Following up from my first post on this topic……….

Had my appointment with the doc today following up on diabetic check during the week. He was absolutely delighted with the results (see first post of this topic) and I told him I’d dropped half of my metformin. He said that’s fine – then I said I wanted to drop all my metformin. He said ok – don’t have a problem with that BUT I want you to redo these blood tests in 4 months – I said that’s fine! Bearing in mind that this is an average of the last 3 months and I’d been doing the diet for 4 months when I had these tests – I’m quietly confident that they’ll be good. He did say not to be surprised if they go up a bit but that I was not to check them – he said if it goes up to 7.8 or something – doesn’t matter as long as it keeps coming down to 5.5/5.7 but not to keep doing it and get paranoid – interesting! He also said that at 6.2 I had ‘taken myself out of diabetes’!!!!! His words. He said at 6.5-7.5 they do advise people they may want to consider medication and at 7.6 they say you have to but at 6.2 – you’re not in the diabetic range!!! Wow Wow Wow

I also asked about my cholesterol result which – drum roll please – is down to 3.5 – now I checked the other day and normal is 4 – 6 and he was dead impressed with that too. I said I now wanted to come off the statin for cholesterol which he was less in favour of as he said they are a great drug regardless of diabetes – great preventative for strokes and heart attacks – I still said, no I wanna come off! So he said fine – we’ll check that also in 4 months time – fantastic

He also said – wait for it – don’t lose too much weight!! Ha ha ha ha ha – never EVER expected anyone to say those words to me – lovely jubbly

I came home and had a ceremonial dumping of the medication in the bin………………what a day!!

So………….believe it everyone – and spread the word

Yesterday day 96 weight 10st
Blood sugar 8.6

3 month bloods taken 11/05/2016. 57
Bloods before I started 11/02/2016 52. (was on gliclazide as well as Metformin)

Today Day 97 weight 9st 13lb
Blood sugar 8.2

can a tech person please remove the link from my post above – as when I click on it now it seems to go to some weird server page that is giving out my ip address

the recipe is for authentic chickpea flatbread and is on the ‘inpersuitofmore.com’ website

Oh Keeptrying I also meant to say thank you for the chickpea recipe – my friend is mauritian & makes this snack i think is call dhal puri , the mainstay of it is like a chickpea pancake – I am wondering how close to that it may taste !!
anyone got any ideas with regards calories with that recipe !

Hi keeptrying,
Thats a good name you picked there – it is a case of keep trying – don’t beat yourself up & sharing how you feel is important in this process – I am sure people who haven’t posted have read yours and understand how you are feeling.
I am only day two & i am realising from these posts I have so much to learn !!!
but we are lucky as there seems to be lots of lovely people prepared to share their knowledge.
In Micahel Mosleys book – he says that he wrote three positive things that had happened or he had seen that day etc at the end of each day – he used the example of seeing a nice sunset, or being complimented etc
That has kind of stuck with me because we know there are going to be days that completely suck for whatever reason – so if we can identify ANYTHING in that day that has made a smile, laugh appreciate the world around us etc then that is light in the dark.
But whatever you do keep trying keep talking to us & keep trying ! you’ve done two weeks !! That seems a very long way away to me right now yikes!!

Hi keeptrying,

Thanks for the chickpea bread recipe link…looks delicious… and I really miss bread with my soup…may try these tomorrow!

Cooking and colouring in books (for grown ups naturally) both help keep my mind occupied…

Let me know how you get on with these,

Imogen🌻

Don’t feel too guilty but don’t be surprised if your body says “Wow, thanks for that I am going to store that as fat immediately as it has been in short supply lately.” We all deserve occasional treats but they show up in the numbers, feelings and emotions before very long. I have just had some strawberries and ice cream that was a bit of a liberty too!

PS I don’t know why exactly and it is not that relevant to this thread but, I am reminded of a little chemistry experiment from school in about 1965 when we proved carbohydrate was bound up in sugar, by burning some until it went black. We noted the formula was C12H22O11 and how the hydrate portion i.e the H and O converted to water/steam H2O and left just the cinder like Carbon residue C. So that is why I knew something about Carbo-Hydrates from an early age. It was about 4 years later when I found out how they converted to fats, when I was in sixth form studying Organic Chemistry having dropped Biology. Funny what comes back to you…

Hi Switzerland and other Aussies,
Have been snowed under with house renovations for the past month. High stress time with mess and building materials everywhere and nothing in the right place!
No chance of smelling smoke from burn offs here. It has been so wet, the season broke early and we’ve had torrential downpours. Delayed the start of work on our house and consistently holding up proceedings. Still, we are only on tank water so at least our water supply is getting a boost. 😀
Blood sugar levels have remained in the non diabetic range though apart from one slightly over, after a meal higher in carbs than I thought. I’ve been popping in and reading the posts now and again and reading about everyone’s progress.
Off to Perth in a couple of hours to meet up with Hashimoto and see what that city has to offer BSDers. At least I’ll escape the plaster dust for a few days lol.

Hi Trinity,
Thanks for that – i kind of assumed that so long as you didn’t go over the 800 it would be ok – well i will bow to the experts & see how i go hopefully the body will adjust soon to the new way of doing things.
If you get any more useful advice i would appreciate it if you would let me know.
Thanks
Sal

Yes, the Daily recommended Allowance for Carbohydrate is 300 mg/ day or 30 mg. While this is strictly a Total Carbs figure anywhere near is acceptable as we are encouraged to eat lots of different foods and there are sugars, hidden sugars and renamed ingredients all designed to confuse us. The sugar lobby may be even more powerful than the oil lobby in my opinion. Just look at the way the news UK media twisted last week’s story about good fats and did all that talking and gesturing about healthy diet without even mentioning the evil and addictive properties of sugars.

Hi butterlover,
You sound very similar to me – I am pre diabetic also, I am going to start doing my bel but have never done them before so any advice on when to do them would be great.
Have emailed my GP to ask for his support – he is usually pretty forward thinking so I think I should be ok.
I know I am only on the second day but I have to say I do feel lighter !!
Will enjoy being on this journey with you all.
Sal

Hi Smith, i’ve just asked the same question because i have been taking healthy snacks recording them as part of my 800 cals per day. I have received one response so far which suggested that snacking is not a good idea and i have to change the way i think about food.

I do understand the importance of detaching yourself from food when counting the calories over the next 8 weeks; because if you snack, food is always on your mind so i do see the value of being disciplined about when you eat.

It’s a difficult one to answer but i guess it’s one to monitor when you weigh yourself regularly.

Trinity1814

Hi Deetia52,
i am on day 2 as well – i am feeling quite lightheaded today.
I got the fast diet recipe book by mimi spencer as well as the main bsd book – that has some of her recipes in – has been a godsend actually – there are more meals & calorie options to choose from.
I too would be interested i an answer to your bulgar wheat & cows cpus query.
Reading other posts really does help – i am just trying to find as many recipes as possible at the moment.
One question i have is can you spread your calories out through the day – rather than just three meals a day?
Good luck Dee

Hi Skywalker, thank you for your post, most insightful as i was under the impression that as long as i stick to the 800 cals per day, maintaining a mediterranean style diet i would be okay. I have significantly reduced my carb intake and only eat naturally sourced carbs found within certain fruits and veg and keep my protein intake high consuming white meats, lentils, oily fish, mixed nuts & seeds, kidney beans and chickpeas and so far no processed foods and i use rapeseed oil to flavour food and cook with. I will take on board your advice with gratitude and modify my mindset to eat slightly more calories at meal times rather than including snacks.

I know the issue of diet drinks is controversial so if i have any, it will be only as a treat every so often.

Just one more point; when reference is made to low carbs; is there a definitive amount in grams? I understand which carbs to avoid but i don’t know how many to include on the BSD.

Hope the above makes sense.

Thank you.

Trinity1814

Oh , I am going to have a go at tap dancing.

I have walked around my home saying… Shuffle shuffle hip kick. Etc
I am trying not to fall over my own feet.

Any one else had a go?

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi just on day 2, was feeling good but now I feel bloated. If I count my calories is it ok to have wholegrain rice, think that’s why I feel bloated maybe. I am waiting for my book from Amazon cos they sold out and I just have it on my kindle – finding it difficult to flick backwards and forwards. I think i’ll be better when the book comes on Wednesday. I read somewhere it’s ok to have bulgar wheat, what about cous cous?
I’ve made an appointment to see my GP next week. Hope she will be supportive.
I’m loving reading the posts, they make me feel I’m not struggling on my own
Dee x

I usually have a few glasses of Sauvignon Blanc on a Friday evening, but I have stuck to bsd for six solid days now, and am weighing in tomorrow…….so I think I deserve a couple of cheeky vodka and slimline tonics.fingers crossed I don’t blow it tonight.😉

Snooooooooze.😄

Hi Celeste,

I am flying solo too – although I am mindful of the comments about not being alone in this 🙂 I am only on day 3 and awaiting my dinner which is cooking in the oven and smelling wonderful!

I have cauli and broccoli cheese with strips of gammon in there – baking enough for 3 meals so I can put the spare in the fridge and microwave tomorrow for an easy lunch or dinner. Have also made a pot of lentil and bacon soup today in the slow cooker, so have a spare bowl of soup ready for tomorrow too. Currently ‘cooking’ some home made yoghurt in my electric yoghurt maker and have some rhubarb stewing in the slow cooker to go with it 🙂

Planning ahead to avoid the munchies! If I am going to cave, it will be with healthy food.

One way to get there Bill! Great results, you must be hop, skip + ajumpin’ at the thought of the new, slim-line you in your beach kit!!

I’m now 2stone down + looking forward to my hols too, especially my new size 16 swimming costume – fits like a dream, no stretching over white lard, my body shape has shifted so much!

Just another 1.5st to go!

Bill, get well soon! Don’t want to be negative but a word of caution – I was ill for a few days and lost a few pounds. Couple of days later back to the weight I had been before illness. So don’t get disheartened if it happens to you. And have a great holiday when it comes…

Hi JCH187, i’ve just started my second week and so far i’ve lost 4lbs may be a bit more; my scales are a bit temperamental. I’m finding it reasonably easy to stick to but cravings from my former lifestyle creep back from time to time but i manage that by using the Mindfulness attitude.

I’m not diabetic but when i had my last blood sugar test (admittedly 2 years ago) i was in the pre-diabetic range, however the reading was lower than the previous test. I certainly sit in the at risk category and my Maternal Grandmother was a diabetic.

My focus is to make sure that i do not develop this hideous illness so i can be as fit and active as i can be for the sake of my family and not just my health. Keep pressing on with the healthy lifestyle and you will see changes in your life beyond what you thought possible.

i’m new to this forum but I feel more inspired for reading the posts.

My best wishes to you and to all who have made this conscious decision to change their lifestyle habits.

Trinity1814

Hi celeestee.
Nine days in, wow, missed that.
You have come a long way already.

Thinking about it, I would be leaving your parents home of an evening and go for a walk. Start stretching etc that is suitable for you.
As on 15th August, just think of the work out you will get, decorating, cleaning, all those boxes and furniture you have to shift on your moving in day.

Keep hanging in there.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi Tofu, not familiar with that book and of course our labelling is quite often very poor. Many labels now have a statement to the effect “Carbohydrates x gm (of which sugars x gm)” Given that this diet exercise/project is Dr Mosley’s idea of what is a reasonable amount of calories for an “average” person whatever one is. Prof Taylor would answer your question more accurately but each food item that is labelled will/may attempt to show it in a good light so often sugars and carbs are confused and it may not be possible to work out Total or Net. It does not really matter that much in reality anyway as our daily 30 gms of carbs allowance will be more of a target to aim for rather than a cast iron number that we dare not exceed. I aimed for 30 gm/day and averaged 28.4 from the labels and facts I could find. It is a relative not absolute number but definitely in the right ball park if that helps at all?

Hi celeestee,
Your blog title is doing this solo.

Oh no your not.
You have so many friends here standing beside you, ready to help you.

The collie is right. Just have protein and veg of a night time in the restaurants.
Yogurt and berries for breakfast.
Skip lunch if you can or have a herbal tea.

I found a salad in McDonald’s.
Frankie and bennies have salads too, also steak and veg or salad.
Burger King, I have asked for a whopper but just the burger and salad, hold the bun and hold the Mayo. I say I have an allergy. Or I have BSD If you say you have … Three initials, people don’t realise it isn’t a real illness, but they are too embarrassed to ask you about it.

It isn’t easy, but it is doable.

On your way home can you go to a supermarket and get some boxed salads? You and boyfriend eat in and let your parents go out.
If he isn’t supporting you, so what? Do it for YOU, because you are worth it girlfriend.
Don’t you want to be a healthy slim active fit chick? I do.
I have to ask myself so many times a day…. Do you want the sweet/cake/bread or do you want the size 12?
It is a pain in the behind in the first fortnight.
Then it becomes easier.

Or just try and keep your calories down and your carbs too.
When you get the keys to your new place, lock the front door, deck your new kitchen with a steamer, scales, a spiralizer, a cool drawer for fresh salads and veg. Plastic boxes for your packed lunches.
In a quiet part of your house have a nice armchair with a blanket, where you can cuddle up and meditate and be mindful.
In another area, have a yoga mat and do yoga or stretches or planks or squats or march on the spot.

It will be your own home so call the tune.

Your beloved, if he’s not with the programme then that is okay, get him a crèche. A man cave or man corner, with a bike magazine, a tin of beer, the telly control for the football channel. He can play there while you are in one of your zones and enjoying yourself.

You can put bsd food in front of him but if he whines then just give him a dollop of spuds. He won’t know the difference.

We are all behind you, beside you, ready to help you. Test our friendship. Ask any question, I bet you get an answer quicker than you expect.
We have all been through our own trials and tribulations. It doesn’t get rid of your problem but we can suggest things to make it easier for you.

Just think how fit and skinny you will be by thanks giving or Christmas.

Stay on the path, it will come right in the end. It is worth it.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

nannoo, I have only 1 piece of advice for you.
Get a new doctor, your’s is a disgrace.

Well Trinity1814 the bad news is snacking is bad and with nuts even worse during the fasting days at least. Diet drinks are still controversial. We are trying to kick the sugar addiction and reduce carbs. If you eat between meals your results will show it quite quickly. The learning curve can be steep but as you progress and really appreciate what your body responds to and how you will be strengthened and re-motivated. 8 weeks can be a long time but really it is not in the grand scheme of things. So good luck with the self discipline training – sorry to be a killjoy….

Not a good week I have to say.
After thinking I had got past the virus at the weekend, it hit me like a sledgehammer on Wednesday and caused a really nasty chest infection. I’ve had to change my bedding daily due to the night sweats and the OH insists I was hallucinating and fighting with someone. 😮
Any how there would have been no weigh in this week if I hadn’t went to the docs and then the chemist for antibiotics I had only managed to eat 2 eggs between wed lunchtime and today.
So, I can’t take any credit for this but the scales said 13:9 ! That’s 4 pounds down this week, 3 stones in total gone, and, only 2 pounds to go to my first target of 13.5 stones by my holidays on the 9th.
Not the best way to lose weight but effective 😉
Best of luck to all this week, and…….. Onwards and upwards 🙂

hello –

day nine:

weight: 196.7 (diff: – 13.2)
calories: 2000
carbs: 167
breakfast: almonds & brie
lunch: —
dinner: fish tacos
snacks: beer
exercise: —

another bad day. but today there is some hope as i decided to just get back on track right now. not monday. not tomorrow. but right now. and i just have to keep making that decision. over and over again.

this is keeping me accountable.

celeste x

thanks collie & polly!!

i’m determined to view this as a journey that will have ups and downs – not just downs as i’d like but this way i’m hoping i don’t throw in the towel after having a bad day.

i really like your idea polly of my own cupboard – i probably can’t swing a cupboard but a shelf for sure! so i’ll fill that with healthy foods.

thanks guys!

celeste x

Hi Switzerland,
What have you been eating this past week.
Looking for ideas.
Bank holiday weekend. Not in on Monday , yaaaay.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi while we are on subject of carbs, Skywalker you let us in on the fact that UK English packaging labelled net carbs rather than full amount. Have just been given Carbs&Cal’s book by Cheyette & Balol recommend ed by diabetes UK…..very unclear whether this is net or gross carbs…anyone familiar with this know the answer? Thanks Tofa

Hi Chrisnor,
i’ve just started and just over a week into it. I’ve seen a decent loss in the first week but i too have felt sapped of energy and really weak although i’ve managed to keep active. The replies to your posts have encouraged me and i know that eventually this fatigue will pass once my body gets used to this new regime.

Keep the faith.

Trinity1814

Hi, i’ve been doing the BSD 800 for just over a week and already i’ve lost 4lbs. Although i’m finding the diet easy to stick to at the moment and enjoy playing with ingredients to make mealtimes interesting, i’ve always been a ‘snacker’ and find that i’m still doing that but this time munching on nuts and/or seeds, celery, mushrooms, peppers etc. Is it okay to do this as i still add it to my overall daily calorie count?

I also enjoy diet drinks but i’ve cut back completely because i’ve been told that the artificial sweeteners can cause the body to release insulin in the same way as sugars do. Does anyone out there drink the diet drinks on this diet and do the artificial sweeteners pose a risk as this is a sugar reducing regime?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

Trinity1814

Just checked my numbers on Polar Flow from my Polar M400 watch and I am averaging 6h 54 mins of restful sleep out of a total average of 8h 27 mins per night – good or what? Changing my name soon to van Winkel.

control, yes that is how I feel. In control more than I ever was 🙂

you’re ahead of me in lb’s lost but I’m used to my body being a tortoise and don’t mind anymore lol

I hope your 22 lb’s has made you feel much healthier 🙂

Izzy 😊well done so far!

I have lost 22lbs though it is not always consistent. Had a period of three weeks in a row where I lost zero, tends to be a bit erratic despite sticking to low carbs and below 800 calories
I may have to play around with my carb levels a little, as on a rare occasion I have gone above on carbs and this has been followed by a higher weight loss!!!… Anyone else experience this I wonder…any explanation??

Pleased with effects on my blood sugar levels which have been much more stable and reducing!

Enjoying the whole BSD eating plan…so much happier to be in control of my food choices at last.

Imogen🌻

You’re all doing really well, please come and check back in, I for one, need support from people going through the same experience as me! As of Thursday I had lost 6lbs, Saturday is my one week and I’m hoping maybe to hit half a stone.

I hasn’t been easy but for the first time in my life I’ve cooked from scratch every night for a week!

I for example cut my carbs which really means sugar to less than 30 gms per day and it worked for me. Certainly you should be aiming for less than 50 and I would suggest that 30 is doable and much better but takes a bit of getting used to. In tables of Daily Allowances carbohydrates is listed as 300 mg per day that is 30 gms/day as stated. Since carbs make and store fat during digestion they must be limited and then there is room for some nourishing food calories. Mr Google knows about this stuff too.

I’m almost 6 weeks in Imogen so we are similar stages! I still have around 3 stone to shift but BSD makes me believe I can do it! I’m not sure I’ve ever felt this confident.

It’s funny but with things like the pancakes etc I work out how many I’m going to have for a portion, I’ve eaten them and enjoyed them but because they are lower carb and higher protein therefore filling… I really haven’t overeaten them. Same with the crackers etc. I may have had the odd one extra but not like during a craving.

In other news I have a pair of jeans a bit smaller that I couldn’t get close to fastening a few weeks back, I can get them zipped up now 🙂 they are still not comfy enough to wear but I reckon another 2 or 3 lb’s is all I’ll need yippeee!

If you are a British Citizen please sign our petition : )

Fantastic thepolly, well done x

Hi Izzy, and

hi fiftyfifty – sleep tight😴

Thanks guys for pointing me in the direction of Elana’s pantry, some of those recipes look fantastic…yum!

My serious carb/sweet addiction has kept me from exploring any baked foods during the BSD800 – at least for the time being – but it is wonderful to know that there are some great recipes waiting for me in the future – something else to look forward to!

I plan to keep eating the BSD way ( in some form) forever. At 6 and a half weeks in – I have a way to go to get to my healthy weight and off all medications – I get nearer to that goal each day!

Thanks for inspiration,

Imogen🌻

yes it’s up 😀

Reposted this on my facebook page and also posted about it on diabetes.co.uk but not sure if it’s up yet, needs moderating apparently

stick at it you guys, the time soon passes and you will be several weeks in and several lb’s lighter 🙂

sleep well fifty 🙂 sweet dreams and thank you

No worries Izzy. I want to try the pancakes too soon!
Have a good day (you’re doing so well and I enjoy your posts).
Bedtime in Australia 💤

Thank you fifty! I have to admit I was eying up that carrot cake when I was browsing. She does a recipe for carrot muffins as well, and I love the silver dollar pancakes.

I’ll certainly be having a look at that other site as well 🙂

I think if we want BSD to become a way of life and not just an 8 week thing resulting in re-gaining the weight once we’re finished then it’s important to look around and find things we enjoy making and eating, and to give us the variety so we don’t get bored.