Hi Frog

Ah … the size of the coat. I tried on a fleece in M&S – a 16 fitted. But finally bought a showerproof jacket in Mountain Warehouse – an 18! Still, smaller than the ones I have been wearing😃. Congratulations on the tea without cake👍

In Cafe Nero (and in Italy) they think it strange I drink espresso without sugar!

Sorry Bill – being originally from foreign parts (Manchester) the stottie was unknown to me😱 Now, an Eccles Cake – that’s a different story😃

Glad you’re enjoying the posts Californiagirl😃 I’ve visited the USA many times but never made it to California.

Since starting the BSD I’ve had a holiday, a residential conference, two whole day conferences, a training day and, today, a funeral tea.

It has got easier to cope when eating out as I’ve realised that in most situations people don’t even notice what I’m eating or not eating.

At the recent residential conference there were so many people asking for items to be omitted from various dishes that I soon stopped feeling strange about the changes I was making. The only comment was when someone noticed there was no dessert in front of me – they said it was paid for! Perhaps I should have ordered one and passed it to him😃

People are now noticing my weight loss and asking how I’ve done it. After almost 22 weeks it really had become a habit just to say ‘no thank you’ when I’m offered something I can’t eat – like Tuesday when everyone tucked into their packed lunches and I enjoyed my black coffee (I don’t eat at lunchtime any more), and someone offered me a home made cake.

I’ll soon be on holiday in Italy, staying with friends so I’ll be making the best choices I can. I’ve already told them I sang eat pasta and pizza any more (so they think I’m coeliac!). I’ll ask if we can go food shopping so I can buy more of the foods I can eat, that they may not normally buy and to help out with their food bills.

My daughter did that photo just after Soozie died.
She was a brilliant dog and the whole family loved her.
In fact she used to go on sleepovers to all their homes, at the kids request of course.
Sadly she passed while we were on holiday and she was staying at Catherines, cost me £87 in mobile calls to the vets from Turkey.

Hi, over 10 weeks I averaged 846 cal/day and have lost 20% of body mass. My average sugars over the same period was 28.4 gm/day. I had quite a few “bad” days but overall they get absorbed, just carry on regardless – it is not a religion, there is no sin, we are just reducing calories and learning to eat more healthily. (no offence intended to anyone who may accept a religion).

The system will show the total amount of members but that’s only those who register.
On average 90% of forum readers never register or post.
There will surely be a huge amount of people following the plan who have never even heard of the forum and some of them will have been doing it a lot longer than us.

I also have realised my water intake has slumped so back on that big style

Hi I am full fat everything bar coconut milk. If I have too much full fat milk it wipes my carb count. I have done ketostix test and only on 2nd pink block. If I lower my carb intake to under 50g it would be as hideous as this week so unsure what to do next. I did like your working out body percentages for loss though.

I know the scales can be counterproductive but it does help sometimes. A small win! Maybe. But will knock it on head for a once a week thing.

I will go back to carb counting and portion control and see what happens next

Hi, it is very early days and it is impossible for any of us to say what will happen to you and your numbers but rest assured that you will not be alone, keep reading the posts, add to the knowledge base eith your experiences where you can and I wish you the best, it is likely that you will settle into a steady pattern but not not certain there have been a few exceptions to the norms but hope for the best and reduce those sugars. Good luck…

I’m also trying to figure out my macros on my fitness pal. Thanks for the discussion. I am in the same boat with Penny, trying to reverse years of high carbs and low fat. ugh.

I’m pleased I found it and delighted with the results, but that’s tempered with a bit of anger.
The knowledge that low carb eating causes weight loss has been around for a long time.
If those diabetes dieticians had recommended it instead of the low fat nonsense they’ve been pushing for eternity, the blood sugar results would have been overwhelming.

Hello Igor, I saw your post this morning and expected you to get some replies before now. Do not underestimate how much energy is required to burn a pound of fat. If your waistline is shrinking then visceral fat is being eaten and may well be liberating your liver and pancreas. I was told in hospital some years ago that I had a fatty liver but it was never explained how, why or what to do about it, if anything. I have lost nearly 20% of body mass now and still have some belly fat that is determined to hang on to its last breath (so to speak). I think you just have to keep drinking fluids, eating a lower caorie diet and keep the sugars down. I averaged 28.4 gm/day over 10 weeks at 846 cal average. Others have plateaued many times I did several times but don’t need to count anymore here in week 13. All the best for now…

Agreed Alan

I wish I’d found this 40 years ago instead of spending considerable amounts of money and wasting many hours of my time on various slimming clubs, both physical and online.

I’m just so glad that I found it when I did, that I started it, and am keeping going on it. And that I’m meeting so many kind, supportive folk on here😃

HI Pinklady51,
just a thought – I don’t want to add another thing to look at – but your fats should be the highest intake per day. It took me weeks to get that right, partly because I was still on ‘low-fat’ everything. A spoonful of really creamy full fat yogurt might help with the cravings…….

Please don’t go simply by the numbers on a scale, they are notoriously inaccurate, and they don’t reflect what is actually going on in your body. Your fat is melting away, you already know this by the inches you have lost. Your body weight isn’t just a measure of the fat you have, it’s also water, muscle, skin, bone, brain, hair,…etc etc. Your weight will fluctuate throughout a single day purely from the amount of water you happen to be carrying at the exact moment you get on the scale. Plus the volume of your muscle mass affects how big or small the numbers are on the scales. It’s just an arbitrary number that really means nothing, and yet so many of us allow it to affect our mood, and our resolve. Do yourself a huge favour and throw the scales away! When your clothes hang on you, and you need a whole new wardrobe you will know this is working.

Hi Tallyhoo. Sorry, no idea how many use the forum. My guess would be that it would be difficult to work that out as some lurk without posting. The same probably applies to numbers of those completing weeks 8 and 16. Seems that some drop out of posting when they reach their goals.

Again I don’t know if I’ll be the first to reach 23 weeks. It feels like I’ve been around on here for ages! And guess what! I’ll be around on here for a long time yet😃 You don’t get rid of me that easily😃

Be interesting to know the stats, but probably too difficult to collate accurate figures. No, didn’t hear Dr M on Chris Evans. Don’t usually listen to the radio – I’m a TV girl!

That’s what I was thinking too. I just did the most ridiculous thing just now. Had made the kids pizza for supper and desp wanted some. As I was cutting it up for my youngest I chucked the crusts on the floor so I couldn’t eat it as was too far away from bin! Crazy but it worked!

I also think part of this is because I have had less water this week so will up that again.

Hi Frog
It’s dark chocolate, I can happily ignore it. Now if it was cadburys, that’s a whole other story lol.
I walked for around 2 miles in woodland, avoided the shops until later, and when I got back the craving for chocolate had gone, I’m just hungry now. Chicken and asparagus for dinner. 😃

That sounds like a plan! Good luck and we will hopefully hear good news next week 🙂

Michael was on the One Show last night
Trying our ecigarettes would you believe 😮

Wow! I can see lots of pics coming soon! A rogues gallery!
Bill, that’s a lovely photo.
I’m not very PC literate so might enlist my daughter to help me do it.

I’m in Cali too! L.A. Just finishing my 8 weeks – so happy to find this diet that actually works! Who knew!?! 🙂

That’s awesome! I’m coming to the end of the 8 weeks and was wondering how successful you can be just to keep on doing it for longer. I’m going to take a week off, still counting calories but allowing myself a few things I’ve been missing (bread!), and then get back to the 8 weeks again. So far I’ve lost 17 1/2 pounds and have 32 1/2 to go 🙂

As a born and bred Californian, one of the things I love about these threads is the “Britishness” of it all. I just googled a “stottie” because I had never seen one — ooh, looks amazing and next time I visit your lovely isles, I will search one out and eat it with gusto. I have had the pleasure of visiting many parts of the UK, including Wales (amazing Bara brith) and Cornwall (incredible pasties) and Lake District (just remember the post-walking beer😜) — you have a wealth of old traditions that we do not share here in Silicon Valley. Thank you all for the mental travel moments. I’m not yet in your 16 week club, only on week 11 but enjoying the veterans’ thread!

Ahh – he looks adorable Bill.
Useful to know – but I think I’ll keep before and after photos private!

What was the TV program?
there was one I saw earlier in the week largely about emotional eating with Tanya Byron. Not the sort of thing I’d usually watch, but it was quite inspiring. She was working with a couple, the woman lost about 3 stone over a shortish period – AND ran a half marathon at the end of ten weeks,

I’m going to stay with a friend for few days over the bank holiday – thankfully I know her well enough to say what I am and am not eating.
When I’m going to be eating out , I check restaurant menus in advance, and get in first with suggestions of where to go – harder if you’re meeting new people though – or events with buffets, although the “no thanks, maybe later” would work well in that situation.

I found a local Korean restaurant looks very BSD friendly if I avoid the rice and noodle dishes, and this evening am going to Prezzo having checked out that they have a number of salads that will be fine if I adjust the dressing. The weekend I’m away there’s an amazing cliff top restaurant that does an amazing Sunday Roast – that should be fine if I just leave the potatoes. (or maybe have a tiny one!)

On the Alcohol front, maybe say you’re driving and stick to water or diet tonic? – Or simply say that you don’t drink alcohol (and hope no one tries to ply you with orange juice!)

Oh dear
I’ve just posted how to show images on the forum,
I have a feeling I’m going to be getting told off by admin.
After I watched Michael on TV last night too.
Soozie
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t163/zog54/310033_3255487882468_2104016170_n.jpg

Ok you need to open a free account at photobucket.com
Upload images to your album by dragging and dropping as instructed
Then double click the “Direct” link on the right of the image, and post the link.
I just uploaded this image of my poor old Cairn terrier who passed a couple of years ago 🙂

I’ve added the insructions Frog
It’s dead easy 😀

that worked Bill – how did you do it?

Hi Rachel,
I carried on for another 2 weeks over the 8 weeks then I was travelling and holiday and I tried to just make the best choices I could. When I got back I had put on a little – I expected gut-fill increase – but my waist was the same.
Everything is a bit chaotic at home just now – I do well with my food when I am organised, but not when I am in disorganised mode. There is nothing in the middle 🙁
I intend to restart late next week and have been plotting how best to tackle the next phase. I lost 60% of my target, but 40% to go. I suspect given I have had a break, I will go back onto the 800 for 4 weeks then increase the food intake slowly moving to the 5:2 and keep on that till I reach my goal. I did try the 5:2 a few years ago, but with travel at work being totally unpredictable, finding 2 days a week to ‘fast’ was too hard. I have also been considering doing 4:3 with the 3 days being 3 of 800 cals. The 800 cals is more realistic for the fast days and I know I can easily do that now!
At different times in our life, we need different approaches. I could not manage the 5:2 before, but hopefully can now. The great thing about this whole approach is covers a lot of different ways of achieving the long term goals, at different rates depending to each persons circumstances.
There is no such thing as failure in this – only wrong time, wrong place etc.
Look at the options described on the website and or in the book and see if you can see one that would help you in the short term, so that as you have time to make other changes with doctors etc. You can them try a different approach for a while and see how that works.
As Jackie says – feel free to post your food and exercise if you want us to help – set up your own blog as others have done and we can all support you as best we can.
You are incredibly brave speaking out in the first place – keep on doing that!

Leeanne, it can be done I think
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t163/zog54/310033_3255487882468_2104016170_n.jpg

Lets see if that works
Ok you need to open a free account at photobucket.com
Upload images to your album by dragging and dropping as instructed
Then double click the “Direct” link on the right of the image, and post the link.
I just uploaded this image of my poor old Cairn terrier who passed a couple of years ago 🙂

Hi Orchid. Carb flu sounds about right. The ME is totally fine usual usual but this feels like those bad days. I am eating a slice of toast with marmite and it tastes good! Like Bill1954 I wasn’t stressed about calories but more carbs and portion and that seemed to work then standstill and weight on. So plan to go back to what I was doing. It’s very easy to get totally caught up in numbers but we all have to live the life we individually have. That’s why I’m not going to stress anymore. In four weeks I’ve had 3 slices of toast which is a total plus for me. I am a prolific baker normally and that’s been hard. But I love the full fat low carb because it makes total sense. It’s so depressing when you feel so ill. I hadn’t heard of carb flu but this totally is me right now. Onwards and upwards but not the weight!!!

Hi rachel62,
Never ever think that you are a failure, you are certainly not! Everyone has different experiences whatever they are doing, you are just having a harder time on the ‘diet’ than most of us.
I agree with your other forum buddies, look at what you are eating, perhaps do the 5-2 for a while, and please please go and see any doctor about your depression, I ‘speak’ as one who has been to the edge looked over and struggled back from the brink, it is an illness, not something to be ashamed of, think of it as your body being out of kilter with your brain, it just needs re-balancing, and that can only help with medication. I have spent a good many years hiding the fact that I was desperately ill with my ‘nerves’ and putting on a face as I went through my front door.
Just remember Rachel you have a whole forum of people here to help you through the fog, some are better qualified than me to help you with the diet side of things, read and take their advice, it will help, you will be in my thoughts and prayers, and I hope you get the help you need and soon! All the best
Christine

Heresy !!!
The humble stottie has been the mainstay of North East bread making for years and is absolutely delicious, especially when home made.
Unfortunately I’m no longer able to sample the delights of this manna from heaven but it’s just about the only carb heavy food that I miss 🙁

Hi Barby – it is great being close to cinema, galleries and stuff – but I would love to be closer to more rural walks.
The only thing ‘rural’ close by is a walk along the canal, but it can get a bit repetitive. I had an appointment over by London Bridge this morning – and afterwards stumbled on an amazing park, a complete oasis of calm – almost in the shadow of the Shard.

oo good question Celestee – I haven’t much of a chance to try that out yet (day 5 today) but have been thinking about something similar as have at hen party to go to during the 8 weeks, and also a weekend away.

I read a comment somewhere that said to say “oh I’m full now but maybe later” when people keep offering you cake etc!
Then people just forget it quicker and it doesn’t become a big issue “ooo you’re doing a diet are you? But you don’t look like you need to lose weight etc etc….” People are funny…they don’t seem to mind that as much as “I am trying to be healthy etc” – even though you’d think the second one would be better eh!! :-)) I think it’s because it makes them feel guilty or question their own choices maybe or just because they associate cake with a good time and want you to enjoy yourself? (or maybe I overthinking it:-))

On the protein and veg or whatever it is you do choose when you are out, I don’t think people would notice – and if they do I’d give a short answer rather than going into the whole story – well that’s just my take – it might be good to be able to explain the whole thing – but I know that afterwards I feel a bit exposed, even if people have been really supportive – so that might feel a bit weird with new people. And also it doesn’t define you – it’s just a way to healthiness that you’ve decided to go on!

I don’t know about the willpower thing – I think I read somewhere that will power works for so long but is tiring on your brain. So better to not have to use your will power at all, just do it because you are already totally convinced that this is a choice and nothing else. (I’m still working on that one:-)))

Anyway not sure if that was any help at all, I’m sure you’ll find your own answer. Exciting about the new city! – great opportunity to try things that are not related at all to food or drink, a new hobby, a new sport. Good luck with it all

Hi Pinklady51,
I get leg cramps is I go below 60g carbs a day. Some people seem to be able to work through that and keep going and it goes away – I can’t. One thing that may help is quinine which you can get from drinking tonic water. I have tried it and it did help when I had miscalculated and looked like I was going to be at 40g carbs at day end. The cramps were milder than I have had, but it did add a chunk to my cals for the day. There is a post from Feb https://thebloodsugardiet.com/forums/topic/slimline-tonic-ok/#post-3457 that mentions Fever-Tree as one brand that does have quinine and works.
The main thing is to keep to a fairly consistent daily intake – concentrate on the 60-65g carbs not the calories. Bill1954 and others never worried about calories and monitors his carb intake and portion sizes.
Not having had ME, I can’t comment on that – but there is something called carb-flu that some people get weeks 3-4. It does get better. It is your body adjusting. If you think this is taking you back to an ME episode, then clearly stop and look at either 5:2 or Mediterranean diet.
A final thought that might help you is using Ketostix so see if you are in fat burning mode.
The carb levels that different people need before they are in fat-burning mode differs. There was one person who reported being in fat-burning mode at 80g carbs per day. I was in fat-burning at 60g cals a day, others have needed to be a lot lower. You can get them from Morrison’s Pharmacy and ASDA’s.
Do an initial check to see where you are on the scale. If you are already in fat-burning mode – then you can increase the carbs a little and keep checking daily to make sure you stay there. Exercise definitely helps you with fat-burning.
Keep asking us questions – we will see if we can find any other ways to help you through this.
Take care.

I find a hard boiled egg very filling and satisfying, just on it’s own. Sounds like your body needs some food, and egg would be better than chocolate?.Enjoy your walk.

Frog I am envious that you can walk 1 mile to cinema, great idea for a distraction. We are in the sticks, about 3 miles from cinema, so I suppose I COULD do that too!

healthy fats are sooo soo sooooo important! I’m trying to think how to explain it without going off on one but maybe I’ll tell you my story….

Once upon a day not long ago – Wednesday in fact!

I thought oh let me be lazy and not bother counting the fat content of my food as long as the calories are low who cares – breakfast and lunch were ok then came what I can only describe as the hunger monster that had me having thoughts of eating my coffee cup – I was ravenous and ended up going above my caloric intake for the day but luckily i didnt eat anything crappy just ate an extra portion of my home cooked meals. then I ate some babybels! then I wanted to keep eating so I smacked my own hand, cried myself to sleep feeling like I was posessed by a demon thinking I’ve royally messed this up now I have to start from Day One again!

Only when I decided to dig deeper to understand what happened I saw what triggered the monster – not enough healthy fat content. Now I rather sacrifice 120 calories to coconut oil in my food and coffee than eat and eat and eat like there is no tomorrow.

hi everyone –

i was wondering – how do you approach social events & functions, particularly those with lots of food & drink?

i have just moved to a new city & am keen to make new friends however – i’m finding it a bit difficult with the fast 800. two reasons – one there aren’t always great options & two – this might be my ego talking – but i don’t want to explain myself to justify why i’m simply ordering salad and protein, no dressing & nope, i’m not drinking tonight? with close family & friends they all know and are supportive but…a bit TMI on the first outing with colleagues?

any suggestions or experiences? do i just need to flex my willpower muscle a little?

Hi Janey, glad someone else has tried the Longley Farm cottage cheese too. I just got it on impulse when I was doing a first online order with Asda, and saw the great reviews. They don’t stock it in Tescos annoyingly.

I don’t think I’d better look at the yogurts yet, I’m sure they’re gorgeous.!

Hey Rachel so sorry to hear you’re not feeling great. Depression is awful. Been there too. I hope you start feeling better soon. I’m interested in whether you found losing weighteasy using other methods? I know I had great success years ago on another plan, lost 4.5 stones but then put 5 back on and when I tried to lose it using same method failed abysmally. So although my weight loss on this plan has really averaged to around 2lbs per week at least I have lost weight and getting some off has made me feel better within myself. Note that eating meals from the plan, not doing much walking at all I was staying the same, so my metabolism is obviously poor. If I do 5 miles eating from plan I lose weight so exercise needs to be a consideration although some folks not able.

So regarding the weight loss – can you let us know what exactly you are eating and what exercise you are doing? That way folks who are well versed can offer advice.

Keep well and in touch. I’m on holiday and don’t have great internet access but I will try to keep up with your progress.

Hugs

hi everyone!

thank you so much for posting – i really think the forum will be a major source of inspiration ( it already is!) & information as i continue down this 8 weeks!

stephie63 – good luck with your 8 weeks! we can do this! & yes totally PMS came into my head but i thought – wrong time! haha

bill1954 – oh yesss you are most likely right. i didn’t even think about that so early on in the process but it makes sense! hoping today is bit better mood-wise, if only for the safety of my colleagues!

igorasusual – yes i imagine it is very informative once you really get down to it & when you see exactly what you’re putting in your body! i think sometimes it’s that i haven’t thought at all, or i’m ignoring things i know to be true! not this time! best of your luck to you!

celeste x

You are not a failure just for choosing a different option. 8 weeks is a guideline that works for many but it isn’t something that needs to be seen as the only target.

Some people choose the 5:2 from the beginning, they are not failures (I know you didn’t say they were, just trying to help you see) they just made a different choice. You can choose whatever you think will work best for you, and you know what? it is ok to change your mind, and try a different choice.

Could you ask to see a different Doctor?

Don’t be afraid to call the Samaritans if you need to, they won’t trivialise your call. They know even the smallest things can feel huge sometimes.

It can be expensive but if you have the funds you could have counselling privately. My husband and I have had great help from a local CBT counsellor but we did have to pay for it. We were broke because of it for a long time but it helped us both a lot. Even if you could afford one session per month or every 6 weeks it might be enough to help you along.

Yesterday

L mixed vegetable bake with cheesey topping
D Out for pub meal tomato soup (ignored bread) , then goats cheese and salad with 1 small boiled potato. The goats cheese was
breaded and I just ate ! Black coffee for dessert, and 1 soda and Lime, + water
I left some, as the portion was so much bigger than I’m used to now. In future I’ll ask for a starter size as a main.

Today
B Greek yoghurt and seeds/berries
L More veg bake with 2 small beanburgers
D Probably a salad, with boiled egg and a little cottage cheese

Thank you Orchid, much appreciated. Im guessing you have completed the 8 weeks, are you continuing?

Longley Farm cottage cheese is THE BUSINESS! I have been having a portion topped with black pepper with whatever salad is for lunch and it is not only delicious but also definitely keeps me full all afternoon! Their yoghurts are also great (when we can relax a bit on the sweet stuff front later on)

Rachel, I agree with Izzy, your mental health needs to be your first concern – she has given you good advise.
In terms of BSD, the expectation is that you can lose between 10 and 20% of your starting bodyweight at the end of the 8 weeks period. That will vary person to person, especially how overweight you are to start with and your age – older people need few calories to start with so will be at the lower end of the scale.
To help me keep my expectations in check, I took 10% of my starting weight and divided that by 8 – that was the lower end of the expected weekly loss. I repeated with 20% and then checked my weekly loss against the expectations. I ended up losing 12% of my starting weight.
If you have already lost 10lb, then that is 2.5lbs a week and you can probably expect to lost 20lbs over the 8 weeks if that carries on. That is a very good weight loss – well done!
People do get ratty and fed-up at varying times, but given you talk about depression, not just being fed-up the please take Izzy’s advise. There are other options that you can follow as Izzy describes – 5:2 may work better for you. You can retry the BSD800 at a later point in time.
Take care.

Izzy thank you for your reply (so sorry to be moaning) am currently on a waiting list for some talking therapy as am unable to take meds due to the side effects. Current doc is totally unsympathetic hence me not contacting her, but I agree, mental health does need to be discussed because so many people suffer and suffer in silence, thinking its a taboo subject.

I think you may be right about doing 5.2 for a while, I just know I will feel such a failure if I give up before the 8 weeks is up.

I wish you all the best too, both with the diet and your depression, I do hope that you will be able to come off meds soon, you sound very positive and lovely

Wow Stephanie – you’re able to keep chocolate in your fridge! – Amazing!!

My slightly off the wall tip for avoiding cravings or snacking – an annual cinema pass!
For me, the cinema is about a mile’s walk, so with the walk each way it’s about three hours of not thinking about what I’d like to eat, and some moderate exercise!

I think it’s thicker, and I was thinking of it more like cheese than yoghurt. Would be good either in savoury combos or in sweet, you could take it either way. Some people think it’s too tangy and sour but I really liked it. And so much protein! You can get vanilla flavour too, which is apparently also c 100 cals for 150g. Very filling, I found it.