Latest forum posts

  • Hi Rozy,

    you make me giggle! Nope don’t want to do a hysterectomy just yet – want to get this insulin resistance and PCOS under control and have at least one baby before I close the shop LOL

    I tried something funny today and put in my diary – Day 60 – tricking my brain I’m already over the 8 week mark 😉 somehow I feel less food and calorie counting anxiety which is great!

    thanks for the idea of coconut flatbreads – definitely going to try that soon as I move into my new house share – so happy found a place I can cook freely without idiots complaining about noise and food cooking sounds – not even smells….sounds! In the meantime I’m collecting recipes – another one I’m dying to try is a shepherd’s pie with cauliflower mash topping. mmmmmmmmmmmm

  • posted by  ClairyB on Day 5 – Good & Bad
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    Hi JCH187,

    I’m glad i’m not the only one feeling this way! I’m only on day 3 so it looks like i can expect to feel a bit rubbish for a bit longer then! 5lbs is amazing though – well done you!

  • posted by  Stephie63 on Too good to be true – help!
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    I didn’t give in. In the end I was too upset to eat anything, so I had a hot bath and went to bed. Thanks to everyone for your support tho. Lost another lb so that’s 5lb off in total. And my FBS is 8.0 this morning. At least it’s going in the right direction.

  • posted by  ClairyB on Only day2!!!
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Good morning or should I say evening Switzerland,

    You are right my body is obviously craving it’s usual sugar, carb overload! How long will I feel like this, i’m sure a lot of it is mind set, i need to stay focused, so many reasons to do this.

  • posted by  ClairyB on Only day2!!!
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Morning Baristagirls,

    How are you both feeling today?? I’ve woken up with a banging headache, aching joints and grumpy – Again!!! Hubby is loving the new me!
    Feeling a little more energised having consumed a few nuts and 2 coffees and gallons of water! Half a pound off on the scales this morning which isn’t great but i’m sure I’m hoping for a miracle that i will miraculously be a size 14 by the weekend (currently squeezing into an 18!!!!!).

    I need to be realistic – if i lose 7lbs this first week that would actually be amazing, having struggled to lose no more than a couple of pounds over the last 3 months.
    Still haven’t had time to do a proper food shop so making things hard for myself really, not sure what i will eat at lunch time but planning on spanish chicken for dinner tonight.
    Let me know how you’re both feeling and how much you’ve lost so far – WE CAN DO THIS!!!!

  • posted by  Baristagirls on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Drinking lots 🙂 wallowing in the stuff! I usually drink quite a lot anyway so not a problem.
    10K steps is a problem…. my work is mostly computer based….. bad…. I try to use any excuse to get up for anything.

  • posted by  JCH187 on Day 5 – Good & Bad
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    I’m on day 5 now and have lost 5lbs, very chuffed with that.

    Yesterday was good, no headaches, hunger or cravings. Today I feel rubbish, I’ve got a headache and feel a bit wobbly (especially my legs!). I’ve drunk 800ml of water already and had breakfast so hopefully those feelings will pass soon. I’m eating what I think is a good mix of protein, fat and veggies so I’m pretty confident I’m doing things right and that this is just part of my carb detox!

  • posted by  sooze39 on Feeling despondent
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    I started the BSD back in Jan or Feb and very quickly lost nearly a stone, which I was over the moon with (I have about 4 stone to lose altogether). I’m diabetic Type 2 and at the time was on Metformin, however, it gave me terrible stomach upsets and even worse squits (even the slow release one I was on). On discussing this with my nurse, she advised me to drop the Met and go onto Gliclazide instead…although she warned me that Glic could make me put on weight. Well, it has….weighed myself a few days ago and have put back on all that I lost. To be fair, it’s probably not just the Glic, we’ve had some family upset going on which has meant I’ve fallen back into emotional eating of carby things (bread mainly) now and then, and although maintaining the BSD principles, haven’t been as strict as I should have.

    My weight is really getting me down now, so have decided to stop taking the Gliclazide and go back on Metformin, despite knowing the side effects will start up again. I suppose one good thing about that is ‘going’ regularly (which all helps with weight loss!)….with the Glic I was often constipated (one extreme to the other!!).

    I’m so annoyed with myself….not about taking the Glic, but for being weak-willed and not staying focused on the BSD. It’s so demoralising to have lost so much weight only to put it back on again….now it feels like I’m having to start again from Day 1 and that’s such a kicker :-((

  • posted by  FiFiP on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Yep! There’s a software glitch or 2 Baristagirls, drives me nuts; also can’t reply on the ‘live-page’ have to go back a few pages before it will let me log in!

    Do try for 10k steps every day, minimum, drink loads of water + if you get the munchies go for a few almonds or a Babybel cheese (one of those round ones) not a disaster calorie-wise + the fat helps keep hunger pangs at bay.

    I eat in a small time-window, breakfast at 10, lunch at 2 and dinner 6.30 – 7.00 helps with weight-loss + by parking my bottom in front of the TV straight after dinner, I can forget about food!

  • posted by  Baristagirls on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Day 3 and not so bad. Pleased with 3lb 6oz weight loss since Monday morning. My mum has lost more! The downside is that I’m sitting here thinking “so I should lose that much, I feel so hollow inside!”
    Does anyone have an issue where they log in to make a post and it keeps logging you out?

  • posted by  MerryMary on End of Diet
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Chris and Bill,
    My 8 weeks is up on Friday. I am so excited. And I am nervous about the next step as well. I have lost chunks of weight in the past. I seem to have a pattern of regaining the weight over several years each time and then work up the motivation to lose it and stay really focused whilst losing. So the real challenge is about to begin for me…To stabilise and to maintain!! I really don’t want to let bad sugary habits slip their slithery way back into my life again. I’m looking forward to joining the forum group for after the 8 weeks for some tips and support. 🙂

  • posted by  MJW on Well, it's worked for me
    on in BSD Med Style Low Carb
    permalink

    Thank you all for your kind comments. And fantastic results all round by the sound of it! Congratulations to everyone. And the support on here is truly inspiring – let’s keep it going.

    I must say I was sceptical of the BSD making a significant difference to me. I was only overweight by a few pounds and I had been pre-diabetic for over a decade. I didn’t seem like the “typical ” type 2 candidate (if there is such a thing). But the weight kept going on round the middle and it was becoming increasingly difficult to control.

    But just switching to the Med diet and cutting carbs, in particular, has had such astonishing results I still can’t quite believe it. (I still expect the surgery to phone me up and say they’ve made a mistake !) So the message from me is, even just making the change in diet has an impact, a significant impact. Stick with it. Keep going. It really does work. And thank you Dr M. Lots of things are badged a life-changing. This truly is.

  • posted by  Igorasusual on Not loosing weight quickly
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Excellent gijsje – keep us posted of your experiences! Glad you have energy and your trousers are loosening! 🙂

    I am away on business in Cologne for three days, but managing to keep BSDing. Looking forward to seeing whether I am in the 9st something range when I get back (that would be a triumph), but even without Ketostix (didn’t bring them with me) I know I am low-carb and burning fat, and can see it when I look at myself.

    Good luck to everyone!

  • posted by  barby on Mustard
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Mmmm that appeals to me Frog, mixing some mustard and yoghurt as salad dressing sounds good, I also might try a little on my veggie sausages, as I miss my HP sauce with my fry up..

  • posted by  gijsje on Not loosing weight quickly
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Thank you all for your nice replies, I will go on! My trousers feel much more loose, so something is definitely happening – and I have a lot of energy. So even if I don’t loose weight quickly, I will persist. And buy Ketostix!
    have a nice day, Gijsje

  • posted by  Igorasusual on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Yes, very well done Captainlynne – although I find it surprising that I’m not necessarily feeling hungry in the middle of the day on the BSD – or at least not as much as I was before.

    I think people press things on you because ‘they’ feel bad about your strength of mind, and it justifies their having the treat themselves. So it’s about ‘them’ not ‘you’. As you say, best to say something like ‘really not very hungry, but please you carry on, don’t let me stop you”

  • posted by  Bill1954 on End of Diet
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    If you’re happy the way you are now, the next logical step is the Med eating plan or simply increase your calorie intake until your weight stabilises.
    If you have more to lose, stay with the fast 800 or go to the 5:2 plan.
    Either way you have had great success in the 8 weeks and should be feeling proud of yourself, well done 🙂

  • posted by  Lucia on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi captain Lynn
    Love the will power as it must have been difficult surrounded by pensioners with bags of boiled sweets.

    In most fish and chip shops they have a microwave to nuke the pies.
    In an emergency, to stop a fight, I will ask them for a fish , no batter, microwaved.
    That way, I get something healthy.

    I hate being with people who argue for you to gave something, go on, just this once, just a small one, you have to have something, you are starving.
    😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
    That’s how I got this fat.

    Love Lucia
    Xxxx

  • posted by  Bill1954 on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    James Bond/George Clooney ? y fronts? minions onesies????
    Think more Rennie from allo allo and as for the onesie …. it got too big so it’s in the charity shop 🙂
    Aint used Y fronts since I was about 8

  • posted by  Lucia on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi jilly b,
    Isn’t it fun being on the end of 8 weeks knowing you have stuck at it.
    I usually get bored after a fortnight and move on to other things.
    The I regret it.
    Thanks for sharing the ups and the downs.
    Have you done a blog in the vets section yet?

    Once again, congratulations on getting here.
    Love Lucia
    Xxxx

  • posted by  Frog on Mustard
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    I’ve never liked mustard when I’ve had it in restaurants or shop bought sandwiches, but I found a recipe for fake coleslaw made with yoghurt and mustard when I was still reeling from the shock of how many calories in mayonnaise.
    I’m trying to avoid spending lots on new stuff I might not use (abandoned the idea of an otherwise interesting recipe with peanut flour – ££££!) but decided 64p from Waitrose for the mustard wasn’t a huge investment if I didn’t like it.

    I’ve made the coleslaw for lunch, so haven’t tried it yet, but the flavoured quark (I substituted the yogurt) tasted good.
    I tried some mustard in my breakfast frittata of egg and spiralised courgette, beating it into the egg rather than a dollop on the top – it made a really nice change, only using a couple of grams.
    Looks like I’ll be using it lots more as a speedy seasoning!

  • posted by  Lucia on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Switzerland,
    At least you didn’t visualise him in lack socks with a hole in, and his toes sticking out and… A pair of y fronts pulled up to under his armpits
    😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
    Yes, I think bill is more James Bond in a minions onesie. But with all those bananas he will be shaken and stirred!!
    Love Lucia
    Xxxx

  • posted by  Frog on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    end of week one – 2.8 kilos
    not quite as much as I’d hoped after big losses in the first two days, but then a plateau
    The scale is back moving in the right direction again today though!

    Just as well – eating out this evening – playing safe with Prezzo’s Steak and Rocket salad again!

  • posted by  Bill1954 on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Fabulous Jillyb and no need for any special thanks 😉
    All we are doing is trying to offer support to everyone in exactly the same way as we received it when we started, but personally, I get a great big kick when I see the transition from nervous starter to full blown BSD’er with a major success story.
    Looking forward to hearing your progress over the 8 week line.

  • posted by  Frog on Over the 16-week line
    on in Fast 800
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    That’s fantastic Lynne Congratulations
    – and the longer you do the happy dance – more exercise!

  • posted by  Bill1954 on Over the 8-week line and after
    on in Fast 800
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    Great stuff Kathy54 and a big shout out to our latest veteran 🙂
    Good to see that, like many others now, you have decided to stay in this lifestyle until you get where you want to be.
    The really good thing is, we are in control of our own bodies now instead of the other way around, no more weeks of miserable low fat eating followed by the free fall when you finish the plan and are left to fend for yourself with no support. We have back up plans, follow up plans, and all the support we could ever need and that is one of the major reasons why we are doing so well.

  • posted by  Igorasusual on My first day!
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Best wishes from me too.

    Re the wine, just a word of warning. I have tried to avoid wine for my 8 weeks but last week had a get-together with old colleagues at a restaurant.

    I had calculated in a glass of red to my calories for the day, but they were drinking white (more calories, who knew?) and of course had more than a glass.

    My food was good – scallops and smoked salmon, two starters – but on the way home I started to want more to eat and bought a wrap (425 calories!) and then had two slices of bread and butter at home before going to bed!

    I can only think that the wine triggered off the munchies.

    So if you can, I would swerve the wine for this period, or if you don’t – just have something around to cater for any munchies which could follow. Some carrots? Other veg? Or some nuts but not too many?

    Good luck!

  • posted by  Bill1954 on Over the 16-week line
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Brilliant news Lynne
    I suppose they will have to postpone the bariatric surgery now 😉 as if.
    It’s unbelievable how, when people finally find a way to acheive what you have, some bright spark in the ranks of the “professionals” comes out with that drivel.

  • posted by  captainlynne on Over the 16-week line
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Morning everyone.

    Doing a happy dance this morning because when I weighed today, my new weight means I am now officially overweight😃

    At the start of this journey my BMI was 40.9. Today it is 29.9😃

    Another 28 pounds or thereabouts and I’ll be in the recommended range for my height and weight!😃

  • posted by  Izzy on Happy Life – 8 wk diary
    on in Fast 800
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    lol I hope your hubby is ok too, that can also be very uncomfortable.

    I think even if you enjoy your hols and maintain your weight, it will likely come off pretty fast once you are home and eating less salt.

  • posted by  Izzy on Izzy's 8 week diary :)
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    Thankyou Polly and Happy. I woke up a lot, and am still tired this morning but not feeling so low. I’m not an especially moody person but I’m surprised at sometimes how I can go from high to low quickly 🙁 but I just get quiet rather than anything else. I have to remember sometimes that I am still on anti depressants for a reason and it’s still a recovery. I am a million times better than I was 6 months ago.

    I’m half way through my working week so only two more early rises then another rest (aside from the kids lol)

    Last nights grocery delivery brought me a tub of fage yoghurt I’ve seen a lot of the others mention. Had some of it for breakfast with a satsuma in it, very lovely thick and creamy, the nearest place that sells it is a car drive away unfortunately, and I don’t often get a home delivery as my husband gets most of our shopping at the place he works. I do pass a place that sells it at work though so I may ocassionally pop in then.

    lunch will be cauli and bean soup (and a couple of crackers)

    dinner will be trout and something. dunno what yet. We don’t eat enough fish so I thought I would get some for a change I really like trout. I was also thinking that if I crush up some of my almond crackers that they may be a reasonable substitute to coat chicken/meat? I may give it a trial at the weekend because I still have loads left and I’m not sure they would still be good to eat after that long. They still taste fine just now. Next time I may adjust the recipe to make half as it is only me who eats them here. Hopefully my almond flour delivery will arrive soon too! maybe in time for a few weekend experiments!

    off to surf trout recipes for a few mins before work!

    Have a great day my friends 🙂

  • posted by  jillyB on newspaper articles in Australia
    on in Mindfulness
    permalink

    Today’s Daily paper in Melbourne ” The Age “….Wednesday 25th….remember we are 9 hours ahead of the UK…..has a link on the front page titled Low-fat diets ” big mistake” and goes on to say what all of us [ and MM ] are proving to be right. About time !

    jillyB

  • posted by  hashimoto on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi pkd upping the carbs does not work on the fast 800 or the 5:2 diet. The point of the fast 800 is no starchy carbs and only 800 calories. The 5:2 has 5 normal days of calories but low carb.
    It might be best to stick with the fast 800 for a few weeks, do your yoga and resistance exercises and short runs. It will pay off and you will like the results.
    Best wishes
    Hashimoto

  • posted by  pkd2004 on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Thanks Stacey and Hashimoto for your advice and thoughts on the running, and Izzy for kind thoughts. Will have a rethink and after this week maybe have days where I up the carbs before a run. I did yoga last night and that was absolutely fine so maybe I’m adjusting!
    Thanks very much

  • posted by  ay caramba on Over the 16-week line
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Thanks Eureka for the really encouraging words.
    Your posts have certainly lifted me. Had a truly difficult last 24 hours and the BP tablets now seem essential.
    Good luck everyone and keep shrinking.

  • posted by  Switzerland on And last but not least: mindfulness
    on in Mindfulness
    permalink

    Hi JackieWilsonSaid,
    Thanks for the link.
    Let’s not forget about mindfulness. For me it is essential to keep my stress levels down and also helps me to be mindful and reflect when planning my meals and shopping and actually during meals.

  • posted by  Switzerland on My first day!
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Queen Chrissy,
    Welcome to the forums and the BSD way of life.
    The positive thing from your post is that you acknowledge that no wine may be a challenge.
    When you get home from work tonight you could substitute sparkling water with a slice of lemon or lime. Whatever you end up drinking on your return from work, have a zero calorie drink plan in place and hopefully that will fill the gap where the wine usually is.
    Best wishes for your BSD.

  • posted by  HappyLife on Happy Life – 8 wk diary
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Thanks Izzy and Keeptrying! I have a specialist I have seen for a year about this and was doing fine until the diet pretty much. Keeptrying I took 8 pepto bismal yesterday and was taking two calcium a day and nothing helped. I have a prescription drug I can take but it makes everything super unpredictable which is horrid and it didn’t work last time.
    Today is 100% better so I think I got something bad to eat since we are eating out all the time in the trip.
    I also greatly reduced my fat intake today which should help since I don’t have a gallbladder. This diet made that ratio go way up since the carb load is lower.
    Today is over food wise and I am almost 400 calories SHORT!! And we ate out twice. For lunch I just had a crab cocktail and 1/2 artichoke so I would have enough calories for dinner but even with a full meal (no potatoes) and shrimp and artichoke appetizer with tartar sauce (1T) I am still super short and only ate 24 carbs also.
    So I am going to have 20 grapes in the hotel room maybe. We will see. I am not hungry so it seems ok.
    I haven’t exercised much except
    walking some since we were in the car a lot of hours today. Gonna check out the weight room at the hotel and lift some weights when we get back.
    Tomorrow is another day! 3 days till
    Weigh in so hopefully the scale goes down. All the salt in eating out food is making me stagnant so far.
    Thanks for caring to you both!! It means a lot!! (Right now my hubby is in the pharmacy getting a laxative as he’s got the other problem from the diet!). We are a pair I tell you!! 💜

  • posted by  Queen Chrissy on My first day!
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Its going OK. I decided to do the 800 calorie diet as My recent blood tests showed I am 1 point off the diagnosis of pre-diabetes.
    I’ve been wanting to lose weight for a while now so that result gave me the kick I needed! I am feeling tired this afternoon, but otherwise surprisingly good. My challenge will be tonight as I usually have a couple of glasses of wine when I get home from work- will see how my will power holds out, feeling confident so far 🙂

  • posted by  Brett and Lynne on Well, it's worked for me
    on in BSD Med Style Low Carb
    permalink

    Being pre-diabetic myself, I had already been reading the book when my husband was diagnosed with Type 2. He lost 10 kilos by himself and then we started BSD 4 weeks ago together. He has lost 12kg in 4 weeks and I have lost 13kg. He had his check up on Monday and he has reversed his diabetes. His average blood sugar readings are 4. The Nurse was so shocked she wants a cardboard cut out of him for the surgery to show it can happen! The doctor wrote down the website.

    I’ve never posted before, only recipes, so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their posts (Bill, hashimoto, CaptainLynne AND absolutely everyone else). It makes you realise you are not alone. I still have a long way to go but we are full of energy and wish to adopt this as our lifestyle. It has changed our life in a matter of weeks! Thanks to Dr Michael Mosley.
    Lynne

  • posted by  hashimoto on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Thanks Jillyb and congratulations on completing 8 weeks on the BSD! There are quite a lot of us who have continued after the initial 8 weeks. I bet your hubby hasn’t eaten as many carbs as usual if he has lost 12 lbs! You have done well by both of you : )

  • posted by  Stacey on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    I agree. Pkd124 when eating 800 I dont think heavy cardio like running is advised. Weight training is much better if you want to do the 800bsd and keep exercising, also look at walking, 10000 steps is 6km and 500cals burned.

    Or if you want to keep running purhaps look at the 5:2 diet and dont run on fast days.

  • posted by  hashimoto on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi pkd2004, welcome to the forums.
    Amazing achievement in your first week, you must be so happy.
    Prof Taylor says exercise is not necessary in the 8 weeks so perhaps you could run shorter distances for a while?
    Your body is still learning how to burn fat instead of carbs for energy so you will feel a bit weak doing anything so strenuous at first. I found I was getting a bit lightheaded on longish hill walks in the first 3 or 4 weeks. Once your body has adjusted you may well find you don’t need carbs for energy. A lot of us who have followed the diet for 3 or 4 months (or longer) find we don’t want simple starchy carbs anymore because we feel so much more energetic without them.

    Good luck for the rest of your 8 weeks. : )