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

Hi fi

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

Enjoy you two weeks football free!!

Patrice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just thinking out loud.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

You’re a total inspiration Lucia ! 🙂

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

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

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

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

I meditate. A little.

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

I can move through doors without hitting the door frame.

My balance has improved.

I talk to people, myself or any inanimate object.

My spirit is alive.

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

Love Lucia
Xxxxx

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

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

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

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

Yoghurt with apple and lots of cinnamon is amazing

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

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

Hi Baristagirls

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

I’d definitely avoid them!

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

Hi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Take care,
Rose

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

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

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

All keep up the good work 🙂

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good luck x

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

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

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

Lonnie, those sound like symptoms of an underactive thyroid – have you been tsted for that?

I’ve been feeling hot – but I think that’s more my age than the diet!

JCH187, I emailed tech support and they said it was their spam filter being a bit overzealous so they approved the posts and altered something so that my posts should appear without any further problems 😊

Any plain yoghurt which isn’t fat free is fine (sometimes it’s hard to find full fat) Just don’t buy any sweetened ones – all the flavoured ones seem to contain sugar, sweeteners or both.

I really like it with passion fruit or pear and coconut shreds, strawberries (with or without blueberries) or apple and almonds. You can add any berries, nuts or seed combinations you like though. It’s just as quick to make as a bowl of cereals and much healthier.

Poached eggs on a slice if smoked salmon is also good (if you like smoked salmon).

Hi Mags- I am anout to start (tomorrow- Wed 9th), and have been shopping / planning too. When will you officially ‘start’? Maybe we will be starting on the same day?

I have just bought tons of yogurt: plain sheep yogurt, organic, from waitrose ( i don’t like cows yogurt) some plain Alpro yogurt- low carbs, but has a little sugar in it, and soya yogurt completely plain and very low carb from my local health food shop. None of which were very expensive. I plan to have with berries, flaxseeds or nuts each day. Boilled eggs with smoked salmon is a good brekkie too- Lidl do smoked salmon without sugar. I take my brekkie to work and so will aim to have it later an ‘break-fast’ about 10/11am to prolong the overnight fast.

Also, further to frogs comments the BEST baked beans in my opinion are Earthfoods bran- no sugar at all, just sweeetened with fruit juice. Holland and Barratt sell, as do Waitrose – and they are cheaper there. Even a ring pull can for on the go!!

SarahDawn

Hi, Madmare,

You are certainly not alone in struggling with this habit – it’s a craving like a sugar craving and we need to change our routine and find some sort of distraction until the craving passes.

For a vigin mojito, finely chop some fresh mint and put into a nice-looking tall glass with ice. Squeeze a wedge of lime into it and drop it into the glass then give it all a bash (I use the handle of a wooden spoon). Top up with cold sparkling water. If you prefer it sweeter you can use diet lemonade or half and half.

Stay with me on this, Madmare. This is my day 2, or will be if I get past tonight!

Today is not my day. I just long for a packet of flavoured crisps and sit here drinking black coffee instead. Doesn’t help that I gained weight this morning and have aching legs and a headache!

HI Rose and Imogen- thank you so so much for your prompt and kind replies, I really appreciate it.

I have done some shopping and some planning out of meals, and protein/carb ratios etc. so that I am all set to start tomorrow – Wed 8th. Which for me is important to think about starting properly, and with a good head on rather than just lauching in, in a panic with all and nothing thinking!

Thanks for your share on your journey Rose- it was helpful to hear about your weight loss/time period/ life too-reassuring. And by the looks of the forum and both your feedback this is a good place to get tips/ write about progress and also issues.
So again, thanks for taking the time to write your messages, much apprectiated . I start tomorrow, I’ll keep you posted!!

SarahDawn 🙂

P.s. – Rose- One thought I had when you commented aon how your weight loss slowed was that i have also read about an ‘undulating protocol’ whereby successful weight loss requires often increasing calories the lower your weight goes, to keep weight loss happeneing. And that it is especially important for women to have an ‘eat up’ day once a week to reset metabolism when eating a defecit calories. Don’t know if you know about it- I read up on the ‘Venus Index/ Venus factor’ before finding this diet…..

Strawberries are too sweet😱

After lunch had 2 strawberries – nothing on them – and they were just SOOOOO sweet. Couldn’t eat any more😱

My taste buds really have changed!

Thanks Patsy.

Stacey I should have just had a few glasses of Proseco so by the sounds of it :-))))

Hi Switzerland,

I though I would update you about the fasting, I found it easier than what I though when I break the fast I would want to eat all the pastries and everything but I couldn’t even finish my dish and I feel light after breaking the fast which make it really nice. today i found that I lost 3 pounds so excited about that. but I still broke the fast on a date with walnut. So the main thing is it is quite easy while fasting still hasn’t done any exercising yet but planning to do some this week and will see how my energy level goes.

keeptrying
I know the answer to that one – my ‘need’ for the first glass is nothing to my NEED for the second
Thank you made me think!

Rozydozy
I will try substitutions – I just need to think about the sugar not about how good the wine will taste and imagine the muffin top disappearing……

MrsG27715
Thats me!!
I need to learn to savour not slurp;_ a glass not a bottle!!

susieb
Its like looking in a mirror – lose weight all week then put it back over the weekend!
We can do this!!
Could you share the virgin mojito recipe – it sounds one to try!!

Californiagirl
I like the idea of the cold Pellegrino – I am calling at the supermarket on my way home to stock up
and the low blood sugar – that really resonates – I go far too long without eating – I never thought that its a quick sugar fix….

GillyD
and here I am blaming the night sweats on the menopause – have wondered why I dont get them in the day…..

Jnette
You give me hope!!

these posts are so positive – it really makes a difference.
Also made me start to analyse why I drink like I do
Thanks again everyone

I can see both your posts 🙂

The other thing you can do is check what your carbs are within your calories – MyFitnessPal does this – and then if you can keep carbs below 50g per day, you might kickstart more weight loss.

30-50g of carb, with then more fat and protein to make up the calories, seems to be helpful. Has been for me!

Good luck!

Frog, you gave me an idea about the horrid beans when you mentioned draining off the surplus sauce (which I’m sure you’re right, that’s where the disgusting taste and extra carbs are). I had 3 tins left, having bought a 4-pack…..I emptied them all into a sieve and rinsed off all the nasty sauce, then mashed them in a bowl. Shredded and boiled half a small Savoy cabbage. Fried a thinly sliced onion in a small amount of butter and oil. Mixed the whole lot together, with plenty of chopped sage, salt & pepper….a sort of Colcannon, without the potatoes. I’ve divided it up into several portions and frozen most of them….will have one tonight. So thank you for that idea.

A family member has just been diagnosed with kidney cancer. Normally, that sort of thing would have me falling (jumping) off the wagon and stuffing my face….the emotional eating thing. Not this time though – it’s made me more determined to stay on plan and lose weight, seeing as obesity is one of the causes of cancer (so I read on the Cancer Research website).

Yoghurt – anything plain and full fat – add berries or other fruit yourself.
Fage Greek Yoghurt is apparently lower in carbs than other brands- I have some in the fridge now, but most supermarket have own brand stuff.

I have low sugar baked beans with egg in the morning – I find the branston ones taste better than ordinary ones, and I mix them with cannelini or haricot beans to bring down the carb count. Something I wouldn’t eat normally, but my toast replacement.

Bacon or smoked salmon are good, I also make a frittata/omelette thing with spiralised courgette – the courgette bulks it out, so it’s quite substantial, where a one egg omelette would look stingily unappetising.
At the weekend I had poached egg with asparagus and smoked salmon and a spoon of cottage cheese – delicious!

Hi Lin
my weight loss was really slow after the first couple of days – it’s progressing now. I made a real effort to increase the amount of fluids I was drinking – and more exercise, but it sounds as if you’re pretty active already.
If you’re not sure about the calorie count of recipes, just calculate it for yourself for the individual ingredients that you put in. Sites like myfitnesspal can be a bit variable, I often use sites like waitrose or sainsbury

I wouldn’t worry about the odd lapse – I ate cake yesterday, just a one off treat – I included it in my calorie count, and a bit over on my carb target. I don’t know about you, but my excess weight has been there a long time, it will take a while to shift it, but as long as its going in the right direction that’s good.

I read the BSD 800 calorie book and was totally ready to change my eating habits firstly to get my BSL lowered, secondly to reduce my medication and thirdly to lose weight. Within 2 days I had reduced my blood medication by half, yes half even my GP was shocked! I have been doing the diet for 5 1/2 weeks. My BSL have dropped, I reduced my insulin and my weight has come down a little. I am very active at work, lifting heavy boxes and pushing cages with stock and pulling pallets so it is like going to the gym. When I get home I am also my feet except for eating dinner and going to bed. I have stuck to the diet exactly and it was only today that I broke the diet and had a guilt free brownie from the book. So what am I doing wrong? I read on 1 of the forums that the recipes in the book have the wrong calories? Is that right have I been having too many calories? It’s hard to stay positive when I read how fantastic everyone is doing on the diet in the forums . I have to just remember it is about the BSL levels and medication and maybe one day there will be better weight loss!