Hi

I second cafe rouge, lots of options there, and not just salad.
Prezzo have some great salads – there’s one with rocket and steak on top, and that’s it. They also have a ‘special’ that always seems to be on the menu of fish with a ratatouille type accompaniment – even their light pizzas are OKish – a salad with pizza on a small thin flatbread.
Strada have an excellent antipasti plate that’s low carb, plus several salads.
Pizza Express do a great dish that’s basically aubergine & cheese (hot & oven baked, I adore it) – and some low carb salad options

Tapas restaurants are usually a good option if you choose carefully and if you’re with a group, avoid sitting too close to the patatas bravas. I went in one recently and had a plate of Boquerones, always my favourite tapas (anchovies in vinager) and another of asparagus – delicious.
Greek/Mediterranean restaurants – ask for crudites instead of bread for hummus and babaganoush, and there are often fairly plain fish options. Another option is halloumi – a local restaurant grills halloumi freshly, and serves it in a pita bread with tons of salad – and pita bread is pretty easy to ignore & throw away.

Itsu have low carb options with no rice – from memory options include chicken or salmon with avocado & poached egg, and a tuna and salmon tartare, and there’s a small protein pot thing too. Their online menu is great for seeing nutritional values of stuff.
Non ITSU sushi places – go for the sashimi.
I was in Ikea the other day – really good value on a plate of smoked salmon with a green leaf salad.
Lots of independent cafes do omelettes

I was in a Tesco the other day and they had a brilliant range of ‘pickboxes’ – small servings, many low carb. I think they were 4 for £5, and enough got two meals from that. I had a bean salad thing, and one box that just had a small portion of chicken. I haven’t seen those in my local branches, so they may just be stocked in metro branches that have a big lunch trade.
Waitrose do a nice Greek salad, that’s only 6 carbs for the whole box

Hi Vixter,

Glad i came across as lenient as my mum thinks i’m very strict with her! We stick to the meals in the book, but allowing a few more calories here or there wont make that much difference, especially when you spread it over the week. I think it says that in the book, not to get too caught up in the 800cals thing, one day we have 690 cals, the next 890 cals. If the Dr recommended 1000 cals, stick to the 800 cals for food but any treats like the milk in tea or the biscuit with the pills will take you up to that.

I struggled with my mums pills as she needed to take them at night with food but all at different times so i have ended up giving her cheese or some peanut butter to take them with, something low carby. I did give her a biscuit to begin with but have got her to have the cheese instead now.

My mum is not mobile at all on dry land, so it is a miracle she’s lost the weight she has and that is all due to the diet. She’s planning on trying to go swimming again once she has the rheumatoid arthritis under control, as she can move far more easily in the water. If your mum is active around the house that will stand her in good stead – reminds me of the Horizon programme on recently that Michael Moseley did about exercise talking about HIIT but also just being active in your everyday life and moving more, not necessarily exercising, worth a watch.

I told my mum of all your supportive and kind words and she was made up, but still looking forward to her treat meal tomorrow! She’s a cheeky monkey!

Summer sales…. I’m looking forward to being comfortably back into my own size but am not yet. Actually, I’m back to another attempt to eat ‘low carb Mediterranean’ as an everyday way of life, with some ‘no starchy carbs days’. I had some success when I first tried it early this year, had more energy and ‘zip’, a waistline, and better skin all over – and then got into bad habits and was rather haphazard, so now I’m trying again. But both my husband and I have experienced some of the effects/benefits of a different approach to food and exercise, so that’s encouraging!

Many thanks for all the practical suggestions for upping my water intake.
So, today’s summary:

Total: 870 calories, 53g carbs
Water: 0.5L
Steps: 10,276
Active Minutes: 44

Calories and carbs crept up today!!

I’ve just watched Fixing Dad on the BBC I-Player. It was down-to-earth, funny and inspirational.

Hi, wholegrain basmati rice is good – a small portion, perhaps around 25g dry weight, is nice. It takes about 25mins to cook it but it only needs a small saucepan.

Sue
Apologies for not posting sooner. I thought I had written and in fact nothing up there – here I am at last to add my best wishes to you along with SunnyB. Life is rarely simple but I am so impressed with how you have stuck with the diet in spite of the discouragements along the way. Those size 10s must look brilliant! Congratulations! Hope the new blood sugar meter is proving more reliable for you. All the best to you for an easier few weeks.
Julia

You could download the pacer app if you have an iPhone, I use it, and it’s very accurate.

Portion sizes are an important factor, as you say. After holidays in France I find the amounts of carbs served in the UK are often crazy! I think some places like to fill the plate with cheap carbs. I like your comment about going into Patisserie Valerie though!

Thanks for the tips about Pret a Manger and M&S. I sometimes have a salad with meatballs at Subway, but it’s not always satisfying without any additional carbohydrate, or in rainy weather. I agree, it’s a good idea to make your own lunches, and I think I’ll try that.

Ermahgerd! 8st 12! You are a champ Igorasusual!

Well Im only down .5lb this week but its all a loss. I have to start thinking that 9st something can be a reality or it wont happen. Or that it wont happen by itself 🙂 I knew it would be a bit of struggle this week after the prior weekend but this thread keeps me accountable and I have been mindful of calorie counts this week. And man have I been in tempting places this week. Wednesday night I was invited to a work cocktail event (brand launch), all free booze in a very cool flashy place. Not one alcoholic drink passed my lips, on the sparkling water all night. There was so many fancy cocktails and lots of my fave sparkling wine, I promised future me that I could have all the sparkling wine I would like/need when I reach my goal. The canapes were a little bit on the carby side but there wasnt a huge amount going around so it was easy enough to be good.

This weekend I have a fitness/charity/eating event. I am climbing the stairs of a very tall hotel building in the city and at the top we are treated to a buffet breakfast. Im thinking/hoping that they will have lots of good veggie sides for brekkie and mayyybe I will have a little pancake treat if they have them. After 37 flights I can probably allow for it!

Have a great weekend everyone. Keep on keeping on!

Oh ditto I’ve also got 35 year old pregnancy fat, it’s a malicious joke I think, pesky fat pixies.

Weeeeeeeeeeee weeeeeeeee yes us BSD ers do a lot of that at the beginning. Ha what a laugh.

I’m out of breath now all that running around, if I wasn’t on the BSD I wouldn’t be running, I wouldn’t even have got up. Hehe

Waving can you see me👋👋👋👋

Big pat on the back, you will feel better when you wake up knowing you have a good day behind you. I have also battled a bit today, carby things kept jumping out at me, blinking family not eating their food, but managed another 800 day and 51 carbs. Yeaaaaaa bit waves in the air, ooh I’m easily pleased.
Goodnight.💤💤💤

Hi Ziggy, I have just done a little rant on this particularly about Hypogal and one other saying we all knew about this. However, it seems to have disappeared into the ether, maybe that’s okay but it included a bit of my history.

To your questions, I am tested every 3 months and after a disaster with a nutritionist putting me on a high carb diet my readings 12 months ago were 5.6, then 9 months ago (after the diet) 11, then I came off her diet and went back on my own so 6 months ago the reading was 8 and three months later 8 again. Which is where I seemed to get stuck. Anyway I am in week 5 of this diet and my morning tests are showing between 4.5 and 6 so hopefully will have a good result when I have it done again in 2 weeks time. I will let you know what news.

Verano I’m sure you could, once the cauli and garlic is steamed it becomes pretty tender… So it should whizz up with a stick blender I would think. Try it and let us know 🙂

Mm spicy cauli steaks sounds good now!

So here’s another one.
Come on…
All stand in a circle.

Straighten that line up over there on the right, it’s a circle not a blob.

Now, I will stand in the middle, I will put my arm out and act like a clock hand,
When I point at you raise your hands, then back down.

Thus is our version if the Mexican wave.

We shall call it… The Moseley movement.

Right, are you ready?,….. Here we go,

Right niw a little faster…

Wwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Love Lucia
Xxxxx

Now I am going to run past you all, giving you all a ‘high five’.
You all have to give the team a..
Wahhhh…. Whooooo!!!.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi sunshine-girl, just posted to you somewhere else in the forum about the limits of reversal. I will have to look at your posts to see how your BSD is going for you. A doctor cannot in all honesty say ‘you are no longer diabetic’ based upon an Ha1Bc test, but I know from a diabetes forum I am a member of that a lot of doctors do make this rash statement. The only real way to do it is the tolerance test.

What was your last HbA1c? Ah, just read your profile. How much weight do you want/need to lose? Your BG levels should be well normal again. The HbA1c takes an average of the past 12 weeks, but it is weighted on the past month -(which you have been on the BSD) I await your results with anticipation.

Have you been maliciously walking around Lucky?? 🤔

So, are we all here?
Yes,
Right , let’s get on with it.
I fancy doing one of those American things….
So can you all raise your right hand and repeat after me?

Love Lucia
Xxx

Welcome to the forum, we are all friends here, all on the same journey, you are doing well, if in any touble, doubts, positives etc, post here there is always a BSD friend to assist. Hope your week goes well.
Love Jan

Thanks Angie and Mr Stud!

I remember seeing someone here (I think?) talking about how pringles and hula hoops are made – apparently no one would eat them if they knew, and Dr Mosely talks a lot about Carb addiction in the BSD book.

I made it through the day without eating crap today thankfully so I’m back on track but very tired. Part of me wanted to get into the loft tonight but I know I don’t get myself out again early enough, So I’ve stayed downstairs and now my daughter is home and settled and my son asleep – I’m tucked up ready for some snoozing.

Grateful that tomorrow is Friday and I’ve made it to the end of my work week.

Night BSD peeps

Sunshine-girl, Prof Taylor is quoting reversal of up to 10 years so 11 years could still be doable!

Bril 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Just a little addenda to the Cauliflower Steaks. The Thursday chef (Nigel) on Simon Mayo’s Show on BBC Radio 2 ( 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm – Nigel’s slot is on between 6 and 6.30) was cooking spicy cauliflower steaks, this is available to hear again on the iPlayer for 30 days.

I haven’t gotten the chance to listen to it yet but will.

I am on week 7 and have been pretty good at staying on the wagon until now, bbq weather and school holidays really haven’t helped so I’ve fallen off the wagon far too much the last week or so..I wondered if any of you lovely guys have a effective mantra you use to keep yourself on the straight and narrow when temptation calls. I need one to help me stay focused when I hear the ice lollies calling my name!!

Thank you all for your suggestions.

Whilst he is generally a “thirsty” person I’ve not seen him necking water like I need to within the BSD, so not sure if his total intake.

I’ve now suggested he try to drink more in the day and less after 7pm and if really thirsty in the evening to try just a mouthful of water. He says he will think about trying this.

But maybe as you say, he will need to mention to doctor.

Btw he doesn’t wake me up on his nocturnal visits – fortunately I sleep like a log 🙂

Thanks Sunshine Girl. His first reaction was to reach for the prescription pad when he diagnosed me but I asked him about the 8 week plan. He said he only new about it vaguely but if I wanted to try it rather than drugs to go for it. I started that day. I guess because I was newly diagnosed it has been very effective quite quickly. He was really pleased at the outcome and told me my blood test results today would not have led him to even consider I was diabetic. I just wanted to encourage anyone out there to keep going as I know I found it really hard but so glad I stuck to it.

Hi thanks for the reply. Yes drinking lots of water and not constipated. Really disappointed with the inch regained. The only thing is I am on pain killing medication but I can’t see that making a difference. My mum says the only time she lost weight was on things like weight watchers where she was made to eat a lot more than she usually did. I would just expect to lose more being on such a restricted diet and upping my exercise a lot.

Tonight I am going to eat normal portions whilst sticking to low carb as I’m fed up of being hungry too

They can do it via an app now, smartphone or tablet, you download it, record the noise, and it sends it to them electronically and it registers against your complaint file or something? I really don’t want to borrow trouble though. Going to have to think long and hard about what to do here.

It was really good reading your post Helsbels as there are parallels with our mothers. I’m so glad you responded as I was planning to be quite strict with mum and the way you put it made me realise I need to be more lenient. The milky coffee your mum has, reminded me my mum likes milk in her tea, and a biscuit at night when taking her tablets. I want to congratulate you both on your weight loss to date, it’s phenomenal. Mum doesn’t like exercise although she does keep busy around the house with washing and cleaning so that’s good. I like the idea of taking mum out for a meal once a week too. Inspirational.

It might be worth getting it checked out with the GP, as you say, getting up 3-4 times each night ruins his ( and yours! ) sleep. I would agree with increasing his fluid intake: too little water and you risk urine infections. Is he producing a fair volume each time? Lots of people make more urine when they lie down, as the fluid build up in the limbs goes back into the system. Does he have high blood pressure? Water tablets during the day might then help. And of course, there is always the prostate possibility. Oh, and try to avoid caffeine drinks in the evening, as this acts as a diuretic too.
So, all in all, if this continues, a check up might point the way to a solution. Hope some of these ramblings help! Best of lucK.

So sorry for the delay in getting back to you, it’s been an unusually busy time, and although I read your messages when they came in, this is the first chance I’ve had to respond.

Thank you ruthdownunder, for your comments and advice regarding blood pressure. That was very interesting. My mum is 5’3″ and weighs approx 11 stone. I will monitor it closely. I was pleased with the advice from the doctor as she was very enthusiastic, but I had forgotten to mention regular blood tests and wondered if that was a problem. I can see now it probably wasn’t. It’s also really good to read how well you are doing on the diet, even with honey. I was really encouraged by your post, thanks for taking the time to respond.

Hi Lowenna
that must be really disappointing for you – but there are a lot of posts about plateaus as well as weight loss.

two things that seem common themes for people not loosing as much as they’d anticipated, or weight plateau-ing – the first is are you drinking enough water? That really does help.
The other one – several people have reported issues with constipation on BSD – several threads on it, and potential remedies,if you use the search box (top right hand corner) – Obviously if you’re eating a lot less, and a lot less junk, you will poo less, but if your digestive system is taking time to adjust to your new eating patterns, worth thinking about.

Also, you say that you’re sticking rigidly to the plan in the book – if that isn’t working for you, try taking the principles of BSD and having low carb food that you like that meet the low carb/calorie guidelines and seeing if you enjoy that more.

Frog nice job on the club eating. 🙂 I’ve never heard of a clafoutis before, but that looks good (I had to google it LOL). I love eating stirfries because they can be low cal and low carb. 🙂 My grandparents lived in Hong Kong for a few years though and Grandma made stir fries that she learned while they lived there, so I got to learn from her. We use a bit of oil but then you usually cover it to steam it at the end.

well done on resisting cake LACali21!
Cookery club went fairly well – I passed on noodles, and just had stir fried vegtables with duck, but as I’d been asked to make the desert, I wanted to try it, but mostly stuck to the baked apricots & left the batter (it was an apricot clafoutis)

Whenever I’ve made stir fry at home, I haven’t liked it much – I think I’ve been using too much oil.
Last night we used water more than oil after the initial slug, so the vegetables were more steamed than fried – very nice. It included spring cabbage mostly cut into quarters rather than shredded, which were really good.

Day 10 – I don’t what it was, but last night I was craving stuff like crazy. I don’t even like bread, but I was craving cheese buns, I was craving pasta, but for some reason I wasn’t craving my weakness, potatoes. I did eat more calories than the allotted 800 cals, but I made sure to stay below the carb count. In fact I tried to keep the foods I ate only protein – which was the reason I went over in cals. I was back to being tired and had no energy. It’s 1 week before TOM, so I don’t know if that is a factor but I tried my best to beat it.

It was a hard day foodwise at work yesterday and today. We keep having celebrations where they only bring candy or cake. There has not been healthy food I can eat. S

Hi Jardine
I had a “mad” weekend with lots of cake & some pizza – I’d put on over a kilo when I weighed myself on Monday – the good news is that I lost it as fast as I’d gained it, and was back below Friday’s weight by Wednesday after a couple of days of being very strict about BSD.
Fingers crossed your resumption of BSD works as well
No reason why you shouldn’t reach your target weight as long as it is a realistic goal weight that you’ve set yourself.

would not eat either as they are bad for you.

lucky ring environmental health and see what they say

Thank you for the birthday wishes!

O yes def glad but hope not too damage done after todays foods…

Still, we re begin tomorrow. One thing, I was really not too tempted by some choices of food where normally I would have succumbed…

Onwards and forwards….

I have stuck rigidly to the diet plan in the book. No snacking or anything etc. Even the cappuccinos went. The result. I’ve lost no weight this week and my waist measurement has returned to what it was when I started two weeks ago. This despite taking up swimming, walking everywhere and just feeling miserably hungry for two weeks.

I feel completely disheartened especially when everyone else seems to be losing weight hand over fist. My partner has continued to eat bread and cereal and my low carb evening meals and is losing weight. I just don’t understand it. It has made me feel ill but that’s about it. 😔😔😔

Hi from New Zealand everyone, I started this last Monday. weighed in at 137.6. Today is Friday, and jumped on the scales to see if anything is happening and already a loss! Will post my starting weight for the week each Monday, this way I will keep myself honest and hopefully you guys out there will help me keep on track with lots of tips etc. I’m feeling good, not hungry at all which is a real bonus. Up to the loo 2-3 times a night, I guess that’s all the ‘excess fluid’?? LOL!
After seeing how much weight a colleague has lost and her telling me about this, I have jumped on board. Fingers and toes crossed, as usual story, been there done that with all other diets out there. Went and got the book, and it all makes sense, so here goes!!

Hi Peta, Congratulations, that is what we all want to hear, plus a supportive doctor. I am sure we would all be interested in knowing more. How long have you been diagnosed diabetic, I ask because this is supposed to reverse it if it is a recent diagnosis (4 years max I think) whereas I have had it for nearly 11. Were you on tablets or insulin or controlling with diet. Have you done a glucose tolerance test to see how your sugars behave now. Sorry for all the questions but this is an experiment and we are all interested in the results.

Hi Ziggy, we are on the same course. I have a blood test booked for 9th Aug with visit to doctor on 11th, but then I will be 6 1/2 weeks into the diet. Fingers crossed. Just reading a post (Peta I think) who has had the all clear from the doctor who said ‘you are no longer diabetic’ but not sure is that is just good reading or if s/he has been tested for tolerance. I will just keep going.

Good Evening everyone
What an amazing journey so far.
We started 4 weeks ago a bit apprehensive and worried that we would be starving, grumpy and arguing.
We couldn’t have been more wrong, this way of eating has inspired me to try different things, be creative and care about what we eat. There is so much more to eating than opening the freezer!
We look at carbs in a completely different way, not wanting to eat them, not wanting to feel the way they make you feel. Its a shame that there are so many out there who need this and dont even know how good it will make them feel.
My hubby is T2 and from day 1 has been doing his sugars first thing and 2 hrs after dinner. After a couple of weeks the readings where mid 4s so we decided to drop 1 of the metformin, we did this for about a week still taking am and pms readings and they didnt go up as we had expected so we stopped the other metformin last monday. Initially his sugars rose a bit but where still under 7 and now they are between 5-6 everytime. On top of losing a stone, he is chuffed and feeling thinner and healthier. He only wants to loose another 1/2 stone and then go onto maintenance.
And me well Im not diabetic and just along for the ride, life experience has taught us that together is better.
I made a few minor adjustments to my diet about 4 weeks before we started this, and to date have lost 1 stone 11lbs. 🙂
To say Im happy is an under statement! Had a wardrobe clear out already and like many that top you really liked but didnt fit is in the wearable pile again. I have also had to buy new pants, and because the tummy is not so big, managed to get some pretty ones !
This is probably the best thing we have ever done.
So everyone out there keep going, be strong, be committed and you will get there.
Its a way of life
xxxxxxxxxxxx

Yep, nothing to do with us, it was all them. My cravings were Tic Tacs and Dove soap, so we’re talking really low calorie stuff there, so it must be all their fault!

It has been hard at times, especially having 3 in just under 4 years, I was either pregnant or sleep deprived that whole time, but now they’re getting older it’s a bit easier. No less messy, but they’re all quite self sufficient. Thankfully I’ve been saving for shopping vouchers since last October for this year’s Christmas, I do it every year, I have to after getting really caught out one year, the credit card bill was horrendous, think I was still paying it off the next Christmas. Three more months and Christmas is all but paid for. I buy savings stamps every month at a local butcher which buys my turkey and ham and bits, and I also round up any shopping at Iceland onto my card so I can pick up party food and bits and bobs there. I really am quite boring and organised…

It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? On holiday in Devon, this time last year, in a local pub restaurant, they had the leaflets out to book your Christmas party. Can’t we just enjoy what little summer we have without having to think about the winter????