Just to add to the above, as a nurse on a post surgical ward we would often see people’s blood sugars going hay wire. Don’t worry, if you stick to the principles it will stabilise and no harm will have been done.

Good luck!

I see that no one has replied. First don’t panic, believe it will work . Do as much exercise as you can,drink water .I prefer green tea but whatever fluids.Some say extra protein and healthy fats helps. Start to track your food and be very strict,don’t guess.If you do this for a week you should be Ok . I have found that if I treat myself with food it will prevent progress and takes a while to get things back to progress. good luck.

It’s the end of week 6. I have decided only to log results after each pound I lose. The weight loss has slowed so there isn’t the need to log the results on a daily basis. The total loss so far is 2st 3lbs. (10+5+5+4+4+3).
There are 2 official weeks to go and my target would be to reach a total loss of 2 and a half stone after the 8 weeks.
I am still very happy with the overall weight loss and still feel confident that I will eventually reach 15st 7 lb and then push on to 14st 7 lb over a lengthier period of time.
I have 10lb to lose to hit my first goal and I am sure this could be achieved over a period of 4 weeks at present rates of weight loss.
Good luck to everybody.

21/08/16

Week 6
Day 7

Diet starting weight: 18 stone 6 pound

Weight now: 16 stone 3 pound (102.51kg)
BMI: 26.2

Hi all, Ive been on this journey since May with a great start and then a bad slump. Now back to progress. here ‘s few ideas of things that I have done. Buy a good scale.I weigh daily. I take my BGL every morning before anything. If I feel ravenous, I take it again ,then I know if its low that I need to eat or ,if its Ok I know its a craving. I’m pre diabetic so I don’t need to take it at all but I really find this helps.
I bought the Michelle Bridges food scale from BIG W.Its a great help to calculate calories and carbs .Track everything S.health app on my phone has been a great help to get me over the last difficult patch.The fellow dieters on these forums have made a real difference, As I don’t have a person the buddy with.I wish you all a great journey .Cheers

1kg to lose and it will take me under the 100kg mark. Then it’s goodbye 100’s forever.

Hi All, I’m celebrating today my goal was to be below 85 kgs and I finally did it 84.7 today .The last month has been miserable as I gained and lost the same 1kg several times.Thanks to all the positive support from these forums. I have been more determined. I increased my tracking using S health app on my phone Also more water and steps.My next goal is to get my fasting BGL down to under 5.I did get it down the first 4 weeks but as I took a holiday ,Its back up above 6 .Also want to loose another 5kg by October and another 5 kg by christmas.When I do it I will be lowest in 20 years and hopefully the healthiest.I’m determined not to be a fat diabetic old lady.cheers all

Hi there,
I did this diet in April and lost 5 kilos. I then had 3 months off and put it back on! Whoops. I am 42 years old, about 100 kilos and 175cm so a bit to lose. My goal is to be 85 kilos which for me feels good. I am starting tomorrow so perhaps we can be diet buddies (along with everyone else on this forum:-) I have young kids and also want to enjoy being at the beach this summer not uncomfortable. I also want to fit back into my wardrobe. My biggest downfall is wine so I am going to cut this out for 8 weeks. Best of luck to us!

Goodness, thank you So much for your lovely replies and encouragement!

Verano I’ve been clicking around the boards a bit and all I can say is, I am SO glad I decided to join the forum instead of just, you know, buying the food and following the book on my own!

Captainlynne you have inspired me so much! Last night I created what I think is a realistic ‘road map’ chart with all my measurements, bmi, waist to hip ratio, all of it, and of course weight, in Excel, filled with tricky little formulas to show me the numbers and track how i’m going. I have mapped it out that it will take approx 36 weeks for me to reach my goal, that is if fingers crossed I lose 1kg a week every week. Not sure if that’s realistic, maybe it will be faster, maybe slower…I can adjust as I go so long as the overall trend is Losing weight!

So by May, or at least by mid-next year, I should be bouncing around a light and breezy 65kg!

Sunshine-girl, I really like that idea of meditating/being mindful and visualisation. Its not something I’ve attempted before although of course I read the chapter in the book… hmm I’ll give it a try. I don’t know much about mindfulness and meditating, but I’m looking forward to giving it a go later today as a friend sent me a bunch of suggestions for guided meditations available on YouTube. I like your attitude too, its about feeling healthier and going at your own pace, not about “I must rush and get to the number on my goal chart.” It comes back to the motivation.. its not to reach a number, its to be healthier and Feel better! So rushing might not be what feels best.

Apple thanks for your nice message! I’m glad to hear the appetite decreases.. this morning when I woke up I was SOOO conflicted because – well its supposed to be Day One today, but I felt soo Hungry and craved a big breakfast – I wanted to have the breakfast roll from a cafe near me, of eggs and bacon and basil mayonnaise with a large latte with one sugar… BUT I had promised myself to start this Today!!! I seriously almost gave in and reasoned with myself, bargaining, “its Sunday, its the weekend, would it matter if I start tomorrow not today…?” But truth be told, although my craving was so strong I knew i’d be disappointed in myself and feel i’d failed even on Day One! So I quickly whipped up the Green Tea and Blueberries smoothie and – surprisingly!! It did the job and filled me up!!!

I actually felt a wave of joyfulness that I overcame the cravings and Actually Started!!! I didn’t give in, on the first day! Ha.

PrincetonianStud thank you for your message also! Now as for exercise… hmm I gotta admit, I”m not, er, a natural when it comes to exercise. I wish I was, it looks so fun to run around and be active, but I get tired so quickly! so thank you for this idea! Begin gently is probably the wise choice.

Another friend gave me advice last night which is, go buy some really Nice, pretty, attractive exercise clothes, so you Feel nicer when you exercise. Now this isn’t an option if you don’t have much money, but still, I like the idea of it, rather than my usual ‘whatever old, big, floppy’ ancient tshirts I can find that hide my body.

So that, ladies and gentlemen, is what I’m going to do today! Go buy something nice to exercise in. This time i’m Excited to go shopping and not miserable! Yay! Go me!!!

Thanks again for your lovely comments and I’ll be following all of you!

Thanks KrysiaD. Early days yet and a long way to go. I am keen to continue and have the support of my family and the videos I have watched from BSD have been really encouraging , I would love to reverse my Diabetes. That is my goal.

Hi everyone and welcome newbies!

Just checking in to say that Im still stalled weight wise but for reasons I know of. Im not keeping to 800 and my exercise habits have not changed much except for this week I started jogging to work instead of cycling every day. I had been thinking about jogging to work for a few months before I lost the 1st so its great to finally do it. Im using the couch to 5k app so that takes up about 30 mins and then for another 7-8 mins Im walking the rest to the office or home depending on where Im coming from, its about 4.7km total distance from my house to work. I started this week with cycling in and bringing in a bunch of clothes so I can travel light when Im joggin in or out. These late winter mornings have been gloriously crisp and I am mostly in suburban areas with creeks and paths so its a lovely way to start the day. I found a decent shower in work so its been working out well.

Im thinking this is not a bad way to start training for a mini triathlon if I threw in a bit of swimming, which is not my strength. Before that maybe some toning exercise which Im yet to get around to!

Meanwhile I will try to get a better handle on the diet part because that is really at the end of the day the important part.

Have a great week everyone!

You are 75 years YOUNG! Never too late for a change! A song comes to mind when you are looking at the young man in the mirror:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PivWY9wn5ps

Oh Brother! I am so stuck in the 80’s! 35 and I am the Kool Aid Guy for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M6xvvGPHRY

But, I look like Mr. Peanut when I wear my tophat though! I look like Kool Aid at 310 pounds. About time I started too. Starting my 5th week on Wednesday!

Good luck and 4 words of wisdom:

Live Long And Prosper!

PrincetonianStud

Congrads! You got pissed off and agitated. That is the only way to make a change! I am no skinny wimp at 310 pounds either.
I just thought I would share a few exercises in this video over obese people can do even when mobility is hard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI0j8nLiZmE

Bunjee Chord strength training one can do sitting down. Only a few bux to buy them and I use them all the time.

Live Long And Prosper!

PrincetonianStud

Well Annie, I have only one thing to say to you about using this diet or actually lifestyle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiK6MilSy7s

Yeh, it is a hard knocked life for us…… us life changers! But, Spock helps us out with his:

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!

You can not live long without healthful habits.

And if I catch you eating a custard donut, I will send you to the moon! 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98qw86DsdZ0

PrincetonianStud

Day 32
Saturday August 20 2016

Breakfast: 3 Ounces of hard Cheddar

Lunch: Cream Cheese on 3 Celery Stalks

Dinner: Chicken Stir Fry with Lentils

Another day of feeling some constipation. I tried to stay away from eggs for a couple of days. I feel like a old fart because of my constipation! I am still young…for now! A decade goes fast since graduating college!

I am drinking milk of magnesia for easing the aches. I seem to eat too bulky of foods. Lentils tonight do not help because they are bulky too. It is getting annoying trying to find the right eating habits daily. I might as well go on a cabbage soup diet! You only lose water weight in that diet.

Well, tomorrow is another day!

Stud, Princetonian Stud

Thanks sunshine-girl. I shall stick to the 800 cal for a couple of weeks and go by measurements.

Hi wanting to start the BSD with no excuses or obstacles in my way … with the weekly plane can some give me substitute any thing ‘fishy’ (but like prawns – I know this is odd), or pork (but like bacon). Thanks on advance for your guidance 😀.

Hi Veronika
Welcome and keep it up, it real does work😀
You may have some hiccups along the way and you may have weeks where you’ve done everything right but you don’t lose weight, but don’t lose heart as it will work.
I’m now 65kg and only 2kg off my goal weight after having lost 24.9kg in 18 weeks. I’m loving the eating regime and I have no intention of ever going back to added sugars or simple carbs again.
I find the best way of keeping on track is to weigh everything and log it in a food diary app, I use MyDietDiary, but others seem happy with My Fitness Pal.
Keep it up, report your losses every week and enjoy this new way of life😀
I’m in Sydney, where are you?
Good luck
Cheers
Linda

Hi Langerhans,
….remember the fluids….hope you’ve sorted out your headache/fog.
You’re doing well – anyone that can get through the efforts of a sabotaging ex and not ‘fold under the pressure’ has the BSD principles at heart – it’s only a matter of them becoming absolute habit and you’ve nailed it!
It’s great news about your course on mindfulness – getting your head sorted (yes, we all need to) really helps – mindful eating helps us to stay focused on the BSD.
Remember if walking is difficult, doing some ‘weights’ (you can use anything if you don’t have the proper ones, just be safe) while sitting will also help.
Best wishes.

Just four weeks in and have lost 8.5 k – am 64 and generally find it hard to lose but have combined the 800 plan with timed eating (all food consumed between 730am and 230pm ) and HIIT exercise.
Can’t believe how good I feel!
Special thanks to MM for debunking so many dieting myths and introducing so many good weight loss options.
A breath of fresh air.
Keep up the good work MM!

Hello all, am loving all these posts, ideas, struggles, successes — I’m in good company 🙂 Today is day 2 for me, and l’ve already lost 1.3kg (3 lbs). Water, air or fat I don’t care, it’s gone, for good. No headaches yesterday as I followed all the good advice here, thank youse. Am on meal replacements for breakfast and lunch, then cooking from the BSD book recipes for dinner. My OH is doing the 2:5 diet and “all in” on the BSD evening meal – so yay! I even have a diet buddy now. Early days I know, but I feel very positive and excited about this change for good. Last October I stopped drinking alcohol for good, and now this seems like the logical next step for me, and a liberating one after a tough 18 months health-wise. Spring and Summer is heading our way in the Southern Hemisphere… I might need to get a new cossie 🙂 Wishing everyone a successful BSD day, we can do this !!

Sunshine-girl – great with the BS. I will get off but I just wanted to tell you that fage yogurt is just good Greek yogurt . I googled it weeks ago when everyone was mentioning it (UK) Delice plain greek sounds fine. I buy Aldi greek yogurt but I can get good greek style plain yogurt in any OZ supermarket and they are all pretty yummy

Happy dance! I have done it with a day to spare. Now for the 10% goal.

Sunshine-girl lacy knickers – way to go. i found this beautiful French lace bra in my drawer which I had not thrown out – almost sad that (hopefully) it will fairly soon be too big.

Keep it up, or should I say ‘down’ , girls and boys
R(::

Day 6. Breakfast was miso soup with spinach. Lunch was tomato and avocado with salad leaves and capers. I added some “Tesco Red Slaw” (pickled red cabbage and beetroot) – somewhat higher in calories than expected. Snack was some Greek yoghurt. This evening I had cauliflower with tinned chopped tomatoes and feta cheese. 840kcals, so slightly over, but the average has been slightly under 800kcals.
Fuzzy-headed and headachey today (but my migraine treatment is overdue) and peeing an awful lot!

Hi Christine congratulations on your 49th. Quite and achievement in this day and age. You must have been a child bride!

You are doing well to get back on the wagon as well

capainmarvel Re salad leaves. You have probably just had too many undressed in your youth. You must have them with oil and vinegar (and the tiniest bit of ground sea salt) like the French and now fortunately most of us, because Dr Oz tells us that we need the little bit of fat to get the goodies out of the leaves. It has taken me nearly 50 years, but OH (ex Pom) now does not complain about a little French dressing, although he still cannot come at mayonnaise!

It is interesting is it not this Med based diet? The more I study food, the more you find out how traditional foods were so good in many parts of the world, For example sesame seeds while yummy go straight through you, but if you make them into tahini the goodness will be absorbed. And what about sorrel and dandelions? Wonderful stuff

Hi Smudgie are you starting tomorrow or Monday?

Hi Arty1, that’s great that your blood sugar has started dropping so quickly. You are right that we will need to keep off the bad carbs to stay healthy. What has amazed me is that this way of eating now feels so normal and enjoyable and i don’t feel as though I could go back to the bad carbs. This has never happened before when I have been on other diets.

Oh, and since I had the oven on for the fish, I decided to make the toasted oats to add to yoghurt that I decided on the other day. Added lots of cinnamon, and some nutmeg.
I enjoyed the cod so much I forgot all about the oats and set the smoke alarm off. Burnt offerings, and a nasty black mark on the baking sheet.
Another time!

Hi everyone – busy couple of days – sorry if I’ve missed any posts – catching up!

congratulations on the wedding outfit fitting Jan, that’s brilliant. two weeks away – it’ll be too loose by the time the day arrives!
Gavin – congratulations on staying stable, even though it was a grotty week

Yesterday I went to a restaurant that I used to love a few years ago – not sure why we stopped going!
Food and service were amazing – and pretty BSD friendly – my starter was salted beetroot with ricotta, and I had hake with aubergine caviar and a tomato salady thing for my main course. AND a tiny glass of wine! With coffee they served teeny Madeleine type cakes, about the size of a 1p piece. Ate it!!
My pedometer was pretty high – but I think quite a lot of it was from shuffling round an exhibition, although we did get to the restaurant then I realised I’d left a bag in the cloakroom at the gallery, so that probably added about a mile!

I had a really nice meal this evening too – Mediterranean cod with green beans – and I really fancied rice with it, so had some.
I have the tilda microwave stuff – a third of a pack is only 15 carbs, so still under 50g for the day.
Scary thing is that I used to think they were one portion pouches – a serving is supposed to be half a pack, but I debated between a quarter and a third; had a third in the end.

I bought lots more sugar free jelly in the supermarket – did you make yours up yet Lucky?

Date 21/8/2016

Weight (89.4kg (up 0.1kg but down 1.7kg so far)

Dialled back in the calories yesterday and stayed just over 800 calories for the day. But didn’t monitor the carbs closely enough and got well beyond the target range. Hence the stagnation weight wise.

Will try to be very clean today and dial back the carbs in favour of protein/fat.

LUCKY i hope the gel thingies help.. I found they helped me a little then helped more as i got more used to having them stuck in my shoes..dont make the mistake I made tho..i put them in my sandals foolishly thinking my enormous weight wd be enough to keep them in place..! But i must have somehow walked outa them and arrived back home without them!
Here’s a joke for a sat night chuckle..

Smile Time
There I was, sitting at the bar, staring at my drink, when a large, trouble-making biker steps up next to me, grabs my drink and gulps it down in one swig.

“Well, whatcha gonna do about it ?” he says menacingly, as I burst into tears.

“Come on, man,” the biker says, “I didn’t think you’d CRY. I can’t stand to see a man crying.”

“This is the worst day of my life,” I say. “I’m a complete failure. I was late to a meeting and my boss fired me. When I went to the parking lot, I found my car had been stolen and I don’t have any insurance. I left my wallet in the cab I took home. I found my wife in bed with another man… and then my dog bit me.
So I came to this bar to work up the courage to put an end to it all, I buy a drink, I drop a capsule in and sit here watching the poison dissolve; and then
you show up and drink the whole damn thing !!
But Hell, enough about me, how are you doing ?” 😃😃😃😃😃😃😃

Was in Cambridge today and went in to a bookshop there to the wildlife and nature section and found an amazing book linking how if we switch to lower carb diets and went to grass-fed livestock and more vegetables again the landscape would also be aided. This interested me as an Environmentalist and I thought I’d share!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grass-Fed-Nation-Getting-Back-Deserve/dp/178578076X

Hi GemGem
I read your post and just wanted so say I am right there with you lady! I need to lose at least 70lbs and even at 35 my joints are struggling! I know I desperately need to increase my exercise but it’s hard when you feel massive and break in to a sweat walking alone, but I am convinced by everyone’s posts that it will get easier as the weight starts to shift. I am now on day 5 and have checked the scales daily hoping to see a nice big loss as I’ve seen on some other people’s posts – I’m still waiting for it but you know what, I do believe this will work. My appetite already seems to be shrinking and it’s only day 5, that’s a bonus whatever the scales want to say 🙂

Haven’t been hungry today..
Will have a problem hitting my 800 today, but I will do it.

Love Lucia
Xxxxx

And a bit more of my body.

I get less headaches behind my right eye.
My eye colour is clearer.

But I still have to wear glasses.
Oh well!

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi Christine

Fortunately I only eat breakfast and then my evening meal so the McDonalds salad wasn’t even on my radar. I did have one in Paris many tears ago, before they were available here. Agree the ones here are not too good.

Your salad sounds great. I’m not fond of salad leaves, despite trying to persuade myself that I do😳 A good olive oil and balsamic vinegar helps with salad😃 And perhaps a little grated Parmesan😃

Please do email me.

Seeing that I am mentioning my body and giving you details how it’s changing…
Here us another one….
My feet.
They have improved, the circulation is much better.
They have a better colour.
They heal a little quicker.
But
Like all things
I protect them and look after them

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi Lynne,
It’s a shame that McDonald’s salads are so awful, you could have had one of them? When we are abroad and David fancies a burger we go to McDonald’s and I have the salads they are lovely but over here they are a bit of a gamble to order.
Last night for my meal I forgot to add a salad to the list of food I ate! Now that was a salad! not a lot of salad greens and green and black olives, a bit of cucumber, tomato and pepper with oil and vinegar dressing. A good balance of salad food.
I have an aversion of having anything on supermarket or other food shops shelves that aren’t wrapped or covered! I even get an antiseptic wipe when I get on flights abroad and just wipe round where I have to sit! I do accept that I have a bit of OCD! My family would laugh at that statement they think I have it really badly, however I would rather be cautious and not get ill!
This is why you are good at sticking with this diet, you are so dedicated to what you are doing, I used to go to the Salvation Army when I was a child. I will email you with the story though?
Christine

Day 2. It is 4.35 am Blood Sugar is 10.8 mmol/l which is lower than yesterday. Feeling okay after Day 1 and keen to see where and what results this diet will have on my blood sugar levels. I have high hopes of being within normal ranges for blood sugar by the end of 8 weeks. I too realize that this is my life style change to eat a Med. diet. after 8 weeks and continue to feel well and hopefully reverse my diabetes.
By the way I live in Australia and the weather here is pretty mild and my dog ,Lucky is keen for his walk.

Thanks for your support I am sure I will need it as we progress along the way.

Hi all,
This morning after ‘the night before’ I weighed in at ‘drumroll’. 12.3.4!!! that’s only two ounces on, I’m so pleased, it shows if you are careful with your choices you can still have a treat on special occasions.
So weight loss to date 12.3.8.

Today’s food,
Breakfast tea. I was still full from our celebratory meal!
Midday meal, crayfish salad, my take on the bsd recipe, rocket, celery radish and spring onion, with oil and vinegar dressing. water to drink.
Evening meal, skinny chilly (bsd book again) with a dollop of fage total yogurt. With 150g strawberries and double cream.
Supper coffee and nuts.
A bit over 800 calories, under 50 g carbs.
I have had another quiet day a walk out this afternoon, between the showers.
Feel good that I can experiment with food and only put two ounces on.
Christine

Hi sunshine-girl

LOL! Great mini goal and yes you do deserve it!

I think I agree with you. When I look back I realise I used to get an afternoon ‘dip’ when I was really sleepy after lunch. Haven’t had that since I’ve been on this plan.

I think ‘official’ results are the best guide. I’m not certain that about home testing think it could be counter productive. I have thought about it but decided it isn’t for me.

Good luck with your next goal FabEllie sure you’ll make it.

Ruthdownunder … Was that 0.1 of a kilo? Sure you’ll make that by Monday even at Australian time! We all lose at different paces the important thing is the losing!

Lost just under one pound since yesterday. Breakfast today, the rest of the shake, lunch was roasted chicken with roasted red pepper and asparagus, that’s becoming a favorite and looks like it could become a main course. Dinner will be veggie curry with cauli rice, taken out of the freezer so no faffings around while I make the boys chicken nuggets with baked beans. Hubby is having one of his own ready meals of cod in white wine sauce.

Forgot to say, blood glucose down to 85 (4.7) so that is brilliant. Just shows how quickly this works.

Verano, I now believe the carbs are the devil for increasing blood sugar. Eating this plan is what has reduced my HBA1c. The test result I had was official not a home test.

Anyway I now have a new mini goal. When I have lost another 7lbs (might be 5 now) I am going to throw out my big knickers and wear my lacy ones. I deserve it.

yep, that’s why some fruits are a no no

Well, Verano one of these days Ralph Kramden will give you a “POW! Right In The Kisser” and you will look 30 again!
Thanks for the advice Verano! Maybe I should give that a try and eat less bulky food!

Ruth the Aussie is right: I should hold off on shoes (dress shoes, especially easy to slip on Monk Strap shoes). But not these sneakers I got! They are like walking on a cloud. My instep in getting smaller also. I noticed that when clipping the mighty toe nails. Like what does my Pinky Toe do for me? Let’s see what happens when a pinky toe gets cut off on a TV show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVajLREARbg

Chocolate is a weakness too in me, but my big KRYPTONITE is any dairy like Cheesecake. I used to drink whiskey until I got rid of rye, barley, and wheat all together. I am now designated driver! Thanks: I will have fun tonight seeing The PHILADELPHIA PHILHARMONIC tonight! I guess they come up to Saratoga hoping to win big on a horse race! 🙂 Or the Casino next door!

Cheerio,

PrincetonianStud

Hi John

Looking forward to seeing your result on 1st September 😃

So , looking through all the above, does ‘the diet book’ say that quorn is ‘yes ok’ on the BSD diet ?

Hi Christi,

Thanks for your encouragement. When I reached the “4lbs to go” mark I’d just lost half a stone quite quickly, so although I’m being pretty good, I’ll “plateau” for a bit now. I’ve decided not to obsess about it so I’m staying off the scales until 1st September.
I haven’t really counted the weeks as I’ve had a couple of relapses but I started on 1st Feb after being on 5.2 for January

John

Read the book, started the diet, promptly lost 3lb , felt better, got back into all my trousers (which are now too long, but no matter). Much to my surprise, no problems with hunger or cravings in the two weeks I have been on the diet, but this might change. Delighted that, at last, I have found a regime that incorporates all the foods I like (such as cheese, fish, olive oil, vegetables) AND sensibly shows what suitable portions should look like. I’ve always struggled with portion size. How do other people deal with attacks of the munchies while watching TV? I know this is just habit and not hunger but I find it hard to control. I know what you’ll say: switch off the TV.

I’m not diabetic but I do urgently need to lose weight. Aquafit, swimming, gardening and walking (bunions permitting) has toned up muscles but not affected weight. I’m 75 and I know that drastic weight loss will make me look much older and wrinklier. But vanity will have to go out of the window to be replaced by vitality. My goal is to lose 2 stones (28 lb/13 kilos) initially. which will bring me down to 10 stones. Still far too fat for my frame but we’ll see how we go.

In the first instance I would say yes, if you want to lose visceral fat on the inside you need to give your body a bit of a shock and 800 calories does that. Then when you feel that has taken effect (measure your waist and stomach as an indicator) you can maybe relax on the calories. But don’t eat the bad carbs.

My husband is 6ft 1inch and only weighs 13 stone. He has not been on this diet except he is forced to if he doesn’t want to do his own cooking. He does not stick to the 800 and has extra things like a bit of cheese most evenings or a fruit yogurt after lunch (I have no calories left for even a yogurt dessert) but when I have said do you want me to do you pasta/rice/mash with yours, he has said no just add some extra veg and a bigger portion of the chilli or whatever. As a consequence he has lost a little weight, nothing significant but on his annual well man check up he has reduced his cholesterol, blood sugars and triglycerides. I believe that is due to him not eating the bad carbs any more.