Great success stories… keep up the good work everyone… One thing i cant see in the book, but im presuming, the more you have to lose the bigger the loss will be……its crazy but i can really feel the difference already…. feeling good

Hi Baristagirls,

I know this isn’t creamy, or even store bought for that matter, but last summer I was enjoying iced tea with a sprinkling of rose water and a sprig of mint. Home made, I would make black tea, put in the the refrigerator until chilled, add a dash of rosewater and the sprig of mint – delicious and refreshing.

Hi Fi and Trees,
Well done in reaching the ‘overweight’ category. All of that hard work and planning pays off.
Best wishes.

Hi Izzy,
My heart skipped a beat when I read the beginning of your post ‘today I was held up in the morning’….I continued to read and….phew (I thought, wiping my brow)….you were running late. Thank goodness it was just a ‘held up’ in time sense.

Despite your out-of-sync morning you did really well with your food/fluid intake. Well done. I mean it. Even 4 weeks ago I know that something like that would have de-railed me.

Hi Liverbird,
Skywalker and Maefly have wise words. Carb addiction is real. Take heed from the principles of the BSD and organisations that deal with addiction and treat the white carbs like that. Remember nobody has willpower when addictions are involved.

Over the past 9 weeks I’ve thought long and hard about celebrations (eg. birthdays, weddings etc) and what will be appropriate to eat.

We all have to make our own decisions. I will share mine.
The one day a year that is my birthday will be celebrated and yes, I will have a slice of cake. I may even have a meal at a restaurant. But that’s where it stops.

I’m attempting to put the simple carbs back where they belong which is in the occasional category. It’s hard work. I’m not always successful. For me the BSD way of life is exactly that – a way of life. I will still celebrate special occasions in a socially appropriate way, but my choice is not to go on a simple carb ‘bender’.

Best wishes for working out what to do.

Do something like jump or dance or swim or walk. Just enjoy living by being lively.

Lucia you are an inspiration.

Blood monitors are fine if used at the right time in the right way. There is lots on here if you use the search box by typing in something like blood sugar monitor and you will find lots of good stuff. Low blood sugar can be a real tricky problem and if you are Type 2 then you will know how your own body needs the occasional shot of something sweet. There are many on here who have reduced or stopped their medication after following BSD. If you are otherwise healthy re-read the advice regarding who should and should not start. Take your measurements and try to get the approval of your GP or Diabetes nurse they are getting better in many areas and accepting the evidence produced here and in other places. The book (3 in series) is full of advice and you could look out for posts by Hashimoto who is a bit of an expert you might say. These forums are full of really helpful stuff and most of the questions have been asked many times. I hope that you prepare well and succeed, I am sure that you will.

What do people do? They come to the forum and get some cracking advice from all the wonderful people here.
It is really tough when your head is not in the right place. You have lots of reasons to keep going but they seem to have lost their ability to motivate you. Perhaps you are putting too much pressure on yourself? Try taking it a day (a meal?) at a time. Don’t think about the dress, the holiday or the nurse, you are doing this for you. Re-focus. Try getting into the Mindfulness thing, de-stress. It may be the carbs that are making you feel lethargic and wooly-headed. Drink lots of water and keep moving!
I hope you get your mojo back soon.

So you have no will power when you eat carbs? big surprise. Until you desist you will remain an addict. Hard but true. You have been eating in a way that defeats your objective and effectively until you have a better reason to be healthy, eat properly and learn the life changing lessons you will be unlikely to succeed. So, what to do. Simples. You must plan ahead and do this with the knowledge that many of us have failed at times but just started again from wherever we happen to be. Your continued good health is at risk, your poor attitude to carb eating will only change when you admit that you are an addict. But welcome to the club. We are here to advise, cajole and discuss but you have to be the one that makes the effort as the results are really only for you and if you are worth it – of course you are, do it for yourself and make a stab at saying No! from now. When you up the protein and fats you will not feel hungry when you switch into fat burning and it is downhill from there. Keep smiling it’s only food but it can surely kill you if you let it but it may take years. IF THAT SEEMS HARSH – YOU ASKED AND IT IS, AFTER ALL, ONLY MY OPINION – YOU ARE FREE TO IGNORE ME.

Around 8 weeks ago I was diagnosed type 2 diabetes with a HB a1c reading of 60, which was then confirmed with another test which showed 56. Since then I have reduced what I eat and someone in work suggested the BSD book, which I have nearly finished.

I bought myself a freestyle libre blood sugar monitoring device. I don’t know how accurate it is but sometimes my blood sugar goes alarmingly low. I want to keep my intake of carbs low, but without putting myself at risk. There seems to be little mention of blood sugar monitoring in the book.

Perhaps I should forget this monitor and persevere without it.

Thanks

Was doing really well. Lost 13 lbs in 4 weeks, blood glucose levels were really healthy. However, It was my birthday last week and I had guests to stay for 4 nights and was away for 2. A carb blow out on my birthday. Crisps and booze every night last week, a piece of bread most days. Thankfully did lots of walking so only put on a pound.

Finding it hard to get back on track this week. Crisps are my downfall and today I struggled. Feeling pissed off at work. Sweets for on the table during the meeting, had 5. Had crisps and a small piece of cake at lunchtime (with my healthy high protein, low carb salad :-).Popcorn a bit later, more crips when I came in (though no booze since last Friday). Not surpsingly my blood glucose was 8.7 about 2 and a half hours after my meal tonight.

I should have plenty to keep me focused: a dress for a wedding do in hanging on my door that is a bit tight and I want to get into comfortably in 10 days time , going to Nepal in 3 weeks time and, most importantly, seeing the diabetes nurse in 12 days time. Yet I feel like I can’t be arsed. My mood feels really flat. How do other people push through times like this and pull it back on track? Thanks in advance.

So today I was held up in the morning and didn’t have time to eat my soup, much sadness however it was interesting that throughout the afternoon I didn’t feel any hunger. I did have a few nuts and lots of water.

Dinner tonight was chicken goujons dipped in olive oil and then coconut flour/seasoning. They were nice and my son had seconds! I also had some oven baked veg including onion, courgette, carrot. The others also had sweet potato. As my calories were low I had a hot choc made with almond milk too.

I have to be up and ready earlier tomorrow as a colleague is picking me up and we have a long drive to a training session where I suspect there will be bacon rolls and biscuits. I may choose to eat the bacon roll like I did a few weeks ago and avoid the biscuits. Or I might not. I’ll decide in the morning. I’ve just realised how that reads… I will definitely avoid the biscuits. I just might eat the bacon roll.

For now it’s time for an early night.

sleep well BSD-ers.

Hi Jules2112,
There is reference to recommended protein intake in ‘The 8 week Blood Sugar Diet’ book in the chapter headed ‘The Diet in Practice’ and it states ‘The standard recommendations for protein are around 45g a day for a woman, and 55g per day for a man.’

I hope this is helpful.
Congratulations on your results.

Hi Lucia,
…..all of that in 12 weeks. Seriously Lucia it sounds like you have reclaimed your life and your self identity in the last 12 weeks.
It’s great to read about all of the positive changes that you have made ‘going on the BSD’.
Eat low carb med style, add exercise, throw in a smattering of meditation and voila – there’s the recipe for reconnecting with your true self and the real world.

I know it is said a lot on these forums, but…..you are a true inspiration.

…..and now for the singing and tap dancing…..all together now….’heaven…I’m in heaven’.

Hi Lucia,

What have I been up to this week?…let me see…what can I put in print…. Mostly enjoying the fabulous sunshine, walking in the beautiful cumbria countryside, gardening 🌻working out with the guys in the exercise group, dancing through the kitchen. Now day dreaming of far flung places. 🌎

Bungee jumping sounds cool, though think my fear of heights might be a small problem…still… life is about overcoming fears and taking on new challenges, so you never know. I better lose some more weight first or it would be bungee landing – heavily !!!😅

Quite fancy trying some river swimming..🌅

Hope your day is good!

Imogen🌻

Thanks for this advice Skywalker and congratulations on your continuing success, this is inspiring. It has been a temptation to obsess a bit about the numbers but hopefully by week 8 I will have reached a sensible watchfulness and be more relaxed about continuing.

Hi Jules, the plan works even if you only count sugar and approx calories. Sugar as a max of 30 gm/day is not too hard, I managed an average of 28.4 over 10 weeks and lost over 3 stones at which point I was at my first target weight. In week 18 now quite relaxed about eating don’t count anything and still shrinking very slowly – it’s great, stick with it. Fat is not your enemy really nor even protein but smaller portions and different foods can be a challenge. As you must know it is the “white” foods i.e. the carb variety that we get addicted to and have to wean off from. The protein stops us feeling hungry. Keep going, it really is worth some short term inconvenience – it should not be pain.

Hi fi

Congratulation on becoming ‘overweight’ I reached this milestone two weeks ago which was a big boost. I’m on week 20 and last week I went back to writing down everything I eat to check my portions and values and I found that I wasn’t eating enough on some days!! My weight has slowed down but I’m still losing every week. Let’s hope we can get through the ‘overweight’ and get to the normal BMI with out to many headaches!!

Enjoy you two weeks football free!!

Patrice

I’ve been using lots of chillis – with stir fry baby veg, in frittata, in my scrambled eggs and so on.

M&S has done some wonderful salmon skewers in Jamaican Jerk style and also in lime and chilli. They do chicken versions too which are small enough for lunch.

My favourite dinner is baby spinach, small no of baby plum tomatoes, a little seared courgette then a full portion of chilli and coriander king prawns, and the salmon skewers. I know it’s a bit expensive but cor it’s lovely. Lots of fat and protein and hardly any carbs.

Tonight no prawns so seared the courgette with some halloumi. Mmmmmm

Get a blender and make your own – that way you know exactly what’s in it.

Hi Clarissa, although I’m just starting week 4 I only recently found this forum. I have a huge amount of weight to lose too, the first week was tough but I lost 7lbs and wasn’t really following the nutrition guidelines properly – I didn’t fully appreciate this aspect but scrolling through the forum and finding all the advice here has helped me so much, and kept me occupied! After 3 weeks I’m down 12lbs, I didn’t take my measurements until week 2 but even since then I’ve lost 1″ from my bust and 1/2″ from my waist & hips so hold in there.
So pleased day 2 has been better for you. I must try this cauliflower rice! I don’t think herbs and spices count in the quantities usually used but I’m no expert.
Good luck and look forward to hearing how you get on.
Jules

I’m just going to get a few things, so I don’t look like I borrowed everything from a bigger friend. Will wait to get more until I’m the weight I intend to stay. Not too far to go now.

Hello Everyone, finished week 3 on Monday. End of the week was really hard – what I would have given for chocolate or a large glass of prosecco (looking at the posts I should have had one!) but weighed myself and found I had lost another 3lbs! Joy! Admittedly my diet has become a little boring A pot of M&S cauliflower and chickpea harrisa salad is great for lunch (£3 for two pots) at work – but maybe everyday for a week is excessive. i have been trying different fizzy waters as they feel more like a “treat”. Missing spicy food and variety so may try a chicken curry tomorrow and look through the recipe thread too. Clothes are feeling more comfortable and I dont feel bloated Have particularly noticed my shoes feel bigger (weird I know)

Thank you for your replies. 70g does sound a bit better for the protein Jules, I might manage that!
Getting the balance right is quite tricky MooLoc, I think mt first week loss was down to fluid/calories as I didn’t focus on the ratios at all, I’m gradually reading up on the science. I find the internet supermarket site a great help with shopping as I can check all the nutritional information and make a comprehensive shopping list.
Here’s to continued success.
Jules

Thank you ladies for your support, happy to report day 2 was good, busy day at work so less time to think about food, , I had chilli with cauliflower rice for dinner, CAULIFLOWER RICE is a taste sensation… Who know, and I feel full. Should I add the calorie content of herbs and spices???

I’m still keeping up with walking – I walked 8 miles along the canal at the weekend, about six yesterday.
Not so far today – about four miles so far, but I had a go in a pedallo on the canal this morning, and went to the gym this afternoon. I did some cardio stuff the other day, but had an induction on all the resistance machines today, so hopefully I’ll get in to a routine of doing that regularly.
Scary how light the weights I could manage, compared to what I used to do when I was younger – its probably about fifteen years since I went to the gym regularly.
Myfitnesspal doesnt have a pedallo option!

Hi Imogen,
So girlfriend, what fun have you had over the last week ( only the stuff you can type here please).

I am thinking of doing a bungee jump or something, no I know the rope won’t snap with the weight of me.

Just thinking out loud.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

You’re a total inspiration Lucia ! 🙂

Hi Switzerland you asked me how I feel,
Well, seeing that you asked,
I feel more of a jelly or jello that’s been set the the fridge for a couple of hours.🍮🍮🍮🍮🍮🍮
When I started I felt more like marshmallow,, you could push your finger in for miles 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥
A vast improvement

When I started I couldn’t get my butt off the settee,
Now I take it for long long walks.
I ride my bike
I tap dance and sing wether you want me to or not.
I can run up the stairs and get there at least a full second before my blubber.

More importantly , I have a life.
A life of my own.
I do not live my life through the telly.

I try and enjoy the birds screaming their heads off at 4:30 am.
I recognise this is a required skill.

I meditate. A little.

I can touch my toes and put my socks on , and only lift my toes, then my heels.

I can move through doors without hitting the door frame.

My balance has improved.

I talk to people, myself or any inanimate object.

My spirit is alive.

Nope, nothing much has changed being on the diet.🐵🙈🙉🙊
Just kidding Michael, I love you for giving me help without even knowing about it or me.

Love Lucia
Xxxxx

Hope it goes well Dogsbody – let us know how you get on with version 2! I’m sure you won’t get the hunger pangs.
I bought coconut milk the other day because I saw some in the supermarket and I’d seen it mentioned on here – not sure what to do with it yet!

Patsy enjoy your shopping trip but don’t buy too many pairs just yet as it looks like you are making a success of this. Onwards and downwards.

I got rather p’d off with Costa when having toted a loyalty card around with me for six years, I asked what to do with it & where there ever any rewards – apparently I had to register it online.
After six years I have nearly enough points for a single expresso. Now avoiding costa as assiduously as starbucks – sticking to waitrose freebies and independent stores.

I looked at the beans Sarahdawn – online rather than in a store, more calories and carbs than the Branston ones, but I might try them if I see them – my local waitrose is very small.

Yoghurt with apple and lots of cinnamon is amazing

I am also hypothyroid and have just started week 11 and have lost 26 lbs and feel great.

Hello both, thanks for your replies. The ones they’ve made for me in the past consist of already liquidised fruit (in those mixer things), and ice, cream is swirled inside and on top. I’ve seen them do the cream, it’s whipping milk that they shake up.

Hi Baristagirls

If you’re in the UK the cold, creamy drinks served in Costa & Starbucks are full of sugar. Last year I watched one being made and I couldn’t believe how much sugar was added to the mix😱

I’d definitely avoid them!

A search on their website should tell you how much sugar/ how many carbs are in each drink.

Hi

Just because a number of courses are available, we don’t have to eat them all.

It used to be desserts I looked at first, fitting the rest of the meal round them. Now I’ve learned to ignore dessert completely.

If you don’t want a course, don’t eat it. Make the best choice from what’s available. Most restaurants are used to catering for various dietary requirements today and can substitute veg or salad for potatoes etc.

It’s quite possible to sit with a glass of sparkling water while others eat. And still sociable.

I’ve eaten out at various hotels & restaurants, as well as friends’ houses and eat what I can from what is available. It is possible to eat out while on the BSD – just be careful 😃

Hi again, SarahDawn,
You sound like you’ve really prepared – that is vital, go in with a plan. You mentioned in your original message that exercising is a bit difficult for you but cycling sounds great (I was too fond of falling off my bike as a kid, so it’s walking for me). Anything you can do to up your activity levels will help.

I’ve heard something about this phenomenon of an “eat up” day… it’s something I have noticed myself, I can have a large meal and it doesn’t adversely affect my weight. It’s successive large meals that cause a problem! 🙂

Really good luck to you – I’m sure you will achieve enough weight loss to get you back to where you want to be. Like I said before, don’t be disappointed if you find things are slow – the people who’ve had spectacular results with BSD probably had far more weight to lose to start with.

Take care,
Rose

JCH187 – When you mention continental breakfast what does this normally consist of ?

Thanks everyone for the good advice reference Yogurt, Sarah Dawn – I plan to start the plan next Tuesday as still need to get my head around it all and lots planned until then, need to start as I go on.

Onwards and upwards, a little scared I am going to be hungry but lots of motivation from others to keep me going.

All keep up the good work 🙂

Good decision, I need to get used to wearing new but now baggy clothes that I bought when I thought I was an OK size, still shrinking week 18. Well done, by the way…

Yes, thanks, the link works and it is about time a proper bit of science got into the media along the lines of the recent publication of Dr M’s books and some recent reports including Prof Taylor’s.

I am happy to say that I do not know what you are talking about. What is a creamy cooler? I have only visited said firm once and walked out after they refused to serve me a proper hot coffee. I would never pay myself for any of the milk products that are now being sold on the high street, but then I am over 60 now and am perfectly happy with milk and/or water with a teaspoonful of instant coffee. Perhaps I should not have commented but single posts look a bit lonely on a forum!!

I’m hypothyroid and am half way through week 3, I’ve lost 11lbs so far. Also feeling fine, no hunger or cravings now and feel settled into my new eating regime :). The only thing I would say is that’s I’ve felt quite cold!!

I started a thread on the Starting The BSD page called “How Are My Fellow New Starters Doing?” there’s lots of new folks posting on there, sharing experiences.

Like you I planned, read the book and did my food shop prior to starting so I was starting off on the right foot. The recipe section is great as I’m not much of a cook, I’ve found some great meals on there and the freezer is fully stocked too!

Good luck x

Hello again General, I hope that my sharing was seen as a criticism last week but it sounds like you will be successful in the end. Healthy eating took me some time to get used to but I am “cured” now most of the time. I can eat all sorts and occasionally have to adjust a day or so but I am maintaining my new lower weight in week 18 with any major problems. All the very best for now…

You could also try the continental breakfast of meat and cheese as an alternative.

That does sound like an underactive thyroid. My legs have felt weak/wobbly while I’ve been on the diet so I started on magnesium and it’s helped, it hasn’t gone completely but it is better.