As of this morning my weight and bmi are (just) in the healthy range!

I’m going to continue my version of the plan (avoiding the carbs, but eating more than 800 calories) for another few weeks, as I think I’d look and feel better if my weight was slightly closer to the middle of the range, rather than grazing the top, but I’m really pleased with my (admittedly slow) progress.

congratulations Lynne – I know you’ve been good at sticking to BSD while you’ve been away, but you must have felt great seeing the scales dip lower when you got home
glad that you had a brilliant time

Another raining day, it’s teasing me
It’s that fine rain that won’t produce puddles.
Thinking of changing my towns name to something like… Soggy bottom!

Love luicaXxxx

Hi everyone

Back from holiday and checking in. I’ve been away from home for 11 days – travelled to London for overnight stay in hotel, flight to Italy, 9 days staying with friends, then flight back to London and train home yesterday.

The last Saturday before I travelled I weighed 11 st 10 lb. The morning I travelled, weight was 11 st 8 lb. This morning, I weigh 11 st 6 lb 😃 Fasting blood glucose 4.3.

While away I’ve not counted calories but stayed low carb, trying to watch portion sizes. We’ve eaten at other people’s houses and had at least 3 meals out. At home I eat morning and evening, but while away I’ve eaten three times a day.

I was really apprehensive about the trip – Italy, home of pasta, pizza, and gelato 😱 And my friends do eat lots of carbs. But they took me food shopping for what I could eat😃 Ok I ate differently to them, especially at breakfast. And eating away from their home could be interesting😳 Some strange looks from waitresses when it was explained what I could not eat. Once my friend’s husband ordered dessert and when it was brought, it came with three forks for us to share. When he said I wouldn’t be sharing I got a very strange look (but it didn’t look nice and friend said it wasn’t nice).

I stuck to my black coffee and sparkling water.

Some of the people we ate with asked why I was eating what I do, so had to explain. One in particular (diabetic) couldn’t believe the 800 calories a day of the BSD. Some said it would make me ill. My response – look at me, do I look ill?

Oh, and yes – my friends were amazed at how much weight I’d lost, and how much more active I was this time than wen I was there last November.

I really enjoyed the trip

Just saw your post hope you are still doing well, 4 inches, how fab is that? I’m planning on measuring at the end of 4 then 8 weeks. Fingers crossed.

I’m half way through week 3 now, clothes feel a little looser and I can see that my belly has gone down a bit. About 8lb loss in total although at my mid week weigh in today had put on 1/2 a pound. Partner D is cock a hoop and has almost lost a stone AND HE IS CHEATING on the red wine at the weekend, I am v jealous.
Had a couple of hungry days and had some extra veg and a few nuts but so far I am enjoying the recipes from the book and trying not to go off piste until I get to the end of 8 weeks.

I eat plenty of veg eg green veg and homemade coleslaw with red and green cabbage.However I think cutting out oats rye etc is making me a bit constipated. Too much information I know but can be a real problem.
Tea party at church for Queen birthday so today will be a challenge

Yes meant Burgen. There is also something called cloud bread . A bit like an omelette. Just google it.

That reading of 5.8 is brill but I thought you may have been non diabetic not just pre diabetic with it being so low
Great result

Hi Funkdoofamily,
I know exactly what you feel like. I feel that will happen to me as well so I am continuing on the 800cal, low carb for 5 days and having a bit of a splurge on 2. This seems to be working well. If you are having 21 meals a week, 1 or 2 bad ones won’t matter. Try to have your carbs early in the day(works for me) I still count my calories and weigh my food for portion comtrol(100g protein portions) I keep my carbs >35g. Hope this helps!

This is my 4th day and I love it, loss 3 kg and feeling wonderful, no craving for food.
I have no problems with husband and other people eating food and cake in front of me, but not having red wine is very difficult.
But I am trying to be strong, for if I have a glass of wine I know I will eat something more than nuts.
So no wine for this old lady for another 7 1/2 week.

Doddi

Headaches: drink more water I was told. don’t know if is right but it works.

Thank you for your responses. Had gestational diabetes when pregnant which often a precursor to type 2 so probably. I do have the book, may be time for a reread.

Not really lng term has only been 3-4 years. Unfortunately yes, still overweight so might take a bit longer.

Thanks fir the encouragement, think feeling a bit down and unmotivated at this point. Will try to re psych myself.

Hi GR
Thanks just read it. It has been like a never ending journey for me, I am in control now, I am intolerant of so many of the meds so I have had to work things out my way. It is always interesting to read options.
N.

Update ….
I have started again … this time i decided to go off my medication (2 metformins at night) to see what the “unmasked” effect of food has on my blood sugar levels.
the surprising thing is – my sugar levels are pretty much in the same range (6+) … while following this eating plan … as when i was on the medication – UNLESS … i eat rice or pasta… then my levels jump up into the 7+.
I have taken a few tips from other people on this site … and am trying the tablespoon of olive oil (straight) in the morning and at night.
Obviously my goal at the end of this 8 week block is that my levels will have dropped .. and stabilized … and that i have lost more weight. I do know i need to increase my exercise . which i keep trying to do …. i just need to DO IT !!
I have to say … i am really enjoying this eating plan – i find i have very simple meals … with fresh veg etc … and all home cooked. it makes packing my lunch etc for work very easy. and trust me .. i AM a food lover.
🙂

Hi Funkydoofamily,
I moved from Fast 800 to low carb med 5:2 on 27/05. I have kept my food low carb and med style. I have introduced rolled oats and 100% rye (pumpernickel) but only had them a couple of times a week. On the 5 days that I don’t count calories, if I’m feeling peckish at the end of dinner I have hot chocolate (milk/cocoa powder), a spoonful of full fat natural yoghurt or 30g cheese. That does the trick for me.
On the ‘5’ days I maintain the pattern of eating that I do on the 2 x 800 calorie days eg. no snacks between meals , fast for 12 hours overnight. I try and not eat any foods that will cause a sharp peak in my BGL’s. I also make sure I eat 2 servings of fruit a day and 5 servings of veg. In my case I find the protein takes care of itself as even before I did the BSD I would have @45g/day.
From reading the threads it seems very individual as to what combination of the BSD you settle with.
I hope this has been helpful.

Welcome Tokyo,

You will feel like a new woman and have so much energy! You may not even have to do the full eight weeks before introducing carbs back in.

I’ve lost 17.2kg (2.7 stone) in under 7 weeks, without exercise I must add.

Well said rozydozy. My husband sighs when the numbers on the scales don’t change even though his pants are falling down. I said “can tell you’ve never dieted in your life”!

Lynne

Hi Lea,
Brett and I have been BSDers for just under 7 weeks. We have lost 17.3kg and 17.2kg respectively and Brett has reversed his diabetes. The truth is for me, the diet stripped away any cravings I might have. Have not craved bread or wine. Brett actually bought home a bottle of red wine one night and I said “if I haven’t craved it yet, there’s no use having it’.

We were however, committed to do the eight weeks properly. It has opened our eyes and we are cooking a wider variety of food now. Yes, I understand weekends are harder for you. We often have a little dish of nuts (around 20) as they are so good for you. I won’t do this more than a couple of times a week though.

Another ‘snack’ I have, if I have to have something, is a dish of olives, marinated mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes and feta. Generally only once a week though. Or you can have some low carb yoghurt.

We will no doubt have a glass of wine to celebrate our 8 weeks but I feel it’s best to try and go without alcohol while trying to lose weight unless you do some exercise!!! This is now going to be our lifestyle with a few carbs thrown in and wine, after the 8 weeks, but with all our energy now we will be working it off!

Good Luck
Lynne

I am in Australia so may have this wrong but my understanding is that in the UK and Australia our food labels state net carbs, the fibre is listed separately. In the US this is not the case so to you would need to subtract the fibre and count the net carbs towards your daily 50gm total, not the gross carbs. Otherwise you will be eating significantly less carbs than UK and Australian BSDers.

I started BSD one and a half weeks ago. Have lost 4kg already! I’m sure that it is just water but it does make me want to keep going.
For the first time ever my husband is onside and supporting my journey. This will make a huge difference to my success, as having to cook carbs, have carbs in the pantry, and then not eat them is always difficult.
I have been having headaches which is unusual for me, thought it was from my stressful job, but now wondering if it is the diet?
My hardest time to keep on track is the weekends, weekends have always been snack days for me. I found it hard last night not snacking, is it ok to occasionally have some nuts, cream/berries or some other substitute? Or will that sabotage it all?
Wine is also my downfall, does 1-3 glasses of red wine make much difference?

Hi, Elsie 45. Burger? Should that be Burgen? A loaf I love. Not had it for a long time, though, or thought of it either. It’s this low carb business, ruining my bread eating habits!

What varieties of mindfulness meditation is everyone practicing? What works for you?

As previously posted I use ‘Smiling Minds’ App (Australia) daily. Nice and simple to use and I am living proof that it helps me be mindful of what I eat and drink as well as it modifies my response to stressful situations.

What works for you?

Hi Lucia,
I looked up the photo of the Queen and Prince Philip – do you mean the Annie Liebovitz one of them – it’s just lovely. The other week I really enjoyed seeing the photo of the Queen and her great grandchildren – it was beautiful – and the great granddaughter who’d been mucking up was given the ‘job’ of holding the Queen’s handbag.

Soooo Summer hasn’t arrived where you live. I don’t think this will be much help but my soups for this week-end are pumpkin and when that runs out cream of cauliflower. Baked dinner tonight – marinated lamb and veg – hold the baked potato. I’m skipping breakfast today as I’m just not hungry (please take note of that in triplicate – me, not hungry).

The weather is supposed to be fine this week-end so I’ll go walking each day – I’ll go down into the bush and see how the waterfalls are flowing after last week-end’s 165mm of rain.

Enjoy your week-end.

Today was a great day as we went to our pool at our condo which has a pretty courtyard with flowers all around. Friends came over and I made healthy salads on the plan for everyone and they all loved it!
Tonight my hubby is making salmon and we will have a little fruit with it I think.
It’s been a great day as I hardly worked today and had fun with friends!
And now I know I love the pool I may go daily!
Also, I have dropped below another “ten” on my weight! It’s exciting! You know how you go from the 90’s to the 80’s to the 70’s and such. It’s fun to be in another lower group!

Jill I just said that to my husband as well! I have only lost less than 25 lbs but I have lost about 6 sizes!! It’s awesome!
Congrats to you! 💜🌷

Oh that’s a great idea KJ 77!!!

Glad you feel more yourself now!! Visualize it sticking!!
I did half 1/2 cup of roasted potatoes on the trip and still lost weight since I stayed in my carb range. The restaurant had that or creamed corn so I chose the potatoes.
I am so proud of you!!!
🌷🌷🌷💙💙💙

Thanks Nettle & Sandie. However, I am really wanting to get the answer to whether 50g is NET carbs or not. I’ve read all these threads, and every time this subject comes up it never really gets answered – lol.

I want to be able to look at how I react versus the success others talk about, especially with blood sugar. So desperately trying to figure out if folks are talk “UK carbs” up here – which would mean NET carbs 😉

This also has a huge impact for me because I LOVE a big salad full of veggies. The NET carbs on that is very different from Gross Carbs (hahaha, “gross” carbs, hahaha) 🙂

Hi bghouse

I’m with Sandie, good advice there. I am heading in to week 14 now and until about 10 days ago didn’t count any carbs, when I did, I found they added up to around 50g a day. Stick with good whole foods especially in the vegetable and meat categories and you will be fine. It’s the loaded white stuff that brings up the carbs; bread, rice, potato, pasta, it becomes a bit of a mantra after a while. And if you think you cannot live without them…there’s a lot of living proof out here that you can and pretty darned quickly you don’t miss them. Keep it simple, relax and enjoy the journey.

Why am I on Week 14? Because this plan feels good, I have abundant energy, lose weight every week, enjoy the food I eat and 90% of the time I never feel hungry. I recognize hunger now and can control it, think about that.
N

Hello Tokyo14,
You’ve been through it, haven’t you! Congrats on getting through it all.
For what it’s worth, in 2007 I was diagnosed with an ovarian tumour & the medics were convinced it was cancer. Like you, I had a hysterectomy. Where we differ is that my tumour turned out to be benign & I didn’t have to undergo chemo. However, again like you, I piled on the weight – going from being fairly active to virtually no exercise because of the operation did not help. I really found it difficult to lose weight, and when I did lose it, it piled back on again. When I finally got my act together to do something about it, I was taken by the BSD.

I’ve lost a stone & a half (since mid-January) – this is a bit slow compared to others but that doesn’t bother me. I chose not to do the 800cals/day, and I’ve bypassed the 5:2 stage, I just went in at the basic Mediterranean diet level. I’m going to stick with it for as long as it takes to lose my excess. This diet is adaptable to something that suits you.

My advice: read the book & website – prepare (your menu, your mind) & go for it.
Full fat is good, avoid low fat products. Restrict your carbs. Make sure you have plenty of variety in what you eat.
Drink water – keep hydrated (this has been my downfall & I get headaches when I don’t drink enough).

Inevitably, there will be times when you feel rubbish, and that things aren’t happening. You may have to tough out the bad moments – if you do suffer an attack of bingitis, just put it down to experience and carry on. Your body will try to derail you because it will crave the stuff you are giving up – this will just be your body adjusting to the new regime. You will not be failing. You are in charge!

You will feel better, clothes will fit better – so don’t always go by the scales, they only tell part of the story.
Go for it!
Best of luck!

Hi Tokyo, first of all great news that you have recovered so well. I think it’s fantastic that you are now in a more healthful place and ready to look after yourself.

General advice is to cut the crap out, no bread, cakes, cereal, biscuits, bars, as well as pasta, potatoes and rice. Try to make healthy choices and use full fat everything. NO low fat.

My advice is to plan your meals and make sure you are organised, browse recipes here and elsewhere to find new things to try. I’d never heard of courgetti until I came here for example or cauliflower rice but both are very useable. I’ve enjoyed experimenting with alternative flours too if you like baking. Elena’s pantry has lots of recipes and I like the pancakes and crackers 🙂

Best advice really is to just go get the right food in, chuck out the wrong stuff and get started. Most of us find that within a couple of days the hunger is gone and although the carb cravings might not disappear completely they certainly become more manageable.

Good Luck 🙂

BFD I like that 🙂

hee hee thankyou for the hearts 🙂 I was thinking about it earlier and I think I know what it is.

If it is something low carb, albeit something *like* carbs like the carrot cake etc… I’ve made it, I’ve counted it and I’m ‘allowed’ it in the portion controlled way.

It would be much harder to stop if I ate bread when I wanted to at lunch time. OR at dinner tonight when I made the most delicious looking roast potatoes for the rest of the family and made sure there were none left to put on my plate! I know I’m ‘not allowed’ those things, and I know that I’d find it hard to stop if I started. I even considered having a bite of my sons banana earlier but decided I best not… it would be too easy to just pick up another and eat a whole one.

I do miss roast potatoes and bananas, but my health means more.

tonights roast chicken was served with spicy brocolli (from the recipe section here) some carrot and onion and a helping of home made barbecue sauce (it was an experiment – it was ok but not the best I prefer my sauce I have with hunters chicken)

I thought I had posted this already but it was still sitting here unsent lol

well I’ve been out trying to clear a gravelled area for my sons sandpit tent tomorrow. I’m not quite done but my wrists are hurting so the rest will have to wait. I don’t think I bought enough sand either but I can go and get more tomorrow if I need it, at least if I get the area cleared, the rubber base mats pinned down and tent up it’s pretty much good to go. Hope I can get it all done. Hope tomorrow isn’t raining!

I’ve just had a portion of granola with strawberries, it was lovely. I will see how it lasts and if anyone else eats it and next time make a smaller amount as 24 portions is a bit much to hope it won’t go bad before it is eaten.
My calories are low today largely due to my lunch soup only being 85 calories lol. I’m only on 700 cals even with the granola so I might have me a nice almond milk hot choc for bed.

I’m feeling more myself again, hope it lasts.

I have not been too fussed about counting carbs. If you have your protein, vegetables and the occasional fruit you won’t be going too wrong. I have gone the no bread, no rice, no cake, no biscuit route with very little prepared food. Back to basics with fish, eggs, cheese, full fat natural organic yogurt, meat from the butchers and fresh vegetables.

I am still going – not quite at my target – I am hoping this will be my BFD – Best Forever Diet – I will keep you posted x x thank you for your reply x

Now 12st and my engagement ring keeps slipping round. I am looking forward to weighing 11st something. Today at the Body Pump class I felt stronger.

Hi All,

I’ve been reading bunches of threads trying to get this correct, but I’m still confused.

I’m in the US, so for me all my labels show the Total Carbs with the Fiber, not Net Carbs after fiber.

I’m trying to target the “50g of carbs or lower” that I see so many people have luck with.

So for me in the US, that “50g of carbs or lower” that people up here mention – is the NET Carbs?

This would actually explain an awful lots, as I often feel crazy cold but look at stuff in an app like myfitnesspal and thing – dang, there’s the 50g carbs. But the carbs I like have higher fiber, and I haven’t be subtracting that. So I bit be closer to very low carb, which I didn’t really want to go too low to start.

Please do let me know on whether the 50g is “net” carbs (aka UK Carb counts – lol), as I’m working to do my meal planning to take the plunge 🙂

have a look at things that you know contain potassium that you’ve had, and see if its contained in the nutrition data on my fitness pal for the foods that you’ve logged.
Because anyone can load anything, a lot of stuff in the MFP database may have some elements missing

I came across tomatoes today on MFP, where the entry had no carbs – presumably the person loading it to the database was counting calories and fat, so that was all they’d loaded.
Given that potassium isn’t regularly monitored, or given in nutrition data on food packets, it’s likely to have been missed from the database.

Eggs are amazing and quick to cook and also very filling. Have had chopped up omelette with stir fry veg tonight-you can buy frozen packs of stir fry veg if you don’t have the time to chop everything up yourself. Make a vat of soup and freeze some portions for a quick meal. Tonight I’ve had a few almonds which have killed the hunger pangs. Good luck.

Hi. Have you had a look at the lists of potassium-rich foods online? Not sure how they balance out carb-wise but probably worth a look.

hi i am after some advice last year i had early stage ovarian cancer i had a hysterectomy and six months chemo i have recovered well and back to normal back to work all be it with over two stone extra weight !!!!
so have been looking at this diet and fancy giving it a go any advice would be greatly recieved many thanks x

12 stone 2 pounds, loss of 1st 8lbs in 8 weeks 5 days so all good.

Thanks Izzy. Daytime hunger doesn’t bother me but evenings bad. I did 6 weeks after Christmas with no sugar apart from in berries and didn’t lose half a pound so that is why I am trying to cut down on carbs in general. I like all foods but just don’t want to spend hours preparing. I tend to prefer hot food instead of cold

thanks will do. After years of no fat food as you say you tend to automatically buy it. I can’t stand full fat milk in tea now but I will try some as a hot drink at night (without chocolate!!)

Have managed below 800cals today and under 60g carbs. but my fitness pal shows I have had only 1/4 of daily potassium quota. Guess I will need but and mineral supplement. I am overweight and feel at risk of diabetes so want to give this a good try. GP has advised low carb but gym trainer tells mecI don’t eat enough and should eat 1400 Cals a day but that is not for me

In week 2 I have lost 2 lb, which makes a total of 7 lb.

What I have noticed, is a difference in my shape. I seem to have lost the roll of fat that used to stick out over my waist band, and yesterday I wore a pair of trousers that were uncomfortable last time. Now they fit comfortably.

Don’t get me wrong, I still have a lot of weight to lose, but its great to see a difference.

Burger soya and linseed is 11 carbs but that is a large slice

I have fruit and yoghurt for breakfast. A few times I’ve either not been able to get full fat or have bought the fat free I used to buy without thinking and even though I’ve had more, I’ve been much hungrier than when I’ve eaten the kinds with fat in, so do try switching to that to help the hunger pangs.

I have started this week and really tried to keep to 800 calories but I have symptoms I would assume be hypoglycaemia. I am not diabetic and not on any medication and have been really careful about no carbs but I wake up starving and anxious, then been dizzy confused and feeling faint and really hungry between meals. I have topped up with more water and raw cashews but that has taken me up to 1200 calories. Anyone else struggling with hunger and confusion? I have managed the 5/2 for a few months on less calories before but not sustained it as it has felt harder and harder as time goes on. Any advice appreciated.

Hi SnowWhite

if you haven’t read the book, may I suggest you start there as it appears from your food choices that you’re doing a low carb, high protein diet rather than following the principles of the BSD.

Food wise, you need to have fat to stop the hunger, so ditch all the low fat products and replace with full fat. Full fat yogurt for breakfast, full fat milk in your hot drinks, try adding cheese to your salads, try adding some fish into your diet (salmon, mackerel or fresh tuna are ideal) snack on a small handful of nuts or seeds etc.

As others have pointed out you need to be drinking lots, approx 2-3litres a day, I know if I don’t drink enough as my weight loss stalls.

Hope things start to move in the right direction soon x

Hello JK88

There have been several comments on these forums about the calories counts in the book, as many of them are inaccurate – sometimes by a fair way – and can be either up or down from what is stated in the book when calculated using any of the calorie counting resources found online.

Some users say as you do, that going by the calorie count in the book will probably even out over time. Other people weigh the ingredients and do their own calculations so they know exactly how much they are eating. Certainly weighing is more accurate than using spoonfuls as a measure, unless you are using measuring spoons. And different brands do vary, but they all have the info on the packaging, thank goodness!

And congratulations on getting started. It’s quite a journey that we are all doing, and there are some amazing success stories to inspire us.