Hi almost finished reading the book and starting day one tomorrow – all your comments really helpful, will certainly make sure I count my carbs 🙂

oh, no you are certainly not alone in that – as I stand here sucking on another square of dark chocolate that is meant to not make me want more!!

Me me me. Sorry I have been so needy.
If anyone would like to bend my ears with their gripes, I am here and waiting, I know I am not the only one who doesn’t find it easy to give up sugar.x

Hey Rachel, hope you are feeling better been thinking about you! I’m in sunny Las Vegas and not been sticking to the plan. Had a few glasses of wine and a few things I shouldn’t have, but trying hard not to overdo it. I must say I can’t eat the large portions that I used to so that’s a good thing.

Take care.

Hi Christie 1948
I too am pear shaped.
It’s taking forever to lose a millimetre off my butt, it’s just not fair.
And to start with the size difference between my top half and my bottom half is two sizes.

So I am focusing on eating right and keeping healthy, rather than the inches.

If not, I am going to stand next to a bacon slicer and have a few times taken off each thigh!!

I am not sweating the stuff I cannot control, but I can control my eating and moving.

Keep happy everyone

Love Lucia
xxxx

When I graduate to risk crackers I will try them. 😍
I probably lost more weight because I am bigger to start with 🌷
I am an advanced life coach so wor with clients to improve many facets of their lives and confidence can be key for most other issues that arise.
💜

Well, today is day number seven since I started the diet with Optifast shakes, I must say that it’s much easier than I thought , I’ve lost 9 POUNDS! Which I find amazing.

I halved the insulin as the consultant recommended, and, after a day, I reduced it a little more. My BS has been constantly in the 7s, night and morning, which is great for me. I didn’t want to use a little more insulin to bring the numbers down to the 5s, as I was worried about hypos, keeping it in the 7 range makes me feel easier, as I was having quite a few hypos before. My blood pressure is almost back to normal as well.

You are not alone here I promise you, we are all realising that carb addiction is a real thing. The good news is this way of eating really does help to break the spell!

Keep at it, you will soon be on your way and feeling more at ease with it all 🙂

Hi Lynne,
I got on the scales this morning and I had only put 1lb and 6 oz on after being away from home last week, it’s the same amount of weight I put on when I was in Tenerife!
I know it’s different for everyone but I have lost 2 stone and still only gone down just over one size, my size 18 trousers ar getting too slack on the waist, however I can’t yet get into any 16 trousers, (it’s my pear shape I know) then on top of that my top half is more than 5 inches down and I’m in danger of losing myself my bras are so loose!
I seem to be sticking to the same weight, I know it’s because we are here there and everywhere, I thought that when we retired we would have time to do our own thing, we seem to be busier now than ever! And with family all over the place it’s always busy with one or the other. I know it will eventually start coming off again, I have had these plateaus before they are just so frustrating!
Rant over, I will be on my 16 th week starting tomorrow, I will be strict with myself, I can have amazing will power, then it all seems to go to pieces, oh well let’s see what next week brings.
I hope you have bought yourself some lovely new clothes for your holiday?
Christine.

Thank you, Izzy, I will put the iPad down.x.
Also, have just streamed a movie..10, Cloverfield Lane.. So that should keep me quiet for bit.
I know I sound nuts, but I am actually quite (!) sensible about anything except carbs.grrr. Recipe hunting also sounds like a good idea. Cheers from Janet.

Right. Ok…have sorted myself out some hot water and lemon. Thank you.x

I’m just discovering Kale Crisps now!

put the ipad down! or at least stop looking at food menus! A walk as suggested above is a good idea, as is a herbal tea (which I am always drinking)

If you want to stay looking at your ipad then look at something else. Start looking for new ideas of what you can plan to eat, there are lots of good recipes on this site, and a web search for low carb recipes will find you a big list that could take over your life (hi, I’m Izzy… I’m addicted to recipe surfing online) OR another thing I sometimes do is browse clothes and make myself a wishlist of things I might want to buy when I’ve lost my weight.

The hunger does fade, but I agree again with Igora that you need to make sure it isn’t low fat you are eating. If you think you are about to crack definitely a piece of cheese or a couple of nuts. Even a boiled egg might be good.

I often have food on my mind now but it isn’t in that ‘so hungry could eat a horse kind of way’ it’s just dreaming up new things to try and looking forward to the meals I have planned in. I’m interested and excited by the food rather than possessed by it? Hope that makes sense and you get past the hunger pangs.

haha yes I know I’m already feeling I need new bras, and you’ve lost more weight than me!

Teaching confidence must be very rewarding work, you must say more about it when you have the time.

The crackers are under control, I’ve just had my soup for lunch with some and it was so nice, I’ve missed having something *with* my soup and these are great. That will be the crackerfest over for today.

I’m about to work on my food plan for the coming week, so I will definitely have crackers planned in some days 🙂

You need to make sure you have enough fat in your diet as that fills you up. A full fat yoghurt? Some cheese? Proper cheese not cottage (hope the cottage cheese was full fat?)

I have a slice of Leerdammer cheese wrapped round some chicory and it’s filling and delicious. Or wrapped round some smoked salmon- delicious. Any cheese works – fat, protein but no carbs.

But you may find that today is one of your first days, and once you are into the BSD I promise the hunger pangs fade – so long as you keep up the fat (and drinking water, flavoured with cucumber or lemon if you like)

Hope that helps. Also try getting up and doing something – a walk?

thanks
I hope so too
I have bought some glucose tablets just for if I am out and it happens

Thanks Frog,

We have been having a square (or two) of dark chocolate, “Alter Ego Dark Blackout Organic Chocolate”, bought from Woolworths (one of Australia’s versions of Tesco) Nutritional info is per 100g: 588kcal, 35g Carbs (15g sugar). The serving size recommended is 20g (2.5 squares) but we only have 1 square each – about 47kcals, 3g carbs (1.2g sugar).

I am notorious for hating chocolate drinks, hot, cold, milkshake, thick shake , and I loathe malted milk drinks – yuck! I love milk, and I love eating chocolate – I know I’m weird. I also do not have a sweet tooth, thank goodness, but I do have a meat pie tooth, if that’s a thing. Point me toward a pie, or a hot curry, and I’m a goner, well figuratively.

It’s great to note that I have not transgressed during the 3 and a bit weeks I’ve been on this diet, nor have I been hungry. I see the meat pies and say, “That’s nice.” and walk on by without a moment’s further thought.

I’ll investigate the no-sugar chocs for research in the morning and post my findings.

FeltWicked

Yippee huge congrats on your weight loss. There goes a stone soon!! Yippee!

Am on day 2 after a wobbly day 1.
Too many calories yesterday, so have seriously cut back today. Have had two small cottage cheese meals for breakfast and lunch,(One with blueberries , one with salad.)
Sadly, I have been reading luxury restaurant menus on my iPad…….dreaming of dauphinois potatoes, risotto, bread and butter pudding…help!!!!!!!!!

if you want pudding Geoff you’d do worse than making those Almond flour pancakes! I have some of those with a few mashed up raspberries and it could pass for pudding. If you had the spare calories you could add a spoon on cream on there too.

I’m enjoying my experiments Frog! Coconut flour is the cheapest and easiest to find so not a bad place to start.

thanks Izzy – I may experiment with that recipe!
I’ve never used coconut flour – the nutrition looks amazing

Thanks Frog, just to clarify, the reason for sweetening the yoghurt is deliberately to make it into a pudding substitute – I do yoghurt with blueberries and almonds etc but sometimes I WANT PUDDING 🙂

Great Izzy, glad you are controlling them and not they controlling you😍
I am confident and teach it, it was clearly physical from top heaviness if you get my drift. Ha

Hi Switzerland,
I love the fact that you are in Australia, yet your ‘name’ is Switzerland!
I will have to have a look at the LSA mix, I haven’t ever heard of it, would it be in a health store? Or I could look in the world isle of our tesco/Asda stores. What do you use it for, an alternative to flour perhaps? Whatever it is it does sound tasty, I do use linseeds sunflower seeds and almonds in my cooking so I will certainly look out for it. I do have as yearning for my chicken goujons, I used to do them a lot with the grandchildren, they loved ‘making’ them then of course eating them so it could be a good excuse to do them with the girls and see how they turn out, they have tried the courgette spaghetti, pulling their faces when it was put in front of them, then clearing their plates! The only trouble is their mum had them then was crippled with ibs pain, you could see her stomach literally bloat and go hard, I felt so guilty as I had made her eat the courgette!
Thank you for your response. Christine

that’s not the problem then!
Maybe it will pass when your body adapts to the new style of eating

I came across this recipe recently I’d like to try (carrot cake comment reminded me) I’ve not made them so can’t vouch for it, and I don’t know what yacon is but I’m guessing a bit of stevia would work fine
https://elanaspantry.com/carrot-muffins/

I have hot choc too, but I use a higher calorie version including fat making it not only taste sweet but filling too.

http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/17221/low-carb-hot-chocolate.aspx?o_is=LV

only good if you have the spare calories though.

These aren’t so much a cheat, just finding ways to manage our eating!

Another nibble I love is salt and vinegar chickpeas

http://ohsheglows.com/2010/08/03/easy-salt-vinegar-roasted-chick-peas/

sometimes if I feel hungry and a cup of herbal tea isn’t helping, sometimes I’ll have 2 or 3 nuts, or one berry out of the fridge. One is enough to satisfy the desire for sweet I am finding.

I’ve enjoyed experimenting with recipes using coconut and almond flour, pancakes are nice for example. I’ve also found a recipe I love for tomato salsa and have it with carrot crisps too.

The biggest thing that helps, although I can’t call it a cheat, is being organised, and planning. Having what you need to hand, and for me it’s having some variety mixed in as well and making food I love to keep me looking forward to my meals.

It’s scary, isn’t it Leanne
I just posted elsewhere that I was horrified when I measured out the recommended serving of mayonnaise – and that was just over 100 calories.
Pre BSD I’d probably have eaten about three times that amount, to accompany chips of course.

Total calories in the mayonnaise came to almost half those in a fairly substantial burger in the same meal.

Hey Ladies and Gentlemen: Is ice tea okay to drink? I started few weeks ago with drinking Passion Fruit in place of regular ice tea as a cold beverage.

Hi Geoff
Totally with you on the cocoa – not something I drink usually, but since starting BSD I quite often have a cup at bed time – I use about a 1/4 spoon of stevia with mine.

Yesterday I had a bowl of grated carrot with a small amount of hummus stirred in (stay with me on this one!) – and it tasted incredibly sweet – I’ve been mulling over what spices I’d need to add to make it carrot cake tasting.
If I get anywhere with that one I’ll let you know!

My cheat is using white cabbage leaves where I’d normally have bread or toast. Great with hummus and taramasalata – and marmite, I have been thinking about trying it with peanut butter, which I adore.

Try the yoghurt with fruit rather than sweetners – it’s lovely, I’m currently making the most of rhubarb being in season.
One thing I’ve noticed is how much sweeter things taste since starting BSD – you may miss out on that if you use lots of artificial sweetener. So far I’ve only used stevia in cocoa, and half a teaspoon added to 800g of rhubarb when I baked it.

Hi Switzerland, yes you’re right. Pre-BSD I never knew how many cals/carbs a lot of foods contained – just ate without a second thought ! Thanks to this way of eating I’m more aware of good and bad foods. I’ve got “the little book of mindfulness” which I refer to sometimes. Will look into the meditation more I think.

I’m two weeks in and lost 11 pounds so far (15st 4 down to 14st 7) but I couldn’t have managed without a couple of handy instant “Cheats”. The best for me is a big teaspoon of crunchy peanut butter in the middle of the evening, I’m also making strong cocoa (two heaped teaspoons mixed with a dash of milk and topped up with boiling water – two, three or even four sweetners to taste – much lower cals and a better “chocolate hit” than Options style drinks. I’ve “puddinged up” my morning yoghurt and by skipping breakfast can have it for desert after evening meal – mix 150 grams of greek yoghurt with two or three teaspons of granular sweetner and a couple of teaspoons of decent vanilla extract or (it’s brilliant!) a teaspoon of Tesco’s Salted Caramel flavouring! Instant Custard or Ice Cream.

Has anybody else got any good tips to satisfy the pudding lust? 🙂

ha ha,indeed at points I drank so much that first week I felt like I was drowning!! ok slight exaggeration – but around 2 – 3 litres of water a day plus a tea or two

Are you drinking loads too, keeptrying?
– dehydration can cause shakiness

I had a delicious ‘lean’ burger for brunch – no carbs, so it isnt stuffed with wheat or other fillers.

The weight on the deli label said 175 grams, so I logged that while I was cooking.
Looking at the amount of fat in the pan after I’d cooked it, I decided to weigh it again, as I wasn’t going to eat the fat that was left – the cooked weight was only 135g (& 130 after i’d cut of a piece for the cat!)
85 Calories back!

I also had coleslaw with it – after chopping a mound of cabbage and carrot, I weighed 15g of mayonnaise (the alleged serving size according to the jar), I looked at the pile of veg and realised the mayonnaise wasn’t going to go very far. Not wanting to give up on having coleslaw, I mixed the mayonnaise with 30g of quark; it worked really well and tasted delicious. If I have it again I may experiment with cutting it to 10g of mayonnaise.
I imagine yoghurt or creme fraiche would work just as well as quark
Scary when I think about how much mayonnaise I used to eat pre-BSD, usually with chips!

So just been out for a quick weed.
Started to rain so I had to put my weeding things away and bring the washing in.

So I have had another thought…. Yup, I have been thinking.

Size matters…
Let me expand. No, let me shrink.
Let me explain.

I used to eat a whole chicken in one meal.
The best portion is one or two drumsticks.
I know it is protein it is good to eat, but you need only 200 calories of chicken not two million

So size does matter.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

I decided that I couldn’t be faffed to measure milk in tea all the time – especially if I’m drinking it when I’m out and about.

I estimated how much I use, assessed that it seemed logical in line with how long a carton of milk lasts, and the ratio of tea at home and tea out, and then just put that amount in as a daily allowance. If I use a lot in a particular recipe, I’ll log that separately.
I do only use a dash of milk in tea, and none in coffee – it’s not as if I’m drinking loads of lattes.
Some days may be up, others down, but I don’t think its going to matter drastically

My original estimate was 200ml daily – on measuring that amount out on days I’ve been largely at home, it’s more like 150ml based on the amount left at the end of the day.

Thank you, FiFiP and GrannyMo for this interesting link to the paper about the inulin research.

I actually like chicory, but i see that the inulin is derived from the chicory root, so not so sure how much is obtained from the leaves themselves. If I decide to take the inulin, I will buy a supplement, which is readily available on the net, I see.

By the way, Sammy1967, are you calculating in the sugar effect of your OJ in the morning? Does this not take your sugar/carbs too high?

reply to self – googled and found this article
http://kickincarbclutter.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/why-does-low-carb-diet-make-you-feel.html

it seems ‘pseudohypoglycemia’ could be my thing – i had one day in week 1 when my pulse was around 120 for most of the day and i could feel it through my body

other places it seems to be called reactive hypoglycaemia
oh well

Thanks you two. I have had a better day today as I have planned a bit better. Have ordered the book because I have only been using the website and you guys for advice so far. I actually feel so much better for taking control of sugar, even if I didn’t get the calories as low as I should have. Not looking forward to giving up the wine, but will have a go. Thanks again-it’s great to feel supported.x

Both my husband & I are on the BSD and have picked up on the inulin debate, an article which appears to be based upon a randomised trial is at https://nutritionandmetabolism.biomedcentral.com – I input – inulin visceral fat – into my search engine & it pulled that up. Interesting reading especially the variance in results on visceral fat from those taking the inulin v cellulose, we are now sprinkling it onto our yoghurt/berries along with psyllium husk every morning.

Chicory leaves are one of the (only) 3 veggies I cannot stand, and as the compound comes from the roots I am happy to use the powder instead of fighting the gag reflex every time I eat the leaves in a salad!!

Evidently some more solid research studies are needed and will be interesting to see if this features on an episode of Trust Me I’m a Doctor later in the year!

Thanks, a good start 🙂

Well done! That sounds like a good start, keep it up!

I’m almost 4 weeks in now and have found the forum posts so helpful, both in terms of support and recipes. I can recommend Izzy’s hunter’s chicken recipe btw, it’s amazing.

Help! I’m almost 4 weeks in and I haven’t touched sugar or carbs, but I’m still craving chocolate. Is there anyway I can satisfy this without breaking the 800 calorie limit?

Hi Leeanne,
I think it’s always easier when there are friendly folk around to share the ups and the downs.
It’s a delight to read that you’re motivated today.
Best wishes.

Thank you lovely people!
I’ve woken up today full of determination. FBS this morning was 8.8 – to be expected but better than pre-BSD.
It’s good that we can share our downfalls once in a while!!

Hi webbj54

I agree with LindaA – first of all jump back on the wagon, you know what to do.

Then I would really consider if you could steer away from the wine for this 8 weeks. I have been generally very good with the BSD and found it relatively easy to do, but my big slip was on an evening out with colleagues. I’d planned in for a glass of red wine, but had two glasses of white wine (more calories than red, who knew?) and despite eating sensibly in the restaurant, got an attack of the munchies on the way home and ate a 400+calory Pret a Manger vegetable wrap, followed up at home by two slices of bread and butter!

I think that maybe the wine might have set me off………

So I’m thinking to either avoid wine in the rest of my 8 weeks, or at least be prepared for the subsequent munchies. Perhaps I could have an emergency carrot in the bag?

Gooood Morning >>>>> *bounding in like a woman possessed*

I’m excited. I weighed in this morning and only need to lose 0.4 to hit my first stone barrier 🙂 so surely that should happen by my official weigh in on tuesday.

I just had to scroll back through some *very* silly messages with my friend to remind myself when I pickled my eggs. It was 10 days ago! time is passing so quickly! I can crack open a jar and see what those are like later this week!

Out of curiosity I froze the left over almond pancakes yesterday and defrosted them to see if they freeze well, I just had one and they do, so that makes them super useable! The only downside being that almond flour is really quite expensive 🙁 and unlike coconut flour you use a lot of it in the recipes. The cheapest I have found is a big purchase of 4 kg still costing almost £40. However the last bag I bought which is already empty was about £10 for 500g, so a lot cheaper to buy the 4kg and it should last a few months I guess. There are many things I haven’t tried yet 🙂

It’s easier to justify the purchase (I will buy) when I consider it not only an investment in my own health but the kids. They didn’t like the crackers but they do like the pancakes. Being able to give them things like that and knowing they are healthier than the other ones is a nice thing.

In addition, I was easily spending £15-£20 regularly in a week on sandwiches, crisps, chocolate and other rubbish. I never felt I had to ‘justify’ that to myself, I just walked into the shop and paid. I’m saving money that way anyway lol. Haven’t went to a shop at work for lunch since I started.

I ramble on a lot, I know, but it helps me along.

todays fooood.

Breakfast- pancakes
lunch- spicy tomato and lentil soup (with cracker dunkers)
and for dinner I might make some of these… https://elanaspantry.com/carrot-scallion-latkes/ and I have some turkey steaks I might jazz up a bit with some herbs/spices.

and if I have calories left maybe some salsa and more carrots. Might be too many carbs but I will count before I make it. Have a great day BSD-ers

I’m eating better than ever!

Hi webbj54
Don’t worry, jump back on the wagon and go again tomorrow. You’ve learnt something, now put it into practice.

Are you drinking at least 2-3 litres of water, are you counting your carbs?

If you’re in Australia, you can download an app called EastDietDiary – try and get into the habit of weighing everything and entering your food into the app. You learn a lot about where carbs hide and it tends to keep you accountable.

Most people give up the alcohol whilst they’re on the 8 weeks, wine hides calories and sugar and lessons your willpower, at least it does mine!

You can eat really well on 800 cals per day when you eat the right foods and you won’t feel hungry after the first couple of days.

You can do this and you will succeed. Keep reading the book and follow the recipes for the first few weeks till you get the hang of it.
Good luck😀
Linda

Thanks, always thought the best time was a fasting blood test … saying that went over my 800 cals yesterday by eating a jam sandwich before I went to bed, this ,morning my blood pressure was raised but blood sugar down to 6!!! Think I have a lot of ‘jiggaling’ (if that is even a word!) to get this to work for me.

End of week 1.

4lbs off, lost 2″ from my waist, 1.5 from my hips and my jeans are falling down lol. FBS 9.8 this morning.

Joyforlife: well done on reaching the end of week one! 6.5lbs off is fantastic, and like you I haven’t found it too difficult to stick to either. I’ve stopped snacking for the most part, just an occasional blip when my will power was low or the cravings high, but they’ve largely been healthy snacks of berries or nuts, so I think that’s ok. I also crochet in the evenings, I find it so relaxing, plus I have a lot of orders for blankets to get through from people I work with. I could do with giving up work and crocheting full time!

Pippa62 and awfulauntie: welcome to bsd, you’ll find lots of inspiration and support in the forums. Anything you want to know, there is always someone with advice which I’ve found so helpful in this first week. And yes it’s a good idea to freeze your leftover portions, I’m currently cooking for two (well one and a half really, I have to adapt the recipes for hubby as he’s not on board with this yet) so any leftovers either get frozen or I eat them the next day. Keep posting your progress, we all love to see how everyone is doing.

Awfulauntie: as far as I can tell there aren’t too many restrictions on what you can eat, but be mindful of the carbs. The basis of this plan is that it’s low carb and both bananas and baked beans are fairly high in carbs and sugar, so personally I’d give them a miss for now. Quinoa on the other hand is high in protein so I think that would be OK. Most of us on here use my fitness pal app to record what we eat, and that also gives you a breakdown of the nutrient content, I aim for around 60g of carbs daily. Also the book has quite a few recipes in it, so although I’ve not been following them to the letter, it gives a good idea of the kind of things you can base your meals on. As far as snacking is concerned, I think it’s a good idea (for me anyway) to try and reduce my snack habit, and I’m trying to only eat when I’m actually hungry. Not as easy as it sounds as I’m so ingrained to eat because the clock says it’s lunchtime or whatever, but I’m sure if I persevere with it I can reset my eating cues. That said, I have had the occasional snack and again there are recipes in the book, the guilt free muffins are ok – not like a real muffin in texture, but not at all bad. There are also recipes on this site that members have posted that you could use. Soups, hummus and carrots, berries with full fat yogurt, ham and cheese, etc all are low in carbs, just remember to keep a tally of your calories and carb intake.
And don’t be too hard on yourself, we are all still learning how to eat this way and the odd slip up is inevitable, just be kind to yourself, pick up where you left off and carry on!

Bill: it’s pma, positive mental attitude. That’s basically the difference between winners and losers, and it works! Diabetes will NOT get the better of me, the only reason I’m where I am is because I’ve allowed it to happen. I’m taking back control and kicking those eratic bs readings into touch! It’s such a liberating feeling, and the inspiration from everyone is keeping me motivated. Together we will do this!

Ooh, I’ve stirred myself up into a frenzy of positiveness lol. ( or is it just ketosis euphoria?) I think a long walk while the weather is nice will help to burn off some of this energy. See you later!