Wow jimnz, you’re on a one person crusade down there
It appears that your professionals are a lot more enlightened than those in the uK when it comes to low carb eating. Now it has to go public and it’s people like you who will get the attention simply because of your results.
Well done and keep it up.

Ok I’m glad we are pals 🙂
The original research carried out by Prof Taylor at Newcastle university (just along the road from me as it happens) Used meal replacement shakes, I think they were the Optifast brand and the participants had great success, all reversed the diabetes and lost lots of weight
Whatever replacement you decide to go with, check the labels as others have found that some of them have hidden sugars and carbs as ingredients.
Hope that helps

I’ve also done the same as you, I lost 3stone, 10 lbs on the Dukan diet about 5 years ago, was a similar idea to this and i lost the weight quickly, but as soon as i added the carbs back in it crept on, ive tried slimming world and weight watchers and loads more but as you say it’s not a diet it has to be a way of life and i think the 5:2 is sustainable. I’ve really piled it on due to health problems also, i am waiting for knee replacements and also suffer with psoriatic arthritis and an under active thyroid!! All of these would will improve greatly if i lose the weight. Well done on losing so much weight – at least you know you can do this! My hubby is super fit and can’t understand how i am so over weight as on the whole we have a healthy life style – if only he knew about all the secret mars bars!!!!

Thanks epspecially, I’m sure you’ll do it.
I must say that reading the posts everyday have really helped me keep on track.
Linda

Not offended.

I want to try to find out about meal replacement as compared to Low Calorie diet or low carb diet. I recall the original research that this diet is based on was done on meal replacements if I am not mistaken. so, I wanted to access that info if it is available.

I joined this forum in March and was previously (for a few years) on the fast diet forum.

Sounds fabulous LindaA, you’ve done brilliantly! Hope to follow your path over the next few weeks – to start with a 7 is my aim too!

Thanks Switzerland , you too😀

Hello ClairyB. If it’s any encouragement I am NOT finding it easy! My mum is. She isn’t even hungry. I keep feeling hungry and swimmy but so determined to do it because look at how well everyone else has done! I don’t want my addiction of carbs and greedy portions of food to get the better of me. If you have lost half a pound in two days and only a couple in the last few months then it seems a good start. Did you measure yourself? Everyone talks about that, but I won’t do it till next week as I don’t want to be too disappointed.
Keep going.
It’s good that there’s someone else besides us started the same day 🙂 because I can follow your patterns. Why don’t you order a shop to turn up this evening to rocket you into tomorrow!
Yesterday we made the salmon muffins, they were yum, tonight we are having the beetroot falafels. I don’t actually mind the food, I just feel so hungry!
The reason I want to stick at it over other diets is the quick results inspire me to stay on the bandwagon. Plus the freedom I had with certain carbs on slimming world didn’t control my appetite.

Great results LindaA…..not bad at all! Wishing you continued success.

Have I offended you in some way ?
You asked a question, I tried to help
For your information I am type 2 long standing and I am off meds now thanks to this diet.
The reason I used the word unusual was, as you know yourself, 800 calories is an extremely low figure for someone to lose only a small amount of weight over such a long period of time
Good luck to you.

Yes, I’ve read the book and have posted here previously.

After reading throught these messages I know this WILL work for me.

Well done Stephie63.

That’s amazing well done! 3 stone by October is very realistic and gives you something to aim for. I also have 5st (possibly more) to lose. I’m concentrating on getting through the first 2 weeks, then the next 8 weeks and will then set weight goals after that. I can do this, I’ve lost a lot of weight before (7st 7lbs) but put most of it back on again. I’m hoping this will be a permanent way of eating which means I won’t pile it back on again. Helpfully my BF has just started at the gym and cutting down on the booze so we’re egging each other which is helping.

I haven’t had any occasions as yet but I would say enjoy it but in moderation and get straight back on the following day.

Woo hoo!!
I’m officially overweight and hit the psychological 7’s as of my weigh in this morning.
Starting weight 89.9kg
Week 1 loss – 4.6kg
Week 2 loss – 0.9kg
Week 3 loss – 1.5kg
Week 4 loss – 1.2kg
Week 5 loss – 2kg
Current weight 78.7kg.
10.2kg (22.44lbs) lost in 5 weeks😀

Interesting the variance in weight loss over the weeks when my walking and food intact rarely changes from week to week.

Once I set my mind to something, I tend to be pretty focused and I have kept my water up to 2-3 litres per day, walked an average of over 10,000 steps every day and have not eaten anything I wasn’t supposed to. Not bad for a post menopausal female in her mid 50’s!😀
…and they said it would be difficult to lose weight as I got older!
I love you Dr Mosley😄

Hi ClairyB,

People have varying experiences but from what I’ve read most of us have pushed through the cravings in the first 1-2 weeks. I still have my moments (week 7) but they are way more controlled eg. a piece of 85% cocoa dark chocolate or a guilt free chocolate brownie. When I see others eating high carb sweets etc now my head goes ‘ how can you eat that?’

By eating low carb med style it doesn’t take long and you’re no longer driven by high carb foods and constant hunger. It’s well worth the effort.

Mum Speaking:), yep I’ve lost 3.14oz when I weighed this morning, hurray. Not finding it as difficult as my daughter, haven’t felt hungry……..never do when I cut out carbs!! Felt a bit irritable in evening on day 1 but that has passed. Haven’t had the hollow feeling either. The test for me is, do I have the will power to stick to this for eight weeks? I’ve tried all sorts of diets, good for the first few weeks and then everything seems to go wrong. I am hoping I lose enough, quickly enough to keep the motivation up. Lots of lovely clothes in my wardrobe I want to fit into:):)

captainlynne,

I’m doing the happy dance in celebration of your brilliant achievement…inspiring!🙌x

Lucia I am in the early stages of the eight weeks and I am finding you blog reassuring.

Oooh just weighed and I’m 12st 7 which means that it’s changed for the first time in 2 weeks – YAY *much grinning*

Reason I mention calories is this is a calorie focussed diet site we are on, 800 cals a day as far as I know.
I started 5:2 quite a while ago, then moved onto bone broth since 5:2 didn’t help me lose weight.
I don’t eat any simple carbs nor do I drink alcohol at all, just protein, fat and salad type veggies.
Perhaps my 2 kilos loss sounds “unusual” to you…I don’t know if you are type 2 diabetic nor how many long term type 2 severely insulin resistant diabetics NOT on medication you have been around and whose numbers you have looked at. I didn’t have to give up alcohol and most of the other carbs people write about getting rid of here, I haven’t eaten that way for years nor do I drink.

What actually IS unusual, is that my blood sugar is now perfect and I am taking NO medications (and I have massive insulin resistance and have had for many years, prior ev en to the diabetes diagnosis). I am not sure how many type 2 diabetics will be able to say that.

I was diagnosed some years ago with type 2 diabetes but with perfectly normal blood sugar now and a perfect BP…I am not worried by my health profile, I just would like to lose weight so I don’t need to exercise this vigorous control that I currently have to in order to control my insulin without medications…and want to know if anyone knows would I do better with the meal replacements than I am currently doing controlling my food intake so very rigorously.

I started this blood sugar diet some months ago but it actually entails me eating more than I was when I broke it down and looked at the claories of my previous diet… I have controlled my blood sugar by not eating at all when my BGL is high…so most days eat once with a lot of broth fasting days where I eat no other food. It is certainly working to reverse my diabetes BUT…my intended query was about the meal replacement approach… if anyone knows about it in comparison with fasting and other VLCD such as the blood sugar diet.

Does it do better in comparison studies, does anyone know?

Yay Stephie63, you won that battle x

Hi janicem, I worked with a girl back in the nineties who had severe epilepsy, she was drugged up to the eyeballs (which didn’t seem to do much to keep the epilepsy in check) and would have violent seizures. The drug she was taking was withdrawn and her parents got her on a ketogenic diet which changed her life. Good luck

Hi jimnz,

How refreshing. It’s great to read that the message is getting out there. Well done for being so well prepared that you had the url links!

Oh lynne that is fantastic news – drum roll -and before the Italian holiday! !!!!!!

I know what you mean, but as an emotional eater i turn to food even more (and the wrong types of food!) when i’m really tired or down. So trying to stay upbeat is quite hard, but I’m only on day 3 and already lost 2.5lbs which is great. I’ve also got a lot to lose – realistically up to 5 stone but i’m setting myself a smaller goal of 3 stone at the moment. My son is getting married in October and i could go and buy something lovely in a size 14 if i could lose 3 stone.
My biggest problem is other events which are coming up – a party this weekend, a weekend away the following week and a cream tea (already booked and paid for before i started this) the following week!!!!

I am looking at it that it is only 1 day out of 7 and as long as i am strict on all other days, it won’t be the end of the world!!

Any tips for surviving special ocassions??

Have they taken your blood sugar readings lately and have they come down at all – if so can they decrease the meds? Sorry I’m asking from the point of view of someone who didn’t want any meds as I’m generally dubious of them.

On a positive note, you’ve already been down this road and know that you can and will lose weight with this style of eating 🙂 I’ve lost a stone altogether too but nothing has shifted for the last fortnight which is a bit annoying. Don’t feel terrible, just take today as a new day and keep on going – that weight will be gone before you know it 😀

Catonamission, brilliant weight loss! It does feel good (I imagine) to lose that much. I’ve lost about a stone and am stuck but have added longer fasting periods in the hope that that will shift stuff that isn’t shifting 🙂

I don’t know if clems are any good as citrus fruit tends to be quite high sugar. Grapefruit is given in one of the recipes but I find it affects my blood sugar which is sad as I love them.

Doing brilliantly there, Epspecially – it does feel really good to consciously choose not to eat the stuff that will make you feel worse after the short-lived pleasure it may provide.

It’s all a matter of changing your focus I suppose, so more chatting is great. I think the oil and butter is good but I went to Harvester a week ago and almost everything there (that I like) has some sugary based sauce on it. I had a rib-eye which was lush but did have some sweet potato fries. They didn’t seem to affect my blood sugar too much but I still have too much weight to lose and blood sugar to lower permanently to want to eat them too much.

Was the Greek yogurt actual Greek yogurt or greek style. It does make a huge difference. Fage Greek yogurt has all the good stuff in it and tastes lovely.

I figure a couple of weeks feeling rubbish is a small price to pay for over indulging…!!

Yes I’m really pleased with the weight loss, I have a lot to lose but it’s a start.

How are you getting on with it all?

Here in NZ, we have an advocacy group for over 55 year old folk called Grey Power. Today, in the city of Palmerston North – where I live – the subject of the monthly Grey Power meeting was Diabetes.
There was a Power Point presentation by a Diabetes Nurse Practitioner who is employed by one of the local GP’s. At the conclusion of her talk – during question time, I shared with the group (of around 70 or so), my experiences over the last 10 weeks on Michael Mosley’s diet.
I explained how I had heard an interview on Radio New Zealand with Dr Mosley. That prompted me to purchase the book.
Over the past 10 weeks, I have managed to lose 11.7 kg and drop my HBA1C score to 40. Not only did the Nurse Practitioner know of Michael’s book – she had read it – but all the other medical personnel there were fully supportive of my approach.
I had printed off a list of url links to:
Dr Sarah Hallberg’s TEDx talk from Purdue University,
Dr Michael Mosley’ SBS interview from Australia,
Diet Doctor’s low carb meal suggestions.
I handed these out to those interested, and also gave several people the title of Michael’s Blood Sugar Diet Book.
It was a well received meeting.

Jim

So Day 3 and at weigh in this morning it’s a loss of 2.5lbs so not too bad! Need lunch ideas please, i’m already sick of tuna salad and would normally eat sandwiches or jacket potato when at work. Only had an apple and a few mixed nuts so far today! Must admit my stomach doesn’t feel as hollow as yesterday and already my trousers feel looser, i also wasn’t as bloated by the end of the day. 8 weeks feels like forever at the moment but 1 day at a time!!

Got mine from a company here called hotel Chocolat, not sure if they deliver that far away, I’m in the UK

Good night out last night – had delicious hake and prawns with an extra serving of brocoli – it’s funny when I added an extra serving it made me feel like I was having some delicious treat (which is nice to feel when you’re out!) and helped avoid the seriously tasty looking roast potatoes. Everything was cooked in butter and oil I suspect but just allowed for that in my calories. I did eat one half of a baby potato, but then quickly realised my willpower wouldn’t be enough and moved them all to my partners plate where they were gobbled! Also did the same with the biscuit that came with my herbal tea – no point in testing willpower too much, easier to just remove temptation and then forget it.
Have decided to do the same with the 85% dark chocolate at home – I was having one square of every now and again – it’s just better not to have it in the house. One square was ok calories-wise but I want this to work 100%, really want to not be craving sugar at all and will save that for drastic situations rather than every few days I think. I just like it too much. Same with full fat Greek yoghurt – it was handy for adding essential fats but again it’s too addictive and I’m not sure dairy agrees with me anyway, had stomach pains the next day. Seem to be ok with Kefir probably because it uses some of the lactose yet is still tasty. Will put coconut oil and nuts in things if I need extra fat.

Anyway back to night out postmortem :-))) No wine and no dessert yaaaaayyyyyyy!!!! Was very happy, and soon I’d say I wont even have to think, it’ll just be normal reaction at a restaurant as I spend more time enjoying chatting to people and less time dying for the desert… Maybe after 8 weeks I could have a few bits of a dessert shared with someone – or maybe I wont even want it then! (doubtful;-)))) but who knows what’s ahead.

Great to hear more success stories from you all this morning. The short and long term ones are lovely to hear.

I’m peeing for Britain too! LoL!

Not sure how you get to work Baristagirls, but if it’s public transport you could always get off a stop or 2 earlier, go for a walk at lunchtime, or after work? I try to walk for an hour every day + a bit longer at weekends, it’s much easier now the days start earlier + it’s so light in the evenings. I have arthritis in my feet and it hurts but am determined to shift some more bulk, am 2 stone down and 1 more to go, poss 1.5, depending upon how I feel when I hit my tgt!

Yay good stuff Frog – 2.8 less of you :-))

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

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!

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.

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.

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!!!!

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.

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!

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 :-((

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!

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?

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. 🙂

Dextrose is sugar and we are diabetic ie our bodies can’t handle sugar
Explain how it is good please

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.

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!