p.s. …. I have a calorie/fibre/fat/carb counter book … it’s thick! …. and that can’t even cover 1/2 the things i’ve tried to look up.

It is a chore to look up everything for calories, etc. …. but, in a way it’s a good thing because it keeps the program on your mind.

I’ve been creating index cards with all the foods i eat all the time … then i only have to look up new things. For recipes i look up all the ingredients … total them up … and divide by servings.

Its a lot of work especially in the beginning.

Check out the various forums here … there are many, many, different strategies that are being used. Everyone has their preferences on how to make the system work best for them.

Keep up the good work all you guys and have a trawl thru all the threads here..specially when youre flagging,coz you’ll read something which will re motivate you or give you a new idea to try!
CAZZA you made me laugh about yr brain saying no but yr feet trotting to the cupboard!
DEBS how exciting about yr wedding plans! X

Hi Gooberz,

welcome on board – it was theangelwithin who started this thread, and like you I joined as I like the name. If it’s any help, I have found drinking pints of water – frequently – throughout the day are somehow helping with the crankiness. I also read that a ‘salty’ drink can help, so am going to have a stock cube drink today. It sounds strange, but we are not eating as much salt in our food on 800 kcals, so might need to add some. I’d imagine – that as a nurse – that might make your eyebrows go up. But it might be worth a try … and it’s another hot drink that isn’t coffee.

I usually drink one coffee a day too, and then couldn’t sleep after however many I’d had on day 1 🙂

Can’t believe I’m actually still here of Day 4 (3’s usually my limit for any food related ambitions). And … ta da … 7lbs have mysteriously vanished. Water retention maybe … but they’re 7lbs that have been there for months and now they’re GONE!!! Smiling, happy, delighted … yippee.

Hi Ruth krisia and anyone I have missed
Thank you so much for your gentle supportive words, you are all such lovely people, in my day to day life we haven’t told anyone about the two things going on as everyone has so much to contend and both these things are enormous for both people, and I know it would cause melt down if I told some of my family they couldn’t cope with it all. but I feel strangely very close to all of you so hence why I’m able to talk here 🌺🌸🌺🌸🌺 But hey it’s all good training for my mind. We will all have stuff causing worry and concern it just ebbs and flows in severity doesn’t it. So I am going to focus on getting over the 3 st mark not weighing today, as I was a bit spontaneous yesterday with some toast just because I got anxious.
Shopping today amongst other things, and I am ordering the new recipe book to get regigged
Wishing you all a good day ahead
Jan 💜

what about page 100-101?? The page called The M Plan : what to eat to control your weight and your blood sugar …. pretty much lists the DO Eats as well as what to avoid.

Just look up the calories, etc. (on the internet via Google etc., or a site like MyFatSecret).

Re Yogurt … the idea is just to use plain, full-fat yogurt … and add your own berries. This is because low fat varieties add extra sugars (carbs) to make up for the missing fat. Greek yogurt is nice because it is nice and thick … easy to add berries.

If Face or Quark has a full fat version without extra sugars … don’t see why it has to be greek style. Just check your calories per serving and see how it fits into the total calories you plan to eat for the day.

Going for a second 8 weeks – earlier this week I joined up with the facebook BSD group, lots of similar stories and questions and wobbles as on the forums here. One big difference is that they are really pushing that should have a month off from the 800cal counting (though staying BSD principles) between rounds of the 8 weeks. But people here are happy to go straight through – any idea where they may have got the month break from, it seems to be quoted there as though MM gospel.

Curious thats all – I am going to go straight through into next week, though have had a couple of weeks not at 800 cal in the midst of my 8 anyway!

Imp98 I agree this is not a diet, but an introduction to a new way of life, that should be sustainable.

MM has put out this book from his finding of research by others into rapid weight loss, at a reasonable price. A lot of the reasons for yoyo dieting is people lose the weight and then return back to their old eating habits, and appear to be surprised when they put the pounds back on, the pounds can only stay off with permanent life style changes.
The diet industry relies on yoyo dieters, if this BSD approach to life catches on the diet industry could be in for a shock.
These forum pages take the place of weightwatchers weekly meeting, on here we get to chat to likeminded people without the cost, we get to use the cost on new food choices?
At the moment concentrating on learning the card contents of food, currently losing 1lb a day, but I do have a fair bit to lose, to get to my healthy BMI range I would have to lose more than CaptL currently weighs?

Hi Debs

I don’t know where you live, but I saw last night that the new recipe book (hard copy & Kindle) is available on the US Amazon site as well as in the UK. Just checked and seen that the Kindle version is available on Amazon.aus.

Hope this helps. 😃

Aw thanks for the kind words guys!
FROG enjoy yr new poles! X
Hope everyone is feeling tippety top today!
I ‘m excited as have GP appt this avvo to check my BP and get my blood test results..
also its day I week 12 ..things have changed so much since mid July when i was at what my DD calls the Days From Death stage of weight gain ….couldn’t get into any of my clothes…my trousers all popped open again as soon as i fastened them or wdnt fasten in the first place,and i had suddenly gone into a new weird shape i had never seen before coz i was fatter than i have ever been..i was dragging such an enormous ar** behind me it was embarrassing!
I was panicking coz i knew i could do 5:2 but i cdnt stop eating too much on the 5 non fasting days!
Couldnt face rejoining WW or SW! I had no patience for losing a pound or two a week!
It seemed like a life wearing Homer Simpsons muumuu beckoned!
Thank goodness my friend Hazel on the fast day forum wrote about BSD and the fab results she was getting. I was apprehensive of trying but its been great so far..
weird tho coz some of the tops i can now easily wear either have too long sleeves or are too big round the neckline,or i just dont like them any more..still its nice to be able to stand in front of the wardrobe and try on outfits instead of rooting round trying to find simply anything i could get into!
How can 11 short weeks make so much difference! X?? But thank goodness it has!

LUCIA i am amazed that i can now live without toast in the morning! AND cereal,which i could eat any time of day or night..specially Cheerios ! x
SNOOP i can no longer bite my nails.Theyve grown so strong and glossy. I think its coz of the extra calcium from full fat yoggy.I now have a new horrid bad habit of chipping my nail varnish off while watching films!😐😐😐 xx

It is such a poison I quite agree! My weakness is crisps and other than the occasional day I can’t believe how easily I walk past them, I struggled so much at first. It’s that phrase again…….. nothing tastes as good as feeling slim feels…….

Fab results Cmawp…keep on keeping on…

Hello Kenna, I think any Greek yoghurt is fine. Go for the full fat, so tasty and keeps you full. I don’t know where you live but I just buy a basic natural greek yoghurt from Tesco.

CMAWP thats an absolutely fantastic start isnt it! You’ve coped so well despite night shifts,getting a cold,huge amount of physical work,being away from home with no food prep area,staying in a hotel and avoiding temptation while others were tucking in! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 And halfway to target in just two weeks! X

What, no avocado on your salad? 🙂

Igorasusul
I would just like to thank you for staying on the forum to help new starters (and those of us who are part way through our journey). Your advice has been invaluable – and has really helped me make a success of my BSD journey. It is great that you are sharing your knowledge for the benefit of all of us on this forum.

The first thread that I read was Bill1954’s thread ‘ this has to work for me’ which is exactly how I felt when I first started. I was quite sad that he reached his goal and abruptly left. I am really pleased though that captainlynne has also stayed on the forum.

Well done yumcheese – really good results. I was a carb and cappuccino and chocolate addict and am now almost 2stone lighter.

Thanks Liro. It’s the first bit of proper exercise I’ve done since starting. The eating plan was a huge thing for me and I wanted to make sure I stuck to it and became confident first.

I will gradually incorporate daily exercise in the latter weeks – most likely when the scales slow down!

well done Verano
I had a bit of a late night snack attack (nakd bar!), but still lost 0.9k
not sure how – p’raps it was the kayaking!

Just had avocado, poched egg and smoked salmon for breakfast
Have a good day

Jan so sorry to hear of your family problems. You have done so well to get back onto the BSD with all that is going on.

Ruthdownunder – you know I hadn’t thought that of course the NHS has extensive ‘before BSD’ data on all diabetic patients. My next consultant appointment is on 25th October and I am going in armed with MM’s book. My March hb1ac was 50 so am really looking forward to seeing what it is now.

Indy – I really enjoyed reading your post. Your husband is so sensible and obviously knows you very well. I recognize some of my own behaviours from your post – and I had to smile about the remark about one of your closest friends encouraging your misbehaving. My sister – who has never had a weight issue ever – is exactly the same.

DAY2 of 7

Hi
Home now but managed quite well yesterday despite the travelling.
Calories approx. 800
Carbs approx. 27

I can only calculate roughly as we had an Indian meal last night. I only had chicken tikka and a salad …. no sauces, popadoms or even the after eight!!! Drank sparkly water… can you see my halo shining!!!

Anyway, have lost 0.6lb on my 2.6lb gain so now with you sunny-girl unless you’ve lost some since yesterday!!

Haven’t worked out my meal plan for today yet but will keep below 30g carbs!
Have a good day!

The weirdest thing for me
And I really mean it is…
I like to go out cycling, or gym-Ing , or basically shaking the blubber about.

The next is…
I can live without my cereals of a morning. When I realised that, it felt like I had discovered the world was round and not flat.

The next is …
You can jazz up a salad.
You can make it sexy.
I used to think it was just lettuce and tomato. If I felt exotic I would put onion on.
Now I have
Lettuce
Celery,
Spring onions
Tomatos beef
Or cherry toms
Or yellow toms
Peppers,
Pineapple
Strawberry
Carrots just a little
Cabbage shredded just a little
Radishes
Pickles
Gherkins
Shall I go on?

So let’s have some more weird discoveries

Keep shaking it all about.

Love Lucia
Xxxxx

That I like butter and cheese more than I like chips and cream cake. That would amaze my family, especially my mum, for sure.

Plus, that I can actually do this. Now that is weird. In June next year, by which time I should be at a healthy weight, what will change? What won’t? Will I stop biting my finger nails?

Hello everyone,

On Sept 23rd I set a couple of mini goals. Part b) said 5 x 1kg, no time limit. This morning I weighed in at 64kg i.e. a kilo down. So, I can reset part b) to read: 4 x 1kg no time limit.

I’ve not set a time limit because I tend to fight against that, leading to self sabotage, which over the years has been a constant companion.

Happy to be back on the wagon.😊

Hope everyone is having a good day…….

Jan, Verano and all I am still here. Also a few other issues. Jan so sorry to hear about your family problems. I am still on the bus! Creeping downwards, bouncing upwards, but still here.Indy you are doing well.

Frog, Yowzer Krysia, Jan, and all you folks in the NHS – I was thinking. Prof Taylor and his ilk have a built in research group because all your before bloods and sugar levels are all carefully noted in your health records. I think you need to suggest that some-one compiles a list of you all – Lynne, Bill, etc and even though there is no control group surely there would be enough data on this forum for some happy researchers.

Thanks flash 21 for you kind words. Sugar cravings nearly all gone it’s amazing!! It’s terrible stuff so addictive poison !!
Hope everybody is hanging in there it’s a hard journey when we are all busy and when tired the first thing you grab is sugar or cheese!!
No more panic how are you doing??? Let us know.
Boli

Arthurconandoyle, you’re showing some steady losses there, it seems. Good stuff!

84.3 kg
-0.2 kg
Overall change -4.2 kg
778 cals
73 net carbs
High carbs because I had an apple and peas yesterday. Using up veg and fruit in the house before buying some fresh stuff in today. My note to self: more leafy greens!

I think you always need a bit of humour with your carrot! They are very solemn vegetables.

It’s school holidays here which is not so good for sticking to plan, but lovely for walking along the beach with the kids or getting out in the garden! I’ve really increased my activity level to keep up with them which is awesome. But my daughter made choc-chip cookies yesterday… well I had two, the kids had six each spread throughout the day so maybe I didn’t do so bad. Like the rest of you I’m going day by day, even meal by meal. I plan ahead healthy low-carb meals then negotiate each day as it comes.

One thing I’m very conscious of is having a 12 year old daughter. I don’t want her to inherit all the body issues I got from my mum. I don’t want her to see me always “on a diet”. Or always obese! My ideal is eat healthy food without fussing about it and enjoy the occasional treat without guilt, then stop. That’s aspirational for me, but also what I want to model to my daughter.

From “the BSD” book : At the end of the day think of/write down 3 good things that went well that day … doesn’t have to been much … a compliment, a sunset … The point is that it focuses your attention on the positive. It is a good way to life your mood and bolster resilience.– from the book

1. The pain pills i took for my foot pain are working!!
2. Found lots of ways to prop up the foot of my bed to elevate my feet
3. Heat turned on without problems – new furnace is great, intake from the outside and not my dirt dugout

Hi Everyone

Lucyjane … The problem with alcohol is not just the calories and carbs … it’s the fact that it affects our judgment … and it’s easy to overindulge when stressed … been there, done that, last week!

I just got my copy of “the” book …. and was rereading the part about stress and it’s affect on the way the body works … so i wouldn’t blame myself, or this diet plan for fluctuations, plateaus, etc. in weight … it’s bound to happen when we’re stressed about something.

My feet hurt so bad today i couldn’t be bothered to cook my healthy veggie soup …. so i had some creamed cottage cheese with a ton of chives, and 2.5 pieces of pickled herring …. then i went to bed!!! Feet still sore so i just sliced up some fresh cucumber … didn’t reach for an unhealthy snack because i don’t have any! 🙂

I’m personally just aiming for a ballpark … approx. 800 cal. and 50 g. carb. Feet hurt so i am not exercising either … etc.

It’s a process … it is going to have it’s speed bumps.. blaming and worrying isn’t constructive. I expect that some days/weeks will be easy … others not-so-much.

I’m still focused on the plan … but i’m not going to stress myself out if i’m not perfect … which i definitely am not.

I’m going to be starting Oct 1 and I read about this diet in the latest Woman’s world. I was wondering can you have oatmeal on this diet. I don’t see any recipes for this. I also like to use flaxseed meal which I know has a lot of good fat and fiber to put in my yogurt. It looks like you use all whole fat ingredients. Definitely different from any other approach. I weigh 240 lbs and would like to lose between 20 and 30 pounds in the 8 weeks. I really need to loose weight. My mother even told me that when I saw her at my brother’s funeral last week because she worries about me. I am really hoping this might work.

How is everyone going. I’m joining you on day one for me on 29 September. Will follow your guidance. Thanks

Hi Cecily, Liro, Shalimar, Amandah and everyone else,
yesterday was really tough. I really just felt like giving in.
I just seem to really struggle losing weight. Today I am on week 3 day 3 and am down just slightly over 3 kilos. I have been walking a minimum of 10,000 steps and 2 – 3yoga classes every week. I saw 99.7 last week on the scales but went back to 101.00 after the weekend and today 100.5 🙁 Frustrated by my own behaivour because last year I was around 97 most of the year. It is a long weekend here in Sydney and I am going away with friends and so tempted to pack the red wine, but I know that once I start drinking wine again on a regular basis I stop losing. I’m hoping if I can make it to the weekend of the 22nd without any drinking it will be 7 weeks and I can really give this a shot- 31/2 weeks from now. Then try and do 4 800 days a week and allow a couple of glasses of red on the other days. I think I need to do because I find it quite shocking how much wine is part of my life and has been for too long now.

Yesterday my calories were up a bit so I am going to try and keep to the 800 and see if by the 22nd I can’t get to 94 kilos which is a weight I haven’t been since before kids. And then aim for another 5 by end November. If I don’t do this now I don’t when its going to happen!. But I have this constant voice in my head trying to sabotage me! And I need to watch the mouthfuls of snack and the calorie creep up!

Cecily I find when I am around my kids eating the wrong things I keep a piece of gum in my mouth to avoid eating or have a cup of miso soup to take the edge off.

These forums I find invaluable in helping me to focus again.

Well done on the kilo down Liro!

Best.
A struggling Lucy Jane.

thank you for all for posting! I am into week 5 and contemplating on probably needing to do another 8 weeks. I have lost 5kg with BG levels improving thankfully . I haven’t exercised though and 3 litres of water has also been a struggle, maybe my results would be better if I had ?

I keep meaning to research that, since there is supposed to be some incompatability with either a low carb or fasting eathing style.

But getting my diabetes under control took priority (diagnosed with diabetes and Hashimoto’s in the same visit), then cancer reared its ugly head so that took priority, now I”m scrambling to make sure I know my bosses’ job before she vanishes . . . so I haven’t done the academic research I usually do.

But as a practical matter that means I’ve been doing a bit of research on myself. My doctor has been tweaking my thyroid medication, but it has remained relatively stable and within normal limits for most of the year. He’s tweaking the meds to find the ideal numbers, within the range, since he likes to play. So – from a practical standpoint, my 6 weeks (pre-cancer) and 4 weeks (post-cancer) on 800 calories and (mostly) 16:8 intermittent fasting haven’t kept me from maintaining completly normal thyroid levels. (I’m on 75 mcg of levothyroxine and 5 mcg of liothyronine (synthetic T3) – both at the very low end of the dosage ranges.)

Does anyone eat Face or Quark on this diet? I wish there was a list of acceptable foods or suggestions in this book…. I know he listed don’t”s and recipes but I still feel kinda lost….

I don’t have a scale at home …. and so far i don’t get to the gym even every second day.

Personally i think it’s better not to check so often …. my body is a bit stressed right now, for a number of reasons … and my blood sugar is up even though i’m finally in the ballpark re calories and complex carbs.

I think stress can also affect the results on the scale … such as worrying on an upcoming trip! 🙂

I’m still feeling lovely about fitting existing clothes better … and fitting into lots of new clothes which used to be just too tight.

I’ve also stopped drinking and eating tons of food (it’s healthy food but i really don’t need to be stuffed til bursting). Took something for the constipation (CRAMPS!!!!) 🙂

Elevating my feet … raised the foot of my bed too.

Someone recommended magnesium here (it’s on the web research too) so i’m going to get me some. I think i’ve had waaaayyy too much salt so i may get some potassium as well … don’t worry i’ll be careful with that.

Going to get back to taking a bit of my liquid multimineral/vitamin.

Not taking metformin … as my blood sugar is still under 10 even with current stress on my body.

Week 2 day 2!

Shalimar, great idea! I may have to think about that, because there are only so many coffee’s I can order at each petrol station we stop at!

I had a huge disappointment when I stepped onto the scales this morning – 84kg! I know its probably just a fluctuation and I haven’t actually put on weight since yesterday, but it felt like a kick in the guts. This is why I shouldn’t check everyday! It’s only going to mess with my mind and motivation. However, I had a great day yesterday, and am only hitting about 700 calories a day, although with a banana daily (in my breakfast smoothie), my carbs are usually just above 50 so that could be a change that needs to happen.

Keep it up everyone 🙂

No set rule for me as to meals per day. Depends on when i get up (i’m retired) and what my plans are for the day.
I haven’t been doing this long enough to know how things will work ….
so far
Some form of eggs as the first meal

Eat LUNCH or supper when hungry … if i’m out and eating in restaurants … i will eat things like …
a sandwich or wrap … but not the bread or wrapping
burger without the bun
miso or consomme with vegetables
fish and chips … vegetables instead of chips
salad … dressing on the side

At home i make a big batch of soup : with any combination of the following : vegetables, beans or lentils or chicken/meat in store bought stock/broth. If i’m too high on carbs i use meat without the beans or lentils.

TONS and TONS of people here have TONS to loose …. and have already lost TONS!
Read some of the other threads … I have 70 pounds to loose … and lost 10-20 already (haven’t weighed in at the gym … been sick etc. so i don’t know what i gained back the last few days).

Advice i’ve gleaned and used so far :

Don’t get yourself all worked up if you blow your calories, etc. NO GUILT. Just get back on the horse.

Record your foods, exercise, measurements, weight, blood sugar readings … what ever. Be honest with yourself. I just use an ordinary notebook. You can buy food content counter books, check out MyFatSecret website … frankly you can google the name of the food with the words “calories carbs” and get at least an approximate.
Pull down men
Read the other threads and reply to them as appropriate. Pull down the FORUMS thread tab.

Buy or borrow Michael Mosley’s book. Cookbook available in UK … coming in December in Canada.

There are lots of people here in similar circumstances.

Glad to see we’re all doing well so far! Day 2 was pretty great. I fasted until lunch. Lunch was cherry tomatoes, 2 ounces avocado, cucumber, red bell pepper and celery with 2tb hummus, a little feta and 4 strawberries. For dinner I made lemon chicken breasts in the instant pot and had 3 ounces of chicken mixed with 1 cup of roasted cauliflower. Snacked on 1 ounce of almonds while I prepared dinner. Total calories for the day was just under 800. Are y’all eating 2 meals a day or 3?

Doordie … you don’t mention how close you are to your goal weight …. the last few pounds are the most difficult to budge. You also don’t mention exercise … which is likely difficult with the constant blood flow … but that could also be a reason for not loosing weight.
It also sounds like your body is under huge amounts of stress already … maybe it’s not a time to push your body further … and rather maybe explore anything that would help you de-stress and relax .. meditation, mindfulness, some “me” time and pampering???

My body is in stress right now and i think it’s spiking my blood sugar a bit … my feet hurt so i won’t even go cook something low carb … maybe i’ll have some sugar snap peas out of the bag!

p.s. I had the constant bleeding after i had my second ovary out (1st out with a tubal pregnancy, post surgical infection, and second one out) … i finally had a hysterectomy. I also used to have very short painful periods … bleeding though tampons and super pads.

Hi Yowzer49
THANK YOU for your inspirational words of encouragement – there is no doubt that 18kgs would do me as a starter!! 🙂
What an achievement, you must be pleased:

thank you for sharing
debs

Hi everyone, I’m really keen to start the Fast 800 but I have read previously that fasting isn’t good for thyroid patients, which I am. I have Hashimotos. Does anyone have any knowledge/experience with this? Thank you in advance 🙂

hi lifeafterfifty,
we must support each other!!
i have found on this newsfeed a link to a website – just copy/paste the link
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qb4tk1flffkb0jz/Blood%20Sugar%20Diet%20Progress%20Tracker.xlsx?dl=0

– i downloaded the XL spreadsheet and the menus are easy. its not exactly the same as the recipes here but its the same concept – low carbs and ~ 800 cals per day. it is easy to prepare too.
– i think the diary will be helpful – to check my motivation levels. the workbooks in the SS link a whole lot of information which i couldnt do myself. i am only going to weigh myself weekly at this stage tho.
– yesterday was easy & today is day 2 and i used a mushroom omelette recipe from the UK daily mail newsfeed for breakfast (as there is a new BSD book out). i just took photos of the recipe page using my ipad 🙂
i also use calorie king to keep a check on myself.

I’ll post my weight in the next week.

have a great day, Debs

hi captainlynne,
i have found some of the recipies on the dailymail newsfeed and taken photos using my ipad. voila!

have a great day (but its probably your night time!)
debs

Carrot and humour!!
Humour!
Humous!
I have a crazy sense of Humous!
Tattiescone xx

Hello everyone
And so nice to have some new people joining in. So hi to all you too!
I have, I thought been quite good. I set my fatsecret up every day. I aim for 800 and try to restrict carbs to 50g. I am actually not craving carbs such as bread or pasta..unless I am eg buttering toast for my kids. Then I sometimes just cut a wee tiny corner off it. But in that case I actually think it’s the butter I wish..or the combination, most likely of fat and carb!
I try every day. Some days I make it. Some days I fail. I know what my triggers are and it is absolutely always at night. After eve meal. I either have a bit too much and go over in cals that way..or I have a biscuit or a piece of chocolate because everyone else is! I didn’t want it till I saw them either it. I am triggered by visuals! That said..I might just have a small bit as oppose to a whole bar. I would expect that my calories are still way less than previously. I still say to myself what many of you here are saying ..which is every day I try. I just take day by day. If you try every day..you definitely concentrate on your trigger points and tomorrow you plan to avoid those situations.
I had lost 2.5 kilos. I don’t want to weigh myself until maybe later in the week as I did have a Nandos. Which was pretty carb free apart from the chips and pitta bread!!!! I didn’t even order it. It was my friends and I helped her scoff it! What are we like? I just want to say that I love the forum. I find it very helpful and therapeutic and supportive. I think it is great to realise that we are all human. We are all trying our best. I am trying my best. I had a good day today. But I did also have 1 x tunics snowball . 134 call and 10g Carb. Similar to a piece of bread..but nicer with a cup of tea!
Today I had
Breakfast bovril
Lunch carrot and humour
Tea..chicken carrots and green beans..and a bit of sausage stuffing oops. Gravy.
A tunnocks snowball. Won’t be buying them again..too tempting.
Hear from you all tomorrow!
Tattiescone xxxxxx

Hi, do ask your GP about mirena coil – stopped bleeding altogether for me (until v recently, hence my interest on the impact of Low carb on oestrogen & bleeding).

Also – look at mooncups. Brilliant – even if flow is so heavy that you have to use pads as well some of the time.
The added advantage for me was that I could give GP, gynae consultants (and A&E staff) accurate-ish reports of how much blood I had lost each day as opposed to “heavy period” – I think it was that finally got them to start taking the problem seriously. And moved from a ward to a hospital room with an ensuite bathroom 🙂
http://www.mooncup.co.uk/ you can buy online or chemists and healthfood stores – there is a find a stockist feature on the website, as well as nurse advisors and an FAQ section.
I think I also came across a user forum when I was unwell.

If you haven’t already, take a look at NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines on menorrhagia – I found that very helpful in getting the right treatment too.
https://www.guidelines.co.uk/nice/menorrhagia
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg44?unlid=13949713020169816593

The more you read around the subject, and treatment options, the better prepared you’ll be to have an informed discussion with your GP and get what you need, but anything healthwise I usually put NHS or NICE as part of the search term, then you avoid the ‘dottier’ theories that abound on the internet.
There are 38 articles on the NICE site that mention PCOS, not all will be relevant to you, but do take a look.

If you are prescribed Tranexamic acid DO NOT TAKE IT FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD, even though GPs will prescribe it
It’s purpose is to reduce blood flow – I don’t know if it did do anything for heavy menstrual flow, as I’ll never know how bad it would have been with without it, but it did give me DVT and six months of warfarin.

Hi everyone
I’ve been very inspired reading all the posts and it’s been keeping me going for the last couple of days.
Started the BSD for the first time yesterday, and so far it’s been great, no hunger, which I’m very surprised by !
What I wanted to ask is there anyone writing on the site who has lots and lots to lose ? I have lost stones in the past but always put them back on with stones more added on. I now have got to stage where the pain in my knees is so bad I can hardly walk, and obviously the weight continues to pile on. I am now determined to stick with this diet and the end goal is to get rid of about 8 stone ( eek !!)
I don’t have any medical problems, diabetes etc, just want to kick start my new healthy lifestyle.
Here’s hoping it goes as well tomorrow.

Hi Yowzer
top too big and smaller trousers – you are having a good day!
I finished the Nordic walking classes a couple of weeks ago, and ordered a set of poles at the weekend. The Tuesday walks clashed with Kayaking, which has resumed again after the summer break, so I didn’t want to continue with those once I’d finished the lessons. I may do some more walks on Hampstead – the woman I did the introductory session with had a sum where if you had your own poles, you could pay a monthly sum and turn up for any of her walks, which would be a lot cheaper than paying per session, so will probably do that.
Obviously, with my own poles, I’ll also be looking at going out on my own with them too, but I think it would be helpful in developing a good technique to do a few sessions with an instructor too.

Quite a few people did the walking marathon at the weekend with nordic poles – not sure I’d want to do that, as weaving around on busy pavements, but there are also charity walks along the Thames (50 or 100 km), and a group that power walk the regular London marathon.