Hi Jan
I’m with you on that one – no holiday baggage, but I finally admitted to myself that a three week “plateau” is more like slipping into maintenance before I’ve got anywhere near my targets – and on checking back on just how long that plateau has been, realised that a kilo has crept back on, so not exactly brilliant maintenance. Not good.

Yesterday was my first day of ‘refocused BSD” – I’m aiming for:
Less than 30g carbs
10k + steps
net calorie deficit of around 2000+

& lots of water!!

I was planning for four weeks – but I might as well join you in another eight.

It’s inspiring to read your story,you must both be feeling great!

Haven’t been on here for a couple of days,no time!haven’t even logged on to FatSecret to log what I had to eat but have been good and have been going to the gym.Went up to Aberdeen today,made rolls for the others and the usual cakes etc for the journey but I had cottage cheese,blueberries and salad to munch on,also tuna.starving when we got back so filled up with a bovril then watercress soup,then a bit of cheese.Managed to get on the scales this morning,5lb lost in my first week so pleased with that. Tattiescone,I’m in very few photos with my kids,I am always the one that takes the photos.The next few days are not so hectic so I’ll get back to FatSecret,it really makes a difference counting the calories.

That’s good to hear that you’re back on track! Whatever works for you, keep doing it!

Smp – we’re here for you, sorry to hear you’re struggling at the mo, it happens. You know this works and things can be undone relatively quickly. Chin up chook. ….

Thanks Lucky, your sentiments were lovely to read…

So far I am down by 5 pounds so very happy! My BG was lowest this morning its ever been so something is working…I do love Oopsies and have made 2 batches this week but they help so will keep it up

My husband who is “was” type 2 diabetes and I who was overweight decided to give this a go ..Well after 12 hard weeks of dieting 800 calorie a day and about 20 carbs , we have lost 4 stone 10lb between us ,,about equal each ,,no medication has been taken for 11 weeks ..the blood test results are in ,,cholesterol , liver function , and glucose all good no action required HbA1c test almost non diabetic , in January it was 122 ,,, blood pressure normal to low . It’s had its ups and downs and tears but now we know that with exercise and diet you can beat type 2 diabetes . Calories have now been increased but keeping carbs low . I’ve been inspired and encouraged by Michael Mosley , The 8 week blood sugar diet and Dr David Cavan Reverse your Diabetes ,both definitely worth reading and following . I’ve weighed every piece of food that’s been eaten and cooked everything as well ,,there have been hungry days , sad days but here we are and it’s all been worth it . I hope this encourages others to stick with this to achieve their own personal goals

Just updating to say I am nearing end of Week 4 and feel great! The irritability didn’t last long so if anyone else is feeling out of sorts just keep going because it gets better quickly.

Hi all.

It’s seems we are all a bit wavery at the mo, week 10 itis I have only managed a half hearted BSD day. And I can’t say I feel very pleased with myself feel quite yucky.

SO I AM PROPOSING TO GET DEAD SERIOUS ABOUT MY JOURNEY, SO IVE JUST GOT ON THE BSD BUS AND I AM NOW SITTING ON THE BACK SEAT. THIS IS THE 100% GOING FOR IT SEAT. THERES SCALES, AND PERONI WATER, ICE AND A SLICE ON TAP . I WOULD LOVE YOU LOT TO JOIN ME ON THIS AMAZING JOURNEY.

I have 1.7 kilo of holiday baggage to of before I am back in the game again and that will be gone by next Wednesday. How about you. What’s your short term goal. Go on make a commitment.
🤔😊🤔🍓🤔😊🤔

Hi all, new to the forums, this is my first post (Hi!). I have been going on and off the diet, mainly because I was getting so badly constipated, the scales weren’t showing progress and I’d then get discouraged and eat badly! And I always go to the toilet easily after eating badly…carbs are good for that! I’ve found new enthusiasm after reading how many people also struggled with constipation and I’m being aggressive with a few things.
1. Fybogel, I have 2 sachets in the morning and another 2 at night.
2. Chia seeds – my breakfast is 20g of chia seeds which are about 100 cals and full of fibre and pretty good on protein and fat too. I have that with a tbsp of lime juice and water and it’s actually delicious.
And 3. Water. I can’t believe how much water I am drinking, I just keep going with it. Anyway, the plan is working and I”m now just struggling with will power when it comes to catered lunches and morning teas at work! Progress

Hi Yowser49 and Lucky.

Yeah time flies 🙂

Hey Gavin 🙂 8 weeks already, wow. Look forward to the next blog post!

Hi Nedds mum – yes to soya/almond milk/tofu. Quinoa is quite high in carbs, but you could use it in small amounts. The key is to count the calories and carbs in everything you consume. Keep calories to 800 and carbs around the 50g mark per day. Try to favour above ground veggies, as many root veg are high in carbs.
Hope it goes well for you, we will be interested to read your results soon, but meanwhile shout if you need any advise or support as there is bound to be someone willing to respond.

Life sounds great ARTY! Enjoy xx
Well done on day 19!

Hiiii GAVIN! X thanks for checking in ! X

Hi Verano – we all have wobbles and if you’re on holiday, you are definitely permitted a little indulgence. Sounds like you have refocused though and feel able to continue on the BSD path. – well done! You could still relax a bit and have some strawbs and cream though.

Sunshine-girl, none of us manage to be cheery all the time, so go with it and allow yourself to feel down. You’ll be bouncing back again soon, but in the meantime, be kind to yourself, don’t beat yourself up for feeling low and hopefully we will be hearing from you on the forum when you’re ready to be part of it all again.

Just popping in to say hello. Will catch up properly and read all the comments over the weekend as I hit 8 weeks.

You dont need a kick up the bum SUNSHINE….you just need some big hugs! And like IGOR said, you need a nice deep bubble bath and a deep sleep x
AND to not expect too much of yrself xx
You really put yrself under a lot of pressure trying to make everything perfect – my DD is the same.
But you know what? Life aint perfect and neither are we humans!

Whatever else has been going on the last 4 years has no doubt contributed to this too – even if its good change,it can still be very stressful.
AND youre missing the family but probably exhausted after spending time with them
Just cut yrself some slack..come here and have a rant whenever you need..i guess most of us here can empathise coz we all have tearful,overtired times that make us weepy and sad! So theres always somebody around to listen and cheer you on when things are going well,give a gentle cyber squeezey hug when not.

DITTO to VERANO XX hope youre ok xx hugs!
First week of BSD i felt so serene after the carbs had left my system..but I must admit ive felt kinda grizzly and grumpy today..bsd is great but i agree with you SSG there are times it gets tedious counting cals,carbs etc! X

Good evening,
Tattiescone – Wendyq says that she has an oxo or bovril drink, fills her up, lots of taste and few calories, might help if you get the munchies! You’ve had a good day well done.
i don’t know where everyones gone, all okay I hope. Tomorrow is a new, fresh day.
For lunch today I had cheddar, butter beans and salad with lemon and oil dressing, dinner was shepherds pie with mashed cauli topping and runner beans folowed by greek yogurt and a few blueberries. 5 coffees and copious amounts of water!! So far so good!
Managed walk, 45 mins, got a bit damp as too warm to wear a coat and started raining 1/2 a mile in. But enjoyed it, quite windy but so fresh and reviving. Finding walking easier already. Mood is better, lighter and brighter. On holiday next week, lots to do in our new home, so will be busy. Must plan meals so don’t lose track.
Well night, night xx

Hi sunshine-girl

Sorry didn’t realise you’re also suffering from week 10 syndrome!

Maybe we are so relieved to get through the first 8 weeks we sort of ‘breath out’ and then the reality of another 8 weeks hits home and it’s not so hunky dory!

I think we each have to do the best for ourselves …. for me reading the various posts helps to keep me on track but I can also understand about reading ‘newbies’ stories with huge losses may not be too helpful for us ‘oldies’ !

Maybe a mixture of the two and maybe a new thread for us not so newbies to help get through these obviously sticky times. Would love to know if captainlynne hit this sort of low on her journey.

The one thing for me is that it’s not a ‘diet’ it’s a life plan so I know it will work but it may take a while to lose weight ! I think once you start ‘substituting’ things for bread rice etc and then trying to build in ‘sweet’ treats you’re on the slippery slope to not lasting in the long term. Building in treats is what I did with WW etc. just wanted as much of my unhealthy food as I could to fit into my ‘diet’ !

We WILL get there ! Keep the faith.

Thanks Josie! Me too. Can’t do many more days like this. Thanks for the heads up on that, just hit record on it. It’s Thursday so that means rugby…

glad that you are back with us, hope your health improves over the next few weeks. Programme on BBC 2 featuring Michael Mosley for anyone interested, Its called trust me i’m a doctor.

Day 19 . BS 8.6 mmol/L. Planning a trip to Mud Island in Moreton Bay this weekend, weather will be very good no wind and a high tide at Dawn.

Hope everyone is well.

Thank you Yowzer 🙂 Hey, why not. Think of all the money we’re saving now! I treated myself to a Yankee Candle a few weeks ago. Those words usually bring Timmy out of hiding… so he can tell us how crap they are 🙂

Thank you LUCKY..yes I am thrilled to bits a) to see you back here
and b) to now be a member of the Post 8 club!
Bought myself a nice bath and body wash today as a little post 8 week treat hehe! Smells divine! X

Just a quick call in to say glad to see you LUCKY..pls take care and rest up and get well
Listen to yr body …sounds like its telling you it needs some TLC x!
Back tomorrow to catch up
Now we’ve got our Lucky Charm back and GREENJACKET too…where the heck is GAVIN? X

You too!

Thanks Igor, I guess I need a kick up the bum. Notice Verano is feeling stressed too. Thank you for the hug. I think things can accumulate, like family going home, planning a trip, trying to keep to plan and it builds up. I guess I don’t like being out of control and I pride myself on getting things done.

I have been going through something for the past 4 years which has just come to a conclusion and moves me into a different chapter in my life, so maybe that has suddenly hit me. I’m sure after 1 or 2 (see how it has gone up) vodkas and a good nights sleep I will feel better in the morning.

Hi Verano, you will see from my post feeling really down, is it something about week 10 as I see you are stressed. I probably need to take a break from the site and thinking about this diet all the time. But not take a break from the diet.

Thanks both. Will see how we get on and try to substitute the ‘Avocado’ meals with something roughly same value in carbs, sugar & calories.

Hi. I’m just about to start the diet. Need to do someone about my weight and general health.

I’m a vegan am wondering how tricky this will be.
Can I have soya/ almond milk/tofu/quinoa on this diet?

Thank you

Well, you know it works Avila, we all do, so we’ve got the best tool available ready to deploy. For what it’s worth, from personal experience, I’m laying off the alcohol now, because it is a swine for putting weight on. Even a (for me) small amount of wine compared to what I used to sink has had shocking impact on the scales. And having to face the next day unable to rely on the old faithfuls like takeaway or bacon butties to help me feel human again.

ONLY a vodka and tonic, sunshine-girl – goodness me GO TO THE CORNER! You are SO SO BAD for not shopping properly. Call yourself a SHOPPER? Incompetent is what I call you. You are letting down all the perfect people on here who never make any mistakes. NEVER.

Your vodka could have been a chocolate bar, three doughnuts or a loaf!! We will forgive you the vodka BUT ONLY IF YOU FORGIVE YOURSELF!!!

When you’re down you’re down. Counting your blessings (though you’ve certainly got a few) doesn’t necessarily help, and can make you feel even more guilty.

LET THOSE KIDNEY BEANS GO!!!!!

I’d have a relaxing bath and a decent night’s sleep. 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 [[virtual hug]]

Mental4ever, I understand completely that you want to follow the recipe guidelines. You could certainly replace the red peppers with tomatoes as SunnyB says there is not much different in the nutritional content.

With regard to avocados then sadly I am with Sunny that there’s not much alternative – an avocado is fairly unique in texture and flavour!! – I would suggest that you avoid it, and repeat something else which you and OH do enjoy better.

Or if you are getting the hang of the quantities, and the sorts of vegetables and meats/fish/cheeses used, you concoct something slightly different which you make up yourself?

Whilst the recipes are really convenient, it’s great if you can sort of use them to train yourself to make up your own meals as this will be hugely helpful when you’ve finished your 8 weeks and are maintaining this sort of lifestyle. Because if you go straight back to pasta/potatoes/bread etc then the good work may be reversed.

Hope that helps! 🙂

Don’t know why but I just want to cry. Everything is going so well, diet under control, contacted an old friend I’m going to meet up with next month, started up my French classes again next week, family all well. Then tonight I asked hubby if he would make dinner, skinny chilli then found I had forgotten to buy mushrooms after spending €45 on veg yesterday, forgotten to buy red kidney beans after spending €74 on other food stuff today. Poor lad had to compromise which he is not good at, found some dried morrels in the back of a cupboard (still in date) and ended up making a bolognaise but I felt so bad. I am always so organised and it puts me out of my comfort zone when I cock things up.

Maybe it is because I have had family around me and they have all gone home and the novelty of a quiet, tidy house has gone. I am so lucky and have a pool in my garden but I looked at it today and didn’t want to swim, but I did anyway, because I would feel guilty if I didn’t. I am finding this such hard work, so much planning and thinking, I want someone to do it all for me, but there is only me and it is for me that I am doing it.

I think I will go have a rather large vodka and tonic, but then I will feel guilty. What the hell, I’m going to have one anyway.

Sorry for being miserable, it is not like me.

Thanks SunnyB for your comment but I thought I would follow the food guidelines in the book and repeat the first 14 days of meal plans with as little change to the original menus as possible. We have been following our own meal plan for the last week, just to get used to smaller portions and due to weigh tomorrow but I am way out in Carb & Sugars(mostly natural) even though we have remained on average around 800 calories.

Lovely to see you back Jan!!

What a day! Feel like eating a horse and not the sea bass I have in the fridge!!! Felt like following that with strawberries, meringue and thick double cream, then coffee and a bar of Lindt mint chocolate !!!!!!

But instead I thought I’d catch up with my buddies here. Have read load of threads and now feel energised again. This is the first time in two months that I’ve been stressed enough (and I’m on holiday!) to consider going helter skelter down the eating all in sight route!

Back on track, I hope, and sorry I’m not posting much at the moment. Hope you’re all doing well.

Hi Helen and welcome!

Have you bought the 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet book? Available on kindle and also in book form (which is handy for following recipes which I find hard on my iPhone :))

In summary, on BSD we avoid

Refined Carbohydrates ie
Sugar
Rice
Wheat (so bread etc, anything made of flour i.e. pastry)
Grains which come from wheat
Pasta
Potatoes and other root vegetables

We can eat everything else – which is lots and lots and lots! – but it is good to keep a handle on how many grams of carbohydrates, even the good ones, that you eat.

For example, fruit isn’t actually forbidden, but it does contain many grams of sugar (fructose) so is better avoided except in small quantities. And low fat dairy is very much discouraged because in taking out the fat, producers put in much more sugar.

I got hold of MyFitnessPal app (free) and there are others, and you can look up nutritional content of food on that (calories/carbs/fat/protein) also look up Low Carb vegetables and Low Carb fruit on the web to remind you. Many people here following the BSD try to stick to 50g of carbs per day within their 800 calories, which helps not only with weight reduction but with reducing blood sugar.

I would suggest you read the book if you’ve not done so already so that you are really clear.

Hope that helps! 🙂

Hi Frog,
Like you, my weight loss stalled in recent weeks. “I have got more and more lax though (and had the odd binge!)” – sounds exactly like me!!
So I’ve recently resolved to knuckle down and lose those final 10lbs that will get me to my target weight. And 10lbs doesn’t sound too daunting, compared to the 30+lbs I have lost since January. I admit that some of the recipes I tried in the early days I don’t use now (a bit of boredom setting in) so I’ve revisited the book and am trying some recipes that I’ve not tackled.
So good luck with your efforts.
Rose

Hi all. I’m new to all of this and can’t find anywhere on here a list of forbidden foods. I know (obviously) that I can’t have anything with sugar in it ie cakes, biscuits etc but I am unsure what specifically is a forbidden carb. I know that I can’t have white bread, rice but what about grains such as cous cous etc? Can anyone help direct me to a list of forbidden foods or something? Maybe there should be one on this website?

Delayed stress – treated by alcohol +
Various events with food all wrapped in pastry or in bread – with my lack of will
=
Inevitable upbump in weight and general hungry cravings for all things bready and carby.

Need to discipline myself like day 1 – but on day 1 excited motivation helps. Today I am just tired and grumpy, had a risotto ready meal still in freezer from before BSD, a weight watching one, so could be worse, and out to boring mtg tonight with work.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I’ll BSD again tomorrow….

Thanks trelawny! That is such kindness. I know you are right. But it’s just me. I think because I used to be slim and bonnie..I can’t really get over what I have done to myself! However..onwards and downwards!

894 cal
31 carbs

Breakfast..2 x cup tea
Lunch.. salmon salad and olives and mozzarella
Tea..cauliflower cous cous with veg and pork. Really tasty.
If I am hungry later it’s a cup of hot water or tea.
1 hour walk run walk run walk run with the dog all hills as we live on a hill farm! No one saw my bits! Apart from the dog.
I feel good. Looking at every day as a fresh page to tackle. Next weigh in is next wed.
Hoping to say goodbye to you 15 stone 8.
How is everyone else doing!? Weather’s pretty shabby up here!
Tattiescone

Good to have you back Lucky.
You clearly needed the rest!!! Some viruses can leave you really wiped out – your immune system at work making sure you slow down and recover? Glad things are picking up a little.
Size 20 (non stretchy) is great news!!!. Nice to have an outfit that you know you can get some use from…I have had several ‘wedding’ outfits over the years that I have never gotten around to wearing again after the big event…so good call😊x

M&S ready meals are generally good quality, and they do have the calorific content on the back (small print though) and some details can be found on the internet.

However, watch for
a) portion sizes – you generally don’t need very much of them to keep your calories down
b) carb content and added sugar

But if you have something very simple, such as meat and look very carefully at the contents of sauces for sugar etc., they can be good. I have had some very nice fish from there but generally not the ready meal sort, just plain and cooked it myself.

Not really a thought but I had to post somewhere, that I can comfortably get into a dress that I have had for years and love, because when I can wear it, it makes me look good and feel good. It’s now in the case ready for our trip our to Turkey, flying out two weeks today.

Hi Imogen, thank you 🙂 That’s what I’ve been doing the last few days, taking it very easy, feels a bit alien to be honest. Not had the energy to concentrate on being online, talking, reading, cooking, thinking lol. Feeling sick. Falling asleep in the day – twice yesterday – and still going to bed and sleeping through to my alarm. My Mum phoned earlier and apparently my father has been the same for a few days too. Maybe there’s something going around.

I had my wedding outfit today. I opted for a size 20 only and it fits really nicely but I can also afford to lose some weight too. I knew I was a 24 in a dress previously. I know I’ve gone down to an 18 on my bottom half but that an 18 would NOT go over my boobs. So I figured that now I was in a non stretchy 20 top, that’s what I would order. And it was a good call. It’s not pretty or floaty or what I initially wanted but it’s smart, and I can wear it the following weekend to the end of season awards for my rugby team as well. Mum is babysitting and I’ve booked a room in the hotel that the awards are at, so I’m having an overnighter without children! And hunky rugby players! Not so much a dirty weekend as a mucky overnighter, but I’ll take it gratefully! Not so easy getting away without them all when there’s so many to look after!

Has anyone just eaten ready meals from MandS on this diet. Do not trust myself to count calories on every item I cook.

Hi Lucky,

Sorry to hear that you have been feeling a little rough…rest up… take care of yourself.🌻

Hello everyone, I’ve been feeling a little bit under the weather the last couple of days. Ok, a lot under the weather. Nothing I can put my finger on but it’s wiped me out completely, which is unlike me, because I’m like the Duracell Bunny usually 😉

Well done (and welcome back) Mix n Match and Yowzer on your great weight losses!

Smp – we’re here for you, sorry to hear you’re struggling at the mo, it happens. You know this works and things can be undone relatively quickly. Chin up chook.

Frog – touch wood it’s been ok this week… weather has been a bit patchy and I’ve been a bit bleugh so it looks like nothing will be done on coastal path this week. Again. It’s ok, I’ve been waiting about ten years to do it… I know once we start on it, it will get done, but it’s just making that start. This week has been chock full of appointments too, haircuts, dentist, physio, consultants and my son had his check after breaking his arm earlier this year. Next week not faring much better, nor the week after. And a mammoth trek to Norwich. Yikes.

Day 4

Bfast – rhubard & greek yoghurt
Lunch – 2 oopsie bread and a mackerel salad
Dinner _ a bratwurst sausage with green veg

Am really enjoying the taste of food

My waking BG was 4.8 and I have never seen that figure before so something works!!

Well done Tokyo, wonderful news 🙂

And a big well done to you too Yowzer, bet you’re thrilled 🙂