Latest forum posts

  • 1. Week 3 was a bit tougher, after the initial excitement, but weight loss continues with low carbs [ok -13lbs, as you ask].

    2. Another fab new BSD gadget is the Spiralizer, spiralizer, spiralizer, ooh [sung to the tune of Womanizer – Britney Spears].
    Courgetti spaghetti never tasted so good and guilt free; it’s a simple method of food prep, with easy cleaning afterwards.

    3. Toast never tasted so bland. As a treat, and out of curiosity, on Sunday I had a half slice with honey as a starter at breakfast. Missed the crunch of healthy stuff and realised that my appreciation of food has changed very quickly. Toast is going to have to up its game after the BSD.

    4.The nurse at the Drs was more receptive than expected. She listened politely to my lecture, skipped the encouragement to go low fat, and requested the title of the BSD book. We meet again at the end of the 8 weeks for an HbA1c test and gasps of amazement.

    5. Obligatory Mindfulness plug.
    The BSD involves a huge change in habits. I think it is massively interwoven with and complemented by mindfulness.
    Much of what we do, we do automatically, and as a result of old habits. We can only change in the present. Hence if our mind is distracted when we eat by stress, TV, or random thoughts, we tend to eat on auto-pilot, based on past habits.
    Through increasing awareness, to control stress and reduce our distractibility, we can start to prepare and eat what we need, not what we automatically reach for. We can eat less, of a higher quality, and have a diet that is more balanced and nourishing.
    See Mindfulness Forum for more links and to join in.

    6. Prince.
    Now cracks a noble heart. Goodnight, sweet prince;
    And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

  • posted by  Cherrianne on Not losing weight
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Sofagirl,
    This is probably the most common question on the forums so you’re definitely not alone. So common that I call it the week two blues.
    Many people have a good loss initially, then their weight loss stalls going into the second week. You may notice other changes in your body during this time though that will show you that the BSD is working. You may find your clothes are looser or your shape is changing, maybe better sleep or energy levels. Your body is making a major adjustment from burning carbs for fuel to burning fat.
    All you can do is persevere with the diet, make sure you have plenty of fluids 2-3 litres a day, and increase your intake of healthy fats. So full fat dairy, oils and butter, cheese, oily fish, avocados etc. within your calorie count.
    You’ll be posting better results soon πŸ™‚

  • Hi ladies
    I’m type 2 diabetic & don’t have PCOS, but I do want to offer all of you encouragement You have obviously got big hurdles to overcome & are all to be praised for giving this diet a good go. Do what you can & don’t worry about the speed of weight loss. A lb off is great news. Slow & steady often wins the race.

    Most of us on here have been so busy caring for others we’ve forgotten to look after ourselves! This has to be our time now. We should matter the most.

    ColleenDeas, yes love yourself – lots. If you/ we slip up on this diet / life improving journey, then we are human. No forgiveness necessary, just grab the nearest hand to help you get up again. There are lots of hands ready to catch you!

    You are pioneers who will be the experts helping others with PCOS very soon.

  • posted by  Dani on Day one…here I go πŸ™‚πŸ™‚πŸ™‚
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Well day one has started…I’m feeling quite nervous and excited and a bit scared…my biggest issue is failure..I’m good at that..the amount of times I start a diet or change my eating habits and then for whatever excuses I go back to bingeing…while reading the forums one of the messages I did get is that it is only 8 weeks..not really a huge sacrifice in time considering I’ve been on this earth for 51 yrs…my blood sugars are high, my cholesterol was high and my thyroid is playing up..so it’s time to get real…let the journey begin πŸ‘πŸΌπŸ˜Š

  • posted by  Izzy on Izzy's 8 week diary :)
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    Well I never had time for lunch today but had a nice stir fry for dinner. Then massive walk tonight in the wind /rain/hail/snow with my friend, we did 11000 steps along the coast and really enjoyed it despite the weather!

    I’m having a hot choc now as I was low for carbs and calories so still within limit.

    Tomorrow is weigh day and day one of week two ☺

  • posted by  Izzy on Spiraliser
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Thanks for all the tips and info πŸ™‚ hopefully tomorrow my new toy will come and everything in the fridge will be spiralised lol.

  • posted by  Christi1948 on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi julia18togo,
    How are doing with lucia’s challenge? I see by your posts that you are being very active with running Pilates and gardening, you are putting me to shame! I have done a good bit of housework today, so much so that it didn’t leave me any room for excercise, I look at housework on a Monday as my daily workout!
    Keep up with the challenge, and good luck,
    Christine

  • posted by  Eureka on Spiraliser
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi all spiralizers
    Take a look at Inspiralized.com Ali Maffucci has some great recipes. Good how to book

  • posted by  Christi1948 on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Judith,
    We had an hilarious time this evening with the spirilizer! I was busy making meat balls for tomorrow’s meal with the girls, (they come for tea on a Tuesday after swimming,) I am out on a Tuesday until after 3 so have to be organised for the meal, anyway I was multi tasking doing the washing, drying, folding, making meat balls, and making the fish and pea sauce, so I asked Angela to have a look at doing the courgette spirals, it ended up both her and hubby trying to work out how to use it, then of course me putting my two pennath in! Needless to say it was a shambles, we did get some spirals and I got the fish and sauce on the plates, it was just a bit of a disaster all round, I think we need to practice a bit more!
    Even so we didn’t break our diet we just ploughed on and dished up what we had and ate it.
    Will have to get some gram flour, I have all sorts of flours, (gluten free stuff) however not one of them is gram flour!, oh well maybe I can get some on Wednesday cheers for now
    Christine

  • posted by  Sim14k on Day One
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Thanks Hashimoto/ Janet / Paula! So good to hear that weight loss is possible and that losing a stone and a half is actually possible. I’ve read a few success stories and amazed at folks results but so sceptical that that would be the same for me. But I’m really going to stick to this and cut out the carbs. I love cereal so going to give that up. I’ll keep everyone posted. All the best to you too Paula πŸ™‚

  • posted by  Cdkent1 on 3 days in
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    I started last week and pretty much lost a pound a day- have an 8lb loss at end of week 1! Am delighted!
    I know it won’t carry on as much as that but a great start and motivating. I actually find I’m enjoying the dinners more than my normal meals!

  • posted by  Sofagirl on Not losing weight
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Thanks SkyWalker, I think I will re-read the basics, that’s a good idea. Just wondered if anyone else had experienced the same problem.

  • posted by  Hawks on Kia ora! Any other NZers on here?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi feistychick, It was a lovely autumn day, wasn’t it?

    Just a note regarding cold smoked salmon. I used to buy the packs of cold smoked salmon pieces, Southern Ocean brand, from Nelson, which are almost always a lot cheaper per kg than the slices, but have just noticed they list sugar as an ingredient! Why oh why would they put sugar in salmon???
    I might email them.

  • Thanks Eureka,
    One thing about the internet – we all can access the same things, no matter where we are! I had come across that site too! They look really great and I am tempted to try some, but the recipes required things I didn’t have in the cupboards, or had a bit of carb as thickener, so I ended up using a slightly modified version of the one here:
    https://stepawayfromthecarbs.com/low-carb-white-sauce/
    because I had the ingredients! (I subbed reduced cream for heavy cream.) I can recommend it.

  • posted by  SkyWalker on BSD article on the Guardian today
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Lauren, you are so right, Trolling is a new hobby for those who need to get out more. There is enough irrefutable evidence on this site alone to warrant an investigation into a number of health professionals who surely must know better than to keep plugging the low fat nonsense? In my case when I was told I had a fatty liver it was never explained how and why the visceral fat got there or how to get rid of it let alone the implications of not attending to it and that was over 20 years ago. It is sorted now I expect as I am in week 12 but have stopped counting and am still losing with a BMI of 25.9.

  • posted by  barby on Spiraliser
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    I got some waitrose mixed spiral veg today, fried some garlic and grated ginger, (from a tip here, thanks – then added the veg for a minute or so as a stir fry. Had it with some frozen quorn (from cottge pie recipe). It was sooo tasty and delicious (and filling)

    I am still thinking about a spirializer, or instead a julienne peeler. I don’t really want another gadget with all the blades. I realise the ready done veg will not be as fresh.

    I’ve never tried courgetti etc before, and was amazed how nice it was.

  • posted by  SkyWalker on Off the insulin
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Frank, Well done! heartiest congratulations – you will be one of many but that is not to underestimate your personal triumph. This stuff is so simple but really works in spite of certain of the professional advice. I am sure others will join me in their own words but have a great life, we are both 63 here but were not fully diabetic so cannot claim such a high success as yourself, but we are much better now.

  • posted by  SkyWalker on Not losing weight
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Sofagirl, probably you are doing nothing wrong at all unless you are mistakenly eating foods with hidden sugars, or failing to eat good protein and fats and not drinking enough fluid. We all plateau at various points and food in has to be balanced with waste out and not just energy expended via exercise, as even standing still uses up calories. Without knowing what you have eaten nobody will be able to be definitive but stick with it. Once you start fat burning for real you will soar. It is remotely possible that your genes prevent some fat burning but this is uncommon if not very rare on this site but not unheard of. It is really too early to tell. Re-read the early chapters and check you are on the same principles as advised. Without carbs we seem to shrink quite quickly… all the best for now.

  • posted by  Sue1234 on Starting the journey 21/02/2016
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Day 64 weight 10 St 3lb
    Blood sugar 9.2

    Day 65 weight 10 St 3lb
    Blood sugar 9.6

    Have been very constipated, but have not been eating enough bulky food. Made the effort today to eat more volume. Took laxatives last night to ease the current problem.

    Experimented with gram flour. Made a dough with gram flour and water then rolled it out and fryed it- definite improvement from the coconut flour, went OK with tonight’s veg curry. Will experiment some more over next few days.

  • posted by  Sofagirl on Not losing weight
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    I’ve been doing the very low calorie diet for two weeks now and I don’t seem to be losing anywhere near the amount of weight that I expected. I have lost 2 kilos but this was in the first few days and I haven’t lost any since. I’m sticking to under 800 calories a day and eating hardly any carbohydrates. What am I doing wrong?

  • posted by  Frank on Off the insulin
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    I am a 67 year old male who has suffered from type 2 diabetes for about 15years. I started taking metformin 12 years ago after unsuccessfully trying to control it by diet finally finishing up on insulin 10 years ago.
    My weight has fluctuated over the years after trying various diets from 18 stone 10lbs (253 lbs) to 16 stones(224lbs) but it averaged out at about 17stone 6lbs.
    After seeing a tv programme explaining how it would be possible to help or even reverse diabetes hosted by Professor Taylor I decided to try the 8 week blood sugar diet. I started the diet mid January and finished mid March with excellent results.
    I weighed 17 stones 2 lbs when i started with a waist size of 44 1/2 inches after 8 weeks I had lost 2 1/2 stones
    With a waist of 40 inches . I have continued to eat healthily following a Mediterranean type diet and now weigh 13 stones 9 lbs and a waist of 38 inches.
    After taking 26 units twice daily of insulin and Lixienitide I have slowly reduced and now stopped these drugs altogether I now only take metformin I have been under the supervision of a specialist diabetic nurse who has been amazed by the results. I now feel fitter than everand hope my story helps anyone reading this

  • posted by  Patsy on Salad
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    It does take a bit of getting used to as it seems to go against a lot of what we thought we knew.

  • posted by  pinklady51 on Veggie starting out
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    Hello all. Day one today. I’ve been hovering around for a couple of weeks, checking out the veggie pages, shout out to Orchid. My blood sugars are fine despite worrying how horrendous I thought they’d be. I have been looking at low carb high fat vegetarian diet plans as well as this and it all seems to work. I am a cake and chocoholic.

    I am very overweight, BMI a shocking 37, weight 15st exactly. I would like to lose at least 3 stone and have a wonderful double event in July – my dads 70th and husbands 40th.

    Today has been interesting. Breakfast and lunch fine and easy to deal with. The afternoon dragged with cravings helped by tea, with a little milk, tonight supper is yummy looking but I have serious sweet cravings. Any advice anyone? Thanks all xxx

  • My first day was a day we were invited to a ruby wedding lunch at a restaurant in London. But I skipped breakfast, I stuck to fizzy water at the do, chose the fish as my lunch (it came a small amount of saffron risotto, which was naughty) Only had apple and cheese when I got home in the evening. Today I skipped breakfast apart from black coffee, I am not a great brekky fan anyway so no hardship. I had home made split pea soup for lunch, my wife is brilliant at it and it has long been my favourite, supper was veg curry and cauli rice. I drank fizzy water instead of wine. I am not hungry – so everything ok.

  • posted by  Clare (BSD Admin) on How Will My GP React?
    on in 5:2 BSD
    permalink

    Well done to hubby too!
    Yes absolutely there are lots of inspirational people on this forum. Wonderful to see. Enjoy the new clothes..
    Clare

  • posted by  Eureka on How Will My GP React?
    on in 5:2 BSD
    permalink

    Hi Clare & The Master
    Glad you got the message. Will say hi to my new GP from Michael tomorrow via my husband who sees him then!

    Husband supports & doing BSD too. His results great too. Now in 34″ waist trousers. It’s costing a fortune in new clothes. Yippee! πŸ‘Œ
    Got Etienne Krug in my sights. Just need a bit more ammo!!
    We will all keep on keeping on. Very good people on this forum giving their time, experience & advice re BSD. Up the Revolution.
    Eureka

  • posted by  Eureka on Day One
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Napangardi
    Yes, we all had to wait for that green light in our heads that said GO! Glad you are on the road with us.
    Take no alcohol a week at a time. On 800 calories a day you can’t afford empty calories, they need to feed you.
    Plenty of time for wine etc when you really know what you are doing with the diet.

    Read the book again & mark the salient points for you. Make a list of your favourite foods & find new recipes to try out. Also try new veg. They don’t bite ( you do). Have some fun with this diet. Look on the web for low carb recipes too. Don’t forget all the good food that’s tried & tested on the BSD site.

    I drink a Fever Tree tonic with ice every day ( the quinine in it helps my cramps, which are much better now). I pretend it’s Gin & Tonic! I don’t like tea or coffee, so I have fruit teas but mostly duck’s delight – water! It’s important to keep that 2 -3 litres of fluid up each day. It really helps with your metabolism.

    You can do this. Save what you would spend on booze each week & treat yourself to new clothes. You will need them.
    Eureka

  • posted by  Lucia on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi team,
    I used the spiraliser on carrots, courgettes, cucumber, onion.
    I have used it for spuds but these were not eaten by me.
    Mine is a Β£19.99 from Argos, you push the food onto a pointy bit.
    Then bring the slide over to touch it, and turn the handle.
    I get a ‘core’ left, the size of a pencil.

    It’s like an old fashioned mangle!!!

    I steam veggies for one two to three minutes, to keep them a little crisp. I put the fish in my home made steamer first, then later the veg do they finish together.
    Love lucia
    Xxxx

  • posted by  Clare (BSD Admin) on How Will My GP React?
    on in 5:2 BSD
    permalink

    Hi Eureka
    I am so delighted for you that all your hard work has paid off – excellent BP, 5″ of waist , very encouraging fasting blood sugar! Woohoo! And getting close to your target. So glad that you have come across one of the many open minded GPs out there and sounds like he totally gets it! It makes such a difference to have their support. We are seeing some amazing results in our practice amongst patients and staff!
    Michael is just standing over my shoulder saying “Great to hear this, well done and say Hi to you GP from him”!
    Greatly admire your fighting spirit in spreading the word and in supporting so many others doing the BSD
    Let’s hope that tanker is taking a better course
    Clare

  • posted by  Jackie WilsonSaid on Spiraliser
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    For bargain hunters, the Dexam seems excellent – bought last week for Β£15 from Dunelm nearby.
    Reasoning was that if I didn’t like it I hadn’t wasted much money.
    It’s fab – revolutionary in fact – how I ate all that stodgy pasta for years is baffling.
    And easy to use and a simple clean up, once you watch a youtube vid.

    Great ideas above – hadn’t got around to using the other two blades yet, or imagining such delights as veg crisps or apple/cinnamon treats.

    Becoming an expert in stir frying. Sweet potato added for colour also gives too much sweetness to a dish for my new taste; courgette seems fine alone or with some celeriac, so far.

  • posted by  Eureka on How Will My GP React?
    on in 5:2 BSD
    permalink

    Hi Clare (Michael’s wife)
    Re my post 13.2.16 & your reply 14.2.16

    Thought you’d like to know I’ve changed dr’s & saw my new GP this am. What a difference!
    He’s doing the 5:2 & a broad grin on seeing the 8-week blood sugar diet book & Dr Michael Mosley’s name emblazoned on it!

    He’s very happy I’ve researched enough & know what I’m aiming for. He fully supports me, HbA1c anytime I’m ready for it ( end of May I think ). I’ve taken myself off x 2 500mg Metformin last week, he says see how I go with diet & testing, the repeat prescription is still there if needed.

    My BP 137/75 p 56! Unheard of for me πŸ˜€ BMI 27.5 (3.3) down. 5″ off waist (size 14). 2lb off initial goal weight of 1stone 7lb lost & 12% down on start weight. Fasting blood sugar 6.6 (good considering no meds for a week & dawn phenomenon still with me). It’s taken me 11 weeks & was on big family hol last week too ( cooking for 14 ). Will continue in batches of 1/2 stone to try & get to 9 stone something & hoped for T2 reversal!

    No longer a beached Whale, breaching & spouting 🐳 ( hang-loose). BSD No Ka Oi (Hawaiian for is the best)

    Hope you get this message. Could be the rudder is changing course on that NHS tanker?
    Keep on keeping on
    Eureka

  • posted by  Plumptious on Countdown to slimdown…
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Ah , thanks to Barby then.
    JaneyCD ….commiserations on the homework battles. It’s a long time since I had those -my son is 6 ft 4″ now! But well done on the shrinking belt though. I have dropped a pound this week….I suspect because its because I haven’t had my usual chocolate/sweeties/cake etc and have stuck to my 3 meals a day rather than snacking.

  • posted by  Kags on Over the 8-week line and after
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Bill,

    Yep, they are Orthodox church over here and their Easter follows a different calendar to ours. Good for me though as I get two Easter holidays πŸ˜‰

  • posted by  duckstrained on Spiraliser
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi. I have a spiraliser but I am very lazy and hardly use it now you can get the spiral veg in the supermarket. Ditto for cauliflower rice. My kitchen would end up covered in the stuff when I made it in the processor.

    Bella Italia do spiral veg versions of some of their pastas and they are very nice.

  • posted by  ChattyCathy on Salad
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Thank you patsy. I am on day one and have a lot of re-educating to do. My head is still in slimming world so I have to forget that eating regime and read some more about the BS way of eating. This forum is very encouraging and informative,I’m sure I will learn a lot from it.

  • posted by  Bill1954 on Over the 8-week line and after
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Alan these days if someone asks without showing a real interest I just say “If it’s white, don’t eat it” or words to that effect πŸ˜‰

  • posted by  Bill1954 on Vegetables…
    on in Starting the BSD
    permalink

    I bet that made you feel good Judith.
    It’s nice when others notice the results of all your efforts.
    You’re going to look like Ronnie Corbett in that plane seat πŸ˜€

  • posted by  Bill1954 on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Good for you Juliet
    you have those cravings under control, if you didn’t the bag would be empty.
    You never know, there could be a whoosh just around the corner, lots of folk have one after a plateau.

  • posted by  Juliet on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Cheers Bill. Just eaten 2 mini LIndt eggs as feeling so disappointed with having no loss. First sugar in 2 weeks and I probably would have carried on eating the rest of the bag (would have taken mere minutes) had you not replied! Thanks for the encouragement. Really appreciate you taking the time. Eggs now in cupboard and I’m going to have another glass os water. Watch this space ; )