Hi Izzy – I like Elana’s Pantry too. Last weekend I made her carrot cake recipe and it’s a keeper!
https://elanaspantry.com/nut-free-paleo-carrot-cake/
I made these as muffins, so reduced the baking time to about 25 minutes (and left out the currants).

I’ve also tried a few recipes from a site called CookEatPaleo which have also become part of my new repertoire.
The paleo recipes often use ghee, but I use coconut oil instead and the results are good.
Favourites so far are:

Lemon & poppy seed muffins
http://cookeatpaleo.com/lemon-poppy-paleo-muffins/

Blueberry muffins
http://cookeatpaleo.com/blueberry-paleo-muffins-recipe/

Chocolate brownies (great as a desert with a dollop of whipped cream and a strawberry on the side)
http://cookeatpaleo.com/easy-paleo-brownie-recipe/

Enjoy experimenting with your almond flour 🙂

thanks Polly I will have a look, I love browsing recipes lol.

I don’t mind adding a little sweetner to things I know Michael Mosely suggests trying to curb the sweet tooth and I do but I think at least making most of the suggested changes is going to be enough to make a big lifestyle improvement 🙂

I won’t be eating any of my daughters cupcakes and when I make the breakfast bars later it will be with tomorrows breakfast in mind! the recipe makes 12 so they will go in a tub to be saved. If they are good they would make a handy quick lunch as I’ve worked them out to be about 185 calories and 6.2g carbs. I had been thinking of buying some protein bars but never sure really if they are good for you or not, but something made at home I will know what is in it.

I try to have a quick walk during my lunch break but I only have 30 mins, and by the time I park up and eat I can only do a 20 minute walk. Something fast like a bar would give me more step-ability, but ya know they might turn out yucky.

HI Everyone,
I have had a mixed start.I had a party on the first weekend and gained 2kg.One week later and I am back on track, lost the 2kg and feeling better. I’m pre diebetic and my fasting BSL is still above 6. I’m feeling very hungry in the afternoons when my BGL is 4.9and Im feeling tired. currently managing this with afew almonds and a cup of milky coffee .Monitoring my BSL is helping me stay on track as I’m setting daily goals, exercise is not happening yet but doing around 7000 steps a day at work.Im not having any carbs but my portions are probably too large in the evenings. following this forum definitely helps ,cheers to all

Hi there. My fitness trainer is 5’6″ and is extremely lean with a bmi lower than yours and is aged about 47. She follows low carb but once/ twice a week has starchy veg eg. Sweet potatoes or butternut squash – both v healthful and a refeeed or carbs is essential for health. So she follows mod protein, lots of low carb veg but a diet high in healthful fats – ghee coconut oil. animal fats etc etc ( about 65% of her calorie intake). She has followed this for years and is never I’ll and expends much energy in her job as fitness trainer! Hope this will reassure you.

Yummly.com is a really good site, have found a load of recipes on there and you can filter it in the search bar, I tend to put in low cal, low carb. My latest search was for chickpea flour and found a lovely baked onion bahji recipe so may try that tomorrow 😀 Also a few chickpea cracker recipes.

Have fun making cupcakes.

My only frustration with some ‘healthy’ recipes is the use of sweeteners or dates that I’m trying to avoid. They are even in the low carb and free to download book on diabetes.co.uk (which also has a big low carb community)

Last night had rib-eye steak topped with stilton on wilted spinach and watercress with onions, mushrooms, chilli, garlic and a random raw carrot – was lovely and a lovely low 15 carbs

Decided to have 2 meals today so had prawn cocktail (bought pre-made) on a pile of watercress with a splash of extra tabasco. Not sure what to have later as I’ve already blown 582 cals on that – just goes to show I shouldn’t buy pre-made things although I mostly just check carbs/sugar info first. Only 7 carbs, none of which was sugar so far. Probably just have a fage yogurt later or omelette. An easy thing anyway

only trouble with the almond flour pizza base is it’s high in calories. So today I’m going to allow myself 1000 calories but the carbs will be low still so I’m pretty sure a flexi day will be ok 🙂

I’ve eaten half of the recipe and that was plenty I feel really stuffed! I topped it with tomato puree, mozzarella and a few slices of pepperoni, my half pizza was 435 calories but only 5.1g carbs so it was ok. I may eat the rest tomorrow or get the kids to try it. It was nice but obviously a bit high in calories for us just now.

If I hadn’t eaten breakfast it would have been ok, and I don’t want to skip dinner. I know some people like to fast but I know if I don’t have my dinner I will be hungry and more likely to eat something I shouldn’t. I’ve had 633 calories so far which isn’t too bad really. I can probably have a nice meal tonight and stay around 900.

Obsessed? me? lol

Hi nannoo, I’m not sure why your dr would want you to still take meds if you weren’t diabetic, wouldn’t that be a bad thing for your health? Sorry, I really hate drugs and have refused to take any at all. Happily for me I’d started doing fast 800 before I was diagnosed type 2. They could see I’d lost weight and my hba1c although still in the diabetic range was lower than the first one had been a week earlier. My diabetic nurse agreed that I could keep doing what I’d started doing and to take a hba1c again in 3 months time. Also bought a meter to keep track of my BS levels and am happy it’s come down.

Good luck with getting off meds – Polly x

Started the week at 76,7kg. Now sitting at 75,5kg.
Don’t remember dropping over a kilo in a week without dire consequences, and still 2 days to go. I know the rhythm has to drop but it’s seriously encouraging. No energy sapping doziness or anything close.
Refreshing to see food from another perspective again 😎.

Aye, those were the days.

The long winters were the best, we hibernated!
The good old days, when you never left your village. You never married above your status.
You only had the one outfit.
You bathed once a year.
Ironing wasn’t invented yaaaaay.
You threw the chamber pot contents out of the window.
You didn’t have glass in the Windows.
Water was poisionous so you had weak ale all the time.
Those were the days
Love Lucia
Xxx

Very well done Pukeogirl. Brilliant to be NORMAL.

Arrgghh, watching GP’s behind closed doors and just saw a type 2 asking for help to lose weight being told that it’s because he eats too much… So I got onto their facebook page and left the link to this website and said that they could also refer the patient to read ‘the obesity code’. Don’t know if they will refer the patient onto this or indeed if my post will show but I just felt really badly for the poor patient who was also on several drugs including insulin and metformin 🙁

Thank you for your reply. I hadn’t thought that I could ask for this. I am speaking to my diabetic nurse today, so I will have a chat with her about this.

ooh links… I can’t link the pizza base as it’s from a book.

https://elanaspantry.com/salt-and-pepper-crackers/

https://elanaspantry.com/breakfast-bars/

I generally just add a bit of sweetner rather than agave, which I don’t happen to have.

Thank you 🙂 I’m feeling very positive!

My daughter wants to make cupcakes, so those will be something I just can’t eat. However I’m itchy to make some stuff with my Almond flour stash so I’ve downloaded a few recipe books.

So.. I’m going to make a pizza for lunch (almond flour base)

I’m going to make salt and pepper crackers

and breakfast bars full of seeds and raisins (I know I will need to watch the carbs in these)

I think I will try at least one new almond flour recipe each week in an effort to transfer the kids over from wanting high sugar/carb/shop bought biscuits cakes and cereal bars. Have you noticed even the ‘healthy’ ones are full of sugar and carbs.

This plan seems to work well for us, my husband likes the higher protein things for after workouts etc, and I just add extra carbs to his plate. My son pretty much eats anything and the experiments I’ve done are hit and miss with my daughter but I’ll celebrate every hit 🙂

I’m hoping that if I find enough healthier recipes that she likes (she likes almond flour pancakes) that in time I can stop buying wheat flour altogether. Elena’s pantry is a great website including even recipes for proper cakes so don’t even need wheat on birthdays lol.

right off to the shops I go for the ingredients we are missing!

Wow Tallyhoo that’s fantastic! How rewarding for all your hard work, especially being asked to pass on your knowledge to others. Brilliant.

Hi glevesque. You’ve made a great start in losing 1.5kg in a few days. Like you, I assumed I wouldn’t go below, in my case, 12 stone. But that’s because I assumed I would have given up by then! I’ve been on the diet for 4 weeks now and literally have had no bread, rice, pasta etc. Occasionally more than 800 cals. And I’ve lost 16lbs and am 11 stone 13lbs! The main thing is I feel so much better, no cravings, clear headed, full of energy. I’m not trying to show off (well, only a bit) but what I am saying is that eating 800 cals a day means eventually you will lose weight. I’m better at abstinence or full on, rather than moderation, so for me no bread etc. is better than a bit.
Keep it up and amaze yourself! You can do it.

Thanks all for encouragement ,I think I may go back on half meds but not taking that one pill a day I can’t remember name of !
So roll on week 8 next week,and once again big thanks to people on here for all help your amazing
Alan 7 weeks two stone five pound loss looking great ,aiming to carry on beyond 8 weeks 😅

Hi Lucia,

……I remember the pottage….and the going to sleep when it was dark and rising with the sun…..the long Winters were the worst.
But, I did get a lot of exercise milking the cows….and I never got smallpox, thanks to the cowpox (there would have been a medieval nobel prize for medicine in that if they’d existed!)

Seriously though Lucia – I have a parsnip recipe that dates from those times – not low carb though (mashed parsnip, cream, nutmeg – top with fresh breadcrumbs, dot with butter and bake.) Definitely not on the menu thanks to the parsnips and the breadcrumbs!

I’ve just finished dinner – cauliflower pizza – home made pizza is a Friday night tradition in my home.

Have a great day.

Wooohoooo to Switzerland, congratulations!! – it’s like a massive healthy makeover body and mind. 🙂

Impressive work Alanhypno on all that weight loss! – I hope the bs must come around eventually – there’s probably a lot going on inside that you can’t measure and some day soon it’ll catch up.

Tallyhoo funny about tankini maybe you could hang on the kitchen wall :-))))

Can’t believe it’s the end of my second work week on this – feeling absolutely fine, well fed and happy! (And for all you starting out, I complained of feeling like a zombie for the first week so it doesn’t take long!)
Hope to be on here Monday morning with another bit lost – weekends are harder and easier at once – more food options (but that’s a good thing really! as more choices), and more chances to get outside and exercise. See you all Monday morning!! And even if I don’t lose a huge amount, I’m just going to be patient, follow the principles and wait for it to happen because it will!! And I will mentally line up those bags of sugar of what I have lost too :-))) Have good Friday everyone!

Thanks so much for the advice – is there a maximum number of carbs we should be having? I couldn’t find any figures in the book, but it might be helpful?

Fabulous! Congratulations! So encouraging to us new starters!

First four days and feel great. Had one small ciabatta roll last night and one the night before, but still have lost 1.5 kg. Can I really lose more? Haven’t been able to get below 71 kg. in close to 20 years. Will check in every few days as I need to tell someone about what I am doing!

Hi Switzerland,
All we had was pottage.
Like veggie casserole.
With all the manual work, it kept my weight down but I probably was a TOFI.
The good thing about the days, was, I got up with the sun and went to bed when it went dark.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Interesting that this topic went to the dogs (ha, ha)…but actually found the same for my dogs. Have one dog who has suffered with severe skin disorders for years…lots of steroids, etc. Finally put her on a raw diet, and she is great! Now I’m on the BSD and feeling pretty darned good, too.

Encouraging! Keep up the good work. I started the diet only four days ago after a real chocolate pig-out the night before. I have already lost 1.5 kg. I have also started climbing the stairs at work instead of taking the elevator. It’s not a big deal – only 4 stories, but it is at least something. Also trying to stand up every 1/2 hour in the evenings. BTW, I’m a new Kiwi!

Great beginnings

I am much in the same boat as you. Not diabetic but overweight with family history. I am now able to eat free of the ‘big’ carbs. I plan to eat at 800 for eight weeks from the 1st June and feel a bit scared of the weighting food and calorie counting bit. At the moment I am losing weight at a pound a day. I don’t miss the bread, cakes, rice, pasta, sweets, sugar nor the alcohol.

Hello JCH187! I will have finished my first week end of Sunday. Mum has lost 7lb 1oz already and I have lost 5 and a half pounds. We’re both motivated although I am finding it more difficult than mum. We’re not diabetic either but we both need to lose some weight and have past problems with carb and sugar cravings.

Morning Collie, yes my 2 are really healthy on their raw diet. My vet was sceptical but reluctantly agrees now. Dogs definitely weren’t made to eat lots of carbs. I’d rather have your breakfast than theirs! I had Greek yog, chopped cucumber and mint and paprika. A sort of riata. Delish!

Hi Nanoo, you could ask for a repeat test earlier. As I understand it the test gives an average for your blood sugar over the last three months, it does not mean that you have to wait three months to take it again.

Hi Bissell I feed my 3 collies raw they are so healthy on it in fact they feed better than me until know of course . Today they had goats milk and a chicken wing for breakfast. Me yoghurt and berries !!!!!

Well done fantastic so happy for you have a great day x

I’m just coming to the end of my first week, changed everything about the way I eat and I’m seeing the benefits already. I have a lot to lose but I’m very motivated, I need to change. I’m not diabetic or prediabetic but with my weight and family history it’s only a matter of time.

How is everyone else doing?

Alan don’t be sad – it’s so easy to concentrate on the negatives but the positives are amazing – you’ve done so well and in just 6 weeks. It took me ages before I began to see a change in my blood sugar results – I know most people have seen them drop dramatically very quickly but I didnt. I kept on with my drugs and just halved my metformin only a few weeks ago and now my bs readings are steadily in the 5.5/5.7 region BUT I am still on 1000mg metformin (am seeing doc this morning to see if I can come off now though).

Don’t worry – they will come down – I’m in week 17 and the important thing is we’re doing it for the rest of our lives!

3 stone 5 lbs down btw…………….if you decide to go back on the pills that’s fine – try again in a few weeks maybe – concentrate on how fantastically you’re doing with the weight loss – go and buy some fabulous piece of clothing or try on something old which is too big.

I tried on a pair of tankini bottoms I was going to through away (like a bikini bottom but bigger btw) and my husband and I laughed so much – so baggy and looked just like a nappy – I’m keeping them to remind me!!!

Hi Frog, I used to live somewhere smaller without a shop and found it frustrating having to get the car out every time I needed something small I’d forgotten to stock up on. I like small places but I also like a bit of convenience and I like to walk. Our shop here is quite good and open til 10, so no cake after then lol.

Now, can I have a drumroll please?! thankyou…. I have a minor announcement. IZZY HAS CRACKED THE STONE MARK….yay I’m down 1lb since Tuesday so that’s me lost 1stone and 0.5 lb 🙂 very pleased. I guess I’m one of those candidates who will only lose 10% in the first 8 weeks, maybe even a little less depending on the next 2.5 weeks. I need to lose another 3.5 lb’s to hit my 10% so it is both possible and just as likely to be just under. I guess we will see, but I’m not too worried in fairness. Happy to have lost a stone and happy to keep going.

Not sure what the day will hold for food, I haven’t planned yet. I will check in later 🙂

20 stone at the start
Today week 7 I am 17 stone 9 pounds 😇

Sadly my bs not as dramatic ,morning erratic and last night 6.1 before dinner 8.5 couple hours after.
Maybe I will have to go back on my pills again ,sadly

Alan happy sad

Sooo on the scales this morning
End of week 7
This week I dropped four yes 4 pounds
Start weight 20-00 stone now 17-9lb
Think I’ll celebrate with huge English breakfast mmmm

Sadly my bs not coming down as quick 6.1 before last nights dinner couple hours later 8.5

Alan happy sad !

Day 5 saw a 100g drop. Sufficient for the target I have in mind, and the trend continues. Almost got my hamstrings back in full function and off the ice packs so daily exercise will soon make a reentry to the daily schedule to speed things along.
The mindfulness also starting up. That reminder to take a few minutes off the conveyer belt of life is proving to be an unexpected helpful addition.
Keep at it folks!

Thanks for the encouragement. I think you are right about sluggish metabolism, from which I suffer too.

frustrating isn’t it Jackianne
I lost lots the first couple of days, then have been see sawing up and down between half a kilo (99..2/99.7/99.5 etc) – even though I am a bit more active and easily eating a fifth of the calories that I used to )and probably 10% or less of the carbs) I need to really up the exercise I think – but swimming a mile sounds impressive, so that doesnt seem to be the problem for you.
I figure that I have had this extra weight for many, many years, and it will take a while for my sluggish metabolism to kick in.

Good luck with it, persevere!

many people seem to use myfitness pal – I started off wasting a couple of hours creating a lovely complex spreadsheet, then switched over to myfitnesspal. (and allarmingly discovered I’d registered an account with them three years ago when I was 15k heavier!)
there’s a similar one http://www.caloriecount.com which I’ve used in the past- both count a range of nutrients including fat and carbs,

the important thing to remember is that users add to the database – so you do get erroneous entries, If I enter something new, for me, I cross check the nutrients on the database with the packet or supermarket site for the item, just to ensure its accuracy.

I did record a loss of two pounds at the end of week three, but have now gone up by a pound. Oh dear. Fewer than 800 yesterday, swam a mile and played 18 holes of golf.

Poor dogs, glad to hear they;re better now.
Like us, they;r digestive systems were reacting to something they’re not used to,

Hi Isabel, maybe it’s the fibre that’s making your bowels, urm, ‘overactive”? Hopefully it will settle down! The diet has had the opposite effect on me, as with some of the others. I’ve had irritable bowels for, ooh, 30 years I guess. Urgency and frequency every morning, avoiding eating breakfast if I had to go out straight away, that sort of thing. Now, I only go every other day and feel fine. What a relief! Also, without wishing to be gross (!) my dogs are normally on a raw meat diet. Small firm poo, once a day. They had to be on kibble (carb rich) for a few days,: looser bulky poos several times a day. Back on the raw meat now, thank goodness! The dogs that is. 😀

Hi all, I am very excited to start my new journey to a healthier me. Day one started. Look forward to all your stories and suggestions. Motivation and consistency will be a challenge but all in all should be ok for 8 weeks. Just wondering if anyone can suggest an app or site on web that tracks your calorie intake in a no fuss and easy manner. I have used “spark people” in the past and find it pretty good. Other suggestions? all the best on all your travels… Pam 🙂

So cool Switzerland
I wish you every success😀
Linda

👌

Mia77 to start is the right beginning. 🌟