Lol not use a Shammie , but No not a period since like I said best thing I ever done get round the dr and just tell him to sort it good luck 😀

I am too. First time watching it. I just want to eat those cakes! However I am sucking on my new nicotine free grape flavour shisha pen in the hope it will stop me eating something I shouldn’t.

Hi everyone
Is any one else sat in front of the TV watching bake off and thinking why am I on my 8 week diet and why am I watching it 😱 Or am I the only nut case lol time for my glass of water

Hi Lucy Jane . I have been challenging my alcohol consumption for years and have come a long way. I found it best to strengthen my awareness of how the mind works. The undertow is the strongest and hidden reflex. That happens when you’re doing really well and then the undertow drags you into old behaviors when your awareness drops. Yoga is great to strengthen the mind and meditation is also great for me. Hope this helps.

Hello and welcome Timetochange!

Pulses are absolutely fine on the BSD but they do tend to be carb heavy and it can be more effective in weight loss terms to keep carbs to 50g or less per day within your 800 calories.

So if you can count in your pulses according to targets, carry on – otherwise perhaps you could reduce quantities and/or eat less frequently?

Whilst it does take a little getting used to, cutting out refined carbs completely can be done relatively easily and a lot of people see amazing benefits.

Good luck and do keep asking questions if you need to – and use the SEARCH box as there is a lot of experience on this forum now! 🙂

Ok!! Shame the food was that bad but maybe it saved you from yourself! At least the rest of the days food sounds lovely.

I agree with you about the 5 courses almost like the eat as much as you like buffets for €7 that seem to be around in most resorts! In saying that in Spain restaurants have to serve a ‘Menu del Dia’ which is very reasonable and is normally of good quality. Usually 3 courses, with a choice and a drink. The food in most decent places is just smaller portions from the main menu.

Going to watch GBBO soon!!! I can drool even if I can’t partake !

Hi, I started the diet 3 days ago. It’s pretty tough but so far so good. I have experience of 5:2 but wanted to lose some more weight, but quicker. I don’t have diabetes or high blood sugar, but as my dad developed it in his 50’s with no apparent risks factors (he was probably what they now call a TOFI type), I want to ensure that I do what I can to avoid it. I love potatoes so that’s hard. I have no idea if I will last, or need to do the full 8 weeks. I. could comfortably lose at least 1 stone, so I will see how it goes. I was wondering how much people incorporate pulses into the diet. I eat pulses regularly as part of my normal diet, but want to ensure that I don’t go overboard. I’m weighing everything and can keep that up for a few weeks. Also I was wondering what people have found when eating out. I know each place will be different, but any experience/tips from those of you more experienced? Any experience, advice etc is really welcomed. Thanks

Lots of us ‘old-timers’ have been on the BSD for a sustained period, staying with the 800 calories and low-carb – whatever carb limit we have set for ourselves.

After deciding I could do anything for 8 weeks, I find I’ve been doing it (the BSD) for 9 months. No, it’s not always been easy. Much of my work involves food and people can be sensitive if you don’t eat what they’ve prepared. But it doesn’t often bother them now. Each trip away from home has been a learning experience, building on the trip before.

But the benefits (health and non-health) have been great. And of course the weight loss.

After I saw the first rapid results I wanted to stay with this plan. Now I can’t imagine ever returning to eating the way I used to. I will be staying low-carb now. I just don’t want to go back to feeling like I used to!

But that’s me. Others will do it differently.

That does seem odd, sharonjean5cc. I still have skimmed milk (I like it), and 20 cl is given as 10 carbs on Fat Secret.

hope your meeting with the doc goes well – I had this over 10 years ago and had a hysterectomy. Never looked back. Apart from feeling very tired, and unable to go anywhere, my whole life seemed to be dominated by this huge loss of blood. If you are putting on weight would it help to drink more water maybe? I used progesterone cream externally to help with menopause symptoms which seemed to work well x good luck x

WOW. No period? At all??? Oh, Coady, that just sounds so good!
I’ve got to do something. I hope the doc will be nice, and actually give a damn, and run full labs!
*No, never spent the night on the bog, but have found a new use for those “super shamwow car shammies” , that I’m pretty sure Billy Mays would never have thought of – LOL!

Still sticking to it too. I am not weighing myself till the end but I change into a dress when I get in from work that is not that flattering at the moment. I hope to see this improve as the days and weeks go on. Plus, where it looks so awful on, it has kept me motivated not to give up. Keeping in carb range on my fitness pal. My only concern is that the semi skimmed milk is logged as zero carb. Surely this is wrong?

Verano the food was terrible. It is one of those cheap French restaurants where you get 5 courses and a glass of wine for €13. Most of it I couldn’t eat because it was carb and some I couldn’t eat because I didn’t know what was in it and neither did the waitress (an old lady who helps out now and then). The starter was tomato soup with noodles, I tried to eat around the noodles and got about 2 tablespoonsful. The next course was supposed to be a plate of chacuterie (cold meats) it was a choux bun full of something, didnt eat, tomato topped with something, ate the tomato, and one slice of pate. Turned out the something was tuna mayo. Main was guinea fowl, okay but overcooked and dry, served with mush of cabbage, nothing else. Then I had the cheese course, 2 v small slices of cheese. For pudding they had coconut cake with raspberry coulis. I ordered it then shared it with my friends.

It was easy to resist the wine as they give you a bottle of red without asking and as my OH and 2 friends all drink red I just did without.

I don’t know why the Brits go to these awful restaurants, some sort of wow we can get 5 courses etc. I’d much rather go to my 1 Michlen star place that does a set lunch for €25. Wine is extra but the food is amazing.

So that is why, with grilled mushrooms and poached egg for breakfast and a fritatta for dinner I managed 700 calories. I will have a snack later with the 100 calories spare and I have had a half hour swim, it was lovely.

Hi doordie
Just reading your post I had heavy bleeding for years super plus and extra large pads used to last about an hour on me then have to change some nights I have slept on the loo that’s how bad I let it get in the end went to see dr had the tablets did work for about a week then back to bleeding so ended up up the hospital had scans then they found polyps and fibroids went in and they took a sample of them to make sure they were not cancerous, came back all clear then had a choice coil or endometrial treatment had the endometriosis (basically they laser the lining of your womb out) took ten mins from start to finish and i have not seen a period since that was last Dec I wish I had done it years ago hope this helps but one thing I did notice was when I was having my monthly blood donation as I called them I would gain between 2 and 4 pounds in weight
Hope you go and see your dr and get it sorted
Coady

Back from doctors…bp still improved but not normal yet. However was a bit stressed coz by the time I got in to see Doc,i had waited for 3/4 hour past my appt time …it was nearly 5.30 and was anxious to get to a shop before it closed at six ( just made it) so i think my bp was up a bit coz of that. Doc suggested i do a 24 hr blood pressure monitoring to get a good picture round the clock.so will try that tho i recall a friend doing it and it was a bit of a faff….

Blood sugar was normal but amazingly it always has been! I assumed i must be pre diabetic before starting BSD,considering the amount of junk i shovelled down.

The Best News !!! Cholesterol has fallen..pre BSD was six something,now 4.6!
Asked gp her thoughts about it dropping after my switch from low fat to full fat,and she said its coz i’m no longer eating the trans fats in low fat spreads,biscuits,cakes etc..so I thought that was very telling! X 😋😋😋

Hi Igorasusual.

Thanks for posting the link to check your metabolic rate. I have just dived in and checked my rate and it came out with a reading of around 1550. Many mountains to climb before I can safely look at going for this daily intake but the fact that I can enjoy 800 cals a day makes me more determined to reach my goal weight.
Any ideas on what other vegetables can be spiraliser would be appreciated.
I have bought an aubergine today with a view to expanding my OH’s palate even further. Glad to say that he has not rejected any of my meals so far, with the exception of an avocado. I am looking for ways to disguise this within other vegetables as the BSD poached egg and avocado just did not work for him (can’t say here exactly what was said, as you all have very sensitive ears – ha ha)

Just to say, abisaysyes, welcome to the club of all of us who fall off the wagon and feel bad about it.

CONGRATULATIONS on wanting to climb back on, and the good news is that you can and you’ve not been bad and wrong you’ve been human. 🙂

Everyone has a fail or indeed more than one, and instead of deciding that you’ve completely messed it up, you can start again at any point – and in fact the weight you gained will probably fall off again quite quickly.

If you can learn from what went wrong – did you have temptation lying round, did you have some stress, did you not plan in advance and have the right food – whatever went wrong, if you can understand it then maybe next time you won’t do it, or you will manage to do less.

This isn’t easy if you have a CARB MONSTER on your shoulder whispering in your ear…..but we’ve been taught to eat the wrong way, and you need to KICK THE MONSTER not KICK YOURSELF.

So welcome back on to the wagon, I don’t think you will have missed too much and you come back wiser, which is a WIN whichever way you look at it.

Well done, and WELCOME BACK again 🙂 🙂

Hey everyone! How’s it going? I…errr…. am not doing so great, and putting the weight back on!!! ARgh. So going to be on it again from tomorrow. Anyone want to join me for a second bout? Or are you all doing great and lost all you need to lose already, and it’s just me floundering?! Hope you’re all well xxx

Dear Candi

Do you have one of the books? The good news is that they are full of chicken and fish recipes, which you could pad out with pasta and the like for the rest of the family.

Do make sure that you are filling up with enough fat and protein – those are the cornerstones of this approach as far as I can see. It’s not just low carb.

Other than my sneaky cheats with milk and a banana I’ve eaten only recipes from the book and to my surprise I’m not at all hungry. They are fairly simple with lots of ideas for quick lunches and so on. Another advantage of doing it by the book is that you don’t have to count cals and carbs. This is the first time that I’ve followed a diet meal plan and the recipies are really delicious.

This early stage is all about finding our way, I think, so keep going.

Best x

3 hours and only 700cals! Well done.

Looks like water with that snack tonight!!!!

Oh, I certainly hope so – I need something to shift for me!

* According to the A*k&n% site, the lowest carb fruits are : olives, avocados, berries, and fresh apricots. Bananas, mangoes, dates, and grapes are the worst.

And, of course no grains, or bread at all :-<
On being female, and eating bread after 40… Well, ladies, you may as well sit in it – ’cause that’s where it’s gonna go >;-[

Well, Yowzer, I know exactly what you mean…

One time i told the doc i was feeling very unwell coz had been bleeding for over 2 weeks and he didnt believe me..
* I have to go in tomorrow, and tell a doc that I’ve been bleeding like this for almost a year , and a half :-O
Fortunately, for once in my life, I did something kinda smart, but kinda gross – I ballsed-up, grabbed the camera, and took some snaps! I’m going to print those out later on today, and bring them with me. ( Yeah, they’re pretty horrific, but they’re also very “telling”. )

could your inability to lose weight be hormone related?
* May be. On the advice of a medically trained friend, I was taking an all natural, bio-identical progesterone cream, ( to help control the bleeding ). I stopped this almost two weeks ago, as I didn’t really feel that it was helping me much, other than to sleep at night. This morning I have noticed that the bleeding is a tiny bit less, also, I am not so tired. HMmmmmm….

I am really hoping that the doc will do a hormone level check. Fingers crossed! I need something to shift here, before I lose my mind!

Thanks Igor 🙂 I don’t have anything to hand at the mo and the canteen and shop here are closed! But I will remember those suggestions for other moments like this, esp as I really like those baby tomatoes! Think will have to trot off to the vending machine and find some fizzy water. I will control my hunger!!

Depending where you are and accessibility to food

10g nuts (weigh carefully, eat slowly – NOT a handful) 66 calories 1 carb
6 baby plum tomatoes eaten very very slowly 16 calories 2 carbs

Or another glass of fizzy water, and enjoy the feeling of hunger and being in control……(as recommended by Dr MM but not always achievable!)

Hi Snoop.
I bought a spiraliser a few weeks ago and I must say it is the best thing I have bought to date. My OH will actually eat omelettes and curries with courgettes used to ‘pad’ them out. Like you I have not tried anything else but looking forward to learning what else I can use.

Argh! I’m HUNGRY. The afternoon slump has kicked in. I don’t really want to have anything else to eat between now and dinner time but my stomach is rumbling away. I’ve tried drinking a couple of glasses of water to see if that helps but it hasn’t! What would you do in this kind of situation?

I have bought 5:2Vegetarian by Celia Brooks- where all meals are 300 cals or less and Hamlyn’s book- 200 light vegetarian dishes where the recipes are 400/300/200. I have also bought the recipe book produced alongside this diet- it is not veggie- but those that are not suitable I will use substitutes- like tofu- which is definitely allowed and occasionally quorn- the basic quorn is recognised as low fat- I would not personally buy their ready meals while on the diet.

Go for it mazzawazzawoo, it is possible. Follow the book as closely as possible and come to this forum for support if you’re ever doubting anything.

Hey Doordie,

Sounds like you’re well up on knowing what works or doesn’t work for you and you seem to be a low carb pro already! Keeping carbs under 40 seems like a huge challenge but I think I might have to drop mine down slightly if the 50g limit doesn’t work for me. I think pears can be quite carby, as are apples, unfortunately. I think berries and citrus fruits are ok in moderation. 100g of pear, for example, has 15g of carbs and apples are similar so 230g would be over 30g of carbs. I guess you already know this, however! Have heard of progesterone cream but have not used it so cannot offer any stories, I’m afraid. Hopefully things will continue to improve now you’ve stopped using it 🙂

Just to say, mazzawazzawoo, you have seen Captainlynne’s results – she’s nearly at 100 lbs loss, and I think Stewart has posted a thread about his own 100 lbs loss. Just calculated that your 7.5 stone is 105 lbs, so it is indeed possible……

use Search boxes to see their threads

Very good luck to all 🙂 Keep posting 🙂

Wow thank you for posting your progress. I started today and need to lose more than 5 stone to get to where I feel comfortable but 7.5 stone to get to a healthy bmi so a whopping 47kg to lose. You have inspired me to go for it. I have also written down in my pad the reasons for starting including removing the fat from my pancreas to be able to prevent diabetes. I’m thinking the science will motivate me more seeing as I have already tried every diet out there!

I feel for you DOORDIE but i like yr sense of humour!
I had similar periods to yours for most of my adult life until i finally had a hysterectomy. Aged 44.
Was such a relief after years of tampons AND what i used to call ” road accident size” pads but STIll folk sidling up to me to whisper there was blood on the back of my skirt! Plus of course the awful cramps like a litter of rats were gnawing at my insides! And all happening pretty much everey fortnight. Exactly the same even when on the pill.
One time i told the doc i was feeling verey unwell coz had been bleeding for over 2 weeks and he didnt believe me..
🙁

could your inability to lose weight be hormone related? I know my Doc told me i had very high levels of oestrogen in my system pre menopause and that could lead to probs trying to shed weight

From yr description of yrslef you sound very compact in build ,so could this mean you are muscly so that you weigh heavier,as muscle weighs heavier than flab? I hope you find a solution,as there’s nothing more miserable than really trying yr hardest but not seeing results.. We all do it for the rewards and you deserve to get them too xxx

Thanks for the positive words Yowzer49 and 1960smp, it’s very heartening.

The BSD has totally exceeded my expectations so far. I thought my initial 22.7Kg target loss was a stretch but with the start I’ve had, I see it as very realistic.

Thanks 1960 just about to go to the docs…!
that first BSD step is a big one and its scary but once you get going,its easier than you think,the days stack up fast, and the rewards are brilliant! Jump on in,nothing to lose but pounds and inches XXX
I have wasted years saying i will start tomorrow or i will start next monday ! Theres no time like the present,carpe diem ! X

FOLLOW-UP NOTE : I am beginning to think some of my issues are likely hormonal. On the advice of a medically-trained friend of the family, I was taking an all natural, ( bio-identical ), progesterone cream. I stopped this roughly two weeks ago, as other than sleeping better at night, I did not feel that it was helping me. SInce then, I have a tiny bit more energy, and seem to be a bit less depressed. Also, this morning upon waking, I noticed the bleeding was less =]

Fingers crossed!

Just curious… Any ladies on here have any experience/stories regarding the use of progesterone cream?

Flash, I track my calories obsessively, but am not tracking carbs, as I eat lo-carb, naturally. *I eat lo-carb, but no longer ketogenic, as it was aggravating some health issues. ( I usually keep my net carbs under 40. I have to go under 15 to achieve actual ketosis. ) However, now that autumn is here, those lovely, little, red pears are in at the grocers, and I bought one the other day. ( It had more carbs than I thought! ) I have become accustomed to having a fruit at breakie – either in my smoothie, or with my yoguhrt. ( No, I never eat stuff like bananas, or mangos! ) I am going to start doing a better job with trying to choose a more lo-carb fruit. I adore apple/butternut squash soothies! ( I never eat more than around 230 g, [ 2/3 C ], of fruit at a time, anyhow. )

The fruit… It’s my one treat, other than coffee/tea, and I just really don’t want to give it up :-<

Hi lgorasusual

Think I will take the same approach at my December review. Let’s see if they will put me as Type2 in remission.

Hi Frog

That’s a great suggestion and I’ll get access to my records online.

When I got my 62 hba1c it was the practise nurse, didn’t even get to see a GP.

On my recent visit to the practice nurse I left her a copy of Professor Roy Taylor information for Doctors as she didn’t know about his or Michael Mosley so work.

My next blood test is in December so I will carry on with my current regime of food and exercise and see what happens then.

Oh, please do, Natalie!
* Good luck with the surgery!

Just got back from my 3 hour lunch and put all my food for the day through my calculator and will end the day on exactly 30 carbs and 700 calories. I need a night time snack so I will have something with no carbs.

Oh, no, Shalimar – I am still quite the “chunky monkey” – LOL!

*MOMENT OF SHAME /Horrible confession : I am only 156 cm, ( 5′ 1.5″ ), tall, but I used to weigh almost 136kg, ( 300lbs ) :-O

( Good golly. Ms. Molly – I know – I was a real “dumpling”, and not the kind you find on the DimSum trolley, either! )

Today, my weight hovers around 90kg/200lbs. So, I still have a way/weigh, ( sad lol ), to go. My “saving grace” is that I am something the fellas in the gym refer to as a “mesomorph”. ( I have a LOT of thick muscle, covered by a good layer of fat. ) Think : well-fed, lady bulldog?

Yes, I exercise, but it is limited, by both the bleeding, and an injury to my left leg. I do Tabata five days a week, and lift weights, as well. Also, I garden, fish, and hunt, when I have the time. I am fairly active, for my injuries, and “condition”.

On snap peas… Mmmmmm … Do you live near a WalMart? WM sells them pre-washed in a steamer bag. Just poke a little hole in the bag, steam, lightly salt, and enjoy! Oh, those are good – YUM!!!

For anyone reading this : Autumn is here, and spaghetti squash are in season ! Do you know SS has only 31 C a cup? To prepare, simply cut in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds, sprinkle with seasoned salt, Italian seasoning, and spray with butter-flavored spray. Roast at GM 6/*200C/ *400F until soft, and lightly brown, and enjoy! Eat plain, or top with lo-cal sauce!

What a nice thread to read. Lovely comments and brilliant support. Well done everyone. I started Monday. Had a blip today when a piece of cake was left for me but hey ho onwards and upwards.!!! I need to shift at least 28lbs Trying to follow the 800 cals version

Hi Scotgran

My OH was also not keen to lose weight, as he didn’t want ‘to look haggard’. However, Type 2 diabetic and quite interested in not doing the Metformin (4 per day on top of other medications).

So he focused NOT on the calories but on ditching the refined carbs, and also keeping overall carbs down to less than 50g per day.
So he could eat steaks, lots of fish, eggs, cheese, nuts and was aiming for 1500 calories plus.

After a bit he noticed that his belt was needing tightening, and his waist measurement (and neck measurement) went down. He has reduced trouser sizes by two (now in 34) and shirts to medium also. Lost c half a stone, so not really very much – but the visceral fat round his waist has gone. Change in shape.

He feels fantastic – he says better than he’s ever been, partly because instead of waking in the morning and feeling exhausted, he leaps out of bed all enthusiastic about the day.

And even better are the overall results

He started BSD end May this year. Had a HbA1c blood test early June then went to the doctor and asked for her support (NOT permission) to try and take control of his Type 2 by diet, requesting more regular monthly HbA1c tests to see how he was doing.

July test showed a good drop in BS to nearly normal levels (given the HbA1c reflects 3 months of blood sugar results, this was fabulous). August showed a further fall to normal levels and the doctor said he could come off Metformin (so effectively that’s off the Metformin after 8 weeks of the BSD).

September test was also normal – doctor very impressed, especially as she’d forgotten that she’d taken him off the Metformin and therefore the results were non-medicated ones. She says he is the first person in the practice to reverse his Type 2, and after discussion she has marked his records Type 2 ‘in remission’ so that she will keep monitoring him and he will get the optician/podiatrist Type 2 checks still. Due a further HbA1c in the next couple of weeks and I’m confident the results will be just as good.

He is maintaining low carb and thoroughly enjoying it and so chuffed with himself as you can imagine.

But weight loss? No, not his priority but BETTER HEALTH certainly was – and he’s got it!!! 🙂 🙂

I do hope that this story might help you motivate your husband. He will surely want better health, won’t he.

Preston88

It may help not to think “these fruit and veg aren’t allowed”, instead use whatever you set your carb target as as an allowance that you can “spend” on what you want to eat. I have porridge for breakfast about 50% of the time but am trending at just under 55g of carb a day and am seeing a steady weight loss. Pineapple will be a challenge at 10g of carb for 100g, but occasionally on days when the rest of the meals are low carb could be achievable. Sweet potato is probably a no-no.

Just read the bit about not liking spice, Preston! 🙁

All I would say is, just give it a bit of a go – you may find you like it more on BSD than you thought…..

Hi Preston88

It’s absolutely true what Flash says – your tastes do change on the BSD, a really nice side-effect.

Many many people have posted that they’ve tried stuff that either they hated before, or they’d never tried and have now found it delicious.

I would urge you to use more spices, salt, pepper, chillis as these are particularly delicious. After the BSD, OH and I have developed into marvellous curry cooks – who would have thought?

And other people around us, not BSDing, have discovered with us the delights of – for example – a little side salad of baby spinach leaves, with some feta cheese and baby plum tomatoes, dressed with a splash of olive oil and some balsamic. Deeeeelicious.

Enjoy! 🙂

Much help you are, Frog !
Many thanks!
Sadly, I am no longer a place where I can access the kind of health care that I am used to.

*I am a your basic “Euro-mutt”, and an “Amerinadian”, as well =] ( US born to UK/EU parents, but raised between Canada, and the US. ) My husband, and I transferred down to the States, from BC, Canada, a few months back, and are now having to deal with the uber-confusing Yankee medical system/private insurance. ( His insurance has just now kicked in, and I am scheduled for my first doctor’s appointment tomorrow. ) We are currently stationed in the US Northern Prairie – MN/ND area. It is a small rural town, with VERY limited medical care. I really hope the appointment goes well; I am a bit nervous ;-|

Snoop

if you SEARCH for ‘Fat Intake” you will see a recent interesting thread all about the percentage of fat within the BSD when you reduce the carbs by cutting out refined carbs as we’re doing. We are all still very much affected by the advice re fat we’ve been given over the years….

Good luck re the fingernails!!!

Sorry for hogging this thread, guys. Just wanted to say thanks to Bissell for mentioning the OXO spiraliser. I bought one and used it today for the first time No idea how it will cope with other veg but it works a treat for courgetti. Miles better than trying to cut by hand and much more appetising due to more even cooking. Total success, in other words. OH enjoyed them too.

Hi Mental4ever and all

When you say the ‘recommended’ 1200 calories, where have you had it recommended from? (apologies if I’ve missed this).

When I finished BSD I checked what my base metabolic rate was using the following website
http://keto-calculator.ankerl.com

You enter in your details, height, weight, (guess at)body fat(unless you have scales that measure it), activity level and it tells you how many calories per day you need to maintain your current weight. This can be a little bit less than you imagined – mine is 1500 calories per day.

So I’ve been maintaining weight by understanding this overall target, and so far have been going up 1 lb and then down 1 lb again just round my final weight. No refined carbs except very little and very occasionally, but don’t find that a problem.

I would also go well over that target calories for a special occasion (have big birthday dinner coming up in next couple of weeks), as I am confident that this is unlikely to make very much difference.

But if post BSD anyone thinks they can go straight back on diet consisting of pizzas and doughnuts (I exaggerate for effect, but you know what I mean) or more likely cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, biscuit or two in the afternoon, dinner with large portions of rice and/or potatoes, dessert with lots of sugar in, many large cappuccino type coffees with loads of milk, and bars of chocolate more than occasionally – then I think the weight will go back on.

But I am definitely NOT suffering on maintenance. Enjoying it!