I don’t think so. MFP automatically adjusts calories for the amount of steps I walk too, even without hitting the gym, as it is synced with all my gadgets. I just focus on the total calories, up to 800. I pay no attention to the calories remaining.

Great results SunnyLife – the effort pays off.

Hi Lucia,

No, we didn’t have open toed sandals or a large floppy hat but we did have a mariarchi band! (Not really, just a vivid imagination).
On breakfast TV this morning ‘does George Clooney make a good TV host?’ Well…….my answer is that George Clooney makes a good anything.
Lucia, I agree with your definition of the week-end commencing 6pm Friday and finishing dawn Monday. I factor in meat free meals to our weekly menu. I do it for a lot of reasons. It’s good for the environment and the family budget just to name two.
We’re in for a wet week-end. There’s an ‘East coast low’ off the coast of Queensland and New South Wales. East coast lows are really nasty weather systems.I’m no meteorologist (wow, that’s a huge word for Saturday morning) but I believe that if the same ‘low’ formed above the Tropic of Capricorn it would be referred to as a cyclone.
Have a safe, healthy and happy week-end.

I’d forgotten the relish pots Gilly – but yes, I loved those too
Maybe not recreate that bit!

TiggerB good luck… I’m almost at the end of 8 weeks and have really enjoyed every week.. Lots of change which I am so pleased with and feel so much better too!

I remember Strikes too! It was a really special treat to go… I loved the relish pots!! Ha memories…..

I’ve been logging food intake on MFP for a couple of weeks – today I decided to start logging exercise as well.
Having logged the stuff that I’d done in the gym, I realised that MFP had amended all the food targets by the calories that I had used in the exercise logged.

The general point of exercising is to increase the gap between calories consumed and expended – not to exercise so that I can eat more.
Is anyone using MyFitnessPal that knows if there’s anywhere I can turn off this really unhelpful function?

I just had some for supper with asparagus and smoked salmon – delicious

the lasagne sounds interesting – I’ll try that the next time I cook some mince – I normally cook a big batch with tomato and onion, so that will be something different to do with it.

It was quite nice going to a large supermarket for a change – I have several mini-supermarkets very close by, but it’s nice to have wider choice.

Third day numbers: calories 786 carbs 11.37 walked 4.46 miles and 1 hour Body Pump Class. Weighed 12st 2lb, no change. Tomorrow should be interesting as we have been invited to a party at sister-in-laws.

It’s been a funny old day. At the opticians I discovered I should have glasses for reading so that’s a chunk of money gone just like that lol.

Then I went and picked up my niece and we went off looking for the stone circle I wanted to see and as we drove along my car started getting noisier and noisier so I pulled into a carpark for a look to find a nice flat tyre. So swapped it over with the spare, but there is another chunk of cash for getting a new tyre soon.

We found the stone circle which was lovely and then home, finally managed to sort out my car insurance properly and took my daughter for her eye test to find that she also needs glasses for reading so right there is yet another chunk of money ready to be spent lol. I’m broke! We have to go back tomorrow for her to choose what she would like.

I’m just grateful that we have what we need and can pay for them, albeit that we don’t have much spare we are fortunate enough.

I’m off now to fit a fan in our bedroom. We used to have a pedastal one but it broke and we haven’t room for it really so I’ve bought one that fits on to the wall. I also have a blackout blind to fit as it’s too light just now. In Scotland we have long hours of daylight during summer. So I best go get it done!

I had cheese, tomato and crackers for lunch. Chicken and cashews with cauli rice for dinner, and I’m going to try and almond milk hot chocolate later 🙂

Night all.

Hi all. In reply to Tofa’s question, it seems that Angela Rippon has a healthy BMI, but her visceral fat was about 3X what was healthy, so the answer seems to be yes. On a parallel track studies by Prof Taylor of Newcastle University indicate that losing visceral fat from the pancreas can help it start producing insulin again, so the BG diet + inulin could be very helpful for diabetics, providing inulin does what is claimed. That’s what I am hoping for anyway!

It’s great that you can still see benefits to this way of life even if the weight isn’t coming off, but having just had your road trip I think it’s fantastic just to have stuck to it like you have 🙂

Big Well done to you!

just passed by and noticed your reply
how kind
thank you rozydozy

head is not good
have also given in to bad eating including a whole packet of cheddars for lunch, and copious other things
(so have blown the wheat free as well)

have ordered all fresh produce, chicken, fish, and veg for Tesco delivery tomorrow and hoping that will work out

I’d agree with skywalker I don’t think the apple is the best lunch, no wonder you are hungry!

As for the gallbladder I don’t believe it is a problem for your blood sugars. I’ve had mine out too but I’m not diabetic so I can’t confirm for sure, but my understanding is that it has no relevance. It stored and released bile, which helped digest fat mostly and to my knowledge has nothing to do with blood sugar.

I’d recommend re-reading the book if you have it, or brushing up on the guidance here. I don’t usually cook different for the family either but I cut out bread/pasta/rice/potato etc and I have courgetti or cauli rice frequently. I’ll usually have yoghurt and fruit for breakfast and soup or salad type stuff at lunch with cheese or chicken etc.

Hi keeptrying,
If you are still reading these messages, I’m sorry that you are still feeling uncomfortable. Remember, you are better than the “bad” foods, don’t let them get the better of you. You chose as your name “keeptrying” – I suspect there is an inner core of determination within you. I hope you find your way back when you are better able to cope with things.
Take care.

Thanks Cherrianne 😃

I’ve used a slow cooker but have to say it’s not my best friend. But in your circumstances it could soon become one😳

Hello all,
I agree with Skywalker – I’ve been BSDing since mid-January, approx. 20 weeks – I bypassed the 8week/800cals, and the 5:2 part, I just went in at the simplest level possible and have just continued. I found for me that tweaking things when necessary works best for me. So far, I’ve lost 1.5 stone – still not yet in the healthy section of the BMI but I’m on my way. I recently relaxed things a bit and had a few off-limits foodstuffs (for variety, to use up some things in my cupboards) and my weight loss stalled but, most importantly, it didn’t go up. The past few days I’ve excluded the off-limit stuff again and the weight loss is restarting.
For me a LITTLE of what I fancy does me good but hopefully now I’ve learned not to go overboard. So I wouldn’t worry about having a celebration meal or whatever, and I’m not going to agonise over things. So long as I monitor things I know what to do if I need to nip things in the bud. I truly believe that this way of eating is the most maintainable diet I’ve ever tried.
So don’t worry about life after the initial 8 weeks.

Thanks Frog 🙂

When I was doing low carb a couple of years ago, I made lasagne using full fat cottage cheese mixed with a beaten egg as a substitute for the pasta sheets. Worked really well! The egg set and it formed a nice cheesy layer between the mince and tomato mixture.

It is really hard for me to find full fat cottage cheese – my local supermarkets rarely have it. Glad you like it 🙂

Hi TiggerB
£2 – someone really wanted the space back in their bedroom! – enjoy. I went to the gym this morning for the first time in ages & used the stationary bikes there – and the rower.

I love fruit in savoury food – rhubarb with fish is a favourite.
Partly inspired by realising that full fat cottage cheese is tons better than skinny versions, I was remembering an upmarket (well I thought it was at the time, I’d have been about 13 or 14, and visits to my sister in London were very glamorous and exciting!) that my sister used to take me to in the early 1970’s called Strikes – I loved a dish with an open burger with cottage cheese and a peach on the top.
Sounds weird, but I’m planning to recreate it!

I’ve been adding cinnamon to yoghurt too – I had some apple and yoghurt with lots of cinnamon for desert the other day – really tasty.

Congratulations Josephsmum – on the weight loss and resisting the cake!

I think the being full is related to the fat content – hence the full fat yogurt rather than the no fat variety.
I’ve had cottage cheese this week – I think I’ve previously only had low or no fat versions when on other diets, and thought it vile, but encouraged by other posters on here I tried some full fat, and its really delicious and incredibly versatile – it doesn’t add the tang that yoghurt does when you add it to things.

well done on the ‘not wanting to kill everyone’ too – I’ve generally been fine, and in a really good mood, but I realised this afternoon that I was feeling really grouchy – I decided I’d not slept much last night, and went to bed for a couple of hours, before I sent any more grouchy emails!

I am thinking of chicken with a nice crisp salad.
But I thought you were going to go veggie for the weekend.
So when does the weekend start?
I say 6pm on a Friday to dawn Monday.
Sssooooooooooooooo, I suppose some of that dipped rubber then, sorry I meant tofu.
Harken me, don’t I sound posh again.
May wear a kaftan for the meal.

Love Lucia
Xxx

Well gone really well so far, was surprised I wasn’t hungry – had a little glitch yesterday and ate a piece of cake but even then by daily calorie count was under 1200. Forgave myself and got back on it 🙂

I had avocado, grapefruit and cheddar salad the other day – like in the book but normal salad leaves instead of fennel. I now love grapefruit in salad!! I am also using extra virgin olive oil in my cooking/salad dressings and also eating full fat mature cheddar. Using lots of spices in my food too – ginger and cinnamon at least in my yogurt in the morning – which makes food interesting.

Really enjoying it and feel like I’ve lost weight. My Hba1c is in the pre-diabetic range so measured my blood sugar on Tuesday morning (after not eating for 8 hours) and it was 9.1. Going to weigh myself and re test my blood sugar on Tuesday next week to see what it’s like.

Exercise hasn’t really got started though I have bought an exercise bike off eBay for £2 lol.

Thanks everyone for commenting 🙂

Well done Kel that is terrific you must be over the moon

Well done SunnyLife that is fabulous!

8 weeks done but carrying on
My measurement loss has been
Chest 2 inches off
Shoulders 2 inches off.
Thigh 3 inches off
Waist 4 inches off I measured this at fattest part
Weight 2 stone lost
Blood pressure from 138/82 now 122/80
BS today before dinner 6.2 but still on tablets,except sitagliptin 100 mg which I stopped weeks ago
Alanhypno ,doesn’t seem loads inches but clothes all baggy
I intent to reduce metformin one at a time now gradually
Cheers folks

Burritos.
Did you wear open toed sandals and a big floppy hat too?

Love
Lucia
Xxxx

Ok. A bit of gossip, shhhh but don’t tell anyone.
Our Michael Mosley has been busy doing a programme of those electrical cigarettes.
Must be a long wire if you smoke outside.

I notice the people in work on them are not reducing their addiction.

So there you gave it

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi Switzerland,
Well he is just a perk of the job!!!!

No, I think our bodies are evolving and doesn’t need meat every meal.

Still say pandas are chunky on leaves and butterflies are skinny on pure sugar. It’s not fair!

Once I finish in work, I have my laundry to do.
Sunday is suppose to be 22 degrees.
As I am still in Fahrenheit I am not impressed u till it hits the 70’s 😎😎😎😎😤😤😤😤😤😤😎😎😤😎😎😤😤

Now don’t all say add 34 , and subtract your birthday and add six if there is an r in the month.
I am too thick/lazy/old/cute/daft to work it out.

Anyone got any news or gossip ?

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi, still interested in inulin and have read some of the research which says its a good thing. I had been doubtful because of its high starch content and thought it might be high carb but have found that Amazon sells “inulin fibre (chicory root) – LCFoods available from West Coast source”. It specifically says zero carbs and diabetic friendly ! Prices in dollars so clearly available in USA, so will continue to chase info about organic version in UK. Am wondering whether its possible to have visceral fat with a BMI bordering 20/21??? My BMI was previously 24. Without an expensive scan don’t know whether I have visceral fat. Sadly after 3 months still getting some fasting blood sugar readings of 6.3, 6.4 so still pre-diabetic although some more hopeful ones in the mid 5.’s. I also wondered about inulin as now I eat beans and pulses very sparsely compared to previously (vegetarian) to keep to carb targets. i.e very small amount of quinoa, lentils and chickpeas. I am largely dependent on fibres in veg which continue to have the more obvious desired effects…..!! Similarly wondered about taking Vit B complex ?? Tofa

Thanks AlexX – ah cheese, totally my weakness 😉 I’m starting to try and go through recipes to see what I like and what I should stock in the house. 🙂

This is actually working! I started the 800 plan last Thursday and have found to my surprise that I have not wanted to kill everyone I meet or rush home to eat the carpet!

I am splitting my 800 calories over 3 meals, and depending on how hungry I feel, I will adjust the amount of food I eat at each meal. I do find that the more meat or eggs I eat at one meal the less hungry I am for the next meal. I know it’s all about protein being more satiating than carbohydrates, and I am happy with that.

I have mainly been eating eggs in the morning (more like brunch time) or full-fat Greek yoghurt with frozen berries, and then a nice big bowl of home made soup in the afternoon or a large salad with some meat, then a main meal in the evening will keep me full all night quite happily.

Today was a good test for me. I volunteer on Fridays for a local charity, and one of the other volunteers brought in a home-made lemon drizzle cake – my absolute favourite cake (or it was – before the diet) and I wasn’t even tempted to take a slice when offered!

There is a long way for me to go yet, so I am hoping my resolve continues for the next 7 weeks – but so far, so good!

Aw you guys are so impressive. You have will powers of steel. Mine not so much. I’ve struggled here in the US to eat healthily as we’ve been out with friends a lot, hey ho, I’ll get back on it.

Keep up the good work and inspiring posts! Hope you two lose your 2 pounds Bill and FifiP!

Have fun x

Hi OzVeggy, I am still new to this and only in my first week. A couple of days ago I adjusted my goals to
Carbs 30g 15%
Fat 53g 60%
Protein 50g 25%

I am going to see how that goes and if it’s too difficult I will increase carbs/reduce fat. Looking at the last couple of days I haven’t always eaten the fat but today I am adding in some avocado.

Half way through week six and I finally hit 10% lost from my starting weight!! Don’t give up!!

I am on week seven, once I finish my eight weeks I’m thinking of doing two days LC Med and 5 of the 800 just to allow for some variety but I have a lot of weight to lose and this is going to be a long haul for me so thats why I’m thinking this way. Quite frankly, I’m so accustomed to the 800 calorie meals I don’t think my stomach can handle my old way of eating anymore anyhow and thats a GREAT thing!

Hello, do you know what you blood sugar reading is before you start? have you taken body measurements and photo? Being addicted to sugar is no joke but can be overcome to a large extent in just a few weeks if you replace it with good fats and protein. I suppose you must have some idea of your BS level or why would you be concerned unless your diet is sugar/carbs/white foods heavy? Use the search box for your own ares of interest there is loads of good stuff around here. Happy eating, it should not be that hard if you are committed and willing to learn the ways and pitfalls of others on here. PS as a rule I never throw food away, give it away but food waste is bad and nothing is forbidden within 800 calories its just that some calories are worthless in terms of nutrition. All you really need is a set of digital food scales, plenty of veg and the will to succeed…

Hi there, General, not sure if what you wrote is the whole picture or not but I would guess that an apple and some hot water is an unhealthy way to live and eat and does not seem to me at least to be following the Fast 800 guidelines. We need the fluid sure enough, but also fats, and protein and 30 gm carbs but in one hit at the end of the day I do not think you will get the benefits the rest od us are getting. I admire your strength and tenacity but how you mange on that regime I cannot even start to imagine. Good luck and do not be so hard on yourself.=, perhaps you are not? PS I have lots of gall stones but cannot answer the question for you, I think though it would be unlikely – perhaps others know better?

Hello everyone, I’m more concerned about my Blood sugar levels than weight (“lucky you” ,I hear you all say).No I consider it will be much harder to achieve this 8 week plan due to goals, you see those people on here losing weight have a visual incentive, ok maybe a little chubby tummy and that’s my visual ,I had a father who was Diabetic so although I think I’m not prediabetic, prevention is better than cure,so here it goes ,this week end reading book fully and stocking up as well as throwing out foods and lets see how I feel in 8 weeks
James the positive

I’m well impressed at your cooking skills JillyB, i’m more Jamie Oliver in my approach, fast, casual + hope for the best!!

: )

Thanks Glevesque, don’t lose heart – it’s all going in the right direction – just keep persevering. Upping your excersises is great – you will feel so much better so much faster. I suspect my weight loss in the first week was amazing as I have so much to lose (4st now) It’s definitely slowed down now. I know it is depressing when you try so hard and it’s not coming off fast enough but I do feel quite motivated as I keep giving myself a talking to – I am fed up of not being able to do activities I want to do with my family and friends, of buying clothes because they fit rather than I like them, not wanting to meet new people because I worry about what they will think of me (next to rather fit and gorg hub) and being generally self conscious all the time and not living life to the full. Only I can do something about this. I am sure you can think of your own reasons – thinking about that makes the craving disappear like magic. Keep on going – you sound like you are doing all the right things.

I’m so glad you and the OH are on the mend Bill. Have a great holiday, you deserve it. 😀
Well done Lynne on staying strong on your holidays 😇 . You have such amazing willpower, the desire to lose those last pounds must be so strong. You really deserve a BSD biggest loser award lol!
I’m still enduring our endless house renovation. Feels like we are camping here or stuck in a reality TV home Reno show. Not so much fun living it as when you’re watching it though. The slow cooker has become my new best friend. I can leave the food to cook while I rush around trying to clean up the plaster dust 😠

Hi All,

Im a 50 year old male and I was diagnosed with Diabetes last November with a hba1c score of 106. at the time I was 203lbs and measured 44″ around my waist. Im 5’11” tall, I was prescribed 2 metformin per day with warnings that my condition was incurable and I would soon need stronger meds and might even need insulin injections.I was also warned of the complication I might face. I was advised to eat a balanced diet of starchy carbs fruit and veg fish and meat.

I read the book, 8 week blood sugar diet and now Roughly 6 months later I’m165lbs and 36″ around my waist, more inportantly I got the news from my gp this morning, My hba1c is now 37. I am now down to 1 metformin per day with a promise from my gp that if I can keep my hba1c in the normal zone in 6 months time I will be off all meds.

My gp was very impressed and asked me how I done it, My reply was following a low carb diet and excersise.
Thanks to Michael Mosley’s 8 week blood sugar diet book.

Now the challange is to keep it up,
Best of luck to people at the start of there low carb journey, It can be done,
Kel

JillyB

I wondered how I would cope in Italy. Not sure if staying with friends is easier or harder! They take me to other friends who don’t know what I’m doing. So I have to explain again. Getting some strange looks😃

Visitors today so a cake baked last night. They ate some after lunch while I enjoyed black coffee 😃

Hi to everyone, Its so helpful reading all your posts. I am now at the end of week 3, total weight loss is about 4kg.But I’m more focused on my BGL which is not going down much.I’m also not strict on 800 cal there have been days when I miscalculate the calories. Or when My BGL is low, I treat myself or giving in to certain food urges.I was already limiting carbs before I started and I did paleo diet for a while but didn’t loose weight.I haven’t had headaches and food cravings are not too bad, although I really want some bread and Vegemite right now.Yes its an Aussie thing.I drink japanese green tea and miso soup to increase my fluids.I plan to get more exercise this week and limit my portion size. I find that I eat too much meat.I need a few more tools ,a\new kitchen scale and a more accurate calorie counter.I will read the book again to get more focused. I will let you know how it goes next week. cheers

I’ve started saving the stock that’s left at the bottom of the pan when I’ve steamed vegetables – I haven’t made any soup with it yet, but I’m planning to!

Hi Christine

Sorry about your virus and knee😱

Watched 6 people eating huge ice creams yesterday😱 We checked the menu & asked waitress but nothing was sugar free! Just had sparkling water😳

Visitors today. Last night friends made a Devil’s food cake. After lunch 4 ate it. While I had my black coffee!

In general I find food on planes not worth eating. Now I either eat before boarding or take something with me. On a BA flight on Wednesday the cabin crew commented that not many people accept the food offered. This is my 2nd holiday this year, plus 2 residential conferences. I’ve stuck to the BSD principles, eating low carb, and have learned I need to watch portion sizes. When possible, visit the local market/ supermarket and buy what you know you can eat. I’m currently in Italy, staying with friends, and am avoiding pasta etc. Been to the supermarket to buy foods friends don’t necessarily have in their kitchen. Yesterday we were taken to a great ice cream place. But everything had sugar in it so I just drank sparkling water. Felt strange? But Ive decided I want to be fit and healthy for as long as possible. If that means avoiding things I used to consider treats then so be it. I can’t eat as much as I used to, but enjoy what I eat, so it’s not a hardship.

Week 6 Day 1
No loss of inches or pounds this week most likely due to travel for the past couple weeks. Two days till we are home eating our own food.
Seems there is too much salt and hidden items in eating out and also too much salt eating smoked salmon for an in room meal everyday.
Also couldn’t take my meds yesterday since we were driving 8 hours so retaining water there as well
Excited to see what week 6 brings once we are home again.
Stayed in the plan 99.9 percent and only went over in carbs 1-2 days out of 18 due to food choices available (potatoes for vegie).
Yesterday was under by 150 cal and 15 carbs.
C’est la vie. Keep on trucking.
💜Good things to note is my skin is really better all of a sudden. Under my eyes and backs of arms is super smooth with no bumps at all. So even though I lost no weight or inches I am still progressing in other ways.

I know nothing about gall bladders General Dogsbody – but your post made me appreciate the luxury of living on my own – the only ‘person” to interfere with what I eat is my cat, who only wants to sneak away stuff that I’ve carefully weighed and logged.
We’ve just ‘shared’ lunch of steak with vegetables – she starts off by trying to look incredibly cute, then stalks the plate, sits on my laptop, and finally tried to attack my feet until I cut some steak off for her.
It must be really hard cooking for other people and having them eat tempting stuff. I was at work the other day, and someone had toast – it was only grotty white bread that I wouldn’t normally eat, but the smell was to die for!

There’s a BBC program, I think Wednesday evening, looking primarily about the psychology of couples losing weight, but around that weight loss and fitness generally – quite inspiring as the series started the day I began BSD.

I don’t measure my blood sugar levels, so I don’t know the impact on those, but I do try and spread my 800 calories more evenly through the day, and haven’t been feeling hungry – I occasionally miss breakfast, but I don’t think that I could regularly make it through to my evening meal on just water and an apple.
Good luck with it all.

Mushrooms and stock cube, water and a bit of seasoning in a saucepan and then a soup maker. No fat.