and I was so unawake that I’d addressed you as Hello Yowzer! – and misread that you’d eaten out last night.
I didn’t get to sleep til after 5am. go back to sleep maybe!
second night that’s happened – time to change to a heavier duvet maybe

Oh thanks happy girl I’ll give that a try as yes still nothing! 😳My stomach is starting to look very swollen but I’m always on loo cause of extra water. Including at night. Hubby says if I was a bloke he’d start worrying about my prostate! Lol. I couldn’t get any physillium husks as needed to order on line so hopefully get them today. Epsom salts haven’t worked either! So I’ll stop off for some kiwi on way out today. More the merrier! Lol then hopefully the weight will start falling. Have a great day guys

I knew this was going to be a bad day when my computer shut down just after I had typed my first message this morning!

Hi Frog mistook you for Yowzer! Anyway answer to trout issue above!!!

Think it might be time to get back into bed and out the other side!!!

Hi Yowzer …. no …. had the trout at home!!

Ethiopian recipes they sound interesting. Any you want to share?

Hi Jan glad you found us and are back on track!

Forgot to take my Metformin yesterday and have just done my b/s 7.1 Bit disappointing because I’ve been just above and below 6 the last week or so. I know fasting sugars aren’t the best measure but I was hoping to have a good Hba1c result but maybe I’m expecting too much too quickly!

Hi, requested to join FB group too x

Morning Yowzer
haven’t worked out yesterdays food – I have to log all of the Ethiopian recipes then guesstimate how much I had of each of them. all v healthyish though!

found really nice collection of low carb soup recipes on this site
http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/2013/10/10-best-low-carb-soup-recipes-fall.html

amused by the trout – did you take your scales to the restaurant?

DAY 3 of 7

Yesterday
Calories 650
Carbs 25.8g
Weight loss 0.4lbs
Added a little extra …. exercises with light weights…few aches this morning!!

Well, yesterday I managed to lose 150 of the excess 510 calories I had on Tuesday!! I had a small loss but my target for this week and next is 1kg a week. just 1.8lbs to go this week I’m sure I can manage that if I stick to the plan!

Had two revelations. Although you probably know this one! I put courgetti into chicken broth and it was lovely. Just added 50g of courgetti to the soup and microwaved. It gave the soup substance and for very few calories and carbs it was a substantial lunch.! I’m going to try to make Thai Tom Yum soup this week so will let you know. I think it will be more tasty Pho but we’ll see.

Secondly, I had trout last night. Weighed 320g with head etc, on so I calculated it would be 225g when cooked. I took it off the bone and weighed it and there was only 125g. Shows how important it is to keep weighing our guestimates may not always be up to scratch!!

Hope you all had a good day yesterday. Have a good one today!

Am finding it hard to stay on the straight and narrow. OH has joined me but isn’t being very strict. So I’m lapsing more. He’s doing his best, but I need to do better.

Today’s weight: 83.5
Change: +0.1
Yesterday’s food:
1083 calories
90 net carbs

Thanks Shalimar, Natalie and Fabmand. Nice to see how you are following it,
I am around 800 cals and lo carb, will probably save the 50g rule for if (when) I hit a plateau. I do exercise quite a lot ( who says “healthy” girls can’t be fit?) so those days I wouldn’t go 50g.
Don’t worry Shalimar……today is a brand new day and yesterday is gone. These things happen and I’m sure it’s on the cards for us all at some point.
I don’t think 16g per can of tomatoes is too bad when it’s absorbed into a recipe, and they are so nice.
Have a good day everyone.
X

Good morning all. Your posts continue to inspire me.

My scales tell me that I’m ‘up’ 300g overnight. A bit frustrating seeing as this is the same 300g I keep losing and gaining over the last few days since Springrollgate, but am not demotivated. I did go a tiny bit over the calories and carb count yesterday (800 kcal seemed fine at the beginning and but has gotten harder not easier) so I have today mentally recommitted to three days of super SUPER strict plan adherence in the hope/expectation it will kickstart the downwards trend again. I also know that I have been over my recommended sodium count in the last few days so it’s possible some of this is water retention too. I need to move a lot more too.

The weight was coming off when I stuck firmly to the plan and is now not since I have not been. I can ‘do the math’ 🙂 And I am definitely decreasing around the tummy which is fabulous. For a mostly non-drinking female I had one helluva beer gut!!

Have a good day everyone: I will be on the road in the desert for much of it. (I suppose it will be keep me away from the fridge, lol)

I have 2 cans of tomatoes to use up … but i should write that down for later. THANKS 🙂

Thank you, Keid! Hope you enjoy it there!

Also, tip re using tomatoes for sauces- tinned tomatoes are pretty carby, but bouillon powder, water and tomato purée less so, and makes tasty Ragu or chilli with lots of uses, MKx

Amazing results, this has really motivated me here on day 3, week 1.
By Christmas I could be 29lbs lighter. 29 lbs!!
Powerful, powerful motivation to stay on track.
Thank you.

Hi AstridR,
Some suggestions without knowing your children’s likes/dislikes: Carrot sticks/celery sticks with or without hommus or cream cheese.
Berries when in season.
I know that here most primary schools are nut free due to littlies with allergies, but nuts would be ideal. Seeds? A mixture of pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. ? boiled eggs (perfect the eggshell is their own package).
You may find some ideas on various websites eg ditch the carbs/diet doctor.
Maybe if forum members contribute their suggestions here before you know it you’ll have heaps of ideas.
Good luck.

Maharani kitten 🙂 …. Congratulations. I will help you polish your halo!! I’m so glad you are feeling wonderful and light. HUGS

Hello again!
Big test for me last couple of days as I’ve been away on business, not ideal this early in the plan.
However *polishes halo* I helped myself by choosing a hotel with no restaurant (hence no temptation) and chose breakfast and dinner from a local supermarket instead. Berries and yoghurt, salmon and pre-packed salad.
Lunch was a buffet at host organisation with chicken, cheese, ham salad sandwich options so I ate the fillings only and a few grapes.
I remembered a tip from last time I was on the low carb 8 week induction that I’ll use next time, which is to tell your hosts that you need a gluten free lunch – usually results in a salad while others get bread.
One slight wobble on train home when out of complete habit I asked for a biscuit with my coffee! Put it straight in my bag out of sight and handed over to husband for his coffee time treat tomorrow.
I see people here are struggling a bit with the counter-intuitiveness (is that a word?) of this way of eating, and it is hard to understand sugariness of some veg and most fruit, and things like avoiding milk and embracing cream, avoiding ‘diet’ versions of anything – fat is usually replaced with carbs in such products. Google low carb veg lists and just choose from there, rather than checking out your faves and trying to make them fit, is my advice. Plenty of choice!
Anyway…. Three days in and I just feel …. Lighter . In spirit, and sort of digestively, iykwim. Fasting bloods have been awesome – under 5 every day this week which is fab for me – usually 6.8 to 7 (medicated), and post main meal have been 9 – also good, usually 13.
Plan to weigh tmro morning but won’t be derailed whatever the outcome!
Plan for day 4 is

B 2 slices bacon, half a tomato
L Feta and cucumber salad
S. Celery sticks and home made mackerel pate (lots of celery, 1tbsp pate)
D small piece of lean chicken, cauliflower roasted with cumin,and tiny bit of olive oil

Exercise will be a 20 minute brisk walk and if I get time, a swim or if busy, my ‘lean in 15’ quick workout .

Happy Thursday everyone – halfway through the first week of the rest of our lives!

I just want to wish you good luck. Perhaps someone here is in a similar situation health-wise that might have some tips. The first week can be rough … people generally advise drinking lots of water to ward off hunger pangs and constipation.

Ooops …. i fell over the cliff!! I finished the other half of my Boston Pizza salad … and then i couldn’t resist trying a new brand of yogurt!! And i was going to go for my tests tomorrow. I may wait until Friday!!
Didn’t exercise either. I’m pissed off with myself!! Will try and do better tomorrow!!

Trelawny fingers crossed for your Friday weigh-in! Tattiescone interesting way to reset, but whatever works I guess! Do you think your tummy objected to you going off-plan?

Yay!

Welcome FabMand! The more the merrier.

I popped into the supermarket on my walk to buy more vegetables, I bought an enormous amount on Monday but apparently it wasn’t enough to last a whole week! The person in front of me at the checkout had a jawdroppingly “perfect” collection of food. Brown rice (instant), gluten-free pizza bases, coconut flakes, kale, low-fat yogurt, protein bars, low-fat cream… (yes I stared a bit). All that stuff we are told to eat. And nearly everything processed. I was smugly looking at my collection of fresh vegetables and wishing I could tell her she’s got it all wrong, but then I looked at her. Thin and fit! Could wear yoga pants in public and look good! Can you imagine a fat lady telling her she’s the one making bad food choices? Lol. She was young though, I hope for her sake (and everyone else’s) they change the official rules soon on what we should eat.

End of week 1 weigh in….. drumroll please…….
***2.8kg/6lbs***!!!! 😮🙃😝😄

Just ecstatic!!! Been dancing around the room. And how am I going to celebrate?!! I don’t know, but it’s gotta be good. Be back later, too delirious to make coherent sentences!!! Can’t believe the scale is actually going DOWN!!!!

Finally had my week 1 weigh in and was nervous. Had a few days when I dawdled over my limit with little extras and there was that one night (that I will refer to as wine-gate#1, There’s gonna be more…) But despite my slip-ups I was happy to see I had lost 2.8kg (6lbs in the old money) and my body fat percentage was down by almost 2% since earlier this month!
Deliriously Happy!! Congrats too, to @happygirl for your awesome day 12 loss. I bet that made up for all the earlier frustrations. I get the whole being discreet about doing BSD. Science has shown that telling too many people about a goal makes it less likely that it will be achieved because talking about it stimulates satisfied chemicals that interrupt your motivation for action. I’m glad I have this forum, though so I can celebrate ups and seek support for downs with someone.
So @Miranda- don’t worry about your wine incident, just make a u-turn straight away and you’ll still be fine. I’m living proof.
@wendy1947 – that zucchini carbonara with yoghurt instead of cream sounds awesome, I’m making a note of that!
@carb_addict – New business, big move, brave love life decisions, THAT’S A LOT OF CHANGE! I’m amazed you even remember your own name, much less have the energy and resolve for BSD. I’m so impressed and inspired.
@healthyh – hope you feel happier soon, tired and grumpy isn’t fun. My cure for that is to listen to good New Orleans funk, or if the sun is shining I pull weeds out of my garden. I bet if you think about it you’ll know your own fix.
@fairyface – I’m impressed with your forethought and careful planning. I’m going away for a big work road trip at the beginning of week 3. I’m going to eagerly follow your progress. Any tips will be helpful. I will have some access to cooking facilities but not always. But I have an awesome car powered fridge that I intend to take advantage of.
@missziggy – Yay for more energy and enthusiasm for other areas of life! Enjoy that glass of wine on fri night, but get someone to hide the bottle when you are done 😉 I might have one too!

Hi everyone! I also started BSD on 10/10 and hope you won’t mind me gate crashing your party 3 days in.
There are some great posts here and it’s so good to see all of the positivity and support here.
Glad to report that I have stuck to the 800 calls per day 100% and strangely for me I’m not even tempted to break out.
It’s been a little repetitive so far due to working until 8pm this week so I took the easy option and prepared meals together.
Breakfast has been alternated between Greek yogurt with nuts, seeds and berries, and scrambled eggs with mushrooms.
Lunch a Sirt superfood salad which I regularly have, only to make it in line with BSD calorie load, I’ve left out the avocado and Medjool dates.
Evening meals have been the Easy Bolognaise with courgetti which certainly doesn’t make you feel you’re on a diet.
Today I will be trying the egg muffin for lunch and the carrot, lentil and avocado salad in the evening.
All recipes (except Sirt salad) are from the BSD recipe book which is wonderful for providing lots of choices.
Really looking forward to see how we all do over the 8 weeks!

Good morning Day Four!

Plan for the day:
B: tasty cheese, half an orange (decided a whole one was too carby), half a cucumber, tiny baby carrot
L: cream of chicken soup, leftover roast veges
D: spicy pork and sage casserole with cauliflower rice

Cup of tomato soup if needed, two cups of tea with milk, lots of water with lemon.

I’m heading out for a walk to mail a letter in a minute.

I weigh myself each morning and I was up a tiny bit since yesterday but I think that is because of the time of the month. Still more than a kilogram down after first three days.

I’m a bit nervous about how well this is going. Usually I would have given in to chocolate cravings by now, then given up entirely. What is different this time? It hasn’t seemed hard at all (no, universe, I am not trying to get you to test me! Be nice!) even though I am dealing with that time of the month, my fibroid issues, the headaches, and some bureaucratic hassles. Oh well, I’ll just enjoy it! Trying to be prepared for when it suddenly gets hard. I hope I’m truly in the groove by then.

Lesleyp different people are def doing variations. I don’t like it when some seem to lay down laws that are NOT from the book. I mean, do whatever works for you but don’t claim it’s BSD canon! I am generally following the book but I don’t use those recipes at all and I do count carbs. The book only talks about cutting out processed and unhealthy carbs, it has plenty of lentils and the like. Some people have been shocked at the carb counts from the recipes when they work it out, but nowhere in the official diet does it say you have to stay under 50g. I am, because that works best for me. I also don’t each much fish or exercise enough or meditate, so I guess I’m not pure BSD!

I think if I hit a long plateau, as some do, I’ll have one day where I eat more calories and carbs (not really bad ones) to “shock” my body and also reassure it that there is still food in the world! But actually I’ve been feeling pretty full so far with all these
veges.

My goodness I do ramble on, don’t I! Off for my walk.

Hi everyone
I’m still here and so glad you all are too.
I had gone off plan a couple of days. However for the last 3 days have had the most violent diarrhoea bug. I have not stopped pooping and have hardly eaten a thing. The good point is that I feel that I have been relaunched back into the BSD way of life. Light eating!
I feel like I have hit the reset button. If I can even get 800 in tomorrow I will be going some!
Tattiescone x

FROG whats got into the cats! Ziggys been very naughty yesterday and today!
Yep i made appt with my GP soon as i got 24 hr bp date..earliest i could get was 3 Nov,as she is very popular.
I’ m sure she’ll phone me before then if she has the results tho, as she always goes the extra mile
Ive heard before that Lidl yog is yummy and cheaper than Fage..i must try it!
I saw an Ethiopian food stall recently at a market and my friend had some Ethiopian stew but i cant remember the name..dor…or doro? Said was lovely.
Night everybody ..sweet dreamzzzzzzzzzzz xx

Thanks Natalie!

That is a great result! (Except for the fasting blood sugar.) lots of weight lost and feeling happier in your skin are awesome.

I really struggle with this too! I’ve managed to get treat-type foods to Friday only, they have fruit for recess most days. But lunch is harder. My daughter won’t eat sandwiches (she likes bread in any other form!) and we’ve tried cold chicken, sushi, cheese rolls (bread roll with cheese cooked on top by the bakery), she’ll like something for a while then get sick of it. My son has been happy with sandwiches this year but has suddenly gone off them. This week he has been having vegetable sticks with a little pot of dressing (he loves salad) and a few crackers (the kind you have with cheese, but he doesn’t like cheese). It seems pretty healthy but I don’t know how long it will last! And is it filling enough with no protein all day after cereal for breakfast? He is an active nine year old. He seems ok and doesn’t eat much in the afternoon but usually has a huge dinner then keeps asking for food until bedtime.

My final results. After 8 weeks on Fast 800 I lost 29lbs. 6 inches off hips and 4 inches off waist. My fasting blood sugar levels are worse! I know these are not always reliable so not going to worry too much about that just now. Will look at HbA1c instead. Weight loss has slowed so to boost things will get serious about exercise. Also going to cut carbs as low as I can and eat more fat. Have been looking at Real Meal Revolution recipes as well as new BSD recipe book. I am still counting calories sticking to 800 as I have a lot more to lose. I don’t know if I can eat more food anyway! My appetite and portion sizes have really changed!

Other results…I am no longer addicted to carbs. I am not bothered if other people are eating them and don’t crave sugar. I don’t feel hungry all the time and when I am hungry I am at still in control. I have more energy and don’t feel any discomfort in my knees going upstairs. I don’t feel so conspicuous and am holding my head a little higher.

Hi Jan – glad that it was good news from the appointment on Monday

Yowzer – if your GP practice is anything like as busy as mine, find out how long it takes for the 24 hour reading results to get back to the GP, and schedule in an appointment to discuss them if you don’t have one already.

Feeling very very stuffed – went to a Vegan Ethiopian Cookery class this evening – amazing food. Most of it fairly low carb – I will work out the calories, carbs etc and post some recipes here when I have time. Several pots of left over nice curry and veg in the fridge too.
A staple of Ethiopian food is a bread/pancake thing called injera, made with Teff flour – didn’t eat a whole one, but tasted some – not that different to good old gram flour pancakes.
No on was vegan, so we had yogurt with it -tasted amazing, and turned out to be from lidl – seems to have even fewer carbs than fage.
Froglet is cross because I’ve been out all day, and she keeps biting my feet, so I’m going to go to bed and watch GBBO while I am too full to be remotely tempted to eat anything, and my feet will be safely under the duvet.

Day 9 & my husband & I seem to have managed to stay around 800 calories although with different suppers because he was out & had to have a take away because we have just about run out of suitable food!
So he had a small cod & mushy peas from the fish & chip shop & I made half of the courgetti carbonara recipe using the lower calorie full fat yoghurt instead of double cream because that is what I had in the fridge. I highly recommend this because it was delicious & I didn’t miss pasta because the courgetti tasted so good coated in the sauce.
Tomorrow is grocery shopping day & so far we have loved eating more avocados, prawns, salads, houmous & have found favourite recipes in the recipe book. Last week I overshopped on broccoli with the 3 for 2 offer & had so much left over I have made two litres of broccoli soup🤔😂 however the cauliflower rice was a great success with the steak stir fry so I will buy more cauliflower.
All of you are doing so well! We still feel as though we are part of an ongoing experiment but both of us have been recruiting people to change to this from seeing our own example & so far one each👍👍👍😎😎

Hi
I have two kids – 10 and 6 at school. And I’m really struggling with putting something in the lunchbox for recess and lunch that isn’t loaded with hidden sugars and that they’ll eat! There’s a sandwich for lunch, sultanas, fruit, cheese and crackers – but if you add all that up its still got a fair bit of sugar. Any suggestions for a healthy school lunch that is quick & easy to pack in the morning (I’m a working mum and don’t have much time) and that the kids will actually eat (I have fussy eaters too!). Thanks

Mind you … even though it i confusing everyone can work the program in the way that is best for them and i wish that however it is done it works wonderfully for everyone!

HUGS

I find it confusing as well.

I think people use the term BSD very loosely and they mean different things by it.

I’ve been reading posts on this site since approx. Sept 1 … and i tried the 800 for a few weeks but didn’t succeed most days, got sick, gained weight back … so i’m going with the plan that seems to work for most. I am doing this to reverse diabetes and get healthy … it’s a must for me.

I am doing 800 calories and 50 carbs or less. I’m sure i will fail sometimes.

I’m trying to make sure i get some fibre every day … helps with constipation.

I am also going to try and reduce my coffee/cream. I tried to just reduce the cream … but i don’t like it so i am going to try more tea drinking … i don’t like just water usually.

Hello again,
Nickix- if you are having problems going to the loo, try eating
kiwi
When I was pregnant and couldn’t go, my gynie told me to eat 2 a day.
It worked!!!

That’s what I thought.
I’m sticking to the book myself, although if I’ve worked out hard like tonight I do allow the 100 cal protein snack.
So are people here just doing lo- cal and not BSD? I find it confusing reading all the interpretations tbh.

Hi everyone
I am down 3 kilos.
Yippee!!!
One small step for man etc etc
Delighted, over the moon, thrilled. Could go on forever.
It’s been hard work over the past 12 days.
Tomorrow I have to go away to an adventure centre for 2 days with my students where we will be eating what we are given due to the nature of the trip.
Packing a salad for 2 days doesn’t cut it.
I’m also being discreet about my diet. I just don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to my actions. My colleagues are great but I don’t want to share what I am doing just yet. Maybe I don’t want to jinx it.
So, I will do the best I can for the next 2 days.
Life goes on. The way I look at it is- I’m having time out.
Hope all goes well.
Good luck to everyone
Cheers

My diet today :

3 very small chicken drumsticks, no skin (i actually weighed the chicken meat on the scale … it wasn’t even 2 oz.) of meat …. i looked around for calories/carbs … i allowed 200 calories 0 carbs.
Coffee with cream : 60 calories ; 2 carbs
Cauliflower soup (bit of celery too) … 25 calories ; 2 carbs

Salad with grilled chicken … some egg, cheese, pecans, bacon bits, chopped tomato, bit of ranch dressing, salad greens …. ate 1/2 of everything and took rest for tomorrow … 300 cals ? 20 carbs? …. i will have to hope this is reasonable.

Chia tea

Wow that’s fantastic. Well I will be going for it on Monday. I love cooking so hopefully can cook lots to freeze. Thanks for advice..

Lesleyp 🙂 ….. i don’t think everyone is doing the same thing …. yes bread, even whole grain, is on the AVOID list (see the book on why).

NO EXERCISE DOES NOT OFFSET CALORIES OR CARBS … You are expected to do reasonable exercise within your calories/carbs … unless you are climbing mountains and such.

Sometimes i see posts where people are not loosing weight, hitting long plateau times, etc. Although your body needs to stop and take a few days to breathe every once in a while … and people don’t loose even while still being within their calorie and carb limits.

But a lot of the time people are kind of winging it … diet-wise.

Really … for most people … you need to count 800 calories or pretty close … and 50 carbs or less (this 50 carbs or less is not from the book … it is what people here on this site have learned through experience).

Poppetini 🙂 a run sounds good … so far i am just up for a walk!!!

Switzerland 🙂 … no snakes sighted … that’s like no bears sighted here

1. cold but Sunny now!
2. Got a new bank account … my local bank is moving so i signed up at the next most convenient place
3. Lunch at Boston Pizza …. had salad and grilled chicken with a teeny bit of dressing / saved half for tomorrow!! Polishing my halo now!!

I’ve noticed quite a few people are using bread in their daily record. I thought that bread was really off the plan in at least the first 8 weeks as there are too many carbs? What does everyone think?

Hi everyone – sounds like everyone is making their way. I think it depends on how you were eating just before you start this plan as to what effects it has. As I had done it before and I am mainly decaf I think I sort of slid into it with out going cold turkey on anything.
I’ve had a good day 3…. A bit peckish but had healthy things available at work if I needed them. As well as the lunch thing I described yesterday there is an honesty tuck shop too!!!! I have relocated my business for some building work to be done to a local community centre and these are the temptations of being around other people!
Breakfast – protein shake
Snack protein bar
Lunch yummy chorizo sweet pot carrot soup
Supper chilli and cauli rice + yog strawberries.
Went to the gym after work and actually had more energy that usual!
Do others count their exercise calories against food or take them as a bonus? I tend to just maybe add another 100 or so on the day if I’ve used about 500 calories.

I’m a newbie around here but have decided to go for it after seeing a friend do so well. I tried the 5:2 a couple of years ago but found I was eating more than usual on my non-fast days! I think I am an ‘all or nothing’, type person so I am going to go for the 800 and see what happens! I haven’t got high BS but I do put on a lot of weight around my middle very easily. I have fibromyalgia and a hiatus hernia and feel more unhealthy and weary than I have for many years. I’d love to hear from anyone who has either of these issues and seen success! Any top tips very gratefully received!!! 🙂

I’ve just reworked it out I’m actually day 1 of week 16, I’ve lost a few weeks somewhere. Hehe

Well you are certainly in the right place both mentally and physically. Physically you are here with us and we are here to help you, I sound like an evangelist, sorry. Mentally, you have been through it and you are ready to put things right. You should be able to achieve everything you want on this diet. It is not a miracle worker but pretty near to it. At least medically your life will improve even if we can’t improve your love life, that will come.

Enjoy the journey, it is well worth the effort, the carb blues, the hunger (although not for me) and the flak you will get from your doctor. Put a message out to all of them, you are doing this for you.

Good luck.