Thanks SkyWalker – I don’t drink hardly any alcohol, but I do have a very sweet tooth which I have to work on.

You may find it easier with a slow intro by just attempting to cut down on the worst offenders of bread, cereals and alcohol. Sugar is the thing to cut down and studying the carbs as sugars in your regular foods will show the way. The rest is important but some progress is virtually guaranteed if you get into the not eating between early evening and morning. Good luck. Spouses will often be converted when you start to succeed. You cannot eat an elephant in one go but in small bites over time it would disappear!

Hi ClairyB,
Hmmm….lunch ideas for work…..no- carb ploughman’s lunch (recipe in BSD book)…..boiled eggs and salad…..hommus and celery sticks (or any other raw veg that you like). One of my favorites is to make frittata in muffin tins (easy portion control) and have it with salad (I have access to a microwave to gently heat the frittata). Soup to either re-heat and eat or take in a suitable thermos flask.
There’s probably millions of other ideas.
One day at a time is a great strategy. Best wishes.

Thanks for the tips – I’m having a browse around the forum and am finding it really helpful. Well done on reaching day 5! I’m doing my prep now so I can shop for the right stuff on Friday, then I can start.

I’ve just started (day 5), there’s a thread on Fast 800 called something like what have you eaten today, there are loads of ideas on there – I found it very useful as I’m not much of a cook. There’s also the recipe section which I’ve printed off a few ideas from (the cottage pie with cauliflower mash is lovely). Also lots of folks just add food onto regular posts so it’s worth having a good read through the threads.

I’m the opposite with eggs will only eat scrambled or an omelette but I’m regularly incorporating these into my meal plans now.

My best advice would be plan ahead and drink lots of water!

I have enough fage for 5 days eating lol, but have yeo valley ones still to eat too, I’ll need to check the dates on them to try and minimise the waste I might end up with. We live in a small village and we do have a small supermarket but it’s range is limited.

The nearest town isn’t too far only 20 mins in the car, nearest city is 40 mins. I like where we live though I’m not really a city person. Don’t mind visiting but wouldn’t want to live in it.

with tonights trout (I just baked it in the oven) I made some salsa, and baked some carrot and courgette in a little olive oil and chilli. It was nice.

I’ve headed for another early night as I’ve still felt tired today, but only one more early morning before my days off again.

On a more positive note I had to go to the library tonight with my daughters overdue books grrr, so I had a nice long walk around our village as it was a nice evening. Despite feeling a bit tired it was an enjoyable walk. I have a long walk planned with my friend tomorrow night as well (probably 8 miles again) so I hope I feel less tired tomorrow!

I have had type 2 diabetes for some years – probably about 6 or 7? I am overweight – I have a BMI just over 35, and from what I can tell I need to lose approx 6 stone to get to a BMI of around 22.5. Gosh that looks bad!

A friend of a friend lent me Michael’s 8 week Blood Sugar Diet book – I’ve just ordered my own copy. I was really blown away with the content. It’s going to be hard because my other half is not inclined to change his diet significantly (despite also recently being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes – although I suspect if he sees me doing well with it, he may get a little competitive and join in – at least that is what I am hoping for). In the mean time I will have to struggle to resist some of his food choices! I do have a ‘healthy’ appetite so will be interesting to see if I can stick to it.

I think I’ll be OK if I can get a rhythm going with my meals – I am a creature of habit so once I suss out a few meal choices that I like, I should be OK. I have a bit of a challenge because I don’t like mushrooms, and I only like my eggs boiled, fried or poached (I can’t bear to eat them when they are mushed up together in omelettes, scrambled eggs etc). However, I like most healthy food – veggies, salads and so on. I like fairly plain food too. Is there anywhere on the forum where people discuss meal options or ideas?

I do my shopping on a Friday or Saturday so I’ll start then – we have a self catering holiday booked in a couple of weeks, but I guess I can work with that – I can still have the protein with salads etc. I think my hardest will be lunches – especially on the go. Any suggestions would be very welcome.

So 7.3 before dinner 7.9 couple hours after
Not good ?
Alan ,opinion welcome (off meds now,my decision)

Me too Bill! Gone from several times a day to once! It’s heaven!!

Hi,

I’m on day 4. I’ve been having salad with left overs, today was chicken, yesterday was lamb chop and Monday was chopped steak. I’m going to try the frittatas tomorrow to take to work and eat cold. Then it’s back to chicken salad! Like you I would love some other ideas, working and only having a microwave, my lunches need to be lunchbox friendly.

Good luck with your journey. I’ve lost already and like you I don’t feel bloated.

For us all!!

Thanks Christine

I had a similar experience many years ago 😱 I was wearing a lovely dress (can’t remember if my mother made it, or if it was me!). It was yellow, a satiny dress with a lace over-dress.

When I went down to dinner one of the other (male) guests commented that “it was hard to find nice clothes for big people like us”! Needless to say, that dress went in the bin later😱

I’m curious to see if my friends recognise me at the airport next week. And if their dachshund still knows me😳 Last time I saw them was just before BSD.

What a great reaction from the craft club lady. No wonder it made you feel good😃

It sounds like a lot of us are putting past experiences behind us, together with all the lost weight, and moving on😃

we are alike you and I. I LOVE old buildings and history 🙂

Hope you enjoyed your day.

Hi Lynne,
What a lovely post from you, I think we have all felt the same feelings when we feel ‘fat’ I have been in situations where I have wanted to crawl under the table, we were once on a cruise and we were leaving the dining room when I walked towards a mirror and said to the woman I was with, “oh I thought that was someone else and it was me” she responded quick as a flash, “we don’t all shop at oxfam” needless to say I have never worn that dress ever again! And again, needless to say after that I sat as far away from her at dinner every other evening after that!
I now feel better about myself, I was in town today, just coming out of a car park, when I saw a friend from craft club, she was going to walk straight past me, I walked in front of her and said hello, she stopped, looked, then said oh sorry I didn’t realise it was you, you have lost so much weight I didn’t recognise you for a minute, I felt so good! It did me a power of good. I have always had confidence issues even when I wasn’t overweight, so now I feel ( a bit) normal. Thank you again Lynne for the pep talk, it does us all good to hear your experiences.
Christine

Hi Sooze39, you have my sympathy regarding the Metformin! I’ve been on it for 5 years – necessitating visiting the loo up to 6 times a day due to the gastro problems! Since sticking with the BSD for 12 weeks, those side effects have disappeared (due to the sensible eating) and I now “go” only once a day. It’s as if I’ve got my life back!! I hope you can get back to it – even for this benefit alone. Good luck.

I was so incandescent, I didn’t actually say anything. Mind you, this is the same practice where I was told not to low carb 4 years ago….

Hi any caramba,
Good to hear you are in a better place, love the phrase ‘keep calm and carry on’ I say keep on keeping on.
Christine

Hi Christine.

I look forward to that day for me too. Today I moved down to being overweight – another 28 pounds to normal weight.

But today I realised I felt ‘normal’ – or a new ‘normal’. Perhaps I mean being more comfortable in my skin, not worrying what people think about me or what they’re saying about me.

I wonder how I will feel when I get to my target weight?

Hi Fifip,
More good advice, thank you, I will try the eating’window’ I’m getting a few good bits of advice on the forum tonight!
Christine

Hi igorasusual,
Good advice, I will try and remember that next time that happens to me! Thank you.
Christine

Hi Keeptrying,

If I may just say…you seem a little hard on yourself!

A small binge (or even a large one) is not a catastrophe, just a difficult moment – though I know it feels horrible😞 – been there!
You have the knowledge and desire to succeed – so keep on keeping on! You are doing fine.

Imogen🌻

Hi Lynne,
Wow, I mean WOW!!! Well done, we all want to emulate you, I look forward to the day I can say “im the normal weight for my height and age” keep on keeping on.
Christine

Hi jillyb,
Well done, and well done to your husband, I hope you continue on the diet and get some relief from lack of sleep etc. I also have osteoporosis, however I haven’t any problems with it on the diet, so I can’t help in that department sorry.
You have to look at how much you have lost in the eight weeks you have been on the diet, it is good amount, if you break it down that’s 2lbs a week, I sometimes lost ounces! Which was very disappointing, I carried on though, had plateaus, then suddenly like this week I have lost three pounds, there is no rhyme or reason why this happens, so hang in there you will get there in the end!
Christine

Am having the same problem in week three. 11 pounds down the first two weeks, then, this week, nothing. Nearly lost it today, tired and despondent, but have planned a super soft boiled egg salad with humus and salsa for tea, which will just keep me on track for 800. Really hope that those scales start moving again soon.

Hi Lynne,
I went out with my two old friends today, we had lunch, I had chicken wrapped in bacon with a cheese sauce and salad, one friend had lasagne, she has recently had cancer and is remission, she struggles to put weight on! Oh what a lovely dilemma to have! My other friend is overweight has a husband with diabetics, and both of them have numerous health issues, she has asked and listened to my experiences on the bsd diet yet can’t bring herself to do it or do it with and for her husband, I find it really hard to keep my mouth shut! After a few times talking about it I figure there is no point flogging a dead horse!
I have lost three pounds since Sunday, so my being ‘good’ seems to be working!
You might get a few posts! I keep forgetting what I’m replying to! It’s an age thing of course!
Will ‘speak’ again soon.
Christine

Hello checked my BS today four hours after lunch (chicken salad) just before dinner 6 pm and my BS was 7.3.
I stopped all pills weeks ago but do not know if 7.3 is considered high or not ?
Any ideas folks Alan

The phone or iPad app Bauer is brill it logs BP bs weight everything in list and graph
I’ve been using it for 7 weeks now 2 stone off 😇
Alan

hmmm
well it is not just there, but anyway we shall see

in a foul mood today, and have had first binge in almost 3 weeks
a small binge in normal terms – but a binge never the less

talking to someone earlier realised I am trying to do about 3 diets at the same time
maybe that is contributing to my rage
trying to be gluten/grain free – trying to do bsd – trying to do reflux proof eating

some overlaps but doing head in

someone made some vegi sausage rolls today – they smelt and looked wonderful
why am I giving this all up
I hate myself so much

Hi Sandie, sounds to me like you have done the hard bit already. If you just count the sugars and calories you will soon be at your ideal weight. I averaged 846 cal/day and 28.4 gm/day of sugars (carbs) over 10 weeks. I have had off days and high cal days but the fasting period is what brings the benefits. Eating fewer carbs means eating more of non carbs but keep drinking plenty of fluid/water. Cutting down comes naturally when you weigh what you eat and know its nutritional value. Why wait? just ease yourself in by starting now and eat nothing else until breakfast, that you may even be able to delay a bit and watch the results accumulate, as they will.

Sooze39, I recommend you to have a look at a website called dietdoctor.com and particularly some articles on there by Jason Fung who is a kidney specialist and recommends intermittent fasting as a cure for type 2 diabetes. He has written a book called ‘the obesity code’ which is excellent. His approach is to combine low carb high fat eating with 16, 24 and 36 hours of fasting. It sounds hard but when you think you sleep for at least 9 of the hours it’s really quite easy. There are no complicated recipes or formulas to follow, no costs involved, no mad exercise routines to do.

The idea is to let the insulin levels in your body drop back to normal by ‘resting’ the body and it makes perfect sense. I have totally adapted my lifestyle to fasting now and it surely is the easiest way to lose weight. I am not type 2 but I think the fact I struggled to lose weight before meant I was insulin resistant – like most of the population! But I am now correcting this with the fasting. Of course, you need to adjust your meds accordingly but it sounds like you already have supportive medics around you and Jason Fung has advice on that too on his own website.

Don’t be despondent, we all have setbacks, not least because of the crap advice we have been given over the years. But finally it was on the news yesterday – more fat, less carbs, fewer snacks. You don’t say! Our message is finally being taken seriously. Hallelujah!

I have been practicing to cope without bread, sugar, potato, rice, pasta, cake, biscuits etc. All is fine I do not need to eat these foods. My next task is to eat less. I have not been counting calories yet. I plan to start 800 calories for 8 weeks on the 1st june

I hung around waiting for some inspirational posts but as only one response I will say; don’t be despondent it does not use enough calories. Being happy uses more. You know the score and the system just change the brain cells and keep going. It is not a race. I know about depression and low mood and I have to say that it can be difficult to break out of either never mind both. Investing in BSD and going for it wholeheartedly has really helped me to get some aspects of my life and lifestyle sorted and even my body too. The research of foods through the many websites is time consuming but wonderfully enlightening at times. It is only a short term diet until we reach near ideal and then switch to 5:2 or similar. The discipline is something that we all learn to cope with but at different rates. Keep reading, post when you need support and good luck, I am sorry for the massive disappointment but you can make a mere blip when you are past all this and into the summer weather, can’t you? Good luck…

Thanks thePolly. 🙂 Steak sounds tasty!

It’s the real Greek yoghurt as checked ingredients online too – saw the whole debate about the Greekstyle stuff – wow some of them are filled with rubbish, arent they!

Thanks Captainlynne 🙂 You’re a great pro-healthiness hero and example to have!
I hope it’ll happen to me too, I must remember that I usually feel sick after eating any of those desserts, even though I think I like them… Of to a good start anyway, and am definitely going to keep it up.

Hi All
Back from holiday.

Day 95 weight 10st 3lbs so 5lbs gained
Blood sugar 10.2

Was a little bit naughty, but back on track now. Hopefully the weight will come back off soon.

Have a Doctor’s appointment for tomorrow so I’ll get the results of my 3 month blood sugar levels. My diabetic clinic has closed, so I am going to have to explain this diet to someone else.

Thanks everyone😃

I’ve been thinking today … dangerous I know LOL

My weight rarely are me feel bad about myself – until near the end of last year. Part work involves me speaking in front of groups of people and at meetings. I can cope with that, it goes with the territory! But sometimes photos are taken. You know the ones. You’re given a copy, look at it in horror, and want to destroy it! But sometimes a kind person puts one on the notice board, and some get published😱 Add to that trauma, my work uniform was getting steadily tighter. A few time in the past I’ve had a button pop off my jacket at awkward moments! All of that was starting to affect me.

Then I found the BSD.

I’m now in my 23rd week on the BSD. As I posted earlier, today officially became overweight. So what was I thinking?

Instead of worrying that my clothes are too tight and that buttons will gape or pop off, I now have clothes that are steadily getting too big. A nice, but expensive problem to have. I’ll need to go to London in the not too distant future to get a smaller uniform but delaying so it won’t need altering too soon. My health is better, as are my energy levels and thinking processes.

But possibly more important in some ways – I’ve realised today that I actually feel better about myself. A surprise, as I’d not realised I’d started to feel bad! Although I moved to this area nearly a year ago, I’m still having to have meetings with new people and it just doesn’t bother me. They may look at me and see a short, old, grey haired lady. Well, I am only 5ft 2ins, I am 65 (soon to be 66) and my hair is white! But they can’t add ‘fat’ to the list of adjectives😃

Today I realised that I now feel ‘normal’ – something I’ve not really felt for a long time😱 While not exactly lacking in confidence, I now am not now worrying about what people think if me, usually based on what they see. Or the things they can say about me. And that is a major, unexpected benefit of losing so much weight. And it will help me when I have to make some important decisions and have some unpleasant discussions in a month or so😃

Sorry for the essay, but I hope it will help anyone who is not feeling particularly good about themselves at the moment.

You’ve done too well to give up, think of the consequences of slipping back again, all that good work undone in a holiday. A little bit of what you fancy, will I’m sure be lovely, but just leave it at a little bit 🙂

Thanks HappyLife……feeling in a better place this afternoon.
Dealt with difficult stuff with two different close family members yesterday. First… Police call for help and rescue… Dementia related (not me!!!)
Then an emergency ambulance and a precautionary, overnight hospital admission.
All ok for now……. so able to keep calm and carry on.

Brilliant captainLynne. I was completely thrilled to be classed as overweight, and I still am.
Nothing fits properly any more which is getting to be a bit annoying sometimes.

Epspecially – speaking as someone who used to read the dessert menu before ordering the main course and again while eating the main course, then eating the dessert, now it really doesn’t bother me. Seriously. On social occasions, I sit and talk while everyone is tucking into their desserts. When I see the desserts they just don’t tempt me at all – I remember how ill all those carbs made me feel.

I think the longer we do this, the more this way of eating becomes a habit. Just hang on in there. 😃

Hey
Well
Day 8, really doing it. Lost 9lbs. Loving the natural food and lots of water 🙂

Hi everyone. After years of waking up at three in the morning for no good reason, I have started to sleep like a baby. Anyone else noticed sleep changes? Janet

hi all –

i’ve been reading this thread to get inspired! awesome work everyone!

i’ve just finished week one – loss of 13.5lbs (6.1kg). am shocked at how high that seems but am guessing it will slow this week! happy to be below the 200lbs mark now 🙂 and will never see it again!

Hello, I’m not going to be much help because only just started, but having got that far, DON’T give up. Especially as you feel better. I don’t really want to forget about how uncomfortable I felt eating lots of carbs because it should hopefully inspire me that I don’t want to feel it. Could you try doing the 5:2 whilst away so that you can eat more and feel less hungry, but of the right stuff?

WEEK ONE WEIGH IN – 196.3, down 13.5lbs (6.1kg)

I think the weightloss will slow this week as this seems quite dramatic for one week! But I’m glad it’s gone and looking forward to a healthier slimmer future!

hi everyone –

day seven:

weight: 196.0 (diff: – 13.8)
calories: 1000
carbs: 53
breakfast: black coffee
lunch: —
dinner: steak, mashed potatoes, salad, mushrooms
snacks: red wine
exercise: —

i think my total fasting day made me hungry! i was really struggling with hunger and knew i was going out to celebrate buying our new house and tried to keep the calories low by skipping out on brekkie & lunch. had a bit too much wine & it made me feel AWFUL….so strange that this is a change from a week ago when a couple glasses of wine wouldn’t make me feel anything! it’s a good lesson though. we are heading to the pub to watch the toronto raptors game (basketball) and i’ll stick with soda water with a splash of cranberry!

celeste x

Hi Gillian

I’m feeling the same, so not much help, sorry!

I have a weeks self catering holiday coming up this weekend, with family, and it always involves lots of pub lunches and teas out. I’m veggie too, so will have to try and do the best I can. I can feel my resolve wavering, because I know what I’m like. I’ve been on BSD since early April but this will be the first whole week away test.

I have been having fun packing, finding clothes I couldn’t fit into for some years, and I really don’t want to put weight on and ruin all my hard work. I’m hoping my family will see a difference. If they do, that will encourage me to keep under control.

I think I will try and not eat until lunchtime – will be hard as we’ll all sit around breakfast table chatting, I’ll just say I’m not that hungry yet. I will take my Greek yogurt and nuts/seeds in case. I will also try and walk more, I get up earlier, so may have a quick half hour fast walk alone which may help. I don’t think I’ll be able to resist a soft icecream. Good luck x

Well done, that’s a fantastic start, you must be really encouraged!

Sounds like you’re in the zone now, so good luck, you can do this!

Ditto me three! The book arrived Friday and I started on Saturday, 5 days in now and 5lbs lighter. I’m struggling with feeling a bit wobbly in the mornings but it goes by mid morning. Something really clicked for me with this way of eating and I felt ready to start controlling my food rather than it controlling me. The cravings have gone, still feel hungry now and then but this is getting better each day.

I find the key is being prepared, each meal is planned with meals in the freezer too and I always take my lunch with me. I’m teetotal so that’s not a problems for me, but cakes in the office was my downfall until this week!

Good luck with your diet!

Hello – I’ve done so well, lost almost a stone in 5 weeks and am now a “healthy” weight. I would love to lose half a stone more – trouble is I’m HUNGRY this week. My will power and motivation have abandoned me and I just crave carbs after weeks where none have passed my lips. I’m looking forward to a couple of weeks away, visiting friends in Cornwall (thinking cream teas and pasties) and wonder if mentally I’m sliding off the wagon! Will I come back half a stone heavier and “overweight” – HELP!!!

Wow, it sounds like you are in a really good place to make big changes to your diet and lifestyle. It’s such a good feeling to take control, isn’t it? And your bloods look very impressive and definitely heading the right way. Your son sounds very inspiring too; you can see that it can be done.

Like you (?) I’ve often dieted and thought ” well, I’ll give it a go, but I can’t do that bit, or this bit ” but now I realise that I can and have. I’m on week four, I’m staying at my daughter’s as she is near to giving birth to her second child and has been unwell, but I’ve still stuck to it, whereas before I would have found this an excuse to give up. I feel so much better in my self and very positive, and it sounds like you do too.

So, hurray for us! We CAN do this!

Best of luck.