Hi Lynne
I just googled images of barm cakes to see what they were – and found a hysterical picture of a barm cake, with a pie inside, and a huge helping of chips. Yuk! – all it needed was a healthy dollop of ketchup on top!
From the images they’d be white rolls or baps here!
I love porridge – I don’t eat it all that often, although I will now maybe. A nutritionist that I saw a few years ago recommended soaking the oats in water overnight – makes them very sweet without adding anything.
I don’t have anything to measure my blood sugar daily or to specifically test a particular food – I might invest in one, otherwise its just occasional blood tests through my GP. The spiralizer got very close yesterday, but just one of those frustrating slips saying that they will attempt redelivery.

Not overdoing the fruit – aside from a portion of rhubarb, the veg count was mostly down to the ratatouille – I count the portions of veg that go into a recipe, and divide the total by the number of portions.
I discovered the joy of Hummus and Taramasalata on a giant cabbage leaf yesterday (previously that would have been with tons of bread!) – really nice and crunchy!

Well done Tallyhoo – size 12 from 20, that’s brilliant, it must have been a great feeling buying the jeans – i bet you felt they should have been gift wrapped with a giant bow!
When I was setting myself targets (size 12 is MY Target!) I realised that I have/had size 18 hips and (not breathing in) a size 24 waist – no wonder finding trousers that fitted was a challenge!
I’m weighing myself daily -6lb in 3 days- but have decided to measure fortnightly will be more helpful (but I might be tempted at the end of week 1)

Lack of iron does make you very tired. I have to take supplements as I just don’t absorb enough from food alone. It does take a while before you notice an improvement, but they really help. Once your body is getting the nutrients it needs, you might find your cravings reduce and you’re not constantly feeling in need of an energy top up.

If you’re not ready to start properly yet, I suggest cutting out carbs as much as possible – especially sugar, cereals and bread now, so you adjust more quickly.

Good luck.

Todays foodies…

Breakfast yoghurt and strawberries.

Lunch I’m going to try the cauli- pizza recipe that fiftyfifty posted to my diary days ago.

Dinner, I’m going to try the harvest vegetable pie recipe from here, but with a few changes. I have an awesome idea to make a crunchy cheesy topping….

I’m also going to try the coconut flour flatbread recipe.

it’s going to be a great and yummy day 🙂

Lucia thank you for your posts they are helping me enormously. I love the humour it resonates with me, there are some lovely people on here and such positivity. Just re read the book it helps ground me and allows the one day at a time or on some occasions one meal at a time approach . Just off to compete this weekend and my caravan fridge is full of pre pared meals and not bursting with carbs , when you put all your food together for the weekend it looks amazing healthy and colourful. I need a strategy for the cold wet days as they are the worst for me. Have fun fellow BSD’S , colleagues at work are now joining me on plan how cool is that. 🙋🏻🐾🐾🐾🍆🍓🌶🍗🍋🍊

Hi mid week weigh in week 3 10 LB’s down unbelievable. Feeling very carb hungry today , have been drinking my water , for me the diet seems to phase through feeling alert ,buzzing and not hungry, to hungry and tired.i guess my body is adapting, the best thing is that I am more aware as before it woulS have been stuff in the food! Anyone else feel this ? Well done all

Commiserations Steve, hope you feel better soon

Had a properly terrible week on my fourth week. Lots of binging on horrid, sweet food. Don’t know why I did it, feel really awful. My allergies are racing, and I’ve put three pounds on. Having been so good, and lost nearly two stone in four weeks, I cannot believe I have spent nearly a week living the old way – and I don’t feel good for it. Wondering how long it will take me to purge the sugar again?

Brilliant Alan
are you, like me, going to bring that 6 pack out of hiding now 😀

Hi Smith
the biggest lesson I have learned is not to get hung up on Fasting sugar readings.
They can drive you insane and are frequently high because of the dawn effect.
I now test before and after my main meal of the day, the FBS readings can go fly.
Ignore the odd plateau, it’s natural and the weight loss will start again.
Also ignore the naysayers. You won’t starve or die or anything else, done properly this way of eating can give tremendous results.
I’m 35 pounds down with a waist reduction of 8 inches on week 14 🙂

THANK YOU EVERYONE ON HERE
today I dropped below 18 stone for first time in 20 years
Over two stone lost
Strangely I only look about 15 stone as over six foot quite well built an ruggedly handsome
Ok I lied about last one !

Am I going to tell everyone
You bet
Alan oh did I mention I lost two stone

Week six finished

Carb withdrawal symptoms without a doubt folks.
Just stick to what you’re doing, the symptoms should vanish by the end of week 1
Congratulations on taking the first steps Celeste. Stephie, welcome back, all the way to the end this time?

It’s Friday! that means official midweek weigh in for izzy. down 1.6lbs since tuesday 🙂 (now below 12 stone yeehaa)

So anyone reading this blog and thinking they cannot do this diet.
Have you thought of breaking it down?

For example, trying to eat 400 calories from 3pm to bedtime, but during the day, jut eating sensible?
Try and get into the swing of counting calories, picking the best foods, enjoying what’ you eat.
Then the following week, try 400 calories until 3pm then eat sensible of the evening.

Then week three have a go at putting them together.

If this is still too much, have a week counting calories. So if you eat say 2500, try dropping it by 200 calories a week, until you get to 800.

Lose weight , being active, being healthy , really does help all ailments including diabetics

So go on, have a go.

Shall I say… I challenge you?
Blog me back and let me know you have started, would love to here from you.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

I had a floppy day through the week but my energy is back.
Today I am going to eat clean.
I am going to try and eat all or most of my food raw. (Obviously I will be careful)
It would be wonderful to do this regularly but with my lifestyle it isn’t always easy.
So I had fruit at breakfast.
Berries and yoghurt lunch
Salad for tea.
But I am trying to avoid E numbers and additives.

I have been thinking about it , so this is step two, …. Doing it.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi General D, the recipes really are only for guidance, you don’t have to stick to them to the letter. Just adopt the principles of eating less carbs, especially refined carbs, and fewer calories, but make sure you increase your intake of healthy fats, and drink loads of water. I’m sure it will work for you, but keep posting on here, there are lots of friendly people and we all share our experiences and support each other. Hopefully your husband will be so amazed at your progress he’ll be joining in!

Hi all day 4 and i too have the runs not good when your a truck driver but im sure it will pass i figure its just the body adjusting to been fed correctly and getting out the toxins from years of abuse.

Hi team, looks as though our family is growing and meeting each other, isn’t that wonderful! No other group would do theses things.
I hope you make life long friends and stay in touch.
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi Frog,
I think the science is really starting to debunk some of the long held myths about eating, and about time too! There have been far too many ‘rules’ about what is good for you and what isn’t. I’m sure the ‘must eat breakfast’ one was put out by cereal manufacturers to sell more products!
It’s no coincidence that since the low fat, healthy whole grains diet advice came out the population has just got bigger and bigger with heart disease and diabetes going thru the roof. For 10,000 years humans ate a diet of real food, nothing processed, and it was fine. Then food manufacturers came along 50 years ago and changed almost everything we eat, and now we wonder why we have so many diet related problems. My new mantra is Just Eat Real Food! And I’m also trying to eat when I’m actually hungry, not just because the clock says it’s lunchtime, or even breakfast time – although most mornings I tend to wake up hungry anyway. Since starting bsd tho I’m finding I’m not hungry until much later in the morning so I’m just going with that. It might be more difficult to maintain that when I go back to work at the end of the month, but hopefully by then I’ll be well into this way of eating.

The good news is this mornings fasting bs is 9.6, down from 11’s and 12’s at the start, so something is definitely working!

General, some of what you write is obviously true and important to you. Migraine is a problem that you have no doubt lived with and learned to control. It is not that foods are banned, just that some foods are so high in sugars and calories that they prevent the body from flipping into maintenance mode via fasting. I can say that you will succeed even if you just cut down on white foods high in carbs. Many on here have reduced symptoms for many issues after following BSD/Fast 800 me included. I have had only mild migraine symptoms so cannot really comment. On the diet I kept off nuts because of their high calorie content. Cutting down on bread, pasta, rice, milk, cereals will definitely have a beneficial effect. The meal plans are carefully prepared examples of ideal nutrition on lower calories but are not essential. I lost over 3 stone (nearly 20% of body mass now). Go for it you can always consult others here if you find an anomaly or two in your experience. it will be worth the effort even if you have to modify parts of it, keep posting.

Hi All I started my BSD 4 days ago all is going well when I started my Sugars were around the 12 mark today they were sitting around 4.3 I am some what worried about the sudden drop I did take a jelly bean just one they came up to 5. Anyone else have this problem will they settle down eventually?

Cheers
Steve

Hi Lucia

I am on Week 10 as of today, I am still feeling good MOST days. I did have a bit of a dip in energy last week and started to think CALORIE DEFICIT…but it passed and I am like Tigger again. I took hubby out on a walk today, he’s the fit thin one, however I felt his pace was a tad slow and we didn’t go far enough! That is so different to 10 weeks ago it is mind bending. 🙂

Hang in there. The feeling will pass. I often reflect back on Day Three when I felt rotten, really rotten and warned my diet buddy who was going to give it a go NOT TO…now I feel bad because she has yet to start while I am out buying littler clothes. I have lost 9kg so far and “kilometres” from the waist.

Cheers Nettle

Hi celeste, welcome to bsd. Well done for sticking to your resolve, that’s half the battle won right there! I’m on day 4, (for the second time, I started in January but then fell off the wagon big time) and yes have been irritable and touchy, like a bad case of pms!! I was very weepy yesterday too, for no particular reason. But I put it down to carb withdrawal, it can definitely make you emotional. Hang in there, I’m sure it will pass once we get used to not having so many carbs.

Christine – will catch you another time ! Will be praying that Saturday’s visit is a blessing to the parents and also to you in spite of the difficult circumstances.
Take care
Julia xx

Can I come too??!! I can sing!! 🎤

Hi Switzerland,
Well done 👍🏼
I am also at the end of week 7 and have lost 7.1 kgs in total 😃
I am feeling so much healthier and so many of my clothes are too big!!
I have heaps of energy which is just as well because I have just had a really rough couple of weeks with the death of my adored sister in law at the age of 64yrs. She had Lupus and was in renal failure for the past few years needing twice weekly dialysis. My home has been the gathering place for family members who flew in from interstate. Still with all that I only weakened my resolve a few times especially after the funeral when a couple of gin and tonics were consumed.
The moral of this story everyone? Live every minute that we have! Look after the body we have been given so that we can enjoy our lives and not be trapped in negative thoughts and past bad habits. I think of sugar as poison now and I am in control. It does not control me! Happy Friday to you all. After another night shift tonight my husband and I are heading to a Bluesfest at the Gold Coast to find some joy in music and try and lift ourselves out of the sadness of the past couple of weeks. What are all of you up to?

hello frog, climmer & californiagirl! thank you for such a warm welcome! i haven’t participated in an online forum for ages but i thought this one seemed so supportive & this journey promises to be interesting!

day two:

weight: 203.1 (diff: -6.7)
calories: 786
carbs: 35
breakfast: black coffee
lunch: sautéed purple cabbage, onion, garlic & chicken sausage
dinner: tossed green salad, sashimi tuna, purple cabbage
snacks: small glass red wine

whoa! difference in weight was quite significant for one day – 6.7lbs, which is 3kg. didn’t feel particularly ‘light’ but that number was certainly a very nice surprise! on the other hand, my mood was AWFUL today – i was so irritable & i couldn’t pinpoint a reason. had to hold my lips shut at work just to make sure i didn’t say something i’d regret later on!

heading to bed slightly early tonight – mostly because i’m grumpy & want popcorn. not tonight, céleste, not tonight.

i didn’t feel hungry or deprived – anyone else have major mood changes?

céleste x

Hi Jennsem, I wonder if it’s just one chain of pathology clinics that does the carb loading? Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but I think this is the right diet to reverse it.

I got my results today. Last year I was 10.8 mmol/L (11.0 is diabetes), this year I am down to 8.9 mmol/L. Still in the diabetic zone but much better. Looks like the BSD is working! I look forward to even better results next year.

Also hello to climmer — our postings crossed

Welcome Celeste and Frog!! It’s wonderful to have you on board! You will find lots of support here so don’t hesitate to ask — we’ve probably gone through the same things that you might find coming up as you move forward. There’s only one rule (and I am unanimous in this) — don’t quit!! Every one who sticks with it (and many of us struggled) has success. Looking forward to your future posts!

Hi everyone
I’ve been following the BSB diet for 4 wks now. I don’t have a lot to lose but have been diagnosed type 2 doctor wanted me to go on tablets. I found the first week I was hungry but now I’m feeling great and my sugar levels have dropped to 5.5. I only check the levels first thing in the morning.
I have followed a lot of the recipes in the book and found everyone easy to make and tasty my husband has also been enjoying the food and has also lost weight.

Hi Celeste – welcome, I’m new too – today was day 3.

Not just me then – thanks for the link Zandranna, that was reassuring.
I suppose it’s logical that any drastic change in what you’re eating is probably going to impact on your digestion. I’m not going to worry about it too much unless it persists – a couple of Imodium seem to have done the trick for now, and I’ll avoid caffeine for a day or so.

I’m not deliberately cutting out fat, but having a lot less than usual – no bread means pretty much no butter either!

hi everyone!

just wanted to say hello! have been reading the forums for a bit & find you all quite inspiring! starting your journey is so brave!

my name is céleste & despite being quite athletic i have put on substantial weight this past year. with my wedding coming up at the end of august, i really wanted to find something that would help me feel & look my best! though neither diabetic nor pre-diabetic, my father has T2D & his whole family has struggled with weight & heart issues. i don’t want to follow on that path, & so decided a diet that focused on this aspect of health would be the best one for me.

looking forward to interacting & sharing with you all.

celeste x

Hi Julia and welcome to the forums.

Read the book all of the way through so that you really understand the 3 principles of the BSD, then launch into it.

When you follow the BSD you’ll find that your grazing behavior will go away because you’ll not be hungry between meals. N.B. this doesn’t happen immediately but if you can persevere through the first week you’ll feel so empowered. It really is a great feeling not being hungry all of the time.

Look at the BSD as a time to get ‘kitchen savvy’ – there are BSDers around the globe with helpful words of wisdom. Just reach out, there’s always someone reading the forums.

Enjoy your BSD journey Julia.

Hi Tallyhoo

Thank you for your reply.

I agree, even 4 weeks in, I feel so much better, I felt exhausted and run down and feel great now.

I just want to keep going, I am still a long way off my goal, but every day it gets closer.

Hi everyone,
End of Week 7 weigh in: down 1.1 kgs this week, total loss 7.9 kgs. Waist down a total of 8 cms.
Still learning heaps about low carb meditteranean style eating and tweaking my lifestyle to incorporate regular exercise and mindfulness meditation.

Hi Stewart – I’ve just graduated to the 16 week vets group! Several people have asked about this and the consensus would appear to be yes………I’m 3 lbs away from my goal which I set back in January which I didn’t really think I had any chance of achieving but I’m so close now. Once there, I’ll set another goal, once there I’ll ease up and do the 5:2 to maintain my weight – at least that’s the plan but the important thing for me is to lose the weight at the moment.

I feel fitter and healthier than I have for many many years so why would I stop at the moment??

Hi Smith………How exciting for you just starting! I’ve just graduated to week 16 and still think it’s brilliant! Have lost 44 lbs I think it is now. My advice – follow the recipes as much as you can and discover ones you love. I spent hours writing down the ingredients I would need for a whole week and buying all that food so I knew I had everything at my finger tips and no reason to stray from the straight and narrow. Now I still use a lot of the recipes and truly see this as a new way of life not a diet any more. Had a major blip over Easter but went straight back on and dealt with it! Have had a few plateaus which is hugely frustrating when it happens but you just have to persevere.

Good luck with it!

I have been amazed at how easy this diet is, having broken the back of the carb cravings I am finding I can eat a good and varied diet sticking to 800 calories.

I have been on the programme since the 26th April and have lost 27lbs.

Is it safe to continue on the 800 diet for longer than the 8 weeks to keep the weight loss going?

Hi Christine

Don’t know if your travels ever bring you near Durham. If they do, we could meet up. Just let me know 😃

Will be thinking of you on Saturday. Hope your visit goes as well as it can under the circumstances.

Sucralose is an artificial sweetener sold in the U.S. under the brand name “Splenda.” I use liquid sucralose in my coffee – trying to wean myself off. Since artificial sweeteners can raise glucose levels in some people, you’ll need to test yourself if that’s a concern for you. Dr. Mosley recommends that we use no sweeteners if possible.

Hi Igorasusal,
My waist measurement has gone down a little and some of my clothes do feel looser. I have felt a little grotty the las few days. Not sure why.
Hopefully I will manage to lose a couple of lbs this week. I do log my food on My Fitness Pal. It is a great help. I can manage lower carbs, it’s the calories I’m having difficulty reducing to 800.
I will report in as soon as those bloomin’ scales show a favourable weight!

Hi Bumblebee, welcome to my moan post!
😉

Hi Julia,
Ah what a shame we are off first thing in the morning from kenmore, we have to get to Dumfries for lunchtime, it would have been great to meet a fellow bsd ‘er’!
It has been wet all day today so we decided to stay relatively local, Pitlochry and aberfeldy, then a meal at the local hostelry in kenmore, steak and salad. We ‘did’ Edinburgh a couple of years ago, I love Scotland as long as I come before the midges I am ok, I react to any insect bite so have to be careful later in the year!
We will be up again in August to look after the two youngest grandchildren in Dumfries, not sure if Edinburgh is too far for us with the boys?
Thank you for the invite though, I will email you. We also have to go to see our relatives on Saturday on our way home to the Midlands, (the parents of Helen who died) it’s not too far from our daughter in Dumfries, they are such a lovely family it’s going to be heartbreaking seeing them, however it’s about us supporting them so we will do what we have to do.
Christine

7.9 two hours after my carrot n swede mash with slices beef !
Maybe it was those pea nuts I had after?
Seems I get a little over confident at times
Alan

Christine if you are anywhere near Edinburgh it would be lovely to meet up. Feel free to email me if you would like to and are able to! juliabsd18@gmail.com
If not no problem. I’m in Perthshire Saturday afternoon and evening but Edinburgh otherwise if that helps!

funny – 5:2 is how I lost most of this weight, too
but it is also when the bad reflux began
and although I have done no fasting for about a month, it is still not right
I agree I prefer this way of eating, although I liked the other way too
trouble is I am currently trying to do this AND avoid grains/gluten AND avoid reflux causing foods
which clearly isn’t working

well done you on loosing weight
also weird as I also have that ‘reverse’ psyche – as in I forget how fat I am until I see myself in a photo or a shop window
and all I see is an old fat woman – horrible

haven’t reached the dizzy heights of 85% choc yet
this was 50% coop with orange
the rest I have is ‘divine’ 70%

I understand there are new labeling rules in the UK that require net carbs , rather than gross carbs, be shown. So your fiber has already been deducted from total carbs on that label. Gross carbs=23.7; net carbs=5.6.

Well, dark chocolate IS better the. The Wispa multipack. I hope it was Green & Black’s 85% because not only is it gorgeous, it’s also pretty difficult to eat any great amount because it’s so rich. But anyway, enough of those daydreams.. You’ve lost a phenomenal lot of weight this year..bravo! I think I’m also deemed to be ‘obese’ although I must have reverse body dysmorphia because I think I look ok! But size 16 jeans don’t lie I suppose..and they were getting tight again. I lost a couple of dress sizes on the 5.2 diet, which I persevered with for 18 months even tho it was hell on earth compared to the BSD. But new boyfriend on the scene meant it was too difficult to persevere and a few too many nice dinners have taken their toll. I hope your reflux had settled down a bit tonight and the salmon was ok. Tomorrow is a new day..chin up!

Thanks! Will check out their website now. How is it all going for you? X