Latest forum posts

  • The recipes in the book are often inaccurate. They can’t be accurate when they use handsfuls, or one [beet, chicken breast, red pepper, etc.], becase things like that are not all the same size – so the calorie amounts will be different if you use a large one v. a small one.

    As for MFP – the data is entered by members, and not checked. You have to verify the calorie/carb/etc. values if you want to make sure you are counting accuragely.

    As for the counts on packaging – make sure you’re checking the weight. The stated weight of the package is often lower than the actual weight – so if you divy up portions based on how many the package says it will make you are often undercounting the calories you actually consume..

  • posted by  Frog on Inulin
    on in Fast 800
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    Picking up on an old thread – I read this a while ago and decided to give inulin a try
    I’ve been taking a teaspoon a day (about 5g) for the last week or so, and it is definitely working with digestive health.
    I take it in a glass of cold low calorie grapefruit squash; I’ve not noticed any problems with it not dissolving if I stir it well.

  • I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism simultaneously with diabetes almost a year ago. I’m down 72.9 lbs. (Low carb, moderate protein for most of that time. BSD for 6 weeks (until my oncologists ordered me back to maintenance calories for 3 months during cancer treatment), and back on it again for the last 4 weeks.

    I don’t notice a bit of difference losing weight this time than when I’ve lost weight on any other calorie limited diet.

    As to testing for underactive thyroid, the most common test in the US is for TSH levels, which is an indirect test – at best. In order to properly adjust medications, you need to have your doctor test T4, T3, and rT3 levels. Synthetic T4 is the most common medication (levothyroxine). In a normal metabolism, T4 gets converted to T3 (a happy hormone, in my doctor’s lingo) – but if you have hypothyroidism, your metabolism isn’t normal – and often it mis-converts to rT3 (a sad hormone). So merely shoving T4 at the problem often fixes the TSH level (so you look properly adjusted) – but can’t tell anything about the important levels: T4 and T3.

    I take 75 mcg of levothyroxine and 5 mcg of liothyronine (synthetic T3, to compensate for the fact that my body converts too much of the T4 into rT3)

  • posted by  Frog on 7 Day Reboot ….. Tuesday 27th September !!
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Yeah , day one of the reboot (I’m forgetting the one at the beginning of the month that only lasted a week! – Didn’t happen!)
    Kayaking this morning, and I’ve not eaten lunch yet, but having some of the casserole I made at the weekend, so that will take me to 21 carbs and just under 400 calories.
    Planning to go to the gym this afternoon as well.

    Good luck everyone – did you enjoy the rest of your holiday Verano?

  • Chookymama, how did you calculate your target weight? If your muscle mass is 57 kg, 70 kg doesn’t sound like it leaves much for bones and internal organs… I must admit, I can’t even begin to understand how scales can work all those things out.

  • posted by  Frog on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi Yowzer
    congratulations on the top!
    I only need an M/L buoyancy jacket for kayaking now, instead of XXL – and at the Marathon on Saturday I took a standard size T shirt instead having to ask for an XL one.

  • Hi folks i am on50 mg levothyroxine per day and have been for several years..i never have any problem losing weight on BSD or when i Do 5:2 fasting. But then i ve a lot to lose! I have an unfortunate habit of regaining weight when i stop following a plan..in my case,thats down to greed tho rather than my underactive thyroid.! The medication should make our thyroid function just the same as a normal person. ( tho from what ive read the NHS blood test for measuring our thyroxine levels is not very accurate,so we’re possibly not prescribed the correct amount we need!)
    I start week 12 BSD tomorrow and on the last weigh in a week ago,had lost 39 lb. so far..feel sure have lost at least another lb this week.
    Good luck APPLEBOTTOM,HAZE and MARYMOO,welcome to the forums! XXX

  • posted by  Frog on Fat intake
    on in Fast 800
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    DeeToby
    I find restricting to 50g carbs relatively easy, and 30g a stretch – so I probably average 40g daily – but if 80-100g is working for you, that’s great, it’s probably easiest not to worry too much about what others are aiming for.

    If you use the search box (top right hand corner of the screen) and look for “max carbs” you’ll find earlier discussions around this topic – there is an old thread “MAXIMUM DAILY CARBS/SUGAR” that may be of interest.

  • posted by  1960smp on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Yowzer thanks for the sympathies lol
    Oopsie bread is divine ( also known as cloud bread )
    I use the recipe found on lighter life and wirks out around 85 cals per round

    It’s 3 large eggs separated
    Whisk the whites with dash salt until stiff
    In other bowl mix 3 ounces cream cheese or cottage cheese into the yolks
    I also add a small amount of physilloum husk and chia seeds
    Mix the yolk mix into the stiff whites
    Oven is 150 degrees fan
    Scoop 6 spoonfuls of mix into baking sheets that have been covered with grease proof or parchment paper
    Bake 20 mins

  • posted by  Igorasusual on Fat intake
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi Dee

    Yes, as you and I have both mentioned, many people follow the BSD as set out in the book and experience great success.

    Some people choose to monitor carbs as well, and find that this helps with speedier weight loss. It may be due to their individual physical makeup as I have also mentioned.

    The 50g is something which people have suggested, and there is as you will know quite a lot of medical research generally regarding low carb (i.e. no refined carb, and lower levels of complex carbs). If you read Volek and Phinney, various grams of carbs are mentioned.

    With regard to ‘how you restrict carbs to under 50g per day’ (or 20g per day, as I achieved relatively easily) SHOULD YOU WANT TO DO IT (I appreciate it is just an option, and absolutely not compulsory), then I find it quite easy.

    It might be that the portions I have of all the various vegetables are smaller, and I find them quite satisfying at that level. My calorie requirement for maintenance is just 1500 calories per day and I find that although this is rather less than i would eat prior to the BSD, it is perfectly filling, and I am very energetic in my daily life. I have become far more adventurous in cooking (lots of lovely spices!), and non BSD family members generally find our BSD type meals extremely satisfying and don’t want additional portions, or indeed extra refined carbs though these are offered!

    But if the BSD is working for you, then please don’t worry about any of the any other carb conversations. Dr MM has made the BSD simple for very valid reasons, in my view.

  • posted by  Yowzer49 on Fat intake
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi IGOR me neither re DM…. grrrr…!
    I think maybe i am one of the lucky ones ! 👍🏻 I only had one day of feeling really bad on BSD and that was on the first day..after that,the cravings had mainly gone..some days later,a quite mild and swift passing carb flu. X
    This is a fascinating eating plan,so many factors to muse on, tho like you said MM has kept it simple for us and we can explore as much further as we want..and we’re lucky here that we all share any info we find,and also that we have folk like yourself who have a lot of knowledge.
    If we open yr minds to it,and get past the ” oh i couldnt live without toast” frame of mind ( which i had pre BSD)this is a fab way of eating on so many levels! I ‘ ll still give the cracker test a go if i can get my mitts on one single cracker..no in fact I might buy a pack and feed the birds with the rest! X

  • posted by  DeeToby on Fat intake
    on in Fast 800
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    I’m not living on water-based veg. Quite the opposite. I have a full range of veg and legumes. That’s why my carbs are more like 80g-100g. i was just querying how people achieve 50g carb when eating the full range of veg and legumes as I’m stumped how they do that. As for all your other observations – yes I know what needs to be eaten on this programme and am having great success with it averaging 2 pounds a week (and I started at 13 stone and am 5ft 5inch). I had not considered trying to keep my carbs to 50g until I came on this forum and started reading people’s stories. That’s why I’m now querying where this 50g carb figure came from as didn’t see it in the book or any of Michael’s articles. Who came up with it?

  • Hi Applebottom,

    I was so pleased to see your post because I am the heaviest I have ever been and seriously struggling due to Hypothyroidism, I have been on medication for over a year now and very low because of my weight. I am hoping this 8 week diet may kick start my metabolism – maybe we should keep an eye on each other’s progress?

  • posted by  DeeToby on Fat intake
    on in Fast 800
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    That’s more or less what I have but as I said, I easily (with small portions) go up to 100g carbs. That’s why I assumed everyone on here who seems to mention this magical 50g carb number must be eating a lot of veg like cucumber, tomato, celery, lettuce etc which are mainly water constituent and very few carb count. Otherwise, I don’t see how they do it.

  • posted by  Yowzer49 on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    HI 1960… Sorryyou feeling a bit under the weather..hope you ‘ ll soon feelbetter..it IS very easy to want comfort food in this situation. I used to be awful for stuffing myself wiht biccies,sweets,toast but of course filling up with junk does nothing but give a temp lift..now i have some full fat greek yog with a few berries and a few crushed nuts sprinkled on..its just like a cornetto but has some goodness in it
    Yr home made soup sounds good! But what on earth is oopsie bread…i want some! X😛😛😛😛

  • Another new starter here. Supporting my husband on the diet who is a type 2 diabetic , I am grossly overweight (bmi40 )with slightly raised cholesterol (5.7), blood pressure is in the danger zone of becoming high and my sugar levels are normal which I want to keep that way😊 drinking lots of water and scouring the recipes …good luck everybody x

  • Good attitude Snoop. Glad to see the scales are moving in the right direction for you.

    Chookymama, all that sounds like me! I love getting creative with food. It works well for dieting, but I also am quite busy, and trying to resist a lot of things, so the less I think about food the better. Makes for some boring or weird meals sometimes. This week I’m returning to my sit down rule for eating. No standing up eating while I’m doing other things. Trying to get excited about herbal teas. If we do this long enough it will become a habit and a preference….

    I don’t know about the percentages… interesting though! Depends on your height too. Do you have a healthy weight to return to that you were at before or is this unchartered territory? I’ve stayed in the 160s (lbs) for almost 10 years, never lighter so I don’t know what my goal should exactly be. You seem to be really active too, so all that muscle will skew things a bit.

    Hands to the plow again today everyone : ) best to you all. Pumpkin season is here…and that’s a friendly ingredient to work with…

    166 this morning 😂
    -2 lbs since yesterday

  • posted by  shalimar on Week of 9/26 starters let's keep each other on track!
    on in Fast 800
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    Hope i can join you …. I supposedly started last week but that was one TOTAL bust.

    I’m 67, female, diabetic for 20 years or so, 5 ft. 6 in. and probably weigh 235 again (i think i gained last week but have been sick so i haven’t been to the gym to weigh in).

    I’m up very early, been looking up calories and carbs for stuff i usually eat.

    Made a nice breakfast of 3 eggs over a tiny amount of chopped honey ham and onion. And a coffee with cream. approx. 345 calories and 11 carbs.
    I may have corn fried catfish for lunch and a cauliflower and spinach soup for supper. Maybe some sugar snap peas.

    Until i replace my broken oven and get a fridge with a freezer compartment i’m going with simple things i can cook on 1 electric element or the electric frying pan.

    I’ll be walking to the laundromat several times today 🙂 … washer is broken too! Blew all my money on house repairs! But i am looking forward to cooking and roasting … soon

  • posted by  Japanike on About to embark on the 800 journey
    on in Fast 800
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    Thank you for the support Igorasusual…. Day one is over and went really well. No Carb Bircher for breakfast and could have eaten that all day long it was so yummy… I work from 6.30 to 13.30 daily and had this around 10.30 (only because I was busy..)
    Lunch was Chicken 3 ways (lime and ginger from the book) with cauli cous cous, courgetti and mushrooms cooked in lime juice and 5 spice. while this was cooking I did a jog warm up, 1 min run and 1 1/2 min walk x 5 then 2 min jog and it took about 15mins. When I got home lunch was ready 🙂 boom…..
    On Mon and Tue I work from 5pm to 8pm, then it was home for Lentil Soup (recipe from this site, only slightly adapted as I couldnt find garlic) so tasty I was impressed with myself, I had this with the Gram Flour Drop Scone also from this site. Thank you so very much to Izzy for the lentil soup recipe and also to pmshrink for the drop scone recipe.
    Together with 3 litles of water and two cups of coffee, this concluded my day.
    Made the Blueberry and Green tea shake for breakfast today and all is good.
    Onwards and upwards 🙂

  • posted by  1960smp on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Afternoon!

    Am sat here feeling sorry for myself – had the flu jab last week and think am reacting to it. Struggling to NOT dive in the biscuits and food I have to avoid but finding it hard. Had lunch – home made mushroom soup and a lovely pair of oopsie breads….so hoping it passes.

    Yowzet that must feel so so good when others notice and we don’t lol

  • posted by  Igorasusual on Fat intake
    on in Fast 800
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    Yes, I read this too – I must explain that I post work- related news items to a business forum, and unfortunately have to trawl the Daily Mail as well as other newspapers for these, otherwise I’d not be reading it – and I thought that this was purely a method to have people decide that they didn’t need to reduce carbs.

    Deciding whether crackers tasted sweet or not didn’t seem to me to be a particularly scientific test.

    As you say, without testing it myself I can’t say!

    But a lot of the science-based books about low-carbohydrate eating (I’m thinking about The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Eating by Volek and Phinney, which is a well-respected source) mention the variable responses of different subjects to nutrition. Some are able to eat comparatively large quantities of complex carbs, when others find lower quantities better for them.

    We see it here with some people having quick and relatively easy success with both weight loss and blood sugar reductions, and other people who find it frustratingly much more difficult and slow, despite sticking rigorously to the ‘rules’. I believe it must be because of the huge number of variables within us all, from insulin resistance to carbohydrate tolerance to gut bacteria, just to mention a few.

    Some people have quite tricky ‘carb flu’ and others, who seem to have previously eaten much the same refined carbs, escape it or have much milder symptoms. And that doesn’t even mention the effects one can have from lack of sodium after the amount of liquid we’re drinking.

    I think Dr MM has the right idea in making the BSD relatively simplistic and therefore easy to understand and follow. It’s possible to explore further if you want to, but absolutely not necessary. Hopefully this will make the eating plan workable for a huge number of people, because it certainly needs to. 🙂

  • I seem to have hit a plateau – despite my strict 800 or less since my epic fall off the wagon last week. And the Good Food Magazine plopped through the letterbox this morning. Thats not what I needed to see right now. And I suppose that it reinforced my lifestyle – I used to love cooking but in the last three weks it has become so ‘mundane’ that I am eating out of rote and not out of pleasure. I still have around 10kgs to go so am trying to remain strong. I know that I have lost a good deal of weight (around 6-7kg) so am not that disheartened as yet….

    The OH bought me some swanky digital scales. They tell me muscle mass, water etc. So if my muscle mass is 57kg and my bone mass is 2.5kg and my target weight is 70kg……will that actually work?!!??

    We shall have to wait and see!

  • posted by  Yowzer49 on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    This might be useful…someone sent me this last week..
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3774068/Cracker-test-reveals-need-cut-carbs.html#ixzz4JNeNnhtW

    I havent tried the test yet as i dont want to buy crackers, i keep meaning to ask a friend to give me a cracker! X

    Howz everyone today? We’ve been a quiet old gang lately. Hope everybodys doing ok xx
    I’m due a weighin as am finishing week 11 today…i love seeing the days and weeks mount up!
    Saw DD sunday and she burst out laughing at the top i was wearing..she said Mum its MASSIVE on you!
    Didnt realise it was now quite that big on me…Another item for the cat rescue charity shop!x

  • posted by  Liro on 1st week amazement
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Wow I can believe you have lost 10kg in two weeks! Well done! Great motivation!
    I really must start on the exercise me thinks.

  • Your certainly sounding organised Cecily! Good on you.

    I was down another kg today, to 112.6. I haven’t got back to tracking on my fitness pal yet, but from wha I learnt from that week have been tracking in my head (amazing what sticks!). So am travelling more towards the 1000 cals a day, and I think cause I have so much to lose that will be ok for now.
    Still not Getting much exercise, so that’s next on the list too.
    Hubby is going away for three weeks tomorrow…..that will actually make everything easier! 😉

  • Don’t know about the recipes in the book … but just now i’ve been trying to work out and write out on index cards for foods i want to regularly eat on this plan.
    It is extremely difficult to get sources to agree … and sometimes to get a count on the exact item … and then it varies with brand names. I’m going to use the counts on packaging … in Canada calories, carbs, sodium, fats, etc. is on packaging.

    I’m writing down some “ballpark” numbers …. and aiming for a ballpark of 800 calories and 50 carbs. I’m going to review the results weekly … and if i’m loosing weight and/or measurements i’m not going to worry much.

    I don’t know about other countries … but in Canada … i saw a tv program a while back where cheese/dairy products were legally allowed to be 25 percent off on things like fat content.
    This was a while back …. but does the government check for exact compliance on every thing? Doubt it.

  • posted by  topcac on Starting BSD 12th September
    on in Starting the BSD
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    I bought the 8 week blood sugar diet recipe book – it’s about a tenner from Amazon. It looks really good because it has the calories for each meal but also the carbs, protein, fat and fibre which for me is great as I just don’t have time to log and calculate all that stuff on an app, plus most of the apps seems to differ wildly in that respect.
    A 1/4 of a lb is just a big wee so don’t give yourself a hard time – glad to hear you’re back on the BSD wagon – good luck for the rest of the week!
    Going away IS tough but just say to yourself at all times ‘meat and vegetables are my friends…..’ and try for just low carb instead of low cal as well, after all we’re only human!!

  • posted by  Suoon2bthinner on New start for a new life!
    on in Fast 800
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    Is the Thai red curry in the new recipe book? I only have the original BSD book and can’t find it in there, any chance someone could post it please? I have seen a few folk say it’s good, thanks, Sue

  • Love the idea of visceral fat melting away! Very motivating. Happy to measure rather than weigh! Greek yogurt with berries and toasted seeds was a delicious start to the day! I just need to get used to the smaller portions, but will love the food that’s suggested.

  • posted by  Snoop on What's your next mini goal?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Well, I had set myself the target of 83.5 kg by the end of the month, but that is looking unlikely now. Spent a few days with my parents and instead of losing weight, as I would have done, I put weight on. Am now 84.5 kg (have lost 900 g of the 1.2 kg I put on while away). But if I miss the target, it won’t be by much. Am getting married on 5 October (hence visit to my parents, who won’t be able to come as my dad is too ill), so should easily hit my mini goal by then.

    My next mini target after that will be to get into 70s by the end of October. For sure it’ll be the top 70s, but if I do it it will be a big achievement for me. I haven’t weighed under 80 kg for at least 18 years.

    Good luck to everyone else. Congratulations on your wedding ring, sunshine-girl. I’m about to have one for the first time (it’s my grandmother’s)!

  • Yes, good luck to everyone.

    Don’t forget to MEASURE will you? Either with a tape measure (although I can never find mine when I want it), or with clothes to test whether your waist is going down…..

    Lots of people sharing that even if weight is not going down as fast as you’d like, you can see the effect on your waist as the visceral fat starts melting.

    🙂 🙂

  • posted by  Avila on Bought the Recipe Book
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Welcome Emily Jane,

    There are people doing both (there are sections on the forums for 5:2), a lot depends on your life and personality. I know that I am good at initial enthusiasm but poor at long term commitment – so the 800 suited me with the quicker goals to keep me at it for the next bit.

    5:2 is slower but still effective and any step you take will be positive

  • posted by  anjiejag on It works for older women too!
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi again. I have been restricting my carbs and sugar since last Wednesday (Sept 21st). not always successfully, but I have tried!! I do go swimming once a week and I have started to walk every day. Since starting my weight hasn’t moved (early days) I thought nothing much had happened, yet. I decided to measure my waist,which 37.5″ last week. I was pleased to see that it has gone down to 35″. It may be due to fluid loss.I don’t know,but something has changed. I will definitely be carrying on with this,because I realise my future health depends on it.
    Cheers, ladies. Keep going!

  • posted by  Suoon2bthinner on It works for older women too!
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi
    I am 58 and plodding along in my slow way, don’t lose as quickly as others as I have too many treats , read alcohol. However, I have changed my habits some in that i now only drink at the w/e so that helps.
    I struggle to get the fluids in during the day but find it ok if I measure it upfront, so I fill 2 x 1.5L bottles up and get thru it during the day as well as the odd black coffee or tea.
    My Mother was type 1 diabetic and I was a big baby and have read that I am more likely to become obese and type 2 because of that. I have dieted all the weight off at least 3 times before but gradually regained , usually with a holiday first and then the old mindset of ‘I’d better lose the holiday gain before I go back to….’ And of course I never go back. Anyway, two good friends have embraced this way of eating and have kept it off for two years now so it is do-able .
    I find these forums really helpful and this week am enjoying the daily mail articles online for recipes.
    We can do it!
    Sue

  • posted by  Wannabe healthy on Starting BSD 12th September
    on in Starting the BSD
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    Hi topcac, sounds like you are doing really well – well done 🙂

    First week was good for me, lost 6.5 lbs and really pleased with that.
    Last week, didn’t go so well, we had 2 family meals out and even though I was careful managed to gain 1/4 lb over the week, then felt sorry for myself and resorted to my old friends crisps and chocolates! 🙁
    But gave myself a good talking to and determined to stick to plan this week and see how it goes. It is hubbies birthday this weekend and we are away so that’s going to be tough.
    I have been power walking for 30 mins every morning during the week and think that is helping.

    Which recipe book have you bought?

  • posted by  sunshine-girl on Fat intake
    on in Fast 800
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    DeeToby, this is nothing like the Atkins diet or even the revised Atkins, although that did get rid of a lot of the bad things about his dad’s book. This plan allows good fats into the diet which have in the past been replaced by low fat versions, like yoghurt, which have been pumped full of sugars and cereals like low fat sausages. Now this diet does not say we can eat full fat sausages or fry all our foods or eat the fat on meat, it actually restricts the amount of red meat. The difference here is between bad fats and good fats and oils. The diet allows butter but so now does the BMA, and, because we are not eating bread or potatoes the butter used is possibly a small amount to cook scrambled eggs for instance, not pile it on toast and crumpets. Oils in the diet have been proven to have health benefits hence the references to a Mediterranean diet, based on lots of highly nutritious veg, not water based – I haven’t had lettuce since I started this diet and I used to eat it every day. My staples in terms of veg are spinach (full of iron and vitamins), red peppers (potassium. Vit C, Vit A, manganese, magnesium, All B Vits except B12), courgette (Vit A, Vit C, Foliate, Iron, Manganese, Niacin etc). I could go on and list the nutrients in cauliflower, brocolli, and so on. What is not healthy about these veg. If you are living on lettuce. Olive Oil (zero carbs, zero cholesterol) avocado (too many nutrients to mention). Then there are nuts and seeds.

    I should also mention that since being 6 weeks into this diet I went for a full range of blood tests and everything had improved. Especially my cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose. The diet also has the approval of my doctor.

    I think that maybe you are not eating the right things if you are living on water based veg. Possibly need to give things a bit of a shake up.

  • posted by  fionabloom on It works for older women too!
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi…. I’m 53, started yesterday with positivity and need to lose 2 stone to get back into my ski jacket before January! So far so good. One day down and 7 weeks 6 days to go GULP!

  • posted by  Snoop on Recipes in original BSD book seem inaccurate
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    This came up on another thread. I am not familiar with MFP. I use Fat Secret to log my consumption. I am not following the recipes (I don’t have easy access to shops, making it a bit difficult, plus some ingredients are simply not available where I live).

    On Fat Secret, they give lots of different options for the same food item, as purchased from different supermarkets. Sometimes, the figures are very different. I was shocked to see that 100 g of smoked salmon from one place is well over a hundred calories more than the same weight from a different supermarket. It may be that MFP uses the top range figures rather than an average or the bottom figures.

    On the thread I post to (of people who started around 29 August), there are people not bothering to count carbs or calories but sticking religiously to the recipes. 54andfatnomore was only following the recipes and lost spectacular amounts of weight in the first few weeks (he hasn’t posted this last week or possibly two), far, far more than me. So the only thing I can say is that the recipes do work for weight loss.

  • posted by  Igorasusual on Fat intake
    on in Fast 800
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    I perhaps should have added that my lower carb diet does not depend on ‘water-based veg’ – not sure exactly what you mean, there – my vegetables and legumes generally include

    spinach
    lettuce (other leafy salad e.g. rocket)
    cauliflower
    courgette
    kale
    leafy cruciferous green veg of various kinds
    onions
    tomatoes
    mushrooms
    green beans
    peas, sugar snap peas, mangetout peas
    lentils (red and green)
    split peas
    chickpeas
    aubergines
    avocado pears
    peppers
    chilli peppers
    garlic
    ginger
    herbs (coriander, dill, chives etc) if these count

    gosh, there will be more, I am mentally walking down the veg counter.

    So I wouldn’t think these would be water-based except that most vegetables are, aren’t they?

  • posted by  Gugu43 on Am I ok just counting calories?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Thank you for replying it is really helpful. I have decided to try a VCLD diet. Eating shakes/ soups for two meals and a low carb home cooked meal in the evening.
    For someone who grew up on butter, cheese and full fat milk, who was very slim, why it is so hard to get off the low fat roundabout is hard to understand.
    I’m going to cut down on the coffee, but full fat milk and plan and count.
    I am obese and hate seeing myself in mirrors and shop windows. I am determined to lose the weight and manage the diabetes. I love Hummus and Guacamole. So shall include those in my life plan.
    Will post my progress.

  • posted by  topcac on Starting BSD 12th September
    on in Starting the BSD
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    Hello fellow 12 Sept starters – how is everyone doing?? It’s been over two weeks now (Week 3 Day 2) and I hope that weight and those blood sugar readings are dropping through the floor!
    Two weeks saw me lose 7 3/4 lbs – (don’t forget the 3/4 – it’s very important – it means I hit a mini goal that I had set myself). Everything has started to feel looser (expect my bowels but let’s not go there….) and I THINK I feel better in myself. I still get the odd dizzy moment but I haven’t really felt hungry (apart from Sunday when a cube of cheese and a couple of slices of ham seemed to do the trick). A couple of times I’ve dreamed that I ate junk (crisps, sweets etc) and when I woke up I was SO relieved it was only a dream…sad eh? My partner and I have decided to branch out a bit from the recipes in the original book and bought the recipe book – things look delicious so we are looking forward to planning our meals for next week.

    Anyway, that’s my news, things are good, I would still kill for a bag of Doritos but I am slowly retraining my brain. Roll on Week 4 and the midpoint!!

    Let me know how you guys are doing!
    TC 🙂

  • posted by  Emily Jane on Bought the Recipe Book
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hello
    I am new here today and have bought the recipe book after reading an article in The Mail about the BSD. I am wondering if the 5.2 BSD would be easier for me as and wondered if it takes quite a lot longer to see weight loss, i would love to get any thoughts on this from others who have done or are doing the 5.2.
    Then on the other hand I think go straight to the 8 week BSD Lol!! not much willpower !!
    Like many its important I lose the weight for health reasons.
    Emily Jane