🎉 Good on you Izzy for those fantastic results – I’m so happy for you 😌
And thanks for the link to the pecan brittle recipe. I’m looking forward to trying that one out.

Now enjoy basking in the many good wishes and congratulations to follow…

Ah, that’s so fantastic Izzy! Brilliant results and hugely encouraging for us all! And it really sounds as though you have made fundamental changes to the way you think about food and your health and choices you make. It’s inspiring to read your posts. Enjoy your new found delight in your ability to take control. And the brittle!

You are so right Lucia.

I jumped right in to 800 but I can see why for some they need to ease in. Your ideas are great. Another idea would be to cut out one thing at a time. Ditch bread this week for example, potatoes the week after and so on.

I’m bounding about like a madwoman today because I am genuinely stunned to have completed 8 weeks. Where did the time go?

and bread? who needs it? it’s so last year.

Have a lovely day 🙂

Well done Izzy
CONGRATULATIONS
PP

I made it! Still a long way to go, but here is what 8 weeks have done for me physically…

starting weight – 12st 12, end weight- 11st 7.5 (down 18.5lb’s)
starting Body fat- 49.2% end body fat- 42.5
Starting BMI- 35.1 end BMI- 31.4
starting FBS- 5.1 end FBS 4.3
Starting resting pulse rate 71, end resting pulse rate 61
starting waist- 37″ end waist- 33″
starting bust- 43.5″ end bust- 40″
starting hips- 47.5″ end hips- 43.5″

And here is what it’s done for me otherwise…

I’m confident I can lose more and get to a healthier place.
I don’t need those carby things I used to miss.
I *feel* better.
I’m truly excited by food again where previously I think I was caught up in feeling guilty about most of what I ate.
I have more energy for me and the kids. (most days)

So any newbies out there wondering if you can do it, you CAN. I’m genuinely surprised at how easy this is to stick to, and my losses are smaller than most but still epic to me. It has passed so quickly I still feel like a newbie!

So if you’re thinking about starting… stop thinking and get doing. Plan your next few days meals and get along to the shop for what you need. get started as soon as possible, take a few walks, ditch the carbs, drink the fluids, eat the lovely food, feel well, never look back.

If I can, YOU CAN.

I know I keep mentioning how to start the diet, I think once you are on it it’s a lot easier.

What tips can you all share on how you started, especially if you could not convert to 800 calories straight away.

My suggestions are listed in previous blogs but here is another one.

5:2

2 days at 800 calories and 5 days at say, 1200
Then do three days
Then four days etc.

It is so easy to find a solution if you want it bad enough.

It’s stamp out diabetes, lets shrink blubber.

Come on gang, we can do this together.

Love lucia
Xxxx

*******cartwheels into the forum********

Ok maybe not. I’ve never been able to do cartwheels, and I had a rubbish sleep so I’m tired but nonetheless my 8 week results are in and I’m a happy Izzy. I’ve lost 2.5 this week.

ok so here are my 8 week stats

starting weight – 12st 12, end weight- 11st 7.5 (down 18.5lb’s)
starting Body fat- 49.2% end body fat- 42.5
Starting BMI- 35.1 end BMI- 31.4
starting FBS- 5.1 end FBS 4.3
Starting resting pulse rate 71, end resting pulse rate 61
starting waist- 37″ end waist- 33″
starting bust- 43.5″ end bust- 40″
starting hips- 47.5″ end hips- 43.5″

I’m not done yet I know, much to still achieve, but I’m proud of what I have accomplished in the last 8 weeks. I’ve learned so much about what I do and don’t need. I’m sure like any other addict I will remain a recovering addict for a lifetime. There may well be slip ups in the future but now I know what I need to do to get over them. Now I know that actually I’m perfectly happy without all the stuff we cut out. Sure in the future I might succumb to an ocassional banana. Shoot me. Maybe even a baked potato at some point… but I think if I can keep to this most of the time I should be fine.

I think I’ve found my way, the plan that works for me. So thank you Michael Mosely. Thank you BSD, Thankyou to every person here who has helped and encouraged me.

Now… on to today!

I’ve had strawberries and granola for breakfast, I’ll be having crackers, cheese and salad for lunch.

Dinner is going to be stir fry pork

And tonight I’m going to have a little of the pecan brittle I made to celebrate 🙂

Should I call this week 9? I’ll still be sticking to BSD just one day per week not 800.

Seriously I can’t believe I’m an 8 week graduate!!

Applebelly – I use Quorn, once a week ( I replaced one of the lamb and pomegranate recipes in the book). 5 months on 2 stone lighter no longer a Diabetic – worked for me.

Yes I went on one 5 months ago and had just started the BSD diet that week. Half the group left after 2 hours, it was a all day thing and I learnt nothing only that they used to tell people to avoid eggs and now they are good. They practically laughed at me when I said I wanted to reverse it. Complete waste of time and money – not impressed with the NHS, the Doctor would have been better handing out the BSD book.

On a separate note Newbies, you have the experience to look forward to that I had yesterday. I’m 5 months on and 3 stone lighter than my all time high last year and more importantly no longer a Diabetic. 4 people said I looked great but probably needed fating up and not to loose anymore weight or I would look ill!!!!! I am a stone and a half within the bottom of the NHS guidelines for my height and feel fantastic, but would like to go a little lower. I remember reading someone else on this forum saying they had experienced the same thing and thought well that will never happen to me.

I find it amazing those people wouldn’t have said last year ” You look a little fat, maybe lose some weight” so why is it acceptable to comment the other way around on my weight? Maybe they think its a compliment to say you will look ill!!!!

Brilliant result Marg38, how encouraging! Really pleased you are enjoying the experience! Here’s to a successful week 2!

Hi Slimmingmayya,
Sorry it’s taken me a while to get back to you. I’m pleased to read that your daytime fasting and post- sunset pre-sunrise BSD is going well.
Best wishes.

Hi Steve.R,

What great stats for the end of Week 4. You are now the inspiration for so many of us.

Thanks Lynne,
for sharing your snack ideas. I have been having some nuts occasionally, seems to feel like carbs and quite satisfying.
Good to hear about your husband and his diabetes, I am in the same boat and hope for a similar outcome.

Hi Lucia,
I’m feeling upbeat today (isn’t it great when the week starts on Tuesday?)
Tea tonight is Atlantic salmon (thank you Aldi) and salad. Lunch was cauliflower soup.
Plans this week? I’m going to be kind (to the world, to my friends, to myself).
Have a great day.

Hi Steve.R

COOL and well done you.

N

First week over for me and 3 kg down – Yay!!!! Not finding it hard at all and not hungry. Best wishes to all on the programme – I am looking forward to week 2. Love reading everybody’s posts about their experiences.

Hi BarrelOnLegs and Rebcar. How long did you find before your cravings went away? Also, did either of you have digestive issues as a result? I find that when I go on to a low carb diet I have trouble moving things along if you catch my drift – did either of you experience this? How long does it take for you to feel in control? I wake up in the morning and just feel like I haven’t been to sleep. My dream is to

a) wake up and not be tired
b) not spend my whole day thinking about food
c) wear a dress that comes above me knees

Is it hard giving up the sugary carby foods? I love bread haha. I have about 15kg I would like to lose (not sure what that is in pounds sorry – a bit over 30lb?)

Hi Christine

Funnily enough, my people often seem happy to say their diabetic. Often in the form of ‘I’m diabetic so I shouldn’t eat this but …’ 😳 When I was in London we had a lunch club. Diabetics were given a sugar free version of the dessert, but there was rarely enough for seconds – so they had seconds from the regular dessert.😱

You reminded me – I must move the buttons on my tunic before Sunday. Don’t usually wear it at this time of year, but need to on Sunday (going to Durham Cathedral!)

Great idea to set yourself mini targets. I think I go by the half stone, then down into the next stone, and by my BMI. Another six pounds and my weight will begin with a 10 for the first time in many a long year. Then it will be the final leg, to get my weight starting with a 9!

I’ve been thinking about your question and I can’t think of anything I crave that I used to eat before BSD. And I can’t think of what carbs I would begin to reintroduce. Like you it was chocolate, cakes and puddings. And takeaways. But Chinese takeaways were really not suiting me, all the publicity about some Indian takeaways using ground peanuts instead of ground almonds puts me off as I’m allergic to peanuts. Even the pizza or kebabs from the local pizza place weren’t really worth the calories. And that was all before BSD. I had to buy cakes today for a party tomorrow and just looking stupid some of them set my teeth on edge because they’re just so sweet now! I ate a few strawberries on holiday and found them far too sweet, so what chance does chocolate or cake have😱 It seems like my tastes have really changed over the time I’ve been doing the BSD. Give he a strong cheese – Gorgonzola dolce, or Stilton, or pecorino, or Parmesan and I’m happy. I ate a lot of antipasti while away – sliced salami, Parma Ham, cheese, etc and that was fine – I really enjoyed it. I’ve a kilo of really good Parmesan in the fridge to share with my son. Goodness knows how it got through airport security😳 Also really good olive oil (2 types), Balsamic Vinegar and porcinni mushrooms to share. Bottle of Limoncello for his partner. Not forgetting purses for the twins. And I bought myself truffle oil – couldn’t find it near where I live. Can you imagine how heavy my case was😱 Oh, nearly forgot – a half salami jumped into my bag at the airport – again for my son. Meat and cheese all vacuum packed. All bottles double wrapped in bubble wrap.

I did bring a small amount of nougat (local speciality in Cremona) for a few people, but it doesn’t bother me having it around. Fortunately, because I’ve also got some chocolate oranges, Ferraro Rochet, and Dairy Milk sitting in the kitchen for the men on a Fathers’ Day!

My knee, it was the ligament had torn. Had the footballers’ operation – and never played the game in my life LOL. Trouble is, when you hurt one knee, you tend to put more pressure on the other one so that one starts to cause problems – I know a few people where that’s happened.

The stats are ive lost 9kg and my blood sugars are constantly reading first thing in the morning between 3 and 5. Very happy with the results so far my weight loss has slowed the last week or so. Had bad cravings only a couple of days but found i only got them when i was not doing anything. I walk on the treadmill everyday for 30 mins except Sunday thats my rest day. Looking forward to the next few weeks my goal is to loose another 20kg.looking forward to buying some new clothes in 8 weeks time.

Hi applebelly – if you type Quorn in the search box (right hand top corner of the page) it will bring up all previous threads about quorn.
good luck

Oh dear – I went to one of those about eighteen months ago – are they still telling you to eat lots of low fat muck?

Hi PurlySu
I wouldn’t worry about it too much – not sure how the High Fat low Carb diet you were following previously differs from this, but as people have said, it sounds as if you’ve been following a healthy diet for a while.
I am nearing the end of week four, and haven’t lost as much as I hoped in terms of weight, but am finding that clothes I’ve not been able to wear for years are suddenly too loose.
The extra weight you are carrying probably took a while to get there – be patient and it will go – and don’t forget that with all that exercise, muscle is more dense than fat!

Some people find mashed cauliflower makes a good mashed potato substitute, or you could top shepherds pie with grated carrot and onion.

i’d recommend reading the book again as it is so much to take in. I’m reading it again myself for a second time.

Hee hee yes no finishing off the blender, they’re very useful!
Oo good, yum-Those beetroot falafel are on my list so great to hear you found them tasty👏😝

I had to attend a diabetic education programme today. Well I learnt only one new thing which was quite depressing; according to the diabetic nurse, apparently you can go into remission and reduce or completely stop meds but eventually you will need them! That was a shocker.

What they are teaching dieticians advising Type 2’s .. well when they tell you that it doesn’t matter whether you eat brown or white bread/pasta/rice and that if you are eating a sweet potato with a white potato then the sweet potato is treated as a vegetable, not a starchy carb – the 13 other people on the course were so confused.

The podiatrist nearly put me to sleep and all she talked about were the revolting cases she had to deal with – passed round a TOE NAIL! ( in a perspex box) which I refused to look at up close as from across the room it looked disgusting and massive!

I was younger than most of those who attended and only one had been Type 2 for more than a year, but I was surprised at the lack of knowledge – of things I would have thought they would have bothered to check – no one had been diagnosed less than 2 months ago I would have thought they would have taken an interest into the illness.

I did mention the BSD and several people asked me for the details but I tried not to undermine or question the dietician even though I found the whole experience rather condescending, uninspiring and learnt nothing new. Has anyone else been on one of these?

Hi. Does anybody know if I can eat any quorn products? I’m vegetarian and enjoy quorn sausages. TIA

Good luck Steve, yes you don’t need to be diabetic and its all about a healthier lifestyle and you have chosen a brilliant programme to achieve it.

Hi FN don’t beat yourself up – 1000 calories is excellent, you are still going to lose more weight than you would at a fat club and lower your blood sugar. The first week is a killer and your body needs time to adjust to less food and carbs. You are doing really well and 1000 calories is an amazing success.

My mood today is damp. Oh so damp. Thank you Lucia for asking.

Hi Lynne,
That’s great when someone starts taking an interest in what is happening to you,
I had a couple at church this week, David said that jacket is too big for you christine, the woman asked me why David was insulting me! So we explained about the diet I’m on, it turns out her husband is diebetic, has been for six years, now we know these people, we never knew he was diebetic, but then why would you, you don’t go round announcing it do you?
They asked a lot of questions including where they could get the information so here’s hoping they take up the challenge.
I still have 27lb at least to lose, I’m doing it in increments though, I’m telling myself at the moment just lose six pounds, then I will give myself another target.
Is there nothing that you crave from before you were on this diet, and what will you eat first when you get to the point where you will introduce carbs, I ask because I could leave rice, pasta and most types of potato, I love roast and some chips, however if I needed I could leave them alone. My weakness is chocolate and cakes and puddings, yet at the moment I can say no to them because I want to get to my desired weight! I just know if I have one cake pudding dessert or chocolate I won’t be blue to stop!
It’s so good to have you back, I hope I’m feeling a lot better soon, I might have to see someone bout these knees, ironically my right one is causing more trouble than the one I twisted!
Cheers christine

Thank you all for your kind words. Today I weighed myself again and have now lost two pounds, so a little more encouraging.

One problem I experienced; at my Zumba class this morning, I twice had to stop because of light headedness. I normally have breakfast after class, now I think I need to have it before.

Good luck to all!

Thanks for that, I should know that but had forgotten. I have reduced bread to 3 times a week and I used to have bread every day, also I only have potatoes about twice a week, the shepherds pie I make I only have a small portion and it’s mainly mince so that will be ok. Good tip about causes, I haven’t had one since I started this. I had a blood test on Thursday so my dr can see what is going on it would be nice if it has lowered

so many great stories, well done everyone 🙂

anything starchy (potatoes, pasta, rice and bread) are converted by the body to sugars quickly, causing blood sugar spikes and insulin to be released. Those are the things that cause the body to crave more carbs, feel energised followed by a slump, feel hungry faster, and store more fat. All of the things we are trying to avoid or at least minimise.

If you don’t feel able to give them up then try to minimise how often you have them and keep your portions smaller. I hope you are getting on ok 🙂

I had forgotten to take the pork mince out of the freezer so I’ve switched up my menu. Everyone else had pasta bake for their dinner and I had chilli left over from last night with courgetti. I’m only on 690 calories so I’m going to have an almond milk hot choc and a little chill out before bed.

I’ve been low on my steps over the weekend but I’ve made my 10000 today (and most days in fact over the last 8 weeks)

I can’t quite believe I have made it through 8 whole weeks! This has passed so quickly. I’m looking forward to tomorrow morning (so long as I don’t put any weight on haha) to weigh and measure and report in with my 8 week results. I still have a longish way to go but I’m more confident than I have ever been that I can do it.

night all 🙂

Please excuse my ignorance but why are potatoes such a problem

B- experimental smoothie of half an avocado, spinach, berries, courgette, almond milk, flax seeds (pretty gross it turns out but I forced it down)
L-egg and salmon protein pot from pret a manger, nectarine, 3 cherry tomatoes and some mange tout
Snacks – terrible chocolate craving mid-afternoon so ate about 75g of mixed nuts 😮
Better than chocolate but I am now at 850 cals and 40g carbs for the day so leaving off dinner in favour of herbal tea and sparkling water.

BEETROOT FELAFELS

Made these on Sunday for lunch – recipe is in the book- I added some garlic and extra cumin and also some red pepper flakes to give a little background heat. Divided the mixture in to 12 not 8 as it says in the recipe as I felt the felafel were too big to cook through. They looked a bit odd as they came out of the oven but we’re really tasty. Served it with the yoghurt but with added chopped cucumber, garlic and a pinch of salt and some mixed leaves and tomatoe. Highly recommended, will definitely make these again and will try a carrot and courgette combination.

Hi Christine

Sorry to hear you’ve not been well. 😢 Years ago one of my knees kept locking in a bent position. Finished up having operation😱. I’m not too well at the minute – very tired, thickly cough. Voice went Thursday afternoon, back Saturday afternoon. But still hoarse😱

Judith’s due back on 16th June 😃.

After two holidays, a hotel lunch and a 4-day residential course, I’ve learned a lot about how to cope with BSD when I have little control over what I eat. But I don’t want to ease up too much, too soon.

I’ve about another 28 pounds to lose to get into ‘normal’ BMI. When (yes, ‘when’ not ‘if’) I get there I think I’ll just try slowly increasing calories but sticking with low-carb. After this length of time its second nature to low-carb – I don’t even have to think about it. I was curious what the results would be after the holiday. I had dinner & breakfast in London before I flew (Pret salad, then Wetherspoons breakfast – minus hash brown or toast – at airport), then a meal at Kings Cross (Prezzo – steak & rocket salad) when I got back. At home I normally eat breakfast then in the evening, but away I was eating three times a day so I tried to watch portion sizes. Friend asked if I was ok with salad dressed with oil – yes. Was I ok with butter – yes 😃 It helped that I could do some food shopping for things I could eat. Visiting small towns in northern Italy (not tourist places) my food choices could be limited – but I always found something I could eat 😃. And I enjoyed the visit just as much as previous visits.

Some we ate with queried what I was doing – hopefully seeds sown.

Talking of which – my sons partner ( she who gave me all the Lakeland goodies😱 And said she couldn’t do without carbs) who has complex medical issues told me on Saturday she’s given up bread – because ‘it bloats her’. Perhaps now she’ll make more changes.

Breakfast – dessert spoon Greek Yogurt, frozen berries, some walnuts
lunch – Quinoa 40g cooked with sweetcorn, tinned tomatoes, half avocado and Mexican spices
Dinner – chicken breast meat 50g, quinoa salad as above 30g, Queen olives x 5, red pepper and lettuce
Total 815 cals.

Thanks all. I’m weighing all food and logging with My Fitness Pal app. Def need to drink more but that’s tricky as out in car all day with work and never know when I’ll be able to wee!! Am def ketotic as doing a dip stick so should be coming off somewhere! Measurements have plateaued too but will keep on keeping on and fingered crossed for another drop soon

Hi Especially,

Thanks for the link, it is intriguing how it turns to a creamy paste. I think if I run my ancient processor for that long it will explode. Will try again when I get a new one.

No breakfast just camomile tea and coffe with milk 40ml at work
Lunch , Pret a manger Italian chicken no dressing
Dinner, half red pepper with feta, olives, pistachio onion. No pomegranate (recipe from book)
20 g cheese with walnuts.. Trying to resist my sons mango! Drinking water instead!

Lucia
Meatballs with courgetti for us – though I say it myself they were better than anything M&S can do… added a good dollop of horseradish to the beef mixture and they tasted yummy. Currently resisting the temptation to drink the Henry West on vintage cider in the fridge – not because of the diet, simply because I still have to pick up a daughter so need to drive the car. Might weed the patio instead…

Hi Lynne,
Welcome back and we’ll done, to lose weight while on holiday, whew that’s great your will power is amazing you need to bottle it and sell it!
I’m still losing slowly, still having problems with (both) knees now, one keeps clicking in and out of pain, not sure what to do about it though, I have been fighting this ‘virus’ and it’s not going anywhere, everything is hard work, I am shattered, that’s why I haven’t been posting recently, have been doing a lot of nothing! Just soo frustrating not having energy to do anything.
I have a great problem when my lot have toast it just smells so good, I don’t know how I resist it!
Do you have any idea when Judith is back? I can’t remember!
When will you have reached your desired weight and what will you do then about your food choices?

Hi Janeycoughdrop, I only lost half a pound this week. This brings my total to 12.5lbs so not too bad for five weeks. My grandson is gaining weight slower than I am losing it so I am well ahead of him. I know all babies have blue eyes and they change but he has light blue eyes like his I older brother so I am guessing they will stay blue. His brother can get away with anything when he looks at me with those eyes so I guess he will too😄

I am very frustrated with the treadmill people. When we bought it they told us it would be delivered within ten days (tomorrow is two weeks). We got a phone call last week from the delivery people to say they had only just seen the order and can’t deliver it until this Thursday. We kicked up a fuss as its not our fault that they are inefficient and the manager of the shop said we, as customers, deserve the best customer service, he is very sorry but he can’t get them to deliver any quicker. So much for customer service. Anyway we hope it will come this Thursday…..or the next…..or the next.

People are beginning to notice my weight loss. Today I am wearing a new t-shirt that was a bit snug when I got it a few weeks ago and I didn’t want to wear it with my spare tyre showing. My spare tyre must have deflated as it fits me now.

Onwards and downwards to week six.

The other people in the house still use the toaster otherwise I’d consider binning ours, but my husband who is in to all things fitness came across a facebook thing showing someone ‘toasting’ slices of sweet potato in the toaster, so no doubt he will be trying that at some point.

I finished work a bit early so I popped in to pick up my glasses, feels a bit strange but I’m sure I will get used to them. Not sure I’ve chosen the best pair but we are all self critical. My daughter thinks they look good as does hubby, but seriously I walk in looking like an absolute scarecrow at times and he doesn’t notice lol. I’m off to pick up my son in a few mins so I’ll get the opinion of my friend and childminder whom I have known for over 10 years. We trust each other to tell the truth!

I’ve never paid any attention to my eyebrows and now I feel like these glasses are drawing attention to them and for the first time in 40 years I might have to have them shaped up a bit haha, such vanity.

Bissell that is fab news that your MOT went well, and also that the nurse was genuinely interested. Hopefully change will happen in the NHS soon.

I’m no longer allowed to stand on my box 🙁 much sadness. Having said that I do kind of like the tool roll now that I have it, so it might work out better than I expected. I’ll use it the rest of the week before I form a proper opinion, give it a chance lol.

Right, I gotta go get the boy and then cook dinner. Byeeee

Week 8 weigh in for me. I’ve always been a slow loser so although I have a lot to lose I have lost 21 lbs. not bad given that I went off piste on holiday and gained 6 lbs a couple of weeks ago.
A bit of history; I was a slim size 12 when I got married 28 years ago but gradually put on weight exacerbated by PCOS, IVF treatment (failed) and the emotional fallout from that. Add to that the stress of a teaching career and the lack of regular eating patterns which would lead to binge eating. My downfalls bread, puddings and wine. I am the graduate of every diet going WW, SW, Atkins, Cambridge, Lighter Life – you name it I’ve tried it. All given up through boredom or unsustainabilty. Each time saw me putting on more weight than I had lost. At the start of this year I was 17 stone and size 20 in denial, preferring to squeeze into bulging Size 18 than buy clothes that fitted.I was about to start Jo Wickes’ programme but having bought his book and trying a couple of recipes I couldn’t cope with the huge size of the portions and I wasn’t fit enough to do the required exercises. Then I read about the BSD. I’m not diabetic but there is a family history of diabetes and my cousin had just died prematurely with diabetes related dementia.
Week One I lost 3lbs but 3 inches off my waist! Since then with the exception of week 3 when I had a bit of a plateau I have lost steadily. I’m now size 16 and at the start of this week I was delighted to see a 14 at the start of my weight. Even more importantly I have loads of energy and having last week wallpapered and painted my dining room this week I am tackling the jungle of a garden outside.
The blip on holiday would normally have derailed me but I’m no longer on a diet I am just eating differently. Returning to the BSD , not only did I lose the 6lbs in days but my weight loss seems to have speeded up. So now I’m knocking on the door of the eight week lounge, can I come in? I still have a long way to go but for once I’m not daunted by it, I’m looking forward to the journey.

hi jimmy
I got very shaky in my first week or so, and especially in the morning before breakfast
and also when I went out for long walks
I bought some glucose tablets – and found if I just had one or two, after a few minutes things improved
I bet others will say that counters the low carbs, but I had to do something

now – I am finding less shaky but incredibly tired and have actually not gone on any of my walks for a week
all that healthy food, yet I have no energy

hope things settle for you soon

Hi Jimmy
I was fortunate and didn’t get shaky or headachy when I started, but I think quite a lot of people do, you’re not alone.
Persevere, most people say it passes in a few days – hope that it goes well for you