Hi Lonnie24…I haven’t had any hair loss or leg cramps as such but early on my period came a week early ( back to normal so far ) and definitely feel much colder ( unheard of for me previously as I have high BP!) such an unusual feeling as I was always complaining of being hot 😂

Dear Peter,
Many happy returns of the day….don’t have too much birthday cake
/ champagne !!!

I, too, have just finished 10 weeks, but not the dramatic loss you have achieved, but I am quite happy. Like you, I am wondering if I can sustain the loss but feel that I have more knowledge and willpower this time round.
Drink to that [ for both of us, and all the others ] .
jillyB

Hi Peter Perkin,
Great results – well done. Happy Birthday.

I am quietly optimistic that I have seen the end of my symptoms but realise I may be just having a Menopausal Holiday. Anyway I feel great and can sleep again at night . Heading into week 3 of the diet plan which I followed almost to the letter, energy great, minimal hunger, slow weight loss(I was in the normal range for BMI when I started)…coping well with the rigours of shift work.

Just crossed the eight week line
Bought the book, read it from cover to cover the same day and started the diet the next day. I could just fit the eight weeks in before my 66th birthday (today)
Total weight loss = 28 lbs / nearly 13kg
Didn’t use any of the recipes but ate things that I like, limiting to 800 cal and 50gr carbs as best I could.
Did cut out bread, pasta, potatoes and white rice.
Found that I was quite often hungry but just put a positive spin on that.
Walked a lot and did light exercises – also doTai Chi, which I believe is very good for the body and mind.
Weight loss was dramatic at start but with plateau in week four with no weight loss at all.
That can be a bit discouraging but thankfully a lot of positive comment on this forum raises the spirits.
I set out with the goal of losing about 10kg so I have exceeded my expectation and am very happy. The challenge is now to keep the weight off. I will probably try 5-2 and monitor the situation.
The diet not only teaches you about food but teaches you a lot about yourself. I now have the confidence that I can manage my weight.
I am due for annual checkup later this month and keen to see if there is any difference in blood test results.
To anyone thinking of doing this diet, I thoroughly recommend it. Follow the guidelines as best you can, don’t beat yourself up if stray or have a bad day. You will succeed.
Thanks Dr MM and thanks again to all of the positive comments and support on this forum.
PP

On the BSD can you experience hair loss, leg cramps, halted periods and feelings of coldness?

Thank you all for your input. Janet, I think of it as both I guess. 800 calories a day and no bread, pasta or rice is not I feel sustainable. With diabetes I had already cut out most potatoes, eating low gi ones and I had mostly cut out white bread, replacing it with multigrain or other low gi versions. I am still finding it very hard, particularly at lunch when I have spent most of my life, 40+ years! having sandwiches.

I believed a large part of the fast 800 was to clear the fat out of our internal organs, particularly the pancreas?

I am curious about how full on carbs will affect us and whether despite being back at normal blood sugars they will still create a diabetic spike?

Can I do this diet dairy free?

I’m going to be honest, if not PC here, because it might help someone else. I have had hunger for all of the thirteen weeks I have been on BSD, but not all the time, maybe every four or five days when it really has been tough. The rest of the time I am fine, but hunger has never really just disappeared completely and I was very careful with carbs. That said, on the days where I was just starving, I ate a bit more of fat and protein and that was immensely helpful. I especially ate chicken or beef and cheese when I needed more calories. I am 13 weeks in and 9 full inches off my waist — I am down to a U.S. Size 10 — so it has truly worked. A fantastic outcome for me BUT it isn’t fair to say that no one will get hungry. I think it is important to say you MIGHT get hungry, so here’s a good way to deal with it. It is still a low calorie diet — listen to your body — catching hunger early and feeding it a bit of good food can keep you from falling off the wagon later.

Hi Butterfly…You are probably correct. Yesterday, I thought – oh, to heck with it and I had a bit of cheese and instead of having my brussel sprouts with nothing, I added a bit of butter, some home made bacon bits and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese, and felt happier. I have been rather crabby lately. I even had a few handsful of popcorn last night and this morning, I show as having lost weight! Ha! Maybe I was overdoing it. Will NOT give up! Yay!

BTW, love reading others’ happy and rewarding stories. I find them inspiring, so thanks to everyone!

Hi everyone. Just finished my eight weeks and so happy with the results. 9.15 kg lost and 13 cm off waist. Found I was never hungry. Also, incoporated some intermittent fasting in the last 2 weeks as I seemed to hit a bit of a plateau on week 6. Still have another 10 kg to lose so will carry on with the 800 cal and intermittent fasting. Going for blood tests tomorrow. Have not been diagnosed with Diabetes 2, but triglycerides and LDL were on the rise last time. Best diet ever.

I was diagnosed as T2 two years ago and immediately went low carb so no bread, spuds, pasta, rice, etc for me since then. I still want to get my a1c down – 6.0 after my eight week stint, and still have weight to lose, which is why I’m looking into the feasibility of alternating weeks.

Thanks for your response.

Hello again Siar, glad ypu’re over the EBV crisis. If you have reached your target weight you will be able to increase your food intake. If you have little body fat you may still have fatty deposits around your vital organs. You should ensure that you are eating enough good oils and fats and few starchy carbs and plenty of protein. We need a good balance of the main food categories to stay healthy and weight stable. I think you need to do this under supervision of a medic from what you have posted so far. Stay well, Happy Eating…

Hello again Siar, glad you’re over the EBV crisis. If you have reached your target weight you will be able to increase your food intake. If you have little body fat you may still have fatty deposits around your vital organs. You should ensure that you are eating enough good oils and fats and few starchy carbs and plenty of protein. We need a good balance of the main food categories to stay healthy and weight stable. I think you need to do this under supervision of a medic from what you have posted so far. Most folk buy a blood sugar monitor from their local pharmacy or online but beware some of the auction site devices are poor quality (I sent one back for refund myself). Stay well, Happy Eating…

Hello, if you have completed the 8 weeks you likely will have changed your eating habits and cut out many white/processed/starchy foods. If this is the case you will be able to reintroduce certain foods to prevent your weight loss continuing. Once stable you will have “Won”. I am nearing end of week 17 now. I do not count sugars or cals now and have changed what, when and how I eat. It seems to be working but I do miss many things. In the early days I included some slices of bread occasionally but it was not worth it in nutritional terms. I have been able to eat nuts again but apparently the raisins are not so good that I like to have with them. I intended to do 5:2 but I am not doing it formally at present. If my weight starts to increase I now have the knowledge to know easily what has caused it and more importantly, how to deal with it. I suppose it depends on whether you are at your target weight and what your eating habits were prior to 8WBSD.

If you choose to eat real food within the limits of 800 cal and 30 gm of carbs/day you will soon learn how much of each you can eat when you study the nutritional data of the foods to keep you within the limits. The idea is to reduce sugar and carbs while increasing protein and fats to compensate. Fasting is a key part and 14 hours or more is suggested. The % or weights of the various macro-nutrients (Fat, Protein carbs) are not specified by Dr Mosley as following his rules it is not critical. Mediterranean foods are low in starchy content and have low carb values. If you ate a diet without bread, rice, creeals pasta and branded “low-fat” foods you would succeed like the majority on here. Good Luck…

Hmmm, 24 hours off the proverbial wagon, must knuckle down again. We’ve been on holiday in Norfolk and it’s been a challenge to eat out when just about everything comes with chips. And yesterday was my other half’s birthday so Guinness was drunk. And to be honest, cake was involved. Smacked legs for Janey. Anyway, I’ll be back on the straight and narrow again very shortly! Those size 14 M&S jeans are waiting for me!

Lucia you make me smile. Thank you

Drinks – pretty much anything without sugar – I worked out how much milk I use in tea thru the day on average and just add that amount into myfitnesspal log everyday.
Try and get thru lots of water – I find I drink more if I have it with no-sugar squash occasionally – you can get those little squirty bottles that are brilliant to carry around.
As to the extra calories, if you are both really active, maybe try the 800 to start with and see how you get on. Adjust it up a little if it isn’t enough – but I think a lot of people on the forums have been surprised at the lack of hunger they’ve experienced, especially once they’ve done a few days. It’s probably best to be prepared with BSD friendly snacks handy, rather than be hungry and gorge on something completely outside BSD.

Easily portable shacks – nuts, measured portions of cheese, I like carrot and hummus, an apple, greek yoghurt if you have access to a fridge – and as you say, soup can be filling. I’d suggest that you make your own you, easier to keep to low calorie and low carb options.
But do look at portion sizes, especially with cheese and nuts! maybe look at buying tiny tupperware-type boxes so that you can carry a small portion, rather than a full bag & be tempted to eat too many.

Hi Lucia
I’d planned to try the lasagne idea this evening – but went into Waitrose for mince and they had a really nice chicken thing with bacon & parmesan – AND CROUTONS – there were only about 4, but they were delicious. Still only 28g of carbs for the day, so don’t feel to guilty about eating rather than chucking them.
Enjoy your new dress – hope the sun comes out again!

To scottgran,
Yo skinny, what tips can you give a big girl like me?

Proud of you.🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🎖🎖🎖🎖🎖🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Love Lucia
Xxxx

wow, that’s brilliant Scotgran, congratulations – especially to keep to it thru a stressful move
definitely deserves capitals!!

Hi I am going on the 800 diet to support my husband , although I do need to lose some weight my blood sugar and pressure are normal , Andy however has high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. I do cook healthy meals but he snacks out on to many crisps and drinks beer . We both work in the construction trade which is quite physical. My one concern is will he get hungry with so little food and working so hard , do we have to stick religiously to the meal plan or can I make more soup etc so he feels fuller but still sticking to the 800 a day . Also what drinks can we have through the day , help would be much appreciated

I haven’t posted for a few weeks. We’ve been moving house, quite stressful, then no internet for a while. However, here I am 4 months down the line. And looking forward to next weeks holiday . AND I AM A SIZE 14 WHEN I STARTED IN FEB I WAS A SIZE 20.

Do anyone know what the correct amount of protein, vegetables, fibre, fat, ect. You should consume in a day if you do not wish to follow the 4 Weekes diet plan? I have read the book but could not find an answer to it.

Well done all of you, I’m so impressed! Mix wish that I access to some scales….but there don’t seem to be any on this small island! You can tell too!! So tonight I’m eating out….I’m having a smal Greek salad, with feta, and a whole 230gr sea bream…and a glass of red wine. I had 92cals for brunch…so I could enjoy tonight.

Well the past few days have been horrendous. I’ve had my first monthly since having my 22 month old and 7.5 month old and I haven’t been able to control myself with the biscuits.

I’ve booked in for a PT session tomorrow as I don’t overeat or eat badly when I do because I don’t like to waste the money and more importantly effort I make to exercise. So tomorrow is a new start and new day and I am not falling off.

If any other ladies could give me some helpful tips for dealing with monthly cravings I would be grateful. It’s been over 3 years since I’ve had to deal with PMS so it’s like starting all over again!

Hello – I finished my first 8 weeks on Monday and am thinking of now alternating an 800 week, followed by a 5:2 week and so on. Has anyone tried this and does anyone have any suggestions for or against this plan?

Thanks in advance.

Hi, Been through few ups and down with EBV . I am back to good vital signs and now I lost 8kgs in 3 weeks now at 70kg . I am not sure when to stop and I am not sure if my Body has enough fat for body to use up ( though I see I could reduce more in my front abdomen) while I am continuing on my 800 cal/day. I feel much better & sleeps well. I didnt crave till now however in the last two days , while I am still loosing wait, i feel I need more energy .. does it mean my body dont have enough fat and all fat has been used up by body in the last few weeks ? Also which is the test I can do to confirm my blood sugar is normal for good …MRI on liver , pancreas ? Insulin resistance test ? Ultrasound etc ? Any inputs be appreciated….

Yes you need more fats and protein until you click back in to using them more efficiently. Have you read the recent report from the National Obesity Forum that caused so much aggro recently, it is a great read and – it is here;

https://phcuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Healthy-Eating-Guidelines-Weight-Loss-Advice-For-The-United-Kingdom-Public-Health-Collaboration.pdf

BSD is 30 gm/day ideally. The recent furore about eating fat to get thin is similar to what we are doing. The National Obesity Forum .co.uk home page discusses the new guidance around now since this controversial healthy eating guide – see link – you may have to copy and paste;

https://phcuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Healthy-Eating-Guidelines-Weight-Loss-Advice-For-The-United-Kingdom-Public-Health-Collaboration.pdf

So once you reach your target weight and you have had the right amount of fats and protein you can allegedly start to reintroduce some carbs and monitor your self up to a max of 130 gm/day low starch/low GI food.

Thank you all for your comments and good wishes.
I forgot another part of my success was walking, I use a fit bit and aim for 10,000 steps each day .
I usually manage 10000 once or twice a week but most days it is about 7500 steps.
Going on holiday soon I am looking forward to the Mediterranean diet as this is the direction I am going to follow when on the 5:2

Hello the newly released healthy eating guide that supports our way but takes it a bit further can be found here;

https://phcuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Healthy-Eating-Guidelines-Weight-Loss-Advice-For-The-United-Kingdom-Public-Health-Collaboration.pdf

Read report as a PDF document or downloaded and/or print it. it is a riveting read and trashes the NHS guidance that we have been complaining about. It suggests that carbs may be reintroduced if low GI and low therefore low starch in some measure even up to 130 gm/day! but only once we have had our daily fats and proteins that stop us feeling hungry. For me it is a next steps document and makes sense more than the previous guide that I have commented on before.

The National Obesity Forum page re the report that caused the furore is here; http://www.nationalobesityforum.org.uk

Congratulations and well done for completing your 8 weeks 🙂

Thanks for posting your story!

Hallelujah the scale moved back down to my lowest weight so far on this plan. Yesterday on our travels we were at a friends house all day so drank a ton of water and didn’t have to eat out much so it clearly helped!!
Yeah. Yippee. Back in the right direction.
I will be glad to get home and eat exactly what I want and know what’s inside each recipe rather than eating out and not really knowing what’s included.
We did great on the 18 days of travel and did even lose weight but this last week we were both stuck it seemed.
It’s a great day to head home knowing I am moving downward again.
I also have to mention the one cute tanker I bought for the trip that did fit when we left is too big now. My friend kept pulling my shoulder back up because its slipping off and the body portion is also big. It literally fit perfectly 18 days ago. Not anymore.
Guess I will donate all my even bigger clothes this week once I get home. I am NOT keeping them!!! In my profession I know doing so sets up our subconscious to believe we will go back to that size in the future and our subconscious can then have us move toward that direction. I do not want that so am getting rid of them. Period. 😍
Have a great day everyone!
💜

Thanks Izzy and Weescotty for explaining the stone circles!
Have a great day everyone and Izzy hope lunch went well!!

Congratulations Robion on a fantastic result, you must be really pleased to see so much success, and reduction of your meds, with presumably the potential of your coming off Metformin too, if your great progress continues.

Thanks so much for posting, it makes a huge difference to people just starting, or perhaps having a bit of a plateau.

🙂

Who keeps moving the I and the c in my name all the time.

Please stop it.
Thanks

Love
Lucia
Xxx

Many people here try to keep good carbs between 30 and 50g per day to see fat burning.

I have relatively little to lose in terms of weight and am keeping mine to 20g per day which is working well for me, but could be too little for some people.

It is a good idea to focus on fat – which is good and filling – and protein, with carbs at the lower level I mention. My target levels are at 10% carbs, 50%fat and 40% protein, which is 20g, 45g and 80g respectively. I use MyFitnessPal to keep me on track.

Hi
I don’t know of a max amount of carb but I have just finished my 8 week and I had between 80 and 95 gm

Hi all
This is the first time I have put my experience on the forum although I have been reading a lot of comments and have been inspired to go on. I am 66 years old type 2 diabetic and have been since July 2007 and pre before that. I was 116.4 kg before I started on the 800 calories for 8 short weeks and now I have arrived it didn’t seem that long. I have lost 13.7kg about 30lbs. during the 8 weeks. I have stopped my simvastatin, Gliclazide , Linagliptin , and reduced my Metformin all with the knowledge of my GP.
I now believe that the hard work is going to start and that is to keep my carbs low. I am looking at potato, rice, bread, and pasta as a person with a nut allergy would look at nuts, because if I eat them my blood sugar will go up (an allergic reaction) although I will have a little on rare occasions I must say after 8 weeks I don’t crave them. I am now on 1000 calories and finding it quite hard to reach as my thinking won’t let me eat the wrong food strange but true I hope this feeling lasts.
Week one was very challenging but very rewarding with a loss of 3kg
Week two I was quit hungry but pushed on I found that if I had 3 meals of about 200cal each and 3 snacks with the rest I could cope better. Some days I went up to 850 calories.
I had a problem in week 4 with my bowel this can still be a little erratic but no problem. I was also a little depressed as I was on a plateau for about 4days although my bloods were ok with reduced meds. I weigh myself every day straight out of bed.
Week 5 I pulled myself together and started to lose weight again back on a high.
Week 6 and 7 they just flew past still losing weight and good blood sugar.
Week 8 this was a long week with ups and downs with my weight but finally arrived
I believe that if I go back to eating starchy food on a regular basis I will need to increase my medication even though I have lost weight
I am now going to start the 5:2 or even 4:3 using 800 calories and keep monitoring my weight and sugar.
Good luck and stay in focus you can do it and you will do it and reap the benefit of your hard work

Hi, can anyone tell me the recommended maximum intake of slow release carbs on the 800 a day?
Thanks

Hi weescotty! Perth is only about an hour away from my home. The nearest stone circle to you I think (of the recumbent type that are special to this area) is in Dundee but I’ve not been along to that one yet! I think it’s the only one I know of that is really near houses, most are quite isolated.

Polly I don’t fancy contact lenses but I know what you mean about the reflection. I’m sure your guy won’t think you sinister haha.

Well it’s been a nice day so far, got my daughters glasses ordered and went for lunch I was determined to stick to my plan and did (mostly)

My daughter had scampi and chips, and I had a gammon and cheese salad. I stole ONE chip lol. I also had a lovely herbal tea. Hannah had a rocky road cake and I had ONE small bite of her leftovers. Left the rest behind so I couldn’t be tempted. I also bought a twisty hazel bush. I’ve always wanted one I love the corkscrew branches. need to decide where to plant it now! We also went for a walk before home.

I’m off to catch up bye for now!

Hi sandie,

I got there before he opened up the shop,
I hung round like a groupie!

Want to come with me next week?

Love luica
Xxx

What do you mean you don’t quite understand?

Let me explain.

There is a to series called Mrs browns boys.
It’s a man dressed up as a women’s.
He plays the mammy.

I saw a postcard with her on.
She said….
I used to say. Fe@k off , but now I say.. That’s nice!

But I can’t go around and swear at people.
I just say that’s nice.

They accept it, they think I am loopy.

But I am laughing inside as they tell them what I think!

Love luica
Xxxx

Hi Switzerland.

Love that you are now blogging and finding a song in the blog.
It lightens the spirit. Isn’t it great?

I think because we are now an official family or group or gang, we are all standing up for ourselves as we have the backing of the gang.
No more am I apologising for eating differently than people around me.
No more am I taking the cake or bread or spuds because someone else, oh go on, it won’t do you any harm.
No more am I keeping the peace.
No more am I tolerating people asking me about my diet then telling me I am wrong. I defend myself
No more am I tolerate people telling me I am harming myself eating 800 calories even if I didn’t ask their advice or opinion.
No more am I making the excuse I have an allergy or intolerance or something else.

The worm has turned !!! And a cute worm at that.

I just reply…. That’s nice !!!! Ha. I told them didn’t I.

Love luica
Xxx

Hi frog,
Great idea, thanks for passing it on.

Scrambled egg and cottage cheese between the layers, they would bind together and keep the layers of mince apart.

I am feeling summery.
I bought a dress from Asda. It is navy blue covered in tiny white flowers with red middles and red leaves.
It is to the knee.
It has sleeves that are loose to nearly the elbow.
The back has a lovely detail of a triangle piece of blue lace.
Elasticated waist, so I can wear it as I lose weight.
Something like £16
It gets me out of black, and trousers. Feeling feminine in it.

Love luica
Xxxx

Just been out and picked some more lily of the valley to have them near where I sit in the living room.

I also cut two rose buds facing the fence.
They are a beautiful strong pink at the tip but does into a peachy orange colour near the centre. The roses are on the fireplace, in front of the mirror so they now look like a full bunch.

All of those flowers smell wonderful.

Love luica
Xxx

It all depends on whether you think of this as a ‘diet’ or as a ‘healthy way of life’. Syb, its not just that your diabetes means you can’t process carbs; diabetes is caused by refined carbs, so you really don’t want to reintroduce them. We have all seen everyone around us lose weight and then put it back on again because they went back to their old habits. What makes you think this programme would be any different? You are losing weight because you are not eating that stuff so if you want to keep it off, the change has to be for life. That’s not to say that one sandwich or one plate of pasta will destroy everything, it won’t, but they really do have to be few and far between, exceptions to your new rules.

Hi glevesque
I’m no expert by any means but I can’t help but think you’re not doing yourself any favours by reducing your calorie intake below 800 (and even 500!!!). I can’t imagine you’re able to get the recommended amounts of nutrients by dropping that low. Your body needs fuel, in this case in the form of fats and protein, and this is the key to the weight loss and reduction in blood glucose that this diet results in. If you’re not giving your body the correct amount and balance of this fuel then it can’t burn off fat effectively. I may be wrong but I don’t think you’ll see a sustained weight loss on this number of calories, and I would also worry about your long term health if you were to continue with this number of calories.
Best of luck xx