that’s good to know Orchid – I read the book very quickly, and a friend has borrowed it now. I’ve been having porridge occasionally, but I always use rolled oats and soak them overnight, so that’s OK. I had one of those instant sachet things once when they first came out. Eurgh – the rest stayed in the box & eventually got thrown away.

I’ve just made (for supper, but it would make a great breakfast) a one egg omelette with spiralised courgette (100g).
90 calories, 2 carbs – very tasty and satisfying.
I spiralised the courgette, cut it so no really long strips, microwaved it, beat in the egg and some black pepper, and cooked the mix in a non stick frying pan. The courgette gave it enough bulk that although it was a one egg omelette it didn’t feel stingy.
I had it with a Greek salad from Sainsbury’s, and added the feta into the omelette – I didn’t weigh the feta as it was already in the nutrition count of the salad, but max 20g, which would add about 50 calories and 1.5 carbs.

Hi Peggy
4 weeks on plan and only 1 slip up is fantastic, do you realise what an inspiration you are to the newbies?
How much weight and how many inches have you lost now?
I’m on week 4 day 5 today and am down 8.2kg (18lb)! Never did I think this was possible before starting 😀
Please let us know how you’re going!
Cheers
Linda

Hi ClairyB, Don’t be nervous about day 1 – just look at it as being the first day of the rest of your life (er corny or what) but in truth that’s how I look back on day 1 – little did I know what was achieveable, as when I started I didn’t have this forum – came upon it after several weeks and so had no idea what other people were doing. 16 weeks in and 3 stone lost – more to lose but this way of living is totally sustainable although it seems like an impossibility when you’re just starting out. 800 calories a day – starvation diet – not a bit of it!

Good luck tomorrow!!

PS Try the stuffed aubergine recipe in week 1 – still my favourite

Yay! You can do it 🙂

Oops, not got the hang of this yet, just replied to Peggy’s first post!!!! Nice to know we are not alone, my sweet tooth is my biggest worry and I haven’t even started yet, wish me luck for day 1!! How are you finding it Peggy???

Hi Peggy,
I know exactly where you are coming from, I am also a secret eater, especially when I’m feeling unwell or having a down day or just feeling rubbish about myself I can easily scoff my own body weight in rubbish and then wonder why I get upset when I get on the scales!! Let’s hope we can get motivated by all these lovely bloggers who are proof it can be done. X

Hi Switzerland!!

I already feel like I belong to a secret club!

I know my joints will improve and the pain wil! be more manageable, if that’s not a good incentive I don’t know what is. Good to hear yours has improved, how long have you been following the plan?? Any ideas for my sweet tooth, I know its my biggest hurdle!!

Hi ClairyB,
Welcome to the BSD and the forums.
This way of life may hold some pleasant surprises for you. While acknowledging everyone’s differences I must tell you that the inflammation on my osteoarthritic fingers has decreased since I have been following the BSD. The pain has also decreased. That, coupled with weight loss and not being driven by hunger/food and a greater sense of wellbeing is what motivates me.
Best wishes for your journey.

Hi Christi1948,
Traditionally here the LSA mix has been available from the health food shop. In recent years the large supermarkets have stocked it in their health food/organics aisle. There is hope, you can make your own(!) If you have a kitchen gadget that will make the ingredients into a powder (about the consistency of breadcrumbs) The mix is: Linseed:sunflower:almonds 3:2:1. It’s one of those ingredients that is fairly expensive to purchase when you’re on a budget. I’ve used it to coat fish (making ‘healthy’ fish fingers) and to sprinkle over oatmeal porridge. I’m sure there are many other uses for it.
I hope this has been some help to you.

that felt like a binge to you perhaps
but as you say, nothing compared perhaps to your past – and certainly mine

you have done so incredibly well to go 4 weeks
and you WILL do more weeks I have no doubt at all

I hope I can last as long as you, although I have already begun on the chocolate (small amounts so far)
x

Hi,
I have just spent the last hour reading g Lucia’s blog, this alongside my sister losing an amazing 11lbs in just one week I feel I inspired to join this gang!!

I, like many of you have lost and gained weight more times than I care to remember! The result of which has lead to me weighing more than I did at 9 months pregnant having put 4 stone on in the 9 months.
I am now 45, feeling fat and unfit and quite demotivated!!!
I have Psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis and I am due to see a surgeon in less than a months time to discuss knee replacement!!
So I need all the help I can get and like Lucia think this will be like keeping a diary for my own benefit but with the added bonus of all you guys.
Wish me luck!!!

After bingeing on sugar regularly for most of my life, I lasted almost 4 weeks without it. That’s a huge change for me. Today I slipped up, though it was a very minor binge (a 100g chocolate bar) compared to my usual form. Thankfully. Still, tomorrow’s another day and all that…

Thanks for the encouragement Rose. I see this as an opportunity for a fresh start and knowing others have made it work helps. Fingers crossed.

Hi Christine

Well done on such a small gain. That will soon wave goodbye!

I’m lucky and know from experience that 1 stone equals a dress size for me. From wearing bras that were nearly stopping me breathing I’ve had to buy new ones a size smaller. By mistake I ordered one a size smaller still – and that now fits!

I’ve bought new trousers – navy so I can wear them for work as well as leisure. And new tops. Last week I bought a denim skirt in the charity shop. And a showerproof jacket (after someone said my old coat was hanging off me😱) I’m nearly running out of uniform skirts and blouses – must get down to London for new ones but trying to wait a little longer. Might try altering one of the skirts first.

For the first time in years I’ve got colour in my wardrobe. For too long it’s been almost exclusively navy and white.

It still surprises me that when I started the BSD my blouses and skirt were getting too tight, now I’ve gone down a number of sizes and the smallest I kept Are now getting too loose!

Hang on in there, Christine. You’ll soon start to like again, and get into those smaller trousers😃

I have just had three walnuts, am smashing it leeanne and Izzy.x

Hi Bumscratch (I won’t ask why you chose that name!) 🙂
Welcome to the BSD world – certainly sounds like you have prepared well. Go for it, don’t worry about failing – like many others you will find you hit the occasional hurdle but, just like everyone else, you will find a way through. Just adapt things to suit you – you only have to read the messages here to find plenty of encouragement & advice.
Like you, I’m not diabetic but I was overweight & experiencing moods, lack of enthusiasm, etc, just as you described. I started the BSD in January, but I didn’t bother with calorie counting (rather I just controlled portions, cut out the bad things) – I’ve had the odd blip (let’s be honest, for blip read pigout) but currently things are under control – I think I’ve lost about 12% of my original starting weight. This is quite a flexible regime. Your body takes a little while to adapt but it does eventually start co-operating. I feel a whole lot more energetic, as well as my clothes fitting better!
It’s really important to make sure you keep well hydrated (2-3 litres of water a day), so you are probably wise to avoid the pub!
Every best wish for a successful weight loss campaign – but this is really a change of lifestyle, you will see & feel the benefits.
Good luck,
Rose

Hi frog, yes I know -it’s amazing how many cals are in some foods. Nuts have surprised me – you don’t get many for nearly 500 cals. Pre this diet I must have been eating easily about 3000 cals a day!! Glad those days have gone.

It’s keeping to the 800 calories with low carbs which will burn your fat, keep trying.

I bought some Ketostix and keep my carbs low whilst not worrying too much about fat. And the Ketostix show I’m burning stored fat.

Hi Weigh In Thread people 🙂

Pleased to report that half way through week 6 I’ve joined Bill in the 13 club… feels very different from the weigh in on day one when I realised I’d joined the being in the 16 club!

Congrats on all those losses lovely people 🙂

So, I’ve read the book and totally connected with the concept of the BSD. I even think the mindfulness approach is going to improve my life. Whilst I’m not diabetic I thought there be something not right because of my flash mood swings and loss of energy and enthusiasm to to anything. This was confirmed when I measured my blood sugar this morning after fasting, 5.6 is just not right especially since my wife measured 3.0. I’ve taken my pictures, not a pritty sight, wrote down my goals and have the first weeks menu sorted for the big day tomorrow. I told my mates why I will not be in the pub for the next 8 weeks, thinking it may help my resolve, I wouldn’t want to be seen as a quitter. Feeling a little nervous, probably because I don’t like to fail,. Happy to here from anyone in a similar position.

Day 2 under my belt now and it was easier than yesterday, hopeful that tomorrow will be easier again. Hardly any headache today and not felt as hungry, all heading in the right direction. I’m keeping around the 50g carbs a day as suggested and have increased my protein and fat from what I’d normally eat. I have felt very tired today but haven’t had the usual sugar crashes from trying to correct it!

I agree with your point, igorasusual
and I probably should be counting calories but I’m not
I am eating full fat yog and cheese, and yes they are far more satisfying
but I think I have been so happily (in the last two weeks) eating these, that I need to just take stock of how much

fat wont make me fat
but if I am eating it, then my body wont need to burn what is on the inside – and there is a LOT of that !!

evening all 🙂

Dinner wasn’t as enjoyable as some of my efforts so I probably won’t do the grated carrotty things again. I still have calories and carbs going free but I don’t think I want anything. See how I feel later in the evening but at least I know if I want a nibble later I can have something 🙂

everyone cross their fingers I will cross the one stone barrier in the morning and not annoyingly gain a pound or something like that!

You’re definitely not alone!! I’m on week 11 and still have days when the craving is horrendous but it does get better and I can resist mainly ( bad day yesterday!). I love food shopping and feeding my family – in fact I’ve become a bit of a feeder!! Lol!

keeptrying – the fat content of your food is not a problem – it’s the total CARBOHYDRATE you need to watch. You need plenty of fat to keep you feeling full.

This is completely the opposite of what many people have thought for many years, I appreciate. Cheese is good, so long as you have the calories for it in the BSD plan – because it’s fat and protein, and no carbs.

Some people here have found the BSD hard to follow, because they’re still trying to keep the fat in their diet down – but full fat here is GOOD!

Hope this helps

Thanks Annemc, that’s really helpful. I managed to do around 7lb in my first work and I’m keen to keep it up.

Lou

well I tried the ‘bun for one’ recipe for tea
its nice – well I am already a fan of the coconut flatbreads and this is a sort of more ‘bunny’ version – if you get me
courgette and avocado inside, with a TINY amount of brie

think I need to eat less fat, or I wont lose any

could no way do 100% chocolate – I find it too distressing to eat chocolate that leaves a nasty taste in my mouth

being a person who has REGULARLY binged on copious amounts of dairy milk etc
I feel I have achieved great heights by being able to stomach 70% !!

(and some of that has orange or raspberry bits in it) 🙂

Hi – re iced tea, you need to just check (if it’s a bought in drink) whether it has sugar in. Or if it’s made from powder, there may well be sugar in.

If you’re making it yourself with tea and ice, then it’s zero calories.

Went to the ball last night……and danced…….and danced 🙂

Congratulations, Barry, fantastic news!

Excellent to hear about your BS readings.

Now you know you can do it, onwards and downwards as the saying goes.

Don’t be too worried if the weight loss doesn’t continue at the same high levels, you will get rid of your carb cravings and continue to feel better and better.

Best of luck for your second week!

Hi Lucia

I am apple shaped – I never quite got the apple/pear shape thing – being horribly overweight, I just felt fat all over.
In setting targets, I realised that my hips are two dress sizes smaller than my waist – top half is around the same size as my hips.

hopefully not for too much longer!

👼👼👼💪🙌👍

I’ve bought expensive 100% cocoa chocolate, it’s very bitter and gives me my cocoa hit. Is sugar and sweetener free but is definitely not to all tastes. Am liking it a lot though – need to make it last ages though 🙁

Ha ha ha. Before i started this I was sucking on whole bars of green and blacks…. Happy days, but for clothes shopping days.grrrr.x

I don’t have a bagel tin so they turned out like rock cakes sort of. They were quite tasty but I think I messed up the mixing a bit as I think they should have had more of an open texture. Here’s the link to the recipe

http://www.yummly.com/recipe/external/Low-Carb-Gluten-Free-Onion-Bagels-1245576

I also added some oregano, basil and parsley.

There are quite a lot of low-carb recipes there which is good.

Bought some 100% cocoa chocolate, it’s really bitter but lasts ages as it is really rich. Hotel Chocolat did it and have a few varieties, sadly it’s a bit expensive so will have to eke it out over weeks I think.

Might add in some total fasting days and see what that does to my sugar levels, will still drink plenty but just not eat. Still thinking about this so it’s not definite but I’ve stalled on the weight loss again and don’t seem to have lost inches either, despite some of my clothes feeling a bit looser, I’m not totally convinced. Can’t find the info about candida in the book, it’s not listed in the index either, will keep skim reading to see if I can find it 😀

Hi almost finished reading the book and starting day one tomorrow – all your comments really helpful, will certainly make sure I count my carbs 🙂

oh, no you are certainly not alone in that – as I stand here sucking on another square of dark chocolate that is meant to not make me want more!!

Me me me. Sorry I have been so needy.
If anyone would like to bend my ears with their gripes, I am here and waiting, I know I am not the only one who doesn’t find it easy to give up sugar.x

Hey Rachel, hope you are feeling better been thinking about you! I’m in sunny Las Vegas and not been sticking to the plan. Had a few glasses of wine and a few things I shouldn’t have, but trying hard not to overdo it. I must say I can’t eat the large portions that I used to so that’s a good thing.

Take care.

Hi Christie 1948
I too am pear shaped.
It’s taking forever to lose a millimetre off my butt, it’s just not fair.
And to start with the size difference between my top half and my bottom half is two sizes.

So I am focusing on eating right and keeping healthy, rather than the inches.

If not, I am going to stand next to a bacon slicer and have a few times taken off each thigh!!

I am not sweating the stuff I cannot control, but I can control my eating and moving.

Keep happy everyone

Love Lucia
xxxx

When I graduate to risk crackers I will try them. 😍
I probably lost more weight because I am bigger to start with 🌷
I am an advanced life coach so wor with clients to improve many facets of their lives and confidence can be key for most other issues that arise.
💜

Well, today is day number seven since I started the diet with Optifast shakes, I must say that it’s much easier than I thought , I’ve lost 9 POUNDS! Which I find amazing.

I halved the insulin as the consultant recommended, and, after a day, I reduced it a little more. My BS has been constantly in the 7s, night and morning, which is great for me. I didn’t want to use a little more insulin to bring the numbers down to the 5s, as I was worried about hypos, keeping it in the 7 range makes me feel easier, as I was having quite a few hypos before. My blood pressure is almost back to normal as well.

You are not alone here I promise you, we are all realising that carb addiction is a real thing. The good news is this way of eating really does help to break the spell!

Keep at it, you will soon be on your way and feeling more at ease with it all 🙂

Hi Lynne,
I got on the scales this morning and I had only put 1lb and 6 oz on after being away from home last week, it’s the same amount of weight I put on when I was in Tenerife!
I know it’s different for everyone but I have lost 2 stone and still only gone down just over one size, my size 18 trousers ar getting too slack on the waist, however I can’t yet get into any 16 trousers, (it’s my pear shape I know) then on top of that my top half is more than 5 inches down and I’m in danger of losing myself my bras are so loose!
I seem to be sticking to the same weight, I know it’s because we are here there and everywhere, I thought that when we retired we would have time to do our own thing, we seem to be busier now than ever! And with family all over the place it’s always busy with one or the other. I know it will eventually start coming off again, I have had these plateaus before they are just so frustrating!
Rant over, I will be on my 16 th week starting tomorrow, I will be strict with myself, I can have amazing will power, then it all seems to go to pieces, oh well let’s see what next week brings.
I hope you have bought yourself some lovely new clothes for your holiday?
Christine.

Thank you, Izzy, I will put the iPad down.x.
Also, have just streamed a movie..10, Cloverfield Lane.. So that should keep me quiet for bit.
I know I sound nuts, but I am actually quite (!) sensible about anything except carbs.grrr. Recipe hunting also sounds like a good idea. Cheers from Janet.

Right. Ok…have sorted myself out some hot water and lemon. Thank you.x

I’m just discovering Kale Crisps now!

put the ipad down! or at least stop looking at food menus! A walk as suggested above is a good idea, as is a herbal tea (which I am always drinking)

If you want to stay looking at your ipad then look at something else. Start looking for new ideas of what you can plan to eat, there are lots of good recipes on this site, and a web search for low carb recipes will find you a big list that could take over your life (hi, I’m Izzy… I’m addicted to recipe surfing online) OR another thing I sometimes do is browse clothes and make myself a wishlist of things I might want to buy when I’ve lost my weight.

The hunger does fade, but I agree again with Igora that you need to make sure it isn’t low fat you are eating. If you think you are about to crack definitely a piece of cheese or a couple of nuts. Even a boiled egg might be good.

I often have food on my mind now but it isn’t in that ‘so hungry could eat a horse kind of way’ it’s just dreaming up new things to try and looking forward to the meals I have planned in. I’m interested and excited by the food rather than possessed by it? Hope that makes sense and you get past the hunger pangs.

haha yes I know I’m already feeling I need new bras, and you’ve lost more weight than me!

Teaching confidence must be very rewarding work, you must say more about it when you have the time.

The crackers are under control, I’ve just had my soup for lunch with some and it was so nice, I’ve missed having something *with* my soup and these are great. That will be the crackerfest over for today.

I’m about to work on my food plan for the coming week, so I will definitely have crackers planned in some days 🙂