I have a new mini goal after weighing in this morning as seeing the dreaded 76 pop up when I thought I had banished it. Serves me right for slipping up. But never mind that, was 76.2 and want to be at least 75.9 BY TOMORROW.

Hi Imogen,
She is living with us, she rarely leaves her room, has a house bunny, in her room! I find it really hard work, she never does anything to help, as she is the one who needs help and support!
Have reported back on the weigh and thread post about the doctors, it’s good news! Thanks again for being there.
Christine.
,

The busyness continues! and yes we are in Scotland no holiday here (except for me lol) So last night I finished sorting out my paypal account, and ebay and folksy. So Later today I plan to photograph and attempt to sell my stuff 🙂 exciting but I hope my things are wanted!

Today I dropped off my son, caught up with friend again and then home… cleaned my living room windows, dusted the living room and then started to clean my oven. The door separates into 3 pieces so all bits cleaned and had to scrape the inner one. It is getting old now and doesn’t clean perfectly but it certainly looks a lot better. My grill – which was working yesterday – has stopped working again grrr, so I’ll need to pull it all out again to see if I can find out why 🙁 Can’t be bothered for now though.

I’m going to disappear up into my loft soon and get some keyrings up for sale, and maybe paint something. I haven’t painted in a while. Work a bit on my sisters wallet too. Fabric to make one for my mother in law is here now too 🙂 so plenty to get on with.

My daughter also wants me to make her a pencil case too so really I could be up there for days and still have loads to do lol. Well I best get going have a great day 🙂

Hi all,
I just couldn’t wait till I posted my ‘day’ on my back to basics thread, so here goes.

I have just got back from the doctors and I am NO LONGER pre diabetic! My results are -: sugar 42 down from 47, liver function normal, cholesterol 5.7 same as last time, good cholesterol 4.4, thyroid up a bit to 6.1, I will have to have that checke in twelve months, my score is 14% should be about 10%, however the doctor isn’t going to insist I take statins as I have a good Mediterranean diet! And my HDL. 1.2.9.

He was very pleased with my results, and we were talking about the diet and how I had a plateau then after a bit of relaxed bsd ‘ing’ I started the diet proper and lost another lot of weight, and I have now been 12.2.4 for days, he suggested I relax again for a bit then get back to the 800/50 diet and he was sure I would lose the final half stone!

So I might do the 5-2 for a couple of weeks, he did suggest that everyone is different and I might benefit from relaxing the diet for a while as it has happened before, I did say that while I was on my last plateau my shape changed and I lost inches off my waist, hips etc, so he said he thought it would probably work again, he is a great doctor, although he did say different diets work for different people, which I do agree with a bit! So there we are!

One very happy bunny, and to think last night I was feeling really anxious! Thank you Imogen for the pep talk, I needn’t have worried.
Christine.

Hi Christine,

Thank you so much…we all support each other here…it is what makes the BSD ers so special🌻

Glad your daughter is getting the extra support she needs at the moment. I think that her previous job must have been incredibly stressful (even if rewarding). Has she moved closer to you now?
How great that she now has another possibility, working/training at the Botanics sounds fantastic. Hope she feels able to get to her course. Acceptance of ASD?… may take a while…

How went it at the GP?

Thanks for the welcome back! I took a break from most social media. July is always one of my busiest months – and most of August is my easiest (but became one of my busier months this year due to radiation). Unfortunately, life is goin to get even more hectic due to changes at work – so I we’ll see how active I can continue to be.

Hi Imogen,
So sorry to hear about your son, my sympathies are with you, not got a 19 year old son at home, I have a 46 year old who has managed after over 10 years to sell her flat in Sheffield, pack her job in as a mental health advisor at a job centre, trying to get them help and into work.
She is now re-training as a horticulturist at Birmingham botanic gardens, she starts her second course next Thursday. That’s if she can make it there! She is under the doctor for anxiety and depression, she is seeing a counsellor, we are hoping she will come round to the possibility of her having as asbergers or on the autism spectrum, we have all noticed her problems although she (of course)!doesn’t.
It must be harder work for someone who never leaves their room, how do you ever get in there to clean, change beds, does he come down for meals?
The thing you must do is look after yourself too, you can’t help your family if you are ill, so please do look after yourself too won’t you, you are so good at supporting people on this forum too, I’ve seen all your positive posts! So I just want to thank you from me to you for your support of me and my journey.
Christine.

I don’t actually WANT potatoes – but we belong to a CSA, so potatoes have been part of the share. I was experimenting to see if there was any way I could eat some of them slowly so I didn’t have to give them away. (We still have 2 of the 3 potato distributions.) What I really miss is bread. I’ve had a grand total of about 3 slices since October 2.

I’m all for sharing what works. For many people that includes hitting specific macro ratios, a complete ban on easily digestible carbs, intermittent fasting, etc. i just try to be very clear about what is actually required and what are additional restrictions I’ve imposed on myself (fairly strict net carb limit & intermittent fasting).

The process of heating and cooling isn’t terribly difficult. The first research I ran across just said to cook them normally, then allow them to cool before eating them. The additional research indicated that repeated cycles of heating and cooling had an even bigger impact – and allowed for consumption of the warm starch (a question in the original research). The salad I made was a rosemary-roasted potato salad – oven roasted potatoes coated with olive oil, rosemary, and thyme, tossed in balsalmic vinegar. It’s intended to be served warm, so I cooled it off completely to room temperature, refrigerated it, then reheated it the next day to serving temperature.

Hi Everyone
I thought I would update my progress; on week 6 of low carb and week 5 of BSD.
All together i have lost 22lbs and my blood sugars have dropped dramatically from around 13 when first diagnosed to averaging around 6.
I try and stick to around 30g of carbs a day and between 800-900 cals. However, I decided to increase my carb intake yesterday as I was adding some weight training into my exercise plan. Well, I wont do that again…I was hungry all day, my appetite went through the roof…my blood sugars didn’t though. How odd!!

Anyway, carrying on with my journey…..
Claire 🙂

Thanks Yowser, kind words. 😏

I was simply a little overwhelmed today…it can be hard to accept that future life may not be as hoped for my son – am trying to be supportive and encouraging for him – feel I am failing😞
Though he has faced a lot of challenges throughout his life with the ASD – the problems he is living through now seem so harsh. As you say; it is hard to watch him struggle.

In truth, I am also trying to adjust to what that means to my life (for the time being). I guess I had hoped to be able to reclaim some time for me at this stage…Is that very, very selfish?

I know it will be OK, he will find a way through, as will I.

Thanks for your support guys..🌻

Could you post the recipe for this please?
Ta
Claire

Many thanks – am aware of listening to my body and have bought some small bags of nuts to take with me just in case. Sound advice – thank you.

I’d love to join this group.

I started dieting on 7th August and incorporated 3 fast days a week where I had half my calorie allowance which was 625 calories. I found that SO much easier than 500 calories. Even thought I’ve had MM’s Fast diet book for months for some reason I wasn’t aware of his blood sugar diet book. So, I purchased it on Kindle and found this site and decided to switch to 800 calories. That was on 17th August and I am LOVING this approach. Thanks to the Fasting, my average calorie intake over the past 23 days is 829 calories so I’ve been pretty much doing this for just over 3 weeks. I’ve lost 13lbs and am delighted. My clothes are loser, yesterday I wore a new dress that I’ve had in my wardrobe for over 1 year to a barbeque and I felt on a high.

So, I’ve weighed in today and here are my stats

Weight : 16st 13.6
Waist: 43.5 inches (down from 50 inches!)
My goal for the end of 8 weeks is 15st 11 which is 2lbs a week, but I’m REALLY hoping I can get to 15st 7.

This forum has been so helpful to me and now I have a renewed excitement about the future.

Elaine xx

Thanks – very helpful. I am guessing that I will curb the exercise for a couple of weeks and just stick to my regular dog walking and swimming. I am doing this just for weight loss so am being careful not to be too extreme.

Thanks so much Indy … you should have a career as a diet coach I think. I really appreciate the support. I’m definitely feeling much better today.

Middle of July I weighed 14st .5lb and started to take control of my eating. I was following the Harcombe Diet from the middle of July which was working pretty well until I took a 2 week break in the middle for a holiday which resulted in a 5lb weight gain. So annoying! On getting back from holiday I decided to follow the BSD because my triglycerides were so high (over 900 – 500 is considered very high, so I have been referred to a lipids specialist in a couple of weeks) I wanted to see if I could get a grip on this diabetes and cholesterol issue once and for all rather than wait to see them.

Week 2 weigh in
Starting weight: 13st 8lbs (last Tuesday) but properly doing BSD from Saturday
Today’s weight: 13st 2.7lbs
Total lost so far 5.3lbs

I’m also doing daily intermittent fasting and not eating until at least 11 and will go longer if I’m not hungry.

Fasting Blood Sugar: Not seeing much improvement yet 8.4 this morning – has been pretty consistently in in the 8’s this last week with one day at 9.3

Today for brunch I had the portobello mushrooms with beans plus a little bit of cheese and it was really filling! Definitely will be having that again.

Good luck everyone!

Started yesterday and was so hungry before supper that I could not think enough to pick which recipe to try. Had a lovely meal of steamed salmon and vegetables ( peppers/tomatoes) and felt much better. I have cooked the bolognese sauce for supper this evening and cannot wait to try it. I thought that I would be discouraged and hungry today but I feel great and I am still excited to try this.

Ps sorry IMOGEN I meant to put yr name on the above post not ANTIGONE x left it too late to edit x

Hi Gillykins

I’m on day 14 and loving the approach – I wish I had come across this months ago!

I use weightlossresources to plan my food intake but I believe myfitnesspal works well and is free.

I would definitely encourage you to weigh your food. It sounds a pain but once you get into it, it will become second nature. It will also help you plan meal sizes and where and when to use your calories. It helps me SO much and I’m sure it is key to my success along with re-reading the book on my Kindle. The more you weigh food the more you’ll start to recognise portion size. This will help when you are in social settings where you definitely won’t want to be weighing food.

Chicken breast sizes are so variable so you would need to know the size and calories.

When I started I did spend a lot of time working out calories for the food I wanted to eat. I now have a list of food I love along with their calories. One thing I have discovered is that I have had no problem in sticking to 50g of carbs as I’ve now realised how bland carbs are compared to avocado, nuts and seeds on my salad (all weighed!), oily fish and meat.

I never thought I would be able to stick to 800 calories, I thought I’d feel like I’m missing out but I LOVE this approach.

Thinking of you both ANTIGONE and LUCKY..very difficult when our adult children are troubled or unwell.
I take yr point Lucky..when they are kids, we can guide them thru problems.put them to bed at seven pm and know no harm will come. They are safe in their cosy beds. So hard when they grow up coz they are still our babies and we still want to protect them,but they have to go out into the world,and all we can do is know we have taught them well enough that they can make their own way.
not so straightforward when they have physical,mental or emotional health issues. My DD has been ill from age 21.. I hate to see her have to battle on a daily basis,both practically and physically,
Hard for me too to watch her peers get their degrees,pass their driving tests,have their careers and their first babies ( second babies too some of them)
I dont begrudge them, i am pleased for them, but i want all the same things for my DD. If she feels any jealousy she doesnt show it and continues to be a good friend as much as she can.
Thinking of all the parents dealing with similar dilemmas. Its hard to watch our offspring struggle. Xx
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn276/yowzer2008/02d2edf001c94cb7488bf3cc154e52a7_zpswbhmbxvl.jpg

Thanks Lucky🌻

First of all you should not be adding calories if you want the full effect of the BSD. Secondly, let your body tell you if you are doing too much. I swim twice daily for around 40 mins each time but unfortunately I cannot do it on this diet. You do not say if you are diabetic. I am, so it is important that I do not go hypo, if you are not diabetic you might just feel a bit weak or more tired. For the first 2 weeks I could only do a little exercise so was swimming for 20 mins each time. I now have the timing down to a fine art. I don’t exercise when I have not eaten for a few hours. I have my meal, rest for half an hour then exercise, although I must say I have not managed to get back to 40 minute sessions. I also save some of my calories so I can have a snack within the 800 so, for example, today I had a meal that should have included pistachio nuts but I left them to one side to eat later.

If you are doing this just to lose weight then maybe there is a compromise you can make which allows to eat a little more in order to continue with the exercise. There is advise about exercise on the FAQ’s. I know people here like the MyFitnessPal but any machine bought for the mass market is bound to be inaccurate.

The general vibe is not to count calories burned as extra to eat – we are putting nutrient calories in and burning off stored reserves, since not offering quick carbs and sugars from diet.

However if you are exercising on your bike rides to a higher level then listen to your own body about extra food – but avoid the sugar /carb options. You will find your own balance. A lot of people here are going from less to more exercise on the 800 calories and finding it easier to do exercise.

Hi everyone
This is day 2 of my week 10. I have lost 1 1/2 stone (21 lb) – a bit slow compared to some others but must carry on as have about another 40 lbs to lose. However I am not exercising much so that may well have something to do with it – must try harder!

I find the forums very helpful/inspiring and get a lot out of them even though I am not much of a contributor. I am a bit OCD about weighing and measuring – more than I need to probably – but it’s how I am. I too am a past member of WW, Slimming World etc and the one thing I struggled with initially was looking for “treats” I could have. Learned the hard way that doesn’t work! So now in principal I don’t have any unless they are included in the allowed food on the programme. My treats are strawberries for dessert and the odd couple of nuts to keep me going. In general I don’t find this diet difficult and am certainly not hungry.

Good luck everyone.

New here so forgive me if this is already out there.

I am a keen cyclist however am 2 stones overweight. I regularly burn more than 1000 calories on a bike ride and am concerned that if I am only eating 800 calories per day then this is going to impact upon my health and I will keel over!

I have used My Fitness Pal app for the last three years. Since using it I have put on 10kg which I now intend to lose with this new lifestyle choice. Whenever I exercise the calories are added into MyFitnessPal. Should I take any notice of this or if my 200 calories burned on a walk should be discounted and I purely eat 800 calories??

I have done 800 calories for the past two days and I have lost 2kgs already which is cracking news. However I don’t want to get on my bike and run out of steam! Please anybody out there let me know if this is an issue for you?

Many thanks

Also started Monday. My main concern is exercise – I do quite a bit and regularly burn over 1000 calories on a bike ride. Worried that I will fall over! If anybody else has this worry let me know. My cycling has not made a jot of difference to my weight – I did a London to Paris ride last year and no weight lost. Since then I have only continued gaining weight and this cannot go on. SO. Here’s to 800 calories…

Hiiiiii all, just a quickie off the tablet, PC not gone on and won’t be going on until I’ve accomplished something 😉

Morning Antigone, feeling better today thanks. I sat down after tea with a good (ish) book and relaxed as I was in so much pain and so muzzy headed from the codeine I could barely think straight 😆 . Woke up pain free (ish…) so will capitalise on that. How’s the butt? 😉

Ah Imogen I’m sorry to hear that, I can empathise there. There’s nothing I can say there, is there? I hope things become better for your son, and of course you. I am more worried about my son now as he’s nearly 21 as I was 10 years ago. At least I could step in and fight his battles for him back then. He hasn’t even told his uni lecturers he has asd. I told the administrator when she phoned up and she said it was a shame because he’d have had much more help and much more time etc with exams. But what can you do when they’re ‘adults’? He wanted a clean slate but as I said, his roommates and classmates needn’t have had to know. I doubt the lecturers would have announced it to the class.

Hey butterlover 😊 Will come to most of us at some point in the future if not already, try not to worry. It’s stressful having work like that done. I had bathroom kitchen and whole house rewired six years ago, with four children. Still brings me out in a cold sweat thinking about it. I am so glad I don’t like cheese.

Cassandra well done! Indeed changing your mind is changing your life! Thanks for sharing, it gives me strenght to fight when cortisol rises.

Hi to all, good to be back. I have gained 2lbs since my last weigh in but putting that behind me. I am happy to say that my blood glucose levels are still under 6 each morning so the low carbing continues to work even though I have been a little bit over on calories. The family were all packed off home on Sunday, sob sob, but I will be seeing them again mid October so not so sad. The shopping is in with lots of lovely veg in the fridge and I am fresh and ready to start again.

Start weight 76.2 kg, or 11 st 13.5 lbs, so kept under the dreaded 12 and tomorrow want to have got rid of the 76 and be seeing 75.something. New target is to lose 3kg in the 6 weeks before heading off again, I know it is not a lot but I am a slow loser and I am on insulin which stops weight loss to some extent. My main target is to get my HBA1c down to 6.0 at my next official laboratory test. I reduced from 8.2 to 6.6 at my last test.

One thing about starting the 8 weeks over again is that I am re-looking at weighing and measuring food again. It is surprising how the odd extra gram or two can creep in. As an example, this morning I had the blueberry shake and it says 50g of blueberries. I measured by eye and found I have put in 80g so I quickly put 30 back in the bag. Only blueberries so would not be a disaster but a lesson learned.

So good to be back.

Day 1
Breakfast: Fried eggs and tomatoes
Lunch: mushroom soup
Snack: cheese, blueberries
Dinner: steak, asparagus & mushrooms
Cals: 850:

OK two weeks down now and some new veggies under my belt…
Green runner beans sliced, brussels fried in olive oil and garlic and I got them both down without too much trouble. Hubby did it with me too although he likes the beans… So progress there!
Weighed in this morning and was down 2.8kgs from starting weight and I couldn’t be more wrap with the result and I was a little surprised too but it was wonderful. Very encouraging.
Fasting blood sugar was 4.7mmol which is also impressive and that is not the first time it has been that low this week so I am a happy chappie. I will soon be able to come off one of my diabetes tablets and work on getting off the others.
My avocado is ripe now so trying that next, probably tomorrow and then cucumber.
Well that is my update for this fortnight.
Hope you are all doing great too!

Does anyone know if there is a way to save some fav recipes from this site? I tried to screen print them but some don’t fit etc.
Thanks

Hi All.I have not had anytime to post this last few days, Preparations for a new bathroom are all consuming.I made the classic mistake yesterday by going to the supermarket feeling hungry and in a rush, Bought some of my all time favorite Italian pastry things, a bit like a palmier.They were to be kept on hand for visitors but I visited the pantry and now they are all gone.That’s life. I managed to do some walking ,which is good as I haven’t been very motivated to walk. We are having our coldest winter in 30 years and sometimes the wind is freezing so I settle for a walk around the local shopping mall.Also, realized that I do better when I’ve had a good sleep.weight is creeping down very very slowly .I looked back through my records and realized that most of the time I’m eating 900 calories on most days .So I will have to try harder not to snack,cashews, cheese seem to be the problem , so I go tsome hummus and vegie sticks for tonight. I hope everyone is well . cheers

Wilma I agree with a couple of others, Vegemite goes very well with celery.

Hello Frog

Only just read your above post! Don’t visit the forums an awful lot now I am nearly at target but we’re still sticking at it, mum and I!

Well done everyone….

Cheers Sneak. Hope you go well too, sounds like you are so far.

I had my first serious sugar craving yesterday (day 8 of the diet for me) after a very stressful incident, unfortunately it happened in the middle of tesco! Managed to stick to 1 square of lindt 70% dark choc, and by eating it “mindfully” (with difficulty) I found I was actually completely sated! under normal circumstances I would have eaten a take away and 2-3 deserts. The scales have stalled a little for me over the last few days but I am conscious it could be just stress, can’t believe I seem to be on the way to stopping stress eating, which is an even bigger win for me than weight loss. Best of luck everyone today

Hi am starting today so hope you don’t mind me joining you all – have read through posts and feel inspired. 3 stone to lose and plan to up my exercise as well as doing 800 calories a day 🙂

Hey there,
I am just finishing week 2 and I am going better than I though I would. I am not craving fat though but I really really miss my cereal for breakfast. I am a cereal junkie and now I know how harmful that has been for me.
I did give in today and had it for the first time in 2 weeks and I will leave it another two weeks to have it again and I will account for the carbs and the calories so hoping that is all good.
You will be fine, just keep busy checking out the recipes on here..
The rhubarb dessert is awesome, loved that one..
Good luck and I know you can do it.

Hi all you lovely week 9 ers.
Well I am at week 9 plus 6 days so I am on day 62, my usual weigh day is Wednesday, but weighed in this morning to join in with all you lovely peeps, and stayed the same as last Wednesday. But total loss so far 33lbs, when I started I had 104 to loose, but I am aware I have gone down in c.m. and this week some of my trousers are now unwearable as falling of all of a sudden, but I have passed down two dress sizes now, and crossed 3 stone barriers. My goal was to get into the fab dress I have for the wedding on Saturday, and that is looking lovely now, dilemma of what fascinators nail varnish eve bag etc etc, ooh how lovely to be able to have a fab choice.

I’m not concerned about maintaining, as I am on holiday and although not eating things I shouldn’t, I am eating a bit more meat etc, too much time to eat hehe.

Goal for end of week 16 I want to loose another 16 -20lbs and hopefully take me down to a size 16, I am of up to Norfolk tomorrow, and yes pedantic Jan will be taking her food weighing scales and my body weighing scales. They are my security blanket I would over estimate without them, and as we are staying in a lodge I will still be able to have my choices. Won’t have wifi very much though so getting onto MFP could be a problem, so we shall see.

I am determined by tomorrow my official weigh day to have a little loss, so I am getting busy today.

Bon chance to you all. 😎😎😎

Hi Lucky, are you busy cleaning the upstairs today??
I would be but can’t get into my son’s room (which really needs a good clean), as he won’t get out of bed – so frustrating!!! Yes, he is 19 and should be taking care of that himself but since he is in the grip of a major depression he rarely leaves his room etc…he had to abandon university plans and is now at home full time once again…on top of the ASD seems so unfair!!

OK, self pity fest over…gonna put an exercise session on you tube and work it out🙌

Hope you OK?? You’re awfully …well…quiet…..🌻

Hi Neohdiver, I am so pleased to hear from you, I have been wondering over the last few weeks how you were getting on. Your news is wonderful and a great example of turning a negative experience into a positive one – love the picture, I will remember that approach for the future.
Looking forward to your new posts and insightful analysis of your progress.
Welcome back!!

How did it go Karen ?

Hi Antigone

The answer is surprisingly well thanks.

No headache, not hungry, drank loads.

My son is dragging me to the gym tonight which will be a laugh !!

What gear should I wear as a 50+ year old ‘pounding’ the tread mill is my first thought !!

(Probably something sensible )

Keep on going

Well done 54!

I think reading all these posts is a great encouragement for me]

Thanks to everyone

Thanks for the support Indy and Verano

I think reading all these posts is a great encouragement for me]

Thanks to everyone

ok Day 1 over

AFTER DAY 1

WEIGHT NOW: 21 Stone 9 pounds

START WEIGHT: 21 stone 12 pounds

LOSS AFTER DAY 1: 3 Pounds !!

GOSH 3 pounds already

Yes been back on scales and still same !!!

so mini win !! Yes I know its mainly water, yes long way to go. but still very encouraging

(a three week loss on weightwatchers !!)

Enjoyed the food, did a long walk, mowed the lawn (much to everyones surprise)

Fingers crossed for day 2 !

Good luck all

ok Day 1 over

AFTER DAY 1

WEIGHT NOW: 21 Stone 9 pounds

START WEIGHT: 21 stone 12 pounds

LOSS AFTER DAY 1: 3 Pounds !!

GOSH 3 pounds already

Yes been back on scales and still same !!!

so mini win !! Yes I know its mainly water, yes long way to go. but still very encouraging

(a three week loss on weightwatchers !!)

Enjoyed the food, did a long walk, mowed the lawn (much to everyones surprise)

Fingers crossed for day 2 !

Good luck all
Good luck every one

Yup go the cheese! I just had a baked chicken breast in a herb and tomato sauce I made with melted cheese and silverbeet on top. YUM

Thanks for that, hoping my stall will not last too long. Yeah I like greek yogurt but i must be the only person that feels starving 30mins after I eat it! Good luck with your week!

Are you OK Lucky?