Lunch time,
Yummy.

I now have the list of carbs per 100 Grams per food type. Many thanks Hashimoto.
So I am going to convert it simply to say :
Apple xxx carbs etc as I haven’t found the perfect apple of 100 Grams 😀😀😀😀
Walked passed the bank of vending machines upstairs, now full of crisps and they have added popcorn.

They are test driving some fancy foods for the gym about half a mile away.

Shakes
Low fat this and that
Butties
Cereals
Etc
Starting at £4.50 for a drink
Need a mortgage to get lunch, will be avoiding that one in a BIG way.

Happy sorting my own lunch out.

Keep happy, keep losing, keep going

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Thanks Bill, always good to hear all is well.

Talking rubbishy ,fast
Thought occurred to me I used to have some kind of sugar rush or drop and have periods of speaking absolute rubbish for a period of time but this week I’m more stable and very relaxed ,anyone else notice this or do I ring the shrink 😜
Alan

Hi Christina
To answer your question – sugar is an addictive substance! So it’s hard to stay away from. And we live surrounded by it. I was at a coffee stall at a famous museum the other day. They had dozens of items there but not one was not sugar and carbs. Luckily I wasn’t tempted. We live in a carb- addicted society. Imagine if any other addictive substance was in every shop and on every street corner! Argh !
End of rant!
Penny

Pasty – great!🏆
Penny

Have been out of the loop for a week, but am now in Turkey with some wifi access again. Have been trying hard to keep control of diet and think I am succeeding at the moment. Have been checking for ketones each morning and getting some result, although most of the time it is only just registering – taking that as a positive sign (hope I am not completely deluding myself there!).

Was difficult to keep properly hydrated on the way here, as spending hours at a time in the car is not readily compatible with just popping to the loo. This of course didn’t help the constipation problem I was already struggling with, but I’m pleased to report that since arriving at destination, both issues have been successfully resolved. Have found the Omega seed mix from H & B has helped no end with the constipation and now we are in our apartment, I can make sure to stay hydrated with ease.

Visited the local food market yesterday to stock up on some beautiful salad veg and strawberries, fresh herbs, fresh eggs, nuts and spices. Limiting myself to the occasional glass of red, plenty of strawberries and yogurt, fresh salads with meat or fish and the odd nibble of cheese too. I have a pair of cut-off that historically I have had to leave the top button undone on, I can currently do it up with space to spare, so I am going to use them as a measure of how I am doing – if they get to tight for me to button comfortably, there will be a major review of diet!!

I will drop in occasionally to see what is happening on the forum threads, to see how everyone is getting on and add a post or two as well, but in the main, I am going to be on my sundeck with my kindle!

Hi Eureka
Thanks for the advice. I m not down enough yet. Another stone to go. I agree Jenny Ruhl is great, she read everything that exists I think to find out the real facts.
I was being a bit tongue in cheek in my previous post. When I’m down enough I will experiment.
Thanks, hope your readings go down
Penny

Hi Lucyjane
Make sure you get support from here before each event- I have been to two weddings and managed ok but a 21 st birthday party undid me. I had a teeny piece of cake- made me stuck for a week!! I ve tried to learn from that but the internal social pressure is hard to resist. You don’t want to feel antisocial. Anyway if you fall off the wagon people here will help you back on.
Penny

Hi Dawn I’m a Greek Yoghurt convert, with added frozen cherries/blackberries, + chopped seeds/nuts and sprinkle of milled flax and chia seeds.

I make it the night before, keep in fridge in little pot, and take to work. Personally I try not to eat it until about 11 30am. If I’m busy this is quite easy. I have a black coffee when I arrive, then about 4 glasses of water in morning.

I have made shakes the night before but didn’t enjoy them so much. I think it’s better to eat than drink. I really love the extra sprinkles of good ingredients as some crunch with my yoghurt.

Once you get organised buying the new items, It’s much better. Good luck.

Fine fees ?!? Fingers! Haha

It’s been a roller coaster over the last few weeks. I have pain and numbness in my toes. Had in left toes for years; recently also in right and tingling and beginnings of numbness in fine fees. So to GP. Tested bloods etc normal, after discussing might be diabetes. Meanwhile got Michaels book and did M test and BMI etc. BMI 31.9! Waist 48″! Weight 15 stone! So even tho not dia. soon could be. Yet, though decided to do the 800 bsd it’s now gone 10 a.m. And not eaten – kind’ve stalled.

I have just found a couple of recipes that sound good, not tried them yet, so didn’t want to put on Recipes yet – thought I’d share in case anyone interested. I wouldn’t buy the flax flour but just grind up my flax seeds in my nutribullet. Apparently it is good to have the parmesan very finely grated. I found it here : http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/2012/01/zero-carb-flax-meal-pizza-crust.html. Would be interested in how it compares to the Caulifour pizza base. Will try it soon.

Flax & Parmesan Pizza Crust

INGREDIENTS PIZZA BASE
1 cup flax meal (ground flax seeds)
½ cup finely grated parmesan cheese
2 eggs

Mix the flax meal and Parmesan (or Romano) cheese in a medium bowl. Add the eggs and stir until a dough is formed. It will be sticky, let it sit for about 5 minutes or so until it’s easier to work with.
Wet your hands with water to help keep the dough from sticking to them and press onto greased cookie sheet about ⅓ inch thick in a circle. You should get about a 10 inch crust out of it – if it’s a lot smaller than that you are making it too thick.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree (F) oven for 8 minutes. Remove.
Add toppings. Bake for another 15 minutes at 350. Remove.

TOPPING
½ cup sugar free marinara sauce
1 Italian Sausage Link, cooked and chopped
½ cup broccoli florets, cooked
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

SAUCE I make a simple red sauce using 2 cups tomato puree, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp basil, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, 1 Tbl olive oil (optional) splash of lemon juice or red wine vinegar. You don’t even need to pre-cook it – just mix it well and spread however much you like on the pizza

Par-bake the crust as described above.
Add your toppings and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees (F).
Cut into 4 pieces. Each piece is considered one serving. 1 piece Calories: 381 Fat: 19g Carbohydrates: 4g Protein: 24g

Here is the alternative recipe, whihc has more carbs
. http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/2012/09/low-carb-gluten-free-pizza-crust-2.html

Salty it will take a week or two for your body to adjust, some see results earlier.
At the moment it is having to deal with a new energy source but as the weight goes, so the fat will begin to drain from your liver and pancreas, that is when the results will show.
You may experience short term rises in weeks 3 to 4, a few of us have but they tend to stabilise after a couple of weeks and has been explained as stored sugar being released by the organs into the bloodstream

I started the diet on Monday. My stats were 15 stone 8 lb and my blood sugar was 7.8. After three days on the diet my blood sugar has went down to 7.2 and then back to 7.8. I have not put a foot wrong on the diet with three litres of water intake each day. My weight this morning on the morning of day 4 was 15 stone 1 lb which I actually had to weigh myself 3 times before I believed it. I understand the initial weight loss will be predominately water but my question is about the blood level, how soon do you see a difference in it and am I expecting miracles to happen too soon or am I doing something wrong ? All recipes I have used are from the book and I have not went above the 800 calories per day.
Any help would be appreciated.

I’m mostly walking more.

Glad you had a good time.

Drinking more water does seem to help with just about everything, so worth a try.

Another pound down and my trousers are getting baggy.

Yoghurt with some fruit, nuts or seeds doesn’t take long to prepare – no longer than pouring milk on to cereals and it doesn’t make a noise.

Great news. Just had a telephone call from the practice nurse at the surgery. I can come off my meds!!
I saw her yesterday for results of blood test and she said she would check with gp. She was well aware of
Dr Mosley and his diet which was a nice surprise, as I was recommending it highly.
I have to stay on the diet and keep an eye on sugar levels—-but no more pills.

Week three – total write off!
Went on holiday with friends to Ireland
Had a wonderful time ate and drank far too much but hey ho!!
I did have one of the best meals ever in a small Irish restaurant – sort of thing would have sent master chef judges wild!

Anyway damage 5 lbs gain (I was expecting more !!).
I now have a clear run for the other 5 weeks (adding on one as cannot be counted!!)
Back in the saddle lost 4lbs so far this week but feeling so lethargic!! (Not like me at all). Should I be drinking more water – I only drank a litre yesterday, Any tips from anyone?

As everyone has said, there have been many improvements other than scales wise. My skin is better by miles – I was prone to greasy skin but it’s much better now. My blood sugars have halved. I now look forward to every meal and savour every mouthful!! Some of last year’s summer clothes destined for charity shop now fit me and some are even too big. My fitness through walking has improved and I actually look forward to my walks. Just a few improvements after 6 weeks. Now to get the pesky scales to change!!

That’s fantastic news ArranGranny I bet you feel like shouting it from the rooftops !
All doctors surgeries should get copies of these success stories,but then no free lunch from the pill company’s !
Sceptical Alan !

Salmon and green leafy veg are fine Alan, the BSD gang are just trying to help! The book (have a look at the Mail on Sunday online article as well) has lots of good recipes and as another poster said, it will help you with menu plans as well as help reassure you that what you are doing is ok!

You will get the hang of it, promise and good health and a good body will follow!!

227 signatures!! Hi lynne I will look again at the diabetes UK site 🙂

Hi Hawkes,
I get Mac Berry Harvest Blueberries I usually get them from Frozen Direct on Marshlands Rd , they are NZ berries grown in Ohaupo

Hi Peteinthebayou,

I have tried the cauliflower rice and loved it!! Will never go back to boring rice again. I added the coriander & cumin powder as I didn’t have seeds. Have you seen the recipe in the book on page 241?

hi, I’ve been increasing my calories, I am now eating the same calories as before this diet but NOT putting weight back on. In fact I am still fat burning and losing a few ounces a week! My latest trousers were feeling rather baggy, measured my waist – unbelievably I have lost another inch of my waist!! I will NEVER go back to eating starchy carbs as they obviously were not good for me. I can honestly say I don’t miss them!

I was having lunch with a group on Saturday and I must say the enormous slabs of cake they had after lunch turned my stomach! I couldn’t help thinking of the damage they would be doing! Not a flicker of interest in tasting any! 🙂

Well done Lucyjane! You give me hope my ‘whoosh’ is around the corner. Im sure my scales will stick for awhile. Tried not to weigh myself but this morning gave in, no loss for a week now. I was hoping for 3 lbs a week. Into week 3 now.

Anyone else hungry, like all the time? I think it’s all mental. I am drinking 2l water every day which is huge for me, but I think the inner carb-addict just wants carbs, even though I think I’m not actually hungry. Been good at having the only carbs I eat as vegetables. Ive read a LOT of low carb books, incl. the new atkins and the big fat lie , the rosedale diet, and The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living… when couting carbs that if its high in fiber, the fiber counters the carbs, so if its a 20 carb, 10 fiber item, subtract the fiber, and ttl carbs are 10. Ive let my cals sneak over some days, but only with non carb items. I read once that if you consume a lot of protein, over a certain amount, and it gets stored as fat, so try to make up your extra cals in fat, not all protein.

This is a really interesting, sciency resource for low carb: https://www.grc.com/health/lowcarb.htm. I found the podcasts really helpful, though I’m such a carb addict, it seems to go in one ear and out the other. Yesterday morning, Used ketostix, def in ketosis, quite pink, but at dinner really wanted a mini buttermilk roll, 90 cals. So good….but today I feel like crap.

I noticed on this diet, aside from scale-anger-management, that I have felt better, breathing better, lungs feel clearer, sense of smell – actually walked in the park and noticed smelling better. After the carbs today I feel set back and bloated. why do we love stuff that is so bad? I wish days-off didn’t throw us so off-kilter. Im sticking with it, but have had more success in past with 5-2 and even just giving up sugar. At least with 8wk bs diet, im eating real food. Ive done the Cambridge diet for 7months, so if i can do that, i can do this. Hang in there, guys! Watch my weight on twitter .. @christinaweight

Hi writer_56, you can post in here. You can also post in your profile.
Many of us keep a record, some on paper, some like me on an excel chart. It helps to have something you can show at medical appointments as well as for your own delight!! It really is lovely to look back over your data, in whatever format you choose, and see how far you have come on this journey.
🙂

Neohdiver I’m keeping everything crossed for you. You are a strong woman so that is in your favour xx

Morning Lucia, I’ll be puddle bashing with you!!! My friend has a dead plant in a huge pot with several inches of water on the top! I think it may be root/pot bound. I think I will get wet trying to get it out of the pot!!! I will be splashing in stagnant water! Thank goodness for hot showers and old fat clothes!!!!
xxxx

I’ve also had an improvement in my asthma! I took my (long) peak flow charts with me to my bloods appointment with my asthma nurse. She was thrilled with the difference between 2015 and 2016 – it was all there in blue and red!!! Blue and red because I record morning peak flow in blue and evening in red. An average peak flow of 420 in 2016 but only an average 340 with drops to 220 in 2015. The lowest point in 2016 has been 3 recordings of 350 with most around the 420 mark and often as high as 440. Some of that difference will be down to taking azithromycin 3 times a week but some is down to the weight loss I have only been able to achieve on this particular diet, along with the improved energy levels and general well being. My asthma nurse once again commented on how healthy I was looking.
I know hypothyroidism cannot be cured but this diet has had a remarkable effect in that I could not lose weight before, I was permanently tired and foggy brained. All that has changed. When I say I was permanently tired it would better be described as total exhaustion!! Getting my morning shower would leave me shattered. I would have to eke out my jobs, i.e it got to the point I could shop one day, steam clean another, hoover another, garden another. It was crap!!!!
I can’t say enough that this diet has totally changed my life!

Like Bill says, don’t worry about weight loss stalling – it happens at times. Carry on and you will reap the rewards 🙂 🙂

Odette, I love your post. Well said! 🙂

Hi penny,
Yes, he is a bit odd but I kinda like his style. He’s funny for a doctor!

Hi Deb, I love princess cruises, they are the nicest people. I’ve been on the sea princess twice.

Well said Odette
a lot of us have experienced plateaux at some stage of the diet, fortunately for me it has just happened at the week 11 stage.
There have been various reasons put forward for this happening and remember, every diet I have ever tried has a plateaux somewhere. Is this the fault of the diet or is it a normal human bodily response to a new way of eating ?
I think it’s the latter as all diets are different but all seem to show this problem.
If your weight loss has stutered or temporarily stopped or if it is slower than others, what other advantages are you experiencing? If you are type 2, are your sugar levels reducing? are you sleeping better, feeling fitter, enjoying food more ? Ladies I’ve heard a lot of women talking about improvements to the skin, Judith has seen an improvement in her hyperthyroidism.
Summing up, on 800 calories and restricted carbohydrates, the majority of people have to lose weight, it is really unavoidable. The speed at which we lose it and the hiccups along the way are individual things.
This way of life does work, please persevere and the results will come.

Hello my first post on this thread, I read it because most days I don,t lose despite sticking carefully to the plan.

But a couple of thoughts…
I don,t think of giving up, because the mediterranean/lo carb way of eating is the ONLY option for obese or diabetic people if they want to retain their health. So if it takes 8 weeks or 8 months it doesn,t matter, because I hope to still be eating this way in 8 years time, or even when Im eighty!

However the first part of the diet plan, the 800 calories a day is a big ask, as your body is making so many adjustments to it,s digstive system, hormone balances, sleep patterns, blood composition and nutrition, it goes on and on, and these changes are all positive, though they won,t show on a set of scales. So worthwhile, even if your body is on a slower wieght loss pattern. AND You will lose weight .

Don,t think about giving up, if it really is too challenging, think instead about ‘swapping’. Where you move from 800 cals to the 5:2 + mediterranean. Michael Mosley does describe these options in the book, and changing to the less demanding route might be what you need to do, as I said , this diet is not for a finite period of time, it is until you are 80 and beyond, Very best of luck!

Hi Lucia
Just read your posts. How wonderful you sound. It becomes really easy to low carb after a while and the results are amazing. Originally you were asking about breakfast – I have 2 poached eggs which are amazingly filling and take no time to prepare. Sometimes I stick them in a cup and mash them with some butter or put them on top of lean ham. I also sort of semi poach them with the ham and some spinach in a covered frying pan with a little water . I usually buy yogurt in a 1l bucket from Lidls and use it in coleslaw etc. Good to hear you are doing so well

Thanks Sooziesuzy
I guess I have made the mistake of reading the label once and assuming that they would be the same thereafter. I will be more persistent in my research from now on!
We have a lot of blackberries on our land but they are finishing, (and I am about to try to reduce their number too) and they are particularly large seeded, being wild. They are not nearly as tasty or juicy as cultivars.

This morning my BSG was 6 and last night post prandial it was 5.8. In the morning it has been regularly in the low 6s now. Having made the original comment all I can say to everyone is be patient this does work. My average BSG is now 6, 5.9 being top of non diabetic and 6 being right on the verge. I am due another blood test at the end of the month so hopefully it will be below 6.
I started this diet in January which in a way was not the best time given that both my husband and I had significant birthdays, various family celbrations and a holiday. I have just come back from a week away again and yes I did have ice cream in the heat. What is more, having left 28C to arrive back to 7C rain and wind with several hours to wait on the ferry home, cold and hungry – I had fish and chips comfort food , fantastic treat ! I now know that I can do this occasionally and burn carbs off, or compensate with very low carbs after. However, 4 hours later when I got home my BSG was 5.8. Delighted ! Not that fish and chips will be or ever was my normal diet but treats are allowed and you can live a “normal” life on this diet once your BSG comes down and begins to stabilise – just compensate. Persevere this does work. We are all on our own journey with varied paths to the same destination and we will all get there in our own time

Sneaking out of the office to blog is fun.
My work colleagues who think I am mad , also now think I have should I say, a problem..😊😊😊😊

Rain forcast which means more calories burned.
Puddle bashing…

Hope you are all having a good day.
Love Lucia
Xxxx

To everyone who have supported me and offered advice,
I have just entered my third week, a little disappointed. I did well the first week, moderately the second and have now petered out. I was extremely disappointed that my weight is “plateaued” so early in the diet. Then I read that many others are in the same boat. So I am “soldiering” on . And , yes, I am drinking water [ somedays so much water is making me nauseous ] , lowered my carbs, upped my good fats and stopped counting cals which was the advice of a a few of you, which has certainly made life in the kitchen [ is there any other place to be ? ] better, I can actually get out into the lounge room a bit now. If weight loss is slowing down at this time in the diet, I find it hard to be positive for the next 6 weeks ! I read of all you good people starting to lose again after a plateau but can’t really believe this will happen to me, fingers crossed.
jillyB

I also seem to have hit a plateau (week 6, day 4). I’ve lost approx 10% of my starting weight so far but am now stuck. Eating the same, walking the same miles, nothing’s changed. At least I’m not gaining weight though! Stuck at 12st 12lb for 2 weeks now yet my clothes continue to feel baggy. I listened to a You Tube interview with MM and some people lose 30lb in 8 weeks – how brilliant is that!!

Hi Lucyjane…It sure was exciting losing that much. Now it’s just a waiting game for the scales to move again 🙁

Hi Lucyjane, day 15 and the scales moved after 11 solid days! 2lb down nothing today. My friend went sugar free (much like this diet) and it took her a good 5 weeks before the weight started coming off. Look we can’t carry on with such a massive calorie deficit without loosing weight, right? No we are not in ‘starvation mode’ as many friends have told me. I’m putting it down to a slow adjustment. Yes disappointing but still doable. Let’s get to the end of the 8 weeks together, stay strong x

The BSD book has an interesting recipe for cauliflower rice – has anyone tried it? I found this link on the UK Guardian website today and I think I’ll certainly give some of these a try. Looks like the recipes have been around a while – amazing what you can find buried in the depths of the internet http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/apr/06/10-best-cauliflower-recipes.

I also have sleep apnea and uses a CPAP machine every night to stop me snoring. I am 6 weeks into BSD, 11kg lost so far and looking to kill of another 3kg over the remaining 2 weeks. It’s been a while since you posted this – how did you get on ?

Hi Hawkes
I had been concerned that my local blueberry supply, frozen when they were plentiful, was finished, however, I found 1 kilo bags produced by Gilmours, says “product of New Zealand.” These are smaller than my usual variety of blueberry but eminently edible. There is also Sujon, a Nelson brand, but you have to read the packaging each time as the country of origin can vary. Currently I have frozen N.Z. boysenberries from Sujon. And for my most favourite I get Windermere Farms frozen raspberries, which are from Wanganui. I find all these berries at New World.

By the way I think I will be sleeping in my lunch hour, not doing a 2 mile walk like you… but another kilo and a half off after a longish plateau so well pleased with that. It was due to lack of sleep as nothing changed much with the diet!

Good morning Lucia ! I woke early today to try and catch up with my backlog at work after a few days of annual leave. Hope you have a good day and have recovered from the sprouts. I had problems when I ate a wholebag of stir fry veg (mainly bean sprouts and cabbage) in one sitting and my husband suffered as much as I did even though he hadn’t touched them😷 .
The birds are singing up here and although it looks like rain I love to be the only person in the family up and able to listen to them without the girls squabbling and making demands of me!
Have a very BSD day all!

Hi David and fellow Aussies missing bread. Have you tried the Herman Brot bread? It’s a dark moist seed bread made with sweet lupin flour. Only 2.3g carb per slice so easily fits in a low carb diet. It toasts and freezes well. Check their website for suppliers near you. Apparently no good for people with peanut allergies, as may trigger allergic response.
I consider myself in remission from diabetes because I know if I ever go back to high carb eating I’ll have high blood sugars again.
If you are considering coming off meds, bear in mind that some of them work by stopping the liver releasing stored sugar. So you may find your blood sugars increase simply because your liver is doing what you want it to, and getting rid of it’s fat stores. It may only be the fasting sugar that spikes and your post meal ones stay in a reasonable range.
David, I tried the Slendier noodles and preferred the spaghetti type ones in a sauce. They are fine in laksa or in a home made pasta sauce. Not much cop in a stir fry as you found. I use bean sprouts or spiralised zucchini instead.

Hi Sandi,
A few people have found that the calorie count isn’t very accurate so I would add each ingredient. Does your app have a section for recipes? If you save it in recipes you can refer to it if you make the same meal again. I’m not familiar with the fitbit app sorry.
If you are doing the diet to lose weight and not because you currently have blood sugar issues then just stick with the plan and not worry about carbs too much. You will lose weight on 800 cals. It’s only when you move to maintenance that you might need to consider carb values of certain foods as well as calories. Those of us managing blood sugar levels, as neohdiver says, need to monitor carb intake.