Latest forum posts

  • 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. : )

  • posted by  hashimoto on on UK news TODAY
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    I read about it on BBC news app. I’m sure my blood pressure shot up due to frustration at the ignorance and idiocy of it. So, they think it is better to risk someone’s life with expensive, scarring surgery rather than follow Prof Taylors ground breaking work which would cost the tax payer how much was it? Exactly £0.00. Well £6000.00 must be cheaper. I had better go back to school and relearn the basics of arithmetic.
    Grrrrrrrrrrr

  • posted by  feltwicked on BTW
    on in Fast 800
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    You don’t know the power of the darkside! 70% is great, so long as you regulate your intake. I haven’t seen 100% here in Brisbane, Australia, but I’m a sucker for non-sweet things.

    FeltWicked

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

    Well everybody,
    I finished my 8 weeks yesterday. Pros : lost 16 lbs., no more reflux, no hunger like before, so therefor no uncontrolled eating, blood sugar readings not quite perfect, but pretty good, have not had any insulin since day 1. Cons : sleep no better, energy no better, arthritis, osteoarthritis no better. I am a cancer survivor, had a total hip replacement, partially blind , so I guess the small cons are not that important. I might have finishes my 8 weeks, but will keep on yet for a while, just take it from day to day until I feel confident enough to taste a little more….I suspect the first thing will be a glass of sauvignon blanc with lunch [ we eat our main meal at lunch time ] , have missed that a bit. The funny thing about all this is my husband….he hasn’t been on this diet, but shared most lunches but added some potato, etc., eaten whenever he wished, some junk, and he has lost 12 lbs. !!
    I have enjoyed all your posts and support along the way and will continue to read them. I must say that I have never seen such support and encouragement from strangers, although I don’t think of you as strangers anymore, just like a big family.

  • posted by  Isabel on My third week
    on in BSD Med Style Low Carb
    permalink

    I haven’t weighed myself but my clothes are looser and I can see that some belly fat has gone. I only want to lose 10kgs but really wanted to come off sugar. I could eat a packet of mint cream biscuits a day, loved kit kats and ice cream. This is the third week I haven’t had any of that stuff so perhaps the habit is going, they say it only takes 3 weeks to change a habit.. My treat at night is a couple of the individual packets of air cooked pop corn! I’m eating stuff I thought I shouldn’t – full fat Greek Yoghurt and Flora butter – in small amounts. So for me, it’s slowly but surely. Also saw Michael on SBS here the other night and now eating meals at different times. Might even try main meal at lunchtime which a friend was recommended to do by her GP when her blood sugar had risen. Good luck everyone.
    PS Forgot to mention that I found a lovely recipe for Mushroom Stroganoff here http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/dieting/recipes/52-diet-fast-low-calorie-1770918
    Absolutely delicious – I cooked as the recipe but added some parsley as well.

  • Indoctrination is very scary.

    I’m a newly diagnosed type 2 and am not great when it comes to taking any meds. Told the nurse that I was going to manage it with diet and she was really happy about it and said it was nice to have someone motivated to try and change things themselves. She wasn’t convinced that this is a reversible condition though – I will prove her wrong.

  • posted by  thepolly on on UK news TODAY
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    I think that as well barby, surely it would be cheaper to prescribe the book before weight loss surgery. I thought they couldn’t do bariatric surgery on those that were too overweight anyway.

    It’s really funny (in a non-humorous way) that they ridiculed a way of eating one day and then are full on behind surgery the next… there is a lack of joined up thinking sometimes.

    Tallyhoo, brilliant. It’s great that there are some surgeries that are impressed with individual outcomes from this way of eating and the effect it’s having on health. It will get out there. I just wish I could sign the petition to government more than once 🙁

  • posted by  thepolly on BTW
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Yup, that is fantastic 😀

    My tastes have been naturally going towards the dark side as I’ve gotten older. I think that it may actually be helpful for me as it’s not very ‘chocolatey’ chocolate – if that makes sense.

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

    Hi Baristagirls, there is a tonne of evidence that similar diets used to be what was advised pre 1970’s. I recently read Dr Jason Fung’s The Obesity Code and he cites all sorts of research and evidence about this way of eating working done over decades- so take heart – it really is tried and tested 😀

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

    Boo, hope you get some good sleep in. My BS seems to like the long fasts as I had a pre-meal reading of 4.6 which was nice. but then 6.6 two hours later.

    Thanks for the link, Frog! ‘The Obesity Code’ (which I love) also says about alternate day fasting and even has an extreme case of a guy fasting for over a year constantly with just supplements – and under doctor supervision/with vitamins.

    I may have a stubborn scales but have got into trousers that were stupidly tight before and they aren’t elasticated and are a little loose too.

    Izzy, maybe a strategic safety pin would help with the zip in between getting new trousers 😀 I was really weepy feeling last night. but also bleeding at the moment so maybe that’s a factor too.

    Dinner was a huge salad with smoked ham (maybe why bs went up 2 post food), blue cheese, celery, little gem lettuce, vine cherry toms, radishes and spring onion with olive oil and cider vinegar dressing. Just ate the last bit of 100% chocolate too

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

    hi stephie63

    i am very much the same way – my emotions good & bad i see as a reason for indulgence.
    everyone so far has given wonderful advice & thoughts. you have done wonderfully well so far.

    something that has helped me…is the ‘don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater’ or reminding myself to see the forest instead of the trees. & by that i mean:

    you don’t have to cave, this is not the end. can you satiate with something different? cucumber & balsamic vinegar? veggies with some avocado? a good book? some poetry? a walk? music?
    if you cave…cave smaller than you have before. a little chocolate. mindfully enjoy.
    if you cave…& it’s big. you’ve done remarkably well to make it to here. you are not a failure. this is not the end. this a journey and on this journey there are fights with friends and bad days – you can choose how you respond and with each time, you’ll get stronger.

    all the best.
    celeste x

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

    Hi Stephie 63
    Your post resonated with me so much. I have yet to find the magic answer re emotional eating – but I am now honest with myself and say ‘food will not make you feel better’ , if you can resist the urge to splurge on food I do promise you will feel a million times better. I have never known such supportive people as here on the forum. I am still a little wary of slipping back but to be honest feel so much better for ditching the carbs . Hang on in there .

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

    Hi Stephie63,

    In terms of the BSD, these are the situations where Mindfulness Meditation can help. If you haven’t already started it – have a go – it’s the sort of process that you learn and grow as you do it over time. It’s proven to reduce stress.
    If ‘you cave’ you’ll feel worse than you do already. Concentrate on you, your wellbeing and the 3 core principles of the BSD (the diet, exercise and mindfulness meditation).

  • Back home, and looking forward to being lazy for a few days!

    No surprises during surgery. “Peanut” is gone, with clean margins (as much as they can tell by visual inspection) along with three (by all appearances) healthy lymph nodes. With any luck, that will be confirmed by the pathology – which will come back a week from Thursday.

    I’m pain free – but that’s probably the narcotics speaking. I’ll give it a couple of hours. 🙂

  • posted by  Switzerland on Giving up sweetener ….. Day 2
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Lellycancan,
    You can do this. When I stopped artificial sweeteners a few years ago it took me 6 weeks to really enjoy a cup of coffee again. It really was worth it.
    Persevere and you’ll achieve this.

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

    Hi Lucia,
    I love your honesty.
    I’m still chuckling about Bill in a minions onesie…..the more I think about it the more I laugh…..the funny bit being that I don’t know what Bill looks like so how can I know what he would look like in the onesie! (All respect to you Bill if you’re reading this. To stop my mind speculating I’m thinking of a James Bond/George Clooney type in a minions onesie).
    I hope the roses are smelling sweet Lucia, they certainly are here.

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

    Hello ClairyB
    Same boat……. but without the peanuts. Think of how much healthier you’ve eaten today! Let’s do it…

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

    Hi ClairyB,

    Carb addiction is horrible, isn’t it? You’ve done really well. Surely the few peanuts can’t have done much to your total calories for the day.
    You must feel a sense of empowerment having pushed through the hunger.
    Best wishes.

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

    Hi Christine

    Great news about the weight loss. 😃

    There seems to be a lot of those folk around who know better than us😱 But our results will speak for themselves.

    Today I took my ladies’ group on a ‘mystery trip’. We went to Scarborough for a fish and chips lunch, then Whitby (they wanted something sweet!) I sat with a black coffee while they ate their fish and chips – the pensioners’ special. I had looked at the menu, but there was nothing I could eat, not even anything I fancied! I was asked how I could sit with coffee while they ate and my response was – “practice!”

    In Whitby I went into a cafe with a couple of the ladies and they had apple turnover and a chocolate eclair, while I had – black coffee!

    I had bottles of water in my bag and something quick to prepare in the fridge for when I got home.

    But on the minibus I was offered sweets with “go on, treat yourself”.

    Strangely enough that attitude – the comments and the looks – make me even more determined to stick with this way of life. It’s not that long ago that I’d have been tucking into the fish and chips, cakes and ice cream without batting an eyelid, then suffering the consequences. But realising how much better I feel without all that rubbish, I know it’s not worth it.

    I started this thinking I could try anything for 8 weeks. After all, what is 8 weeks! But now I can’t imagine any other way of life😃

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

    I feel like a complete wuss, so I am reading some of your inspiring blogs. Today I have felt, tired, grumpy and hungry!! I’ve stuck within my calories and carbs but did have to eat a few peanuts, hoping this isn’t too terrible? I’m hoping this feeling is short lived and tomorrow is another day and all that. I didn’t realise how bad my sugar, carb addiction was, I know I need to do this!!

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

    I decided I didn’t fancy the pork mince so I’ve had some of my spicy lentil soup instead. I’m suddenly deflated, tired and low 🙁

    I think I’m just tired, my son woke up at 4 this morning upset and I hadn’t slept well anyway. I’d like to go to bed early but I’ve arranged a grocery home delivery so I need to stay awake for that. Could arrive anytime in the next 90 mins. As soon as it all gets put away I think I shall collapse into bed and hope I am back to bouncy Izzy in the morning.

  • posted by  Frog on Giving up sweetener ….. Day 2
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    you’ll get there!

    As a teenager I drank coffee with a quarter teaspoon of coffee and about three sugars

    Now I don;t drink instant (but have had one or two cups of that instant sort with added powdered beans), and can taste it if someone has stirred another cup with sugar before putting the spoon in mine.

  • posted by  Lellycancan on Giving up sweetener ….. Day 2
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Soooo – I’m totally addicted to sweetener in my black coffee. I love the taste of black coffee with sweetener – I even prefer it to sugar. BUT as of yesterday I’ve given it up & am putting milk in instead. Having read the book I realise how my love of sweetener will make my cravings worse. Wish me luck!

  • posted by  chris53 on End of Diet
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi everyone.
    Well in my last week having lost 32lbs and four inches off my waist. Will not know about blood sugar level until July.
    The thing is l am quite comfortable with my diet routine, what would you recommend next?
    Thanks
    Chris