Thanks Janet

I’ve always said I was at the back of the queue when patience was being handed out – I must be getting old LOL But I do have stick-at-it-ability 😃

Big hugs 😊😊😊

So delighted for you captainlynne. You are our role model for patience and perseverance. Amazing achievement.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Sounds like a great idea. Those chocolates sound lovely. I had a small piece of Green and Black’s 85% cocoa tonight (17g I measured it). Just 1 lb now to the next stone boundary and my weight starting with a 12 for the first time in decades.

Hi Izzy
sorry that you;re not feeling great.
Don’t know anything about Addisons, sorry, but I do remember that when I had antidepressants a few years back, there were was quite a lot of concern about taking them regularly, and the side effects of not doing so, or stopping them too quickly. I think it only applies to certain brands, but do take care with that.
Lots of love & very best wishes with getting your mojo back.
SOON!

I haven’t got the book, so can’t really comment on specific recipes, but yes carrots and other ‘below ground’ veg are much more carb heavy than the ‘above ground’ type. Maybe some of the other meat and vegetables used are due to the ‘Mediterranean’ nature of the recipes. I just miss out the bread, potatoes, pasta, rice and sugar from my usual recipes and meals, occasionally adding an alternative like courgetti for pasta or cauliflower mash for potato. This seems to work well for me.

hi
if you use the search box (top right hand area of the page, there are a number of existing threads about constipation which you may find useful
You’ll probably find it useful to use one of the online calorie counters – FatSecret, My Fitness Pal, calorie count – there are loads of free options on line. I prefer FatSecret, they have a UK specific site, so no measurements in cups, lots of UK supermarket brands, I find it easier to use than MFP and there’s a lot less ads. It will help you track calories, carbs, fats, protein – just about any food related nutrient you can think of.
Also, as a visual reminder, I like the carbs in fruit and veg images from DietDoctor – I have them on my kitchen wall
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/vegetables

I haven’t used any of the recipes at all – if you want to substitute stuff, just use an online calorie counter to track the nutrients that you use.

Hi everyone
I’ve just started the 8 week diet because I want to lose weight and feel healthier and fitter. As far as I know, I’m not pre – diabetic but my BMI puts me in the overweight category. In my first week I’ve lost 5 lb. but badly affected by constipation. I’m looking for some advice re understanding the recipes in the 8 week book. A lot of them I’m ok with as they are similar to meals I normally cook (but now I’m having no carb with them). I am puzzled as to how the ingredients are chosen e.g there’s beef mince but not stewing beef, only red peppers are ever used – is there something wrong with yellow and green? Carrots are used sparingly – are they too carby? And no cabbage? It would help if there were guidelines to help with this as I’m not too keen on being dictated to on choice of recipes. Also (last question, sorry) why so many seeds?

Thanks Tizzie

I’ll be posting about maintenance soon – watch out for a new thread!

Looking forward to seeing you reach maintenance – do you have far to go?

Congratulations CaptL,
you have been an inspiration since I first found out about BSD.
I look forward to hearing about how you get on in the maintenance phase and also to joining you there at some point.

Great to hear about your success on this diet, it should inspire many more people to give it a go.
The fact that the BSD can make a massive difference in such a short space of time is something I wish I had known ages ago! Barriers to starting a diet when you are very overweight are the perceived pain and the time it takes to get anywhere. Not so with this way of eating. I know I can do this in some form, forever- something I’ve never said before about any previous weight loss/healthy eating plan.
Congratulations on your remarkable achievement so far.

Hi Christine

I’m starting my new Moleskin today. Maintenance instead of weight loss.

Will start a new thread later today or tomorrow. Need to wake up! Traveling home yesterday was a nightmare. East Coast Mainline had significant delays because of damage to overhead cables at Retford. Had to dash from King’s Criss to Euston to travel on West Coast Mainline. Instead of one train (with reserved seat) the journey home was – London to Manchester, Manchester to Huddersfield, Huddersfield to Durham, then taxi home😱 I should have left at 18.30 arriving home about 21.30. Instead I left at 16.30, arriving at 21.30. It was a very, very, long day. I’ll say no more at the moment!

Hi Izzy,

Hang in there honey… it feels like you have let yourself get a little run down.

Taking time to rest, doing activities you find relaxing, eating regularly and getting to bed on time will all help.

The work room will be there ready and waiting when you are feeling a little better.

I know it seems like skipping your medication is not so important – but when combined with the other physical symptoms it may play a small part – and if you have Addisons the effects of the condition may be contributing to that slight anxiety. It will be good to have that looked at in more detail at your next appointment.

Thinking of you and sending good thoughts and virtual hugs🌻

P.S. good news about the keyrings and the interest in the coasters😊

Helloooo
How is everybody. Had a really good day. Cleaning and sorting, up and down the stepladder, bending and twisting, but now my back is stiff and tender, why after all that exercise! But it will be good after a rest I hope!
Today have eaten – crudites, 1oz cheese, boiled egg and some salad cream (I know not ideal but all I had, been shopping since). For dinner quorn meal off the site, ’twas very nice. Greek yogurt, grated apple, cinnamon for this evening.
How has everybody else fared today? xx

hi I’m just checking in. I’ve been really struggling to the point I’m concerned I’m getting ill again.

My energy levels are increasingly up and down, making it hard some days to prepare food and be organised, I’ve seen my tolerance for the things the kids do plummet, and my motivation for stuff has pretty much slipped away. I know this hasn’t been long – just a few days, but it already feels like a longer time.

I’m ok in some ways, my friend and I went to The Rocky Horror Picture Show last night and I functioned ok. I was feeling tired by the end but not exhausted. Today the kids have been winding each other up all morning, then I took them to a local fundraiser I wanted to support and then a brief shopping trip to get my son a jacket. By the time we got home I was exhausted. My daughter wanted to hoover my car (trying to earn pocket money lol) so she was out there and my son was with her and I decided to watch something on youtube, 5 minutes in and I fell asleep! I forgot to take my anti depressant a couple of days this week but I don’t think that would cause this so it’s back to wondering if I have Adisons disease after all. I need to chase up the blood test as I still haven’t had an appointment and I’m heading back to the hospital for my next appointment on 5th october and he was expecting me to have had all my tests by then.

In other news between folksy and ebay I’ve now sold 3 keyrings. My friends who have seen the coaster set I painted as a gift have all said they know people who would buy them and I have ideas for more designs. Just not sure I have the energy to paint them!

Ok Positive thinking time… I had a nap today and will get myself tucked in bed at a decent time. Tomorrow I might be out visiting a friend, I will do some food planning and try to be organised and I will have another early night, then I have work next week so I will try to get proper early nights done the whole week. Maybe that will be enough. Next week my husband is home with our son so although I am working I won’t need to be up so early as won’t have his lunch to make and take him to childminder, and also it should be a less stressful week as I don’t need to stress about being home in time to pick him up either. The week after I am off for that week to be at home with my son (my childminder has 2 weeks hols) so hopefully all of this combined will be enough to give me a bit of a boost again.

Thank you so much for your comments – we are all in this together and when I started it was people stories that really encouraged me.

Onwards, downwards and lighter as they say!

Metric and Imperial? That’s inspired!

I’m thinking of getting one of those pack of 6 chocs from Hotel Chocolate (70% cocoa and with ginger on the top). Husband can then dole one out to me each time I earn one (& then hide the rest away again!).

Thanks sunshine girl, will check it out…much appreciated😊🌻

JANEY! You have my sympathy..i have sciatica too.and i’m sure Lucky has it also..
Its horrid how it can be triggered isnt it..youre going round minding your own business and then you innocently climb a few steps or go up a flight of stairs or are rash enough to do a bit of a skip and a jump,and bam..it starts! And once it starts,who knows when it will stop again! Gahhhhhhhhh!
Had a very bad bout of it after moving house last November..could barely walk for a few months grrrrrr….
Sciatica and plantar fasciitis and arthritis are new delights ive discovered as ive got older..
Older age is not for cissies… X😐😐😐😐

Hi Lynne,
Awesome! Well done, you must be pleased with that and when you go onto maintenance you can allow those few pounds to go on, I have found that the pounds fluctuate between 3 and 0 pounds on and off over the space of the week, so there is room for manoeuvre there.
Great news, looking forward to hearing about the trip you made, or is it top secret?
Christine.

I’ve just run the keto thing again – my weight has fallen since I first did it, and I am now aiming for lower carbs.
now the ideal mix for me, given the 30g carbs, is 50g protein and 54g fat.
If the link doesn’t work, cut & paste the web address.

Irritating with fruit isn’t it – I bought some delicious cherries yesterday without thinking about the carb content – they are VERY moorish, but equally carby!

Stewart, what a result! Congratulation. And thanks for sharing. Your last sentence says it all.

Imogen, just saw your post I can recommend the Sigoma 8GB Waterproof MP3 player only around £25 and can be used in the water as well as while out walking, very stable so no jumping if you want to run or exercise, easy to put music on and holds about 600 tunes plus radio. Check it out on Amazon.

JANEY i wd love to roller blade/rollerskate! That really sounds uplifting and fun x

IMOGEN I totally get what you mean..when i was doing 5:2 i used to always have a declutter on fast days..i liked the idea that while my body was repairing,i was making cupboards and drawers tidier.

I have a tiny ipod that i clip onto my top while i’ m cleaning / tidying..holds a ton of music despite its small size!

I’ m no good at craft but i like to draw and paint..its a great diversion like you said as you can get totally absorbed in what you’re doing.x

Haha, whilst I’d love to confess to wearing neon leg warmers and looking like the Green Goddess in Lycra.. Sadly not! It’s a great form of exercise and with good, loud music, although I have be careful not to trigger my sciatica!!

The roller discos seem to be springing up all over the place round here. Originally we just brought the kids. But life is too short not to have a go! 😎

Congratulations Stewart – you have done amazingly well. Your food sounds really lovely. How fantastic that you have come so far so quickly.
Yeo Valley Yoghurt and blueberries are one of my favourite meals also. I had it for lunch today.

Thanks Frog, Orchid and Bellanon ….. i was actually trying to find this information a few months back!!!!

THANK YOU

Hi Janeycoughdrop, 👏

Roller disco?….really…are there still roller disco venues?? 🐒

I live out in the sticks these days so may have missed the resurgence of these!!
Do you wear special spangly clothes? Leg warmers?
Sounds fun…if risky😱

I am using a food tracker app called My Plate. It supplies the carbs protein and fat for each food item. I can see how many of each I am consuming daily. Apples and mangos each are near the top of the list of fruits with higher sugar content, even though the carbs are complex. Additionally, I do remember reading to avoid tropical fruits.

Hi Shalimar
http://keto-calculator.ankerl.com is a site that Igor often recommends – I have used it and thought it was useful.
You put in your personal details , target calories, carbs etc, and it comes up with recommended fat and protein

When I was aiming for 50g of carbs, it came up with 45g protein and 50g fat (or vice versa) – I mentally remembered as pretty much 50/50/50. TBH, if I am counting carbs and calories, I tend to stick to BSD principles and let the other stuff fall out by itself.

You can then use the targets that the keto site gives as goals in Fat Secret/My Fitness Pal or whatever you are using to track.

Personally, with any recipe, I always calculate the calories, carbs etc from the ingredients that I use – I often vary recipes that I use, and invariably adjust the quantity that I make.

Yowser, Boredom is definitely a trigger for me to eat😱

Think I need to get some portable music device…would help on walks too…managed a 10 mile walk this week…could have used some music then!! Love zumba, dance, any kind of exercise that includes music – really helps energise me. Not fussy ‘re music as long as not a dirge 😴 … gonna look online for something wearable and not too expensive for my tunes…thanks for that reminder.

At the moment, in an attempt to simplify and de-stress I find clearing out upboards, sorting clothes, identifying items/furniture I can happily live without to pass on. I can track my state of mind by the relative chaos in my my home😲, I feel better when that feels ‘under control’.
Other times any creative activity…making, sewing, art, crafts, can be a perfect diversion.

SEARCHED the topic and found this sensible post.
__________-
posted by orchid
on 5 Mar 2016 at 17:49
Reply • Report post • permalink

Hi,
I suggest you look at the thread ‘How many carbs’ and ‘losing belly fat’ where there is more background.
I think is really depends on the individual (male/female/activity levels/overweight or not). I have been on the diet 4.5 weeks and for the first 4 was concentrating of the 800 cals per day. I then saw a few threads where people were saying that if you get stuck on weight loss, you may need to lower the carbs. I was not stuck, but it was a step change, eg no weight loss two days, then a drop of a kg. I looked at my daily percentages and they varied a lot day by day. Like you I went looking how ‘how much is recommended’ so I had the right proportions.
I thought I had seen 30% carbs in book (ie 60 grams carb per day) and there was a thread (How many carbs) that has this advice (with thanks to janet1973):
100-150 grams per day: This is a decent maintenance range, and is good for people who exercise a lot.
50-100 grams per day: This should lead to automatic weight loss, and is a good maintenance range for people who don’t exercise that much.
20-50 grams per day: With a carb intake this low, you should lose weight quickly without experiencing much hunger. This carb range should put you into ketosis.
I decided to set my target as 60 grams as I did not intend to go into ketosis. I was not as worried about protein and fat so was happy if they were 35% each. I started to make changes last week and have steadily lost weight over the week day by day – an improvement on the step changes of before.
However! What I have seen this week is a lot of water loss, and headaches. Accidentally (I entered something into my calculator incorrectly) I only had 25% carbs yesterday and I had cramps through the night!
I may well be that the 60 grams for me is too low and that my ketonic boundary and I am sitting on it, confusing my body (see losing belly fat threads from pmshrink).
I have just found a website that suggests the following (inactive-active);
45-65% Carbs
10-35% Protein
20-35% Fat.

This last week I was averaging 30%:35%:35%.
I am going to up the carbs to 70 grams to avoid the cramps etc. and will see how that goes. As I said to begin with, it will depend on your own makeup so I suggest you adjust a little each week and see what works best for you.
Good luck!

Well I’m at the roller disco, for the first time since the school holidays started… It’s clear I’m out of practice! But it’s a great way to lift the mood (whilst avoiding breaking a limb!!). Who cares if I’m technically old enough to know better!?

Oh That is just brilliant how you have turned yr life around!
Thanks so much for sharing,it us so inspiring to read of the changes you have made to yr health,yr appearance,yr life!
Who knew 19 weeks could be so lifechanging! X👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Congratulations. I’ll try your favorite recipies!!

I’m know i’m going to have great results, when i stick to this, also!!!!

YEAH!! HURRAH!!

No Yoga class this morning after all … some confusing scheduling at the community centre. But did get a bit of a walk in … and they’re having a big centre jumble sale this p.m. so i may go back. Also might go for a walk and get some good olive oil, etc. at a local Italian deli place.

All it says on page 171 in my book for yogurt with apple, mango and hazelnuts is 180 calories. I have no idea where you are getting the 50 carbs from … is that for plan unsweeted yogurt?
I have no idea how many grams of carbs, proteins, fat, etc. is a good balance …. maybe someone else does.
On 800 calories, or even a bit more …. you can hardly go overboard on anything.
I’m going to aim for veggies and greens, and a little of complex carbs from mainly beans, lentils… and maybe a plain unsweetened yogurt with berries for a treat. And a bit of olive oil, butter, cream, avocado for fat.

I was 360lbs and unable to do too much in the way of exercise because of the weight I was carrying.

I was constantly hungry, and whilst having healthy meals, I was eating huge portions.

My waist was 48 inches…

At my widest point 56 inches…

Then I started the blood sugar diet.

I am now 90lbs lighter at 269lbs

I am loosing a stone a month.

My waist is 38 inches.

At my widest I am 44 inches

And all without feeling hungry once, I was to put it simply 100% addicted to carbs.

So what are my favourite meals

Yeovalley yogurt with a few blueberries or raspberries (110 cals)

Baby spinach, boiled egg, avocado and smoked salmon salad (140 cals)

40g mixed nuts (220 cals)

Greek Salad, sea bass, chicken breast and lean steak are all favourites, served with roasted mediterranean veg, or salad.

What I change in under 20 weeks.

This week I cycle the 10 miles to the local town and back for a meeting.

From armchair slouch to cycling fittie.

This has to be the BEST life changing diet ever.

FROG ! I Agree with JANEY! Bunny jelly moulds ! I have to get some,what could be nicer?💕💕💕💕

Talking of housework tho..i am not a fan..but its saved me today…was having a sort of “ugh” day ..feeling low,wanted to eat,more out of boredom than anything..but I stuck my headies on,brushed off my little ipod and have been working away on my flat,with little rests here and there,and my mood is much improved and my pad is looking good..and ive only had my usual brunch of yog and a few berries. Tonight spring greens with butter and black pepper and roast ham

Two Questions:-
What do You do to banish the ughs,folks?

And what music do you listen to when you need a lift?

Ive been listening to LOVE with Arthur Lee..theyve been around since the 60s tho Arthur passed in 2006…RIP
Listening to a concert from a few years before Arthur died..the atmosphere is electric..wish i had been there x

GAV lookin forward to the blog..good luck with 5:2 BSD x

Wow Frog, brilliant results on the reboot!!! 😊👏

Gavin, looking forward to seeing the results on your blog on Monday. Congrats on a great result! Good luck in your move into 5:2.👏

Not cheating at all in my eyes, and you get even more mini goals if you measure in both metric and imperial so 5kg lost should be soon after that! 😊 Of course the mini treats need to be proportional, and affordable, so maybe just a hot bubble bath a haircut or a small piece of dark chocolate for the really mini goals. My goals are metric and imperial amount lost, % lost, dress size / measurement reduction and going under the next stone or kg mark.

Frog, Yowser49, Lucky and Gymgirl51 – thank you 🙂

I am going to start the 5:2 BSD now. I fancy a few more calories now.

And as promised my selfie before and after photos are going to be included in my 8 week update on my blog, this Monday. I have just created a collage of the photos for my post.. The before and after is staggering, beyond staggering. They show the entire head to foot difference as well..

Stay tuned for Monday’s post on my blog 🙂

Well done Lucky and Gavin fantastic weight losses both of you !😃😃

TBH Frog, I think finding a rabbit jelly mould trumps housework any day of the week!!

Sounds like an hourglass figure to me!! Be really proud you deserve it.

Thanks for your reply. Much as I thought you were really committed which is how you’ve done so well. I’m not sure the odd days when the scales stuck can really be counted as blue days! I think once you got to the realisation that some foods were no longer to be in your life plan then I think that was probably the moment you cracked it.

I must admit into week 10 I don’t miss bread even though my OH has it regularly! In saying that we’ve not eaten potatoes since I started this plan, he’s had rice once or twice and tonight I’m making courgette lasagna and he hasn’t objected one bit! So hey ho ! You never know he may also ditch the carbs even if not all of them. BTW his weight is fine but he’s dropped 4lb doing nothing!

What an achievement Mixnmatch, well done you!

Thank you for telling me about the mini goals thread, it was really helpful. I’ve lost just under 6lbs so far. Would it be cheating to engineer a mini treat for my first half stone??? 😂😂

thanks Yowzer, yes I’m very pleased – renewed inspiration!
(not quite enough to do any housework though, which would be more productive than looking for a rabbit jelly mould!)

Gavin – I missed your post when I logged in earlier – huge congratulations

Gavin & Lucky – I have found the perfect gadgets for you both to celebrate your achievements! (I was looking for jelly moulds!)
http://justbento.com/handbook/bento-decoration-techniques/fun-japanese-egg-molds

I have found a jelly rabbit mould – but also John Lewis have really cute individual size jelly baby moulds!

Just calling in quickly in midst of housework blitz to say Congrats GAVIN on completing yr 8 weeks!
How are you feeling? Are you gearing up for another round of bsd or do you have other plans? X
Ps…FROG just 3 days reboot and look how quickly youve turned it round! 👍🏻 very encouraging isnt it! X