Hi Happy, yes I think I will have a rummage in the clothes pile bags 🙂

Ok so, my good people of the BSD. I made those crackers, and they are awesome. I used mixed seeds rather than sesame just because I had a pack in the cupboard, and they have turned out really nicely. I’ve eaten 3 unfortunately, at 45 cals each! (would depend how big you make them lol) They will absolutely be lovely with some toppings or dunked in soup, or even just as a snack on their own.

Next time I make them I might split the batch and experiment adding different seasonings. For now I’m going to let them cool properly before getting them away as although I feel perfectly able to leave them now and not eat more (I’m already on 685 calories now and haven’t had dinner…) but once the kids see them I KNOW they will be getting munched. Having said that, it’s a healthier snack than many so I might make a bigger batch another day so they can eat them as well.

I might allow my calories to creep a little over tonight. Rather than feeling hungry later and just make sure my carbs stay good.

funny world – me with my flatbread treats and you with your papadums
my flat is a curry free zone, but I hope you enjoy yours x

Thanks HappyLife😃 The 8-week thread is on this forum. Look for ‘over the 8-week line and beyond’

Hi Trees. Your stats are similar to mine😃 . It’s so long since I was anywhere near this weight, and I’ve moved house do many times, that I have no ‘smaller’ clothes apart from my work uniform (and I’ve nearly run out of smaller sizes in that!) so I’m having to buy new. Reluctant to buy much until I reach my target and stabilise my weight!

Thaks for your help. I need to do some shopping!

It’s lovely getting new clothes in a smaller size — in just 18 weeks I have gone from a 22 to a 14 and have bought myself a above knee – non elasticated waist – A line denim skirt!!! Going for the rock chic look!!! I am starting to get a waist. Lost 2lbs this week that’s a total of 4 stone 2 1/2 lbs another 2 1/2 stone to go. Have a great weekend everyone from a wet south coast uk xxx

Ugh throw those scales out.. They are making you miserable! Go and enjoy your chicken. I have healthy chicken and chickpea curry with cauliflower rice for tea… Well, it’s a Saturday night so gotta be curry! Might have to ‘sin ‘ and allow myself a papadom.. I’ve been good all week so that’s my treat!

I admire your resilience at not weighing
I initially found it very hard to do just once a week – (mh/eating advice)
but I got used to it
although to start with I was almost in an emotional breakdown by the morning of a weigh day, having lost hours of sleep over it – can you believe it

my clothes are looser although I don’t seem to be losing much around the waist (I lost a few inches on the fd, but then that was over 14 weeks not 2 !!)

off to cook chicken for tea – I love chicken – why would I want biscuits over that? for goodness sake

It’s ok to have a winge as long as your goals are still there. I think the biggest issue is getting ‘boredom eating’ out of our heads. I was always one for ‘a couple of biscuits’ with a cake, and could never leave chocolate unless it had all gone. I’m fighting it with a couple of almonds when mouth hunger strikes. And a LOT of fizzy water, which helped before on the 5.2. I’m sure I mentioned but I NEVER weigh myself because it seems to make people so stressed that they ‘only’ lose a pound. If my jeans are looser and belt tighter.. That’s success!

Any of these should work:

Sesame seeds
Sunflower seeds
Pumpkin and squash seeds
Chia seeds
Flax seeds
Pomegranate seeds
Papaya seeds

Is ther anyone who can help me about nut replacements, please? Thanks

sadly Tesco don’t sell that cottage cheese, so will try waitrose (don’t have the other two nearby)
I had full fat yog with pear, raspberries and walnuts for lunch

I am still massively struggling with the INSIDE need for biscuits with my tea, or something, anything but know if I had any I would have LOTS

also jumping on off scales all the time is making things worse since I seem to go down then back up by the end of the week (I had been restricting scales to once a week)
what stupid world is my head in that I should lose weight when I am not restricting calories
I mean I am not eating loads – not anywhere NEAR what I was before
I have not had a single biscuit for 2 weeks, only a couple of small pieces of cake (not wheat) last week, and only a small amount of chocolate
honestly my new ‘need it now’ food has to be coconut flatbreads and even then I only have a couple a day extra to meals
maybe it is just a massive rebellion inside my head which wouldn’t be surprising after so long
even when I was on the fd I still had some biscuits
sorry
I am in full moan mood – and its directed at me, not anyone else
probably I am trying to restrict too many things at one time

anyway I will try to continue as I am afraid of stopping

Overall a pretty good 5 days…I had a perfect 3 days at the beginning with my a huge victory over during a retirement reception. I stayed completely away from all the yummy desserts…so proud of myself until I found them in the breakroom the next day where I was not as successful.

Some days are easier than others with the 800 calories. I have to admit that I am closer to 900 most days but when I do I make sure that I am at 20K steps.

I am really dreading the weekend. No schedule really throws me off with the eating. I have to keep myself active and busy to avoid just opening the door and have a food fest.

This morning I did a 2 miles run/walk followed by a 5 mile walk.

Hi Frog

Wow! That sounds amazing. I’m not sure that my technical skills are up to it but I can see that getting organised and logging information in that way would actually cut down on keep having to check things, help you retain info in your brain better and help you make better choices all round. I think I could manage to do some of that in a simple way so I don’t feel overwhelmed but get myself in to good habits. It’s good to be knowledgeable about your body and how food affects it, I think.

Perhaps you could set up your system in such a way that you could make it available to other people at a small charge – helping other people and making a few squid for yourself!

Thanks for the info – I will add it to my plan to get organised.

Thank you for your support.x

Where is the thread for people in their 8 weeks please? I never saw it and would love to join in!!
Thanks!

Have just returned from a 45 minute walk and stocked up the fridge with fresh fish, eggs, tomatoes, lemons, olives and baked beans. Now for some measuring and calorie counting. Am feeling extremely holy and hoping i can keep this up until bedtime. Can anyone tell me what is the average weight loss per week if I stick to this?

Trip through Cali going great and we are sticking to the food plan. Our Neice even made us dinner last night with cod and vegies. What a sweetie.
My husband went down another lb and I went up due to the salt in the food we are having to eat out I am sure.
My new undies now are getting looser and my old clothes I didn’t fit are fitting and I am starting to look more like a normal person than whatever I looked like before. And my face is much thinner now as well.
All things are good !!!

Izzy congrats on tossing the pancake!! Way to go!! A second on the lips is a lifetime on the hips they say!

I love your idea to pick one of your thinner clothes and hang it up like a goal to fit into! Pick a piece that makes you feel happy. Anything that doesn’t make you feel happy throw out.

Hugs!

Lots of news from everyone!!

Lynne, wow you are just such an inspiration and congrats on your weight loss!!

Bill, thanks for all your wisdom! You help me keep going!

All the people in California!! I am literally on my California Coastal Tour seeing clients right now from Napa to Santa Barbara – any of you along this route that would like to meet up for tea or coffee??

Hugs and happy day to all!!
💜

Hi Ocean Diver
I need to investigate myfitness pal, but in the meantime I’ve set up a simple spreadsheet where I log all the food I eat in a database.
I either use the nutritional value from the packet, or just look it up on a supermarket website – usually waitrose, but sainsury, tesco and ocado are equally good. When you use a food or ingredient a second time, you can just use the information you already have, calculating pro rata if you use a different quantity.
I log the info on my spreadsheet for the quantity that I’ve eaten; i keep track of Calories, Protein, Carbs, sugar, Fat, Fibre, salt, and the portions of veg/fruit
I have separate tab so summarise daily totals, (that tab includes my daily weight) and I’ll add another tab at some point to show weekly averages – there is another one with waist and other body measurements with targets.
I also have a tab for recipes – I log all the ingredients, same as for the food log, then either divide into the number of portions made, or calculate the nutrition for 100g.

When I’ve got more data I might create graphs.
Because I am entering and using the food nutrition data, it does mean that I recall quite a lot of it, useful when shopping or eating out.
I do have several spreadsheets dating back a few years – testament to all the failed diets, healthy eating plans….
.

Hey General
When are you testing?
The dawn effect can make fasting results very erratic, best to test before and 2 hours after a meal, you’ll get more accurate readings and a good idea of how your body handles different foods.

Hello Julia
Believe it or not there gave been many BSD’ers who started out just like you, not quite believing the hype but willing to try anything that will help.
I know, I was one of them!
If you follow this plan, within weeks 1 to 2, you wlll suddenly notice that you aren’t feeling hungry between meals and the hunger you experience just before a meal is a different feeling to what you are used to.
Thats because what you have thought was hunger all these years was actually carb cravings and once you start burning fat, your body doesn’t need carbs, we have stored fat aplenty.
Don’t worry, most of us were like you at first, now we are all happy dancing, best of luck for the next 8 weeks and remember, you’re not doing this alone, hundreds, if not thousands of people around the world are doing it with you and we’re all here to offer all the help and support you need.

Hi Igorasusual

Thanks for the welcome.

I will try MFP, I’m sure that will help me. And the info about what you and other folk are doing in terms of carb, fat and protein intake.

Will get myself organised over this weekend and kick off again in a more focussed way on Monday.

Thanks again

Hi nicky, you’re very welcome, (kick up the jaxi wise 🙂 )
I tend to make large meals like a pan of chicken stew, then portion and freeze it, in fact over a typical weekend we would make 4 meals split into 8 portions each, saves on the daily grind.
Don’t forget to up the good fats and never forget the 2 to 3 ltrs of water per day.
Do that and we’ll be seeing a very happy post from you this time next week 🙂

Oh well, hopefully its a temporary blip, Alan!
I’ve got some “Of The Earth Superfoods” Hot Chocolate – made with mostly water and a dash of milk from my daily allowance.
It’s 18 Calories, 2.28 Carb and 1.96 sugar – I don’t have it every day, but I had it one evening before bed when I was a bit hungry.
Apparently it has “Peruvian cacao, raw lucuma fruit powder and banana for creaminess, coconut blossom nectar for sweetness and Baobab fruit for extra fibre”.
Ordinary cocoa powder mixed with half a teaspoon of stevia and a dash of milk is great too – no sugar, about .76g of carbs
(I haven’t counted the milk in the figures above, I just assume I use 200ml a day, and add that in to my log, and only have a splash in cocoa or hot chocolate)

No suggestions on the toast! – although if your version of a ‘Full English’ includes baked beans, I buy low sugar baked beans and add those to a can of haricot beans (or Flagolet/white kidney,…I thin I even tried chick peas once) it brings the carbs and sugar down dramatically. I don’t eat beans that much generally, but like them with egg if I haven’t got toast and they’re a good source of fibre.
I had baked beans with a hotel breakfast pre BSD a few weeks ago, and found them so unbearably sweet I couldn’t eat them.

A Chorley Cake is bigger (and flatter) than an Eccles Cake. I used to spread butter on a Chorley Cake, but the Eccles Cake didn’t need it because they’re made with flakey pastry.

Great news about the bra. Great feeling isn’t it!😃

Congrats anthony!! Awesome job!

Hi liv and welcome!

The weight loss does seem to depend on how much you have to lose.

I was recommended to do the following:

the book suggests you can lose 10-15% of your body weight in the eight weeks. Work out what this is at the lower end (say 12%), and then divide by 8, which is what each week might be. However, you may lose slightly more at the beginning, plateau in the middle, and lose a bit more at the end.

I have not very much to lose, and have lost about 5 lbs in the 4 weeks I have been doing it, but my waist is thinner, my clothes looser, and I feel and look a bit thinner, so I think some fat is coming off my internal organs which is a very good thing.

The scales may not be your friend – weight does tend to go up and down strangely – so better to judge by clothes? Or waist measurements?

Good luck!

No worries, Alan – another very helpful lesson learned!

If we ever had any doubts, your calorific excursion has rid us of them!

Back on the wagon!

You know and we all know you can.

I’ve just googled, and I think maybe my colleague got us Chorley cakes, and described them as being a bit like eccles cakes – which would make sense as she was coming from Chorley.
I’ve just calculated back, and it was ten or eleven years ago!

I was heavier when I weighed this morning – only a teeny bit (0.4kg, so I know its not much) – BUT wearing a bra out of the “too small drawer” – and it fits again!

Hi all. I have started today and doing it mainly for weight loss. I dont have any known issues with diabetes, however I figure this style of eating will be of benefit regardless. I am a very impatient person, so I would like to know how much weight everyone is losing. Did most of the weight loss happen in the first week and then tapper off? Or does it continue in a similar fashion throughout the weeks? How much weight have people lost so far? Thanks everyone and best of luck in this healthy journey we are all part of 🙂

Let this be a lesson to myself
After celebrating my two stone loss in 6 weeks with a McDonald’s,chocolate ,full English n toast,etc my BS are up to 9.2 after reducing to 7 ish
Alan fool that I am 😰

Thanks Frog, that’s reassuring about Mountain Warehouse sizes! Did you ever eat a Chorley Cake?

Thanks Bill. My mother used to tell me I looked like a sack of potatoes tied up in the middle😱 If only she could see me now! You inspire so many people yourself😃

Thanks Switzerland and Imogen.

I did notice about the firefighters😳

Hello and welcome!

One thing which experience has taught me from the BSD (I’m 4 weeks in), is that keeping an eye on the total (good) carbohydrates can be helpful in losing weight.

There are a few apps you can look at, but one I use is My Fitness Pal where you can enter your foods and see how they are made up in terms of carbohydrates, fat, protein, sugar etc.

So you can look at how your 800 calories is made up, and that gets even more useful when you get the hang of things and start making up meals of your own, following the principles.

I have relatively little weight to lose, and therefore decided I would set my total daily carbs at 20g on My Fitness Pal, but a lot of people here work to 50g. You then top up your calories with fat and protein, to make up your total calories. Fat is important as it makes you fuller.

So have a look at a site like MFP, and see what you think. I use Ketostix and can see that my low carb intake is driving fat burning, which I’m really pleased about!

Good luck, you will soon get into the swing of it, and if you have problems, just post and one of the really helpful people here will pop up to help

So for lunch, I made spicy tomato and lentil soup in a big pot so I can freeze plenty for some work lunches. I also made the coconut flour flatbread that Bill posted here and I dunked it in my soup. It was very nice and very filling. A bit hefty on calories once I logged it all though but thankfully the soup was low calorie so it’s ok. I think I will make a batch of flatbreads, and instead of eating two at once (I’m sat here totally stuffed) one is really enough, certainly when alongside soup. I’m going to see if they freeze well as I can then take those to work too.

I’m left with 250 calories for my dinner tonight but that should be ok. Planning chicken curry.

I’m also going to finally get around to trying a recipe for crackers, I’m going to try this one…
https://elanaspantry.com/sesame-crackers/

Honestly with all the new things I’m trying and finding, and liking, I can’t see why I would need to go back. Who needs pasta? rice? potatoes? bread… well, I may go back to having some potato lol but not for a while yet.

I’m now half way through week 5, and realising that 8 weeks really isn’t long at all.

I’ve been very lucky on this, not suffering too much from cravings or ill health of any kind, and not feeling deprived. It’s really worked for me. We will all have a bad day now and then but that’s ok.

Leeanne, my granddaughters are identical twins, age 8.5 years. Food for them in freezer was bought before BSD. It’s there in case I can’t get them eating something healthier. They eat sweets etc as treats at home, but rarely ask for them when they stay with me. Mmmm …. just a thought – wonder if it’s because they generally eat fewer carbs at my house?

Frog, that was my stretch of the Regents Canal – from Hoxton to Islington. Walking that was my sanity after a stressful day. Not been there since I left London in 2009.

I love London and do walk a lot when I visit (if I have the time). I’ll be passing through at the end of the month. Train to Kings Cross, then across to Heathrow to stay at hotel overnight before flying out. Anybody nearby on Tuesday 31st May fancy meeting up?

The twins and their parents go to Dorset every summer – Lulworth. Too far from where I live though.

Hi. My names Nicky and I’m starting the diet on Monday. I’ve just finished reading the book and I’m feeling confident that I can and will do this!!! Can I just ask about the portion size! I’m really sorry if I sound a bit thick here but when it says serves 2 does everyone just split that meal and either freeze it or have it all in one go or save it for later?? I’ve read the book in 2 days and I get it but I’m not sure about when it says serves 2? I’ve read a lot of the posts on here and I have to say you guys are amazing and it’s really given me the kick up the arse I need to get on and do it. Nicky

Halfway point! Four weeks, 27 seven pounds down! Love this 800 calorie per day fasting diet! I’ve done it very low carb, high fat with LOTS of water each day.

Congratulations Bill. Hope you reach that target for June 9th!

Hi thanks runs going well ! Not! 3 eliminations today but there is always another day . Some good work by my young dog though he makes smile a lot have fun all I love a ball !!!!

Hello. I’m new to BSD. I started the diet in a slap-dash kind off way 4 days ago because the moment grabbed me. Am now realising I need to get more organised. So far I have been using the recipes from the BS book. Have been looking at the forums a bit and I’m a bit confused. Some people are talking about how many gms of carbs they are eating a day. I can’t find any mention of specific amounts of carbs to be eaten in a day in the book and the recipes on this site and in the book don’t specify how many carbs are in them. So where are you getting this info from? I like the idea of measuring carbs because it seems a very specific way to reach fat-burning. I am planning to get ketostix. Finding the forums very informative so far so thank you for that . Have just left a well known slimming group where low-fat is the plan – it feels so right to be eating full fat food again! Though I haven’t felt that brilliant over the last 4 days my carb obsession has gone and I’m sleeping really well which I haven’t in YEARS! Feeling very motivated and believing I can lose at least 2 stones with info and support for this site. Sorry if I’m rambling – all coming out in a tumble!LOL!

I think we have the same husband! Mine thinks exercise is the answer to everything, while he eats sugary carbs. He’s got away with it so far.

Hi Nicky72

Welcome to the BSD gang! You are all set to go…one day at a time sounds like a good plan…do let us know-how you are getting on.

The forums a great place to get advice or support and a happy reminder that others are travelling with you!

Imogen🌻

Hi LindaA
Good luck with the Charity walk tomorrow. I’m dreaming of 22,000 steps….wow.
I too have signed my husband up to do a 12 mile walk, for charity, at the end of June.
I will be going too. Hope I will make it. He will, of course, manage easily as he is both slim and active!
As for me. Time will tell……..!!!
Hi Collie
Good luck with the runs!!!!! That sounds bad but it’s not mean’t to.
Hi Lucia
Good luck with the skipping:-0 Now hopscotch….there’s a thing!!!!!!.
Hi barby
Good luck with with the puffing…. and the bottom step. I puff on any steps and unfortunately my home has none!
Hi Switzerland
Good luck with all your happy days down under!
Btw did I say…..tonight I’m off to a ball 😉

Wow…that is amazing…congratulations!! Following your news (and that of all the over 16 week and beyond gang) is what keeps me….keeping on😊 Thanks captainlynne!

You see what happens when the seniors stop keeping an eye on us? firemen – yeah!!

Imogen🌻

Hi everyone. This is my first post on here. Im Nicky and I’m 44. I have 3 stone to lose! I’m starting the diet on Monday. I’ve cleared the fridge and cupboards of all temptation. !! Im just concentrating on one day at a time. Reading other people’s post have really given me the confidence that I can do this…. And I will do it! Nicky

!Hi, I’ve just read the book and the recipes which look great, BUT I’m allergic to nuts. What would you suggest I replace them with? Thanks. Ella

Thank you so much for the warm welcome – it means a lot. I am feeling highly motivated, had a two egg omelette for brekkie and a just putting on my merrells for a good walk around the lake. Thank you.x

Oh and to all the 16 weekers,

There’s some talk of fire fighters over in the 8 week club house today (!)

Hi captainlynne,

If this was a video link you’d see me doing a dance for you, another 3 pounds, you continue to put in a great effort and are such an inspiration to us all.