Hello Everyone,

I’m a long-time lurker. I really appreciate reading your personal stories and helpful advice. Today I finished the 8 weeks with a 17.6 pound loss – this is while being a total couch potato. I’m trying to add some exercise now. I’ve decided to try the BSD 5:2 for awhile, slowly adding calories to the 5 non-fasting days. I’d like to be able to eat more fats.

My first goal is to get back to 178 (2 more pounds). This was my lowest weight since my 20’s (now 64), which I reached in 2011. I then gained back 110 pounds. So, this is my 4th time losing 100 pounds or more, and I don’t expect rapid weight loss at this stage of the game. I had started bingeing and gaining the week before I found out about BSD – it saved me going through that cycle again, hopefully forever.

I am amazed at how do-able the BSD 800 has been. I was sure I’d give up after a couple of days but somehow just kept going.

Good luck bghouse
I am only a week into the Fast800 but really motivated as I already have lost some muffin top. There’s lots of great information on this forum from people who have been on the BSD for a while. A game changer for me was logging everything on My FitnessPal (on laptop and as an app on the phone). There’s lots of foods already on there and you can add recipes. In the past I thought I was eating right but I’m sure my portions were way to high – particularly on cheese. As you have already found out some things are more calorific or carby than we think.I eat lunch and dinner (suits my lifestyle) but there are lots of times I have to eat ‘on the road’ so I try to make sure I have something suitable to hand so I don’t make bad choices. I have found that my carb cravings have diminished. It’s not the first time I have tried low carb, but it’s the first time I have kept close to 800cals and I think that is what is making the difference.

Hi glevesque. You are not the only one. I am just finishing week 9 and my total loss to date is 6kg. Having said that, in the last 2 weeks my weight has gone up and down within 2 kgs but I have been plugging away – until today when I have completely fallen off the plan AND EATEN THE WORST CRAP EVER! I don’t know what came over me as I haven’t wanted to eat mindlessly since starting this 2 months ago. My weight loss has been utterly slow but I am fitting into clothes without them leaving marks on me (hah!) and feel much better. Not today though. BUT…… Tomorrow is another day and so, back on the plan. I keep carbs to around 20g and calories below or around 800. Water ….. Let’s just say I try but most of my water is mixed with caffeine. My one failing. So no stupendous weight loss for me. Some weeks there is nothing then a week later 1/2 kg loss. We are all different and for some like you and me, it’s slow and unsteady. I shall watch your progress with interest and hope I get back on course and can report success, however small. In the meantime I shall suffer the guilts for eating food I will not mention as the shame is great. I wish I could say I enjoyed it but I actually didn’t. Hey ho onward we go. Good luck!
Jussi

I have had 2 babies in 2 years. I gained a lot of weight. Today I have officially lost 40 lbs since I started my weight loss journey in January. Im at my pre-babies weight. I have failed at this more times than I’d like to consider but I got up and kept going. I’m 17 lbs away from 1derland and I’m 35 lbs away from my ultimate goal. Don’t give up! I’m 4 weeks into this plan and it definitely works!

Congratulations! Eleven pounds the first week! Fourteen pounds in two weeks! That is amazing. How pleased you must feel about your ability to cut down and lose weight. I have been quite strict and taking in well under 800 calories a day with no sugar, bread, rice, etc. etc. and have increased my activity a lot, but have lost only 1.1 kg. in two weeks, so you can imagine how amazed I am when the weight just falls off others on this diet. I know I am doing everything right…wearing a Fitbit; avoiding the stuff mentioned above; weighing and measuring everything I eat and writing it down; keeping track of everything, but my weight is not falling off. If there is anything that I am not doing right, it is not drinking quite enough water. However, I actually feel thinner, even though I am not losing weight, and I am not going to give up…although I am tempted to take a day off this weekend. Has anyone else had this happen – I mean I’ve not lost enough weight to claim that I’ve hit a plateau! Please let me know if this slow a start means I should simply forget about it. I mean I will try to eat healthier than before, but geesh. Honestly, unless I am getting up during the night and stuffing my face without knowing about it, surely I should have lost more weight by now!

The BSD doesn’t specify counting carbs although what I’ve noticed reading posts is that staying under 50g per day seems to help with keeping the weight coming off. I found it easier the first week or so to concentrate on not eating sugar and cutting out grains – which meant that I often ate between 800 and 1200 calories per day for the first week and some days my carbs were over 100g. I soon got the hang of which foods were carb rich. I think this diet is much easier if we already love eating lots of vegetables!

FiFiT,

My husband said that if you can go to Italy and not eat the wonderful foods, you deserve another trip !!
We have been there 3 times and certainly didn’t come back any slimmer, nor even stay the same.

Have a great holiday,
jillyB

We’re very happy with Robin’s weight loss which is much less than me as he doesn’t have much to lose. I love how even though we’re almost eating the same food including portion size the diet works on our individual bodies. He has almost stopped snoring – and the horrid sleep apnea is completely gone. The sleep specialist said it was probably due to losing a few kilos – only a a few made this difference.

My guts are still a little bit unhappy so I think I’ll take it easy again today.

Hi Williecowan
Give it a go! – You may not stick to the 800 calories while you’re away, but if you’re four weeks in and having good results, that will be a great incentive not to overindulge!
If you’re in Spain that’ll be ideal for the Mediterranean diet style of eating.

The worst that can happen is that you stick to it for four weeks, eat normally or less healthily while you’re away, then revert back to the BSD when you get back.

I was ‘wait until after my birthday, holiday…. ” then I just decided to start
Two and a bit weeks in, I’ve had my birthday (celebration roast potato and a glass of wine, NO cake), am just back from one break where I fitted in some really good walks, no major slip ups eating-wise, and looking forward to a holiday in a couple of weeks time.

Hope it goes well

Hope you’re feeling better soon, Beverley.
I went out to eat this evening and had miso soup and sashimi, which I felt very good about – and then sneaked a small slice of my friends aubergine tempura – it was amazing!
AND – not even counting the aubergine, SEVEN portions of vegetables. Just over on calories – 839, but dead on 50g of carbs. (calories and carbs are including the tempura!)

Beverley I just read that you weren’t poorly yesterday. I hope that you are on the mend.

Well done Beverley. It is lovely that Robin is doing this with you.

Second day numbers. Calories 766 and walked 3.84 miles drank 9 glasses of water and had 5 coffees. I went to an hour’s Pilates class. I weighed 12st 2lb this morning. At Christmas I was 13st 3lb.

Thanks Switzerland and Frog.

Today’s weight 96.7kg. Yesterday I fasted as I had a gastro bug which I was hoping to shift out of my system. I have a dreadful headache as I found it difficult to drink water without feeling unwell. Hopefully I’ll feel better today and can re-hydrate myself. That’s my plan. 🙂

My blood sugar is creeping up (am type2) so I want to start this diet a sap, but go on holiday to Spain in 4 weeks time.
So I am afraid I can’t maintain it when abroad ( self catering) and also concerned about feeling poorly when on hols!!
Any advice out there?

Thanks SkyWalker,

I got setup with MyFitnessPal and just put in my food today. Sadly, I gave into a craving a bought some bananas. I had no clue the carbs in a banana – eek. I had the banana and these Trader Joe’s Steamed chicken dumplings for lunch – and I’m already at 52 carbs. The sugar I expected on the banana (12g) so I’m only at 15g there. But wowsers….

I have some supplements I really like taking – like the desiccated liver I’ve been doing for a while now. Me and Liver are never going to be BFFs, but I know there is so much nutrition in liver. I’ve been considering going back on Cod Liver Oil, since I just can’t get the fish in my diet the way I’d like. I’m one of those people that really doesn’t like Salmon, although I love lots of other non-fatty fish and shellfish. The cost can be too high sometimes though….

My scale arrives tomorrow, so I can start trying to weigh foods and understand what I’m eating. And of course, more reading to study up 🙂

Strictly speaking supplements are not necessary when eating good amounts of fresh food and the whole supplement issue is somewhat controversial anyway. We feel cold when the easy sugars become less available before the fats take their place. I lost a waistcoat’s worth of fat and felt cold but it passed. Just reducing sugars and increasing fats and oils is a good start and would be expected to bring some benefit. The 5:2 does this but slowly. BSD is a bit tough to start with but becomes a way of life and the changed habits soon become obvious. If you are not ready, take some time to study the site and the book. Attitude is really important but knowledge is key. Good to see you back anyway andgood luck

Hi All,

Sorry for going quiet. Just went through some major personal / family stress. Needless to say I haven’t started yet, but I’m trying to get myself ready again.

One of the things I’m a bit concerned about is what supplements to be taken. Even before finding BSD, I had been trying to go low carb and remove sugars. I find that I am cold a lot, which seems to go away if I eat a bit more carbs. I’ve been changing up my supplements again, and I’m just so darn confused where to be.

I’m back to reading through the book again. Sadly, it’s not as easy to find stuff I bookmarked quickly on my kindle – so I’m not sure what the recommendations are for vitamins and supplements.

Tuesday day 101 weight 9st 13lbs
Blood sugar 8.3

Wednesday 102 weight 9st 13lbs
Blood sugar 8.8

Today day 103 weight 9st 13lbs
Blood sugar 9.5

I managed to avoid the lunch yay, and I’m just back from a nice long walk with my friend again.

Going to have a nice hot choc 🙂

Tomorrow is mid-week weigh in!

I liked the message that regular healthy eating was better than buying loads of processed, expensive products – but it didn’t really explain what was needed for a healthy diet.

Well i was over 96 in Feb and now under 78 and stopped counting sugar and calories weeks ago. You will be fine but there is lots of support and knowledge on here to share and gain from. Good luck and if you already know your weakness and addiction then you will come to master it. All the best..

So in BBC world sugar does not really exist let lone addiction to it or to carbs – Usual trashy TV pseudo scientific, wasted an hour.

Good on you Gina2555, get well soon. Take it one day at a time, weeks go past in a blink, you will soon be looking and feeling even more fab and fit to go go go! Glad you like my handle it was the name I gave myself when I was a
littl’n, well actually I really thought it was my name, always was a bit confused! Take care now.Lellieteapot

Adding teaspoons of glucose and salt and fruit juice to water to increase its hydrating properties and water is not as good as milk in all its forms Full, semi and skimmed at lest for hydrating! She has been either conned or bought by the look of it unless she is so poorly educated as to follow the line provided by the sponsor who must be a food and sugar lobbyist with some support from the “Health Foods and Supplements Industry” Grudging admission now that full fat milk might even be good for us

Hi Nysilver,

You’re purrrrfectly welcome. (ouch)

Thanks for the idea,Knitpurl. After posting I researched shakes and have found one high protein, low carb, low sugar made of things you can recognise (protein & seeds & fibre) so I bought some and will take enough to make a shake at lunchtime – then I only have to make a decision in the evening.

Just watching Fiona explaining how fried eggs don’t soak up the fat! Was testing cereals but admitted fried breakfast kept you fuller longer. No mention of sugar yet nearly 2130h. She does not seem to be aware of Doc M’s advice so far… Starting on drinks and smoothies now

Bought the 8-week BSD book and read it today. I know I have to do something. I don’t whether I am likely to have diabetes or not, but I do know that I have aching joints that shouldn’t be aching and the brain isn’t working at full capacity. I also know that I am 35 kilos overweight. I should be around 75-76kilos, and I braved the scales this afternoon to discover that I’d reached 110. It’s a lovely round number to start with. I don’t think I’ll be able to make it to 14 kilos in 8 weeks, but I think I can probably make 10 kilos by July 28. I’d like to be under 100 kilos then, and give the whole thing another couple of months and see if I can get to around 80 kilos by late October.

I am assisted in the journey by the fact that both my husband and I are in this together, and weirdly, by the fact that he has to be away on a course from September through December, so we will be competing. Added to which, I am very disciplined and if I’m down to 95 kilos by September, I’ll be able to go running and get that HIIT going for me.

I’ve had phases of being very fit and entirely the right weight, but the past 3-4 years have chipped away at my commitment. It’s time to get my body back. I was pretty good at healthy Med-style eating, but bad habits and way too much chocolate/M&S cookies/ice cream have undermined the resolve. The part of the book that really woke me up was the Carbs quiz. I am very much in the wrong place regarding my relationship with carbs. But that is changing now.

Wow Orchid and Frog
Awesome walking going on with you two.
Great stuff. Pleased that you are managing your personal challenges so well.
Need to set myself a new challenge for June.

The only promote message givers and then with a pretence of balance have a guest with an opposite view that is less credible for the point they want to promote. Last week they were talking about fat in diets but did not even mention sugar in the clip I watched. It was a missed opportunity from our POV but as Doc Mosley is/was BBC medic making films and an investigative scientist and reporter, it could be informative. Of course for those who have already worked out what healthy means in our terms we do not expect to learn much. Labelling is dire, sugar and salt contents are wicked and the low fat message has been bogus all along. I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised at their approach, but not putting money on it…

Thanks for the encouragement guys.It helps to get your support as well as the family of course. I will post when I have some measurable results. I’ve been reading lots of posts today, trying to regain a focused mindset and later I am going to go back to my journal that I started the first time and write down my reasons for following the BSD. >:D<

10 days into the diet and 13ib lost so far. Lost 8ib in first 3 days (!) then 2ib over days 4-7 and another 3ib over days 8-10. Simply sticking to the 800 calories per day (mix of recipes from book and replacement shakes) at the moment with only the occasional short walk in terms of exercising. Planning to start following the exercise recommendations from the book starting Wk3.

the ‘truth about healthy eating’ is on BBC1 tonight at 9pm

I wonder what their message will be??!!

We often eat at Wetherspoons. Most have 5* food hygiene ratings. I choose a skinny chicken burger without the bun (just chicken breast and salad) or for a treat the steak and salad. There are other options. Nice if you want to feel you’ve eaten out but not bust the bank – or the diet!

KP

Hi Guys! Your stories are so inspirational – reading them has given me a real boost I have been on the bds for 2 weeks now. Lost 11lbs the first week (very suprised) and then 3lbs the second week (a little disheartened). Can’t even bear to work out how much I have got to go so have decided to concentrate on the 8week mark for now , which also happens to be the day I go on hols. I felt shattered until this week (in the middle of week 3 now next weigh in Monday morning) but feeling much more energetic now and have upped my steps. Looking forward to supporting /being supported on the journey. X

Brilliant Bianca, what an achievement already!
I think you and others are spot on in saying this needs to be a lifestyle choice, not a diet as such. Like you, I am encouraged by the weight I have lost so far and can’t see myself ever going back to carbs, when I feel so much better without them.
Here’s to us all!

I thinks I’ll be relying on those bowl salads that supermarkets have, maybe with some additional protein and seeds. That might get boring after a few days, though. I’m sure there are things to eat that I haven’t thought of. I’ll be staying in B&Bs and moving on everyday so I can have open packets.

of course you are right
if I play by the rules, it will work

the rules are evading me
I feel uncomfortable and in need of ‘bad’ foods
I will come back if I can do this properly

I’d like to lose 2lbs in 10 days too, let’s see what we can do!

Rock & roll ; )

I’m watching with interest as I’m away for a few days next week too! I’ll be staying in a hotel but can’t afford to eat there every night, and won’t have refrigeration facilities. Interested to see what people suggest!

Hi all
I am one week into the Fast800 and pleased with my progress however I am off on a short trip in the UK and don’t want to de-rail. Do you have budget friendly suggestions for eating? I am thinking cottage cheese (supermarkets), boiled eggs (M&S, Boots, Pret), salad . I might have to work out what sort of things to eat before I go.
Any suggestions?
Thanks

Hi FiFiP
Thanks for the kind comments
I’m used to this sort of thing usually, it just hit me at a time when I was particularly low and that made me more upset than I usually would be.
Good news is the OH has rallied significantly today so she should be ok (last night it was “I won’t be going” 🙂 )
Again, I know my recovery pattern and can tell within the first few days how long it will take, this is going to be around the 6 week mark 🙁 but I’m determined not to let it spoil my holiday.
Turkey is fantastic for low carb high quality food so I’m looking forward to that, just got to lose that last 2 pounds by next week to hit my target.
Hope you have a fab time in Italy

Bill

Hi, I have been on the 800 cal diet for 2 and half weeks now. lost 11 lbs in the first week and 3lbs in the second (slightly disheartened after first weeks loss) I have stuck fairly rigidly to low cal/low carb but have had the occasional glass of wine. Felt absolutely shattered for first week but now have much more energy. Barista-girls mum, I have a glass of fizzy water on the go most of the time and constantly remind my self that its only for 8 weeks – even though I know I will need to carry on after that as have loads to lose after years of yo-yoing.

Would also like to thank Switzerland for pointing me in the direction of the Dalai Lama’s Cat! Definitely helped in the Mindfulness aspect!

Thanks Skywalker. Fortunately the Portugease health service proved to be fantastic and after a battery of tests she was diagnosed with a bladder infection and so armed with enormous antibiotics she was able to enjoy the rest of her holiday. I hope all goes well with your MiL.
I’m finding restarting the BSD more difficult, not craving carbs but just very hungry. I’m putting this down to still having sugar in my system and the unseasonal weather.

If you type shakes into the search box at the top of the page you will see what others have done and are doing re shakes …

I never used the recipes I just ate sensible food i.e. meat and 4 veg or porridge and fruit and lots of poached eggs and tomatoes. Cutting out cereals was my biggest change along with bread and liquorice, not to mention the Odd Guinness or Murphy’s. My biggest reward lately have been walnuts, cashews and raisins but not too many. Cheerio for now

Update

Had a small snack which did the trick and then the testing kit arrived. Couldn’t wait to try it and an hour after the snack I am in the normal range!! Brilliant. Had virtually calorie free soup for lunch so bring on the doughnuts.. (I hate doughnuts!) so I’m now doing this to lose the weight and stay in the normal range. I can’t wait till I wake up tomorrow and can do the fasting blood sugar test.

ouch – I use amazon for all kinds of random stuff – and i’m based in central London, so not exactly short on a variety of shops!
I did go to Waitrose this morning – and found 100% chocolate drops for making hot chocolate, no added sugar. Looking forward to trying those out!
I also tried some oat biscuits with beetroot and seeds – I’ve not been snacking very much, but I really enjoyed a couple of those with a coffee.