oooh bagels!

I think with all books/articles etc it’s important to just take the bits that are right for you.

In all my experimenting over the years the BSD is the first one I’ve found that seems to target what I need with the ferocity needed lol.

There was a reference made to candida in the BSD book, something about any fungal type like that feeds on the excess sugars in the body, so if you lower the sugars you starve the candida. I may have misunderstood that so don’t take my word as 100% but that is what I thought it meant.

Thanks Eureka,

Keep up your campaign, it is so important – it is astounding it is taking govt. and Docs. so long to catch on to the potential to improve the nations health and save the National Health a fortune!!

Let me know if I can support your campaign in some way.
Progress so far on the first support group meetings near Guildford, I have had quite a few bookings for next week from my new website http://www.8weeks.com.uk and am very excited – I even got a few blood sugar monitors donated, people are so supportive.

Cant wait to get it started. Roll on the 25th.

I did lighterlife a number of years ago, spent an absolute fortune. I did lose weight but here we are, I didn’t quite regain all that I lost but I did regain a lot. I regret spending all that money. It wasn’t worth it.

Then when trying to get pregnant with my son a few years ago I tried cambridge – I credit this diet with my pregnancy however I’m sure it was because it was low carb, this diet with food would have done the same.

Fast forward to now, I’m having such an amazing time creating new foods, and even my kids are begging for some of it. It’s great. I’m not just losing weight and feeling well, I know I am changing my habits. shakes don’t do that.

There are a few recipes for shakes kicking around I think one is in the book and those are the only ones I would try regularly. I see no harm in ocassionally using these shake type meal replacements for occasional breakfasts etc but having ‘been there and done that’ and wore the t-shirt only to have to get a bigger t-shirt again I’ve decided this time it isn’t for me. It’s proper food, and smaller t-shirts.

Thanks for your feedback guys. I suspect our local centre has misunderstood exactly what type of snack should be eaten in the 2 hours prior so I may just have some yoghurt and fruit and see how I get on. Hydration is probably more important. I’ll let you know how I get on next Friday!

It is really, really encouraging and i’m really glad I bought a monitor to test myself 🙂 I was thinking more about the possibility of candida stuff. The Obesity Code is excellent as well and goes through and dispels popular diet myths – all backed up with comprehensive research.

I’ve looked on the harcombe website and one of the forum posters there has really lowered her sugar readings and yes, her meals are mostly protein and fat. Can maybe just omit the ‘bad’ carb stuff.

Going to make bagels in the next day or so, will let you know how they turn out as they are coconut flour/flax seed based. I’m still to have a go at baking with the chickpea flour.

Hi general Lynne
Make a note in the mole – Inspiralized.com with Ali Maffucci. Gives you lots of recipes on the web (Italian ones too). 😋 I’m sure Maddie ( & all the BSD’s) would like them. I’ve got her book it’s very good. There’s also 5:2 & Fast diet recipes on the web. Maddie could start her own Mole. 📔 📝
I’m going to pinch your water bottle idea for my hols too. My flights are 7 1/2 & 9 1/2 hrs long!
Twinings teas are good. I like strawberry & raspberry. ☕️ I don’t like ordinary tea & coffee. 😝
The cinnamon tea is good. I also sprinkle cinnamon on my yoghurt. It’s supposed to be good for diabetics & it tastes nice too
Antonio, walk away from the kitchen! No, grazie!
Ciao

Hi Isabel,

I am at the end of week 2 and I’m down 5 lbs. I’m feeling really good and my sugar cravings are a lot less then they were last week. What I’ve been doing if I crave something sweet is chew fruit flavored sugar-free gum, and just keep drinking water. It hasn’t been easy by any means, I am a candy addict for sure. Hang in there and you’ll see by week 2 it will be a bit easier to deal with.

I’ve been experimenting with low-carb recipes that are really satisfying. I eat eggs every morning so I’ve been making them with bell peppers, onion, zucchini and seasonings. Very filling and delicious! I do occasionally have piece of dark chocolate with 70% cocoa. I’ve been walking mostly, haven’t had the energy to do any vigorous workouts. I do track my food in MyFitnessPal and it helps to keep on track. Some days I’m at 850 or 900 calories, and that’s ok because my body needs the energy. Listen to your body, eat slowly and stop when your full.

My weight loss has been slow and I’ve accepted that now. I was very frustrated in week one going into week 2 having only lost 3 lbs. But I’m still sticking to it and got through the weekend without any slip ups. Very proud of that!

Hang in there and write back about your progress!! Good luck!

Penny, many of us on here have never used any of the meal plans and just eat real food in small quantities with the right balance of stuff by mainly reducing sugars. I only ever counted calories and sugars – worked for me, i lost 40 pounds in 12 weeks.

I am really struggling to drink my coffee without sugar, but have reduced it to half a teaspoon. The trouble is, I can easily drink 5 or 6 mugs a day which equates to 3 tsps. So, today I have been drinking ice-cold flavoured tea. (I find they taste better cold). Hoping this little change makes a difference.

All good stuff of course, but if I have a salad it will always have some lower calorie salad cream on it or it is not a proper salad in my world, but I do work in the calories – or at least I did before I stopped counting in Week 11. I have lost 18%+ of mass now and do not intend to lose much more so salad cream does not even need to be low carb now really.

Hi Tofa, we get through quite a few bottles of sparkling water here, as did/does Dr Mosley. Most fizzy drinks have lots of additives including tonic waters but anything is OK if counted. It might not have any positive nutritional value of course and in time we grow to educate ourselves to behave differently. If you were still drinking more than an occasional glass of alcoholic drink you would not do well on 800 or fewer calories/day. Persevere, once in maintenance mode on 5:2 or similar life is much more like the old days but that could produce its own difficulties. A lot of empty calories is a waste but a few can be sneaked in to help if you are struggling so long as you are honest with yourself and preferably to your diary for future reference.

Janeycoughdrop makes an excellent point. It’s so easy to lose faith when we dont see results on the scales. I’m beginning my 3rd week. Week 1 I lost 8lb, week 2 next to nothing, but I’ve lost 2.5 inches on my waist. Why not take your measurements week to week, as well as your weight. If you see results there it will help keep you encouraged x

I agree that you should ensure you are drinking lots, which will help with your cold, too.

Lrred, not enough information to give you a worthwhile opinion – are you getting the Daily Allowances of minerals and vitamins mostly from food? I guess not. You need to sort out what you are eating and why, I am not aware it is a common or even a rare side-effect of BSD. This BSD needs a commitment and some study to be most effective. You may be lucky and find an expert to reply to you?

Bowl of porridge with semi skimmed milk and a chopped fresh apricot for breakfast. 2 ryvita crackers and a bowl of creamy carrot & lemongrass soup for lunch, 2 salmon fillets with broccoli for dinner.

This is such a fab thread btw – love to see everyones ideas for meals – you are all making dishes I would never have thought about!

I’d like to add that I too am feeling ANYTHING BUT deprived. Can’t believe how full I feel, eating so little! I have always had a sweet tooth and find it hard to resist chocolate, but in 2 weeks, that’s changed. I had a small chocolate bar at the end of my first week (for a treat), and didnt really enjoy it – it was too sweet!

Hi Clairebear, sounds like a bit of either postural hypo-tension or even low blood sugar but if you are worried you should stop and check exactly what you have eaten and drunk compared to your recent habits. I cannot see how one day of reduced eating would cause such symptoms. Stay hydrated, and either go back to what you were doing or contact a health professional if this is the same again tomorrow. Surely, you would be expected to have dome something drastic to suffer in such a way on Day 2! Have you done so?

I agree with the above point that the best advice will obviously come from a blood donation professional, but in terms of the personal experiences you asked about I gave blood 2 weeks in and felt no different to how I normally do. I ate my lunch beforehand, drank plenty of liquid all morning, and took my own Greek yoghurt and strawberries to eat afterwards with my cup of tea.

I give blood regularly and have never been told specifically to eat carbs prior to donation so just checked on the NHS blood donation website and all I can find is advice saying that you should eat regular meals beforehand, and drink plenty of liquid – did you find something saying that it needs to be carbs? I’d be interested to hear if this makes a difference 🙂

Sorry to hear about your prob Xena, my wife has it too and had to give up on the BSD in April but had already lost 8kg. Since contracting a bug and then having 6 weeks of gut problems as a result she got a CT scan and then the diagnosis. She has improved somewhat but is in pain after every meal. She is no longer overweight and is able to eat most things. There is some debate about nuts and seeds but you may know what causes your own problems? Jenny does not like nuts and they are so calorific they cannot easily be included regularly anyway. As for seeds she still eats strawberries and raspberries without major problems. Hope you find a decent compromise, I would expect peanut butter and ground almonds to sneak in easily? Cooked fruit can be strained of course, good luck.

White wine 🍷😋
Urge for a vino
Weird really I was a beer drinker
Could just go half/full bottle
Zero beer five weeks
White wine be good tho
These blinking BS measurements won’t go down tho so ……..
Alan despondent sixth week stone n half.

I read the harcombe diet a few years ago, but I found it too restrictive. Looking back though it may not be more restrictive than this I can’t remember but maybe I just wasn’t ready or wasn’t convinced… Anyway she doesn’t suggest no carbs, only not to mix protein and carbs. either eat a carb meal, or a protein one. So not necessarily best for blood sugar stuff. There will be a good number of protein recipes that would work for here though 🙂

that’s great that your blood sugar has come down that much 🙂

I’m with SkyWalker with this query. I have used meal replacement shakes (many years ago) – I did lose weight but it’s not a lifestyle. I think you are better off retraining yourself to eat the right foods – proper foods – and then it becomes a way of life. I’m not T2 (nor pre-diabetic) – I just wanted to lose weight to head off those kind of problems. I haven’t calorie counted at all, just cut out the extras, kept an eye on portions, made sure I drank enough, and tried to extend my overnight fasting, as well as eating the foodstuffs allowed on the BSD. I read a magazine recently featuring people who had used Lighter Life – that seemed rather expensive to me, as well as being for people who didn’t want to have to think. Proper food, and think about what you are eating, I think is best for the long-term. Ultimately, you have to follow a course that suits your life. Good luck.

please do let me know! it is on my list of things to try. I also came across this one and may try it, you can also make crackers with the dough and I definitely want to try that!

http://www.ditchthecarbs.com/2015/04/23/fat-head-pizza/

I can only comment on my own reaction to foods and do not claim to speak for anyone else.

Still reading my book and have also invested in the ‘Harcombe Diet’ and the accompanying recipe book. Looks interesting and was created to address allergies and yo-yo weight loss/gain. I’m lucky in that I’m not a serial dieter and have mostly been the same high weight for the last decade regardless of if I overate.

Am into my 5th week of this diet and am still hovering around the 12st 10 to 12st 13 mark. Blood sugar is less than when I started and is averaging about 7 which is a drop from the 10.2 I started at.

To cut a long story short, you cannot beat real food. I have never had a meal shake and never would, but that’s me. If you are allowing a house full of fussy eaters then you have identified a need that might be tackled by a gentle move to more Mediterranean eating styles and foods?

Doing it for yourself is the most important part. There is usually a load of support on these forums and that is partly why I started on this diet. Don’t worry about the doubters, they will always be there.

Good luck and welcome to the forums

Polly x

Hi Janeycoughdrop, I suspect that like many others I could express an opinion but it would not be valid so just phone the centre and ask why a carb heavy snack is recommended so as not to jump to any false conclusion. I want to write more but musst not in your case. Just read your other recent post, interesting, keep posting…

Brilliant, well done. As long as you are mostly feeling better on it, keep at it 🙂

I ordered the harcombe diet to look at as it specifically looks at other issues like food allergies and candida overgrowth. Might experiment with that soon.

Inspired by your successes with new recipes I am attempting a cauliflower crust pizza which apparently you can even fold just like a normal one! I’ll let you know how it turns out 😊

well I’ve made 4 scotch eggs (please the hubby)

and 6 portions salt and vinegar chick peas (please the daughter)

AND I’ve made tomato salsa and carrot crisps and oh my GOD it was so nice. I’m totally making that again.

http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/1626/grilled-tomato-salsa.aspx?o_is=LV

I’ve also done heaps of laundry.

and fed and amused the children.

I AM a domestic Goddess.

End of my 2nd week 10 lbs down for a total of 38 lbs since I started my weight loss journey. 39 lbs to go and I’ll be at my goal weight.

thanks eureka – and yes do you know I think a am beginning to work out what hunger – vs – addiction feels like!!

well done janey, it does feel nice to have successfully done a week, doesn’t it

I am still having stupid reflux issues (not the heartburn I had from being too big, but throat issues) – and have been reading about what I should avoid – and it says high fats and yog and berries
well that throws half my meals out of the window

what is it with my insides – every time I hit upon a way of actually eating well and losing weight and it punishes me

Well I hope that I have everything covered, I plan to delve headfirst into this diet Monday morning:
Health checks done ✔
Measurements taken ✔
Cupboards sorted ✔(even put my families treats into a locked cupboard)
Menus planned and shopping done✔
Goals set✔
Diet buddy found ❌😕
I have been astonished by the heart warming stories and support on these forums, so I am sure you will all become my diet buddies. I have tried over 20 different diets and failed all of them. In January this year, I moved to a new country and then I reluctantly turned 50. I have been overweight for more than half of my life. I was sent for routine blood tests and shocked to find I am glucose intolerant. I’ve been on metformin now for 2 months and to my horror my hair is thinning and I have small bald patches! I need to become healthier, by changing my lifestyle, lose this weight forever and get off this medication. I reckon I have a slim chance of doing it this time, whilst others I tell will say under their breath “fat chance, here we go again”.
Well this time I’m doing it for me! 👍
(Please God help me stick to this one.)

Thanks Frog. Welcome to the family😃

Jump right in tomorrow, and let us know your progress. Remember: low carb, 800 calories, full fat products, and drink lots of water.

I’m one of those who strictly restricts carbs because I was diagnosed type 2 diabetic nearly 7 years ago. Now my test results are in normal range so will be looking for that diagnosis to be changed.

Any questions, just ask.

Hi Eureka 👋

The spiraliser idea might help their relative who is gluten intolerant – must be a nightmare in Italy.

Because of Maddie’s health issues, she has to be careful not to gain weight, and she has to watch what she eats because she’s on warfarin.

Their breakfast is usually bread with jam, or cake 😱 And coffee 😃
Lunch might start with a small amount of pasta, followed by sliced cooked meat – mortadella, Parma ham, prosciutto or similar – with green salad dressed with oil and vinegar, then possibly cheese or fruit.
Dinner might be similar to lunch. Very occasionally they get a takeaway pizza.

If we eat out, obviously lots of pasta dishes (last visit, before BSD I had black pasta – made with squid ink), but fresh fish and meat dishes too. Had some great fish at a restaurant on the island in the middle of Lake Isola

Just need to avoid dolce e gelato😱

And stop Antonio offering me local delicacies – usually carbs! He even emails me cake recipes😱 I always look at Maddie when he offers me something – ever since I accepted an olive, ate it, then realised it was stuffed with chilli. Nearly burned my mouth out! Not forgetting the time we brewed a catering size pot of tea and people complained about it. When we emptied the pot to start again, a tea bag was different to the others – he thought it would be funny to put in some Lapsang Souchong. Yuck!

I’ll try to be very observant and note down any/all recipes we can use😃

Looking forward to some good Parmesan and Gorgonzola (M&S out of stock of Gorgonzola dolce for ages and not keen on the picante version). All the food is so fresh – much nicer😃

Yesterday I invested in not one, but two 600ml leakproof water bottles. I’ll see which I prefer and take one, if not both, with me. Empty until through security, then fill up. Although I prefer sparkling water, it’s sometimes easier just to go with the still😳 Although might experiment to see if fizzy water works in them! Experimenting with fruit tea bags. Current favourite is cherry and cinnamon😃 Maddie has some like camomile, so might take some of mine over.

Hi Emmie.

I have just started week 3. I’m not diabetic or pre-diabetic either. I’ve tried load of diets in the past, including Slim Fast and Cambridge. I did lose just over 4 stone with Cambridge actually, but this was about 6 years ago.

I googled ‘Low Carb/Low Calorie Diet’ and found this website. I bought the book, read it from cover to cover, and started the following day. Its been the best diet I’ve ever been on …so far! And in a fortnight I’ve lost 11lbs. I’m never hungry, which is usually the cause of me giving in with other diets, and I’m eating some delicious food.

I tried meal replacements again earlier this year, and found myself completely unable to stick to them. I was constantly hungry, and because the thought of only having a milkshake for dinner wasn’t really something to look forward to, I’d find myself reaching for the nearest biscuit! I found it very anti-social too.

I have 5 children, ranging from 3 years to 16 years of age, plus a husband. They are all quite fussy eaters, and the thought of cooking for them AND cooking for myself was very daunting at first. But I found that by planning all my meals for the week ahead I then only had them to think about. Once you get into the swing of it its easy. I weigh absolutely everything, and stick to 800 calories and 30-50g carbs per day. I have not followed the menu plan in the book as I found it contained foods that I wouldn’t normally eat, so I just devise my own week by week. I’m also realising that this way of eating can become a way of life, and not just a ‘diet’.

I bought lots of plastic containers and spend a hour or so once a week making cauliflower rice, soups, lollies (greek yogurt blitzed together with frozen berries) etc., so that I can just reach into the freezer for my food.

It is much cheaper than Cambridge; not sure about the price of Slimfast these days though.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I’ve read half of the book and then gave it away, I’m waiting for a new copy to be delivered! What I have read so far has interested me.

I am not diabetic, or pre-diabetic but I do have a BMI of 40, just over. I think I will do better on meal replacement shakes rather than having to cook 3 low calorie meals and carefully measure out etc, I have 2 young children who are not yet at school and time is short.

My thoughts are to have 1 coffee in the morning and 3x shakes throughout the day, and 1x bowl veg. I think this would be manageable.

Does anyone know if I can just use Slimfast at 200 calories a drink or would I have to go to Lighter Life or Cambridge meal plan etc. I figure Slimfast would be cheaper.

Hi general Lynne
Good thinking. Bring back some BSD food ideas we can adapt or pinch!
Courgetti :
Whisk olive oil with lemon juice & pour over hot drained courgetti. Add black or green olives, ground black pepper & grated Parmesan. Deliziosa. 🍋 🧀

Congratulations Lynne – that’s really inspirational
I’ve just read the book, and now this thread through from the beginning (your starting stats are extraordinarily similar to mine, which hooked me in), and I was just getting to the “so how is it going now?” question when I reached your 21 week post.

The thought that if I started tomorrow, by October I could be 20 kilos lighter is astonishing!

Hi all, I’m at the start of the BSD, being fairly strict about 800 calories on work days, and I’ve just had a reminder that I’m due to donate blood next Friday. Does anyone else have any words of wisdom on this? Did you feel more faint or have other after effects? Also, as the NHS advises donors to consume a carb heavy snack 2 hours beforehand I would appreciate any guidance on what to eat – no more sarnies or crisps! And no choccy biscuit with my cup of tea afterwards!!

Congrats on 20lbs loss, but more so on the blood sugar level decrease, which ultimately is the goal! Remember that as your body changes you lose fat and gain muscle, which weighs more. So if you are feeling and looking slimmer, ignore the scales and just enjoy smaller clothes! I am a committed NON weigher so I’ve always relied on how my clothes fit!

Congrats on getting to one week! I’m also at the end of week one and altho I was pretty strict on work days, I am being relaxed about calorie counting this weekend, but sticking to the BSD principles. So far so good.. In spite of temptation (I understand your cookies comment totally!) So keep going, it’ll be worth it!

Hi Imogen,

Thanks, that’s what I’ve done. I have gone back through my freezer/fridge/cupboards and made them BSD ready again. This has also helped my mindset get a step closer to committing like it was last time, unlike how distracted and stressed I’ve been lately which has lead to giving into temptation too easily.

I know it’ll be difficult for the first few days again, but will continue reading everyones encouraging posts and all the tips/recipes on here. This is definitely a time that I need to do this before my health gets worse.

Swimming. Definitely something I will look into as there is a swimming pool very close to where I work 🙂

Thanks again! x

Thank you, Eureka and captainlynne, for your support!

I haven’t started yet; I read the book a couple of days ago, and thinking “after my birthday… holiday…”, so lurking on the forum for inspiration
I had a really foul restaurant meal on Friday evening (it sounded good, even healthy-ish on the menu) that was still making me feel grotty 24 hours later, so I may get started very soon & just work around the birthday! I guess the way to think of it is that if I started now I’ll be 1/3 of the way through 8 weeks by my birthday, half way through by my holiday,

I’ve found that I used to loose loads when I first started a diet in the first week or two, but this has become less common as I’ve got older – well done Moolock, MaryPhil & Izzy.

Hi keeptrying
Well done. You know what you want & are working things through. It’s good to get more control of hunger. I’m pleased you can see your own progress.

Hi Collie
Dead right!! As I have been writing & telling those in power. Simple Carbs are killing Type 2 Diabetics. I am type 2 & so we’re both my late parents. And their treatment was & did kill them! It has to change. It WILL change.
Keep on keeping on

Hi Odette C
Well done & brill idea. My mission to change Type 2 diabetes treatment. Am writing to those in power making the decisions & asking, WHY!
Go get em! 😀 👍

Thanks Eureka 😃

Might even take TWO Moles on holiday! One for the BSD and one for the trip – no idea what (if anything) my friends have planned, or where we might be going😳 Love a mystery trip😃

After posting last night I copied some results, calorie & carb values etc into the BSD Mole, just need to enter dates and week numbers , then it’ll be ready to go😃

Curious to see how they react to courgetti!

Hi general lynne
I salute you! Your fortitude & consistency ( body & mind) on the BSD is brill. Every loss you post inspires others. Take the Mole on hol 🖋📔

Hi Linda,
I didn’t sleep at all! Brain would just not switched off. I just kipped for 2hours on the sofa. I’m on earlies for the next few days so hopefully will sleep well tonight.
Your story about your dad is interesting. I could have been Australian, my great grandad did the same as your dad only after the First WW! but he died on the way over from the effects of mustard gas from the war.
Happy birthday to your dad.
Yes I’m in London, its mostly manlc at work as we’re vastly under staffed.
It’s fresh but sunny here. Time for making lunch.
All the best.
Beth.