Hi Stewart

Tomorrow I’ll finish 22 weeks on the 800 calories.

To date I’ve lost 57 pounds and still need to lose another 28 or so pounds so will be on the 800 calories a while yet.

As Tallyhoo says, there are many of us staying on the 800 for much longer than the 8 weeks. We’re seeing so many benefits, some expected, others not.

Sounds like carb withdrawal headaches, especially if they’re relieved by eating carbs. Drink plenty of water and be assured it will settle. I’m on day 4 and have had a headache for last two days, not excruciating but enough to reach for the paracetamol. But I know it will go soon, its just my body getting used to burning fat for fuel instead of sugar. All good 🙂

So many posts here with BSDers making wonderful progress with eating choices. Well done everyone. Californiagirl 11 weeks is amazing. Can I ask if you are still losing weight or are now sitting at your happy weight?
I wonder how those folk who say, “I am so stressed I can’t eat,” do it? I am not one of those people!
Have had a week of stress coming at me from all sides, so I took to the pantry.
Have decided to not step on the scales but to instead start from day one again. I think my mind will cope better with that, rather than picking up where I left off.
So, here’s to day one again (I raise an imaginary glass of sav)!

Hi Izzy,
Hope the pizza turns out well for you!
Let us know…

That’s great Izzy, another 1.6lbs and you’re only midweek! I made a silly decision to get on the scales this morning (day 4) and it hadn’t budged which was annoying but trying not to get demotivated, I’ll try again on Tuesday (end of week 1)

Thanks Bill, yes that’s the plan, stick it out until it’s done 🙂

Hi Epspecially,

…about the fats. Looking at what you ate yesterday you would have got healthy fats from the avocado, butter, salmon, brazil nuts and the pesto. Did you add olive oil (and lemon) to the rocket salad? From my experience (I am no expert, just taking one day at a time and achieving my goals) I make sure that I include healthy fats in each meal. It definitely contributes to satiety.

Waking up with a headache each morning must be dreadful. Are you drinking enough water? I drink 2-3 litres/day and find it keeps hunger/constipation/headaches at bay. A small amount of protein prior to bed may also help. Be mindful that any symptoms you have may not be BSD related and if they persist you should consult your GP.

Persistence does pay off with the BSD. Best wishes.

Hi Kilwinny,

thanks for the welcome – I’m in the mood for a moan today, weighed myself and yesterday was so so so so good but today I get on the scale and I’ve put on 400grams. Was so upset I kept weighing myself thinking best of 3 – best of 5 – best of 7 – best of 10…..nothing changed. How is it the day I really am so so good and even go under caloric intake I put on weight 🙁

Hi MerryMary,
….and well done you, especially with the sad time you’ve had. Lupus is a dreadful disease – it just lingers for so long and lulls people into a false sense of ‘she/he’s’ doing so well and then a fairly rapid downhill spiral.
I’m sorry for your loss.
Do enjoy the Bluesfest – if nothing else it will be a welcome distraction.
You’re so right with living every minute….who’d have thought that watching a documentary and reading a book would put so many of us on a life-enhancing trajectory….BSDers making every minute count.

Hi everyone – still really enjoying reading all the stories of fabulous weight loss and health, and especially the getting back on the wagon tales – good to hear it can be done! I might have to wean myself off the forums next week though as am feeling like my massive new hobby is taking over my life, along with myfitnesspal and researching!! I think a few people have said that too, that they are a bit obsessed at the beginning but hopefully that settles down. I really like the idea of keeping the principles of the 8 week after the 8 weeks but don’t want counting foods to become my life…

Anyway my real question on day 5 is about the fats. I hear it mentioned a lot about keeping up the good fats (for fat loss and to avoid sideeffects) and I have been doing this, eating a mixture of my own stuff (basically fish and veggies) and recipes from the book (that take a bit more enthusiasm;-)) But I don’t know how people can manage to have loads of fat on 800! I have been getting to 800 or a bit over (850/60) each day and keeping really carefully to the low carbs. I want to continue eating lots of veg though, even if it is more green leafy stuff that’s not full of carbs, because it’s full of goodness.

I know it’s probably simply because it’s only day 5… but I have been waking up most mornings with a headache behind my eyes and generally feeling a bit rubbish and today was the worst yet. I guess it must take a while to adapt but it’s funny how 5 days of healthy fat and veg and fish and meat and berries makes me feel rubbish when eating a scone for midmorning snack and soup and chocolate for lunch everyday didn’t!! Will stop moaning now and just wait for next week eh! :-))

Good on everyone for the continued successes and also the people who get distracted and pull themselves back on this again because I think they are great!

Day yesterday..

Breakfast: Spinach 7 cal, avocado 85, one egg (90)cooked in teaspoon butter(35)
Lunch:Sauerkraut 12, scallion5, tomato 22, Salmon fillet in pack with chilli on it 167
Snacks: 4 Brazil nuts 132
Dinner: Pesto chicken from the book (OMG sooo delicious!!:-) 325 I worked out, and watercress, spinach and rocket salad 14.

Hi Tallyhoo
yes, I’m weighing daily, its just taking waist/thigh measurements that I think will be more meaningful to do less frequently – and I do have to wrestle my cat chasing the tape measure, so not as simple as standing on the scales!

Hi Frog,

Ah shucks – thanks for kind words – I’m still over the moon! You are doing so well – the encouragement that you get from your own success is just so powerful I think which is what is so motivating – that and this forum!

I actually weigh myself every day without fail – unless I’m away from home – the reason being I have noticed massive fluctuations and I know that if I had one of these on my 1 day a week weigh in and I had another whole week or 2 to wait till the next I would be discouraged. As it is I see the fluctuations daily and recognise that weird and ‘unfair’ and annoying things happen – for instance I am trying to walk further and quicker each day but when I have time to do a massive walk (happy dog!) like yesterday when it was a fast paced 2 hour walk – on the flat admittedly – today I put on 1 lb and I knew I would – I haven’t really but that’s the weird fluctuation I’m talking about – I only know this now because I do weigh every day – it’ll come off because I haven’t eaten anything I shouldn’t – it’s just annoying! People say it’s muscle which weighs heavier than fat – maybe, I dunno but it’s annoying!

Keep up the great work…………..

Hi JCH
good luck with getting your anaemia sorted – I had it a few years ago & it took a while to find a supplement that I could tolerate, and then I think it was about three or four months for my iron levels to get back to normal.
Thankfully due to a gynae problem that’s now resolved rather than not absorbing the iron well, so I didn’t have to stay on supplements for ever.

Hi Lynne
I just googled images of barm cakes to see what they were – and found a hysterical picture of a barm cake, with a pie inside, and a huge helping of chips. Yuk! – all it needed was a healthy dollop of ketchup on top!
From the images they’d be white rolls or baps here!
I love porridge – I don’t eat it all that often, although I will now maybe. A nutritionist that I saw a few years ago recommended soaking the oats in water overnight – makes them very sweet without adding anything.
I don’t have anything to measure my blood sugar daily or to specifically test a particular food – I might invest in one, otherwise its just occasional blood tests through my GP. The spiralizer got very close yesterday, but just one of those frustrating slips saying that they will attempt redelivery.

Not overdoing the fruit – aside from a portion of rhubarb, the veg count was mostly down to the ratatouille – I count the portions of veg that go into a recipe, and divide the total by the number of portions.
I discovered the joy of Hummus and Taramasalata on a giant cabbage leaf yesterday (previously that would have been with tons of bread!) – really nice and crunchy!

Well done Tallyhoo – size 12 from 20, that’s brilliant, it must have been a great feeling buying the jeans – i bet you felt they should have been gift wrapped with a giant bow!
When I was setting myself targets (size 12 is MY Target!) I realised that I have/had size 18 hips and (not breathing in) a size 24 waist – no wonder finding trousers that fitted was a challenge!
I’m weighing myself daily -6lb in 3 days- but have decided to measure fortnightly will be more helpful (but I might be tempted at the end of week 1)

Lack of iron does make you very tired. I have to take supplements as I just don’t absorb enough from food alone. It does take a while before you notice an improvement, but they really help. Once your body is getting the nutrients it needs, you might find your cravings reduce and you’re not constantly feeling in need of an energy top up.

If you’re not ready to start properly yet, I suggest cutting out carbs as much as possible – especially sugar, cereals and bread now, so you adjust more quickly.

Good luck.

Todays foodies…

Breakfast yoghurt and strawberries.

Lunch I’m going to try the cauli- pizza recipe that fiftyfifty posted to my diary days ago.

Dinner, I’m going to try the harvest vegetable pie recipe from here, but with a few changes. I have an awesome idea to make a crunchy cheesy topping….

I’m also going to try the coconut flour flatbread recipe.

it’s going to be a great and yummy day 🙂

Lucia thank you for your posts they are helping me enormously. I love the humour it resonates with me, there are some lovely people on here and such positivity. Just re read the book it helps ground me and allows the one day at a time or on some occasions one meal at a time approach . Just off to compete this weekend and my caravan fridge is full of pre pared meals and not bursting with carbs , when you put all your food together for the weekend it looks amazing healthy and colourful. I need a strategy for the cold wet days as they are the worst for me. Have fun fellow BSD’S , colleagues at work are now joining me on plan how cool is that. 🙋🏻🐾🐾🐾🍆🍓🌶🍗🍋🍊

Hi mid week weigh in week 3 10 LB’s down unbelievable. Feeling very carb hungry today , have been drinking my water , for me the diet seems to phase through feeling alert ,buzzing and not hungry, to hungry and tired.i guess my body is adapting, the best thing is that I am more aware as before it woulS have been stuff in the food! Anyone else feel this ? Well done all

Commiserations Steve, hope you feel better soon

Had a properly terrible week on my fourth week. Lots of binging on horrid, sweet food. Don’t know why I did it, feel really awful. My allergies are racing, and I’ve put three pounds on. Having been so good, and lost nearly two stone in four weeks, I cannot believe I have spent nearly a week living the old way – and I don’t feel good for it. Wondering how long it will take me to purge the sugar again?

Brilliant Alan
are you, like me, going to bring that 6 pack out of hiding now 😀

Hi Smith
the biggest lesson I have learned is not to get hung up on Fasting sugar readings.
They can drive you insane and are frequently high because of the dawn effect.
I now test before and after my main meal of the day, the FBS readings can go fly.
Ignore the odd plateau, it’s natural and the weight loss will start again.
Also ignore the naysayers. You won’t starve or die or anything else, done properly this way of eating can give tremendous results.
I’m 35 pounds down with a waist reduction of 8 inches on week 14 🙂

THANK YOU EVERYONE ON HERE
today I dropped below 18 stone for first time in 20 years
Over two stone lost
Strangely I only look about 15 stone as over six foot quite well built an ruggedly handsome
Ok I lied about last one !

Am I going to tell everyone
You bet
Alan oh did I mention I lost two stone

Week six finished

Carb withdrawal symptoms without a doubt folks.
Just stick to what you’re doing, the symptoms should vanish by the end of week 1
Congratulations on taking the first steps Celeste. Stephie, welcome back, all the way to the end this time?

It’s Friday! that means official midweek weigh in for izzy. down 1.6lbs since tuesday 🙂 (now below 12 stone yeehaa)

So anyone reading this blog and thinking they cannot do this diet.
Have you thought of breaking it down?

For example, trying to eat 400 calories from 3pm to bedtime, but during the day, jut eating sensible?
Try and get into the swing of counting calories, picking the best foods, enjoying what’ you eat.
Then the following week, try 400 calories until 3pm then eat sensible of the evening.

Then week three have a go at putting them together.

If this is still too much, have a week counting calories. So if you eat say 2500, try dropping it by 200 calories a week, until you get to 800.

Lose weight , being active, being healthy , really does help all ailments including diabetics

So go on, have a go.

Shall I say… I challenge you?
Blog me back and let me know you have started, would love to here from you.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

I had a floppy day through the week but my energy is back.
Today I am going to eat clean.
I am going to try and eat all or most of my food raw. (Obviously I will be careful)
It would be wonderful to do this regularly but with my lifestyle it isn’t always easy.
So I had fruit at breakfast.
Berries and yoghurt lunch
Salad for tea.
But I am trying to avoid E numbers and additives.

I have been thinking about it , so this is step two, …. Doing it.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi General D, the recipes really are only for guidance, you don’t have to stick to them to the letter. Just adopt the principles of eating less carbs, especially refined carbs, and fewer calories, but make sure you increase your intake of healthy fats, and drink loads of water. I’m sure it will work for you, but keep posting on here, there are lots of friendly people and we all share our experiences and support each other. Hopefully your husband will be so amazed at your progress he’ll be joining in!

Hi all day 4 and i too have the runs not good when your a truck driver but im sure it will pass i figure its just the body adjusting to been fed correctly and getting out the toxins from years of abuse.

Hi team, looks as though our family is growing and meeting each other, isn’t that wonderful! No other group would do theses things.
I hope you make life long friends and stay in touch.
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi Frog,
I think the science is really starting to debunk some of the long held myths about eating, and about time too! There have been far too many ‘rules’ about what is good for you and what isn’t. I’m sure the ‘must eat breakfast’ one was put out by cereal manufacturers to sell more products!
It’s no coincidence that since the low fat, healthy whole grains diet advice came out the population has just got bigger and bigger with heart disease and diabetes going thru the roof. For 10,000 years humans ate a diet of real food, nothing processed, and it was fine. Then food manufacturers came along 50 years ago and changed almost everything we eat, and now we wonder why we have so many diet related problems. My new mantra is Just Eat Real Food! And I’m also trying to eat when I’m actually hungry, not just because the clock says it’s lunchtime, or even breakfast time – although most mornings I tend to wake up hungry anyway. Since starting bsd tho I’m finding I’m not hungry until much later in the morning so I’m just going with that. It might be more difficult to maintain that when I go back to work at the end of the month, but hopefully by then I’ll be well into this way of eating.

The good news is this mornings fasting bs is 9.6, down from 11’s and 12’s at the start, so something is definitely working!

General, some of what you write is obviously true and important to you. Migraine is a problem that you have no doubt lived with and learned to control. It is not that foods are banned, just that some foods are so high in sugars and calories that they prevent the body from flipping into maintenance mode via fasting. I can say that you will succeed even if you just cut down on white foods high in carbs. Many on here have reduced symptoms for many issues after following BSD/Fast 800 me included. I have had only mild migraine symptoms so cannot really comment. On the diet I kept off nuts because of their high calorie content. Cutting down on bread, pasta, rice, milk, cereals will definitely have a beneficial effect. The meal plans are carefully prepared examples of ideal nutrition on lower calories but are not essential. I lost over 3 stone (nearly 20% of body mass now). Go for it you can always consult others here if you find an anomaly or two in your experience. it will be worth the effort even if you have to modify parts of it, keep posting.

Hi All I started my BSD 4 days ago all is going well when I started my Sugars were around the 12 mark today they were sitting around 4.3 I am some what worried about the sudden drop I did take a jelly bean just one they came up to 5. Anyone else have this problem will they settle down eventually?

Cheers
Steve

Hi Lucia

I am on Week 10 as of today, I am still feeling good MOST days. I did have a bit of a dip in energy last week and started to think CALORIE DEFICIT…but it passed and I am like Tigger again. I took hubby out on a walk today, he’s the fit thin one, however I felt his pace was a tad slow and we didn’t go far enough! That is so different to 10 weeks ago it is mind bending. 🙂

Hang in there. The feeling will pass. I often reflect back on Day Three when I felt rotten, really rotten and warned my diet buddy who was going to give it a go NOT TO…now I feel bad because she has yet to start while I am out buying littler clothes. I have lost 9kg so far and “kilometres” from the waist.

Cheers Nettle

Hi celeste, welcome to bsd. Well done for sticking to your resolve, that’s half the battle won right there! I’m on day 4, (for the second time, I started in January but then fell off the wagon big time) and yes have been irritable and touchy, like a bad case of pms!! I was very weepy yesterday too, for no particular reason. But I put it down to carb withdrawal, it can definitely make you emotional. Hang in there, I’m sure it will pass once we get used to not having so many carbs.

Christine – will catch you another time ! Will be praying that Saturday’s visit is a blessing to the parents and also to you in spite of the difficult circumstances.
Take care
Julia xx

Can I come too??!! I can sing!! 🎤

Hi Switzerland,
Well done 👍🏼
I am also at the end of week 7 and have lost 7.1 kgs in total 😃
I am feeling so much healthier and so many of my clothes are too big!!
I have heaps of energy which is just as well because I have just had a really rough couple of weeks with the death of my adored sister in law at the age of 64yrs. She had Lupus and was in renal failure for the past few years needing twice weekly dialysis. My home has been the gathering place for family members who flew in from interstate. Still with all that I only weakened my resolve a few times especially after the funeral when a couple of gin and tonics were consumed.
The moral of this story everyone? Live every minute that we have! Look after the body we have been given so that we can enjoy our lives and not be trapped in negative thoughts and past bad habits. I think of sugar as poison now and I am in control. It does not control me! Happy Friday to you all. After another night shift tonight my husband and I are heading to a Bluesfest at the Gold Coast to find some joy in music and try and lift ourselves out of the sadness of the past couple of weeks. What are all of you up to?

hello frog, climmer & californiagirl! thank you for such a warm welcome! i haven’t participated in an online forum for ages but i thought this one seemed so supportive & this journey promises to be interesting!

day two:

weight: 203.1 (diff: -6.7)
calories: 786
carbs: 35
breakfast: black coffee
lunch: sautéed purple cabbage, onion, garlic & chicken sausage
dinner: tossed green salad, sashimi tuna, purple cabbage
snacks: small glass red wine

whoa! difference in weight was quite significant for one day – 6.7lbs, which is 3kg. didn’t feel particularly ‘light’ but that number was certainly a very nice surprise! on the other hand, my mood was AWFUL today – i was so irritable & i couldn’t pinpoint a reason. had to hold my lips shut at work just to make sure i didn’t say something i’d regret later on!

heading to bed slightly early tonight – mostly because i’m grumpy & want popcorn. not tonight, céleste, not tonight.

i didn’t feel hungry or deprived – anyone else have major mood changes?

céleste x

Hi Jennsem, I wonder if it’s just one chain of pathology clinics that does the carb loading? Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but I think this is the right diet to reverse it.

I got my results today. Last year I was 10.8 mmol/L (11.0 is diabetes), this year I am down to 8.9 mmol/L. Still in the diabetic zone but much better. Looks like the BSD is working! I look forward to even better results next year.

Also hello to climmer — our postings crossed

Welcome Celeste and Frog!! It’s wonderful to have you on board! You will find lots of support here so don’t hesitate to ask — we’ve probably gone through the same things that you might find coming up as you move forward. There’s only one rule (and I am unanimous in this) — don’t quit!! Every one who sticks with it (and many of us struggled) has success. Looking forward to your future posts!

Hi everyone
I’ve been following the BSB diet for 4 wks now. I don’t have a lot to lose but have been diagnosed type 2 doctor wanted me to go on tablets. I found the first week I was hungry but now I’m feeling great and my sugar levels have dropped to 5.5. I only check the levels first thing in the morning.
I have followed a lot of the recipes in the book and found everyone easy to make and tasty my husband has also been enjoying the food and has also lost weight.

Hi Celeste – welcome, I’m new too – today was day 3.

Not just me then – thanks for the link Zandranna, that was reassuring.
I suppose it’s logical that any drastic change in what you’re eating is probably going to impact on your digestion. I’m not going to worry about it too much unless it persists – a couple of Imodium seem to have done the trick for now, and I’ll avoid caffeine for a day or so.

I’m not deliberately cutting out fat, but having a lot less than usual – no bread means pretty much no butter either!

hi everyone!

just wanted to say hello! have been reading the forums for a bit & find you all quite inspiring! starting your journey is so brave!

my name is céleste & despite being quite athletic i have put on substantial weight this past year. with my wedding coming up at the end of august, i really wanted to find something that would help me feel & look my best! though neither diabetic nor pre-diabetic, my father has T2D & his whole family has struggled with weight & heart issues. i don’t want to follow on that path, & so decided a diet that focused on this aspect of health would be the best one for me.

looking forward to interacting & sharing with you all.

celeste x

Hi Julia and welcome to the forums.

Read the book all of the way through so that you really understand the 3 principles of the BSD, then launch into it.

When you follow the BSD you’ll find that your grazing behavior will go away because you’ll not be hungry between meals. N.B. this doesn’t happen immediately but if you can persevere through the first week you’ll feel so empowered. It really is a great feeling not being hungry all of the time.

Look at the BSD as a time to get ‘kitchen savvy’ – there are BSDers around the globe with helpful words of wisdom. Just reach out, there’s always someone reading the forums.

Enjoy your BSD journey Julia.

Hi Tallyhoo

Thank you for your reply.

I agree, even 4 weeks in, I feel so much better, I felt exhausted and run down and feel great now.

I just want to keep going, I am still a long way off my goal, but every day it gets closer.

Hi everyone,
End of Week 7 weigh in: down 1.1 kgs this week, total loss 7.9 kgs. Waist down a total of 8 cms.
Still learning heaps about low carb meditteranean style eating and tweaking my lifestyle to incorporate regular exercise and mindfulness meditation.