Greetings from the other side of the pond. Starting week 3 and down 10 pounds. More importantly fasting blood sugar averaging 97mg/dl vs 150 before the diet. Some things that have helped so far: when I am starving and I think I am crazy for sticking to 800 cal I have a peak at these forums and realize I am not alone. To keep track and make a game out of it I keep 8 coins in my left pocket 1=100 calories as I eat throughout the day I transfer the appropriate number of coins to my right pocket. Pretend I am on a transatlantic vacation(or should I say holiday) by referring to the UK posters. Rasher of bacon sounds so much more exciting than a slice, rocket instead of arugula, and a tin of sardines way tastier than a can. We can do this let’s get it done!

Thank you Bill1954, yes I am being very careful about carbs, no bread, no rice, no pasta etc, occasionally some potato. I try to drink lots of water in the day especially whilst I am at work (at a desk) but I don’t always manage to drink what I would like to . . not helped by the fairly long trip outside to get to the loo. I know getting up and walking is a good thing but when it if freezing cold or raining it is not encouraging!! I am also aware that I don’t do much physically during the week whilst at work though I do try and make up for it at the weekends. I wonder whether I am eating enough fat, but would this really make that much difference to my weight loss? I thought it was more to make you feel fuller for longer and I do not feel hungry. However your comment about someone losing 6lb after a plateau has certainly helped my motivation!! Thank you.

ever the optimist – how long have you been on the BSD? I hope you have some success on the scales as well soon! We just need to plod on and keep confident that eventually it will reap rewards!!

Hiya again, one of the reasons I was initially diagnosed as pre diabetes by doc was that I felt drowsy after lunch. As I have said this is day 8 on the diet and I have noticed if I have a ploughmans lunch or today I have had the hummus (recipes from the book). I have felt drowsy again. We tested my blood last week after two hours in the evening (after evening meal) Tuesday was 7.8 and Friday was 5.7 so I thought – oo on my way to better health. Does anyone else feel drowsy after their lunch – I do sit down a lot with my job.

Hi, I feel your pain! I too seem to have stalled and I don’t know why, I am being very strict on calories but the weight is refusing to budge, I don’t want to give in but I am finding this tough now, and as you say food is a comfort. Good luck, I hope you get a break through soon and manage to stay strong.

Julia, I grow a big tub full every year and make pans of parsley soup. I make enough during the growing season to have it at various times through the year. It tastes wonderful!
Parsley is also really lovely chopped on top of Rose Elliott’s black eyed bean and vegetable stew.

Parsley is rich in a range of vitamins and minerals including iron ( 30g = 10% of iron for the day), you’re right we really don’t eat enough and we could all add it to salads, stews, currys etc

Folks we should all google nutritional values of parsley and add some to our food.
That is my challenge to us all! 🙂

Too true Natalie!!!
I prefer spinach to potatoes anyway!!!

LouLou you have done really well!
Have you tried the mindfulness approach to filling the emotional void?

I can’t remember who it was but someone posted a list of their blessings for a day – it included things like getting a parking space without hassle!!
It really does help if you list every small thing during a day – I even list someone acknowledging I have let them passed when driving – little things can mean a lot when you add them up.

20cm of your waist is amazing in just 7 weeks! You must be so proud of yourself!
Plan a treat for yourself when you get another 5 cm off your waist, perhaps something new to wear or a BSD lunch with a friend.

wishing you the best 🙂

Hello all!

Thank you Matrika – I guess I just don’t know if i’m insulin resistant or not? Maybe my post may shed some light for those of you who are more knowledgable than me, thanks for the tip on the supplements – I’ll get ordering!

So I finished the 800 calorie 8 week programme a few weeks ago (lost 6lbs in all) and i’ve generally been sticking to around 900/1000 calories, mostly my sugars are alot better but i’m still starting the day around 10/12bs 🙁
I’m happy to say i’m remaining the same weight and now the kids are back at school I have hit the gym / road / dog walking.

Anyway! I was kindly advised to seek a C-peptide test which I had to do privately as it’s not on the NHS, my concern was that my GP wouldn’t be able to interpret the results and give me the ‘you are destined for insulin’ talk, she said it was academic what type of diabetic I am because I’ll end up on insulin anyway eventually (Gee, thanks). She did admit that she didn’t understand the results which is better than lying about it.

So I am waiting to see the same patronising consultant at the hospital again, but I’ve asked for it to be in May so my HbA1c takes into account the 8 week programme and my general change in lifestyle. Then if i need to be on medication, fine, but it needs to be the right dose/type and I want to delay going on to insulin as much as i can. I’m also still waiting on an antibodies blood test results from February….

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else has had the Insulin C-Peptide test as me or if anyone knows what these results mean? I know it’s a low level of insulin i’m producing but I don’t know how relative this is to non diabetics or more importantly to Type 1 – I’m assuming thier insulin level would be 0? I have had a quick google but I don’t want to self diagnose and panic 😀

so here they are
Insulin – 23/pmol / L CPeptide – 400pmol/L
Glucose 6.7mmol/L (sps result)
LOW INSULIN AND C-PETIDE FOR GLUCOSE LEVEL

Thanks to anyone taking the time to read and with any advice
x

SaraB, I just read this post and me too! I had no idea it was anything to do with this diet. I did 8 weeks BSD just after Christmas, took a month off the diet, then doing it again now for a month. I didn’t connect that with the fact that my last four periods (ie since I started the diet) have been the heaviest of my life. Is this problematic long term? I also had one period that lasted three weeks. I assumed it was just me approaching menopause. I’ll do a bit of research now.

Hi everhopeful
You seem to be keeping a good count of the calories. What about the carbs, are you watching them as well as making sure you eat enough fat and drink at least 2 to 3 litres of non sugary fluids per day?
Despite the plateaux, if you are doing that, you have to lose weight, it’s simple physics.
I remember one particular poster who plateaued for 3 weeks then had an overnight loss of 6 pounds!!!

I am about to start week 8 and wanting to continue as have had remarkable loss. I do not have a scale so have done waist measurement and so far I have lost 20cm. Very proud of this achievement but, still have 15cm to get into healthy range. I do not find it difficult but am finding it sometimes hard to fill the emotional void with something else. So, I think I need to continue until that urge disappears (and I lose 15 more cm).

Paula,
Small world indeed! It was about 2008 or so that we were there…too long ago!

Isn’t it weird that what a lot of us want as a treat is to be allowed to make ourselves feel sick with too much food or the wrong food. Like that bloated headachy feeling is a special treat for birthday or Christmas, we deserve it? No we don’t!

He hee
they call me an expert Peggy but like you I’m just an ordinary person following a new lifestyle. I’ve went from 16 stones 9 to 14 stones 5 and a half pounds in 12 weeks and my blood sugar readings are just about normal now.
You can do the same, if not better. Yes you will have the odd slip up, if you do, don’t beat yourself up about it, just climb back on board the wagon and continue your journey.

Don’t rush at it even a small reduction in carbs will have a positive effect, Bill is one of the “experts” here having achieved so much.

This is encouraging but I am now just in week 3 and I haven’t lost any more since my first week. Through week 2 I kept my motivation going thinking it’s okay, other people had this and it passed. But I have to admit to now feeling a bit less motivated. I have been very strict keeping under 800 calories except on an odd day (literally an occasional day) where I may have slipped to 900 / 1000 which I don’t think is too drastic (correct me if I am wrong). I strictly log my food and in fact some days I am way under the 800 allowed. In my first week I lost 7lb and apart from a fluctuation up / down by about a lb I haven’t changed in the last 8 days. At the moment I am managing to keep on track but if I am honest if this continues I think I will find it hard to stick to. I am not hungry, but when feeling low I still find food comforting.

Any advice welcome . . . .

Judith et al – I think I once read it has the highest concentration of vitamin C of all veg/herbs?
But of course we don’t consume it in such large quantities as other veg.

Thanks for responding, I really appreciate it. I think you’re right Bill, it’s the idea of 800 calories that’s the most daunting – it sounds so little! I like the sound of some of the recipes on here though, and I’ll be trying them. Hopefully I’ll start losing weight quite quickly and that will help me keep going.

SkyWalker you’re right too, eating is an emotional crutch for me and has been for as long as I remember. Losing that crutch is scary.

Fatty, it really is making me wonder how much bad health problems have been down to starchy carbs!!! It’s amazing how they make people feel ill again after trying some.

I’m a coward – I’m not even going to try.

I said to my friends last night that my idea of having a roast potato and a roast parsnip at Christmas as a treat is rapidly disappearing. Why make my self feel yuk? I don’t long for any of it so I just won’t have it. 🙂

Bill, I was a bit surprised actually, I go every 6 weeks so didn’t think she would see such a big change!!!
I like the idea of being like Ronnie Corbett on the plane – I would have so much more room!!

My red, pink and purple tulips were standing proudly above a fairly deep carpet of snow this morning! How is the weather by you?

I was going to go into town for some new swimming cosies but the hail storms have put me off. Doesn’t feel at all like cossie buying time! 🙁

Hi Pete, you don’t need to be a bore! Just a revolutionary!!

I had friends round for dinner last night – a variety of health problems and therefore some individualised foods BUT half of them were so ‘stuffed’ that couldn’t manage a dessert of berries and FF yoghurt!! Not a starchy carb in sight!!!
This is what we had:
1. broccoli and cauliflower soup with a dollop of cream cheese
2. Peanut butter dip and hummus with a lot of crudité ( one friend can’t eat spices)
3. onion bhajis ( the friend who thinks she can’t eat spice proceeded to eat 2 bhajis)
4. Salmon parcels ( veg/spices according to needs of each individual)
5. Mix of berries with FF yoghurt

All friends later said they had not even noticed that there were no starchy carbs with the meal!!!
Just goes to show! I bet your friends would be the same!

I hope your holiday in France goes really well 🙂

You know what Hashimoto… they really do make me sick…. part of what happened is that, after the bread, I got – what I had aways identified as a sinus headache, or a low sugar headache… and then eating the rest of that rubbish made me feel WORSE…and I did not sleep well last night…

You and Bill are often saying how much your learning – we all are… Like some one else said the other day… I also don’t drink alcohol much because it makes me feel BLUGH.. and I am adding carbs to that list too…. (sorry I cannot remember who said the same thing) But whoever it was – thanks for making me make the connection too….

Onwards.. x

I’m in exactly the same boat. The weight fell off last week (would this be a lot of water?), and now has pretty much stopped. But I am no longer as hungry, my abdomen is noticeably less bloated and my skin has improved enormously. I’m thinking of not getting on the scales for a couple of days.

Christine, parsley is a fantastic food, we should all eat LOTS more of it!!
Judith

Fatty, you’re right, yesterday WAS just one day. Now you are back on the wagon with a valuable lesson learned:
starchy carbs are lethal for you!!!
Hashimoto

Thanks both for your responses, you are right and your response has motivated me to keep going and not to worry too much about the weight. On the plus side, today I am wearing a dress that I haven’t been able to get into for a year!! Thank you

Hello PeggyCarterRogers, your issue is sounding emotional in that you recognize your situation but have so far failed to deal with it. Lose the majority of carbs and you will soon be inspired to do more generally. We cannot all be wrong. It took me over 10 weeks to get from Obese to Normal range. Yes you have a long way to go but you have at last found the answer – only you can implement it. We are all here in support so just keep in touch, read other posts and search for whichever topic interests you most. You will succeed and this is a great support group. Your Mum will be so proud when she sees you changing in a very short time. All the best, it really works!

Good advice, Eureka!
Like you I have LOTS of cookery books! Chongolo, you could enjoy looking through vids and books and choosing recipes which appeal to you. In books you can mark pages with sticky notes. If you don’t like mess the cuisique spiralise catches food in an integral jug and you can have a courgetti meal in 2 or 3 minutes of cooking in one pan. Any spiralised veg can be kept in freezer bags or airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days saving you a lot of time (and mess) for a few days! You will love the taste of freshly prepared meals. I do keep different veg in their own bags.
As well as TK Max, Dunelm mills and Wilko’s have bargain priced kitchen stuff. I would suggest a non-stick pan if you don’t like mess – they’re quicker to clean!!

I’m with Eureka –
Ditch the junk and eat the real, healthy foods!
Judith 🙂

Sounds like the week 2 blues to me.
A lot of people have it. It’s just your body reacting to lack of carbohydrates, soon you will start burning fat and the weight loss will start again but hey, half a stone down in a week isn’t anything to get upset about, it’s just a small victory in the battle and there will be more to come if you keep faith and just do what you’re doing. Make sure you are getting enough good fats and plenty of water.

Losing half a stone is success in any language. Be realistic, it takes time to burn fat once your body switches over to using it and not storing it. Mental attitude is important. This is not a race. Carbs make the body convert food to produce fat. Reducing carbs input i.e. white stuff like flour, sugar and potatoes results in the body converting fat to energy and so using up excess stored calories. You need to replace carbs with protein and good fats and plenty of fluid. There is no quick fix. You need to be patient and do as recommended in the books. All will be well. The first 7 pounds was probably mostly water. Spend some time going through the old topics and posts in the forums and you will see what is required is nothing that special so long as you eat sensibly and do a bit more activity. Good luck, keep going most of us wavered for a while before losing 17 kg in my case.

Hello Peggy
you’re not alone in feeling nervous, many people do at the beginning. Remember that the initial diet is only 8 weeks out of your life, and if you wish, you can take it a week at a time.
With your starting weight you should initially lose a lot in a short time. Don’t be scared of the figures either. 800 calories sounds almost starvation level, but I and many others can testify that, when you eat the right foods, it’s enough not just to get by but to keep you feeling full with no cravings for carbs and sugar – honestly, it may take week 1 – 2 to happen but happen it will.
We are all here to offer support, call in any time, even if it’s just for a chat. Many people have been through what you are going through now and there are answers to most questions within this site.
Best of luck on your journey, we’re all here to help you get where you want to be.

Hi Chongololo
Welcome. I think you’ve diagnosed your own problem. You can be clean & tidy in the kitchen. Clean up as you go along. Look on line for how to vids re basics like chopping food. I think maybe you would like the idea of preparing food in a professional chef way.

I have a tv in my kitchen so I can follow programmes & watch cooking progs too. Try a radio or music so you don’t feel alone while cooking. It matters that you take care of yourself & enjoy what you eat. Set the table nicely & sit at it for your meals. It’s better posture for digestion than a tray on your lap all the time.

Write down what food appeals to your eyes, nose & taste buds. Think about what new food you might be willing to try. I use cook books for ideas, I have a lot! I enjoy preparing for parties!
I will be cooking for four this weekend. My best friend’s wedding anniversary, she has to have low calcium food ( or it can put her into heart arrhythmia ) so it’s a challenge to feed us all well.

Enjoy learning about food, it can be fun. Delia Smith is a very good cook who teaches how to using her books; Delia’s How To Cook books one , two & three. Look at her web site. Also Jamie Oliver videos & books cooking in just 15 & 30 minute meals!
Try some finger food with no cooking. Also stir fry is very quick & only uses one wok or large frying pan. You only need a good chopping board for veg ( + one for meat prep alone is best) & a couple of good sharp knives. One large, one small. I prefer large prep knives. T K Max is a good shop for pans & knives at lower prices

You could have some fun & learn a new skill to impress by. Try it. Ditch the junk food & eat the real, healthy stuff
Eureka

Hi SaraB, I am in very similar situation to you (mini pill, but now having heavy bleeding). Did your bleeding settle down?

Hello All
I have been on the diet for 8 days and was delighted each morning when I got on the scales to see I was losing just over a 1lb per day. For the last two days my weight has remained the same at 15 stone 1 lb – how annoying as I was picturing myself at under 15 stone by today.

Does the rate of weight loss slow down I wonder after one week?

Also, I am wondering if I was as active at the weekend than I was during the week as I normally work for two 20 minute bursts of activity and on Saturday and Sunday I was tasked with getting the shopping done, housework etc – so has this lower activity also slowed me down.

Does anyone have any similar experiences. Or perhaps in a couple of days time I will see a few more pounds go.

So today…

Good…. Nothing yet.. plan

Lunch cottage cheese and sardine and salad++

Dinner Ham and sweet potato wedges and other blanched veg….

Yesterday.. NOT GOOD…
Lunch – Mushroom soup with low carb high protein bread…
BUT… am wondering at the correct labelling (or not) of the bread as it says 6g of carbs per 100g… I had 80g… so not much carb , However, the drive to eat more carbs was PHENOMENAL… gave into it and ate Speculars and a snickers bar that I walked to the shop to get and bout… 2.5km… haha… so am wondering at the carb content of said bread!!

Dinner – lamb cutlets and salad..

Have decided that one day is not a HUGE fail in a 8 week journey… its just a day… and nothing compared to what I may have put away on a bad day previous to this diet…

My BSL are all over the place and it is not helping with motivation… think it may be the letting go that everyone predicts and some have experienced at this stage… However… I have realised that I am not moving as often… still walking more than 10Km a day… but… MM talks of BSL being up to 30% lower even in non diabetics who move every thirty minutes… I did this in the first four weeks… have set my alarm today to remind me again…. we shall see…

I’m 35 and I’ve binged since I was a child. My mother is a type 2 diabetic and although I’m not, at 286lb I’m very high risk. I’ve tried every diet going over the last 15 years and still the weight piles on because I can’t stop bingeing (not exclusively on sweet/carby foods – any food will do). I’ve tried the GI diet (which seems very similar) a number of times and always failed – I’m terrified that I will fail this time too.

I have 2 children and I want to see them grow up, I want to model a healthy lifestyle for them instead of secretly stuffing myself with everything I can. But I’m scared because after failing so many times it feels like this is my last chance .

Hi wishbone, you’re right in that it plays havoc with the scales!!

Hi Leeanne, I’m not sure! I do know that last week (TTOTM) I didn’t lose any weight, and actually put on almost 1 kg. I’m not diabetic so not testing my BS however I felt normal energy levels. Definitely felt the bloating though and I’m similar age group to you. Will wait until weigh in Friday to see if it’s dropped off again. Not much help sorry 😕

Hi Lucia
Just saying, you are so funny!
Christine

Hi Lucia
Oregano, or marjoram, which I believe is the same thing? My mum used it a lot in her cooking, she was way ahead of her time, she would have been 101 if she was still alive, I think it had something to do with the fact her mum was in service.
I always put parsley with garlic, it stops your body uuusssing the garlic smell from your pores, sage is great in lots of dishes.
Which foods to you put your herbs in?
Christine

I roughly check the carbs in what I eat, but I am in danger of becoming a diabetes bore. I can see it in my wife’s eyes! Luckily I am only prediabetes indicated, so just trying to get the reading down a bit rather than trying to undo actual diabetes. I don’t want to be an unsociable bore so being flexible when with friends etc. Going to France for two weeks in a fortnight and there is no way I shall be able to turn down all patisserie and baguettes, so will try and keep to a minimum but not too stalinist!

Hello all,
Just as stress/illness can affect BS readings, can the monthly menstrual cycle have any effect?
I’m 51 and a half and my monthly cycle has gone erratic and turned into a constant cycle! Mother nature gave me a few days off whilst on holiday but now back to every day. It’s the lead up to the menopause as I’m of that age group.
Today 2hrs after my normal breakfast I’ve had the highest reading in ages – 9.3.
It’s all very complex!!

Hi Sparkly, sometimes just jumping in is the right thing to do! You obviously know how to do it and. You will quickly reap the benefits!
I’m impressed that you are counting your carbs from day one!

Hi Pete, it is a really useful thread isn’t it? Are you counting carbs as well? It’s a help to others if they want to follow your menu.

I hold my hands up here because for a few weeks I hadn’t realised it was a good idea 🙁
I love split pea soup, especially with a glug of olive oil and chopped mild onion on top a la Rose Elliott style! 🙂

Love this thread – just what I need!

B – black coffee
L – Split pea soup
D – veg curry and cauli rice.

Hope you get the limes tomorrow Paula!

Btw, have you signed our petition? We are asking for the NHS to encourage T2 diabetics to follow this diet 🙂

Fantastic Izzy!

Juliet, the plateau is over and you can look forward to more weight coming off! 🙂

thanks for your reply and kind words hashimoto,

i’m glad it looks ok because i literally decided today was the day at 6am, que me jumping out of bed to boil some eggs and then fly to morrisons on my way to work to grab lunch ha ha! 🙂

i have just used my fitness pal to log everything, found it easier to do the whole day at once, so i know where i stand,

ooh i need to nip to aldi to get a cauliflower for tonights cauli rice to go with chilli so will get some, thanks for the tip

🙂

Kags, congratulations on becoming a veteran! 🙂

Hi Sparkly, welcome to the forums 🙂

Sounds like you have a very good plan for the day! I haven’t calculated your calories because it seems like you have it sorted.

It’s amazing how much good food you can have on 800 calories!

Have you seen the bags of milled flaxseed? Aldi is the cheapest, a teaspoon of it sprinkled on yoghurt is quick and easy and the resealable bag lasts for AGES!!!

Good luck for your first week! 🙂

PS fantastic news on the blood sugar Cherianne!! Well done you! 🙂