For that too tired after work to cook feeling …
Make a big batch of something … soup, chilli, etc. …. divide it up and freeze portions …. and on the really tired days just defrost!!

Wow Kosher Kid you are doing well! 15000 steps a day! Please come and take my two dogs out:-)

I now leave a glass on my fridge water dispenser so I have managed to get plenty of fluids in.
Next thing is to start moving. I have arthritis and have had difficulty in walking, but do you know what?
Since being on this diet my pain has been reduced. I am so pleased with just feeling more comfy.
I have been out with my choir friends today and they do not know I am on a diet but I am so pleased I only ate the salmon and veg.
I have felt so motivated and well this week.
Weigh day tomorrow but I thinkI will give myself a pat on the back now!

Onwards and upwards.

I don’t know about cheesy farts…. she doesn’t usually sleep that close – but it definitely had an effect on today’s output!

Today’s adventure was coming home from shop, went to put something in freezer only to find the door hadn’t been closed fully and was massively iced up – cue unplanned defrosting session!

But at my sewing class actually got onto sewing not just the pattern and prep stuff – apparently I have sewn plackets, no I didn’t know what they were either, (its the thing that goes up the sleeve from the shirt cuff) but it is a ‘clever thing’ – or foolishness in my pattern choice!

For busy people M&S do some great prepared veg packs, microwave, place on plate and sprinkle with a little grated cheese and pop under the grill.

I particularly love the butternut squash shredded to look like spaghetti. You can create some great dishes with this.

Hi all. Been a couple of days or so since my last brief post. I started a couple of days before so today is day 10 for me. I have lost 3.1 kg over this period so I am delighted – Only 24 more kilos to go!. I am still in love with my fitbit – doing 15000 steps a day and the dogs are really fed up. I am keeping myself motivated (I live on my own) by writing out every morning in my BSD journal “If not today, when?”.
I haven’t been diagnosed as pre or diabetic but it runs in the family – my father is type 2 and I am determined not to go down that path.
Fairyface – I was struggling to take on enough fluids so now I buy a 2litre bottle of water from Sainsburys (only 20p) and I make sure that I consume all of it going through the day – I also find it great to throw the bottle into the recycling at the end of the day – another mark that I have survived another day. Other fluids come from my three cups of coffee in the morning and having 3 lemon and ginger teas in the evening.

Good luck and fast loss to all.

Thanks for the words of encouragement – I think the planning will definitely help, and it suits my personality. I agree with you Avila, that hopefully once into the rhythm of it all and with a a well-stocked fridge, I can experiment more with other recipes. I even had a trial run this evening with the Pork in Mustard Sauce – and for someone who doesn’t even like mustard, I can say that it was delicious ! I used wholegrain mustard and a slightly smaller amount than the recipe said, just in case it was too strong, but it was delicious. That’s a good start.

Thank you for the ‘bon chance’ sunshine-girl, and well done on your weight loss and blood glucose results.

Onwards and upwards !

Brilliant news. Did not measure bust on 1 October but noticed today that I have fastened bra on the tightest setting and cannot blame it on age as it is three weeks old as had to bite bullet and face the fact I needed a huge one! I remember hundreds of years ago on the original WW diet I did so successfully, that we were warned not to buy new shoes as our feet would shrink and she was right.

Hi sunshine-girl

Thank you very much for all your help it’s really helped me. I’ll have to look into the calculator online, I’m sure that will help me. Yes I’ve got the book and am using the recipes to start of with but am slightly fussy so struggling with lunchtime. I’m sure I’ll get there. Fingers crossed.

Agree with Shalimar – give your body time to adjust

I have found this easy than any other diet. Not dealing with family, but work full time and live with depression that affected

Tips –
1. Plan – have a look for recipes and ideas that you know will like and can be cooked easily. I was a ready meal girl but found I could cook a bit of fish and a spinach salad in less time than the ready meal took. But it is the ‘thinking time’ of deciding what to eat that is the slowing factor not the actual meal prep, so having a plan in place really helped me.

2. Drinking fluids – I fill up 3 x 1litre bottles at the start of the day (or night before). This makes it easy to track if I am drinking as much as should. Personally water is too bland, some add lemon etc but I make it up with dilute mix of no sugar squash, I know this has sweeteners and some would disapprove but it helps me get the fluids in.

3. Do it your way – Some weigh everything and fill in apps like my fitness pal or fatsecret. Personally I would find that too time consuming so I aim at the calories, and follow the principles. I am 2 st down with another 1 and 1/2 to go – I fell off the calorie wagon a few times but that is me, not you.

4. Decide how to measure – by scales, by tape measure, by the jeans in the wardrobe. I measure on the scales but frequently, it can vary by a kg or more during the day depending when last eaten, last bowel movement etc etc. So if seeing those fluctuations is discouraging then leave it to weigh in day, I find it helps keep me focussed day by day. You need to find the way that encourages you and helps you stick at it, avoid approaches that will discourage you

5. Just do it!! 😉

Ok, I totally blew it last night and once I had started down the carb route I just didn’t stop. Today, my cramps have gone but so has my resolve. I am not sure my system can cope with such a severe reduction or maybe I am being a wos…. Anyway, I have decided to write my first week relapse off as a 5:2 week and restart. I think I am going to adapt it the diet to1,000 calories a day for the first week and work from there. I really did feel terrible ill and now have eaten almost double my normal carb allowance today to rebalance.

So …. 3 hours of activity is routine for you? Am i right in reading what you posted? And that was on how many calories before BSD diet?
Your body may be used the the activity …. but not on your new calories/carbs ….. i don’t think it’s like flipping a light switch … and your body starts burning fat. I think you need you give your body time to get with your new exercise and eating plan.

I don’t do 3 hours of activity … but i really adjust my activity amount with how my body was feeling …. otherwise i could easily pass out or throw up. Be kind to your body.

My plan would be to keep to calories and carbs ….. and adjust the amount and kind of exercise.

Hello everyone.
i started the BSD this week. I have no problem with the decreased calories and carbs. I am maintaining something like 700 calories and 45 carbs. I know it is lower than the recommended but i dont feel like eating more. today i went to the gym, and did my routine 3 hour activity burning 700 cals. so what is the problem? i am feeling tired. My theory says that now the body should fetch its energy from fat, which i have a lot of, so why isn’t it doing it already. is it common to feel tired the first couple of weeks, unitl the body adjusts, or this is a symptom of the low calories, and i need to increase the input??
anybody knows what goes on energy-wise when going on BSD??
thanks in advance for shining any light on the subject.
BR
mauricem

Prep is so important – I was super organised to start but found myself going more flexible once in the rythym – I put that down to the planning that meant I had meal ideas in my head and the right kind of stock in the fridge.

You can do it.

I can help with prawns and avocado. Avocado per half, 144 calories, 7.5 grams of carb and 13.3 grams of fat (by my calculator), I only mention the fat on avocados because it is high as are the calories and should be limited to half per serving and maybe only once or twice a week. Prawns per 100 grams, 66 calories and 1 gram of carb, fat negligible.

The roasted veg very much depends on what you have, i.e. red pepper, one medium 4 cals, 7.2 grams carbs. Pick your veg and the amount and put it into a calculator, myfitness pal, myfatsecret, sparkpeople etc, there a lots online if you Google it. The calc for the raw veg will change very little when you roast it but then you must count any oils you use. If you use pre-roasted veg then you will have to go by the packet.

As with all things on a diet it is worth working out what you are going to eat before you eat it and then decide how much is reasonable and what are your calories and carbs in total for the day. Sounds complicated but you get used to it and can keep a log of foods you eat over again. If you are unsure, as I was, follow a menu plan like the one in the book. Do you have the book, if not, get it.
Don’t forget yourself. Weigh AND MEASURE yourself on Monday morning.

Good luck

Hello Bellybegone, you sound super organised which is so important for success, what do they say, fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Yes should do well. I too used a menu plan had have lost weight and reduced my blood glucose. Be as organised in the coming weeks too and keep the menu fresh and exciting. There is a thread to put on your mini goals but no reason not to put them here on your own story. Looking forward to following you.

Bon chance.

Hey Cara…

Your message was really heart-warming. I also put on 2st in the last 2 years….and when I went on the scales and saw 12.0 – I had the same thought – I’m not 12st something anymore! and only a little bit less i’ll be 11st something! It’s a great feeling…well done us!!!

Really glad that the posts here are helping 🙂

Welcome pamie123 my husband & I have also done 5:2 for the past two years but got stuck in a rut probably overindulgence on our eating days🙀 But thank goodness a chance to remedy that now.👍😀

Welcome and good luck to you!

What a wonderful result losing 9.6lbs GreenTea! Like you I don’t feel hungry anymore & It’s amazing not doing so & rather counter intuitive & your weight loss is a great incentive to all of us

Chicken broth with a dusting of grated parmesan. I drink mugs of it when my stomach is upset and I can’t touch solid food. If you feel up to it, you can add small amounts of chopped green onion and/or sliced carrot.

@ ButterflyMoves: I had the same hit-by-a-bus tiredness thing hit me around the same time. It happened twice actually, and then nothing since. Lots of energy in fact. I think my body was just adjusting to the radically-lower-than-usual calorie count. I drank extra water and slept it off. Yes, sounds like you need to mix up your food and make it pretty on the plate to reduce any feelings of deprivation.

@ Sandie: no offence taken. I started the BSD at a really low ebb (I guess many of us do) and have a dry sense of humour 🙂 Happily I’m already feeling brighter. It’s also the truth though: I might change it when I feel it no longer applies.

As for me, another 400g lost overnight (so I’m averaging a consistent 300-500g a day right now, and intentionally still weighing daily). And I feel better.

Today: five macadamia nuts for (badly planned) breakfast; lentil soup, tuna carpaccio and wilted greens/grapefruit salad for a 4pm late lunch with a side order of smoked salmon and grilled shrimp, plus two Diet Cokes; a light dinner of just some smoked tofu. Not enough fruit and veg today. But 2 litres of water in addition to the Cokes

Not usually a soda drinker and I know Diet Coke is essentially bottled chemicals but I’m finding it quite a good appetite suppressant. So letting it go for the moment…can only tackle one thing at a time.

Hi all

I’m starting the bad on Monday and I’m just working out my weekly planner and I could do with some help please. I am unable to find the calorie intake a few things I’m hoping someone could help me.

Prawns and avocado?
Roasted veg?
Also what would the quantity be. Thank-you in advance

Well. Tomorrow is the Big Day. I am starting the BSD. I will post my starting weight and measurements in the morning, and plan to weigh daily, at least for the first 8 weeks. I have a lot of weight to lose and imagine I will be doing this for some time to come. But I have to say reading all the posts on the forum, I am feeling very encouraged and very positive. I know from past experience, that state of mind is everything – the difference between making it, and not making it. I was successful in losing 3 stone four years ago with Weight Watchers – but it took a year to lose it ! Unfortunately I have had a tough time over the last two and a half years and have resorted to being an ’emotional eater’ again. But I am now at a turning point and the stressful situations of the last few years are (almost) dealt with.

I am a big fan of Dr MM, and like the no-nonsense science that he writes about and presents to us. I have bought the book, and also the recipe book too. I have done a meal plan for the up-coming week, cleared out my cupboards, and done a shop today using the meal plan. My scales have a new battery in them, and I’ve bought a new tape measure. All systems go !

So. I’ll be back in the morning, with my starting figures, and also from those, I can set my goals as well. Short term goals and longer term ones too. I usually find it better to set ‘mini goals’ along the way so that nothing seems ‘out of reach’.

Here’s to success !

Hi kilwinny

I am about to start the bad on Monday for the first time and slightly anxious. I have been in many diets to no avail. I don’t suffer with diabetes but have alot of other health issues so hoping this could help. Good luck to you 😊

I’ve been reliably informed that if you sip flat diet coke it helps. Has to be original full sugar variety though. Don’t know why. Hope you feel better soon.

Hi flash.
I’m ok thanks.
Had a positive week until today. I too have gained and am also unwell. I want to eat (naughty things!) to make myself feel better.

To be honest it’s all a bit of a roller coaster but am sure it is for everyone.

Generally I feel better and lighter but can’t help myself thinking of cake, biscuits and chocolate.

Have a good weekend

May I please join your group. I have followed the 5:2 diet in the past but struggle on some days. I thought that eating 800 instead of 500 cals may make things a bit easier. I will go back and reread the book. Although I am not diabetic or pre-diabetic I do need to lose at least 14kg. I have just set a goal of walking in a 10km fun walk. The walk is in 6 weeks time and I have managed 5km so far. I am 68years of age, still work part-time as a cook in a local hospital. It is encouraging to read other peoples success stories.

I really enjoy reading these posts. They are so inspirational. After reading through them last night I decided to weigh myself this morning instead of waiting till Monday. Found that I’ve lost 3lbs since last Monday. Now 13.0 and never going to be 13st anything ever again!!!! It’s great to be able to talk about it. I’ve gained 2 stone in 2 years and all all that time I’ve been trying one diet after another. I don’t think anyone takes me seriously anymore.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend and loads of weight loss to start week two.

Gotta love the fuzzy housecoat!!!!

Be kind to yourself!!

Hi fellow dieters,

Its been a week for me now and my scales tell me that I have lost 9.6lbs and my BMI and fat% have decreased 🙂

I haven’t craved any carbs at all – I even made french toast with banana for my mum this morning and had scrambled eggs and tomatoes myself.

Having the support of the forum and family is key to sticking with this diet. I told my family that I’m doing this diet and they’re not allowed to bring any food to the house as they usually do (I am my mum’s f/t carer so people always bring food for my mum) and they have complied. My mum is my biggest supporter and she too is reaping benefit from the lack of sugar / carbs in the house – she’s type 2 and off meds for 4 years. My sister keeps asking questions about the diet and has done some of the recipes too.

It’s only another 7 weeks to go and by then we will all feel differently about carbs & sugar and pay more attention to the food we put into our mouths. Weight loss is great (I’m looking forward to some new clothes at the end of this) but being healthier is even better.
Good luck everyone!

I love my Actifry. Peppers with red onion and garlic are lovely in the Actifry. When we are in need of chips or roast potatoes then out we can have them while only using a small amount of oil.
Sweet potatoes, parsnips, butternut squash are all really lovely in the Actifry.
Can you tell that it gets my thumbs up? 🙂

Shalimar – I’m at work now, but am heading home. Def going t try the oatmeal. and my fuzzy PEACH housecoat. 😉

Thanks!

Deb

I am restarting the BSD after a few months break. Sadly I have put on the 12lbs I had previously lost.
I am in the process of re reading the book.
I need a little help from fellow BSD’ers to stay on track this time.
I am a mum of three, one being away at Uni, and have just upped my working hours to 4 days a week. I am the only adult in the house and solely responsible for shopping/cooking. I find that I need to be totally prepared with food shopping as I end up shattered at the end of the working day and really don’t want to cook.
So, if there is anyone else out there that has just started or about to, please drop me a line and we can keep eachother motivated and share ideas.
🙂

The Palouse Mindfulness online training is also 8 Weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Was watching a Jon Kabat-Zinn videos …. where he talks about some of the research into mindfulness training/practice having an effect on the brain in 8 weeks!!

I had previously noted information that the time it takes to change a habit is …. 1 month at a minimum.

Blends in with my earlier thoughts today …. that the BSD 8 week plan … is a kind of training or retraining program … to get us back in touch with our bodies … and what our bodies and spirits kind of naturally want from food??

I was watching this long video where the research is mentionned :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_If4a-gHg_I

but in this long video there is a longer explanation of the research (among other things) on the Palouse site …. the introductory videos are very interesting …

Frog, I would love to be 8 stone 12 and that is around my goal weight. Loopy, I bet you don’t walk around with your bum trailing on the ground like I do, you will actually have legs. I always say I am not overweight I am under tall.

When i am sick …. and hope to be at the point where i can keep something down

I pour boiling water over 1/2 cup of large flake oatmeal. Just enough water to cover. Stir til coolish … add pinch of cinnamon if desired, perhaps a bit of honey, after a few minutes it’s kind of set …. i add a tablespoon of cream and stir in.

OR … i just add the water

I eat 1 teaspoon at a time …… very slowly to see how it goes.

OR

i might also try some broth … from a carton, a powder, a cube …… maybe add a soda cracker if feeling adventurous

Hope you feel better soon.

p.s. …. sometimes it’s wise to bundle yourself off to bed …. in one’s favorite cozy things …. i love my fuzzy pink housecoat …. and try and sleep

Thanks Kjandtheboys. The midweek weigh in can be discouraging so I think I’ll do the once a week and be pleasantly surprised each week!

Thank you everyone! You have made me feel better 🙂

Nedds mum – how are you doing this week? Good to know that great results come round again after some potentially slower weeks.

Antigone – glad to hear you also went down again after weeks 2 and 3. And now you’re about to start your second 8 week stint – so it must work! You’ll definitely be in size 12 clothes soon 🙂

topcac – argh!! Those naughty pounds jumping back on again. Sooooo frustrating. I hope you see a loss between now and Sunday but if not, don’t despair! We’ll all be rooting for you. Don’t get waylaid by all those (admittedly delicious) things!

Onwards and downwards – enjoy the weekend 🙂

By the way I watched the bbd fat vs carb programme this morning, It was quite funny the reporter went on low carb for three weeks and his cholesterol level dropped as well as his weight. His doctor just couldnt accept it was a healthy thing. She said something like “well I can’t see what this diet is doing to the inside of your body , your pancreas, your kidneys”, despite the fact that all his indicators had improved!

Hello fellow BSDers!

I seem to have caught a stomach bug and am wondering what suggestions you might have for bland food that I can (hopefully) keep down.

I am currently drinking a mixture of flat Perrier and cranberry juice, just to keep my sugars up, but would REALLY welcome suggestions.

Thanks,

Deb

Hi KatrenaJ!

Welcome to the forums. It’s a great place to be! Everyone here is very helpful and you’ll find lots of advice and support 🙂

What are the foods you eat on an LPR diet? You may be able to find suitable alternatives that work well with the BSD way of eating.

Good luck!

Oh to be 8 stone 12!. I’m aiming for 10 and a half stone, which puts my BMI at just inside the higher end of normal, but that’s the weight I was before I had my children and I’ll be thrilled to get there.

Good morning, lovely people! It’s finally Friday! My two nasty gained pounds were gone this morning alone with a few of their friends! So since Monday, I’m officially down 4 pounds! Very pleased!
Welcome to all the newcomers! I’m so glad we have formed this little support group! I find it so helpful to be part of a body of people going through the same struggle I am. I fear my friends and family get sick of hearing me talk about dieting and exercising.
A wonderful thing I noticed this morning is how much belly bloat I’ve lost! Had to dress up today, after dressing down all week. We have the new student orientation today. I put on a wrap dress that I haven’t worn before because it wasn’t flattering on my gut and it FITS! Only a 4 pound loss, but my tummy is so much flatter! Now don’t get me wrong, I still have SO much further to go, but it’s a nice little victory!
Tomorrow, my husband and I are taking our daughter and her friend to a movie. That will be a TEST as I LOOOOVE popcorn and candy and couldn’t tell you the last time I went to a movie and didn’t have either. But I’m going to take some almonds and maybe sunflower seeds and hopefully that will do.
I’m less hungry today but still have quite the headache! Really hoping that subsides soon!
Have a wonderful weekend, BSD’ers! 😉

yes, me too Sunshine Girl – I’ll delighted to be “overweight”! – that’s my next mini-goal weight!
that was why I got quite excited that my BMI was lower calculating myself, but with the NHS calculator, 5 kilos to go!

using the NHS calculator, for 4’11”, the top of your healthy weight range for normal BMI of 25 is 56.4 kilos – 8 stone 12lb
http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Healthyweightcalculator.aspx

Hi Timetochange,

Thank you for your reply; I to have a feeling polenta will have to be ditched 🙁

I will have to give the breakfast drinks ago, I really enjoy porridge, and it keeps me full so a little wary about giving it up…but I need to lose weight, so I’ll see what else I can change to. Well done on being 12lbs down that is amazing, you must be so happy. I really hope the diet works for me,

Take care 🙂

Rozy, I had them last night, instead of making 2 medium burgers I made 2 smallish and one very small. I saved the very small for my supper and it tasted even better cold. Hubby had his 2 in a big chunk of baguette, drool, I was a bit jealous.

Hi Violet1811 welcome to BSD! I’m no expert, but I’d say avoid polenta as it’s made from corn meal flour; however there may be others who have successfully incorporated it?
I’m 11 days in to the diet and 12 lbs down, so my experience is that it works. I love porridge but have ditched it for now as it’s too startchy. The raspberry and spinach drink in the book is lovely for breakfast and I often eat eggs (any way you like) and yoghurt with nuts and a few berries. At the weekends I might have a small amount of bacon on one day. I hope yiu like the diet, I think it’s mostly as case of mind over matter. Having said that, I’m about to go away fir the weekend so let’s hope my mind stays on the matter of BSD!! Good luck and thus forum is great for advice and support.

I lost 6 3/4 lbs in the first week, 1 lb in the second week then the third week weigh in I had put on that pound again!! Mid week weigh in has seen me lose it again but YES – having the same issue as you. end of week 4 is on Sunday then I go to the US for a week on business – if I don’t lose this week I’m worried my emotional toddler will have a tantrum and I’ll be eating Ben and Jerry’s and chicken wings before I know it!!

I’d like to start this diet today. Rather nervous because I have LPR and many of the foods that help that are not on this plan. But I am going to try to make this work. I’m across the pond in USA Georgia and my weight fluctuates between 212 and 214 on a daily basis. I want to lose 100 lbs.