I really bought the book in the hopes I could get OH, who is type 2 diabetic, off the metformin – don’t think it’s doing him any favours in terms of side-effects, and also he has lots of pills for other things so quite frankly 4 less (yes he’s on 4 daily metformin) can only be good.

But he said ‘I don’t want to get any thinner’. He thinks it will make him look older, though in my view he often doesn’t look well, and this is the most ageing factor.

So I’ve been pressing on doing the BSD for myself, and of course saying how much I’m enjoying the food, how proud I am I’ve given up sugar, how much livelier I feel, and also serving up a few quite BSDish type menus.

Son came home for a visit, and OH has been talking about ‘this diet we’ve been doing’, and we all agreed that refined carbs were really not good.

This morning he mentioned he had a blood test coming up on Tuesday – last time, he had a high blood sugar just ahead of an operation, and it meant that there was risk the surgeon wouldn’t go ahead. So it’s quite important his blood sugar is better this time.

I suggested he tried cutting out the refined carbs just till Tuesday, and to show him what it was like, logged him on to My Fitness Pal, and we entered his breakfast (I cooked this, bacon, eggs, asparagus), and his potential lunch and dinner. I had set his carbs at 50gm target, which I do appreciate is challenging, but he’s only working to Tuesday at present.

Never seen anyone quite so horrified at the effect of 2 tsp of sugar in c 6 drinks per day – by far the worst! – together with the sugar/carbs in an apple and an orange. He’s agreed to abandon his usual post-prandial choc ice, and the bowl of ice-cream he often has as a late-night snack. And the chocolate bars. And to resist eating handfuls of nuts (which he introduced as a healthy element without realising that you can’t eat bucketsful of them). Bread and potatoes are also out for the present.

Whether or not he can keep up with this remains to be seen, but I have to say it’s informative when you really get down to what you’re eating.

Thanks Switzerland and Stephie63!

Will keep adding in fats – good idea to make sure in every meal. it’s just difficult to keep to 800 calories but maybe as some people seem to be doing as long as fats and right amount of carbs it’s not as important to stick rigidly to the calories? Or maybe that’s after the 8 weeks? I’ll stick to it so far and wait and see how I do after a week or two anyway – onwards through day 5!! 🙂

Carb withdrawal better hurry up and pass but good to hear that’s normal enough by the sounds of it. Feeling great now after lunch of delicious chicken breast, half an avocado, radishes, tomato and left over courgette noodles :-))) so must be that. Bring on the fat burning! :-)))

Sounds good, Stephie63! or you could try your garlic mushrooms on uncooked baby spinach – I had my breakfast eggs on that the other day and it was yum.

Hello all

I am happily continuing my BSD journey, and am currently halfway through my 4th week, with a (fluctuating) loss of c 6lbs – sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on goodness knows what.

My current aim is to break the 10stone barrier and get into 9stone something territory, which is being tantalisingly difficult to achieve.
I’m carrying on, though, no sign of giving up, as I know that the 800 calories, 20gm carb per day (or as close as I can get), will eventually get me there.

But I’m really interested in what’s going on.

I would love to think I’m building muscle but sadly this last week not been able to do as much walking as I’ve been working a lot. I seem to be looking a bit thinner, my waist is shrinking, but what has been called here (so expressively) as the ‘belly wodge’ is clinging on like grim death.

I am testing with Ketostix and am in Ketosis, so I am burning fat from somewhere or other…..can I assume that I DID indeed have fat around my internal organs, which I feared at the start, and that my liver and pancreas are emerging?

I wasn’t diagnosed as pre-diabetic, this BSD is because I want to get back control, so I’m generally really happy. But would like to understand what might be happening.

Any thoughts from you experts who’ve researched more than me? Have I now particularly slim internal organs? Any way of finding out beside an MRI scan (joking)?

Just posted the recipe of my lunch, creamy garlic mushrooms. Have to say it was yum! Would have been nice on toast, but hey ho. I think it would also be good as a topping for courgetti or cauliflower rice. Definitely one to keep

What’s everyone up to this weekend.
Anything wild and wacky?

Love Lucia
Xxx

Yay! Glad you enjoyed the pizza Izzy.
I’m keen to try those carrot crisps you’ve mentioned – might do that this weekend 🙂

Hi gang,
May I fling another suggestion to you?

If you can’t count calories or haven’t got the time to count the calories, or you just cannot cope with all that fiddly stuff,
How about…..Just cutting the carbs,
Stay away from spuds, bread, rice, pasta etc.
Make a ‘butty’ with one if those thick lettuce leaves,

Have cauli rice instead of rice
Have cauli instead of mashed spuds

Have ribbon courgettes instead of pasta.

Just keep stopping, no counting… No hassle.

Go for it.

Thanks bill 1954 for a great tip……
Love Lucia

Xxxxx

Captainlynne a question – do we know how many people use the forum and by that I really mean how many are actually doing the BSD? Also how many have completed the 8 weeks and 16 weeks and will you be the very first to 23 weeks???

Would be curious to know the stats – did you hear Dr M on Chris Evans yesterday morning?

Hi I am mewly Diabeticread my profile. I drink water when I am not thirsrty. I cutout soft drinks altogether including starchy foods.

Hi collie,
I am sorry but you are a genius.
Look how far you have come, you have all your meals prepared.
You are encouraging your work mates to join you.
My hat is off to you.
Love Lucia
Xxx🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩

LOL Bill

Trust me, you’re no reject – IKEA or otherwise!

Great attitude Stephie.
This time if you have any problems just shout out and the BSD’ers will come running to the rescue 🙂

Hi Natalie

I’m not that fierce. Honest😃

You’ll see that lots of folk visit here, even if they’ve not completed 16 weeks. The five days carb loading wasn’t your fault. Glad I didn’t have to do that. GTT not used often these days in the UK, but it was for diagnosis only when I was diagnosed.

All are welcome in our club houses. This has to be the friendliest, most supportive forum I’ve ever been on😃

We’ve the after 8 weeks and after 16 weeks club houses. Next week I’ll officially open the after 23 weeks club house. 😃 Yes, it should be 24 weeks but I’m away and might not be able to post😱

You’re very welcome at any of the above. Hopefully you’ll find all the support you need to help you on your BSD journey.

Hi Stewart
14 weeks for me with no problems.
In fact, if anything, it just gets easier.

LMAO
Can’t comment re Alan but me? a Chippendale???
More like an Ikea reject.
I may just post some images after my holiday and see if I can dig anything out from a couple of years back 😉

No rules in here Natalie
If you say you did 8 weeks then you did.
Post your 8 week results on Sunday and let us all see how well you have done. 🙂

I have a question for you veterans. I did eight weeks of BSD in Jan/Feb, but I didn’t stick to it very well and the last couple of weeks of it I couldn’t really claim to be on any kind of diet. I started again at the end of March and only have two days left of this eight weeks. But… even being generous about my slip ups along the way, I took five days very much “off” the diet while carb loading for my GTT. Can I join your club house on Sunday night after 16 official weeks, sort of? Or do I have to do the diet, you know, properly, within a reasonable approximation of the rules, before being allowed in? Should I tack five days on to make up for the days off? Do I even count as having eight weeks under my belt as the two attempts were not consecutive? Do I have to show proof of calorie counts, exercise, and mindfulness techniques? Do we have to memorise sections of the book to recite to the gatekeeper?

Rachel I had that last week, or the week before, I forget, it even went up a pound at one point. Don’t let it dishearten you. Week 3 I think it was I lost 1/2 lb only the whole week, it’s common to lose little or nothing for a week or two followed by a few better weeks 🙂

The pizza turned out nicely thanks fifty for posting that recipe. It was pretty easy… not sure I would have bothered following one of the recipes that needed squeazing out through a towel lol!

I topped the base with tomato puree, chopped red onion and tomato, and cheese. My husband enjoyed it as well and we have agreed that next time we fancy a pizza, we will have this healthier version instead 🙂

I’ve decided against the harvest veg pie as once I typed in all the ingredients to my fitbit app it is much higher in carbs than I am generally eating. I’m making cottage pie for the family so I’m going to make that for myself too but without the potatoes. I’ll brown the mince with a carrot, add a little gravy and tomato puree, then my idea to make a crunchy topping is to mix grated cheese with some cauliflower rice and pour it on top (not pre-cooked) I’m thinking it will soak up some gravy as well as being browned on the top. I’ll let you guys know if it works. I wasn’t keen on the cauli mash but I think this will have a different texture entirely.

I was going to try one of the coconut flat breads to have with dinner, but as I had a large portion of pizza I don’t have the spare calories, so I will try that recipe for another day.

here here Barrelonlegs! Here’s to Day One – Lighter, stronger, smarter than the last one!

I’m thinking of going overboard tonight and eating a whole salmon with paprika lemon and garlic the way I’ve been craving then start Day One tomorrow hahaha.

I know what you mean about stress, when I’m stressed I tend to forget what goes into my mouth. I am becoming better at it now – when my boss stresses me out I say in my head – I refuse to hurt my body because you hurt my feelings.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/scots-trial-to-test-mindfulness-for-diabetes-patients-1-4132835

“… people who are anxious have high levels of stress hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol, and these cause glucose to be released into the bloodstream, driving up blood glucose levels. Also, depression is characterised by fatigue and low motivation, which can make it tricky to devote the time and energy required to manage complex long-term conditions like diabetes.”

Hi everyone, I did Fast800 for 10 weeks and started 5:2 this week. I’ve noticed an acceleration of weight loss this week – I’ve lost 20lbs in 10 weeks but added another 3lb to that total already this week and another inch off the waist.
I am really struggling to get up to ‘normal’ calories on ‘feast days’ – so used to 800 and just don’t want to eat so much anymore. I’ve had a couple of nice bits of chocolate and some popcorn and a bit more adventurous with fruit and some sweet potato but anything with too much sugar is just making me shake and feel bunged up!

So I’m pleased that weight loss is continuing and I’m enjoying calorie counting less but I’m finding the transition harder than I imagined. Any tips?

I was so good yesterday – got to 600 – ish calories but was so full from soup for dinner I thought I wont eat the rest of the calories….I put on weight! 400grams! so gutted but so focussed I am going to keep behaving and not give in to the evil voice in my head going ‘doughnut…doughnut….doughnut’ I’m sure it belongs to the sugar monster!!!!

Breakfast done – almost lunch time!

Can I add to the ‘make every minute count’ brigade? Off to a funeral shortly. Man in his 50s had massive heart attack, hit his head as he fell. Was in ICU in an induced coma but was brain dead. His wife and parents are absolutely devastated.

We owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to be as healthy as we can for as long as we can. We’re on the BSD for a variety of reasons, but ultimately it’s to get healthier, fitter and slimmer😃

Hi Frog

I’ve seen barm cakes called so many things: White rolls, baps, bread cakes etc. If you think they’re bad, you should see stotties!😱 Even I could never eat a whole one!

I finally bought a new coat yesterday. Been looking for weeks but someone commented on Tuesday that the old one was ‘hanging off’ me😱 So something had to be done. It’s fairly lightweight but showerproof so I hope the weather warms up!

Hi Bill and Alan

Sounds like you’ll be the BSD Chippendales!

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?