Can anyone help me please? I am on day 19 of the eight week programme, doing really well. My last weigh in on Tuesday I had lost 9lbs. I am feeling fabulous generally, I manage between 10,000 and 15,000 steps a day. My problem is first thing in the morning. I can hardly stand up and feel as if I am going to faint. I have been taking my blood pressure is usually really good, but first thing in the morning it has been very low 96/69. Does anyone have any tips for helping me with this please?

Many thanks.
Hillybob

Thanks for that advice Cowslip! I didn’t link cravings as a sign of a higher carb count but it does seem as though that is the case as I had a little blip the other night with a higher carb dinner than usual. I will try to bring my carbs back down for the rest of this week (next “official” weigh in is Tuesday) and will see what impact that has.

KJ – I think the keto calculator sets you on the right track if you’re not sure how to break down your 800 cals in the right proportions (if that makes sense!). As the typical carb limit for this way of eating is around 50g (although some people do go down to about 25-30g) then you’ve already got one macro to put into the calculator and it works out the remaining recommended quantities of protein and fat to go along with it. MFP does essentially the same thing, but after you’ve put in what you’ve eaten. With the other calculator you can figure out your macros before you start meal planning etc. Having said that, I don’t tend to us MFP that much and instead am manually tracking carbs, cals and food the old fashioned way! You’re obviously on the right track being another 3lbs down and clothes fitting better so keep going!

Anewday – glad to hear your blood sugars are going down as well as the weight! Hope you had a good set of measurements.

Lifeafter50 – well done on your weight loss too! And great work with the exercises. I haven’t been doing any of the exercises yet because I have some pretty serious back problems but knee pushups and 15 sec planks sound great to me!

Lucia you were resently talking writing about your salads and how you like to make then a bit more exofic with fruit etc. Have your tried leeks? I wash then chop in very thin rings then add them to my tossed leaf salad and then top with half a dozen grapes which I have cut in half. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Tasty.
Have you had any unusual breakfasts since following the BSD?
Enjoy your day Lucia. warm regards Sandie

Hi all. Guess that the Panorama documentary left us all a bit numb that no direction was given to the patients about the diet they needed to follow. Aren’t we lucky that we have managed to find it and I admit I will keep plugging it to anyone who wants to know about a diet that is satisfying, easy to follow and not full of gimmicks which cost a fortune.
We were out visiting family yesterday and they could not get over the OH’s look as the shirt he chose was a bit baggy on him. So another talk about BSD even though they are slim she knows a few people who are struggling with their weight so it may filter through.

Stats to end of week 5

Total weight loss 1st 2lb (current weight 12st 6lb)

Had a target 🎯 weight to take me up to Christmas 🎄 of 11st 8lb but determined that this figure will be even lower by the time that holiday comes around. ❄️❄️❄️

Your husband could have a point there! I do like moussaka
M&S have their dine in for £10 again – think I’ll be eating chicken a lot this week.
I was very good and got the fruit salad desert option!

I might treat myself to a small potato to roast with the chicken – I must get more creative with the left over chicken though, it got a bit boring last time.

LOL!!!

Mousaka is the dish that put me off aubergine for life …. but am on the verge of trying again.

Enjoy!

Congratulations Mixnmatch that’s brilliant and a fantastic milestone to give you a boost !! 👍😇
My weight has remained the same this morning but still very happy with my progress so far 😍
Good luck today everyone xx

Hi Frog and Verano, I said to my husband that one day next week I am going to make an aubergine layed lasagne, griddle the aubergine and use that instead of the pasta. He said, do you mean like a bolognaise meat sauce in a dish with aubergine and cheese sauce. I said, yes. He said, that is called a moussaka.

Morning ButterflyMoves … sorry altho we’ve had patients on medication for adhd .. their diet wasn’t a consideration. So no help there.
I’ve just started day three .. porridge apple and cinnamon for breakfast which is different!! You certainly have to plan ahead with this diet to stop reverting back to old habits …I know it’s all good and healthy for me but what I’d give for a piece of toast with butter marmalade and peanut butter. Hope it passes soon 🙁

Hi Frog

I do have a griddle pan but only use it for steak and halloumi. Will try the aubergine though. Just wonder if it was salted first if it would go a big floppy . I really don’t know.

Vegan Ethiopian … mmmm …. will be interesting … maybe!!!

Can’t think that far ahead … his many weeks is it?

Yesterday’s facts and figures:
Calories 898, carbs 20g. It’s a bit of a guestimate as I ate lunch out. I had soup and salad. I met a school friend I hadn’t seen for 34 years and the last thing I wanted to do was go on about my diet so I was glad there was something other than sandwiches!
As of this morning I have lost another pound and a half which takes me to another goal. I am no longer obese just overweight.
Gosh I wish I was throwing clothes out! But I did buy a pair of cheap jeggings in sainsburys yesterday. A size 16, knowing they would fit me, rather than that nagging doubt about whether they would be too tight.
Well done Verano on your b/g.

Morning Verano
My sister always says she finds it hard to choose presents for me – I’m definitely going to start dropping griddle pan hints – scary that Christmas is getting quite close now!
We didn’t try it yesterday, but I did wonder about what the impact of salting the aubergine would be on griddle pan (and baking slices) methods – next time I cook them I will try.
Vegan Ethiopian cookery class coming up next week – and I think I’m free on the community gardening afternoon too.
The premise of seasonal vegetable cookery it that we’re cooking with veg from the community garden, but because it’s not fully up and running yet, there were an awful lot of Waitrose wrappers in the bin 🙂

Passed another milestone this morning with my first body fat reading from my scales of less than 40 (39.9) Feeling a step closer to my Christmas goals 😀

Woohoo, body fat reading this morning dipped (just) under the 40 barrier, meaning another obese label cleared. Just the waist height ratio to go now.

Okay, this is more like it. Body fat reading this morning dipped under the 40 barrier for the first time! Another pound gone and feeling great so far. Now only looking for improvement in the waist height ratio which I will measure on my official ‘weigh day’ on Sunday.

DAY 4 of 7

Yesterday
Calories 777
Carbs 20.5

No weight loss today … really pleased I’m settling down now. I couldn’t keep losing as I was last week!

Really good news my b/g was 5.9 . Don’t ever remember it being in the fives but ok I know fasting bloods don’t mean much!!!!

Ok Frog …. I give in ! I do average my stats out at the end of the week. We have to have a life apart from BDS and we live in the real world so can’t stick to the letter of the plan everyday …. life would be so dull if we did!

Have a good day everyone. After today on the downward slope for this week … isnt it going fast!!

Really interesting and thank you.

I have my grandchildren coming at the weekend and I’m making Greek so I’m going to give the griddled version a try. You never know I may be converted.

Thanks

Hi

Tizzie you remind me of my diagnosis of T2. I have a very good GP practise BTW. I was sent to a dietician and like you I thought I knew everything there was to know about food and dieting ….. had tried nearly all of them!! The best help I got from the dietician was to swap digestives for ginger nuts!!! Lord help us all!!!

As you say MM’s book was a complete revelation to me. I think in the main part because I’d never known/understood the science before. I guess that was partly my own fault because I never ‘investigated’ for myself and just took it as read that if you had T2 you were ‘doomed’ to a life of future problems! I suppose I also took the pills and put it to the back of my mind!

This plan is my saviour!

Frog … sad about your sil. I walk with crutches and my OH wants me to get a scooter, especially to take on holiday. I have been resisting for a couple of years now because I think that once I get one if those my life is over. If I don’t walk, not that I do much!, I’ll put on weight and I’ll lose what little muscle etc that it’s a bit like being stuck between a rock and a hard place! Hence this plan … hoping the more weight I lose the better my mobility will be! Do think I may have to give in though because it’s not fair to him when we go away.

You’ve got 11 months to watch the Panorama program so no panic!!

Hey all, sounds like everyones doing well thus far.

I’m 2/3 through day 3 and abnormally tired. I can’t wait to get back home on Sunday away from constant sources of temptation. Our drummer gave my husband (who is the sound engineer) a bar of salted caramel chocolate to celebrate a successful job interview but he isn’t much of a sweet tooth so I have to keep picking it up and moving it around with the rest of the food. Chocolate is my downfall! I also got asked at the end of the show by the promoter if I wanted wine. I told her I don’t drink. ?! ( Liar! Pants on fire!) Then I watched my husband eat a burger and chips today. Am really going to have to make some yummy food next week to balance the deprivation I’ve felt this weekend. I’ve been living on eggs, mixed nuts, lentil salad and roast chicken breast.

One question, has anyone read anything about any dangers about taking ADHD meds with this diet? I’ve cut down my dose to half just in case, but I haven’t found anything online. I take Dex Amphetamine.

Just starting with this. I am a foodaholic so will definitely need help.
I’m Jim, 63 yo, been on low carb about a week now, at 228lbs from 236, but FBG is still in 130 range.
Need to do the initial 800c to get BG down.
Hunger is my problem.

Hi everyone i also started on 29 September now halfway thru second week. Lots of success with keeping to plan on serving sizes and calorie counting. I have lost 3 kilos which is really encouraging as on other diets i have managed sometimes half a kilo. Now challenging myself to do the strength exersises at home at least 3 times a week. Only managed knee pushups, not the proper ones, and holding the plank for 15 seconds not 30. But then i guess it is a starting place to work from. The other exersises i managed ok. I have my man back home from tonight he has been warned that while he is home he gets to do the 800 calories too, but then he can afford to loose some round his middle too! The challenge for me will be sticking to my plans. It is encouraging to read posts from everyone i dont feel like the only one managing the hunger pangs alone. Thanks everyone and keep posting.

That’s brilliant @anewday!
You should feel very proud of yourself… When I’ve dieted in the past a mid week weigh in could be catastrophic for me…. I would loose interest but as you say sticking with it really is the way to go… Those blood sugars are the real wins!

Still need to catch up with Panorama, I did watch the Welsh program though. BBC also has aired one called “Doctor who gave up drugs” recently that was interesting.
My sister in law has had a mobility scooter for years because she is too fat to walk; there really is no other medical reason.
How is that supposed to help?!

Frustrating isn’t it mixnmatch!
I had some beautiful very expensive trousers that I bought in a sale EIGHT years ago, one pair in black, the other grey, that I was going to lose weight and fit into. Tried them on a few weeks ago – too big!
I have purchased quite a lot in sales recently – some jeans from Debenhams sale that were reduced to £6, and a pretty good pair of work trousers from Sainsburys of all places.
A colleague who’s recently lost a lot of weight (not BSD) said yesterday that she would bring her size 16 clothes in for me – I only work there one day a week, so it’s not as if I’ll constantly be walking round in clothes instantly recognisable as hers, and it will fill that space where I don’t want to spend lots of money on clothes I won’t be wearing for long. She’s about the same height as me too, so that will be brilliant.
I have another pile of too-big work clothes to drop into the SmartWorks charity.

Quite a good day – 15k steps, hard to gauge food from cookery school at lunch time, but I guesstimated it. I was out this evening, so glass of red wine, gin & diet tonic and some mixed nuts. Not the healthiest combination, but around 700 calories and 28 carbs.

I am averaging the carbs of Tuesday and Wednesday!!! The other days should all be under 35g!

Low fat aubergine methods are on the Dodgy Diabetic Cookery Course thread.

Low fat ways of cooking aubergines
This was actually from the seasonal vegetable cookery class rather than DDCC
1) Salt the aubergines to draw out the moisture – this means that when you fry them, they use lots less fat. This used to be done to remove the bitterness, and no longer needed for that, but makes a much better base to fry.
In the 80’s, cooking ratatouille meant me covering my Mum’s kitchen with paper towels neatly laden with a single layer of aubergine or courgette. NO more!
I just diced the augergine, coated in salt, and left it in a colander. I put a bowl underneath to see how much liquid came out; lots in the first ten minutes, hardly any after that, so you don’t need to leave them soaking in the salt for ages.
Rinse in water and pat them dry with a clean tea towel or kitchen roll – the dryer the better.
Heat oil (we used vegetable oil rather than olive oil, because its better at high temperatures, as is rape seed oil), until its smoking, and then fry the aubergine in small batches until golden brown.
2) Bake them in the oven whole – pierce the skin, but no oil needed at all. This is for when you just need the flesh of the aubergine, not slices or rings. Obviously, it depends on the size of the aubergine, we baked mediumish ones for 40 minutes on 180c.
Let them cool, then scoop the flesh out.
You need to bake them a lot longer than you would for stuffed aubergine – with that you need to retain some shape, so that you have something to stuff, and there is likely to be further cooking once the stuffing is in.
3) Griddle them – one of those griddle pans with a ridged base. Cut the aubergines into slices, brush one side with oil, place oil side down on the heated griddle pan. While the bottom is cooking, brush the other side with oil, then flip over. The charred lines from the griddle make them look beautiful. Spraying with oil would probably work with this method.
4) As someone on this forum suggested, brush lightly with oil (or spray) and bake in the oven on a high temperature.

They all tasted pretty good, and not oily or slimy.
I didn’t get to measure the oil for each method, because there were half a dozen of us making different recipes, the griddle pan ones probably won because they did look stunning!

One BSD Friendly recipe that we made was Caponata – main ingredients included aubergine, celery, which I don’t usually like, passata, anchovies and tuna. One person in the class was vegetarian, and we simply whipped out a portion for her and then added the fish – still tasted good apparently. Loads of recipes if you google it, so I won’t record in the recipe section here as well.
We were told that the flavour improves if it’s eaten the following day, but we ate it all within half an hour of making it 🙂

Started on the 26th and first week I was down 8.6. Had headaches at night some and was hungry but now the hunger has mostly gone away as well as the headaches! My blood sugar numbers are down also and i feel so much better already! I’ve only lost half a pound so far this week though, day 4 of week 2, but I’m sticking with it and know that it will come off. I’m going to measure when I get home!

I don’t use the recipes in the book either. It’s not because they don’t appeal to me — several of them look excellent — but just because I like to cook so I make my own stuff. I just weigh and measure scrupulously and use MyFitnessPal to count calories and carbs. I’ve found it not only easy, but quite fun and even illuminating. I made a version of one of my favorite takeout sandwiches of all time (chicken and brie with remoulade) last week and my bf, who is not on the BSD, agreed that it was better than the restaurant’s.

Avila, maybe she should go on to a fat and protein based low carb diet too, excess weight and constant hunger sounds so familiar…..

Well done Carb_Addict.
Everyone seems to be doing really well.:-)

My worst time is in the evening too, so I often skip breakfast or lunch and eat my evening meal quite late, then find something distracting to do. May I also suggest not buying bread in the first place. If it’s not in the house you can’t eat it! (I know its probably for someone else but can’t they manage without til you’ve got your craving under control?) Also bread is often just a vehicle for something else eg butter, so maybe there’s a lower carb/cal way to enjoy that.

It was so sad to watch the panorama program knowing now that there’s a much better way.
Although bariatric surgery works, Prof Roy Taylor’s research on diet/visceral fat was inspired by reversal of t2 afterwards, it is an invasive procedure and carries some serious risks, with the irony that having failed to lose weight by dieting, people who wish to have the op must go on a diet to reverse their fatty liver prior to surgery!
I have also heard that many people learn how to cheat afterwards (or after several years can eat more again) and will eat a sugary diet plus are constantly grazing as their stomachs are so small, so it doesn’t necessarily deal with the underlying cause of obesity/metabolic probs= carby diets and snacking!! Many will gain some weight again after initially losing a lot.
Nickwap- doctors do say ‘lose weight’ but what they don’t do is follow that up with the best information and support. It is left to the individual in most cases to cope on their own and, as many people on this forum can tell you, that usually fails. Giving out pills is something a doctor can do for you in 10mins, is something that many people expect and medication does help. The doctor cannot make you lose weight.
Reading the BSD was an epiphany for me, I thought I knew about food and diets and dieting before that but that I just couldn’t stick to it, was stupid, addicted to eating, had no willpower etc. The light bulb went on and I know I can eat this way forever.
Now it remains for the message to spread so that as many people as possible benefit.

I made the lentl and spinach Dahl yesterday and it was really lovely especially as I added extra chilli powder to pep it up a bit.

It may be more of a habit, than a hungry problem. A lot of us are (were) used to evening nibbles and snacks after the day was done. Try distracting yourself on the way to the kitchen and cutting off the munchies before they start. I usually use a book, or a shower, or just read this forum, and the desire to eat often just goes.

Hi Meftl!

I hear you re: being more accurate with the counting…can be a little prone to approximation myself and need to refine things a little too. All the best with kick-starting again tomorrow morning – you’ve totally got this!! 🙂

Hi Jackieppp, You’re still with us! Fantastic. Can you have brunch, dinner and then a snack in the evening rather than breakfast, lunch and dinner? I skip breakfast, eat lunch at 13.30, dinner between 18.00 and 19.00 and always greek yogurt and berries for a snack before 20.30. This means I am doing a 17 hour fast as well as the BSD. It works well for me. It was just a thought which might help you.

Come on everyone, ideas to help Jackie please. Experience needed here I think. xx

Helloooo! I thought I’d join this merry gang too as I’m struggling a little with sticking to the plan. I was doing rather well and then a series of birthdays happened.. Oh dear. So I start again tomorrow morning. Got about 8kg to loose. Need to be a little more accurate in my counting too I feel. Wish me luck! Oh, and the same to you too! 🙂

Welcome Cara!

Hey Cara54 – welcome 🤗🤗🤗 I agree with your comment about fasting also – today I just had coffee at breakfast and a chopped up apple for lunch with plenty of water and peppermint tea throughout the day but enjoyed a really satisfying dinner of Thai chicken curry and then Greek yogurt with just and berries both from recepie book – totally delicious and very achievable for me a I have a very hectic job so usually eat on the hop anyway which isn’t good for you!!
If I have a decent portion at dinner I don’t feel deprived or hungry before bed although I know this method would not suit everyone X

Mixnmatch well done, that’s absolutely amazing!!! Low carb obviously does work 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Picked a bit for breakfast, just grazing bits and pieces from the fridge, but counted them all. Chicken and spinach with lemon juice for lunch, very simple and very satisfying. Tea was spaghetti squash with capers and parmesan, lamb merguez sausage and ‘fried’ tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, a chilli pepper and some fresh herbs. (Not enough calories left to use oil so just slung the chopped tomato in first and sautéed everything in the juice.) Feeling very full now.

Hello everyone. I also started on Monday but would like to join in with the chat. I’ve enjoyed reading the posts and feel encouraged by everyone’s weight loss. I would like to lose at least 3 stone so I really need to get into this. I find fasting easier than counting calories so I think I’ll give up breakfast for now. See how that goes.

AMGSyd, what wonderful and helpful hints! Thanks so much for your insight!

I was losing weight at around half a stone a month, but that was with a much more relaxed style than the Fast 800. I had a couple of weeks where I still tracked what I was eating but went back to eating bread, cake etc. and even drinking beer and wine, (major birthday, my half century, followed by a week camping in France.) I put a few pounds back on but immediately on restarting the 4:3 they went quickly again.

I have used the recipes for occasional ideas – things I wouldn’t think of combining etc. But mostly do my own thing certainly don’t see the book outline as a fixed plan of attack.

Yes, well worth a watch.
I angers me so much that the Doctors are happy to butcher and give pills but too PC to say ‘LOOSE WEIGHT!!’

The BSD is a dam sight less expensive than a lifetime of pills or surgery and I’m paying for it!

Rant over

Nick

I watched a programme on BBC Wales which was on just before this and the presenter followed a low carb diet for 3 weeks despite being advised not to do this by his G.P. and a weight loss expert. He lost 14lbs in weight, his B.P. dropped and his blood pressure dropped. This followed by the documentary on diabetes proved very interesting viewing. As nurse I can see how the NHS could save millions of pounds if they followed a different path and and changed their advice on diet. My sister-in-law is a very overweight type II diabetic and her G.P. seems to continue to increase her medication rather than to encourage her to change her terrible diet, and she appears happy to go along with it as it is an easier option, but in the long term I believe it will do her no good. Anyway rant over, I hope everyone is doing well, I lost 6.5lbs in my first week and I feel happier and more energised. Good luck !

Hi @cowslip. Thanks for your support. I have been logging into FMP to record my food/800cal. I looked at your comments and then found a section in the app the shows breakdown of intake by fat protein and carbs…. Guess what you are spot on it said that I had 37% carbs yesterday (my hungry day) compared to 20% and 25% on the days either side!! Whilst I didn’t think I’d had too many the proof was there!! I definitely know that I need to monitor this very carefully.
I think you may have just helped me to stay on track…. Thank you so very much!
@flash21 do you think the Keto calculator and MFP are essentially the same way of recording the data….. I had a brief look at the KC version and it seems to ask for the same info I put into MFP? I’m very new to these apps so doubt my ability all the time.
I hope everyone is having a great week again this week, half the week done…. Closer to week 3……..I’m definitely noticing a difference in how I look in my clothes this week. 😜

Took 12 bin bags full of clothes to the Charity shop a couple of weeks ago after trying on almost everything in my house. Kept only those things that I could still wear (many only with a good belt) and some new stuff that I have bought recently in sales etc. I am refusing to do a proper wardrobe refresh until my weight is both comfortable and stable, which may be sometime as I still intend to lose between 2 and 3 stone. I found a suit I have never worn and the skirt is too big! I have never worn it. Missed the window.

Hi mixnmatch 🙂

you’re very welcome. and wow – 6 st since Feb last year is amazing. you should be so proud of yourself. my goal through this is 2st and that feels insurmountable…

do you mind if i ask, did you experience much weight loss on the 4:3 version of the diet?

Hi Trelawney and all

Help!
I am still reading all the posts which I love to do but for some reason I’m on the bread. I have lost 13lb over a 3 maybe 4 month period but for the last 3 weeks nothing – not an ounce because of the bread. Daytime is fine it is evening when the munchies take over. BUT thanks for thinking of me now I’m going to get rid of this bread habit and do it properly and remind myself yet again of the title of this thread and why I need to do this.
Well, that’s enough about me – hope everyone is going good and losing weight.
Lots of love