Latest forum posts

  • posted by  Frog on Sudden weight gain puzzle.
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi feltwicked
    If you hadn’t digested the meal, maybe think about the time of day that you weigh yourself. Many things that I’ve read suggest that you weigh first thing in the morning – before breakfast.
    I guess that it’s the best way of ensuring not only a consistent time, but a time of day when your digestive system is likely to be in a comparable state each time too.

  • posted by  keeptrying on my journey (from week 2)
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    thank you for your kind support

    yes I am very negative and very self critical etc

    feeling really rubbish right now
    yet again!!
    have thrown most of healthy dinner in the bin

    unfortunately my mh is pretty poor and it makes everything much harder

    sorry expect everyone is just seeing a whinger
    not meaning to be like that as really do want to do this and make changes
    but head does its own thing

  • posted by  Igorasusual on Day 3!!
    on in Starting the BSD
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    Re lunch ideas – I copied this out from a really helpful post but I sadly cannot remember who posted it! I will try and search for it but haven’t used the search process before, as I really must credit the fabulous person who put it on the forum!

    Hope it helps – but remember, don’t credit me with the inventiveness!

    1. Frittata – it can be made the evening before and kept in the fridge. There is a recipe in the book but you can ring your own changes, add bacon instead of chickpeas or some cheese sprinkled on top before placing the pan under the grill.
    2. Dips and crudite – there are five dip recipes in the book and make a lovely packed lunch. Or ring the changes and add some chopped spring onion and a teaspoon of curry powder to a mix of cream cheese and yoghurt.
    3. Salad – a few leaves and salad veg of your choice with any of the following: tinned tuna or salmon, smoked salmon or other smoked fish, chicken, egg, ham, bean, cheese or any combination!
    4. Homemade coleslaw – prepare your carrot, onion and cabbage. Keep it in a sealed bag or container then each day mix some plain full fat yoghurt ( I add mustard too) into the amount of slaw you are having for lunch, then mix in the ingredients of your choice – walnuts, cheese, apple, celery, chicken etc.
    5. Soups – make up home made soups during your weekend and heat and place in flask to take to work – or in a container if you have access to a microwave.
    6. No carb ploughmans the recipe is in the book.
    7. Full fat yoghurt with a twist of seeds and berries to add at work.
    8. Half an avocado and a boiled egg just sprinkle some lemon juice or vinegar on the avocado to prevent it turning brown.
    9. Medi platter – the recipe is in the book
    10. Lettuce cups – there are three recipes in the book, they can easily be put into a container for work.
    11. Cottage cheese – add your own favourites from the typical BSD foods – a bit of diced smoked salmon and cucumber is tasty. There are more ideas in the book.
    12. Ham rolls – not that kind of roll! Spread some cream cheese on some ham and roll it up in a large lettuce leaf!
    13. Nuts and apple – if you are in a hurry grab a handful of nuts ( watch the calories) and an apple. Or a small piece of cheese and an apple.
    14. Courgette bhaji – just as nice cold. The recipe is on the website.
    15. Chickpea flour flat breads – the recipe is on the website, eat with your choice of food – treat it as a wrap.
    16. Red pepper rolls – Posted by Alibaba – (1 red pepper halved and filled with hummus, fresh coriander, cucumber, feta, a sprinkle of mixed seeds, black pepper & a squeeze of lemon juice)
    17. Coconut flatbreads – nice with some yoghurt and berries ( see website for recipe)

  • posted by  Igorasusual on The forbidden fruit
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Baristagirls

    The 800 calories isn’t a lot, but if you ensure that you’ve got enough fat within it, that will fill you up easily. There are a few apps (I use MyFitnessPal, but there are others if you google) which tell you not only calories but the other nutritional contents of your food. This can be really helpful in focusing on eating fewer carbs (even the good ones) and more fat and protein.

    Just a thought! I found it helped me. 🙂

  • posted by  DianeS on Starting today
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Thank you. So far it’s been ok today and drinking water does help. Hoping I get through the evening ok as I usually get bad food cravings in the late evening.

  • posted by  Igorasusual on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Congratulations to all the fantastic losers! 🙂
    To Whalleyrange, what a valuable lesson learned – and congrats on your Manchester Uni place!
    Hi Mia77 and welcome – if you only have a stone to lose, you may find that you are disappointed by the weight losses of some people who have more to lose.

    I only have just over a stone to lose – I am aiming for a stone and a half, but may find that less than that suits me better. I’ve been doing the diet properly – i.e. not only BSD, but focusing on keeping the carbs low (trying for 20g per day) – for 3 weeks today, and have lost half a stone. I am still obstinately at 10 stone, and am keen to reach that magic 9 stone something marker! Looking at it like that, it does seem good, just over 2 lbs per week. And if I extend to 8 weeks, at 2lb per week (on average), I should have lost 16 lbs. But what I have noticed is feeling thinner whilst the scales stayed level, so please do either measure yourself, or check your waist/thighs etc on clothes, to see how many inches are going. I have used Ketostix to check I’m burning fat, and as these are showing I am, I must be losing fat from my internal organs, which I’m really happy about.

    Good luck!

  • posted by  nannoo on How Will My GP React?
    on in 5:2 BSD
    permalink

    Hi all. I’m a newbie here. Would appreciate your input, as I have read many of the posts and you are all so knowledgeable. Had been meaning to start the BS diet for ages, but last weekend it just came to me that I couldn’t continue being fat, taking more and more meds and eating carbs. So on Monday I started the BS Diet – fasting BS was 15. By Wednesday my fasting BS was 7.5 and I had lost nearly a kilo. Today fasting BS was 6.4, lost 2 kg. SO … decided I could stick to this, so was ready to call the doctor to discuss how to reduce my medications. I hadn’t finished my first sentence before she cut me off, saying that I would have to talk to the diabetes nurse as she did not have all the information to enable her to discuss this. Then I was told that I should not commence any diet without discussing it with the diabetic nurse first as it could be dangerous. When I asked her whether I should reduce other meds, she said that dieting would not have any effect on the other medications, despite the fact that I am on hypertensives. I had prepared some information based on Michael’s book and my stats, but she wasn’t interested. She said, sharply, that she had never heard of the Blood Sugar Diet. So, I am waiting for the nurse to call me – the doc would not give me her number – but meantime I would appreciate your thoughts on my current drug regime. I am so sick of sticking needles everywhere, and if I could eventually get off insulin (and the tablets ???) it would be wonderful. Thank you.

    Lyxumia 20 mcg
    Metformin 2000 mg
    Propranolol 80 mg
    Amlodipine 5mg
    Olmesartan 20 mg
    Rosuvstatin 5 mg
    Levemir 90 units
    Apidra (only when necessary)
    Ganfort eye drops for glaucoma

  • posted by  ay caramba on Over the 16-week line
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Tallyhoo
    Did you buy new underwear? The baggy knickers under the jeans/leggings are getting really annoying aren’t they!!!!!

  • posted by  Baristagirls on Weird Body
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Well done Collie, I’d say you could hardly call it a slip up as you neither binged nor ate the wrong food… I’m wanting more calories and only on day 4 🙂 🙂

  • Fantastic results.
    Strikes many chords with me. Diagnosed T2. Started Feb 1st so in my 16th week. Lost 2 and a half stone.
    Upped the exercise regime. Want to lose another half stone to be in my healthy weight range.
    Higher HbA1c than you but next test in another month.
    So want to be in that normal range but even if I don’t manage that…. will be much healthier and fitter.
    Excellent example to others. Be happy 🙂

  • posted by  Stephie63 on Sudden weight gain puzzle.
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    In all likelihood it’s water retention from the highly processed food. The meatballs in particular will have quite high levels of salt, along with other undersirable ingredients, as will the gravy. It’s ok to have this kind of meal very occasionally, but be aware this is the kind of ‘side effects’ to expect when you do. A few days of jerf ( just eating real food) should correct everything.

  • posted by  Collie on Weird Body
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Baristagirls
    I’m near the end of my 4th week . I’m going freestyle not always sticking to 800 exactly. But close. However no processed carbs only carbs from veg and fruit. . X

  • Glad to hear the surgery went well, and although it’s the pathology that will confirm everything, surgeons generally know what they are looking at. I work as a surgical assistant, and although they won’t commit 100% to anything without a path report, I haven’t known any of them get it wrong yet. So if it looks likes clear margins and healthy lymph nodes, you can rest assured that’s highly likely what it is.
    You might want to up your protein and vitamin C intake during the recovery phase, it certainly won’t do you any harm and in all likelihood will help with healing.

    And congrats on getting your diabetes under control 🙂

  • posted by  Baristagirls on The forbidden fruit
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Thanks Patsy, I know there’s lots of things. Fortunately I like them, and enjoy them. At the moment, though, my 800cal seems to be running out awfully fast…….
    On a random note, I can’t really eat apple. Actually I can! If it’s peeled. I have trouble with raw veg and seeded fruits – I have a bit of history of colitis.

  • posted by  feltwicked on Sudden weight gain puzzle.
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi all,

    My partner, Saga, and I had our usual Thursday weigh in tonight and have both gained weight rather than lost it!

    This is the end of week 4 for us. I’ve dropped from 98.4kg to 94kg until today when the scales showed 95.1kg. Saga’s weight rose 0.3 kg (I’m not allowed to disclose her beginning and current weight on pain of pain) but mine is a whopping 1.1kg increase.

    Now, full disclosure of some pertinent facts. We had both eaten an IKEA meal of 15 chicken meatballs, substituting peas for the chips/mash offered, with the creamy gravy. We realised that we haven’t yet “eliminated” this meal from our innards yet but it is worrying.

    Anyone else experienced this?

    We’re weighing ourselves again in the morning after normal ablutions and plenty of water over-night.

    We also think we have been neglecting to imbibe sufficient water.

    Give us a yell,

    FeltWicked (& Saga, reading the thread)

  • posted by  Collie on Weird Body
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi All
    I have just experienced a really weird 36 hours. Yesterday I was just sooooo hungry could not overcome despite mindfulness etc. But I did not want to eat the refined carbs I would normally fall back on. Ended up eating 2 large bsd meals. I increased my fats and protein but it was a horrible way to feel .I had also drunk loads . Then went on to night shift and ate nothing 12 1/2 hrs then home to bed and have just broken my fast (yoghurt and berries) at 1500 hrs (22hrs in total fast) I now feel back to normal and feel I can cope with bsd today . So lesson I have learnt is to listen to my body for what ever reason I needed some calories. The main really interesting point was the awareness I seem to have developed re quality of food. Not long ago I would have just binged.
    Has any one else had similar.
    Thanks for reading back on day shifts from tomorrow not sure which way is up hopefully sleep tonight.

  • posted by  Patsy on The forbidden fruit
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    At first I found I was thinking along the lines of, ‘what can I eat that’s not bread, cake, rice, pasta etc’ and feeling slightly hard done by. But once you start looking at all the things you can have, you’ll see there are plenty of nice things. Brie, yoghurt, cheddar, walnuts, all kinds of beans, almonds, eggs, salad, smoked salmon, coconut, sun dried tomatoes, avocados, strawberries and cream, onion bhajis, mozzarella, crudite with salsa dip, asparagus with melted butter. You can even have that tempting apple!

  • posted by  Baristagirls on The forbidden fruit
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hello Skywalker, sorry didn’t mean to come across like that. I was just thinking how I have plugged myself in the past with far too much carbs and sugar and given myself a false high, that now I am feeling awful as the withdrawal symptoms kick in. I don’t want to treat myself till I feel I’ve conquered the issue.

  • I was diagnosed as diabetic in mid February. I was told the news over the phone and instructed to see my practice nurse the next day. Overnight I downloaded Dr Mosley’s book BSD and read it all. I wanted all the facts prior to my appointment. I had a HbA1c of 63 and I told the nurse I wanted the chance to lower it without use of drugs. She was very supportive and gave me 12 weeks until the repeat bloods.

    In that time, I stuck to the diet religiously for 8 weeks, followed by eating a few more calories one hungrier days, but still not eating bread, potatoes, rice, pasta etc.

    I also increased my exercise levels markedly. I now swim a mile when ever I can (I am a weak swimmer, I just keep plugging away!) and aim for 10,000 steps daily. Two things I didn’t manage were the resistance training, (which I hope to do after half term) and the mindfulness.

    Today my levels were not diabetic, not pre diabetic, but NORMAL. They came in at 36. I have also lost 2st10lb. I am so pleased. I will continue to avoid the carbs, whilst sticking to a Mediterranean diet and exercising. I intend on losing another 2st minimum.

    Thanks to Michael Mosley for helping me get healthier. 😊 I am proof anyone can do it! Good luck to everyone else.

  • posted by  SkyWalker on The forbidden fruit
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hey, relax a bit. It’s only food. We can as you say do as we like so long as we are prepared for the consequences but no need to suffer. The results will be motivating over time as the lifestyle changes. You know the system works so no need to worry about the odd slip.

  • posted by  SkyWalker on Oatcakes & peanut butter?
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Suzyplumstead, Of course! nothing is denied but you will have to count the calories which will be plenty. We all have hi cal days occasionally, Enjoy…

  • Hi Neohdiver, I am so glad to hear the surgery has gone well and you are feeling ‘reasonably’ okay. Hope the recover phase goes as well as the op did – looks like you found yourself the right surgeon at the end.
    BTW – your earlier post on the your BSD results are definitely interesting!
    Take care

  • posted by  Suzyplumstead on Oatcakes & peanut butter?
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    Hello everyone, I’m at the end of my 2nd week on the BSD, and I’ve lost 10lbs, which I’m thrilled about 🙂 I’ve come into work today and found I don’t have a thing to eat except for some oatcakes and peanut butter … are oatcakes allowed? I’d appreciate any advice …. thank you!

  • posted by  Baristagirls on The forbidden fruit
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    I’m thinking how when it is you can’t or shouldn’t have something that you want it so much more. I’m into day 4 of this diet and purely motivation is keeping me going. Think of Eve eating the apple at temptation…. well it’s like that with us and carbs or sugar…. we know we shouldn’t eat it and when we do, we feel awful. It’s best for us not to. Keep ourselves healthy and don’t abuse our digestive systems! Don’t give them more than they can take. Would you give a loved one or a pet something that makes them ill? Treat yourself with the same seriousness.

  • posted by  Sinp@3ia on What have you eaten today?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Breakfast: prosciutto ham, ricotta and a tomato, drizzle of olive oil, freshly ground salt n pepper. Green tea.
    Small bites, masticating and leaving cutlery on the table while chewing. Didn’t think dieting would make eating more civilised 😎👍

  • posted by  HT on What am I?
    on in BSD Way of Life
    permalink

    Great to read in the papers this week that the National Obesity Forum and the Public Health Collaboration consider that promoting low-far foods is perhaps the biggest mistake in modern medical history., and great to read on here that there are some open minded GPs and diabetic nurses out there. Sadly mine are not among them and say that I will be diabetic for ever more. However at the end of the day my blood results were great and I feel good even though people keep asking me if I am OK as I have lost a lot of weight! I just wish my friend who is struggling with her hip and walks very badly would listen, but there is no point in talking unless people are ready to hear.

    I did think for the first time that there was a glimmer of hope with the diabetic nurse who commented on my weight loss and asked what I had been eating. She appeared to listen and even admitted that she had had a couple of other patients who had achieved good results on the BSD. Alas the penny has not dropped. When I said I had stopped taking my statins she replied that the only way I would be able to keep my cholesterol low would be to eat low-fat foods, to which my reply was ‘That is not going to happen’. I think I am now probably flagged up as a troubled maker! As I said to my husband – people used to think that the Earth was flat. One day hopefully they will realise their mistake.

    Good luck to everyone on their journeys. You are all achieving great results and we are all so much healthier for it.

  • posted by  Sinp@3ia on Day 1
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Into day 4 and 800g down, hunger pangs the first couple days but settling down now, more water than ever!
    Now it’s time to get the steps back up to 14k…..

  • posted by  Mia77 on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    I’m starting today and just want to lose a stone. I tend to go through phases of either eating really healthily or eating terribly, so I hope this diet can help me be more consistently good.

  • posted by  Isabel on Mmmmm, bowels😐
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    We have a product in Australia called Benefiber – I have it every day, its tasteless. Im having trouble drinking so much water, only up to about a litre at the moment.

  • posted by  Epspecially on What have you eaten today?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Yesterday it turned out I ate 75g carbs but it surprised me as only carbs I ate were vegetables and none very starchy! Had one of the smoothies in the book for breakfast, modified a bit to fit in loads of greens from our balcony – kale and bokchoy and mint – and raspberries and small slice of mango.

    Then raddishes, few cherry tomatoes, half yellow pepper, sauerkraut and tin of tuna for lunch.

    Then the Jeweled feta Peppers from the book (which involves a lot of chopping up ingredients!! but is verrry tasty). But just shows if you want to keep under 50g carbs – which I think I do – well then you have to be careful which recipes from the book you mix together! Might have been the pomegranate and the raspberries – guess you can have some berries but not in two meals….
    Interesting! Must be better than the bad carbs though? Or does it not make that much difference..a carb is a carb?

    Day full of coloured veg anyway, and that can’t be too bad!

  • posted by  KJ77 on Mmmmm, bowels😐
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    I am finding that I am only going every 3 -4 days from being regular as clockwork. Not sure if it is coz I just don’t have anything left to get rid of. I am drinking between 3 – 4 litres of water a day, walking at least 12000 steps a day (well except weekends where I need to step it up as only averaging around 7000). I am averaging about 845 calories a day, with lots of salad and vegies. I don’t feel uncomfortable but just find it strange! Is anyone else having the same thing?

  • posted by  KJ77 on Starting today
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Good luck Diane. I am in week 4 and have lost 21 lbs and had my fasting blood sugar drop from 7.7 to 6.6 (still another 4 weeks to go). I have found just reading the forums really encouraging and has kept me on track when I feel the urge for a snack or reaching for something I shouldn’t. However what I will say I have not been hungry and have realized that when I do feel the urge to reach for something I shouldn’t it is largely due to being bored or tired rather than hungry so going for a walk or having a shower is an easy distraction. Keep smiling, and keep drinking water as that makes a real difference I think.

  • posted by  Lucia on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi plumpitous,
    Wasnt that in medieval times?
    yes I can remember having to fetch the straw. The bedroom smelt of damp meadow.
    Boy am I wearing well.
    Have a great day
    Love Lucia
    Xxxx

  • posted by  Lucia on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi deetia 52,

    Welcome.

    Regarding your doctor, others more experienced will discuss this with you.
    Your question of recipes or go free style , I can help a little with.

    For me, I kept it simple, I converted from junk food, then counted the calories , then when I had that under control , I counted the carbs too.
    Some find that keeping to the recipes a great help, but I found that salads with a little protein were filling. Or veggies and a little proteinase easy to do.

    I avoid recipes with a million ingredients in. I find that by the time I get all the equipment and the ingredients out, I have forgotten what I was going to make, or lost the will to put it together.
    Have a wonder through the book and also here on the website. The websites recipes are measured for you so at the beginning you know what you are eating.

    The only pearl of wisdom I can give you is…. Avoid the bananas, because, see that chappie over ther wearing the minions onesie? Well he might tell you off. 😀😀😀😀😀😀🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌

    As you can see, I keep it light hearted and fun. You must do this as well. Don’t beat yourself up, enjoy doing this, take a little exercise and most important of all, laugh. Laughter uses your belly muscles so do it often.

    All of us here are now your friends and we all look forward to hearing about your journey.

    Love Lucia
    Xxxx

  • posted by  deetia52 on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi
    I have been reading up and gearing up since Monday and am starting properly today. Really want and need to do this. I am thinking of seeing my doctor next week to discuss meds and to see if they will keep a check on me. Do you think that is soon enough?
    Is it best to follow recipes given in the book or can we supplement them with own calorie counted healthy food?
    Dee

  • posted by  Plumptious on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Lucia….I believe the expression “sleep tight & hope the bed bugs don’t bite” came from centuries ago when mattresses were made from straw inside a fabric cover which had a sort of drawstring holding the straw together inside it. You regularly had to pull your string tight to keep the straw compact and mattress shaped so you could be comfortable….bed bugs….probably fleas, mites and other crawlies from inside the straw? eeergh!!!
    All good wishes P

  • posted by  DianeS on Starting today
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Today I am beginning the Blood Sugar Diet and I’m feeling nervous and hopeful. I have been following a low carb high fat diet for over five years and this helped me to lose 10kg and keep it off until last year when a series of family bereavements led to me falling off the wagon and putting most of it back on.

    Managed to slowly lose weight again this year but now stuck at a plateau so hoping the BSD will get things moving again. I also found that my blood glucose was in the pre-diabetic range and with most of the excess weight being around my middle I figure that the BSD is just what I need.

    Alzheimer’s disease also runs in my family and my mum was diagnosed at the age of 65. There is a strong correlation between blood sugar levels and brain health/risk of dementia and so that is another very important reason for me to succeed with this diet.