Been there, just done that!
Been brilliant for 6 weeks with a total loss of 18lbs and just had a 5 day break with family and friends at Mayday celebrations in Cornwall. Always knew it would be difficult with staying with other people and eating out so kept to diet as much as possible but allowed some booze in and one ‘sod-it’ day on Monday. Ate a pasty and had several beers and glasses of red wine and today I’m 2 lbs up and BS was 7.0. However, it’s not as bad as I was expecting and also made me realise how much better I feel on the BSD.
So I’m back on the wagon which I’m really looking forward to. In fact I’ve decided to stick with the 800 until my holiday in June as it’s been so helpful and beneficial.

Thank you Happy Lass , I like the idea of a good solid book . I think I’m all ‘ googled ‘ out trying to search for good sites . Yesterday I realised that if I got off my backside and walked to a bookshop ,I’d probably be better off than sitting staring at a screen searching for the info I need !
Went to bed hungry last night but woke up felling positively lighter – ever the optimist !

Hi Rico61 – you are doing so well!! Re sugar free gum – I think you do what you can to help you through if you find difficult moments. Sugar free gum has to be better than most things but I have heard someone say that the action of chewing stimulates your brain into eating mode and might encourage you to eat more. Hey – if it makes you feel better/distracts you/stops you from eating something you’d regret – chew away I say!

I’ve done 7 days on the 800 cal plan – apart from a wedding on Saturday – and I’m delighted to have lost 7lb!

Onwards and downwards!

Well done Peggy! And just think your happy dance will lose you calories too ha ha! I’m now into my 14th week and am 2 lbs off losing 3 stone 3 STONE – cannot believe it! I was on holiday with girlfriends over the bank holiday and totally stuck to the regime although I now drink wine/bacardi and diet coke on occasion and it’s fine btw. Always have a normal cupp with semi skimmed milk too. My eyes were out on stalks seeing how much my very overweight friend ate – could not believe the quantities……..and I realised, to my amazement and horror that that was exactly what I used to eat – revelation was I have utterly changed my way of thinking about food as well as what I actually eat. Never believed it was possible but it really is.

For the first 4 weeks I followed the diet to the letter and the recipes too – some I knew I wouldn’t like so swapped them but it meant I had everything planned – massively helped me.

Finally – yesterday I went in to try on a new pair of jeans to Next – yes, a normal shop – as one of my girlfriends said my jeans were ridiculously baggy round the bum, so my husband waited outside and I came out in a pair of tight and shapely (but comfortable) jeans – ‘oh they look great, what size – 14?’ he asked ‘no, 12’ I replied and promptly cried! The feeling of walking on air and euphoria was greater than any high and I want everyone to experience it………..and it just started with a loss of 4 lbs my first week – so carry on Peggy you are on your way!!

Hi Izzy I have heard people who blister on shorter than 8 mile walks say that Australian Blister Socks have solved the problem. They bought them over the net so perhaps you could google them 🙂

Having a veggie day today.

Suprised that i am getting the hang of it and more importantly enjoying it.

Anyone else trying out vegetarian days?
Love luciaXxx

Hi,
It is again , with deep regret, I bring you news of a sad loss.
One of my best friends, who I has been through think and thin and thick again with me.
They have stuck to me throughout, no matter how much I have tried .

The sad news was broken gently to me this morning on my scales. I have lost weight.

I am sorry I will need a quiet moment to reflect…….

We have been through so much together and now you are gone. No longer will I see your reflection in the mirror. No longer will I have to consider you as I get the ‘big girls’ size.

All I have left is my skinny self.

Do be careful teAm, this could happen to you.
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi barby, if you have stairs do what I suggested to lucia and walk up and down them til you’re out of puff. You will find you can increase the number of climbs each day. It increases your daily steps tally as wellas being a cardio work out 🙂

Sorry I won’t be around much for a day or two as I have a lot on at the moment.

I’ve been thinking for a while of getting one – I have a smallish room where it could be kept out. If it were there, I think I’d use it when watching TV etc, handy in winter when you don’t want to go out so much.

I will not be running on it (dodgy knees) but would want uphill walking option, and not too narrow a foot tread.

I’m sure you get what you pay for with this type of thing. Don’t want to pay too much – was wondering about looking for 2nd hand (all those who use them as coat hangers) 🙂

Just wondered what make you have and any pointers, thanks..

Apple was horrible. very disappointed, cut it and half had a great big brown area of death, so I was down to half, and then that half was floury and horrible so I binned the lot. 🙁 I was really looking forward to it. *sulks* I only bought one.

I have a tin of salmon I am going to attempt more fishcakes with tonight with salad for tea. One shake for lunch, yoghurt/strawbs and nibs for breakfast.

scale went down 0.2 overnight, but I’m not peeing like a fiend anymore, so water weight phase is over, so loss should slow down now! If only there was a crisp apple around… bye all.

Thanks Hawks, no not quite 2 kgs sadly – but it IS going the right way, and that hasn’t happened for a lot of years. I can’t usually stick to a diet for more than a few weeks. I’m looking at this as my way of life now, better than having to take pills or worse. Just got to psych myself up to a bit of exercise. I’m wondering about buying a treadmill.

Well done on the tighter belt, really good sign.

hope you feel warmer soon!

off to work for me 🙁

9.5 lbs in a month isn’t slow Barby, most other diets would take off less than that. if I can lost 8/month I’ll be happy! well done for losing that!

congrats to Beverley for the epic milestone, and yay for Hawks and smaller waist 🙂

Hi Switzerland, glad it’s lovely there too, makes you feel good.

That’s useful to know, thanks Switzerland. I’m off to Cardiff later to look after my grandson and heavily pregnant daughter, so all the running around should burn a few calories! Hooray for the sunshine, it’s been a long time coming!
I’m following the diet plan from the book pretty closely as I know I will ‘overlook’ the odd calorie if I start making up my own recipes too soon. Because I am so grateful for food, all of them have been lush so far. Favourites so far are chicken Harissa, aubergine and lamb, avocado and poached egg, even the apple and almond butter! Who knew? Ok, I’m starving now, time to get up and have breakfast. Good luck with the day, everyone 👍😇

Congratulations on the looser trou, barby! Wow 3.5 pounds in a week sounds lots. Isn’t that over 2 kg? I’d be very happy with that!
I haven’t lost weight this week yet as have a weekend of indulgence to catch up on, but there were two more holes punched in my belt today, so things are changing.

….reporting from distant shores – lovely Autumn day, slight breeze, sunny, not a cloud in the sky.

Hi Bissell, Other BSDers have reported on various threads that they feel cold at times in the first week. Hopefully you’ll have a chance to have a break and sit out in the sunshine and warm up.

I have lost 9.5 pounds in last month – of which 3.5 in last week. I keep hoping for some dramatic loss, but it is very slow but hopefully steady with me.

Admittedly I’m not exercising yet. Also I had half a white burger bun at weekend, ? presumably that would have messed up my loss for a few days? First “bad” carbs all month.

I have been keeping carbs mainly under 50, sometimes 60, and 800 cals most days, sometimes 700.

I have now bought some ketostix but not used them yet, is there a best time to do this?

I am happy my trousers are finally looking rather loose (they were straining at seams when I started, 🙂

I will keep plodding along – the tortoise and the hare comes to mind.

Enjoy this lovely Spring day everyone (apart from those from distant shores)

Good morning everyone from a beautiful sunny Wales. How lovely to read all your posts and see how we are all getting on, it’s very encouraging. I’m on day 6 and I’ve lost a few pounds so far and feeling great. I’m not diabetic but rather I have reactive hypoglycaemia, so I over produce insulin in response to a rise blood glucose, which then sinks into my boots. So it’s really good for me not to have glucose going into my blood in the first place, if that makes sense. Certainly feeling the benefit so far. Only one problem, does anyone else feel cold all the time?

Re BS spikes
At five this morning a thought occurred to me
I said I was disappointed my bs was 7.5 before food and only 7.4 two hours after
But this idea came to me that at least it is not spiking at all here but returning to what my body “normal” was without any spike at all after this meal so surely it’s not a bad thing ?
If it shot to 8 or 9 that would mean it was spiking high which it isn’t
Thoughts welcome here
Alan confused ?

Hi all,

I am in the preparation stage at the moment, currently tracking steps, and movement and sitting time, sleep and pulse throughout the day thanks to my new fitness tracker.

I’ve had the following tests done already
fasting glucose -high
fasting insulin -high
Gamma GT (this was ok result)

and I’m planning on having the hbA1c test done also as well as the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), before I start.

The day I begin the test im going to have a dexa scan and then again at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. (maybe 2 weeks as well since that’s when most of the fat is lost)

And I’m going to buy a glucose monitor so i can monitor my fasting glucose every day. and also everyday i’ll be tracking my weight and waist circumference

Which tests should I also be taking ?? I’m just wondering about the fasting insulin, hbA1c, and OGTT tests. how often did you measure these while you were on the diet for comparison and progress?

Please let me know what you did and if it was worth it.

Hi! Today marks the end of my day 2. I’ll weigh myself early tomorrow morning. The first day I lost over 3 lbs overnight. Like you, I’m slightly uncomfortable but find the meals really satisfying. I am just used to being a mindless eater. I’ll probably pick up some celery or something because I’m missing the crunch. It’s working so I won’t complain.

Don’t ever let anything new discourage you ever…. I have personal friends who have lost a lot and kept it off. I was just hoping for some input in their study. 😀

Thanks so much Captain Lynne, I am still figuring out the threads so appreciate the guidance!
💜

My two cents:

You can’t argue with the statistics. It appears sustained extreme loss like done on TBL does forever (6 years on at least) depress your metabolism and also cause your hormones to ‘up-regulate’ so your appetite increases etc. Making weight regain likely, and also meaning the focus shoudl not be on losing weight – but on maintaining weight you’ve lost. More studies are required, much of the published data on hormones (leptin, ghrelin etc) is based on rat/mouse analogues, but anecdata from large groups of big losers seems to indicate increased appetite post loss is definitely an issue. (I trawled the reddit threads, fitness, xxfitness, loseit and fatlogic when all discussing this study – all of those have LARGE numbers of subscribers, hence my assumptions)

I think that TBL is the extreme end. Those people exercised 7 hours a day and restricted heavily – they had many MANY thousands of calories deficit. Its likely this effect is magnified in them. Also, many of us may be overweight because we naturally deviate from the mean in terms of TDEE (cals needed to maintain current mass) in any case.

No corrections were made for those who had any sort of binge eating disorder, which is apparently known to depress metabolism. I have not looked for papers on this as yet, so just a point.

finally, many of those people still do fiendish amounts of exercise – a LOT of exercise naturally makes you hungry. There are a couple of papers which found exercise in the maintenance phase helps to regulate and decrease appetite early on – but how much? where is the tipping point between maintaining good health and appetite not starting to skyrocket?

Also, i draw all of your attention to our experiences here on the BSD. Cut simple carbs, see dramatic decrease in hunger – this is physiological, related to hormones/insulin. Hunger when you are on plan is emotionally driven as a rule (see point about binge eating etc above) we will all give in occasionally, and then feel like we are back on day one when it comes to appetite – but it goes away…

I think that this study is useful. It makes us aware about maintenance traps, and expect to have some hunger, know why its there, and manage it, however we choose. Some people still like to work out a LOT and just cope with the hunger pangs because they have goals or aesthetics they are aiming for. We are all NOT engaged in anything as extreme as TBL contestants, and now we are armed with more knowledge to help us manage our maintenance phase when we get there.

the take home message is food intake and movement must be seen as a lifestyle adjustment, and maintenance phase by definition means you can’t go back to how you were – we know that. Those with Type 2 have daily glucose readings to help re-inforce the good habits, and pull you up when you stray for a bit.

this study is a little daunting, but I also think its empowering as well. It certainly explains my gradual 10kg regain over two years!

Well I honestly do not care because if I can loose the weight and even keep it off one year heck 6 months even then that for me is still worth it because less weight for me means less arthritis and back pain. I’m all for anything that can give me a better quality of life even if it only last a little while. I refuse to be discouraged!

I actually signed up to the Forum to get a perspective on this! In the book Michael disputes this but I would love to hear his rebuttal to the latest research…

Well it’s almost 8 pm and I did not eat anymore of the crackers I made
thepolly thank you for your input. I stuck to my fast today except for my handful of the low carb crackers, my energy has plummeted though I keep drinking water and raspberry tea I’m waterlogged I’ll be glad to eat tomorrow but then Thursday is my day #2 fast . I must find a better Inspiration and become more determined and focused! As I stated before I MUST DO THIS AND NOT FAIL!

Keep at it folks! I reached my under 100kg first goal this morning – 99.9kg and that’s good enough for me to celebrate! Feels great to be this side of 100kg again. Now to head for 95kg by the end of May… I’m feeling very confident I’ll reach it.

The BSD 800 diet is awesome! I’m not following the recipes or menu plan in the book and am doing my own thing – over the next couple of days I’m going to construct my own menu plan following the principles so that it’s as nutritional as the one in the book. I haven’t been hungry on this diet and I haven’t had cravings.

I have been counting carbs and do notice that when I keep the carbs around the 50g per day mark AND drink at least 3 litres of clear fluid (water, tea, decaff coffee) a day I lose weight. I am sure that drinking all that water is the key. When I don’t drink it I get the headache again.

I have consistently heard on health programs on the radio over the past few months that exercising doesn’t contribute much at all to weight loss – it keeps us toned and builds muscle, which is heavier than body fat. There is a lot more in this diet that simply restricting our calorific: understand how the mechanisms of how the body processes and uses the food which we eat is key. It’s what we eat and when we eat it. The BSD 800 has been carefully put together to ensure that we don’t get hungry or cravings past those first few days, provided we remember to drink lots of water too. And it works. So many people in this forum can attest to that.

It can be disheartening to go through those plateaus every other week. That’s the time to pick up the pace with exercise, walk a few more steps, etc. Exercising helps to boost our mental state and confidence as well as tone the body: it builds and improves our immune system too (much more than all the super foods and supplements can!) I think the magic in the BSD 800 is the fact that we’re eating as much as our bodies need (for normal daily living) and the 10-14 hour fasting that is built in to it and the 5:2 diet do the rest of the work. Michael points out in the book that the diet has three aspects to it: calorie restriction, increase in exercise and mindfulness practice.

My husband has lost 2kg on the diet so far, compared to my 10kg that’s not a lot but then he doesn’t have as much to lose. I love how this diet works for us as individuals. That aspect alone has sold me on it. It works with our individual bodies, helping us to gain health, whatever that means for each of us.

Keep at it folks! I reached my under 100kg first goal this morning – 99.9kg and that’s good enough for me to celebrate! Feels great to be this side of 100kg again. Now to head for 95kg by the end of May… I’m feeling very confident I’ll reach it.

The BSD 800 diet is awesome! I’m not following the recipes or menu plan in the book and am doing my own thing – over the next couple of days I’m going to construct my own menu plan following the principles so that it’s as nutritional as the one in the book. I haven’t been hungry on this diet and I haven’t had cravings.

I have been counting carbs and do notice that when I keep the carbs around the 50g per day mark AND drink at least 3 litres of clear fluid (water, tea, decaff coffee) a day I lose weight. I am sure that drinking all that water is the key. When I don’t drink it I get the headache again.

I have consistently heard on health programs on the radio over the past few months that exercising doesn’t contribute much at all to weight loss – it keeps us toned and builds muscle, which is heavier than body fat. There is a lot more in this diet that simply restricting our calorific: understand how the mechanisms of how the body processes and uses the food which we eat is key. It’s what we eat and when we eat it. The BSD 800 has been carefully put together to ensure that we don’t get hungry or cravings past those first few days, provided we remember to drink lots of water too. And it works. So many people in this forum can attest to that.

It can be disheartening to go through those plateaus every other week. That’s the time to pick up the pace with exercise, walk a few more steps, etc. Exercising helps to boost our mental state and confidence as well as tone the body: it builds and improves our immune system too (much more than all the super foods and supplements can!) I think the magic in the BSD 800 is the fact that we’re eating as much as our bodies need (for normal daily living) and the 10-14 hour fasting that is built in to it and the 5:2 diet do the rest of the work. Michael points out in the book that the diet has three aspects to it: calorie restriction, increase in exercise and mindfulness practice.

My husband has lost 2kg on the diet so far, compared to my 10kg that’s not a lot but then he doesn’t have as much to lose. I love how this diet works for us as individuals. That aspect alone has sold me on it. It works with our individual bodies, helping us to gain health, whatever that means for each of us.

Your tasteless spicy chicken and lentils, need no be so Bongo, throw some chopped toms, garlic and tbsp. of curry paste in there, it will be amazing.
Thank you Peter king for your encouragement an well done you, that’s fantastic. My 6.6 this morning was the lowest its been since I was diagnosed. glad your nurse is supportive, seeing mine Friday, we’ll see.

Thanks everyone for your posts today. I’ve ordered the Code Free but in the end direct from the Amazon seller which was even cheaper than via Amazon. The test strips certainly seem a cheaper lot.

When I was planning on the Accu-Chek Aviva I was thinking of purchasing from Lloyds pharmacy who had it at a good price. But when I went to buy yesterday I discovered it was out of stock. Searching elsewhere suggested it wasn’t being restocked (cannot remember where that was) and then I tracked it down elsewhere but they had low stock and the site had a message about it being discontinued. https://www.weldricks.co.uk/product/3171261_accu-chek-aviva-blood-glucose-meter?source=pl

But if you already have this monitor, I haven’t seen anything about the test strips being discontinued. TBH I’d probably have bought the Aviva if it hadn’t been for HappyLass’s post about the Code Free one

Hi Izzy!
Thanks so much I am already almost 100%! I drank a ton of water and took Umcka every 3 hours and vitamin C so hoping I kicked it to the curb quickly.
Stayed on my food plan, thanks, my hubby does most the cooking since I can be busy with clients and he’s retired. He’s been great as always as I try something new for my health. 😀

Reading all your posts really helps me know I am not alone in this journey!
💜

Lauren you have done amazing on this plan.
Honestly, I know people
Who has lost huge amounts of weight and kept it off for more than 5 years so I really think the biggest loser show issue is they work out 6 hours a day while there and done when they go home.

You are doing great!!!

Hi HappyLife

You are welcome. That’s what we’re here for – we’re all learning as we go along and pass our experience on to those starting out. There are two threads on here ‘over the 8-week line and beyond’ and ‘over the 16-week line’ that you may find interesting. Next thread will be at 23 weeks as I’m on holiday at week 24!

Hi Eureka

We did think about bringing that one home 😃 Decided it would be difficult to get him across the border though LOL.

If you don’t find the totem you could always buy bear bells! 😃

You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day – unless you’re too busy – then you should sit for an hour.
Old Zen adage

Hi keeptrying, I got my book on ebay for £3 I think 🙂

Hi Captain Lynne!!
Thanks so much for your wise overview as I really wanted to hear from someone like you with experience on this plan. Perfect information and your advice is well appreciated!!
💜

Hi Jani123

Where did you hear the Accu-Chek Aviva is discontinued? I obtained one just before Christmas and when I just looked online there is no mention of it being discontinued. I’m in the UK.

My favorite breakfast is 2 tablespoons heavy cream (not half and half) in coffee (100 calories) and if I am really hungry or am going to the gym, an ounce of cheese (100 calories). It sounds crazy but it keeps my hunger at bay, gives me lots of energy and provides that good “fat full” feeling. I got the idea from the Duke University Lifestyle Diet which is low carb (20 grams carbs per day — very low).

Hi general lynne
That sounds great too. I’m sure they wouldn’t miss one Mountie & I’d feed him well 😆 He He!
Husband will have to make do with silver totem on a chain then

you are doing well , it takes a bit of patience but its very rewarding when you see the results , i was a raving 15 and within 6 months im down to 6 in morning and have gone as low as 4.2 in afternoon , stay off the carbs , try the chick peas , haricot beans , chicken breast , like i pile my plate up but with the right stuff , and if things look bad just say ” is the mountain too high for you ” , ive had to read the book 4 or 5 times just to stay on track , the nurse today even thanked me for the information about the book i gave her today and she said i had the best results that she has seen yet this year.

Sounds like you’ve had a lot to cope with Polly, have you taken any help for your depression? Please do if you haven’t. It is important to look after yourself especially when you are looking after others. I had to have help myself in recent times.

Hope everyone is well, I’m still hobbling along on my blistered foot.

Hi SkyWalker. Thank you for your thoughts. I wait to see how my visit to the doctor goes, but I am not optimistic, especially as I have to tell her that I have stopped taking my statins. We will see.

Hi Alanhypno
Well done. Can see you are getting the knowledge & practicing it. Your BS will settle & reduce I’m sure if you keep on keeping on.
Look at http://www.phlaunt.com. It’s Jenny Ruhl web site. Author of Blood Sugar 101, second edition. And Diet 101 The Truth About Low Carb Diets. Look for True Normal Blood Sugars. Professor J S Chtistiansen’s data, page 15 in Blood Sugar 101.
Our present blood sugar targets are set too high! They are based on decades old outdated data, before continuous glucose monitoring was available. The powers that be haven’t changed it. WHY???

My powder is still dry & I need my blood sugars to be stable before I launch all the ammo I’m storing! Let you know when I’m ready, then duck❗️ 💣

Could the dizzy spells be low blood pressure?

Hi Eureka

Met said Mountie (a sergeant) at top of the mountain. He told us it was normally punishment detail (going round talking to tourists) but he fancied a change. Seem to have a few photos of me with police officers in different countries (well, USA and Canada) 😳

Think you might have problems bringing a totem pole home😱

We drove up the Rockies from Salt Lake City, visiting east side of Yellowstone National Park (and ‘Old Faithful ‘) on the way, and over into Canada. Bannf & Jasper before returning down (west side of Yellowstone this time.