Hi Shy,

Yup, Fatbloke is right, Bran Flakes are quite carby. Bananas too. And while nuts are good fats, watch out for the calories. Another really helpful poster on these threads – Igorasusual – has recommended this calculator to figure out your macros: http://keto-calculator.ankerl.com/ I hope it helps!

Hi Treelady, there are quite a few recipes on this website, plus more in the BSD diet book and recipe book that’s just come out. In my case, however, I cook my own recipes but adapt them to an overall 800 calories per day for me and then add beans, pasta, potatoes or rice for everyone else, or simply give them larger servings.

Congratulations on your anniversary. Hope you have a great weekend and a good start to next week. I found the early weight loss a big motivator to carry on, and there’s plenty of inspiration and support to be had on here.

I RESISTED CAKE! I still really want it. Nutella was involved. But no, I had a satsuma instead (a nicer one than the one from the bottom of my bag yesterday) 🙂

Mmmm hardboiled eggs, scrambled eggs, bacon……I want them all!!

Mmmm….I don’t think meal replacement would be very satisfying 🙁 Going down the real food route would better teach you what to eat, how to assess carb/sugar count, portion sizes etc. You can also learn to cook or improve cooking skills, try new recipes and so on.

“some” could be any number 🙂

Krysia must be great when clothes are too big! Looking forward to the day!!!

42 carbs is great sunshine-girl! Most people would be over the moon with that. I know it more than 30g but it’s still very acceptable and your net carbs will be less. Also 30 is just an arbitrary figure.

I’m sure that this question has probably been answered a hundred times but do we count carbs or net carbs? I just count carbs.

Dear All,
just a quick email to say that I will be starting the BSD on Monday and I am quite nervous about it. I am edging towards 13 stone and want to get back down into the 11 stone somethings and winter time is when I put on weight before losing a bit in the spring / summer again.

I love anything sugary and carb loaded (cakes, biscuits, buns) and I am not sure how I will get through the first week with out those. I have read some of the other helpful posts and will try out all the tips – so fingers crossed.

My other half is gluten intolerant but has an extremely physical job as a tree surgeon and so doesn’t need to lose weight, but I do all the cooking for both of us. If any one can provide hearty filling autumn / winter recipes that would suit us both that would be fab, as I really don’t fancy cooking his and hers meals every day.

Anyway, it’s our 7th wedding anniversary this weekend, and we are away for a dinner, bed and breakfast break in a lovely hotel down on Exmoor, hence the choice to start on Monday.

Looking forward to getting through this journey with you all,

all the best
Bt

I used to take a hard boiled egg to work to eat, and then a colleague started too, no one complained about the smell- well, not to me anyway!

Hello. So 3 stones is 42 lbs I believe. Did you lose that in the first 8 weeks? Do u mind me asking your starting weight? I am on day 2 of my first 8 weeks. I have a 100 lbs to lose. Would love those kind of results as well! Great job!!!

Hi sunshine-girl 4lbs isn’t really too much!!
Sure you’ll be able to do that before mid October!

I am just starting out so no expert but I do know that Bran Flakes have a load of sugar in them.

I do not have too much really some doughnuts, yoghurts, cheesecake and chocolate snack bars.

Just working out if I am going to do the meal replacement or real food.

Crikey, Chris, how much sweet stuff have you got in the house? If you’ve got a lot, I’m not sure eating all of it in one day is a good idea. If you really can’t bear to chuck it out, why not have a few days lead in to the diet, gradually reducing the amount of sugary stuff and carbs to a point where you have none left in the house and you are ready to cut the calories? Your body will be struggling if you put loads of sugar in it all in one go.

Best of luck with the diet in any case. You’d be surprised how quickly you can lose the sugar craving.

Hi Babs,
I’ve just read this thread and just wanted to say congratulations to you and your husband. What a fantastic outcome. That “emphatically no” must have given you a tremendous sense of achievement and pride. Looking forward to reading more of your posts.

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

> Have wonderful images of you eating up all the sweet stuff in the cupboards!

It is not pretty I can tell you!

> You’re going to have one hell of a comedown!

So true tomorrow I am going to be such a bundle of fun, good job I am working from home. :O)

Will keep you all updated.

Cheers

FB

Welcome Purplespice!

I am also insulin resistant and find losing weight incredibly difficult. I started this plan a couple of weeks ago and lost about 3lbs in one week (before putting it all back on again when I went away and didn’t follow the diet at all!). I’m restarting this week with a much more determined attitude. As Snoop says, these forums are amazing for support, inspiration, ideas, recipes and more. You can search them using the little box in the top right hand corner of the screen if there is something specific you want to find out about. If I may, my main advice would be:

Prepare, prepare and prepare! Write shopping lists, plan meals, scope out restaurant menus before you go. This will keep you on the straight and narrow!
Drink water. Lots and lots of water. Still or sparkling. Hyrdration is key but the water will also flush out nasties and help you to feel full.
Don’t beat yourself up if you fall of the wagon in the early days (or even later on). You are learning and finding your feet. If you succumb to something you shouldn’t, note why that might have happened but then forget about it and make sure you make a better choice next time.
Fat is your friend! This one is the weirdest one to get used to, I think. But go for full fat cream and yoghurt, use proper butter and olive oil, use avocados and nuts. This will really help with satiety and keep you from turning to carbs.

You’ve got this! Keep us posted 🙂

Well, wish me luck, ladies… I’m cleaning up the place, finishing a workout, getting my ca-ca together, and I’ll be off to see the new gynie! *insert anxious sigh* Yankee docs make me a bit nervous. I’ve had a couple of mean/irritable ones, and one weird one…

***Horrible true, ( swear to god, or whatever passes as such ), story : I was newly married, and had gone to see the gynie for a possible yeast infection. He was old as dirt, and grouchy as a grizzly. He fussed at me for not douching, ( I have chemical sensitivities – don’t even wear make up, or perfume ), and told me that I needed to keep it “finger-licking good” at all times :-O Then, called both my husband, ( he had brought me to the appointment ), and I into his office, and proceeded to talk directly to my husband, and hand him the scripts!!! I felt like a sick bitch, that had been off to the vet :-< ( This was back in the 80’s, so no, they hopefully don’t do stuff like that anymore! ) Still, it was an “experience”, to say the least.

Now that would cause a reaction- the smell of bacon! It’s making me hungry thinking about it!!

Hello again Pamela,

I don’t think making m/wave scrambled eggs smells too eggy! But if there is an aroma in your office just open the window 😉 Once people see you losing weight with your new way of eating they’ll be begging for them too! I forgot to say in my last post that if you fancy something to go with your eggs you can also do bacon in the microwave. Do it on a plate with some kitchen roll on top and it should come out nice and crispy!

This should now be called Week 20, day 4.

Firstly I have now lost 2st 2.5lbs in 20 weeks. I went to see my endocrinologist for the first time since he pointed a finger at me and said “You are diabetic” five months ago. My blood sugar had spiked for one day only (which happened to be the day of my blood test) from pre-diabetic into the diabetic range. It has now dropped back into the lower pre-diabetic range. He was delighted that I had managed to lose so much weight and get my blood sugar down so I asked him whether I am still diabetic and he answered “emphatically no”. Last time I saw him he was concerned that I had a fatty liver and sent me for an ultrasound. I waited until I had been doing BSD for six weeks before doing the test. He looked at the result today and it says that there is very little fat round my liver.

So a good result all round. I still have a lot of weight to shift and I really want to get my blood sugar level right out of pre-diabetic so I will press on.

My husband, who is type 2, has just changed back from Januet (which is very expensive here) to metformin and we will see how he gets on with that.

Hey FatBloke!

Have wonderful images of you eating up all the sweet stuff in the cupboards! I haven’t done that yet although I’ve started the diet so I know there are still tempting items in there. Must clean it out!

I have ridiculous cravings. I always want something sweet after lunch and dinner (and most likely inbetween as well…). The things I am finding helpful are:

Sparkling water with no-sugar squash to give a sweet-ish taste
1 or 2 squares of really good quality dark chocolate
Peppermint tea (also helps with bloating and general soothing)
And peanut butter like Timmy. Although I haven’t even got the healthy natural stuff, just a jar from Asda. I LOVE peanut butter and could eat a whole jar, but that’s probably how I’ve ended up here so will have to restrain myself. A little teaspoon is ok here and there
Sugar free jelly – Hartleys do one (find in Sainsburys or Asda) which is only 10cals per pot
Hot choc (can make with water if necessary) – but definitely check the carbs and cals as all brands are not alike!
Small satsuma or a few berries

You will find that your cravings diminish. This happened to me before I derailed my first week on BSD by going away for the weekend. Now I’m back on the wagon and hoping that the cravings will reduce again. Sometimes it’s just a case of telling yourself no. Other times the cravings monster might be too big to beat, but try some of the alternatives and see how you get on. An absolute necessity is to keep drinking water. Lots of it and then some more again. The more you drink, the better hydrated you are but also the less hungry you’ll feel. If you can keep hunger at bay you will also tame the cravings better.

Good luck! Let us know how you get on 🙂

If you are using myfitnesspal what are suggested macros for a day?

Oh, so so to hear you had to go through so much so soon <3

Shalimar, if you don’t mind my asking, did you have a partial, or a complete hysterectomy?

If I went that route, I would need a complete, as I have both uterine fibroids, and ovarian cysts :-<

*POSSIBLE TMI WARNING : I am scared of the downtime, the possible bad side-effects, but I am also scared of something else… I have heard many women say that a hysterectomy can not only reduce your libido, but hamper, ( eradicate even? ), normal sexual function, ( orgasm ) :-O

My husband is an engineer, ( high-stress position ), and he works a lot. Sadly, we are arguing more than usual, due to homesickness, and problems settling here. We both miss BC, ( Canada ), horribly, and are doubting our decision to relocate here. Sex, when it actually happens, is one of the few good things in my life right now. I don’t want to mess that up ={

😂😂 when Dr M said you need to clear out all of the sugary things in your house, I don’t think he meant into your mouth. You’re going to have one hell of a comedown!

Anyway, back to question. I can honestly say that I very rarely crave anything sweet now. Previously I used to smash in a chocolate bar/cake after every meal but I don’t fancy them any more.

I did have a cheat to wean me off them though, and that was peanut butter (meridian, no added anything). Although it isn’t actually seeet it satiated that desire, and was an absolute lifesaver for the first few weeks

Oh, no worries. My stepdad is from Cambridge; I have a lot of family down in County Cork, Ireland, and we were stationed outside of London, and over in Cardiff, for a bit, so I know all about the NHS! Need a laugh? I had a friend whose Mum was a retired NHS worker, and she used to whinge worse that anyone about it – LOL! I could always tell when she was getting ready to have a rant… It would begin : “Blimey, do you know what those bloody boffins have done now?!?”

Still… All kidding aside… Trust me, Frog – I’ll take the NHS, with all of it’s issues, or just good old Canadian medical, over the complete, and utter shite we have down in the States! It is the worst – all private, and damned expensive. Besides, many of the docs are “in bed” with the big pharmaceutical companies, and you can’t always trust the advice, or the scripts >;-[ ( For any overly sensitive people here – no, I am not Yankee-bashing. I love my birth country; I just hate the medical system. )

*To any non-US poster : If you really want to feel better about your healthcare system… Download a movie called “Sicko”, by Michael Moore. It details many of the problems those of us in the States deal with, as well has general issues facing users of privatized healthcare. It is a real eye-opener :-<

Hi,

I am starting BSD tomorrow and was wondering how have people dealt with their sugar addiction?

Today I am eating all the sweet stuff in the house … I mean someone has to do it right?

Thanks

Chris

MyFitnessPal will not let you complete your calories for the day if you are under 1200 for a man and 1000 for a women. Just means you do not get an estimate of your weight if you stuck to the same calories for 5 weeks.

It is useful for seeing the macro nutrients of your food.

Hi all – hope you’re all surviving post Bake Off temptation. We’ve only recently moved house, and NONE of the TV aerials work, so I shall be grateful for one less temptation.

Having said that, my two girls made a chocolate cake last night (to take into school today, thank god) …and I found myself having to submerge every last cooking utensil into soapy water as soon as possible to stop me licking, tasting or just throwing myself into the bowl naked …

DAY 5 for me today. I need more FIBRE, so had an omelette with mushrooms, with a side of broccoli and asparagus for breakfast. Off to make broccoli soup for lunch (not sure why I’m torturing myself with my least favourite vegetable).

Dinner tonight … either a steak hache (like a burger, from M&S yesterday) with lots of veggies, or a marinaded chicken breast …

EXERCISE – decided to see how long it would take me to do 10,000 steps … an hour and forty minutes of walking. Tiring all in one go, and maybe a weeny bit too time consuming for me. Anyone got any other thoughts?

Good luck today everyone (me included)!

Hi Shalimar – thank you for the link to the Palouse Mindfulness (in today’s positive thinking thread). I’ve been looking for a meditation to help with ‘difficult feelings’ and et voila, there was one on the link. A nice, brief 15 minutes to help me deal with something upsetting. Very timely. And very much appreciated. Thank you.

Hi, there is a kitchen as I work in a Turkey factory! Obviously very busy this time of year and we also get cheap (no pun intended) Turkey in the company shop. The kitchen is fully kitted out with an oven but it is usually used for just cooking up samples for taste panels. I tend to like to use the microwave as its quick and easy, will have to give the scrambled eggs a go whilst at work, just would not want the office to smell ‘eggy’!

Pamela – eek! eating breakfast at work is an added complication ( saying that safely from my retirement ) is there a kitchen? I believe you can microwave omelettes/scrambled eggs in special dishes. Might get a queue of other staff begging for some if the aroma pervades the building 😉 If you look at Izzy’s 8 week diary she makes her own Scotch eggs without crumbs, that might be a cold option? Something hot in a flask? We don’t need to hang on to traditions of what we eat when so soup/stew for breakfast could be an option ( also I’m not diabetic so don’t have that to factor in either ) and as you trawl the website you will get the drift that many of us have to test and try what ‘works for us’ as we are so different in our metabolisms/what is wrong with our bodies/what we used to eat….. I personally wouldn’t last long with a ‘shake’ but many find them filling and enjoy them. I try to find stuff that doesn’t need loads of washing up. Enjoy your planning and keep posting your progress.

Very timely thread, as yesterday ended up feeling like a black cloud day due to dog and husband … and once the black cloud settles, even when sunshine is all around, I find it hard to shift. So, thinking back to yesterday, and the GOOD THINGS that happened will be BRILLIANT for me:

1. Lovely 13 year old daughter was reasonable about not being able to do something she really wanted to do. Reasonable, in my 13 year old, is like, possibly the best gift ever!

2. Out of dastardly dog escaping, I finally met our lovely neighbours two doors down. They seem like darlings, and gave me a box of Celebrations to welcome us to our new street. How kind.

3. Girls made a chocolate cake last night (thankfully to take into school today) … and even TIDIED up after themselves.

Actually, now I’m re-reading this, wonder if they’d spotted the dark cloud above my head 🙂

The recipe book is great, Vikkia. My personal favourite so far is the Thai Red Curry but there’s loads more still to try yet.

I Need to get on to the techies then! 🤔🤔🤔thanks 1960

Hi Kristin
I too have (over) 100lbs to loose and it does seem really daunting, but I have got to the stage where i’ve just got to make this work. I am now on day 4 and so far it’s going ( much to my surprise ) really well. The scales this morning show a loss of 4 lbs, and my aching knees seem a bit better too !
I used to eat huge amounts of food, I love everything, and had got into the habit of 2-3 large glasses of wine every night. I didn’t think I could do this, but by planning, it’s very do-able. I drink loads of water, green tea, a low- cal dry ginger when craving something sweeter and a 39cal hot chocolate at night. I fill up with tons of salad or veg and make everything very tasty so you don’t feel deprived at mealtimes. Home made soups or even a bovril/oxo type drink between meals helps too. Good luck

I can see it Yowzer and thanks for the easy to understand destructions lol

1960 glad you could understand my instructions!
Can you see the pic yrself? If you can,i need to contact the techies coz i cant see my pix on here

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb35/halfpint1960/Mobile%20Uploads/image.jpeg

Lunch today
Green Thai paste soup made with an avocado and green paste with Chinese veg yummy

A bit excited! I got the recipe book today, some of the recipes sound sooo yummy!

It’s real interesting so far …. loved the lack of duality because that’s also in A Course in Miracles which i had been working on as well. I can’t hardly wait!!! 🙂

Hi All, Verano, we have some nice restaurants that do a fixed meal for around 13 euros but this one was just particularly bad. They are okay in the evening when they have a bigger menu.

Frog, most lunchtime fixed price restaurants have at least a couple of choices or you can eat from the more expensive (but still a good price) menu, this place was take it or leave it, and I left most of it. Very good for the diet must go there again.

Well I have made a massive mistake this morning by having a melon, spinach and almond milk shake. I wondered why I was buying almond milk and today used real milk, then I saw the carbs and calories – about half as much again than the almond. The melon was 11 carbs and because I was using real milk I threw in a handful of real almonds. Total for one meal 28 carbs. So abject failure but lesson learned.

I have had to trim the rest of the day down in carbs but still could not stay under 30 so my total for the day will be 42 carbs. Calories 670, so maybe that will help make up for it.

Weight 74.9 the same as yesterday
Fasting blood glucose 5.5 (100)

Tomorrow is another day and frankly my dear I DO give a damn. To misquote gone with the wind, or was that the cabbage I had yesterday.

That’s brilliant Cdh1966
You are doing everything right. I would think it is just a blip – maybe because of your hormones – and I would carry on as you are.

shalimar
Good luck with the Palouse course, it’s full of practices that compliment behaviour change elsewhere.
Completing the suggested daily forms is pretty essential imho to record and understand your progress. The wider reading helps too.
Like the BSD it’s an 8-week process of gradual change and developing new habits, which only you can do.

Stay strong Lucy Jane. Big hugs to you. Just know if you stick to 800 to 1000 Cal’s it’s just not possible to NOT lose weight. It might be slower or might just suddenly show, but it has to happen.
I know I fluctuate a load due to time of month etc, so that might be some factor.
I have not had a good few days and temptation got the better of me…….still better than pre bsd so taking positive in that,…. but stress has definitely weakened me and slipping into take away coffee habit again.
Just touching base here tonight has strengthened my resolve for tomorrow…so thanks.
Husband away for three weeks now so that will help control what food comes into the house!

KrysiaD – the only carbs I get are from green veg, don’t do chickpeas, beans etc so would think I’m under 50g a day. Haven’t eaten bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, veg below ground for over 6 months now.

Hba due end of November want it below 141 by then – last one was 144

Cdh1966
You are so right about the hormones having an effect on your blood sugars.
Also – I found that if I increased my carbs that also had an effect on my fasting and daytime readings.

I am one of those people who had to keep carbs lower than 50g to lose weight and improve blood sugars.

1) grateful for the Mindfulness section here … and the free online http://palousemindfulness.com/selfguidedMBSR_week0.html
2) happy for the prospect of doing aquabics in a heated pool at the gym in about 1 hour
3) Hawaiian hazelnut coffee

Hiho…..please accept my apologies for not replying to you much sooner. I have been on holiday and part of it had no internet connection plus I had only limited opportunities to post. How are things going with you?
We did lots of walking and sightseeing and we made a positive effort to go long ways around etc to get the maximum effect.
I weighed myself this morning….held my breath, kept fingers crossed etc because I also had no way of keeping up with my fitness pal and didn’t take the fitbit with me because I knew in advance that it would be pointless. In a way it was a bit like swimming with no floats for the first time as I had begun to rely on my meal planning to keep me safe by using the amounts by the computer lol!
I needn’t have worried because by careful selection from various menus I have still lost some and am proud to say am now 10 stone 5lb and the green light area of the BMI chart has finally told me “I am normal”…..what a relief!
Have made a date with a friend to meet up in Manchester next week and finally buy those gap jeans I have been promising myself.
I can honestly say I have never felt better in my life and am now the same weight as before my son was born more than 30 years ago.
If any of you out there are flagging my advice is just keep on plugging away in spite of those fall offs/plateaus even when you begin to think perhaps you are not really meant to be any smaller/lighter/fitter or whatever your original goal was and you can do it. Don’t worry about what anyone else is achieving because we are all different….fill up on the (above ground) veggies and as many different colours of them as you can and guzzle the water (& step away from the cake shop window!!?)