Hi Eureka,

I’ve psyched myself up for a while now about doing the diet, I’ve got a strong will power, so I should be OK, my problem has always been drinking water, this is something I will have to get used to. Many thanks for your support.

Hi SkyWalker,

Thanks for your response, I am very prepared to deal with the Mediterranean diet once I have achieved my target weight, and am able to do without my meds. I wanted to do the diet with shakes because I thought it would be the easiest way for me to go, and less hassle for my new partner initially, but after the 8 weeks or so we have both planned to go the Mediterranean diet way. Although my main problem has always been the wine………… Thanks for your support.

I love my fitbit, I got the alta 🙂

My husband has the all singing all dancing blaze, but the face is much too big for a little wrist like mine!

I got a blue band, but I’d like to get the metal bracelet one, make it look nicer for days when you want to feel a bit dressed up.

Carrot crisps I cut using the slicer on my spiralizer, just tossed in oil with some salt and pepper then baked on a sheet until they started to go crispy 🙂 I did some cougette as well but they don’t crisp up as well. still nice though just have to use a fork.

Oh, how about a rubber toy snake, put it in the garden rear your plants.
Cats don’t like them

Love luciaXxxx

Hello Everyone,

Hello from Seattle, WA (USA)…. I’m getting ready to do the 8 week diet, have read the book cover-to-cover 3 times, and trying to figure out next steps. A little background…

January 2012 was a major upheaval in my life when I came back from the holidays to an unexpected lay off from my job of 12 years, and I’ve been struggling since. I couldn’t bring myself to stay in my industry, and went to work for myself starting a business (more stress – lol). My income became 20% of what I was making before (stress). I left California because I could not afford it, and moved to Washington (wet, cold and stress – haha). In January 2014 I quit smoking cold turkey, and all of a sudden my health deteriorated. I realize now that most of it was because I replaced a 2 pack a day habit with hard candies. I shudder to think of how much sugar I consumed kicking the habit, and the extra 25 pounds on top of being about 30 pounds overweight has compounded the problem. (sorry, but I can’t do the conversion to kg or pounds in my head…)

I spent a year going down the wrong path thinking it was “healthy” – added juicing (sugar, sugar and more sugar – love those beets!), lots of grains, tried some vegan… Then I went back to a more whole foods approach, but still too much sugar and grains. For the past couple of months I’ve tried to cut out sugar and grains and potatoes, but I believe I really need the 8 week kickstart. I kicked sodas to the curb years ago, as well as transitioning to black coffee.

One thing that limits me a bit is that I work crazy hours trying to support myself with this freelance business. I found I just dont take the time to chop up vegetables at 8pm a night, and reach for junk. I’ve gotten around this by purchasing pre-cut vegetables at the store, and while a bit more expensive, they are there and ready for me every night. The problem is they are usually mixed together in a package – like green beans with some onion and mushrooms, and there is nothing on there to indicate calories.

Any ideas on how I can figure this out? Should I maybe get a food scale and then figure out the weights of them and try to calculate? I like to have the same types of things, so if I figured it out once then I’d know, don’t you think? I already make a lot of soups, so I can do the same thing i guess and calculate the calories for those also.

The second thing is that I don’t have health insurance, although I’m trying to save up for this again. In the meantime, I use wellnessfx.com to get bloodwork done. I’m a little past 1 year since I did the complete workup, and I’m wondering if I should do it before or after I do my 8 weeks? I’m thinking probably before so I have a baseline….

Lastly, I know that I have more than just 10% of my weight to drop – currently 5 feet 4 inches weighing 204 lbs. Do I keep going on the 800 a day past 8 weeks, or do a transition to a 5:2 style…

I know I have more questions, but I’m trying to read the forums and find answers instead of just asking everything 🙂

Thanks in advance, and nice to e-meet everyone!

Thanks for the support I did carry on and lost 5lb so well pleased. So a stone and a half up to now.

thank you polly
I do feel better – at the moment

not sure how all this extra fibre is going though
I wonder if that is what is making me want so much water – and endlessly going to the loo

I am not a great cook – I mean I can follow recipes but lousy at ‘inventing’ dishes
however I now have coconut flour, and oil, and gram flour
so spending hours on the web looking for possible recipes

today I added gram flour to my homemade chicken soup – it seems ok
I didn’t want to use barley as am trying to get as far away from gluten as poss

so today for lunch I had coconut flatbreads and brie
and now for dinner it is carrot, courgette, broccoli, cauli mash (which is just crumble) – and chicken breast which I coated with MY OWN INVENTION – OMG I ACTUALLY MADE SOMETHING UP!!
All it is – is some gram flour, water, bit of coconut oil, sage, and salt
it has made a nice crust on top of the chicken and has helped keep some of the moisture in I think

goodness knows what my intestines are going to do when all this fibre hits them!!

Thanks Lucia – I too have water spray but this particular cat doesn’t seem to get the message. Will try salt or soot. Toilet use doesn’t bother me but the loss of my plantime does. Loads of pansies with exposed roots thanks to the cat…

Glad you are meeting friends at the pub. I bet they all comment on the new look Lucia!

Hi all,
I have a question, I am away from home at the moment so I need to know, as I haven’t got my book with me, how bad is it to have quinoa? My son in law made a dish with it in and a couldn’t eat it as I didn’t like it and wasn’t sure it was ok either.
Also had a meal out at lunchtime today, I asked for salmon with coleslaw, I got battered salmon! With pink spicey coleslaw! Well that’s two days of unusual food, I have never had battered salmon before so was quite surprised when it was put in front of me!
Christine

Hi Not_thirsty
Welcome. I used to be like you. Then years down the line I have Type 2 Diabetes. Always thirsty & on the loo!
You REALLY need to drink this amount of fluid per day, at least while on this diet. But in general seriously up your fluids.
Initially you will visit the loo often, but it settles down in a week or two. No, that isn’t a long time. You need this fluid to help your metabolism work & flush out the stored fat from your liver & pancreas. This is what Type 2 Diabetics are trying to do to reverse our condition on this BSD.
Lots of other people who arn’t diabetic are finding this diet & it’s helping them. That’s a great bonus. It’s just 8 weeks out of your life, commit to it. 😀

Hi Jess1471,

Sounds like you are all sorted! Look forward to hearing how you get on.

Imogen

Hi Epspecially
Welcome. Do this for you & never mind anyone else’s comments.
Re-read the book & mark it & write in the margins. Make a list of food you like & new food you’re willing to try. Write down when you are the most hungry. Is it breakfast? Lunch? Split your calories accordingly. As you progress you will control the hunger. Eliminate the simple carbs – potatoes, rice, pasta & bread & the hunger subsides. You break the cycle & lower the insulin production you need to cope with the carb overload.
Try & learn about diabetes ( if you are type 2) & the way your body processes carbs. Knowledge is power. The more you know, the easier & more motivation you have to change. Leave your ‘friends’ to their ignorance.

Check out the Forums. Look at the Topic titles – they tell you the content/problem, & then read the answers.
Keep a food diary either paper or app. It helps. Drink lots – 2 – 3 litres daily. It gets the metabolism going & helps everything.
Do this for you

No, I did not say I allow it at all. I said they are all quite fussy eaters. That does not mean I pander to their every whim.

Hello,

I thought a quick update might help – for anyone interested the first meetings are going ahead next week – one in the afternoon and one in the evening, a first chance for us to meet face to face and talk to others on the same journey. If you would like to join us go to http://www.8weeks.co.uk. I really hope this will be a useful way to make a difference…

Hi Bruno
Well done. Great loss & sound advice.

Thanks for the great advice captainlynne & californiagirl!

I’m planning on starting on Friday, after getting all my shopping in, so think I will focus on no refined carbs and plenty of water to start and see how I get on.

Will keep you posted on my journey.

Hi Barrynk
Now that’s the way to do it! Bravo you & Bravo your medics 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻
Give it all you’ve got. This is your chance, grab it 😀 👍 Drink lots – 2 – 3 litres, it really helps. We are here for you.
Eureka

OK, but that’s not what you wrote, sounds like you are well aware of the way to eat healthily, so Good luck, & Happy eating

Hello Barrynk I will watch your progress with interest but I am a little confused as to why you would not only give up proper food but then be prescribed food in the form of liquidised food of some description. The result may control your blood sugar but it will not Mediterraneanise your diet or educate you in the ways needed to keep to the normal weight if you you succeed in getting to it. Others used the method successfully but I have not heard too much on their follow up after the Prof Taylor trials. Good luck anyway and welcome to the forum. You will learn a lot in a short time if you are anything like most of us on here…

Hello Not_Thirsty, you may have a condition of course but in answer to your question – Plenty of fluid is vital – it is not an option and you will just have to get used to it like we get used to changing our eating style. You probably consume more than you consciously note. There are fluids/water in foods and of course if you were a tea drinker you would probably be likely to have many cups per day at 300 ml each or so? 6 good cups is 1.8 lts at least. Keep a diary and you will know more. Don’t get hung up about any aspect as all we are doing is eating a bit less but of better quality food with fewer nutrition free, worthless calories. Kettle on … now!

Hi general lynne
Ta dah! Stupendo! 💐

I was just coming on to post the same thing. Week one was great, down 13 lb (lots of water weight there), week 2 and I am up .3 lb from 1 week ago. I had one ‘bad’ day of overeating (and all the wrong foods) 5 days ago, total calorie intake was 2,289. I wouldn’t have thought that would offset all of those 800 calorie days to result in a gain. Was feeling quite defeated and frustrated because this was a similar pattern I had following Weight Watchers for the past year. Took a year with minor ups/downs to take off only 5 lbs. I am early menopause and insulin resistant and hoped that this would work to get me out of the stall my weight loss journey has been on.

I don’t mean to diminish your angst with your week 2 results, but find it someone encouraging for my own journey that this might just be how it works for some people.

Thanks Frog. If you decide to get a different spiraliser in the future, the one I mentioned is quite small and the blades can be stored inside. Quite compact

Hi Skinnwannabe. Welcome to the family.

I’ve been doing this for 21 weeks and have currently lost 4 stone 1 pound. Just over another 2 stone to lose. The BSD team said it was ok to stay on the 800 calories for an extra few weeks, then go to 5:2. But lots of us are sticking with the 800 calories as we have more weight to lose.

I think most of us worried about cutting the carbs, but now realise how much better we feel without them. I keep my carb level as low as possible but can’t give an exact figure – we all find our own level.

My suggestion would be to stick with the 800 calories, cut out all refined carbs, eat veg grown above the ground, restrict fruit to berries, eat full fat products and drink lots of water. Since starting this I’ve even lost the taste for diet fizzy drinks – something I never thought could happen.

Any questions, just ask. Lots of support on here.

Oh! Ay Caramba! 😱
I’m blonde!! Well, with a lot of grey too. 😉 And, my maths is rubbish so YOU’VE pushed me to my foot & head limits❗️Can’t work out if you’re good or bad for me 😂

Great walking you are doing. I want to hear the March of the Penguins too ( sticks bottom lip out). ☹️ 🐧👣🐧👣🐧👣
Will finish mymarathon tonight, so post officially tomorrow. 👣👣👣
Keep on keeping on

I weigh daily, but record only on official weighing day (Saturday). I know from past experience that the official weigh can be disappointing, but daily weighing helps me monitor my progress better.

4allofus, I so understand! I’ve just completed week 4 and didn’t lose an oz last week. I’ve only lost 9lb in total and I have 4 stone to lose. I feel really down about it. However, unlike on other diets, I am committed to a full 8 weeks and am keeping on, keeping on. It’s really hard though when you’ve put the work in, but the scales won’t shift. Like an idiot, I didn’t measure myself, so can’t see if the inches are shifting.

I hope you and the OP see the scales move very soon.

Welcome Wheelie! Ouch, your personal history is hard to imagine, I am very sorry you have struggled for so long with complications like that, I am sure it has been physically and mentally exhausting. But, you have come to the right place! This diet truly works and is life-changing for so many people. I will look forward to hearing your progress in the weeks ahead. Onward and downward!

Welcome Skinnywannabe! It is great to see that you are contemplating starting the BSD — just start and worry about the details of carbs as you go along. For all of us it has been a learning curve as we go, figuring out how many carbs and what kinds of carbs work best for each of our individual metabolisms. That said, you can eat carbs still, but you will lose weight faster if you limit the number — some people go for less than 50 per day, I have preferred as few as 20 per day. The real problem with any kind of bread or cereal on this diet is that it uses up so many of your (rather small) allotment of daily calories and gives you very little in return, nutritionally-wise (even wholemeal). You need protein, fat and calcium and all your other nutrients and bread/cereals just don’t deliver. Also, you are trying to start up your internal, natural fat burning and carbs interfere with that process. A good book on the subject is Gary Taubes book “Why We Get Fat” — it is a clear discussion of the role that carbs have played in the obesity epidemic. There are “good carbs” that are OK in small servings, such as pulses. In any case, good to see you here and you can always seek further guidance as you go along!

Hi, I have never consumed enough fluid and the thought of 2 – 3 litres is scary!! I am never thirsty and often remind myself to drink but that is only a mouthful or so at a time. What would be the effect if I follow BSD 800 with low fluids? Better still are there any tips on how to increase my fluid?? Thank-you to all those who are posting their journey and success stories here – very inspirational.

Hi Tracey, well done on your first week! How do you manage the fluid? I have real trouble drinking anyway never mind 2 – 3 litlres!! I wonder what the impact would be if I dont consume the water?

Izzy, Do you have a recipe for the carrot crisps? I’m mostly worried about slicing them thin enough. Thanks.

Hi Epspecially,
Just read your post.
I’m now over 3 months in and find this really easy, I’ve lost around 43 pounds.
You say you won’t weigh yourself, I’d suggest you should then you can see where you are. I lost 12 pounds in my first week and that really motivated me. Also lots of folk weigh themselves every day but I weigh myself once a week, that way I’m not seeing ounces lost or worse still my weigh staying the same or going up which I find it can do day to day.
This website and these forums are great, lots of good advice and help.
Like captainlynne says, stick to the 800 calories a day, you’ll find the food cravings disappear.
Good luck with your new way of life.

Hi, Izzy,

Which Fitbit did you get? I’ve had the Fitbit ‘One’ for a few years and loved it, but I lost it last week. So gutted.
But now they have brought out some spectacular wrist watch Fitbits and I don;t know whether to get one of those or stick with the One.

How are you getting on with yours?

Happy Monday and congrats on your successful first week! I am in the office wearing work trousers that are most definitely looser than the last time I put them on a fortnight ago 😃
Last week I was strict on 800 cals mon-fri but more relaxed at the weekend, although still stuck to the Mediterranean diet, and this seems to work well with family commitments. We had a low carb picnic (kids helped themselves to my humus) and a BBQ last night where I enjoyed meat with salad but no bread or spuds. I don’t know about you, but food seems to taste better when not surrounded by bread, pasta etc! Certainly I am not feeling deprived! Roll on week 2..

Hello everyone

I’m thinking of starting the BSD diet, but am I got concerned about cutting out most carbs. I’ve read the book and it seems to give conflicting guidance to this subject?

Am I ok to eat certain cereals, wholegrain bread, New potatoes, wholewheat pasta etc…..

I also wondered if it’s ok to follow the 800 calories a day, for a longer period of time as I have about 10 stone to loose?

Any advice gratefully received

Quick question guys. When counting your daily carbs are you counting all carns or just sugars? I’m eating lots of salad and veg as I need the bulk to feel full but I find veg is taking me over 50gs a day.

For your information SkyWalker, I do not “allow a house full of fussy eaters.” They all eat very healthily, and have a varied diet full of fresh produce. They just have different tastes, that’s all.
Thank you.

I took me a while but I think I’m finally there. I used to have 1 tsp of sugar in my tea, tried no sugar and would rather just no drink tea at all, tried stevia, back to sugar, reduced to half a tsp, none, up, down, a third of a tsp, none… Months of back and forth. But finally I almost enjoy it without sugar! Even though I’m eating carbs for a few days for a blood test, I haven’t gone back to sweet tea.

Hi Wheelie
Welcome to the start of a new you.
Everyone on here has their own motivation for doing this diet and sorting out their lives.
You sound as though you have the kind of determination to make this work for you.
Dive in.

And everyone else on the forums looking to start the BSD.
Give it a go.
Start now. Don’t wait.

Lots of people prefer two larger meals. I prefer spreading it out it suits me better usually. I think with this to make it a lifetime commitment and a lifestyle change in many ways we have to let go of the numbers and just accept the losses as and when they come. That’s what I’m trying to do anyways.

On the bavk of yesterday’s experiment I had no idea how easy it was to make salsa. I doubt I’ll buy any in jars anymore!

Hi Lynne – into the 11’s – that’s brilliant, congratulations
I convert weight in and out of KG & imperial – it gives you more milestones, you can be pleased at being in the next stone down, and the next 10kg down too!
I already ordered a spiralizer last night – one of the small pencil sharpener style ones. Space is at a real premium in my kitchen, and that’s before the advice in the book on putting everything away, so I’ll see how it goes with that one!

Hi All

Just about to start this diet – been to the docs and bloods taken, she is a bit lery of this but is willing to go along with it.
weight is 108kg, waist = 48 inch

I have been a paraplegic for 29 years, and was managing well untill 2007 when i was diagnosed type 2 diabetic, then it all went sideways. within a year i had a sore on my foot, this was sorted by adjusting the footplate that i rested my feet on, more evenly spread weight over the foot, and not localised, but then it went to the backside. large ulcer developed on the ischial area of my butt that required bedrest…….for months…..then hospitalised……14 months of that……finally surgery to close of the wound.
the surgery has been repeated another two times over the last 6 years.

I am at a point that i am so tired of hospitals and if i do not get this weight off it will kill me… so motivated greatly by this book and the potential it offers me to get right and live a lighter life…

i will be posting into this forum about once a week to give my progress for those who may be interested.

wish me luck
Wheelie

Hi joosterhoff.
Just back from Indoor cycling (Spin class) which has some good HIIT training in it.
Can’t seem to register that activity on my Fitbit. Don’t know why??? It currently reads that I have burned 944 calories today so far.
MFP allows 377 calories for 45mins of this kind of class.
My pulse rate went up over 140bpm some of the time but my resting pulse is now 54bpm.
I am not super athletic but I will be playing a game of tennis this afternoon and was thinking of doing an extra class for the first time tonight. I have had no problem with my exercise regime and the 800 calories of BSD but burning 700+ in one class sounds HUGE and well out of my range!!!!!!!! Not sure if my info helps????

Igorasusual…..You can also fool MFP by inputting false data on food and drink then deleting the entry. Really good to check on the effect of drinking that glass of wine. What would the results be like if I’d eaten that chocolate or if I hadn’t done that long walk???
The exercise seems to make a large difference in the weight loss predictions.

Spookily I started using MFP 5 weeks ago and it has successfully predicted my current weight loss.!!!

Thanks for that comment CaptainLynne 🙂 Maybe I was making it too complicated – will stick to the principles in the book and see how I get on. Wow, would love to not get hungry during the day, (while eating well othertimes). I used to joke that I would like one of those astronaut tablets as find it annoying looking for healthy food during a short lunchtime and then of course there’s avoiding the chocolate!! 🙂

I hope to follow in your footsteps soon!

Fab on not worrying unduly about going slightly over the counts for cals/carbs as blips do occasionally happen. I’ve decided I want chocolate so have been busy finding horribly expensive but very high cocoa/cacao content stuff online that consists of cocoa and cocoa butter with nothing else added. The joy of it is that a tiny bit of that will work wonders and not make me want rancid commercial ‘chocolate’.

The plateau thing with the scales is just annoying. I tell myself that it is hormonal or just weight fluctuations in the day. Was being a bit obsessive with the scales the first couple of weeks.

I’m having roast chicken thigh for lunch with salad and then heck sausages with veg later on. Mostly eating twice a day at the moment.

Hi Linda,
Yeah, some days I can relate to that poor chook, though today so farnot too bad. Have lost 1.2kg in the first 3 days. Hoora! I managed to sort some of my lunch food out yesterday then just chopped a bit of salad this morning. Its sunny and cloudy 14 c according to the ambulance. Woking with a lovely aussy today. Work till 16:00, then if not too tired a bit of study, dinner, bed.
Have a good one.
Beth.

Hi Especially

Welcome to the family.

I’d got to the stage where everything I ate included bread. I used to panic if food wasn’t readily available when I was out.

I started the BSD on a Saturday- works better for me.

Just finished 21 weeks and it’s become a habit, a new way of life. From always being on the lookout for food, I now only eat breakfast and an evening meal – I’m not hungry inbetween.

When you read the posts you’ll see some eat three times a day, some twice, some snack, some don’t. I’d suggest cutting carbs, sticking to 800 calories, eating full fat products and drinking lots of water. I’ve been overweight for over 50 years and have to say this is the first plan I’ve found to be sustainable. And don’t worry what others say – you’re doing this for you and your health.

Hope this helps.

Hi I am going to start the diet this week but was worried as I am a vegetarian . Glad that I saw this forum as it has given me hope that I can do the diet . I have ordered some of the cookbooks mentioned on the thread x it does look a little overwhelming having to count every item even salad ingredients though! I have been told I am pre diabetic and my doctor says I have to get weight down – 4 stone to lose which I put on in last six years! My old doctor wanted to put me on medication even though I have not got diabetes yet! Glad I can substitute quorn for chicken and I eat Greek yoghurt daily anyway so a good start . This seems like a great forum and good advice x

Hi, I also got the codefree machine and lots of extra strips/lancets. Got mine on ebay. They are definitely the cheapest for the replacements that I’ve found.