Latest forum posts

  • posted by  remyGrace on Just joined…
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Well, it’s time. I’ve finally committed to getting my mojo back. That includes losing up to 15 kilos (all of which I gained in the last 5 years), getting back into regular moving, and treating myself much more kindly.

    As luck would have it next week I’m away for a fully catered work conference plus my sister is arriving for the weekend. So, my plan is to use this week to really focus on getting my 10,000 steps each day, restart my morning and evening meditation practice, and plan out my menus and shopping lists so I can start on 800 cals the following week.

    The stories and lessons learned on here are amazing, and I hope to proudly be sharing my success story at the end of 9 weeks!

    RemyGrace

  • posted by  HappyLife on Over the week 23 line
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Lynn,
    I really thought of your words about cutting out the fruit because the carbs weren’t worth it the last couple of days because I cut out the fruit and added in a third a cup of refried beans and two corn tortillas and what a difference it made in the food I can eat and the variety I have during each day! I love it and tonight we had 2 salmon tacos which were delicious and I’m still well under my 50 carbs for the day and under my calories!
    Just wanted to let you know that your words linger on and help me as I move forward and I really appreciate you!
    Wishing you the best always!

  • posted by  HappyLife on Izzy's 8 week diary :)
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    Wow Izzy, you are a great shopper! Tomorrow I am going to buy some new clothes because there’s a 50% off sale of all the clearance summer items at a store I shop at so I can get my smaller sizes but not spend too much – I doubt they have a great deal like you got on your bras!
    It’s been a rough two weeks for me without the scale really moving much but today I finally way less than I did two weeks ago, yeah, yippee! So I am finally really moving down and off on my blood pressure meds! It literally took two weeks for my body to adjust to coming off the meds.
    I’m going to Vancouver, Canada at the end of the month for three days I need to get a new photo shoot done for my website because my clients are telling me I don’t look like the person on the website anymore, ha ha! And then I’m going home to Hawaii in September for two weeks so to be fun to see my old friends that I haven’t seen since April because they will be shocked I’ve lost so many inches.
    Hope your days off are fun!

  • posted by  HypoGal on Glucose Test
    on in Fast 800
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    This of course relates particularly to Diabetes Type II, which experts have always agreed can be reversed by proper diet, and now there is more and more proof that it is directly related to weight gain, especially fat that is carried around the waist and surrounds the internal organs (visceral fat).

    So, it appears that weight loss, which ever way you choose to lose it, is fundamental to overcoming Type II.

    My problem is that I have Reactive Hypoglycaemia, but not diabetes. However in recent years, my weight gain has rocketed and waist line has bulged, and I know this is a big warning sign that I may get Type II in the future. I also appear to have severe insulin resistance and until I tried this diet have not had any success in losing weight.

    The low-carb low-calorie diet obviously is the best and fastest way to lose weight, but after nearly a month on the BSD (I have lost 3 Kilos and 1.5 inches from my waist), I am still having severe hypoglycaemia symptoms. However, I have been reassured by others that this diet works for this as well. Here’s hoping !

  • posted by  ruthdownunder on Jans eight week journey.
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Jan, such great weight loss, and you are so inspiring. Keep it up. I had my BP taken today and the top level has gone down 20 points in less than 3 weeks – I am ecstatic- want to get off all meds (except perhaps the baby aspirin) I sure hope you do not have SLE. I have several friends with it and it is horrible.

    Don’t worry about the euhporia. It is a good thing

    It is cold and wet in beautiful Queensland so I hope it is sunny in Kent
    Ruth

  • posted by  HypoGal on Glucose Test
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    I found the BSD after watching Dr Mosley’s BBC program “Trust Me I Am a Doctor”, where, from memory, it was discovered that patients who had sudden and dramatic weight loss (such as fat removal operations) were also able to reverse their diabetes. This was a big surprise to some surgeons and a big breakthrough for diabetes management.

    That is why, Dr Mosley advocates a rapid 8 week program to lose weight as quickly as possible to balance blood sugars. I am pretty sure that there is reference to this in the beginning of the BSD book as well.

    Did you read/see that Lynn Pollen? Maybe that might help answer your queries.

  • posted by  Syb on Glucose Test
    on in Fast 800
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    Thank you Lyn. I thought I was the only one questioning the reversal part. After having completed my 8 weeks and waiting for my official test to come back, at this s point I would argue about the word reversal.

    You cannot go back to being ‘normal’, however if you move to the Mediterranean diet, i.e. Still ve y low on carbs I believe it can be managed, so that you can avoid medications and all of the horrible symptoms and effects of diabetes.

    I’d love to hear how others are going. Many seem to be fast 800ing for much longer than the 8 weeks.

  • posted by  HypoGal on Reactive Hypoglycemia, please help !
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    Nearly a week and lost another kilo (3 kilos since I started, which is nearly 7lbs) and 1.5 inches from my waist, but side effects are still really bad. This morning woke up with both arms and both legs feeling numb with pins and needles, from the elbows and knees down respectively. Its still there, hours later.

    Very dizzy with lots of shooting pains (neuralgia??), especially at night. Don’t know what’s going on with my body? It seems that it is directly related to weight loss. That is, days when I lose weight I feel worse.

    Maybe my insulin resistance is very advanced and taking longer to adjust?? If I just look at a carb (starchy or sweet carbs – vegetables are OK), I put on weight. Total carb intolerance.

    I will keep going but may have to increase the amount of food (protein and fat) I am eating?? I am drinking a lot – 2 to 3 litres a day.

    Yesterday, I went for a long walk and felt good until about 3pm. But now the numbness in my feet and arms is very disconcerting. Also the ringing in my ears is nearly deafening.

  • posted by  Nettle on Activity levels and pedometers etc
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Joan

    Sometime back I invested in a wrist gizmo that plotted just about everything you could think of, even told me if I had slept well. I nearly knocked myself out doing 10k steps a day and lost no weight. THIS IS BEFORE THE REVELATION OF THE BSD of course. After a few months the online data programme played up once too often so I returned it and received cash back.

    Now I am using a simple Omron pedometer, on all day for the general walk we do in the course of a day and I use an additional map my walk – FREE app – downloaded to my phone for the official walk everyday. It calulates distance and time and calories used.
    I get a little competitive with the voice on that app when she tells me how fast the previous distance of 1km was. Of course I am in competition with myself but she gets the blame! She’s fondly known as the walking witch around here. She gets results and I have now decided to try an official competition 10km walk in November, she and I are in training g.๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿƒ
    N.

  • posted by  LynnPollen on Glucose Test
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Thanks for the reply.
    There appears to be a misunderstanding. In the case of the BSD loss of weight is caused by restricted eating regardless of whether prompted by restricted carbohydrate or calories which in that case is only 800 calories per day for an eight week period. That is not in question. The question posed is whether the diabetes is actually likely to be cured as suggested in Dr Mosley’s book and not just the blood sugar readings for the length of time that food restriction is enforced.
    The underlying principle in the BSD book is that the visceral fat will be drained from the liver and pancreas by the diet and that after the eight week period and 10 to 15 percent of weight loss the pancreas will function properly again producing insulin in quantities that will return blood sugars to normal and the diabetes will actually be ‘cured’ provided that the general loss of weight is maintained.
    The above would mean that one could eat normally i.e. neither over or under eating the usual 2500 calories or whatever it takes to maintain stable weight and not just have to eat low carbohydrate foods or severely restricted portions at 800 calories per day. My concern is that if this is not the case eating non low glycaemic index foods for example white bread, rice, pasta or chips etc in previous quantities would continue to have significant adverse effects on the blood sugars and possibly, if the diabetes was not cured, on health even at that reduced weight.
    The question posed still needs to be addressed.

  • posted by  ruthdownunder on slow losers
    on in BSD Med Style Low Carb
    permalink

    Dear keeptrying

    You do realise how fabulous a loss of 3.5 lbs in a week is do you? Apart from my first week on this or any diet – and a water fast once! – I have never lost that much in a week. I am in week 3 now and astonished at my loss even tho’ it is not nearly as dramatic as some. SunnyB I am going to be ecstatic when I get to a sone

    As someone on the forums remarked we are now probably eating like a thin person.
    ps I wore a skirt last night I have not worn for years – tight yes – but it did up

    Onwards and downwards
    Ruth

  • posted by  Lucky Maneki on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Lidl’s 29p veg this week are – Swede (Janey, so you can microwave one to see!) Red Onions, Red Peppers and Iceberg Lettuce.

    And on that note I am off to bed. Don’t want a rerun of this morning, do I? Night night all, see you tomorrow, where the sun will shine and pants will fall off us and alternative flour bakes will amaze us ๐Ÿ˜€

  • posted by  Lucky Maneki on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Don’t feel guilty about it! You’ve done so well so far, you’ve really embraced the healthy eating – more than I have! It’s done now. The way I look at little cheats is you may as well enjoy it if you’re going to have it ๐Ÿ™‚ Tomorrow is another (biscuit free) day ๐Ÿ™‚

    Right, I will look at that. If/when I ever get control of the television handset…

  • posted by  greenjanet on Jans eight week journey.
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Day 16 in the bag cals 788 carbs. 53. Weight down another 1lb so making it 19lbs unbelievable.

    Been very weary today, I think my hyper euphoria, has calmed down thank goodness it was wearing me out hehe only kidding, this way of eating does make us very happy, well it does for me. Just been working very hard at the moment.
    What to cook tomorrow, ooh choices, fancy something very tasty, hmmmmm will sleep on it.
    Goodnight.
    Keep at it and posting.
    ๐ŸŒท๐ŸŒท๐ŸŒท jan

  • posted by  JoanW on Activity levels and pedometers etc
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    I started the BSD 12 days ago and have just re-read the book! It suggests getting a pedometer or Fitbit to record steps taken per day. As someone who try’s to avoid activity this seems like a sensible thing for me to do! My question is about the Fitbit. I am totally confused about which model I should invest in. Do I pay extra and get the one with the heart rate register or just go for the entry level model? I don’t want to get the cheaper version and regret not paying the extra, or buy the more expensive version and regret paying more than I need to, (especially as I keep finding information saying that the heart rate monitoring is not accurate!
    Can anyone help me through this minefield please?

  • posted by  Lucky Maneki on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    I had a soft spot for Rik Mayall too. So sad that he passed away, but the old dear who plays the auntie is absolutely fab.

    You’re so lucky seeing him live! I’ve seen the DVD’s, thought his first one was funniest though. I’ve seen ‘The Holy Trinity of the Phoenix Club’ – Dave Spikey, Peter Kay, Paddy McGuinness, Peter Kay was pants wettingly funny, and – possibly my weirdest crush – Johnny Vegas. I adore Johnny Vegas, he’s so cute and cuddly. But he was very, very drunk too.

  • posted by  Halicarnassus on A Confused but Enthused disciple.
    on in BSD Med Style Low Carb
    permalink

    Thank you for the replies. On the subject of animal protein, for non-health reasons (which I no longer buy into) I had given up eating meat and dairy for 11 years, and only this year have I returned to eating these foods. It’s a myth that all vegan-vegetarians are skinny healthy types. You can eat salt and vinegar square crisps all day and be a genuine vegan for example. The point is, during those 11 years I was generally still overweight. But since I started eating meat and dairy I have balooned. I now understand what the cause was: not meat and dairy necessarily, but extra calories on top of the unhealthy processed carbs I had been eating for as long as I can remember. My favourite food is bread. My next favourite food is bread.
    I’m generally a positive person, but I’m entirely cynical about the ethical compasses of the major food manufacturers. And in such I believe we are being poisoned on addictive nurtitionally devoid trash.

  • posted by  tokyo14 on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    greg davies is a whole hunk of funniness!! seen him live twice and have to say we never stopped laughing all night !! both times !! do you watch taskmaster lucky you would love it our gregs in it !!!

  • posted by  Izzy on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    ryvita, according to my fitbit has 6.7g carbs and I’ll settle for s’s instead of z’s!

    I love Big Magic Lucky hopefully you will enjoy it ๐Ÿ™‚

  • posted by  Janeycoughdrop on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    I’m considering Elana’s coffee cake, or sthg else involving coconut flour. It’s just about the weekend so I think a sweet treat is allowed. And of course I will be constructing the fart bread toastie for lunch ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Son brought home an excellent school report today, although he was in a foul ‘Kevin the Teenager’ mood. A nice Paleo pudding will finish him off!

  • posted by  Lucky Maneki on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Did you Josie, how did you find it? Was it more-ish, too sweet? And how were the falafels?

    Haha that sounds a LOT like my son. Absolutely bloody useless.

    What’s it called, is it on Catch up? Oh and I missed Man Down last night, I didn’t even know there was a new series due. Thank God for catch up TV. Love Greg Davies, one of my guilty crushes.

  • posted by  Verano on July starter
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Tonight has been a real challenge!!!
    We were invited out to an Indian restaurant! Ok. So sat down before we went and added to my diary. Knew I could stay within the plan with a huge amount of willpower. DID IT! Had one popadom with a little mint & yogurt and chicken tikka, half portion, and salad. So really pleased with myself.
    Also, I have walking difficulties and noticed tonight, after just two weeks on the plan, that my walking was far easier. Could walk much further (I walk with crutches). Have only lost 8lbs so don’t think that could make much of a difference.
    Has anybody else found that cutting carbs has led to more energy even without extra exercise ?

  • posted by  josie53 on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    i shall join the confessional, today i had a chocolate biscuit. but i have since paid the penance of the beetroot falafels with salad. So feel almost righteous. Not such a disaster as the dreaded fish cakes.

    Aren’t kids wonderful, my daughter once bought her then boyfriend home for a weekend and he stayed or about 11 weeks in the end. He barely seemed to function on any human level. But as she finished at Uni she finished with him by going to Tokyo to work for 5 years.

    I am watching a programme featuring Michael Mosley the O H recorded it for me from Tuesday. so far interesting

  • posted by  Epspecially on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Good tips Issy๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘ I liked Room too though it freaked me out after is finished it!

    Some people hate Eat, pray, love but I found it really funny๐Ÿ˜น๐Ÿ˜‚ way to many descriptions of food tho๐Ÿ˜น

  • posted by  Lucky Maneki on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Wow, I bought Big Magic on Sunday, Izzy! I’m trying to work through the older ones I’ve bought first though. I have heard of Eat Pray Love but haven’t read it myself. I’ve heard it’s a bit Marmite. I’ve read Room, a few years ago.

    Evenin’ Janey ๐Ÿ˜‰ And what is the next experiment? The slippers of sulkiness are back in their box, still unworn.

  • posted by  Switzerland on Izzy's 8 week diary :)
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Izzy,
    The fajitas sound delicious.
    4 bras for 9 pounds – I love a good bargain. I recently purchased 100% cotton undies for my daughter. A pack of 5 for $2.50 – skin toned – unbelievable price but it was the end of financial year sales.
    Oooh 2 nights in your loft – have fun being creative.

  • posted by  Janeycoughdrop on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Remove the slippers of sulkiness for the hills are once again alive with the sounds of dieters. I have had chicken jalfry which was on the cheeky side along with quinoa and a Lucky wrap. Two Willies for pudding โ˜บ๏ธ

    As I’m ‘working from home’ tomorrow I think I may cook my next experimental recipe…..

  • posted by  Izzy on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    yes the bookthief has been around a while. I don’t normally enjoy books set in wartimes but the perspective it was written from and the story was a real surprise to me I loved it. I’ve read it twice. The movie is rubbish tho…

    If you are interested in creativity Try Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic. The same author as eat pray love. I never liked eat pray love and never finished the book, but I’ve read Big Magic twice.

    I enjoyed Girl on The train as well.

    I loved Stephen Kings The Green Mile – I expected it to be a heavy read but it was very easy to read and the movie was reasonably close to the book.

    Room- I forget the author but an interesting tale of a girl abducted and held prisoner for years in one room.

    The Chimp Paradox – an easy to read book about why people behave in certain ways. Not a novel but a book I’ve enjoyed nonetheless.

    Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, an odd but interesting tale about a world that exists underneath London that no one sees.

  • posted by  Lucky Maneki on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    No, I’m still here Tokyo ๐Ÿ™‚ I read a few pages and then I check my email ๐Ÿ™‚

    Awwwwwww that’s sweet lol. But I don’t really mind, there will be another milestone. Imagine if there’s a really good conversation going on and I’m asleep or shopping or cleaning and everyone would have to be in limbo until I showed my face ๐Ÿ™‚ I may have started the thread but you’re all equals on the journey and in creating the laughter and friendship ๐Ÿ™‚

  • posted by  tokyo14 on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    am here and now your gone lucky always the way !! i am impressed with how many sayings we have conbled together !! a feast of them !!
    i have given the 1000th post sime thought !! and i am nominating lucky to write it she started this whole escapade on this thread only fitting shes takes the 1000th !!!! and i know you lucky you will make it a good one !!!!

  • posted by  Lucky Maneki on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Well, am I glad you two showed up! I was just about to go and retrieve the ‘Slippers of Sulkiness’.

    I haven’t heard of yours Eps, but I think I read yours Izzy (Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii back ๐Ÿ™‚ ), is it a few years old now, set in WW2?

    I’m sat with water. I had a bar of mousse chocolate just. I reorganised kitchen cupboard. It looks like the kitchen cupboard of people I would try to avoid barely two months ago lol. Flaxseed… coconut flour… chickpea flour… sesame seeds… pumpkin seeds.

    I’m finishing off a self-help type book that I hadn’t quite got to the end of. Next I think I’m going to go forrrrrrrrrrrrr…. Between You and Me or Bone by Bone. Or I might read Gretchen Rubin’s Better than Before, I liked her last two books. Ooooh just found ‘Goddesses Never Age’ too. Stop me buying books!

    Awwww is the cat on a mad one, Eps? Bless ๐Ÿ™‚

  • posted by  Izzy on Veg
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    If I remember correctly there was a lady here who went 5 weeks without losing so there is still hope! Have you been taking body measurements?

    courgettes and green stuff tend to be lower calorie than other veg like onions and peppers. It’s still ok to use a lot though. You certainly get a lot more within calories and carbs with these than potato!

    My fitbit app tells me the following to give you some comparison.

    1 serving iceberg lettuce 10 calories, 1.3g carbs
    1 red pepper 31 calories and 7.1g carbs
    1 medium courgette 31 calories, 6.5g carbs
    1 medium onion 46 calories, 11.1g carbs

    When I use courgetti with bolognaise I use a whole courgette. I will often stuff a whole pepper or courgette too. I use onions a lot as I love them but as their carbs are a bit higher I typically would use half an onion.

  • posted by  Epspecially on Hello :-)
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hee heee was at cinema, kind of funny, called Maggies plan.

    Did you find a new book? Hmmm my next one to read is called All the light we cannot see – haven’t started yet but looks good?

    Hungry but just having cup of herbal tea๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿ˜‚ Have to play with the cat, he’s chasing up and down the corridor pretending to see ghosts so I think that means he’s been bored all day, there was nobody home.