Hi Corkie, and welcome.

I’m both older and shorter than you😱 I was also some 6.5 stone heavier than my healthy BMI when I started the BSD in December.

Since then I’ve had social occasions, residential conferences and holidays (one in this country, Prague and Italy). I did wonder how I would cope, especially when abroad.

So I planned in advance wherever possible. Prague was the biggest challenge, partly because of the food available, partly the language (partly a bad holiday). I gained a few pounds, but they disappeared with interest the following week. I learned from the experience to be more careful with portion sizes.

On a 4-day residential conference I stayed the same weight. I knew from experience what the meals were like and planned accordingly. We chose our evening meal earlier in the day, so I deleted the dessert, picked the best main (deleting anything not BSD), then looked at the starter. I couldn’t eat all the meal, far too much food for me! I don’t now normally eat lunch but on the days when th evening meal was going to be served later than I am used to, I had a little cooked meat and salad.

Italy I was staying with friends who took me shopping so I could buy what I could eat while they had this carbs. We ate out several times and always found something that I could eat. At a special ice cream cafe the only thing without sugar was black coffee, so I sat with that while everyone else tucked in to incredible concoctions. And I came back from that holiday a few pounds lighter than when I’d gone away.

Why did I do it this way? Not only did I weigh far too much, but had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and was now being threatened with medication. Plus other issues, including poor mobility

I’d seen the results of following the BSD, including my test results now being in the normal range, and didn’t want to change that. Also, I was feeling so much better – more energy, clearer thinking, better concentration – that I did not want to go back to how I was before.

In short, it can be done. I realised that much of what I’d done before, in a lifetime of diets was habits. But habits can be broken and changed.

Oh – I reached my target weight a week ago having lost 92 pounds in 38 weeks.

That’s a good idea but what I’ve also gone and done is volunteered to make cakes too!! I can hideaway in my office on the day but can’t hide from the cake batter at home!!! I’ll be nearly three weeks in by that point so hopefully will be able to resist lol

So far so good.
Chicken breast and salad for lunch. Just drinking tea at work – only have a splash of milk. Need to up my water intake.
Not at all hungry.
How is everyone doing today.

Thanks topcac, well done for your 1st week achievement, that’s a big % of your end goal.

Have you tried any of the guilt free cake recipes from the book or site? Might take away or curb the temptation at the coffee morning.

I am in my fifties, 5’5” and am a serial dieter. I have lost and gained STONES over the last 20 years and am currently 16lbs (or 7.3kg) above a normal BMI. Every September (and usually every January), I am 2 stone overweight, recovering from holiday foods and embarking on another “healthy eating plan – see diet XXX). I tried 5:2 – lost 1.5 stones but couldn’t “get back into it” when the holiday period came around again and regained (again!). I have been “on and off” low carb for a number of months (which is why I am not currently 2 stone over my normal BMI) but weight loss has stalled recently and I want to try something more structured. A big problem of mine is catastrophic thinking – I am already thinking about how I will manage in week 7 when I am abroad – knowing my difficulties is never week 7 – it is week 1,2,3!!. I read MM’s original book but bought the recipe one also- because it looks great and I love recipe books. Also it is a better size for the kitchen when working from it. So I am starting today – week1 day1. Will stay as close to the recommneded plan as I can – though I know that life can occasionally get in the way – but will not use that as an excuse to DEFER. Will table my results and weigh-ins here daily to keep me honest.

Had breakfast and lunch according to the plan (the smoked fish pate was delicious, by the way, and very filling for such a small amount of food (small to my BIG eyes, at any rate). I made the thai red chicken curry at lunchtime for this evening as 4 – 6pm is my downfall so trying to be organised in advance of that.

Starting weight 75.5kg or 166 pounds (11 stone 12) in old money. Good luck to all who wander these fora – I have read a lot of your inputs and we have much in common!

Thanks Janey🌻

Congrats Imogen… longterm BSD success story! I have a couple of wobbly bits but walking is definitely shrinking them! 🙋🏼🏃🏼

Hi tabletalk. It’s my first day of holidays too. Doing the Mediterranean diet in the middle of the Mediterranean 😎 should be easy – right??? Wrong! The easy bit is no starchy carbs, the difficult bit is keeping the calories down with no measuring. Those lovely healthy salads of mine are lethal. And as for fresh olives, lovely fruit and fab wines – it’s going to be a challenging week. My challenge is not go put anything back on by the end of the week. It was great to get the swimsuit on without a struggle.☺

I had a migraine on my first day and ended up throwing up my dinner, which I considered a total waste of calories!! I was very photo sensitive and had acute pain until 5am the next morning. It was also suggested to me that I up my salt intake and, fingers crossed, I’ve been OK since. The combination of carb withdrawal, calorie withdrawal and probably a bit of dehydration is definitely enough to trigger them so all the above tips are great but don’t be afraid to medicate if you have too.

Hope it passes soon and good luck with your journey
TC 🙂

Hi Lucky…the wedding sounds fab…looking forward to reading all about it!🌻

Antigone…hee…hee… another unexpected consequence of BSD!!

Hi fellow BSD ‘lifers’…

5 months on BSD800 and have just past the 50lb lost mark – Ta Dah🙋 Somewhat slower than most; but I am very very happy to reach that milestone ( and only 0.9lbs till I drop into the next stone bracket…yay) – so am keeping on keeping on.

This week have added aquafit and a gym session into my exercise routine in the hope of encouraging the weightloss and toning the alarming wobbly bits😲😱

Hahaha Antigone, well done! Feminism be damned, we all like a wolf whistle to know we’ve been appreciated! Go girl!! ☺️👍🏼😆

Hehe! Well done ANTIGONE,! I am all for cheesing hubbies off! 😍😍😍😍 xx

It’s Day 8 for me – and this morning was my first official weight in – 7lbs gone – and I don’t have much to lose (about 2 stone). My tips are:

Drink lots and lots of water in the first few days especially, as your body is going to be hungry and it’s going to nag you to eat something.
Prepare to feel a little wobbly and a bit rough (some call it carb flu) – I did – some people don’t but it’s best to prepare – it’s just your body switching from burning its glucose stores (which it can only store for 48 hours) to burning fat – that’s when you will start to feel a bit better, day by day.
Can I echo Flash and say that planning, shopping and preparing will stand you in very good stead. I found following the recipes in the Blood Sugar Diet book was the easiest, especially for my first week when everything was so new and confusing!
Take it day by day and meal by meal if you have to – learn to like fruit and herbal teas (if you don’t already) and you will be there before you know it.

Good luck and keep coming on here for help, support and encouragement. There’s always someone around to help out 🙂
Keep us posted
TC

Also, another tip I was given years ago which generally seems to work is when a headache/migraine starts, eat something that is naturally green. Apparently the chlorophyll in whatever it is you’re eating works to combat the headache. Can be a bit hit and miss so you might want to have some actual medication as back up, but worth a try!

Good luck Ella! I’ve just started today, too and will hopefully be as determined as you to stick to the plan 🙂

Great list phlebas! Lots of achievements there so you must be feeling happy! I like the idea of mini goals and some non-scale victories too. Can’t wait until I fit in some of the jeans that have been lurking in the back of my wardrobe for far too long!

🙂 🙂 Thank you! Loving the encouragement from your posts!

Hello All – just had to share a quick word with you. Just had my first post BSD (with JOTF) honk from a lorry driver. Now normally, as a modern woman, I don’t approve of such displays of female objectification, however, it seriously cheesed my husband off and was therefore highly amusing! Speak later [walks away with spring in step!] He he…

Hello Hillybob,

It’s my first day too! You’ve already made the best step by deciding to follow the diet. As I’m also a newbie I don’t yet have tons of advice to offer but my suggestions would be to:

Plan your meals and snacks – far less easy to be derailed if you know what you’re having for the day and it’s there and waiting for you in the fridge and/or cupboard.

If you feel tempted to stray off plan, ask yourself, which do I want more – this snack/bread/chocolate/whatever, or to lose weight/control blood sugar/feel happier etc?

Be lenient with yourself! As you get started, every day will be a bit of learning curve. If you go over/under your carb or calorie allowance, don’t stress. It’ll still no doubt have been a better day than previous habits. And you can always start again at the next meal.

Enjoy it! Take some time to try new foods and recipes. You might be surprised at what you like!

Good luck with your 8 weeks. Keep us posted with how you’re getting on 🙂

Go girl! The more you say no to carbs the easier it gets and you get to the exciting stage of actually feeling ill with too many carbs, an awfully good preventor! 🙂

Definitely not sad – celebrate your achievement! 21lbs in 5 weeks is fab 🙂

Hello Lessness, I don’t know what it would be but if you’re only one week in, it sounds familiar, I had very bad headaches for the first few weeks, mostly carb withdrawal symptoms. Not very positive, but it will pass, stick at it

Hello Lessness,

Sorry to hear you’ve been having awful headaches. I’m also a migraine suffer so can sympathise entirely. I’d definitely try Igor’s suggestion to add a little more salt if you can. Otherwise, have you started eating anything you wouldn’t normally consumer if you hadn’t started this diet? For some people food can definitely be a migraine trigger. If you don’t do so already, it might be worth keeping a combined food/headache diary for a while to see if you can identify any patterns. I have done this in the past and have been surprised by things that can set me off (bananas, for instance!). Hopefully they will wear off soon as you adjust to the new way of eating 🙂

Thankyou everso, I shall go read about Bill1954, and review what I thought I knew about the dawn effect. Well done to your OH.
Cheers, R1ssole.

Oh and in the book Dr M suggests if you have trouble sleeping, eat your last meal later.

Do have a look at the various threads as sunshine-girl recommends and I would recommend Bill1954’s ‘this has to work for me’ where fasting results extensively discussed.

My OH was told by a doctor that fasting results notoriously all over the place, and therefore all the medics work to HbA1c which take an average BS over a number of weeks and are therefore much more accurate a measure.

OH had steadily declining HbA1c results over the period of the BSD (he organised with the doctor to have the tests monthly whilst he was following the programme) and was able to come off Metformin – now shown on his records as ‘Type 2 in remission’ by his doctor. Woo hoo!

http://www.healthextremist.com/have-trouble-sleeping-naturally-increase-melatonin-and-sleep-better/

I just did a quick google, here in UK melatonin tablets are only on prescription so perhaps you could talk again to your gp. However there are some suggestions in that article, cherries, chicken, turkey, almonds can all increase melatonin, so you could change your late night banana to one of those.

Or half a banana and a few almonds to begin to wean yourself off.

Hi Lessness

Not sure what this could be, but one thing you could try if you are drinking so much is adding a bit more salt to the diet as you will be weeing it out with a vengeance and leaving yourself very short. You could add more salt to food, or possibly have some miso soup, or just dissolve a stock cube in a mug of boiling water as a drink to see how you get on.

Hope this helps 🙂

Jab a finger..! It has been a morning reading, fasted after say 10pm the night before. A few weeks ago I was in low to mid 5s for the fasted AM, occasional 5.8s, but more recently and after some longer fasts it has been, ( I will just look em up..) 7.1 (fasted , and early morning weights), 9.2 (fasted and after 5k Parkrun), 7.3 (kebab, no pitta or carbs latish night before, but still at least 8hrs), 6.1 fasted this morning at 7:00 AM.

Seems odd to be even higher after exercise, aerobic or weights. Why..???
I think I need to get some HbA1c tests.

My wife bought the BG meter, (she is pretty overweight) but my numbers seem way worse than hers 🙁
I am hypothyroidic, and have been doing LCHF with some fasting, so I was rather suprised as I was supposed to be the normal one. 🙂

Are you having a small snack at night. There is lots about ‘The Dawn Effect’ which you can google.

Hi Kittiewhite, as you recognise, the banana may be just a habit and part of your routine. You could try just having half but if you are like me you would loathe throwing the other half away. There are lots of other foods you can have which produce melatonin it is just finding one that is handy for bedtime. For example, tuna, turkey, passionfruit, or chamomile made into tea, walnuts, almonds, cheese, milk, yoghurt, lettuce and hummus, to name just a few.

I have trouble sleeping, always have, but I also have diabetic skin irritation where I start to itch around the neck and throat at night. My doctor gives me antihistimine tablets but specifically the ones with a drowsy effect. I don’t know the long term effects so maybe not a regular thing, but just now and then to help you sleep. I have just discovered a new way to help me. I read until my eyes are drooping then I turn out the light and wrap my arms around myself like I and giving myself a cuddle, hands under armpits. I go off like a baby.

Be careful with bananas, my husband read they were really good for you (potassium) so he started eating one a day, based on his theory that more must be better. When he had his blood test for his annual checkup his potassium levels were through the roof and doctor told him to cut down to one every other day so it might be good for you to find a substitute.

Today’s weight: 162lbs
-1lb

Motivating!!

Yes, snoop, looking forward to some yogurt and a few berries today

Have a great day everyone!

Baristagirls – naturally eating less must be great! And I’m pleased to hear that the 8 weeks can go by quickly. It seems a bit of a mountain to climb at the moment but hopefully I will get into the swing of things fairly soon. I am pleased to report my first BSD victory, however! I just met a friend for lunch. She went for an AMAZING looking thick wrap with Bombay potato and mango and all kinds of delicious-looking contents. I was extremely tempted but held fast and stuck to my chicken and veg. Take that, carbs!! One step on the road to feeling and looking better…. 🙂

Absolutely agree with many of the people on this post.
Igorasusual and RozyDozy particularly reflect my own experience with the BSD diet.
Lost 3 stone in weight starting earlier in the year and since July have maintained a stable weight.
Have relaxed the BSD rules slightly in the last 2 months but haven’t gained weight. Still avoiding processed carbs though.
Completely determined not to become part of that 95% weight-gain statistic.
There are too many advantages to having lost that weight.
In no particular order……I’m……
1) Healthier.
2) Fitter.
3) Reduced medication.
4) Blood pressure much lower.
5) Blood sugar in normal range…..no longer diabetic range.
6) Looking and feeling better.
7) Able to walk further, faster, and longer.
8) Can manage more intense exercise easily. (My Fitbit records longer time spent in Peak.Cardio and Fat Burn zones) !!!
9) Have lost flab and fat on body and arms.
10) Stomach is flatter.
11) Can buy clothes in normal sizing.
12) Love wearing some of my new clothes.
13) Feel younger……..Not sure about this…… but my scales record my Metabolic Age as 15 years younger.
14) Not afraid of having my photograph taken.
What is not to like here?
Think some of my list of positives overlap a bit but they are all part of my personal motivation.

It is great that so many people on this thread are able to report weight loss and no immediate regain.
We have to keep our positive attitudes and the determination that made us start this diet in the first place.

Very best of luck to everyone.

Janrg1, it depends on how much you have to lose and how your bloods are. For me I am just ending week 10 and have no intentions of stopping. I have seen a dramatic improvement in my HBA1c but know there is room for more. As for my weight, I am a slow loser, which I put down to the insulin usage, but happy that I have actually been losing weight. Just 10lbs in 10 weeks. So I have another 10kg to lose. I will be sticking with this, probably for the rest of my life, in some form or other. It is not just a diet, it is a way of life and I really enjoy the food. Gone are the days of salad for lunch every day, now I have variety and bacon and avocados, full English breakfasts with black pudding. What is not to like.

As we say here in France, bon continuation.

Flash21…. yes I think once you do 5:2 you must be like me…. like the way of eating but not calorie counting anymore :):) I find I eat less than my old habits anyway. Which is the idea! But hey no harm in thinking far ahead. It goes quick, at least it did feel quick for me. Surprising, considering how awful I felt on the first 6 of the 8 weeks. Had a lot of addictions and other issues to kill! So don’t lose heart if you feel unwell. Instead, think; if I feel like this without carbs and sugar, I must be bad!!!
And now I feel so much better. This is the first time I have maintained my weight plus lost a few pounds since “stopping” a diet, and that’s because my diet has changed……

During my planning week before I started BSD I had intended to complete the 8 weeks then “relax” a bit for a couple of weeks then do 8 weeks again and so on. Oh how naive I was. This way of eating has to be permanent now. Once I can get to the correct weight I can then find the level I need to maintain it. But this is it. I actually feel like I am a different person to the one I was only 5 weeks ago. Diabetes no longer defines me. It is just part of me not everything about me.
Am I just getting carried away or light headed from lack of calories and carbs? Or is this what happens once you get onto this way of life?

Loopylou – well done for getting to 13 stone. You will soon be in the 12s. I only started the planning on 3rd Sept and it has been amazingly helpful. It was so good to see exactly what the carbs an cals were and I think it helped me keep to the plan – once it was on fat secret that is exactly what I ate and I didn’t add anything else.

Mixnmatch – I noticed this year on holiday that it was easier to eat low carb. I hadn’t thought of trying Weatherspoons so it’s good to know they are ok.

Sunshine-girl – thanks for that info. It sounds that the new book will be helpful and I will get a copy.

I can’t comment on the migraines because I’ve never had them.

But how much water are you drinking?

I was probably fatter than you in the first place. I started at 16 st 12 3/4lbs. Now going below 15 st is in sight….a dream I thought was out of reach only a few weeks ago.
Anyway it doesn’t really matter how quickly or slowly the weight comes off so long as it does.

Wow, TMacG! What a result! Not surprised you’re motivated. Those are inspiring figures.

Today was measuring day after my first 7 days, the weight remains the same but the body does not – 7cm off the hips and 9 cm off the waits. Am I motivated… hell yeah!

Ive been on the diet for one week lost 3lbs and I have been sticking to the plan. I have type 2 diabetes and my blood sugars have dropped through the floor, which I’m very pleased about! The only problem is that I have been getting terrible headaches and flashing zig zag lights. I have been drinking water until it is coming out of my ears any suggestions?

Hey Baristagirls, I’ve also tried 5:2 in the past but without much success. I was also terribly grumpy on the fasting days! I like the sound of the med style much more and it seems more doable. But I guess I’m thinking too far ahead! Got to get a grip with these 8 weeks first…fingers crossed!

Hello Flash21, after 8 weeks I tried to do 5:2 but simply found med style worked better for me. I had less to lose. But it’s different for everyone, try what fits when 8 weeks are past :):)

Thanks you guys encouragement is always good 🙂

I’ve already lost 2 st on BSD, but for me it is slower than most. For the most part I don’t mind the rate of loss, I’m still lighter now having lost two stone than I have been in years! I’m not even sure I *like* carbs anymore. When I eat crap I really can’t say that my taste buds are singing anymore than when I’m eating tasty BSD friendly food. There is definitely truth in the carb addiction thing and the cravings for me come when I’m low/tired/stressed as it will for all of us.

I love BSD food, I didn’t feel deprived at all when I was established in my routine before and was excited with the food! I just need to get back there, but we all have stressy times.

I finally have my last hospital test on tuesday for my dizzyness and fatigue, then an appointment on 5th october to discuss results, so we will see what they say, hopefully they will have a treatable conclusion and I can be helped!

Today having browsed some recipes, I have settled on not one but 3 soups to make. So I will blitz it all in one go when my son is at nursery and then I can stock my freezer. Any time I’m hungry I can have soup 🙂

http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/6450/curried-leek-and-carrot-soup.aspx?o_is=LV
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/273/cauliflower–butter-bean-and-dill-soup.aspx?o_is=SR
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/1632/ham-and-bean-soup.aspx?o_is=LV

I’m skipping the potato in the first recipe and I’m going to add a bit of cauliflower, and I’m not soaking haricot beans for the last one I’ll just buy a can. Might just do butterbeans.

I’ll be at a loss as to which one to eat for lunch!

Hello Antigone!

Thank you for your advice too! Yes, being aware of all the snacks is definitely a good point as my brain does tend to go off in the “I’ve only had…..” direction whilst conveniently forgetting a long list of food! I can’t imagine losing my appetite for carbs but I will be over the moon if that kicks in, especially as thoughts of deep pan pizza and other such crimes against real food are never too far from my thoughts 🙂 Fitting into smaller clothes will be amazing too – can’t wait for that!

Good luck Flash21. You’ll soon lose your appetite for carbs – really! Watch your quantities of snack food and weigh your portions. I weigh every day – I’ve tried not to but I can’t resist! It is a motivator as Baristagirls said. The best bit is getting into smaller clothes – it is such a good feeling 🙂

Excellent Janrg1 – it’s taken me nearly 8 weeks to lose the same!

Hi Izzy – good luck you CAN do it. I started week 8 today and have only 2 lbs to lose to reach my (first!) target – should manage it in this final week. I hit a plateau in week 3 then weeks 5 & 6 were a disaster but what really helped me was using an app to track my food/calories/nutrients so I could see the weekly averages which helped me to sort myself out. In the past I might have thought ‘I’ve blown it so I may as well have cake or whatever’ now I can adjust my overall stats by having an extra strict day if necessary. You’ve only one stone to lose – some folks on here have lost epic amounts of weight – you could do that really quickly if you are strict and then you can glide into maintenance 🙂 Keep posting….