Hi all,

Just completed my first month on Sunday, my starting weight was 14 stone 11, as of this morning my weight is 13 stone 7 pounds! My target weight is 12 stone 7 pounds, so I’m halfway there.

My BS is now in the range of 5.5 – 6.8 day and night, my blood pressure has gone down from mid 170’s to 120s, so I’ve stopped all the BP meds.

I’ve cut down the insulin by 2 thirds, my specialist said that I might not be able to completely cut it out as I’ve had T2 for too long, and my pancreas might have stopped working, but I feel that it must be working now, otherwise I would not have been able to cut down on the insulin by so much

The only other meds I was told to continue regardless are metformin and sitagliptin.

My only problem is exercise, apart from not having any energy, is that I’m unable to use the cross trainer I bought several months ago for very long as I have a problem with the pain from lactic acid in my thighs.

I recently got over a similar 2+ week plateau/ weight gain through intermittent fasting then eating the 800 calories. Here’s an example: I try to have dinner between 4 and 6 pm. I then fast only drinking water until 11 or 12 pm the next day. I’ll then pick up eating with a 400 call lunch and a 400 cal dinner and rarely snack. That has completely jump-started my weight loss again. I truly hopes this helps you. My plateau caused me so much stress I took a week hiatus from the plan to just reboot. I’ve been dropping about 3 lbs per week ever since.

Hi,
I’ve just realised that I am going to be at the end of week 5 of this diet when I will have to go out for my Grandad’s 90th birthday. Obviously this is a big one and something that I can’t miss. The restaurant he has chosen does a mix of English food (roasts I think) and what they call ‘Mediterranean grill’. Their website is down and I don’t live anywhere near it so can’t check the menu out any further. Has anyone got any suggestions of what I can eat that won’t cause too much damage? I’m a vegetarian who eats fish. The meal is booked for 4pm, so should I maybe skip lunch? (I don’t want to do this if possible because I normally don’t believe in skipping meals!)
TIA for the advice X

Hi Izzy,

very well done!!

Hi mermaid2,
I hope you have given day 1 a crack. Once you get into this way of eating it is hard to imagine any other way – and this is coming from a lifelong junk fooder. I just feel so much better. Tell yourself that you will commit for 2 weeks and see how you feel from there. Good luck and keep us posted.

Hey ashri,
can’t promise that you will bounce out of bed, but I certainly find that mornings are not as grizzly as they once were.
I eat heaps of fibre in this diet, in the way of veg. More than I think I ever have before at any time in my life. So no probs with getting moving.
On the first few days of the diet I had sore heavy legs. No idea why this was but it passed, as did the hunger.
I missed bread for a start but feel really full after meals now so no longer feel any cravings as I watch my kids toast a loaf after school.
I know that you can do this and achieve success. I can’t wait to see where I am at in another 4 weeks. It has such quick and amazing results that every time I step on the scales I am motivated to keep going.
You can do this.

Hi Izzy,
CONGRATULATIONS! (Imagine sound of a bottle of bubbly popping)
Let’s all celebrate with bubbly water and lemon/lime slices.
I really enjoy reading your posts.

that’s brilliant Izzy, well done
– and you still have the excitement of the new food processor to play with! – has it arrived yet?

Yes it was very small actually and I did enjoy it – it’s funny but if it had been big I probably wouldn’t have wanted it all! Few weeks ago I would have tucked back several!

Hi Mags
Earlier in the year i did a sugar free diet for about six or seven weeks – at a conference I had some water from a jug with lemon in – it tasted soooo sweet I left it, as I thought it must have something sugary in. I tried it at home, water with just a lemon, but left it a while rather than drinking straight away – and yes, it really did taste very sweet.
I’ve found I’m drinking a lot less diet coke than I usually do – I drank a huge bottle a couple of weeks ago, but other than that I don’t think I’ve wanted it at all.

good luck with BSD

hi baristagirls
I hope that was a small bar of chocolate – and that you really enjoyed it!

I’m at the start of week 4 too (I though that was tomorrow, but checking back it’s actually today, and I’ve lost 13.84 pounds (6.3kg), which I’m counting as a stone – so pretty similar results – I have a bit more than another stone to go though.

Yeah, finally, my weight starts with 95! 95.7kg
And a full stone lost – just under 4 weeks (6.3kg)

Finally off of another plateau – what was different? Not a lot – I did have a fasting blood test, so was very rigid about not eating late (after 10.30pm) and I didn’t have breakfast until about 11, so maybe try to repeat that more.
I used to often skip breakfast, but on restricted calories I feel less inclined to do that most mornings.
No choice today – GP had only ticked Lipids on the form, not HbA1c, so I have to pick up another form and go back to the phlebotomy centre – I could get the bus, but its an OK 4 mile walk there and back.
About 15k steps yesterday, 11k of them ‘aerobic’ on my pedometers criteria

I’m a bit of an imposter in this part of the forums, but I have found it interesting what has happened over the last few days. Last Thursday I had lost 12lb 8oz, yesterday marked the start of week 4, today I weighed the same as each weighing since last Thursday. That night I had supper with my grandma, I told her I was doing low carbs, ate far more than my calories but virtually no carbs, Saturday and Lordsday we had friends in and it happened again, I overate, but the only carbs I ate were a few crisps (and a chocolate bar in the evening, oops…), back on track yesterday.

I am thinking maybe this is an example of how I will maintain my weight when the eight weeks are up, and want to lose at least another stone in that time.

Like Sue says, it’s all about choices. The type of food.

Congratulations BSD on your great results! 3 stone lighter and now not Type 2?!!!

I think people suggesting you are too thin are those who’d like to lose a bit of weight themselves, don’t know how to do it, and are envious.

My OH is concerned that ‘his face will look too thin’, and I’ve been saying that when you feel fit and healthy, you look great and the perceived ‘thin-ness’ of your face doesn’t mean anything – you look slim and happy and healthy! He’s very happy to have got into a Medium shirt (used to be XL) and a pair of 34″ jeans (used to be 36/38) and to be honest that’s made him look much fitter anyway!

Thanks guys for the update on Vimto, really helps and well done for losing so much in 4 weeks, I hope I do the same, I am not diabetic either just doing it to lose the weight so If I lose as much as you have done in 4 weeks I will be really please… thanks again.
Keep up the hard work… 🙂

Oh yes, fantastic, Izzy and CONGRATULATIONS!

Do you realise how inspirational your posts (and those of many others) are – not just to the people who respond on these threads, but to everyone reading them and passing them on?

Thank you for posting, even when things got tough for you. It so helps. 🙂

Yes, Baristagirls is (are?!) right, this is the right nutritional info for Vimto – and also right that you could start off as you’re used to with it, and then experiment with, say, fizzy water and a bit of lemon/cucumber/mint etc to see if you can wean yourself off sweeter things.

I had a slightly different problem in that I took sugar in tea and coffee, and after having worked out how many useless calories that was (let alone useless refined carbohydrates), I gave it up. Just here drinking my sugar-free coffee now, and feeling so proud of myself. 🙂

A number of people have said that after doing the BSD they don’t crave sweet things anywhere near what they used to, which could be useful for our lifestyle change in general.

Hello Mags, This is only 2kcal per hundred ml so fine on that score. I think the idea is not to have too much sweetener as it makes you crave sweet things, but each person is different. Mum and I have sugar free drinks and have kept going fine, however we’re not diabetic, just out to lose the needed weight and slash the carb cravings. In fact SF vimto is one of mum’s favourites 🙂
I’m just into week 4 and have lost 12lb 8oz which is pleasing, I don’t have as much to lose as some and have had a few slip ups as well.
All the best!

A really simple question, but i picked up Pecans instead of walnuts by mistake at the shop.
I know that pecans are SLIGHTLY higher in carbs, but is there that much of a difference between the two, particularly in the small quantities i’m using (no carb ploughmans and Bircher)?

thanks

Hi Lucia,
I spent a while ‘trialing’ that I could actually do the 800 cal and then jumped in. When I finished the 8 weeks I’ve gone to 5:2 and try to get 12 -14 hours of fasting overnight. On week-ends I can manage 16 hours fasting and eat ‘brunch’ and a night time meal.
Some days are easier than others but I like how I feel having cut out all of the starchy carbs.
Hi Izzy,
Bread? Who needs it? It’s so pre-BSD.
I’m smiling a lot today, can’t you tell?

Wahooo congratulations Izzy!! Great and so encouraging stats 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻♥️

Could someone clarify… I am about to start the Diet today and not sure about no added sugar vimto, I don’t drink tea or coffee and usually have a hot vimto, is this okay? Don’t want to start the diet and do it wrong…

Would love to hear from you to make sure I am on the right track… Thanks Mags

Izzy congratulations on your graduation. I saw your numbers; Go GirlGo. Three cheers. What’s your next plan?

Is there a link to a site that displays the levels of sugar and carbs in the different types of alcoholic drinks. I think that would add some context.

🎉 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