What a fab idea with the post it notes. Am going to give that a go. Off to the shop tomorrow to stock up! Cheers for the tip.
Stephie63 please don’t berate yourself so much for your eating. We are pretty much all here because of our food choices. We need to do this but also be kind to ourselves.
I was once advised by a wise woman to give myself some sweetness in my life. What she means is that I keep treating myself instead of deprivation. Buy a nice bath oil, take time to sit down and read, just treating myself but without eating. It is amazing (when I do remember to take time for myself). It is so easy to put everyone else’s needs above our own that the time constraints and stress lead to poor food choices.
That said I have once again let the stress get the better of me today and have scoffed down a packet of chips/crisps.
Tomorrow is another day!

Hi Jackie WilsonSaid
Your doing well. Thanks for the MBSR info. Looks a do’er & interesting, think I’ll give it a go. Ta

Ad libitum – to eat as much as desired when hungry.. This is the approach Bill1954 took! I have read his comment son the forums and he says he now eats so much less than he used to, as well. Perfect example!

very interesting article indeed – it’s true that agriculture has developed (plant breeding and methods) for maximum yields/shelf life/conditions tolerance. These changes to the plants, and our subsequent processing of the grains looks like it may have been a mistake – but, food is important!

no doubt highly processed tubers and fruits (to satisfy shelf life/transport etc) may still turn out to be an issue.

I don’t think the world can go backward to subsistence farming, we couldn’t feed our population if everyone went paleo in one fell swoop. (yes, that’s the extreme and will never happen, but illustrates the point).

On the other hand – the slashing of healthcare costs if those who could, did… would make it worth it and free up money to assist those in food deserts.

great article, thank you for sharing it.

Just logged on to The BHF May Marathon challenge and spotted this quote on there.

“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” – Edmund Burke

Sorry ….I’m starting to sound too evangelical ……but it did feel rather apt in the light of my last post.
Look after yourselves everyone.

I only read the abstract, which was fascinating in itself. My translation is that heavily processed Western foods cause inflammation because our gut bacteria are more suited to an “ancestral diet”. It is healthier to eat “a diet of grain-free whole foods with carbohydrate from cellular tubers, leaves, and fruits”. It seems to suggest a Paleo diet as being good for us.

Hi Natalie
Good luck with the test tomorrow, let us know how you go.
I’m sure that once you get back on track with the BSD, you’ll start to feel better and won’t want to go through that again.
Are you in Sydney or the country?
I’m thinking of getting some Sydney siders together for some group walks over ‘The Bridge’ and through the Rocks.
Cheers
Linda

Hi, I have the same thing happen to me if I go off diet and have a high carb day. My weight shoots up the next day, and like you, sometimes even more the day after that. Then it can take a couple more days to get it back to where it was. It’s like I lose half a week because of one carb heavy meal. I just can’t get away with cheat meals, never mind cheat days. They just aren’t worth it for me.

Sometimes you have to work out what works for you, as people’s bodies often cope with carbs differently. I like a diet with lots of beans and lentils, but have to limit them because of the higher carb count. Seeing the scales dropping make it worth while.

Eureka …….fabulous moves for a blonde ( NB …….I can spell really……Oops!!!)
Finished your May Marathon already…..before you know it you’ll be throwing some shapes on the Dance floor…….no I don’t know
what that means either?!?!?!?

Wonder how many mute movers there are out there???? Closet readers of Forum posts who don’t write……yet!!!

Come on…. there is still time to join a May Marathon challenge. 26.2 miles walking, waddling, jogging or staggering.
Anyway you like….. for yourself….. or donate to The British Heart Foundation.

Here is the Official Website if you would prefer to do this more formally with sponsors etc.
https://mymarathon.bhf.org.uk/

14 carbs in an apple,

I drink water or tea no sugar.

My soup has 127 calories will check carbs

not giving up just a bit frustrated as I had a great drop in the first week then poof! gone.

Cheers

don’t like the headaches though

Hi gerryo
Are you tracking your carbs and fats and drinking enough water?
I’ve downloaded the EasyDietDiary app which records everything and it really helps. Do you know how many carbs are in an apple? Heaps!
Don’t be afraid of full fat products, don’t touch anything low fat or light as it’s loaded with sugars, keep your carbs under 50g per day, track your total calorie intake and drink 2-3 litres of non calorie drinks per day.
Particularly on the first 8 weeks, you really need to stick to the plan as you found out the hard way, but if you do, the rewards are huge😀
There’s a lot of us that have proven this. Keep reading the forum and get inspiration from everyone that is following the plan.
Best of luck
Linda

That’s fantastic Saga and Feltwicked, well done. A lot of us have found the same as you that the cravings and hunger pangs just go. I hit the end of 4 weeks tomorrow and am so far 7.9kg down and feel great. I’ve still got 12kg to go to reach my recommended weight, but I’m on this for life!😀 Keep it up.

Thanks for that. just thought for a while that I had finally found something that would work.

From Nov to March where the outdoor pools are open in Melbourne Australia I started to exercise concerned my blood pressure was going up. I swam something like 160Kms in that time. Ate moderately but could not achieve any weight loss.

My blood pressure came out well.

About the only time I have been able to achieve some significant loss was 20-30 years ago when I was running 30-40Kms per week.

Having a hip that has problems does not help.

I do spin classes now and then.

Will keep trying and see how I go’

I may have to change my current food plan as I may be getting too much carb from my vegetable bean soup. I usually have a boiled egg or an apple for breakfast, soup for lunch and a meal for supper no carbs water to drink , currently I figure this is less than 700 Cals.

Hi Beth
That’s brilliant about the weight loss. Keep it up! Is it getting easier to get your head around the food you need to eat?
Yes, we Aussies seem to have a reputation for being fun to work with and being hard workers when we’re overseas. Shame a few of our local council workers couldn’t take a page out of their book. My weigh in day is tomorrow but I took a sneak look this morning and I’m 0.9kg down (1.98lb) so I hope it either stays that way or gets better. I’ll let you know.
In Sydney it got to 27 deg c today which considering we’re only 2 weeks from the start of winter, is absolutely amazing. Lots of people out walking dogs and enjoying the sunshine.
What are you studying?
Cheers
Linda

I found this an interesting read in last Sunday’s paper.
http://m.smh.com.au/national/health/diabetes-threatens-to-overwhelm-western-sydney-hospitals-as-obesity-epidemic-rages-20160512-gotfas.html
I don’t know about anyone else, but I just feel like shouting about the BSD from the rooftops and letting people know about the secret to success!!!!

Hi Gerryo, there will be many saying weigh less often, persevere, lots of exercise like that will build heavy muscle but in reality this is not an instant fix. The principles are sound so have confidence in the rest of us that have succeeded in losing up to 20% body mass in my case over 13 weeks. I wish I was strong enough to swim for an hour in any style! You will do well, keep going, we all plateaued at times it is normal on BSD/Fast 800 – you will soon be on 5:2.

If Calories in = calories out should we be static in weight terms? It probably is not that simple. Some calories are worthless or empty when eaten e.g. alcohol and some sugars at least in terms of nutrition. Exercise tones up muscles or develops them if they are seriously depleted. The benefits of exercise added to those of fasting are what is required for optimum health and fitness while we reduce blood sugars and body mass. It is not for ever that we are restricting calories so it soon may be easier to add treats after exercise but do not expect there not to be a cost. But wouldn’t it be great if it really were that simple?

So that is a light read for Hawks? The abstract from 2012 is definitely not an easy read for me given the language used but it is an interesting paper and states that it was not a funded one that may be significant or not. The line from the conclusions that “A dietary pattern with carbohydrates exclusively from cellular low-density sources may remove the root cause of a range of our most prevalent diseases.” could well be true. Hopefully the tide is turning but it is a slow process with many pockets of resistance to change.

morning all 🙂

well I’ve just finished week 4, and I’ve lost just over 1/2 lb this week. total weight loss 11. Lower than most but I’m still happy enough. It will keep coming off 🙂

Congrats to all on the losses, and any plateau-ers… hang in there!

Today dawns day 1 of week 5, meaning I have passed the 8 week midway point 🙂

My weigh in this morning shows me down just over 1/2 lb for this week, bringing my total weight loss to 11 lb.

I’m happy it went down, and I’m still menstruating so maybe I will have a better loss next week (hopefully). I have a long walk planned for tonight as well so hopefully that will help 🙂

I can’t do my measurements because my daughter borrowed my measuring tape and hasn’t given it back! I will do those tomorrow, and I forgot to do FBS, so all of those will be updated tomorrow.

Todays foodies…

breakfast yoghurt and strawberry

lunch scotch egg, tomatoes, cucumber, chick peas.

dinner cauli and bean soup, with a gram flour drop scone.

Hi there,

I’m the partner of feltwicked and thought I would update on our progress of the diet!

It’s been nearly 3 weeks so far and we’ve been doing okay on the weight loss (around 5 kg for me after 2 weeks). We stuck to the menu plan for the first week, just to get the feel of the diet, and now we’re choosing things randomly from it and starting to ‘go it alone’ so to speak. I have to say that I haven’t felt intensely hungry between meals at all, or been craving for bread and sweet things (something of which I was slightly apprehensive because I just love those things 🙂 ). The only concern I really have is not to go too far over the 800 calorie mark.

Most importantly though, my partner’s blood readings have been steady, around the 5 mark, which is really, really encouraging, and his blood pressure has been in the normal range as well! Another interesting thing I’ve noticed personally is that my joints don’t feel as ‘creaky’. I mean it’s kind of like I’ve had a grease and oil change. Amazing!

Well, it’s a nice thought, but no. I don’t think so. 😀

Well, at least you know that it’s the carbs that make you feel like that, so hopefully it will spur you on to greater things post test! Good luck.

insulin resistance makes you deathly tired, when I had this in my mid 20’s I would sit at my desk after a carb-heavy meal and literally my head falling forward would keep waking me up! It was awful, I remember the feeling. So those carby meals are entirely responsible – I’ll bet you’ll be glad to get back on plan and start to feel better and more alive again!

I also didn’t know they recommended carb heavy meals before your GTT. WA here, and my endo just sent me for them, no instructions. I stopped seeing her a number of years ago (pointless to pay $$$ for a specialist to tell you ‘all looks fine, lose weight, see you next year’) as the resistance disappeared after a bout of weight loss and exercise in my 20’s and never really returned. Imagine what I would have achieved if I had been put on the BSD back then? Probably still not desperately trying to lose the last 20kg. and not crept into borderline and away from it a few times in the intervening 15 years… Oh well.

good luck for the morning!

Hi scan di girl do you put lower blood sugars down to this diet or the Acv ?
As I’m in uk I couldn’t recognise the readings of 110 my meter is set to the 6s and 7s etc whatever they’re called
Alan

Those sweeeeeeet shakes make you crave savoury, so look into getting some broths/consomme to ‘cut the sweet’ if you find yourself flagging, it will make it easier. (Optifast ‘soups’ are notoriously foul – try one before you buy more of them just in case…. some people like them, most people run screaming from them heheh)

Also, for the calories, raw veg to crunch on provided the missing texture when you’re doing the shake thing.

Word to the wise – drastically changing your diet and upping water can make things a bit – um – enthusiastic in the bowel department, (those shakes have no roughage!) so you can get badly stopped up or go horribly in the other direction. Forewarned is forearmed!

your determination and support will see you do really well, I have no doubt!

I honestly thought my constant tiredness was solely due to poor sleep – I have sleep apnoea and sometimes night sweats so I don’t get the best rest. I’d been feeling a bit better lately, but since eating lots of carbs again I can barely keep my eyes open after lunch time. It’s nearly over, GTT tomorrow morning.

CHIPS!!! not ships. Ships are worthy, too – but not in terms of diets. Apart from the nausea they often engender. 😛

Hi diary,

late check in – lost 500g for the week, which was more than I was expecting to be honest, and it has dipped 400g below that in the previous couple of days too – all depends on how the fibre consumption goes if you know what I mean, I think 🙂

I went ‘off plan’ last night for tea, I had oven chips and sauce and veg. and a packet of jelly belly beans. The chips were sensational, the jelly beans much less so which was quite interesting. i REALLY enjoyed the first 5 or 6 beans, but then after that they were all just too sweet and it was mindless consumption. I threw the rest away in the end (I did make sure all the coconut, choc and pear flavoured ones were eaten first, I’m not a monster lol)

anyway, today we carry on as per normal, which isn’t proving too difficult, I can sense how a cheat meal would set up a cascade if your resolve was wavering though – I’m just drowning myself in tea and water when my mouth says it wouldn’t mind some toast or something (smelling others cooking toast and toasting their lunchtime wraps/panninis etc is a bit trying today) I weighed up this effect and decided the ships were worth it. they were, but the jellybeans definitely weren’t – note for future self!

something for those using my diet diary app – check the calories etc carefully on the items which come up in the database – I have found many many discrepancies – chobani yoghurt pots for one, and also the woolies select soups too – protein, carbs AND calories out in some cases!

lets see what happens this week. possibly not much, but we’re due for a stalemate in the weight loss soon.

🙂

Was going great on the first 6 days lost around 5 pounds.

Day 7 We went out for dinner had a glass of wine and some noodles Chinese

Next day weight was up 3 pounds.

The day after was up 4 pounds

on Day 10 my weight was back to where it was before

On day 6 Swam 3 Kms Crawl non stop 60 minutes

on Day 7 swam 4 Kms non stop 80 minutes

Very Frustrating as all except one day I kept to diet.

In my first week and just trying to recall the rules around exercise and calories. I walked for 60 mins today and apparently burned around 200 calories. Does this mean that I have just earned another 200 worth of calories I can factor into my eating today?

Hey Tibetan! Hey Stephie63! Good to have you here — you are in good company. We have all been there too — eating too much of the wrong stuff — it’s not a disaster, don’t panic, just start again tomorrow. I like to use 56 4×6 sticky notes, each numbered 1-56 and every day I pull off a fresh one, which reminds me it is a new day, a clean slate, and (if I messed up yesterday) I can start fresh again today. They are easy to carry, stick to my I-phone screen and I write down the totals in my calendar at the end of the day. Try to identify what is setting you off into the eating pattern — is it stress, too much alcohol, frustration with some aspect of the day? If you can identify it, you can neutralize it with whatever coping strategy works for you (for me it is a pot of hot tea, some time in the garden pulling weeds, shopping (non-food store 😄). One day at a time works — do not think about eight weeks, just think about this minute, today. Start again!! You will get stronger with practice. You CAN do this!! Lots of support here — keep posting.

I flavor my water with a little Crystal light or 0 calorie water enhancers you can find in stores, you could even flavor it with a little fruit or cucumber or lemon. Also, consider fizzy water instead of flat to make it interesting sometimes. I also use a 48 Oz water bottle that I only have to fill several times to get the recommended amount of water. Water is essential to this diet and flavoring it will definitely help.

I have been on the 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet for 8 days and my BS have gone down from 180 to 110. Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar really works wonders. Dr Fung in one of his lectures recommend to drink 2 tbs before bedtime. I add a herbal ginger tea bag to the ACV and drink a warm cup. After two days my fasting blood sugar started to fall. It’s worth a try. The ACV has to have the “mother” in it. The mother is the strands of proteins, enzymes, and friendly bacteria that gives the product a murky, cobweb-like appearance. ACV is also helps with acid reflux.

(I am posting in this forum, because this isn’t specific to any one of the diet formats, and there isn’t another general forum, so I hope that’s OK.)
I came across this article which is very interesting: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3402009/
It isn’t a very light read being a scientific journal, and doesn’t answer questions, but suggests further study is needed, however it does make some points that others might be interested in.

Or cucumbers? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BRp7ezUqbI

Thanks Eureka – yeah, already read Dr Fung also. I’ve been reading and studying for a while now, just nothing seeming to click, which is why I think doing the 800 is the next step.

@captainlynne, thanks for the welcome and for explaining what you and others have done after 8 weeks. I guess I’ll know more what way to go when I get there.

Right now I’m trying to decide if I wait to do bloodwork first, or just jump in. I’m kinda the impatient type when I’ve made up my mind – I’ll research things to death first, but then I jump 😉

Hi JackieWilsonSaid,

Things I learned on the BSD…….BDNF….thanks for listing it, I’m going to research it and add it to my list!

Hi anila,
I read that too. The only place I’ve found to log in stats is on the Fast800 forum under ‘weigh in’ thread.

1. Weight loss 3.5 lbs for the week, and 20.5 lbs overall.
2. Visceral fat confirmed as 13%, down from 15% at the start.
3. Mood enhancement continues, apparently due to rising levels of BDNF, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor.
It has a protective effect on the brain vs. Alzheimer’s, suppresses anxiety and elevates mood.
4. Energy levels remain high, including the 3 exercise days which take up 800 to 1000 calories [I sneak a few extra].
Accomplishing many tasks, some of which have been on my ‘to do ‘ list for years.

5. Obligatory Mindfulness plug:
Did Week 4 of the MBSR on-line course this week, which focused on stress and how to deal with it through meditation and yoga.
Meditation has become a habit again, which is one of the things I wanted to achieve.

A free course can be started anytime on-line, but would help those on BSD and 5:2 and beyond, since much mindfulness is needed for calorie restriction. Why not start on Monday?

http://palousemindfulness.com

Hi bghouse.

Welcome to another transatlantic friend😃

I agree with everything that’s already been said, but noticed nobody answered your question about what to do after 8 weeks.

I’m 5ft 2 ins and started thus at 224 pounds. I asked the BSD team about continuing and they said it was ok or a few weeks but then to transition to 5:2 Mediterranean eating. But like many others on here with more weight to lose I’ve kept to the 800 calories.

I’ve now finished 21 weeks on 800 calories and have lost 57 pounds – need to lose about 28 more. My HbA1c just before starting was 9.6. The most recent one, in April, was 5.5 – within normal limits here in the UK.

Any more questions, just ask.

Hi bghouse
It’s a BIG learning curve doing the BSD. Knowledge is power, so get some 😀 And, pass it on. We got to change this Diabetes pandemic. If you have it in the family it’s too close to you!! The BSD is the Revolution & we’re the pioneer Guinea pigs. And that’s ok by me
Your going the techie route & that’s great. Check page 135 ( I think) in Diet 101 Low Carbs book re: how to test your bloods & where to prick fingers etc when you get monitor.
Trust Jenny. She knows the lies we’ve been told for years! Yep, there’s a forward in her book by Dr Bernstein.
Look up DrJason Fung too, http://www.dietdoctor.com. He’s a Nephrologist in Toronto. Your going to be busy!!
Look at Forum & Topic What exercise is everyone doing by ay caramba. She’s just roped me into doing a marathon in May! Just completed mine tonight lol 👣👣 🐧

Tibetan, Yes it does sound familiar. I get so cross with myself for eating the wrong things, yet I can’t seem to stop myself from doing it. The last three weeks I have lived almost exclusively on chocolate. I mean is that stupid or what???

And another one …. I started this back in January, and I can’t remember why I stopped, but I did. And fell off the wagon big time. Since then I’ve gained 10lbs in weight but more scary is my recent blood tests have shown my HbA1c increased from 48 to 87! ( that’s the new units it’s measured in, in old money it’s gone from 6.5 to 10.2). Plus my total cholesterol is up from 6.2 to 11!!! Consequently my GP has doubled my statins, and wanted to start me on metformin, but I have a reprieve for 8 weeks. And in that time I have to show her that I can control this, and I am able to choose the right foods. This is the only way I can think of doing it.
I know I can do this really, but for the last few months I’ve eaten nothing but carbs, despite knowing that my metabolism just can’t handle it. I’m not surprised by my blood results, just bitterly disappointed in myself for letting it happen. There is an emotional element to my eating patterns that I really have to come to terms with, although I’m not sure how I’m going to do that, but I know I risk death if I don’t , quite literally I am eating myself to death. It has to stop. Now.

Hi bghouse, welcome to our worldwide family!
I’m in Australia and use the EasyDietDiary app, not sure if you can download it in the US.
Ha, I do the same thing in car parks. I’ve given up caring what people are thinking. I’m 7kg down in 3 weeks (15.4lbs) and I weigh and record everything! Once you get the hang of it, it takes no time at all.
Keep drinking 2-3 litre of water a day and don’t be afraid of fats, just remember to count them.
Best of luck and keep asking questions, there’s plenty of knowledgeable people around.
Cheers
Linda

Hi Stacey
I count all carbs, not just the sugars. I used to eat at least 5 pieces of fruit per day and pile my plate high with veges, but I’m more selective now and limit my intact to keep under the 50g. I’m in Australia and downloaded the EasyDietDiary app which calculates everything for you; carbs, sugars, sodium, calcium etc. I check everything and was really surprised at the carb content of some things I thought were healthy.
I’ve lost 7 kg in the first 3 weeks and weigh in tomorrow for the end of week 4.
Cheers
Linda

Thanks again Eureka. I notice that Jenny mentions Dr Bernstein – read his book also ;-). I’m not 100% trusting of the ADA, but I have checked some of their information also. I’m sure once I make the plunge and get a test meter I’ll be able to stop the worrying voice in my head. I just ordered the food scale and I’m getting familiar with MyFitnessPal. And I ordered a Fitbit Flex to track steps, as I’ve been trying to walk more anyways. Folks look at me so strangely when I park at the farthest end of the lot to go grocery shopping 🙂

it’s nice to have your weight loss noticed 🙂 I almost lost my engagement ring earlier because it slipped down my finger :/ ended up wearing that and my wedding ring on my middle finger for fear of losing them.

Hope you find something that settles your tummy soon. Maybe try the doc again as they have different drugs that may work.

That’s great Happy, being organised is key I think. Hopefully you will have such a great time on your trip that you won’t think about food anyway!

I didn’t feel like a hot choc when I got home (over 17000 steps now) but I’m sipping a nice herbal tea before heading off to bed 🙂

Hi bghouse
You need to read Jenny Ruhl, American writer (Type 2 Diabetic) very knowledgeable She wrote Blood Sugar 101 (2nd edition just out, get that if you buy it) & Diet 101 the Truth about Low Carb Diets. This lady is my go to for reliable, truthful & considered info.
Go to her web site : http://www.phlaunt.com & check out your blood profile etc. She also recommends good blood monitors & suppliers. I’m sure as other USA posters come on line they will help too.
Also go into your American Diabetes Association : diabetes.org & get explanation of your bloods.
I’m type 2 & so were both my parents! Don’t freak out re pictures etc, you are doing this to get healthy, & you will.

I have found the opposite. I have had weak, flakey nails that peeled and bent most of my life. I changed my way of eating last December to this diet, eating full fat dairy etc and I have noticed a dramatic improvement in the strength of my nails over the last month or so. I can think of no reason for this change after decades other than the change to full fat dairy, as my eating was pretty similar to the diet in other ways already. I hope your nails improve Lrred.