Hi – the blender looks good Izzy
I have one that is giant, using it will practically fill my dishwasher, so its sat in a cupboard for years – it was my Mum’s, an original 1970’s one that I persuaded her to buy when I was a teenager, so I’ve been thinking about getting something more compact – let me know how you get on with it!
I’m sure you’ll have fun when it arrives.

Breakfast – Cappuccino

Lunch – Cappuccino and 5 tomatoes and sea salt

Dinner – Steak (200g) with griddled mushroom and tomato and a griddle egg

750cals

Oh, and gallons of water of course…

you could use any milk in your tea. The reason for full fat products is they have less sugar and crap added AND they fill you up more for longer. A bit of milk in your tea won’t really fill you up so you won’t need it to be full fat, just use whatever you like in your tea and count the calories. If you drink a lot of tea this could add up and this is why the poster who said it uses skimmed. Instead of having to count milk I largely switched to herbal teas instead and I’m happy with this, I do have a cup of normal tea now and then though (with whatever milk is there)

Hope you’re feeling better fat nurse!!

I’ve just reached the end of day 2 after a previously aborted attempt at this a few weeks back.

I am currently pissing for England, in bed at 10pm, been on verge of a headache all day (but at least learnt from previous failure &paced myself through the day with paracetamol this time!).

It feels a bit extreme given its only 48hours since last ate carbs, but on the other hand I practically inhaled them (and very little else) on a daily basis, plus I went to the gym yesterday and swam today which might have an effect?

If I can make it through tomorrow that will officially be the longest I can remember going without chocolate (3days). Go go go go go!

just confused with skimmed milk as thought full fat yoghurt was ok
agree about salmon but saw it was in the menu planner and was just a teaspoon of pesto its going to take some getting used too i think !!!!

hi tokyo

there was a whole thread about porridge very recently – there is a search box in the top right hand corner if you want to find it – basically whole rolled oats soaked overnight – yes, in moderation, as a bit carby (17g in 30g of oats) – instant porridge that you just pour water on and/or microwave – no

I don’t have full fat milk in tea because I don;t like the taste (but full fat everything else, yoghurt, cheese, etc) – it’s up to you. I worked out my average daily milk use in tea and just added that quantity in every day, but I’m having to re-think as I am drinking a lot less tea and more water.

Pesto – look at the ingredients on the jar and add into your daily calorie/carb intake – or the recipe ingredients if you’re making from scratch.

Hummus is good with crudite – carrot.cucumber celery etc. I often have a spoon with salad, instead of salad dressing (mayonnaise is a killer in terms of calories)

Good luck, hope it goes well for you

thank you thank you thank you 🙂

The tortillas with chilli was a nice change having not had any for a long time, they don’t quite pass for doritos but they were nice.

The pecan brittle is safely in the freezer along with lots of the carrot cake I made before haha, I don’t recall ever having so much restraint!

Realising that I am likely to continue to bake things a lot rather than buying stuff has made me realise my blender is somewhat inadequate. It is one of those stick blenders (which is great for soup) and it has a small 500ml container attachment that I’ve been using for the baking and for smoothies/shakes. There is a slightly broken bit on it and I know it’s on its last legs, it’s too small as I have to do some things in batches or it doesn’t fit, and the coconut porridge attempt the other day that couldn’t be made….so I’ve ordered a new blender 🙂 It wasn’t an expensive one so not a huge extravagance, but better suited to the things I am doing and planning to do.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/VonShef-Multifunctional-Silver-Smoothie-Warranty/dp/B00Y2QHY02/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1465765202&sr=1-1&keywords=vonshef+4+in+1

it looks like a good deal. There are some ridiculously expensive ones that I would love but can’t justify the cash! I don’t have it spare and honestly not really convinced that the fancy ones are worth the money. The one I’ve been using I bought about 10 years ago and it’s been well used and lasted well for being cheap and cheerful at the time.

I’ve been thinking that the kids eat a moderate amount of cereal bars and that type of thing and there are lots of recipes online for oat ones. Not great for me at the moment but fine for the kids in moderation. So I plan to make good use of the new blender one way and another. I’m excited, which is utterly ridiculous! lol

Earlier today I did lock myself away in my room and got my paint out! and I had a go at following the tutorial I posted. It’s not my best effort and I may try again from scratch but I enjoyed it and that is the whole point.

Now I am tucked up in bed whilst hubby watches the rest of the football. He actually doesn’t follow football much so he only bothers with it during the world cup and UEFA so I don’t mind leaving him to it as I’m not interested. I’m watching Harry Potter – I felt like a change.

I have my food planned for the next 7 days so it should be a good week, although next weekend I will allow one day without counting calories. I have decided properly now that I will trial my plan of 1-2 days of not counting calories per week, I will give it two weeks and then see how it is working before deciding what to do after that. I see no point in committing longer term I think we are all so different and just need to try things out and see what works. Regardless I am committed to sticking with the basics of BSD.

Goodnight my lovelies.

HI TOKYO14

I would be concerned about porridge, it may have slightly too many carbs, my rule is, if I eat something and it makes me feel hungry after then there were too many carbs.

Count the calories, I use skimmed milk as it is lower in calories.

You may find salmon quite high in calories as it is an oily fish, and the pesto may be high in calories, but then just have a smaller portion…

I would dip celery, red pepper etc in the hummus.

My advice would be to log and do a calorie count on all you eat to stick to the calorie limit.

Hope this helps.

Doug

Hi Kitty kat,

I started using protein powders ages ago as my go-to b’fast. (It just made life simpler.) Over the years I’d tried lots of commercial protein powders and wasn’t happy with any — until I discovered Dr. Joe Mercola’s website and protein powders: http://shop.mercola.com/catalog/protein-powders,454,0,0.htm

They are tasty (!), thoroughly researched for healthy ingredients and carefully sourced and produced. Do click on the links to read more about why/how he came up with them. I used the Whey Protein (especially “banana”) a long time, then switched to the Vegan when he introduced it a year or so ago. Dissolves very easily. LOVE the chocolate and the sweet cinnamon flavors; haven’t tried vanilla.

I’ve been trying to stay away from dairy, so switch between coconut and almond milk. Also, in trying to get more fiber in my diet, I add organic psyllium husk. Prior to starting BSD, I used to toss in a small frozen banana — but have given that up for obvious reasons!

Whatever you choose, good luck. BTW, I have no financial or other interest in the Mercola products — am just a satisfied customer 🙂

B – poached egg, spinach, grilled asparagus and tomato
L – tomato and roast garlic soup, salad with roasted cauliflower, broad beans, pomegranate seeds, lettuce
D – vegetarian moussaka
For pudding boyfriend is eating my all time favourite Eton mess with luxury strawberry meringue, I have contented myself with a few strawberries. For the greater good!!
Cals come in at about 900, carbs just over 60, although lunch for a cafe so bit of guesswork involved. As other veggies have mentioned I am finding it hard to get under 50g carbs due to pulses etc but will keep plodding on!

i am about to start this and am doing some planning i have read the book but a few questions
1) can i have porridge for breakfast?
2) i have milk in tea should it be full fat
3) can i have pesto as i have a recipe for salmon with pesto on top
4) i have seen the hummus recipe is it just eaten on its own?!?
sorry for long list of questions but i want to get this right
thanks

Thanks Orchid!
Sounds good Patsy, I will have to try them.
Tracey2267, thank you. It can be tough at times, which is when I come to the forum. Always something to cheer and inspire.

I eat gum most days at work, it stops me wanting other nibbles. Customers often offer me biscuits and if my mouth is minty I’m less tempted lol. My losses do seem a bit slower than many (17 lbs in 8 weeks) but I doubt that’s about the gum. It doesn’t seem to cause me any issues.

I fry mine in a little olive oil with garlic, really nice with bolognaise. Don’t really taste like pasta honestly, BUT don’t taste like courgette either really. Worth a try. You can buy them spiralised to try before investing in a spiraliser.

I pour over some boiling water and leave then for 20 seconds, warms them through but does not make them too soggy.

Hi Cherry8, I think it needs a pretty strong blender to turn it into butter. Have read recipes before that show all the stages and it seems to go to powder first and then eventually release the oils and turn into butter 😀 Not sure my blender would be up for it but maybe if you turn it off and on a few times during the whole process so it doesn’t wreck the motor! Think this link has photos of the stages, hope it works out next tome👏🤗😝
http://www.greenkitchenstories.com/homemade-nut-seed-butter/

ALMOND BUTTER?

I made this the other day, toasted the almonds as instructed in the recipe, blitzed and ended up with toasted almond powder. Is this supposed to be a paste i.e. Like a thick butter? Any ideas or tips please.

Have just discovered Babaganush oooo it’s so delicious and really easy. 2 medium aubergines put under the grill until the skin is charred, and then mixed in blender (only the flesh, not the black skins) with juice of one lemon, 2 tablespoons of Tahini (sesame paste) and 1 or 2 cloves of garlic and optional honey (half teaspoon tho I didn’t bother) sooooo delicious with tomatoes or celery or peppers! I put in 2 cloves of garlic and it’s pretty garlic so maybe ones enough..

Worked out at just under 50 calories (4g carbs) if the above recipe was for 6 people, so not massive helping but it’s perfect for dipping stuff into😝👍

Hi, ooo no spiralised courgettes are really tasty – I know what you mean that kind of soft courgettes when cooked can be a bit wet but spiralised raw ones are nice and crisp and are tasty raw with bolognese or chilli and soooo delicious with things like mushrooms, garlic, and some bacon👏👏👍 They don’t really taste like pasta but it’s a good substitute even if anot different. They are probably better raw or just warmed if you don’t like slimy stuff. Hope you get to try out soon😀

Thanks Bubbles. I had porridge and felt loads better but still couldn’t manage to keep under 1000 calories. Today I am not trembling and have had lengths of time not thinking about food.
I found protein pots in a “healthy” takeaway place. Such a relief to find something to eat while out that was not a sandwich and nice and also interesting not to be craving cakes while there. I could look at them and not feel like was missing out. Although strawberry and custard French pastries took quite a lot of willpower in the market today

Thing is, if you go back to eating how you were before, your weight and any health issues will go back to how they were before.

(You won’t need to stick to 800 calories long term though. That’s just to lose the weight. Once you have, you’ll need to consume at least double that to maintain a healthy weight)

Thanks that is reassurring

Hi
I managed to stick to the 800 calorie diet for 9 days back in January but subsequently failed and have struggled to get my head back in it !
I have decided to kick start by using meal replacement shakes for a week or two and then depending on how I am getting on I may consider staying on this.
My question is if anyone else has used meal replacement shakes and if they have which ones ?
I have the 8 week blood sugar diet book and in there it recommends any ‘commercial diet shakes’. Looking at the ingredients on the ones I have bought the first ingredient is fructose which the book says is really bad. I’m wondering if I should continue with the ones I have or switch to another brand ?

Sassie,

It’s 80% about the food & 20% the exercise. As long as you are doing some exercise and trying to increase it a bit at a time then it will help, but its not the thing that will make you lose the weight, its about what you put in your body. The exercise is about not losing muscle and strength only.

I’ve been using it on and off for 5 months, no problems & I would prefer it than stuffing a cake in my mouth. Its all about what works for you.

Breakfast – camomile tea (fasting 16hrs)
Lunch – cheese and tomato sandwich ….replaced the bread for romaine lettuce !!! 8 walnuts
Dinner – Angus beef thin steak 100g cooked with butter with broccoli stems and green beans
I track my food nutrition and canaries in my fitness app
Xx

Hi I am disabled and unable to do all the walking, sit ups etc (can do gentle swimming). Has anyone else got the same problem? Have you been able to lose, I assume at a slower rate?

Snap re the clothes, the charity shop is doing very well from me. Some tops I really Love and are too big, but just can’t get rid of them until I have found a replacement. Trousers and skirts are a different matter (I have even sewn one pair, so they don’t fall down), can’t find anything in brown at the moment!!! Love the weight loss HATE shopping.

I did it for 3 months (not a Angel on all days), I’m now 5 months on and love the recipes so I still use them (I’m still losing weight, slowly). My taste buds have changed and my favourite bought carrot cake, that I treated myself to last week – went in the bin after the first couple of mouth fulls (the sugar/taste was horrible) never to be seen in the house again. It all about tweaking and adding more recipes you like to your list

Really everything changes you won’t want to go back to old ways – its all about changing what you want to eat, not just cutting the calories. It a body re-programme.

Thanks BSD I may well give that a try in the last couple of weeks! Delighted as I was to be trying and “fitting” size 12 trousers I would like them to be less snug 😂 But it has prompted me to go through my wardrobe and try everything on. Resulting in a large pile of clothes for charity…. Amazing how I saw that clothes I thought were not too bad are in fact way too big 🤗

A month on and I have lost another 7lbs, without following the diet strictly. 2 stone in total and will probably aim to lose another 7lbs on the 5:2 diet now. I love the recipes and know I can maintain this way of Life easily, now need to get into the HIT exercise.

It’s not a “Diet” but a way of Life 🙂

GillyD – I just came back from a holiday and had put 4lb on, so did the 500 calorie a day for 2 days and lost it. Might be worth a try if you are struggling before you go on holiday.

Its my first week too Fatnurse. – have you tried having oats or quinoa for breakfast? Not all carbs are bad – when you say no carbs do you eat oats, pot barley, lentils, beans? You need them to keep you going. I also eat yoghurt, seeds and small amounts of brown rice. Hope you feel better soon. X

70lbs to go here too, that will still leave me overweight in the eyes of the medical profession but I know if I go beyond that excess skin is really going to knock my confidence so I’ll stick where I am comfortable and hopefully with the new low carb diet I’ll keep diabetes at bay.

Hi keeptrying,🙋

So great to hear that you are living up to your tag name… 3lbs loss is still 3lbs loss, so good news I believe that we all find our way to what works for us best… and as you are losing weight and still on the BSD…managing ok and not stressing over calories… whatever you are doing is working for you!!

Imogen🌻

Oh, rocky, very rocky! I’m such an emotional eater. OH to emergency this afternoon. First, hopefully last, TIA. While he was driving us on the freeway, so 100kph, took quite some doing from passenger seat to get us safely stopped. Luckily, he was coming good, so able to assist more, and I decided it would be quicker for me to drive him to hospital than wait for ambulance. Worked out ok but what did I do when I’d finally left him on the ward (hours later) and drove home? Ate and ate AND ATE!!

Tomorrow will be better…….

So I have 3 weeks until my holiday and 5lbs to lose to reach my target for the holiday (11 stone). Today I decided to try on a pair of size 12 skinny jeans….. To my utter surprise I could get them on and do them up!! I looked like a bag of spanners but you know a SIZE 12 bag of spanners!!! Bought a couple of tops in size 12 too…. Not done that in a number of years 🤗🤗

So in the Sunday times today…
( free to read in Costa)
The eight week blood sugar diet by Michael Mosely, number of weeks in top ten…. 21

There are two other numbers
3845 (154,855)

Must be number of books sold

Proud of you all buying the book, hope you are all starting the diet today.

I have just had a fantastic salad.
Beetroot, radish, mustard and cress, lettuce, pickles, tiny bit of sweetcorn, carrot again just a little, peppers, onions, toms etc.

Love luica
Xx

Hi Igorasusual,
Thanks for the encouraging words, I will keep going. Not finding it difficult at all and really enjoying the food and a general sense of well being. I am in for the long haul as have set a long term target to loose the 70lb I have somehow managed to acquire.

Hi JCH187
That is great 13lb, you must be pleased, I am weighing twice a week on Sat and Tues so I am hoping to have lost a bit by Tuesday. Next weeks eating plan is all worked out and I will be extra careful on measurements while cooking and hope to do better. I’m wondering if the extra veg is making a difference, I know it did on the Atkins.
Just made the beetroot felafel for lunch, very delish, fish stew tonight.

Yippee yippee yippee!! You lost 10% of your weight!! Congratulations on reaching your first goal!! So exciting!!
💕💕💕💕💕
Hope you enjoy your tortillas and your brittle on Tuesday when you celebrate!
I am so happy for you!
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

well I have managed to stick to it this week – although I must clearly be taking in a lot more calories than others as I never have any spectacular weight loss
but 3lb down today – although since I put 2 back on last week, it is actually only 1lb – but anyway it takes me below another target

Clematis76 is right – if you have been dieting for some time you won’t have the big water loss. The good thing is that when you do drop a pound or ten, you will know it is fat! I have been on so many diets and have found that some times I don’t lose much or maybe nothing for a week or two then suddenly have a big drop.Have you monitored any weight fluctuations around your “cycle” ?

It seems to be a common thing that men seem to lose weight faster than women. Most diets I have seen always give men a bigger calorie allowance. Does your husband work out as much as you, or maybe more? Does he have a more active job than you? So many factors that could impact.

Despite this disappointment, and while it is a wonderful thing that you are doing it together, don’t compare your journey to his. I think you have done an amazing job to have lost 2.5 stone and to have kept going for all this time. You are very likely to be a long term success because you have made a big lifestyle change and stuck to it through thick and thin for a long period of time. You should congratulate yourself on the amazing success you have already achieved. Five days on a new regime when you have been reducing for so long is a huge expectation – you can’t beat yourself up after so little time. I am sure I will see a post here very soon with a new drop in weight and look forward to congratulating you! Hang in there! xx

Is it sad that I got excited to see “Cauli Rice” in Asda? I hate making it as I seem to make an unholy mess, so seeing it already blitzed for me and all I have to do is bake it was a good thing! I have been trying to plan for a static caravan holiday and found there are plenty of new ready to nuke packets of brown rice with quinoa. My hubby and I will be sharing with daughter and grandchildren who will be eating the things we cant and I want to make it quick and easy to sort out our meals and resist temptation under our noses. So the rice packs, canned beans and lentils, salad leaves packs, fruit, boiled eggs, yoghurt, seeds, nuts and lean meat are going to be easy to prepare meals and snacks if things get tough.

Why did we decide to start this 2 weeks before a holiday? Well it is a lifestyle change (we are both type 2) so we will have to take holidays and celebrations in our stride, though it would have been more of a challenge if it was a few days before Xmas!

Sounds like you’ve been putting on muscle with all that fantastic exercise 🙂 Well done.

Hi Purlysu,
I think that most people who have huge losses the first week are people coming straight from unhealthy, hi carb, processed food diets etc. That means that most of that huge loss at first is water as you ditch the carbs. If you’re already eating low carb then you won’t lose the same at first. Having said that your body will adjust and the weight will start to come off. Lots of people on this diet ( including me) lose in fits and starts. I too have 4 stone to lose (6 originally!). I lost 7lbs the first week (water) then 1lbs then nothing for 5 days, 3lb then nothing for a week then 1lb a day over 4days etc… Fits and starts!! Give it time it WILL come off eventually. X

Hi – spiralised courgettes can be eaten raw, with some dressing and seasoning, or boil them for a couple of minutes. Regarding slimy courgettes – never experienced them! I usually roast them with aubergines, sweet potatoes, red peppers, garlic, seasoning, herbs and a measured spoon of olive oil. The other brilliant way to use them if you don’t like the taste is to grate it into bolognese, chilli, cottage pie and curries. My hubby hates them and doesn’t have a clue that they are in his favourite chilli! They they bulk up meat dishes without calories and carbs. You can do the same with carrots and spinach – I always have frozen spinach and frozen onions in the freezer.

Good luck and hope you enjoy more meals with these handy, healthy bulker uppers! 🙂

ask her if it looks like you have no energy?

You can’t do anything to change her mind but if you thrive on the plan it might make her think twice and look into it again.

haha I still haven’t made my food plan but I have been busy. I’ve made two batches of crackers as I didn’t make any last week and missed them. I’ve made a batch of these…https://elanaspantry.com/paleo-tortilla-chips/ and a half batch of this…https://elanaspantry.com/cinnamon-pecan-brittle/

The tortilla chips are for tonights dinner.

The pecan brittle is a small treat to celebrate my 8 week graduation on Tuesday 🙂

I’ve worked out the calories and portions and I can’t afford more than 1/4 of the brittle lol but it will be a nice celebratory thing.

I’ve had some of the chicken and lentil soup I made the other day for lunch, and we’re having chilli for dinner (with tortilla’s so excited!!)

Any ideas I had about eating the other portions of tortillas over the next few days is out the window as my husband likes them and wants to have what I don’t eat with his chilli but in some ways that’s fine. Having them once in a while is probably for the best.

Now I need to go sort out the mess I made :/

I’m just over the 3 week line and as Izzy says you do get to a point where you have your favourite foods, know the calories and it becomes easier. I still weigh things but it’s so automatic I don’t even think about it now.