it felt normal to me, in the past my brain would have told me I had missed a proper meal and carb craving would have definitely ensured I pigged out on something or other. So a third of my starting bodyweight gone. (5 stone) BMI is now 23.8. right in the centre of the healthy range for me. Happy days.
Not good at maths but I think 5 stone is 70lb….I will never achieve Captainlynnes fantastic amount of loss because although a few pounds would be ok -I think another 30 and I would look haggard….the skin on my face and neck is much smoother and more refined but has gone “delicate” for want of a better word and showing more tiny lines and wrinkles ( I knew there would be a possibility of this happening…..after all you can’t expect a balloon that has ben blown up tightly for a long time to be let down a little and not go baggy /wrinkly can you lol !)
Still have the belly wodge but its much smaller now and will settle for that. The one thing I have acquired is a set of cheekbones!! I can feel them and also see them in the mirror.
I am really pleased with my transformation in 6 months. I plan to grow old disgracefully but slowly as poss!

Omg, that panorama programme frightened the living daylight out of me !!!
I lost 4lb the first week then nothing the second week so the third week I haven’t been 100% but haven’t put any back on. Started again today with a good frame of mind. I have between a stone and stone and a half to loose and I am type 2 diabetic and take loads of tablets and my diabetes is quite under control but would like to be able to reduce tablets xx

What an incredible result – you should be very proud of yourself – and the best bit is that you have the chance to be taken off the diabetic register – this kind of news is, literally, life changing. Many many congratulations xxx

Hi PatC. I’m just starting week 11 and the scales show me plateauing for a week, yet I’ve lost 1.5 inches off my waist over that period. I put it down to the body reconfiguring itself. I’ve increased the amount of exercise I’m doing and I reckon the body is storing water in muscles to respond. The four litres of water a day give it some leeway. My weight loos gain cycle has been fast/slow/non-existent over the last 11 weeks so I’ve just learnt to persevere and it will all end up in the right place, with luck.

Congratulations Busybee. It is so motivating to get a good start under ‘your belt’ and in your case off your hips.
Sodding email is playing up on my PC and have masses of work to do. So annoying having to go through error messages etc and it is not if I can remember my passwords!
Have a good day all whilst I tackle the error message code!

Good luck!! I am now in week 6 and think I’ve kicked the addiction (for the most part anyway!) so I will be hoping for the same for you too!
TC

Hey Pat C – don’t be down. All the exercise may mean that you have built up some water retention as our bodies do that in order to heal little tears in our muscles when we do lots of exercise that we’re maybe not used to. If that’s the case then drink lots of water, wait a couple of days and you should be fine. It’s happened to me on more than one occasion – it’s really disheartening but there’s normally a reason. In addition you might want to up your fat intake that may also help. I sounds like you didn’t eat very much on Sunday 🙂

The official diet does not mention a specific level of carbs. Dr Mosley talks about healthy vs unhealthy carbs rather than setting a limit. People here have generally found sticking to 50 g or under a day helps weight loss. You can do that if you mainly get your carbs from veges, if you want to add lentils, beans etc then you’ll probably go over 50 grams. Try different levels to see what works and what makes your body feel good.

Whoop whoop. I decided not to weigh today but try on clothes. Am sat here in a pair of denim shorts bought two years ago with button up the front fastening. Worn once about a year ago and nearly cut myself in two. I fastened waist and other buttons WITH NO PROBLEMS! Am sat in them and yes they are a tad snug but my word what a change in my shape. I have also tried on and fastened and sat down in and will wear all day, a pair of size 16 cords! What I have noticed is that my muffin top has considerably melted away and my thighs are definitely thinner. What is so wonderful is that this has happened in 2 weeks. I am aware it will slow down but still I don’t care. The fact I can get in my cords is so wonderful. Onwards and downwards everyone. Beijinhos from Portugal.

Well my positive pants can be rented free of charge so….. by all means…..otherwise I think Primark sell them 😉

Hello. First of all many congratulations on doing so well despite all the temptations. I really went all out at the beginning and managed to lose 18lbs of the 36lbs I had to lose in just over 5 weeks, so was well pleased! However I then went on a Med cruise and waivered by the sixth day of twelve. When I returned on Saturday I had regained 5 lbs so currently still have 23 lbs to go. Travelling back from France tomorrow so can’t get back to it properly until Thursday but intend to be really strict then. Please continue to post, I find it all very motivating. Good luck. Sara 👍

Hi Granny I was wondering if you were still around. It’s only been a couple of days but I’ve been a bit of an invalid staring at the screen so it seemed like longer!

You’re right, 5 lbs is fantastic, I’m sure more than I’ve ever lost before in one week. And 2 cm off my waist. Won’t be long before I have a visible waist again!

Morning Frog 😃

Very tired after last week’s conference. Need some early nights!

I’ve tended to wear 60 denier tights in the cold weather – under my skirt or trousers. Funnily enough I picked them up yesterday and found myself wondering if they still fitted – well, they are like leggings. Aren’t they? LOL.

Yes, it still fits – loose, but acceptable for now. When weight stabilises I’ll decide if it needs altering!

You ok?

Barry- My last NHS health check reported HDL=2.4 and LDL=2.6.

That’s nearly exactly the same as me! Yes I do exercise quite a bit, maybe that helps as i do need to lose a stone in weight. I walk a couple of miles a dat on the school tun up and down a very steep hill and have a gym membership, go swimming and classes every week. Going to try and keep it up. My dad (in 70s) has ischeamic heart disease so anything I can do to reduce the risk for the future is good, I guess.

HI TC

Well done, sounds like you are doing really well.

I have been struggling and seem to have lost all motivation – definitely need to find some positive pants!!
Not been feeling well for a few days so have resorted to comfort food which probable makes me feel even worse but its a vicious circle. Have also had lots of family events and meals at friends houses where it is very difficult to stick to healthy options.

Work/life is crazy at the moment so don’t have time to do a properly planned shop to stock up with all the right things.

All excuses I know, just need to stop feeling sorry for myself and get back on track. 🙁