wow – that’s a lot of mackerel! – I often pick smoked mackerel up in the supermarkets but then put it back because the packs are so big, and as much as I love it, don’t want to be eating it for days on end.
Does it freeze well? (although I still need to clear space in my freezer!)

I went to a local market on Sunday – they were just on closing up, I bought two large punnets of rasberries for £1, and 4 avocados for 50p.
For breakfast I had poached egg, avocado and TOAST – small slice of bread, only weighed 25g, and lots of lovely seeds and stuff. Very filling, and I didn’t have lunch.
For supper I had a gram flour pancake/tortilla type thing, with bean salad and cottage cheese.
Followed by raspberries with fage yogurt.
So 700 calories and 56g of carbs – bit over on carbs, but I usually am on days when I don’t have meat or fish.

I bought some really nice tea last week, so currently drinking a flavoured black tea mostly that is best without milk, so no calories or carbs to add on for the milk, and lots of sugar free lemon squash.

Hi Wendy,
Back in my early days on the BSD, I experienced the same thing as did Bill and several others.
It started around week 3 and lasted a few weeks. We did some research and came to the conclusion that this was down to the liver shedding its fat stores, and no longer being restricted by the metformin. As long as pre and post meal blood sugars are fine for the rest of the day try not to worry about the fasting ones. In fact I think one or two people stopped doing fasting readings for a while.
The whole thing was posted on a thread called ‘ rising fasting blood sugars’ or something similar. Sorry it was months ago and I’m hoping that’s the right name.
Hope this will reassure him, it seems to just be a phase the body goes through as it adjusts. 😃

Hi Jess
I am cooking from scratch a lot more than I used to – but certainly use shop bought stuff as well. the thing is to look closely at all the ingredients, and the nutrition analysis.
Learn all the names of hidden sugars (fructose, glucose, etc) – I have a feeling that they are listed in the BSD book

Some nutrition labels are horrendous to read – small print, dodgy colour schemes. Some supermarket websites list all the nutrition details on their websites (ocado, waitrose, I think sainsburys) – so I often look there rather than squinting at the illegible packets forever.
Take care and cross check with the packet or supermarket data when you use databases that are user generated (my fitness pal, calorie count, etc), they aren’t always accurate – for example if someone enters a new food, and they aren’t counting carbs, they may not bother to enter carb values, and I have come across wildly different values for the same food.

One gadget it is worth investing in is a spiraliser – you can get small ones for £10 or less on Amazon, and they are the same size as a standard can of baked beans.

Good luck, hope it goes well for you.

Bill and Lynne, you continue to inspire. Love the pics you uploaded Bill. I’m expecting some before and afters of you now Lynne.

I’ve had a few supermarket own brand full fat Greek yoghurts – all fine, but finally had the fage that everyone raves about this evening (lots of mini-supermarkets near me that don;t stock a huge range) – it is more costly than own brand, but totally delicious, and much thicker. It also has less carbs
Waitrose own brand greek yoghurt – 5.4g carbs (£1 for 500g)
Fage greek yoghurt – 3.8g carbs (£2 for 500g)

I had cottage cheese today – while eating thought it wasn’t nearly as good as the last pot – when I looked I’d inadvertently picked up a low fat one. Not nice!

You might want to check the carb content on the CoYo one Giz – according to the Waitrose site it has 3.9g of carbs per 100g – and two very different versions on my fitness pal.

I’ll add my WOW to all the others Bill. You look amazing and so healthy. Well worth the effort and all the ups and downs you’ve had this year. 😀
This only shows the outside effects of the diet. What has happened for you health wise, confidence wise, knowledge etc. is even more impressive.
Well done you.

Hi captainlynne,

Your blogs are so encouraging, I have 7 and a bit stone to dispose of, so have you done the 850 cal diet all the way through, or for just the first 8 weeks. I plan to start on the 29th June as I need to do some planning. But just wanted to confirm what plan you have followed. Brilliant motivation, 😀😀😀

according to my fitness pal, 30g of cornmeal has 24g of carbs, so it is quite carby. (and 110 calories)

Lots of people on these forums rave about pancakes/flatbread made with gram flour – it’s taken me a bit of experimentation to get the right consistency, but they are really nice – I had one this evening with bean salad and about 15g of really strong cheddar – delicious, and a bit tortilla-like.

Really simple, you just mix with water and add seasoning if you want it, mix well and fry in a pan – you can bake them too.
Some recipes state equal flour and water; I’m using 25g flour and about 40ml of water for an 8 or 9 inch pancake.

They are quite versatile – tortillas, flatbread, pizza bases
the calorie count is similar to cornmeal, but for the same quantity, 30g, only 17g of carbs (about 70%)
It also has about 7g of protein, (1 or 2g in corn meal) and is also a reasonable source of fibre

I am planning to start bsd day after tomorrow, I have 7 stone to loose, have any of you done this on very long term, I’m aware a few of you have lost many pounds, but I haven’t checked all the subjects here.

thank you

Yes I wondered about that too and also corn tortilla for tacos but I wonder if its too much sugar. Is there any one out there how can elighten us ??? Please …

Thanks so much for the encouragement…so far I am OK (day two so just out of the gate) and my energy is already better. The exercise is helping to focus me….loved reading that the hunger feeling is OK and akin to being an indication that I am doing the right thing.

No cravings (yet).

Definitely going to pick up some yogurt and berries for a snack option. I am drinking a lot of water which helps to make me less apt to feel hungry.

Hi Caramba and the Captain

This year an exercise class for barre ballet was kicked off in the local hall, I was tempted, being the frustrated ballerina that I am. I knew I was “too big” for the line up so flagged it. A mate of mine tried it, she was less big having lost a huge chunk of her body weight but she still found it hard…we are both over 60!

I still giggle at the thought of me at a ballet class, I think of Dawn French and Darcy Bussell in the mirror sketch. Guess which role I took. 😉

Fav brekkie this week, bubble and squeek, modified to bubble and squawk using cabbage and sweet potato in olive oil. It’s nice, a smidgen of butter for pleasure on top, an egg and a great start to the day.

Off to a Japanese cooking class tonight, they eat clean cut, fresh food in tiny portions, packed full of flavour. Not all comes with rice or noodles and if it does I can leave it. And the chopsticks make sure I eat slooooowly.

Lynne, when I was running events a clever person trialled new morning tea, lunch and afternoon break menus. By taking out the bad carbs there was a marked improvement in alertness, participation and general energy in the following sessions. Out with scones, muffins, cookies and sandwiches and in with cheese, seed crackers, good fruits, salads, cold platters. Interesting, now I know why it worked.

No mountain climbing planned today but a flat 3km walk to town then back if I can resist the ride invites along the way.

N

Hi all, dropping in at the end of week six – 3.5lbs lost this week 😊 So that’s 1stone 12 altogether😄 I was struggling to lose anything the beginning of the week but think that upping my calories by having some nuts and cheese seems to have boosted weight loss in the last few days. It wasn’t a well thought out plan – I was just hungry!! Managed to stay on the straight and narrow notwithstanding a couple of meals out; even resorting to ringing the resturant to find out their lowest carb/cal meal before I met friends there 😉 Still drinking copious amounts of fizzy water and walking more. Have noticed that my fat has become less dense and is now very wobbly. Does this tighten up over time? Hope so😁😁😁

Hi all,
This is my first day.
Im quite nervous about the 800 calories a day. I know it’s going to take forward planning, something I’m not very good at. I’ve lived on convenience foods for a very long time purely due to lack of time. Any tips on how I can achieve this?
I’m starting out at 175 pounds.
Any advise or tips greatly appreciated

Just looked up the CoYo natural yogurt:
Nutritional Information>
Typical values per 100g:
Energy 766kJ/183kcal, Protein 3g, Fat 19g (of which saturates 17g), Carbohydrate 0.5g (of which sugars 0.5g)
This is what I’m going to have…. Pricey though!! 😇🐽😇

Hi
Just looked this up on the official site: plain natural: Nutritional Information>
Typical values per 100g:
Energy 766kJ/183kcal, Protein 3g, Fat 19g (of which saturates 17g), Carbohydrate 0.5g (of which sugars 0.5g)
😍😍😜
Pricey but worth it!! X

What is the best yogurt?? Fage full fat? All seem to be quite high in carbs! I love the SKYR one!

Oh no…. I had a whole pack of the peppered mackerel fillets…. 514cals for the pack!!😱😱
But very low in carbs!! Is this ok? More for future reference!!😓😓😳

I’m just starting out on this exciting journey but am lacking in some of the kitchen equipment mentioned in some of the recipes. Is it ok to use things like shop bought almond or peanut butter and hummus or does it have to be home made? I know its easier to control what goes into stuff if it’s home made but does it really make a big difference?

Thanks for the warm welcome Captainlynne. Congratulations on your success. You must be so thrilled. What an achievement! Your message has really geed me up. I love fashion but have worn large Royal Mail sacks for several years so I am looking forward to having to buy a new wardrobe of clothes as my ‘dangling carrot’. Think I’m just going to take this BSD shenanigans a day at a time and not be impatient.

Wishing you continued success.

Hi pkd2004, not doing too badly. I’m just back from a four day work thing where we were stuck with sandwiches, sandwiches, and more sandwiches to choose from. I should have selected the gluten free option, may have gotten something with less carbs! After day one I had eggs and bacon every breakfast and fasted through to dinner where I chose fish or steak with loads of vegetable. Also a few sneaky wines with my peers (I tell myself it’s a fantastic networking opportunity…….). Anyway, got through it with no weight gain, and even lost a further .5kg the day I got home. Pretty happy with that! Looks like the wet weather has set in so my exercise is limited to indoor sports such as vacuuming, cleaning out the pantry, and reorganising the linen cupboard😊 This week will focus on mindfulness, and coming up with a cunning plan to take the four months leave my company owes me!

Welcome Snaffler

When I started the BSD in December (now in week 28) I had approximately 6.5 stones to lose, so understand how overwhelming it can feel.

Currently I have lost one pound under the 5 stone (69 pounds), so it is achievable. 😃

I still have around 22 pounds to lose, but can see that goal drawing closer.

Wishing you well on the journey.

Well, here I go. I am a 40 something female and have tried every diet under the sun and failed. I know that if I continue to swerve the salad bar and don’t sort out my lifestyle for good I will be storing up all sorts of health problems for the future. I have five stones to lose which is a bit overwhelming. So this is it. I started the diet yesterday and when I reweighed this morning I had already lost 4lbs. To say I was chuffing chuffed is an understatement!!! So I am already seeing results. I cooked the harissa chicken from the book last night (lush) and the gingered pork tonight (okay). I love fruit and veg and cooking so it should be doable except for the fact that I am a comfort eater. When the going gets tough the tough eat crisps/biscuits/the fridge contents etc. I think distraction will be the key to overcome this but I would welcome any other suggestions/ideas/large cash donations. People’s posts are so helpful and inspiring. I will update with my progress. Good luck everyone.

Talking of carb content, is it correct that 4 strawberries contain 28 g carbs. it seems a huge amount

Just finished week 3 and have lost 1 stone. 8lb first week followed by two 3lb losses. Feeling good mostly with some sudden bursts of real tiredness. Very committed to this.

I am just starting week 4, 1 stone down. Yes I get tired too and very tired…but I am starting to notice that there are also times when I have more energy. I can bounce up six flights of stairs now at the office which used to tire me every time. Each day seems different… just going with it.

3 weeks in and one stone down. I am more used to portion size, generally energy levels are good and mood stable but I do get sudden lows when I feel tired or a bit ranty and cross. Walking, especially up stairs, is much easier and I feel good mostly. Onwards!

We are visiting Australia in September and interested to hear from anyone who lives there or has recently visited who are doing the BSD. How do or did you manage? We’re driving from Sydney to Cairns and flying to Alice Springs where our son lives. After that, it’s a drive back to Sydney.

Many thanks in advance

Finally… we’re ready to start. Seeing my GP in the morning with all the relevant paperwork about BSD including Prof. Roy Taylor’s “Information for Doctors”. My GP is French but does speak some English so hope he can understand it all.

We’ve done all of our measurements but my husband is still kicking and screaming but he either does it with me or cooks for himself – I’ve won. I wouldn’t force him but he does need to lose some weight and knows it. He’s not diabetic but I did a finger-prick test two weeks ago and he was 6.1m/mol and after 8 days of reduced carbs, he came down to 4.9m/mol. My latest HBA1C (today) is 11.8m/mol – lower than it has been for a while.

My target for 8 weeks is to lose 13kg and then see where it goes from there. My partner in crime has not set one yet but I think he will once he has done the first week. I did the 5:2 a couple of years ago and my target will take me back to where I was when I ceased to work! Thankfully, I didn’t put the whole 22kg back on so there’s something to be pleased about. If I lose more, I’d be really happy.

We have an 8-week trip to Australia starting mid-September and as we’re driving a few thousand kilometres, we need to be fit which we’re not!

You look like a new person!! Hearty congratulations and thank you for the photos, they are inspiring!

Starting BSD tomorrow but as full time mum of 3 little ones and slim sweet toothed hubby it’s not always easy to plan. Looking for quick on the go ideas which don’t require much prep or crazy shopping trips so that I can feed the family as normal and sort myself some easy meals.

Hi soladcrew,
I will post my loss – let’s stay positive – tomorrow. I just read about the prunes and will make spicey bean burgers tomorrow, fingers crossed.

i am on week 3 energy levels improving but only slightly, weight is coming off slowly but am not following the plan in the book to the letter, i will probably go to the plan if i stop losing weight.

I am reliably informed from others on this forum that the lack of energy is to do with the lack of carbohydrates.

Good luck and keep persevering

Thankyou Bissell I hope the positivity is contagious! However I’m well aware that although I’m on a high I have also been very low and we never know how far away a low is. I’m trying to capitalise on my current high! Do you find yourself busy in retirement? My parents say they don’t know how they ever had time to work!

Writing – well… I’ve written a childrens fantasy novel which is going to be part of a trilogy. I have ideas for many other stories though including a horror. I’m not a published author, but it’s been a lifelong dream that until a year ago I assumed I would never see. Then after a period of unrest I took it upon myself to make time to write a story and managed to complete my first one. I’m going to do a second draft of it and then try to get it published but as long as my daughter enjoys it I’m happy.

Epspecially I’m a long way off retirement as well, but we’ve spoken about trying to work towards me being at home. It won’t be possible for a few years at least but it’s something to aspire to and dream about. I do have evenings and weekends too but I need to work around my kids as well.

So tonight when I got home from work I fed the kids and then we headed out to the garden. They played and so did I a bit, but mostly I cracked on with some of the work that needed doing out there, there is still much to do but it feels great that I have started!

I’ve been up to my loft for a look and the floored area I’m thinking is not as spacious as I would like as well as being near the hatch so a safety consideration. There is a larger space at the other side though, currently unfloored. I sat up there for a good 10 mins visualising it…

I’m thinking… floor the area. Whitewash the back stone wall and paint a design on it. Then for the sides as I’m not planning any proper building work to make it feel more like a room I will attach fabric to the joists. I’m thinking maybe looking for cheap 2nd hand curtains to do this with, or perhaps even sewing together a patchwork of old things to make the coverings. Bright and cheerful is the idea. Across the back wall I can make a table for the sewing stuff and there will be room for my dressmakers dummy that currently resides up there anyway lol, and painting things etc. I’d also add a pull down ladder but that might be the last thing to get as I can manage with my current ladder so don’t want to overspend.

I’m excited! none of this will happen overnight but it is certainly achievable, and within a short time I can be starting it all 🙂 It will be my sacred space, I can’t wait to start it.

I’ve still to sort dinner as I’ve got carried away with the garden and loft so I won’t be doing much else tonight but I feel like today has been productive. Changed dinner to stuffed courgettes as they needed eating sooner.

Thanks guys for the support
Day 1 done and its been ok not feeling hungry and have managed to drink 3L of water.
Tuna Steak and mushroom stirfry for dinner yum!
Both managed to drink the 3L of water
Good day

Please let me know how your weigh-in goes tomorrow too! Ha ha just thought maybe I should change my name to soSOLIDcrew 😳

Thank you. I will keep going and try to look at clothes. Great advice.

Thank you. There are lots of suggestions to try 🙂 So just had flax seeds in water – yuk! I’ll try it in my yogurt tomorrow then some prunes then lentils. Hoping for 💩 soon!!

Hi Sosaladcrew,

I’m on week 5, lost nearly 12lbs the first 3 weeks and only 1/2lb in week 4, which was weird, weigh in tomorrow for the end of week 5 so I hope to have lost some this week. I weigh on Sat and Tues and found I put on weight on 2 Saturday’s, after the previous Tuesday’s weigh in but lost by the following Tuesday. I too am quite constipated and have added a bit more veg in to try to sort it out.
What I have noticed are clothes getting loser and the belly going down. I also took a photo of myself on day 1 and another at end of week 4 and could see the difference. That was encouraging and I am going to take a photo every 4 weeks for comparison. Maybe you could try doing that or put on some clothes that didn’t fit? You might be surprised. Don’t worry about the up and down even the best scales can be a bit off sometimes.
Keep going it will be ok.

Hi Sosaladcrew

Try typing “constipation” in the SEARCH box at the top for several threads about this.

And please don’t worry about weight variations – people have many and it is to do with water and other things!

Wish you better!

There are so many sorts of cheese which you might try.

I have particularly enjoyed halloumi which is lovely, fried or grilled, with breakfast eggs. And feta cheese with some oil and chilli is sharp and lovely with a few baby spinach leaves.

OH had some manchego this evening which was wrapped in a little Parma ham.

Baby bel cheeses are great for a little snack of 0 carbs. And you can wrap Leerdammer cheese slices round smoked salmon or meats for a little lunch roll which is satisfying.

I also like blue cheese, which has the benefit of bacteria which are good for the gut. But if you’re not a cheese fan that may be a bridge too far

You will note I like cheese!

:-

Bill, you are amazing – living proof of the benefits of the BSD.

Thanks igorasusual. I have never liked cheese but maybe I need to give it a try. Would make things easier.

Appreciate your help.

Hi everyone. I’m two weeks in. The first week I lost 8lbs and week two I scraped in 3lbs loss. But it was a struggle and scales kept going up and down. This morning the scales show I put on 3lbs. How does that happen on 800 calories a day?? 😩 I am exercising but could do more. The only thing I can think of is it’s because I am constipated. Despite drinking three litres of water a day I have barely been in a week. Anyone else had this?

Good Luck for tomorrow Angiebabe

I don’t think I could keep on track without weighing regularly! I don’t get too hung up about occasional plateaus, but seeing the achievements really helps with the will power to stick with it.

My feeling to start with, but confirmed after a week on holiday not weighing, followed by about four days to get properly back on track after getting home! I’m now 1 kg less than before I went away though, so re-inspired!

Monday is over (not that it was bad but still, it’s over!)

I had energy after work to come home and play with my son in the garden and do some work that needed doing out there. Lots more where that came from but it was great to have the energy to start!

I just spoke to my sister on the phone. love her lots.

Well done Bill! A million times more healthy!

Thanks for posting the pics 🙂 Not scary at all!

Boomer

Good fats whilst curbing protein? Cheese. Nuts and seeds if your carbs permit. Oily fish such as mackerel. Butter sauces, drink olive oil (can be done and recommended), olive oil over small quantity of veg.

A bit of avocado – again carbs permitting – whole one is too much carbs sadly.

Hope that might help. 🙂

Hello

Well good news and a need for patience from the visit to the eye clinic. Lovely new Greek consultant I do think it’s the best clinic in the UK! He def thinks the cataract needs to come out but wants to try one more round of treatment so the eye is in tip op condition – this will be the fifth surgery on the eye so it has to have periods of rest and relaxation in between – a bit like me and the treadmill! But because some of the Medes make. You sensitive to sunlight I won’t start those til after my hols. I think different medical specialties attract different personality types and the corneo guys are all very kind and friendly in their approach and see you as part of the team. No snootiness at all.

So I must think when he sees me at the end of September he might have to look twice!