I am feeling I need a bit of a challenge……

Just thinking out loud.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi sandie.
Just glad hoola hoops come in a large size?

Have you had a go with them?
I found it a little boring after a while.
But hey, it’s all exercise, just be careful of doing your back in.
🤕🤕🤕🤕🤕🤕
Love luica
Xxxx

Last week we flew to Portugal. Knowing that on an afternoon flight that BA would serve afternoon tea ( sandwiches, cake, scones) I investigated the ‘alternative ‘special meals’. No low carb on offer so I had to make a decision between gluten free or low calorie. Thinking that GF might mean the same with GF bread I opted for the low calorie. Bad choice; the lady in front of me who had opted for GF had a lovely looking salad, I had sandwiches, no butter and filled with tomato and cucumber, accompanied by tropical fruit salad – I’d have been better off with the normal meal where I could have eaten the filling of the sandwiches quite happily. Ah well I know now. Sadly my intention to be good on my holiday was scuppered by the stress of my mother being taken ill and ending up in hospital and the temptation of rose and Portuguese custard tarts. I put on five pounds! Fortunately I’ve lost four of them in two days of returning to the BSD. I’ve also learned that going back to my sugar eating ways simply makes me feel hungry and sluggish. Normally a slip up like this would totally derail me but I’m actually happy to be back on the LCHF straight and narrow.

So how are we all doing?

I have a question for you all….

What new item of food have you tried since being on the BSD?

I tried quinoa. Didn’t think I would like it.
Didn’t think it would have any taste.
Thought I would try it and if it was rubbish I could use it to grout the tiles in the kitchen.

I feel pretty posh now.

I try and drop the fact every occasion I can.

So what’s yours?

Love Lucia
Xxx

Bother! Or words to that effect… I had started with a pretty fair 9 days of the fast 800 calories plan and was feeling pretty good. Then I lapsed and put on all the weight I had lost. Just gave in to cake at work, then a few bits of toast later it seemed I had gone right back to my habitual poor carb-heavy food choices. I have had a couple of weeks hating myself over this lapse but am back reading the book again and am trying to prepare for round two by involving the rest of the family in editing cupboards to reduce carbs and treats so I can start again. The worst thing is that I felt really well when I was on plan. Time to commit again I think!

Hi AlexX –

the calculator is of course personal to you, depends on all your stats, current exercise etc.

My mix was rather more protein at 20g carbs (I’m challenging myself I know) or 10%, 84g protein or 42%, and 43g fat or 48%, all the percentages being of course for my 800 target calories. I took the middle (recommended by the site) view for the protein.

It may well be that you try a little of this and see if it suits you, or doesn’t. To be honest, I am trying to keep the carbs low, but don’t get too upset if I am a little over, and then I do focus on ensuring I’ve got the fat right to keep me full.

I do hope this helps and very good luck to you – I’m feeling really chuffed with my progress, and hope you will be with yours

Well done!! Early night a great idea also!
🙂

Thank you for your help Igorasusual
I am new to this way of eating. I tried the Keto website and if I put in 37g carbs, the percentage values are calculated at 12% carbs, 23% protein and 65% fat.

Thank you Igorasusual

Of course you’re right, it going to take me some time to see what affects me personally.

Managed to hold off eating anything I shouldn’t 🙂
So an early dinner and an early night and see what tomorrow brings.

Hi Siliem

Congratulations on your weight loss! great start.

With regard to the carbs, you are still in your first week and many people have said that strange things happened until their body got used to the lack of the carbs it was used to.

So maybe the higher carbs triggered your munchies – or maybe not!

We all go up and down depending on what meals we have, and I would suggest that you experiment a bit and see what happens. 44 gms of carbs is still not a lot, after all.

Perhaps best not to draw too many conclusions until you are a few more days in, when you can assess with more evidence?

Good luck, and onwards and upwards! 🙂

wcorey –

do a search on this site for Bill1954, who is a great contributor to this forum, and look for his THIS HAS TO WORK (I think it’s called that, or something like) which reflects his journey and has some interesting stuff on it about morning fasting readings, with helpful contributions from other people.

Hope this helps.

Hi
to reset the proportions on MFP, go to MY HOME, then GOALS, and then you can click on EDIT and change the proportions if you have new ones from the keto-calculator site I posted. This assumes you are on a laptop rather than iPhone.

In terms of BSD setting a carb goal of 30gm, I am not sure this is specifically stated – please point me to the page if you think I’m wrong, though – 30gm is quite low and you will see that the leto-calculator site says that most people are in ketosis if they eat less than 50gm of carb.

If you get the Ketostix I mentioned, you can test this out for yourself, very simply.

Hope this helps!

Thank you both for your replies. I thought that the BSD resticted carbs to 30g a day. I can’t work out how to apply that to MFP settings. I wish there was a BSD app/tracker.

‘Start feeling thinner,’ I like the sound of that! 😊

You’ll definitely get there, it is tough (maybe not for everyone) but it gets easier when you start feeling thinner much easier than other feasible diets!

Finally got off my plateau this week. Down 12 lbs in three weeks but the best part is my blood sugar is almost normal. Amazing what can happen in three weeks. We are all in this together.

Hi Everyone

I’m really loving this diet. Ironically I’m not a big fan of ‘white’ carbs but with a very busy lifestyle it’s just easy to reach for a slice of toast as you rush out the door or throw together pasta and sauce in the evening.

So, after reading everyone’s really supportive posts and organising some convenient meals, the first 4 days were great – not hungry at all, lost 2kg (fantastic!) and even gave up tea and coffee (don’t like it without sugar).

Planned to keep to 50g carb but meal plans naturally coming to 20-30g carb – great. Until yesterday when I had pulses for the first time on this diet. Obviously, carbs count for the day went up but only to 44g.

But today didn’t lose any weight (not concerned, very pleased with what I’ve lost so far) but today I just want to eat anything and everything. It’s not even that I’m hungry or craving anything particularly, just want to EAT!

Do you think this just a ‘few days in, body adjusting’ thing or could it be the pulses/higher carbs yesterday and I should avoid them?

Thanks for the reply Baristagirls, gosh it’s tough isn’t it? But it helps to know that it will pass. 9lb is a great loss, well done. Hoping to get there soon

Hi Bianca,

Wow! Well done for being so honest… it is brilliant that you have made such a fantastic start. Those of us with more to lose will be here to share and offer support if you want.
I joined the BSD800’s 7 weeks ago and plan to stay with this new way of being /eating for as long as it takes – or forever (whichever comes first😉)

Congratulations!

Imogen🌻

This post will really only be germane to those on here who are diabetic or prediabetic. Has anyone noticed that their morning fasting blood glucose has actually risen on this regiment? This is a little on the weird side but when I first started, for the first week perhaps, my morning fasting blood glucose was 91-92 pretty much routinely with one bump to 95 and another to 101. The higher values seem to pair with a bad night’s sleep. Now it seems they are routinely in the low 100’s. And this morning I’d say I had a good night’s sleep, although the cat did get me up at 3:30am to play. The ‘bad night’s sleep generally was because the cat got me up at 3:30 to play and I couldn’t get back to sleep. This morning I did pretty easily but got dinged for sleeping for close to 9hrs but it was a multiple disturbance 9hrs.

That aside. I have, for some time, been on an intermittent fast, every day eating only supper around 5pm and morning coffee around 8am. There clearly was over 8 hours elapsed between end of eating and the blood draw but for the last several weeks I have not consumed more than 800 calories in any given day. So I am perplexed why it would go up in the last few days.

Hello Thischarmingwoman, yes don’t give up. Keep yourself afloat with water. I had a bad headache every day last week (started Monday 23rd May) and felt so nauseous. Fortunately the headaches have now subsided but I still feel sick sometimes, not so much. It’s carb withdrawal symptoms (or ketosis flu) and your body is adjusting as well as getting healthier!
I still feel a bit empty now and then but definitely find this diet good and plan to stick to it. Lost 9lb – a 1lb a day keeps the doctor away 🙂

Lucia, you really are a cute hurdler. Soon you will be jumping through hoops as well.

It certainly is – even my 3 year old likes it which is saying something!!

Hi just wanted to edit my previous post ; I ended up having a woosh the next morning and lost weight again so the plateau had been broken ! Do not despair as it is extremely common to go a while without loosing weight and then bam , the weight disappears again xx

Hi Aussie chick 88

Thank you for your blog.

I think It is hilarious that people are reading about the arguments I have in my head.
Love luica

Hi frog.
Love your blog.
Isn’t this website great.
There is so much info, help, friendship and chicken rustling.
( you need to read Larsons cartoons)

Keep going
Love Lucia
Xxx

Hi Lucia ,

Thank you for you real honest blog/ diary about your journey so far ! You are such an inspiration to me and a hilarious one at that keeping it real and letting us inside that funny brain of yours !!
Really look forward to keeping up with your journey !!

Xx
Bianca

So I have been thinking….
I am in a growly mood now…..

It’s just not fair I have to count carbs and count calories and stop putting too much food in my mouth. And have to refuse when I am offered the biggest slice of chocolate cake, the size of a microwave.
And having to endure everything wobbling as I run.
And have to make sure I do my steps ,all of them, at least 10,000
And have to make time to exercise and focus on what I eat, so I notice that I do eat it and not shovel it in and don’t know I have shovelled it in.
And go out in the pouring rain to exercise
And go to the veg shop for the freshest produce
And I have to force myself to do it day after day…

WOW!!!!!!

I do all that, every day, cricky!
I have got good will power to do this for so long.
Look at all the hurdles I have leapt over.
All the decisions
All the temptations.

And I am cute too!😇😇😇😇😇
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Whoah! Congratulations!

🙂

Hi all ,
So here I am about to lay every thing on the table and be accountable to myself and to blog about my journey. I want to look back on where I have been and where I am now . I never am going to let myself get this big again because life is just not fun being a unhealthy mum to three beautiful active girls under 5 and as I discover new health and a new way of life I would love some support and encouragement to keep me going please !

So in March 2016 I had my last follow up at my doctors as I was put on medication for postnatal psychosis in November 2015 after having my baby . I no longer needed to be on medication and after stopping the medication I had gained a lot of weight. The heaviest I have been in my entire life and I was embarrassed and ashamed to say the least ! 1m 80cm tall. 140 kg ( 22 stone 0.65 lbs ) bmi 41 + stared me in the face and the hard reality hit me I was heading for life changing health problems if I did not start to do something about it and probably wouldn’t live a very long life which is a very true realisation and not very nice to think about having 3 dependant children to love and care for. So I started little changes like increasing water intake to 2ltrs a day , ate smaller portions , cut as much sugar as I could and was more aware if what I was eating instead of shoving the closest thing I could grab into my mouth !
I lost 6.4 kg from these changes which was a great start to keep me going !
Then I discovered this new way of life and don’t ever want to look back ! I am so happy with how far I have come in such a short time even though I have a lot to loose , bit by bit , day by day , I will get to a healthy weight; BMI and be a more fun active mum with my girls !

Week 1 start weigh on BSD -16 may 16
133.6 kg ( 21 stone 0.54 lbs ) bmi 40

Week 2 start weight
127.9 kg ( 20 stone 1.97 lbs) bmi 38.6
Total loss 5.7 kg

Week 3 start weight
125.3 kg ( 19 stone 10.24 lbs bmi 37.9
Total loss 2.6 kg

Weight loss total for 3 weeks so far !!
8.3 kg !!!!

I know it’s only a blimp in the scheme of things and I do have a long way to go but I am so excited that I have started this journey and credit so much of my inspiration by each and every one on all the forums , you all have helped me to be accountable to myself and to get out there and become BSD loser !!

Thank you all for your real honest and awesome posts blogs , look forward to reading more along the way !

Will check in week 4 on Monday 6 June.

Keep on loosing ;

Xx

Bianca

Don’t feel as if we have had a long bank holiday weekend.
Suprised my boss hasn’t bought me roller skates to make me go even faster
Love Lucia
Xxx

Keeping with the carbs have made a difference for sure. Down 12 lbs this morning!

Hi Nicky72
I’m day 3 and had a blip yesterday. Lost 1kg so far… but need encouragement!! Its tough out there

Hi, I’m on day 3 😀 and whilst I don’t feel hungry at all I do have a brutal headache and feel pretty sick. I’ve no plan to give up or anything like that. I purposely started this week whilst I’m off work because I thought this may happen (I’m one of those hypersensitive A topical people) any advice would be gratefully received!!
Thanks for all the positive updates…really helps to keep me focussed

http://keto-calculator.ankerl.com

Hi AlexX, and welcome!

You could try the website above which takes your measurements and suggests to you a mix of carbs, protein and fat, which you can then type in to MyFitnessPal.

It’s the way I worked out how to adjust the balance. This website says that you are ketogenic (i.e. fat-burning) on 50g of carbs a day or under – depending on your personal stats – but you can also get Ketostix on the web which will let you test very easily if you are fat-burning or not.

Hope this works for you! The BSD doesn’t really restrict your carbs, so long as they are good ones, but trying to balance yourself out with fewer carbs, but making up the calories with fats (counter-intuitive to most of us) as well as protein, does seem to work well!

Thank you Igorosusual, appreciated. regards Sandie

Good luck, Sandie – keep at it and you will win. I have had great confidence from knowing what to do and getting control back, and hope you find this too.

If in doubt at any time, post and someone here will be sure to advise you!

🙂

This is what I have been practicing for, the making of the new ME. I am recording from today for eight weeks. This report might not be inspirational nor enlightening for others but no matter as this is for ME. I will make notes of food, drink and exercise. I am aiming for 800 calories and low carbohydrates. Over the last few days I have been making steady progress and am impressed with the weight loss. This morning I weighed 12st 4lb (a pound up on yesterday but no exercise). I would like to be about 10st 7lb and learn how to stay there. I will make my report after my evening’s meal.

KJ77, you are quite right. However, haven’t you left off the most important benefit?

It’s DELICIOUS!!!! 🙂

Congratulations, Sugar Sugar – great stuff!

Don’t think anyone is really suggesting that the BSD doesn’t work if you focus on restricting carbs to under 30g per day – it’s just one of the things you can look at. And certainly not wanting to suggest that you’re wrong if not under 30g.

From experience I know that under 30g is quite a task, but that just being aware that some of the good vegetables are quite carby was really helpful to me. It is important to get more calories from fats, which is not necessarily what everyone is used to.

Early on, I made myself a red cabbage salad – which was delicious, especially with the pumpkin seeds etc I added – but it was really surprising to me to learn actually how many carbs it contained, and I would have been a bit more restrictive in hindsight with the portions I served myself!

BTW Sugar Sugar, just be aware that the fat you burn first is all the dangerous stuff round your liver and pancreas, the visceral fat. The subcutaneous fat, which you can see, goes next. So focus on the inches you’re losing, and don’t get too hung up on the weight, it will go in the end! Although someone said to me that the last subcutaneous fat to go is the bit under your navel……the ‘belly wodge’. I am still monitoring mine daily, not sure if it’s shrinking yet……..

Thank you lovely people 🙂 I’ve started the day with a small portion of nuts and seeds – I’m hoping the protein from these and soya milk will combat carbs. I’m also a vegetarian so it makes things a bit more difficult, when avoiding carbs – but I will find a way round it 🙂

I don’t think it says anywhere in the book that as part of the diet you have to eat less than 30g of carbs daily. Lot of people here seem to keep below 50gs and some probably chose lower than that for various reasons but I didn’t think its one of the main principles? Anyway, just to say that as I think that could make people discouraged or feel they aren’t doing it right if not below 30gs when that’s just a choice that is there if you wanted to.

I find it great to eat as many vegetables as I can fit in the calories, along with the fats and protein, and I definitely would struggle if had to limit even non starchy vegetables too! So far I’m keeping to below 50g and seems to be working.

Good on you Sugar Sugar – sounds like you’re well on your way.

Love this one: baby spinach, courgette (or cucumber), ginger, avocado, pear (or apple), water – plus some chia and linseeds, or you could ad some LSA.

Hi there, you should be getting to the part where you stop craving if you have increased the number of healthy fats and oils if you are drinking plenty and not eating more than about 30 gms of carbs daily. So it’s downhill from here and then climbing real hills gets easier too. Keep going and Good Luck for now…

Sorry to hear OH is unwell…sounds like the two of you really need this holiday.
Warm weather works a treat when you’re getting over chesty things.
God’s speed.

Wow – just weighed in again today – as last couple of days have gone over 800 – been closer to 1000 – however despite this another 4 lbs off – total weight loss in 4½ weeks of 26 lbs. What a great incentive to focus on – we are away for a few days so this will spur me on to be good! I do have a huge amount to lose and am seeing my doctor next week and will then have a retest of my fasting blood sugars to see if I am out of the prediabetic range – fingers crossed. I do however have an immense amount to lose!

NHS UK says this!!! http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/reference-intakes-RI-guideline-daily-amounts-GDA.aspx

They state one should eat 260 gm carbs!!! 90 gm sugars!!! and 70 gm of fat!!! with 20 gm saturated for an adult on 2000 kCal/day and they do not see how they are contributing to the problem of obesity. They list 496 gms of food and so % would be 52% carbs? 18% sugar?? and 14% fat. This does not sound right to me…

On BSD carbs are 30 mg/day and calories 800 so it depends in what you eat. Hopefully someone who uses fitness pal will give you some pointers. But we need to increase fats, oils and greens with a good fluid intake.

I eat loads of asparagus and it really is a super food – below are it’s benefits

1contains glutathione, a potent antioxidant, well known for it’s detoxifying properties.
2.Is a good source of fiber, folate, iron, vitamins A, C, E and K.
3.Is a natural diuretic – a beneficial food for those with high blood pressure and other heart-related conditions.
4.It contains inulin – a prebiotic which helps support the beneficial bacteria in our gut.

Hello fellow finishers or are we? I am in Week 17 having slowly built up calories and food types again since week 11 and 12. I no longer count anything and am on a plateau, 2 kg below my main target, with maybe 1 kg to go if I want a BMI under 25. I have learned to eat more healthily and with a regular weigh-in can adjust it fairly easily. I have found that the occasional beer, sweet or meal out really stirs up the results but they can be ironed out again painlessly but sometimes a bit slower than I would like. I intended to go to 5:2 but it seems a bit formal if my new regime works. I suspect that 5:2 is the answer though and it might make my weigh-ins a thing of the past. I have some health issues of long standing that limit my exercising so I will have to just wait and see how it goes in the longer term. Most important is that I have broken the bread addiction and so the sugar one too but like all addictions we are recovering sugar addicts and have to be wary.

Well my weight is starting to go down again, after a bit of a blip, but my FBS is going up! I think I must still be eating too many carbs, currently aiming for 65g a day. What does everyone else do? Is 65 too high?