Hi Baristagirl

My friend made a warm chicken salad! I ended up at about 950 calories yesterday and lost 3lbs this morning, I’m not sure an extra 150 calories would make that much difference?

How was your first day?

All sounds very tasty Epspecially – but just had to jump in and ask if you are anywhere close to a farm or pick-your-own that sells fresh asparagus? If you are, do try and get some really fresh and then you will not have to be unsure if you like it or not….

My family has eaten three big bunches of fresh asparagus from our local pick-your-own over the weekend (I didn’t have too much as there’s a lot of carbs in it), but it was absolutely yummy! When it’s in season, there’s no stopping us.

😉

Good luck with your new beginnings!

Yes, the kettle saying was great…don’t know about you Lucia, but I’m often in hot water.

Imagine if what you really craved you saw in the cloud formations. I’d get dinosaurs (yikes), rabbit and chickens and you’d get pork pies, chicken drumsticks and lollipops.

Seen on instagram tonight: Thor is the god of thunder. Chris Hemsworth is Australian. So, does that mean his nickname is the Thundah from Down Undah.

Good luck, Sue – follow the BSD guidelines, be inspired by the posts here, persist and you will win!

There are so many inspirational success stories here, it’s worthwhile hanging on in there, and getting back on the wagon even if you have a blip (bit of a mixed metaphor there, but you know what I mean)!

And you’ll be feeling better too. What’s not to like. 🙂

Very best wishes to you

Thanks Fredforest for a great inspiring post! Congratulations on achieving your target weight and losing the inches you wanted to, and even more congratulations for proving your point to your Diabetic nurse, with the GP now on the verge of reading for herself the effects of the Newcastle trial, inspired by your example.

I can’t really understand what’s so good and healthy about potatoes, rice, pasta, bread that people think you’ll grossly affect your health by abstaining from them for a few weeks? There are of course diet fads, but I think eating good, low GL carbs, isn’t in the same league as, say, a ‘cabbage soup’ diet, is it?

I’ve given up sugar in drinks (and am avoiding it in food via the BSD), and am very proud of myself for finally doing it after finding out just how many useless calories it consumed. Coffee is an interesting new taste! I was drinking the sugar before.

Ongoing good luck to you.

I was reminded by an article on the Daily Mail on-line website that I hadn’t posted on here for a few weeks.

I finished by 8 weeks (plus a couple for luck) some weeks back and had reached my target weight. My waist line is now back to what it was 40 years ago and my neck and chest sizes have also shrunk back. My shoe sizes have stayed the same 🙂

The better news is that I am now in the normal range for HBa1c. Not even in the pre-diabetic. It shocked my diabetes nurse who, when I told her I was doing the diet, said it was a waste of time and a fad. My GP is going to be even more surprised, as when I went to ask her for an out of cycle blood test, told me that these things are fads and not to expect a change. I am beginning to think that meds and diabetes treatments must be an earner for GPs.

No real change in my diet. I aim for 1200 calories at the moment. Still no sugar, starch, carbs, but I did have my first beer since January 28th this weekend, and very pleasant it was too.

It’s a lot better than them telling people to have an operation as that method may work but in the long term won’t change your eating habits. My partner’s ex mother-in-law managed to break a gastric band by overeating.

Sad news but you know he’s out of pain and had a lovely life.

You already have your own advice for regrouping and that is to be healthy for your other furry family and be able to run faster with them.

I’m still finding I want to eat without anything particularly bad having happened or even feeling hungry at all. Just out of habit.

The best way I think, is to just take today as you’ve taken all the previous ones. If you do slip then shake it off and start again.

Big hugs, Polly x

Just phenomenal results, captainlynne.

Have a lovely holiday. You deserve it for eating well in sometimes difficult situations where you had little control over the menu.

Polly x

You’d be surprised how many low carbers there are on diabetes.co.uk and a whole other load on the dietdoctor.com website too. Yet still more are following a ketogenic diet. All report a huge improvement.

There is slow, slow progress but the main problem remains that people that do not go looking for their own answers are stuck with the ‘official’ advice that many get from their drs or diabetic clinics.

At least the mail is jumping on a good bandwagon.

I fought in the punk wars too.

Daily Mail gets it right:
Diabetes patients defy NHS – Thousands rebel against guidelines controlling condition diet low carbohydrates
and quotes BSD supporter Dr David Unwin:
‘Many diabetics know not to put sugar in their tea but very few are aware that the toast they have at breakfast or rice at dinner may be wreaking havoc with their blood glucose. This is because when starchy carbohydrates like potato or pasta are broken down in the body by digestion the starch turns to sugar.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3617076/Diabetes-patients-defy-NHS-Thousands-rebel-against-guidelines-controlling-condition-diet-low-carbohydrates.html

Yesterday had two boiled eggs and asparagus for breakfast (never sure if I like asparagus or not! but good to dip in eggs)

Then salad with chicken breast (left overs from roast chicken dinner the day before), 5 olives stuffed with garlic (Tesco), loads of green leaves – spinach, rocket, kale, a scallion, and a tablespoon of olive oil and lemon juice. Really tasty.

Then for dinner… I not even sure exactly how many calories (but below 300) as my partner gobbled about a quarter of it because it was so tasty!! Spiralised one courgette (a bit eager on spiraliser as have only just got it;-)), then cooked 2 rashers with small onion, 2 cloves of garlic, and a few mushrooms, then added in the courgette with half teasp of butter, and cooked for a few minutes then added lemon juice and 10gs of Parmesan – soooooo tasty!! I think an egg on top of it would make this into a very nice carbonara! (I suspect this is not a new discovery for most of you but I just had to post it for anyone who hasn’t thought of it as it really was nice.)

Well the caravan trip is over and we are back home. I wasn’t very successful with my first attempt, although my BGL’s did come down, and I did lose some weight, but I want more!!! I want to get my BGL’s controlled once and for all and lose more weight 😀 So, at home I have more food outlets (fresh is best) and started again yesterday. I weighed in at 81.7kgs and fasting BGL of 8.5. Today I weighed in at 81kgs and fasting BGL of 7.2. So already I have lost weight and BGL is down. Wish me luck this time around😉

Have a great time Captainlynne!

Ah that’s very sad Collie, I can imagine how difficult that must feel 🙁 As you said at least he isn’t in pain and good to hear you have other gorgeous dogs to mind you.

Not here long enough maybe to give tips on re grouping except to say I feel for you and am sorry. I guess it’s important to have lots of self compassion in a sad time so understanding that you have to mind yourself – same as you would if a friend was sad. I am trying to get out of the mindset that sweet or unhealthy foods mean comfort – why should they be really when they make me feel unhealthy! – maybe minding yourself means taking the time to make healthy nurchuring foods and allowing yourself time outside in the sun and for yourself, to remember and get over your poor dog. xxx

Hi Jen hen, congrats on the 10kg weight loss. I was diagnosed as a diabetic around 2years ago and after reading the book BSD this gave me the incentive to reverse it. I wont know if the reversal was successful until august which is when i am back in the Uk (teaching in China) but fingers crossed. Had a couple of plateaus along the way and a couple of times over indulged but soon made up for it. Its my first week on the 5:2 with today being the fasting day… ok so far :p

Starting week 5 after a very sad weekend where I had to say goodbye to my beloved Colllie dog who collapsed at home. I have no problem with my decision to help him on his way , it is a true kindness, he left me with great dignity having had a very happy active life.
I struggled naturally with food and sort of fell off the wagon, I am not beating myself up as life happens , I guess I need some supportive words to help me back on track .
I need to pick myself up, shake myself off and remember what a lovely boy he was and get healthier for my other ones so I can run faster with them.
Anyone have any tips for re grouping please . 🙋🏻😥

from today’s newspapers
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-36414773
both the Express and the Times reporting on low carb and diabetes!

Hi ay caramba,
completed it yesterday – back improving, feet terrible, but good sense of achievement.
Walked 9.87km yesterday – slowest pace of all days, but I knew if I did not finish yesterday I would not finish it – it is awful weather today.
I am thinking about doing the marathon in 4 consecutive days for June, 3 days for July, 2 days for August and then one day in September – the Shine Night Marathon….. Starting planning my training for September this week and will see how that will fit or it if even makes sense later in the week.
Donation going in to BHF later today – congratulations to everyone who took part!

Hi everyone

Weighed this morning at 11 stone 8 pounds. (62 pounds gone) Just to get a baseline before my holiday.

Won’t be counting calories while I’m away, but following the principles of the BSD.

Will post when I can – should be ok tonight, at hotel, but tricky in Italy as friends have no wifi and I can’t take over their computer!

Please look after the clubhouse for me until I get back.

*waits for taxi to train station*

Thanks Frog

Staying with friends, but have already told them I can’t eat pasta or pizza. So they think I’m coeliac 😱 One of their relatives is coeliac so they said they’re used to catering for it. I told them not to worry about special foods, I’m fine with meat, fish, cheese, eggs, veg.

Will explain when I get there tomorrow. I’m taking a hand held spiraliser over for them. Probably either ask to go shopping or give them money to cover what they wouldn’t normally buy. At least now no need to buy Diet Coke😃 Apart from coffee, all I drink is water (preferably sparkling)!

I’ll try and post while I’m away, depending on Internet access. Otherwise, speak when I get home. *waves*

Happy holidays Lynn and thank you for thinking of me Christine

I had the same thoughts about elasticated waists and now I want a smaller size in something they only have larger sizes!!! And just had to replace all under ware — new ones don’t take up so much room on the washing line!! We are very similar in thoughts and stats — now in week 20 and have lost 60 lbs — it averages about 1 to 2 lb a week so the last 2stone will take a little bit longer — but I will get there as I want to know what it’s like to be slim and healthy!!!

Here’s to ‘over the 23 week line’

Patrice x

Week 3. Shit has got real. I’m really tired and struggling with lack of energy. Blood sugars are up. Weight still the same, but I have lost 1.5cm from my waist. I hope it’s just me adjusting to the lower dose of metformin. Still doing my best to stay around the 800 cals. Anyone else had this sort of slump?

Hi Scandigirl

If you use an app like MyFitnessPal (there are others too) you can keep an eye on the carbs. And other components.

I have relatively little to lose and so decided to keep carbs low if I could. Some people here try to do 30-50gms per day, which means a bit less of the cauliflower/cabbage end of the veg.

I also bought some Ketostix (on the internet) which test if you are in ketosis and burning fat. Whilst at some points my weight didn’t go down ( though measurements did) I was reassured to know I was still fat burning, which must mean some of my visceral fat, round my liver and pancreas, was going – such good news.

So this worked for me. 4 weeks in and 11 of my target 22lbs down. :-). Feeling good too.

Did you like my kettle saying?
I thought it was fun!

Love Lucia
Xxx

Hi Switzerland,
The cloud formations up here are more like pork pies, chicken drumsticks, lollipops etc 🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓

If anything, my record of water intake is second to none.
I fill a water container about eight times in work,
I have a pint of water with breakfast. And the same at teatime.
I have a Pepsi twice a week, no tea, no coffee, no milkshakes, no juice, no squash. weird isn’t it?

I feel funny if I don’t have a drink for a few hours, almost headachy.

It was quiet this morning at 6.30am no school kids, they are all on half term.

Will try and blogg at lunchtime or late evening.
Have a great day gang.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Growl,

Growl.. Growl…

Back in work and the sun is shining. It’s not fair!

Watched game of thrones and thronecast last night whilst stepping on and off my stepper. It keeps me quiet. I have a salad today and a few grapes 6. Just to put a taste in my dry mouth.
Yogurt and blue berries this morning.
Unsure for tea. Eggs are light, I need veg. So maybe a frittata. Which is like a quiche without pastry.
In the mood for onions peppers mushrooms to jazz it up.
After planning it now I will probably have something totally different.

Back to my growling…
Love Lucia xxxx

Well I’m so chuffed with myself😊😊 first week completed and first weigh in and 8lb gone!! 2 inches off my waist and I have to say I’ve not felt this good in I can’t remember when. I’ve surprised myself with sticking to it. My advice to anyone thinking of starting is…. Just do it!
The first week took a bit of planning but this week I’ve planned for every day. First couple of days I was crawling the walls and I think day 3 was probably my worst!! And a slight blip at the weekend with just one glass of red wine!! But you get over it and now I can say it was really worth it. Reading people’s posts on here has definitely spurred me on and kept me going so thanks guys .
So here goes for week 2 😊… Nicky

I have just finished 8 weeks. Lost 10 kg. Have found it really easy. I am not diabetic but have diabetics in my family. I have a under active thyroid so weight loss has been hard in the past. I did 5 weeks and lost 5 kg, then I went on holiday for 2 weeks. I didn’t lose any weight but didn’t gain any either. When I got home I started again and lost 5 kg in 3 weeks. Feeling great. Exercise has been a bit of hit and miss but I have a physically active job. I am going to continue on til I have lost another 5 kg. Seems like I have adjusted my appetite so more food doesn’t really appeal. The trick is to keep the food tasty.

Hello again everyone,

I got pulled back over to the dark side of the evil simple carbs recently but after many false starts am this morning dragging myself kicking and screaming back to the BSD. Just a few pounds of damage but feeling bloated, lazy, clothes too tight again and very annoyed with myself so goodbye choccies and croissants – health here I come!

Right, last few weeks forgotten and behind me, have weighed in, dug out and strapped on pedometer, drunk a litre of water and am planning a swim, 10 000 steps, yoga and max 800 cals/40g carbs today.

Really looking forward to starting afresh. My weight loss was very slow first time round which probably lead to me slipping off track but I’m hoping for a good first week and am feeling incredibly positive and enthusiastic.

Congratulations to all those who I see are still sticking with it since I was last in here and good luck to all you newbies.

Good Morning my friends 🙂 today is a good day to be Izzy!! Of course the day could change as my son is still asleep and I have work but hey right now it is good. The sun is shining and it’s weigh day!

I’ve lost 2.5lb’s this week, bringing my total so far to 16lbs and only 2 lb’s off my 10% so I guess I should make it by the 8 week end. FBS was 4.5. I’ve not lost much inches this week only 0.5 however… I thought I’d try on my other work trousers- the ones that are two sizes smaller? and guess who is wearing them today? yup meeeeeeee! and I’m wearing my new bra which is a size smaller as well. I should probably add that this is not ALL I’m wearing. I’m decent you know.

Last night I made 4 portions of this…http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/273/cauliflower–butter-bean-and-dill-soup.aspx?o_is=SR they are all in the freezer

and 4 portions of this…http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/8212/cabbage-beef-soup.aspx?o_is=LV, one of which I am having for lunch. Higher in calories but a real ‘meal’ of a soup, so no crackers for dunking today lol.

I’ve also discovered that my local shop DOES sell the yummy scrummy fage yoghurt I must have just missed it somehow, maybe they were out of stock the day I looked. Perhaps there are several secret BSD-ers in my village. So anyways I need to munch away my stock of yeo valley ones before restocking on fage. Yes… today is a good day.

Food breakfast strawberries and yoghurt, lunch is soup, dinner will be chicken. Let’s get week 7 started with a bang!

Have a great day 🙂

Hi, well I started in the 23rd and it’s been the start if an interesting journey. The first week I have lost 8lbs and other than missing a bit of sweet stuff I’ve been able to stick to the diet. It’s take a lot of forward planning as before I would have an automatic shopping list now I’m having to plan meals. I’ve had two small blips one when we went to friends for supper and I had some wine second one was a sunny day picnic with grandchildren. To better manage this I’m planning meals ahead that I can make the evening before. Haven’t used the yoga DVD but have been able to increase steps each day. How are you getting on?

Not quite fruit, but apparently its a really good asparagus season in the UK – I had some yesterday, and was amazed when I put it into myfitnesspal at how low in calories and carbs it is – and its great with salmon.
I also had an apple, and was equally surprised at how carby that was – I would have been well under 50 calories yesterday if it hadn’t been for the apple!
Favorite fruit – also very seasonal is rhubarb, which I’ve been eating lots of – great with porridge or greek yoghurt.
It can be a bit tart, but I cooked 800g last week, and added less than a teaspoon of stevia.
Also great unsweetened as a vegetable – I love it with smoked mackerel.

Ooh yes, well done. I’ve decided that, for now at least, I will just go without. Maybe another day ….
( feels like Alcoholics Annonymous!)

well done on resisting the banana bread oztru!’

Hi Nannoo. Sometimes a little bit of what you fancy is far worse than none at all! At least it is for me. I just can’t do ‘moderation’. I’m much better with abstinence. I remind myself that if I eat whatever it is that I shouldn’t it will only be enjoyed for a minute, but then the consequences will remain. I’m on day 33 now and it’s almost becoming a way of life. And for me, I can see that when I’ve reached my target it will need to remain a way of life, but with more calories (yes!)
All the positives I’m seeing, health wise, are such a huge incentive to beat the cravings. You mention blurry eyes; yesterday whilst driving I remembered the eye spray I needed every day as my eyes were so dry. I haven’t used it once since I started the diet. And walking in the sun yesterday, I notice (tmi) no thighs rubbing together!
It’s so worth it, being in control and feeling healthier. You can do it. Stick with it.
Have a great day.

Bless you, Frog.

Hi Sugar sugar,

As fruits are seasonal I need to tell you I’m in Australia. I’m doing 5:2 BSD and consume two servings of fruit/day.
Currently I’m enjoying berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries) apples, mandarins, avocado. Of an evening when I have a cup of sparkling water I’ll add a slice of lemon or lime.
I hope this info is helpful.

Hi Lucia,

I find some days easier than others with water intake. Sometimes when I’m busy at work I’ll go for hours and suddenly realise I feel dreadful because I haven’t had a drink. I try and have a refillable water bottle with me and keep count of how many times I’ve refilled it – it doesn’t always work.

Cloud formations…….do you notice dinosaurs, rabbits and chickens outnumber all other characters, or is that a southern hemisphere thing?

I was really just wondering what fruits folks were enjoying on this diet.
Perhaps I did not ask right….

Day 2 – JJ sick with heavy cold
Had blood test this morning should get results end of week for blood sugar levels
Weight JJ 86kg Nat na

Water
2lts

Breakfast
1 Portobello mushroom grilled with spinach pine nuts feta and olive oil 1 scrambled egg on top, coffee
Morning Snack
Quarter red grapefruit

Lunch
Salad – 50gm tin tuna, 50g mixed beans, small handfull spinach, half small tomato small portion of diced cucumber, few slice red capsicum, slice of red onion diced olive oil spring onion balsamic to taste a small carrot, cup of tea

Snack
1 small red apple

Dinner for 4
Chicken stir fry. 250gm chicken breast, chilli, red capsicum garlic brown onion spring onion
1 carrot, 300g cabbage, olive oil fish sauce soy sauce topped with cucumber slices
Desert
1 spoon of full fat greek yoghurt and a strawberry topped with 1/4 passionfruit

Cup of tea

Day 1 – weight 87.1kg, bmi 29, waist around tummy 103cm
Breakfast
Poached egg cashews black coffee
Lunch
50g tin tuna, 50 gm mixed beans, iceberg lettuce, red capsicum jewelled, balsamic salt and pepper
Dinner
Small portion fresh salmon baked with olive oil 1 small zucchini sliced lengthways into quarters slices red capsicum toped with chilli halved lengthways drizzled with oilive oil steamed bok choy and cauliflower
Desert
Spoon of full fat greek yoghurt and a strawberry

Hi, glad I wasn’t the only one! I made these this morning and I agree, they are disgusting – dry and unpleasant. What a waste. I believe I’m quite a good baker and have never had a failure like this. Because I had the oven on I baked my partner some banana bread – oh so tempting, but I held strong!

I am following the 800 calories BSD. I only eat meat, vegetables and salads. Should I also be keeping track of my carbs? I don’t eat the starchy vegetables but noticed I have counted 50 carbs one day when I was eating cauliflower, tomatoes, etc. I am trying to be more aware of carb intake now. I am down 11 pounds in three weeks and just want to make sure what the daily carb count should be.

I had an excellent day with a cliff top walk that included part of the SW Coast Path – spectacular scenery.
I was walking reasonably briskly for three hours, and a lot of it was quite steep for me – I forgot to bring my pedometer away with me, but I must start wearing it more regularly when I get home, and building exercise in to my daily routine – so much easier on holiday!

I was about to post “think about dehydration” and see that skywalker has already mentioned it.

I felt really lightheaded – and hungry- when driving this evening, kept thinking “shall I stop” but it wasn’t that bad and I didn’t see anywhere convenient until I was almost back. Got in, drank two glasses of water in quick succession, and feeling hungry had gone,
I’d probably had the same amount of liquid as normal, but the impact of walking for three hours in hot sun** had counteracted that,

**Hot sun for the UK, probably equate to a chilly afternoon for some antipodean posters!

Enjoy your holiday Lynne – have a brilliant time
Stick to antipasti and skip the pasta!

Hi celeste

I would say it’s part of the journey….if you intend this to be a way of life rather than just a ‘diet’ until you reach your goal then you will have lots of blips along the way, life will put obstacles in your path and the only way to deal with it is to face it head on, realise your only human and don’t beat yourself up about it.

It will only become a problem if your ‘blips’ happen everyday and you no longer follow the principles.