Hi Minnie. Go for it. Carrying any extra weight can’t help arthritis. Can your doctor arrange for you to see the physiotherapist who might have a set of excersies that can be tailored to suit you? Have you tried Pilates? Again a Pilates teacher can help find exercises to suit the individual even within a class situation.

just checking in whilst sat in a bar on my jolly holidays !! and have to ask when did this thread become so serious??
i know me and lucky and timmy are away ( not together!!)but janey we left you in charge !!
i always felt this was a lighthearted thread and most people that come on here realise that and if it doesnt suit their needs jump to another one ( thats the joy of the BSD forum !!) but boy this has gone way too serious !!
janey you need to inject some foolishness!!!

So, I thought I’d share the information beIow in the hope that if there are any people lurking around the forum looking for inspiration or motivation to give the BSD a go, this might help.

I started my BSD adventure on 27th June. It wasn’t something I’d spent ages planning and I can’t even remember why I bought the book.

Having spent most of the last 40 years on one diet or another, I think it’s safe to say that deep down I’d come to the conclusion that I was destined to be obese my entire life.
That said, I still held onto the dream of somehow, someday ‘becoming slim’.

Anyway, 6.5 weeks after basing my eating on the BSD principals, but restricting my daily calorie intake to between 1000 to 1,100 per day rather than 800, (I’m in this for the long haul with over half my starting weight to lose); I am over the moon to have achieved a 15kg / 2 stone 5lbs loss since the end of June.

In that time I’ve had one, planned in, cheat day a week, but the rest the time have been on it and have also increased my steps by abput 5000 per day, compared to what they were before.

I still have a considerable amount of weight to lose and I know the speed of loss will slow down but I can’t ever remember feeling so optimistic about a diet.

I’m just about to go away for a week, (hence the 6.5 week, rather than 8 week, weight in), and although I’ll try my best to stick to the BSD principals, I know that food control on holiday will be more tricky.

I’m not overly worried though as I’m enjoying the diet so will happily get right back on the BSD wagon when I get back on the 20th.

In the meantime, I can’t wait to see if my family notice any difference when I see them tomorrow. I haven’t seen them since I started 6.5 weeks ago and also haven’t told them I’ve been losing weight. Fingers crossed they notice something, even if it’s just that I’ve had my haircut!! 🙂

I hadn’t thought beyond 8 weeks lol

At the rate am going I seem to be taking longer to adjust to this way of eating but know through the inspiring stoties it is doable.

I also am on high dose of prednisolone 50mg until I see the eye consultant next week if I can begin lowering it so as am type 2 I also need insulin so even though am trying the bsd I am really doing it baringly due to the other stuff dealing with.

Hoping to be at least 40 pounds less by Christmas……. then am nearing half way there.

Hi Sandie, hope you don’t mind me joining in. I am a newbie and saw a post from you, which I now can’t find which said you were on older lady which is what I am. Just starting the diet and have chosen the 5:2 with 800 being the 2. I tried the earlier 500 cals but found it too strict and the long fasts not suiting me. Also not used to this posting lark and at the moment having a bit of difficulty navigating it. I filled in my profile but put far too much there as I thought I was posting it. I’ll get there in the end. I can’t do much walking due to arthritis in knee and foot so I go to the local leisure centre twice a week and do exercises in the water and sometimes use the exercise bike. Weight is 11 stone and would like to lose at least a stone hoping it will help my arthritis as I don’t want to go down the knee replacement track and in any case the foot will still be an unsolvable problem.
I am hoping that this forum will help me to keep on track and that weight loss will help my problems.

Thanks Ziggy, but I don’t have white coat syndrome but think my husband does. I am an ex-nurse so don’t get phased about medical matters I have had big B/P for over 20 years when I was having a really bad day at work with a really bad boss and walked out and across the road to the doctors surgery. I told the nurse to take my B/P as I felt as if the top of my head was going to come off. She took it and it was 220/180 and she nearly pooped her panties and ran to get the doctor. There followed lots of test, spent 2 days in hospital and then was sent home with Atenonol and taken off HRT So the high B/P has nothing to do with seeing a doctor although he is quite dishy and my heart goes boom diddy boom diddy boom diddy boom – oh doctor I’m in trouble (that’s showing my age.

Brill results Swindon Mike B
Started myself in February and getting great results from the diet.
Felt it was all about taking back control of my own health.
Good luck.

Have you checked the online shop Boobydoo?

Hello Wilma. This may seem odd but have you tried dipping celery sticks (or any vegetable sticks?) into it. I love marmite, but my aunt loves vegemite so I think you could probably do the same with it.

I feel better already knowing I’m not the only apple walking around!

Hi OBJ – I’m Vetkoek11 on there 🙂

LOL The Toffee Apple Girls 😉

thanks Bubblesdevere – those veggie sushi rolls look scrummy and cashew nuts are my daily nuts (I have 8, approx 100cals) so they are always in stock. I’ll have a look at sparkspeople, the more encouragement the better.

thanks also Verano for the tip re tomato sauce and freezing small quantities. That’s easy to do as well.

And some good news today – I am officially overweight instead of obese according to the much maligned BMI scale. I am really pleased with that.

thanks to you all.

Loving the fast results from this diet ……
Day 10 and my weight is down from 18st 13lbs to 17st 12lbs and my fasting blood sugar from 8.8mmols to 5.7mmols AMAZING !
I really need this as was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in June this year,so bought the book,studied it , then bought a blood sugar monitor online(only £12 for the tester and £16 for a 100 testing strips), then i waited till my two week summer hols were done in July , had a final farewell weekend binge on takeaway and cheesecake in typical food addict style and started out on the journey in to 800 cals BSD on 1st August.
Feeling revitalised if a bit vacant due to calorie restriction , drinking huge amounts sparkling water, loving the med box 220 cal lunch with feta, hummus and anchovies and the cauliflower rice ( 25 cals for 100gms !!!) from the book. Also finding Quorn Pieces with stir fry make a lovely 300 cal dinner.
All the small amounts of food tastes so much better than the huge amount i used to trough through and not even notice i had consumed. Finding the need to be more mindful about every mouthful and making each meal last as long as possible is definitely the way forward.
Long may we all continue on this journey away from diabetes.
May we all feel full on less !
Michael (smaller by the day please God !)

Hi Tofa

Just wondered how you are doing?

Have you managed to stabilise both your weight and your blood sugar?

Was thinking of you, and hoping everything has worked out well for you in the last month since this thread. 🙂

Family arrive today so I am taking a break from the site and just going off the diet a bit. They arrive this afternoon and will not have had lunch but arriving at 3pm so in between meals. I have talked them out of going to a beef ribs restaurant and will be doing a tapas, cold meats, salad bar type spread. That is fine but I am sure there will be alcohol involved as we have some celebrating to do for several reasons. I haven’t had a drink for 7 weeks so will take it steady. Tomorrow I have booked canoes for a 16 km ride down the River Dordogne and left overs from today will be packed up as a picnic to keep up away from the burger and chips bars on the riverside.

On Saturday we are going to a restaurant that specialises in duck, quail and venison with all the trimmings. When I say duck etc I mean course no.1 is duck, course no 2 is fish, course no. 3 is quail or venison, and so on, followed by cheese course, then dessert. All alcohol is included and it is a banquet of 7 courses. That day I think I am going to just stick to eating the meat and lots of salads. Then I am back on the diet to the full.

Daughter and brother return to UK on Sunday leaving us with 2 little boys and from then on I have control over the diet. When I report back in next week I hope I can report good news for my b/g’s and weight. My health is too important to mess it up now.

Hi Bubbles, what is your user name on SP. Mine is the same as here and I have been doing a blog. Will look at your recipes.

Just looked are you VETKOEK11

Can we start a new thread just for Apples on Sticks lol.
I’d join
Good luck

Thanks everyone for your support. Prosecco happened last night, but I did avoid carbs. Went to a friends place after work, we ordered thai takeaway, I simply had a stir fry, no rice, no noodles. Put everything into MFP and I didn’t go too far over 800 cals. Weighed myself this morning, and I’m 1.7kg down since last Thursday. I started easing myself into the diet last week before getting serious this week.

Just to introduce myself (missed that yesterday, was a touch emotional!!), I’m 40, aussie girl living in Edinburgh. My starting weight according to my scales was 96.6kg, however I had a diabetes clinic appt last week and I came in at 98kg on their scales. (Best thing about that clinic appt was full support from my Dr for this diet.) I’m going with my scales as that’s what I’ll be using to weigh myself. I was diagnosed with type 2 about 10 years ago, and maintained good BSL (always under 6) until my fiancé and I moved to Singapore for a year in 2014. My diet changed and I ate more carbs than I did in Melbourne. We’ve now moved to Edinburgh (been here for just over a year) and my eating has really gotten out of control – all the new crisps and chocolates to try in a new country! I’ve gained about 6kg since I’ve been here. So with my BSL double what it used to be, (and my Dr prescribing more and more meds) feeling fatter and unhappier than ever and with our wedding coming up in November next year, I came across this diet and decided to give it a go. My eldest sister has successfully lost a heap of weight using the 5:2 diet, but the BSD is more for me.

I’ve put radishes on my shopping list, not sure I can be trusted with almond butter – if there’s peanut butter in the house I have been known to eat it by the spoonful from the jar . . . will give the caper berries a try and I’m going to stock up on celery. I’ve also booked myself in for a PT session on Saturday, and depending on price and what the trainer is like, I’ll sign up for me.

I can do this – I have to do this.

Hi there fellow goalies

I am planning to stay on the 800 as it is working for me. I took a while to adjust so the 5:2 is a bit chop and change for my poor old brain! The only new thing I’ve done is eat breakfast after exercising so 10am ish and dinner 6pmish so I have a ‘fake’ 16 hour fast each day oh I do eat lunch in the middle in case you are wondering.

I have to take steroids for pmr and stuff for my eyes so it’s a bit of a battle. At times though despite the long term goal I do feel it is one day at a time then on other days it is easier.

Thanks Karenv, it’s really great to know this group is just an email away, makes it a whole lot easier knowing everyone is going through the same things. Thanks for your support. I hope that we’ll all soon look more like apple cores with legs rather than juicy fat apples 😉

Oh what a great idea! I hadn’t thought about thinking further ahead and goals…but that could be very motivating actually! And give me a target 🙂

If I did that I would have to lose 2.5 lb a week to be into ‘overweight’ category (I think; based on the BMI calculator I found – that would be 48 lb by Christmas). Again, an ambitious goal but even if I got a good bit of the way to that figure I would be happy tbh 🙂 I would be back into a size 14/16 and have a much smaller waist!

So I’ll be a goalie with you Angiebabe! Good luck to us both 🙂 Are you planning on doing the BSD 800 non stop or are you going to adapt after the 8 weeks and do 5:2? I’m not sure what to do, don’t know what has worked for other BSD’ers 🙂

Here’s to ambitious goals! *clinks glasses*

There are lots of us goalies out here Angiebabe, check out the Target Weight thread where lots of us are posting short term and long term targets/goals.

My personal mini target is to get to 1.5st (21lb) lost, which gives me a further 5lb to go, which I’m hoping to do in the next 5wks. I have a couple of things happening in that time, which might prove a bit of a hindrance, but I’m giving it a shot. Actually haven’t pegged down an exact final goal yet, as I want to see how things go over the next few weeks.

Good luck with achieving your goal Angiebabe. It sounds a tall order, but if you are really strict, it could happen. Keep us posted on progress.

Welcome AliceInSwitzerland, I am an apple too 🙂 Your lunch sounds lovely! The planning definitely helps me, I put my planned meals in a google sheet for the week and then I find it easier to stick to. Good luck and I hope to be reading your success story soon 🙂

And congrats Claire to you! Things are moving, woop woop!

Karen

Ha only on this forum would a goal be to be overweight! I’ve lost 31 so far and this would be another 59 but what the heck it’s good to have ambition.

This week I have been bang on with calories and carbs and keeping up with the exercise. I think it makes a real difference I can feel trimmer if that makes sense but will see next Monday my weigh in day. It’s 20 weeks so that’s 3lbs a week so a lofty ambition.

Any other goalies out there?

MIDDLEAGE1 Rock n Roll! Youre doing brilliantly well! ! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

That’s great news Sportbilly – congratulations on your first half stone, that’s an amazing result! 🙂

And good that you can not be hungry for such a long time… scrambled eggs and beans are my go-to when I’m out too (I like to have Saturday brunch with friends after yoga class). It keeps me going for hours too. Low carb and high fat is definitely the way to go, I had scrambled eggs for breakfast this morning, came into work and a big birthday cake was sitting in the break room ‘to share’ and I wasn’t even tempted! In the bad old days I would have had a massive slice 🙂

Congrats again and have a good rest of week!

Karen

Thanks Claire0310, yes I do actually live in Switzerland, I’ve been here for 25 years now and can’t ever imagine moving back to UK. I do visit regularly, we were in the Lakes, Llandudno and Manchester for our summer hols in July. I have read a lot of the posts and figure it’s easier if I plan a few days meals ahead. Then I can see how I can adapt what I’m having to suit the girls, 1 vegetarian and 1 meat loving tiger 🙂 Trying stir-fried veg and shirataki noodles for lunch

Ah brilliant – thanks so much for the recommendation and links Izzy! I will definitely check Shock Absorber out. Good to have a personal recommendation from someone who’s worn them. Thank you, have a good day 🙂 Karen

Morning all X!
Welcome EAGER HAGGIS!
FROG i often stand in a room just staring into space,wondering what the heck i should be doing next!
Not sure if Guinea pig is Major TOM,probably i think! Zig sends purrs x
JAN hurrah for feeling better today! Are you off the plateau and safely landed! Onwards and downwards eh..that 10% off means youre less likely to have a stroke,heart attack etc !
GAVIN commiserations, i hate it when the scales arent our friends,coz its a disappointment when the numbers dont change or go up! But we all know they ARE just numbers and more importantly we’re walking around feeling lighter and our clothes are looser! Its jsut another day and on yet another day the scales will give a happier result. X
LUCKY hope the weather is good for you! X

Im back again, I have two of my own recipes on sparkpeople: https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=3124415
and
https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=3124372

You may have to join to see them – but its free and another great resource to stay on track and keep motivated. Bxxxx

11/08/16

Week 5
Day 4

Diet starting weight: 18 stone 6 pound

Weight now: 16 stone 7 pound (104.77kg)
BMI: 26.6

Hi again, I saw this today and thought it would be nice for you? http://www.yummly.com/recipe/external/Raw-Zucchini-Sushi-Rolls-1262398 You could mix n match on the veggies. There is no rice in it so lower in carbs.

Hi Ziggy
You keep me smiling with your witty approach. It is good to have a sense of humour whilst doing the diet. That and reading the positive comments on this forum have helped me carry on without faltering.
I find your comments
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Cheers

Well done Blue1919! That’s great….
Captain Lynne inspires me too and also Hashimoto, who pops up now and again. I am grateful for early advice those many weeks ago.
Like you I am considering an updated haircut and have booked an appointment for next week. I’m a few weeks behind you but looking forwards to getting over that line too.
Onwards and downwards!
Love P

Thanks karenv
Weighed today and just one pound from losing 2 stone. Maybe tomorrow I can order my new pants and look forward to outgrowing those!.

First half stone gone- I was 13 stone 2 pounds this morning, and my waist is 37″.

I’m really pleased with that- I had a similar sort of initial loss using Atkins, but that was from a higher starting weight and it rapidly petered out to maybe 0.5 pound a week. This diet feels much more sustainable than Atkins, it’s not making me constipated and psychologically, the rapid weight loss makes me much more likely to carry on with it.

Just a quick anecdote- I usually work from home, but yesterday I had to travel to Newcastle for a meeting with a client. The journey’s about 3 hours away, so I was out most of the day. I had my usual yoghurt/ blueberries at about 7, then decided to try having bacon, egg and a couple of spoonfuls of beans at 9 just before I left. That kept me going until 8 pm when I got home and had my dinner. No cravings, no ‘oh, I’ll just get a pasty/ chocolate bar at Edinburgh to see me through’. That’s encouraging, as I frequently ‘broke’ Atkins last year when I had to travel to the office, simply because it’s really difficult to get low carb food at stations/ hotels/ the sandwich guy at work etc. Knowing that eating something high fat before I travel can keep me going for the best part of 12 hours feels almost liberating 🙂

Hi ruthdownunder

Thankyou for your words of encouragement, I am back in the game again now, had an excellent day yesterday and weighed this a.m. And have now lost 12.26 kilo so very pleased with that gone over 10% loss and almost at 2 stone lost, so going to be doing serious walking this eve. How are you doing now you are also of your plateau.
😊😊😊

Igorasusual
Fantastic achievement. Well done. Really great to hear success stories like yours.
Those last few pounds are stubborn beasts to get rid of……especially when the early ones slip away so easily!!!

Enjoy your new look and new wardrobe.

Keep losing everyone.

I have obliques……and they hurt…a lot.
They have been hiding under the blubber on my tummy.
Apparently they were found doing floorwork on the new Body Combat release!

If anyone wants to hurt in the same place you can lie on your side and try to pull up into a sort of sideways crunching sit up.
When I saw the Instructor do it I thought …don’t be ridiculous….but I managed a few…hence the pain!!!!

Bet it will trim inches from my still 33″ waist (previously 42″).
Off to try again today. Under 31″ is the supposedly the golden tape measure size to aim for.
Hah!!!!!!

Frog – thank-you for getting that set up – yes it is great she is not loading the courses and even better, she is prepared to put on a second course!
BTW – I have started walking with the West Herts Ramblers. I can’t do any other Sunday walks this month as I am doing Geophys those days, but there is a Tuesday walk 23rd starts 10am, Sarratt Church End WD3 6HE, I think it is about 5 miles and I am going to try joining a group that are walk the Hertfordshire Way. Next Monday there is a 10 mile walk – split 4.5 miles and 5.5 miles with lunch in the middle. It starts at Cholesbury, postcode HP5 2UH.
If you are interested in either I can send you more details tonight!
thanks again.

Heartiest congratulations Igorasusal

What a brilliant achievement – let the maintenance begin!!!!!!! 😎

Great posts as usual Lucia.
I have been moving!!!!

Hi eagerhaggis

I just measure a tablespoon of skimmed 11 cals, I have three a day, but find yourself a good app if able like myfitnesspal, it will even scan things for you. Get excited about starting, I found it gave me a really good spurt at the start. But welcome, and Bon chance 😊

Igorasusual🤗🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🎉🎊
Can I add my YAY and WHOOP WHOOP to yours? What a brilliant feeling for you. Congrats on your achievements on this BSD journey.
Your story sounds so much like my own it gves me a tremendous feeling of positive energy. Thank you so much for sharing. I do hope “Maintenance Rd” is a smooth ride for you.
Marilyn 😊

Sandie, thanks for sharing.
It shows you that even though you have an injury or pain or problem area You can work around it.

You can always work the bits that don’t hurt.

Even if it’s just wiggling your eyebrows!?,!?
Twitching your nose,
Sticking your tongue out.
Opening your eyes wide.
Blowing your cheeks out.

This will give your face a wonderful workout.

So be creative. Go for wiggling and twitching.
It may become an Olympic sport.
Xxxxx
Love Lucia

Well done Claire. There are so many more temptations with family around so you’re doing amazing. I’m sort of lucky in that I live on my own so can ban snacks. Also ironically I broke my ankle about 3 months ago and got into habit of getting most grocery delivered. Has cut down massively on temptation.
Just discovered my new favourite breakfast
Avocado, wilted spinach and poached egg mmm!

Yay! Woop woop!

8 stone 10 lbs this morning!
At target after a couple of weeks hovering – one or two marginal days with late night munchies (munched on cheese and other BSD OK stuff but calories shot to hell) – but scales come up trumps this morning!

So that is 26 lbs in 3 months (can’t see precise weeks on proper BSD as don’t have access to my spreadsheet on phone), when not type 2 but mildly carb addicted and in despair with no idea how to get back in control and lose those extra pounds which seemed to be relentlessly accumulating every day……

Still surprised in mirror, clothes absolutely fab (size S Zara trouser purchase yesterday), feel like I look more youthful and energetic, still up at 6am ish for my coffee (given up sugar :))

So for goodness’ sake if you are despairing, finding it hard, thinking it will never work for you, struggling in any way – KEEP ON KEEPING ON!!!

You will win, possibly in a different way because each body is different, but the possibility is out there.

Life transformational, definitely.

Onwards and downwards folks.

Will keep in touch here about maintenance and to be continually inspired by the wonderful people here. You are a fantastic bunch and I wish you all success. 🙂

Snap! Gavin fbl. 🙂

What a great name, eager haggis! Welcome!

May I suggest you get an app such as MyFitnessPal (there are others) which lets you look up the nutrients/calories of various foods? So you can check what you’re cooking and also look up ready made food you may buy (MFP has a scanning feature using the camera on my phone so I can scan barcodes which is helpful)

So re the tea/coffee you can have an initial measure of how much milk you use, and then find out how many calories/carbs it is.

I also use MFP to plan out a meal and check how many calories it is.

By the way, if you are able to restrict tour (good) carbs to less than 50g per day, that can help with kick standing weight loss

Hope that helps and good luck! 🙂