Hi Kath, I’ve googled this and from what I can find is that if you don’t go lower than 20g carbs a day and keep WELL hydrated you should be ok. The carb number most people aim for on this diet is about 50g a day. There don’t seem to have been any clinical trials on this subject – just opinions.

The hydration level is very important in this regard so please make sure you drink your 2 to 3 litres of water a day.

I don’t know whether you have a history of kidney stones but if you do just keep yourself well hydrated.

Wishing you the best 🙂

Oh captainlynne I so wish I was in Switzerland (because it’s beautiful and if I’m there I’m on holidays!) Born, bred and living in Australia.
That’s why I was 38 minutes out when sending your SURPRISE 20 week good wishes (I really thought I’d done the maths properly, oh well). Looking forward to reading about your progress for the next 5 lbs. Have a great day.

Wow, Willf, that is fantastic news. I have still lost a bit of weight and improved my health doing what you are about to do Willf.

BTW welcome to the veterans club now that you are over the 8 week line : )

Hi Kerri, I started in Mid January and lost 2 and a half stones by week 8. Since then I have increased my calories and still lost another half stone!!! I can actually eat more calories now than I could prior to the diet without putting weight on. I think your friend would benefit from just a few weeks of the BSD if she didn’t want to go on for longer. Cutting out all starchy carbs would also help her even if she did nothing else. But I think overall, a few weeks of 800 would do her the world of good 🙂
Perhaps she could be your diet buddy???? 🙂

The fast 800 is easier to do than the 5:2 and carries the health benefits that didn’t occur for me on 5:2 🙂

Well done DemiMondaine.

My ‘today’ is over here in Australia 💤🌙 And tomorrow is Mother’s Day here- so Monday it will have to be for d- day

And I’ve lost 5kg. In the previous three months, I’d lost 5kg too. So 10kg lost altogether this year.

I’m so pleased.

Wow Hashimoto that is a big loss and such a remarkable improvement in your health. How long have you being doing it?
My friend did the 5:2 and lost quite a lot but I will pass on the information you have mentioned as she is also trying for a pregnancy.

Hello all! LAST DAY TODAY! Has been very successful apart from the glitch with the rising bs levels! I have lost a stone (I’m a fat insider!) so this was great for me but more importantly I’ve lost 4″ around my middle and my BMi is down to 22.1 – in 8 weeks fantastic!! Morning bs is still a little higher than I’d like 6.4 this morning but testing 2hrs after eating my reading was 5.4 – can’t ask better than that! I feel great, mentally and physically. I’m going to stick with it but not count cals so rigidly and allow myself a few carbs. Can’t wait to go back to the doctor and poke him in the eye for scoffing! My goal is being achieved – I’m down to 2 metformin instead of 4 and next week I’m going to cut it down to 1 a day. Not sure whether I should take it in the morning or at night though. Anyone know which would be better?
My advice to anyone starting or losing heart – STICK WITH IT WE CAN RID OURSELVES OF DIABETES!
I’ll keep you all posted, meantime good luck to all of you and thanks for all your support and advice!

Calling all British Citizens wherever you are! Please sign our petition! Thanks : )

Kerri, like Izzy, I say just start it! Today is as good as any other 🙂

JSR How did your party go? I have shopping and lunch out with friends tomorrow and they like a bit of wine. I’m a bit worried!

Hi kerri, you’re not prying, I do have hashimoto’s, hence the moniker. At the time I joined the forums were mostly filled with T2 or pre diabetics – as you would expect for this diet. So I thought I would declare I wasn’t. There are quite a few of us with hypothyroidism on these forums.

Diabetes and Hashimoto’s are both metabolic diseases. No matter what I did I piled weight on. This diet was my last chance saloon. Following this diet is as beneficial for sufferers of Hashimoto’s as it is for diabetics. Clare(michael’s wife) explained in a post to me that my health improvements were due to reduced inflammatory markers in the body as this diet reduces insulin resistance.

I have lost 3 stones, have a BMI of 21.3. I have reduced my massive doses of steroids for my asthma and bronchiectasis. My acid reflux has gone. I sleep better. I have my life back as I am in better health and have much more energy.

You really should persuade your friend to follow this diet as it will prevent her from getting more health problems and improve how she feels now.

You really must warn her that a lot of people with Hashimoto’s develop gluten intolerance. Mine led to diverticulitis as I hadnt realised I had become intolerant of gluten and suffered awful symptoms for years. It is also possible to become ceoliac when you have hashimoto’s.

Wishing you (and your friend ) all the best 🙂

Bongo, well done!
My weight fluctuates by 3 or 4 lb throughout the day so I always weigh at the same time. I’m on day 7 and have lost 4.5 lb but I really struggled last light as it’s traditionally our pizza and sweets night! I spent the evening roaming the house for snacks which is not a good idea. Cottage cheese and celery sticks worked well for a while but I was still very grumpy. Must be even more addicted to sugar than I thought. Feel better this morning though.
Thanks for the recipe suggestions – I’m going for the harissa chicken tonight.
Hang in there – everyone says the first week is the worst! We can do it.

You guys have had some awesome first week losses well done!! My first week was 6 but that’s stI’ll a lot so I’m still happy 🙂

Georgianna I hope your health is ok and those pains don’t return 🙁

And welcome KerriB 🙂 don’t put off starting just do it! The quicker you start the quicker you will see the benefits!

Many of those who’ve done it a while like Hashimoto are great support to the rest of us and lots of tips if you read around the forums. good luck 😊

Congratulations and well done. It’s amazing how much better food tastes isn’t it? Almost like when you stop smoking (if you’ve ever been a smoker).

Oh don’t be silly- not worded badly at all😉
I suspect you are right about the followers. I hope I am not prying but you have hashimotos? One of my best mates does too.

Thanks for your posts and good luck with your diets.

Now at the start of day 5 have just done the morning weigh in and have lost so far a total of 5 3/4 lbs. I was actually prepared to have inched back up this morning as when I weighed last night I was nearly 3 lbs heavier. Lesson learned, weigh at the same time every day and no other!!!

I really, really can’t believe how much I’ve lost and am prepared to plateau at some point as some of this is obviously water.

I’ve discovered two book recipes that are delicious, the lamb and pine nut meatballs and the harissa chicken and today am branching out into my own recipes so am prepared for a lot of weighing and calorie counting.

I really hope I can stick to this for the full eight weeks.

🙂

Great job! I concur with all your sentiments. I be lost 6 lbs in 5 days. I remember lurking on this website for a couple days before I actually took the plunge and finally I came across a post that seemed to be talking straight to me. The poster said, ” I know you’re reading this contemplating jumping in. Just do it!” I started that very next day and I’m so glad I did. Let’s keep going!

Oh, I worded that badly kerri, I know you weren’t looking, just making an observation. I can’t imagine a man joining ‘chit chat’ but they do exist on the forums. I’d like to bet more follow than post as well! 🙂

You’re doing great Izzy 🙂

Just wondering if anyone has successfully had a cheat day on this diet that didn’t derail all their progress. My hubby’s birthday is tomorrow and Mother’s Day brunch is Sunday. Yes this is basically a post about cake lol.

Disclaimer: I’m a newbie. I am on the program solely to lose more weight. I’m not prediabetic or diabetic. I’ve lost 6 lbs in 5 days on this program. I walk uphill for a half hour a day 5 times a week. I have had 2 babies is two years. I’ve lost 30 lbs through diet, walking and weight training. Before I sin I’d just like to hear about who has honestly had a cheat day and lived to tell the tell. I don’t want one tiny piece of cake to ruin my progress.

Thanks!

One week down and 7lbs gone forever! 😃
Haven’t even felt like I’m on a ‘diet’ as I’ve thoroughly enjoyed everything I’ve eaten, and have not felt hungry once.
To be on a diet and not feel hungry is a huge plus for me as it’s the dreaded hunger pangs that have caused me to fail time and time again on other diet plans.
I’ve weighed and written everything down …kept to 800 cals/day, and 50g or less of carbs. Not followed the diet plan at all, just developed my own menu. Given up my beloved diet coke, and developed a new liking for sparkling water with a slice of lime. I only drink 1 cup of tea per day, and whilst I still have to have a couple of sweeteners to make it palatable, I am slowly reducing the amount I have.
Funny to think of how daunting this diet seemed just 1 week ago, and now it’s almost second nature already.

Oh I am not looking for them!! 😳 – just find it curious that the forums are often predominantly women. Now that I think about it, the title of this one – chit chat – probably scared all the men away.

That sounds great happylife! My husband uses some shakes but his are high calories. He has an oat shake every day that is 800 calories by itself lol. He needs the carbs and calories though. He trains a lot and is very lean, he has never been able to gain fat his body just works too fast. Jealous? Me? Yup lol.

I’m yet to decide on the days menu… hmmm

Hi kerri, welcome to the forums and the BSD way of life!
This is easier than 5:2 and your body quickly adjusts.
There are some men on the forums!!! But you may have to look at other threads to find them.

Good luck with your BSD journey. : )

Hi Tallyho, fantastic weight loss!

I do my own version of fast 800 since I hit the weight I want to be – i just eat the BSD way with more calories and no starchy carbs at all. I haven’t had to rethink what I eat – just slowly added more until I was happy I wouldn’t put weight on. My GP was happy with the weight lost and how I lost it 🙂

Sounds like we had the same weight to lose! I lost 3 stones too 🙂

Hi everyone
I am from Brisbane, Australia and I haven’t started yet- start Monday. I am trying to get psyched by reading all your posts and this thread seems like a lovely thread full of supportive people.
I have read through all your previous posts and can relate to little bits of most of your stories. I work full-time and have a Mum who I help care for outside of that – she had a catastrophic stroke a few years ago and my sister is her full-time carer. ( she has very high care needs) Her illness triggered a major depressive period for me – I stopped working and functioning. A lot better now but just very keen to get strong and lose weight. I was on a diet earlier this year which was along the same principles as this but much higher fat – made me very sick because I don’t have a gall bladder – so I will be going easy on too much fat on this diet.
I am married, have two teenage stepchildren and many animals 🐱🐔🐶. Also keen on art and painting but not much through the hard times – when you just feel like doing nothing.
I did the 5:2 just before my mum got sick and it was successful but just can’t seem to get back into it again so going for the full immersion diet this time. Have also bought the fast exercise book and have started the HIIT training.
I am worried I will give up if it gets too hard so I am going to keep checking in here for inspiration.

P.s where are all the men?

Hi Eureka/ Marcia and everyone else who is trying to do a bit more exercise than they normally do!!!!
Well done Eureka on your step count for the Marathon.
Understand a bit about having a dodgy knee as dislocated my knee and completely ruptured the posterior cruciate ligament. After an MRI scan was told that, simply put, all the ligaments had been damaged. End of my sporting career then……joke!!
Definitely want to try to avoid the replacement route…..said no to further surgery myself. Did masses of strengthening exercises to make the knee stable and that has worked for me. I am 63 and able to exercise and play tennis…..badly!
Take care then and listen to your body a bit. You certainly don’t want to risk a fall on uneven ground. But controlled exercise must help.
My physio friend, helpful,friendly and fearsome as she is; told me not to worry about noises coming from my knee when she was dishing out free and evil advice to get me moving again after my accident and op.
Despite a couple of long days in the car have according to my Fitbit nearly walked a Marathon distance. Should do that today so that will be just over 6 days walking=Marathon distance.
Happy days. Fantastic sunny walk through beautiful bluebell woods by riverbank last night. Have to appreciate being able to do that.
Keep moving everyone.

Hi Actionmum, welcome to the forums and the BSD way of life!
You are not alone on these forums full of friendly, helpful people on the same path as you. There is always someone to support you and laugh or cry along the journey 🙂

Congratulations on what you have achieved so far! 🙂

Like most people, my motivation is two fold. As in the past, it’s vanity, I want to look better and be more confident. But this time I also want to improve my health. I’ve got reactive hypoglycaemia which means I overreact to insulin, dropping my blood glucose too low after eating carbs. And I’m finding not eating carbs means the BS doesn’t rise In the first place, so no overproduction of insulin and no hypos. Brilliant! I’ve got arthritis too, had both knees replaced which are now fine, but all the rest is crumbling a bit! So carrying around less weight has got to help. All positives!

If you are a British Citizen please could you sign our petition? Thanks 🙂

Hi georgianna, bissel and HappyLife, you are doing so well! Congratulations to all three of you. It won’t be long before your clothes feel loose! 🙂

Sorry to hear about your scare, georgianna, hopefully it will turn out to be ‘ just one of those things ‘

Hi, I’m glad you are getting an Aldi soon 🙂

Hi Chongololo Very good idea – Actually that was one of the things I was investigating, I’ve been doing a lot of reading over past 2 weeks.

I haven’t ever taken vitamins on a regular basis before, but now am taking a good multi. and some spirulina I already had. I’ve ordered vit D and also iron and B supplement yesterday! So I’ll be rattling soon. Let’s hope they make a difference. No weight change again for third day.

How are you doing now, have you managed to avoid the carbs so far? I hear you live in Perth WA? My son lived there till very recently, we went out for his wedding taking place in the Botanic Gardens one February, and boy was it hot! Amazing but so hot. Hope you shrink soon , and thanks.

Wow, lynne that is fantastic! That 5 lbs won’t last long at this rate so you will soon be in the 11s.

Our very own BSD poster girl forging the way for others : ) 🙂

Well done Georgianna and Happylife! Excellent loses! I’ve lost 7lbs in my first week and although I know it won’t continue like that I am really pleased. I’ve never lost that much in one week and believe me I’ve been on soooo many diets! On the whole I’m feels much clearer, if that makes any sense. And am keeping busy in a slightly manic way by digging on my allotment and painting furniture. The sunshine helps things along too, I find. I felt quite grumpy (!) yesterday and hungry too. But hey, that was yesterday. Now, what can I paint next?!
Good luck with the day!

Thanks Switzerland. Are you actually in that country?

Ok folks – happy to report that another 3 pounds has gone. That’s a total loss of 52 pounds 😃

Another 5 pounds to go until I leave the 12s behind and my weight starts with an 11! It must be over 10 years since I weighed that!

Checking in at the end of week 20.

Another 3 pounds lost. Total weight loss now 52 pounds.

For those wondering about cutting carbs, but not counting calories – it works. That’s what I’ve been doing.

No snacks (Well, almost none) just three carb free meals a day (except my birthday and a couple of other actual ocassions eg it’s a friend’s weding today and I will eat a piece of wedding cake). I was very strict with myself the first few days and felt like I did have to try quite hard then and sometimes felt hungry. Since then, I haven’t been hungry and have so far lost a stone (7 weeks).

I do have to pay attention when shopping and not just grab what I fancy without thinking ‘are there carbs in that?’ and to make good choices and sometimes leave food on my plate when eating out, but that’s a small price for improved health. I’m still eating plenty of things I enjoy and don’t feel deprived.

Thanks hash, I can’t wait to be an 8-weeker (Monday!) – nothing will change because I’m continuing for another few weeks on 800 but it feels like a big psychological ‘thing’.

Hi Actionmum,

An amazing loss for 3 weeks. Your happiness is justified.
These forums offer so much support. As it’s global, there is usually someone reading the threads to answer any queries and offer kind words.
When people have never had to struggle with losing weight, they really don’t understand – remember Week 1 Day 1 and before that when you always felt hungry? And then as the carb cravings settle you don’t feel hungry all the time – I’m pretty sure the ‘not feeling hungry all the time’ is how people that don’t have weight/carb problems feel all of the time. It’s hard to understand when you haven’t experienced it and coupled with weight loss myths (eg she/he can’t lose weight because they have no willpower) people like us end up with the ‘perfect storm of no/little support’.
I don’t have anything to offer you in terms of how to get your friends/family on board. Hopefully as they notice you losing weight and you educate them about the BSD they’ll come around.
Meanwhile, use these forums, as often as you want to – there’s a world of support here.

Hi Lisa, yes, it’s true, some of the recipes are way off with regards to their calorie count. I personally check each ingredient and if the total differs, I write it in the book next to the recipe.

Like you I began by following the suggested menu in the book, but after the first week I found that some of the recipes weren’t to my taste at all, without even taking into account the differing calorie count. I now only use some of the recipes that I really liked, and the rest of the time I cook low carb dishes that I know will fit into the carb and calorie count.

I didn’t know about the Facebook page, so will check it out. I need all the inspiration and support I can get, people keep inviting me out to meals all of a sudden. And not because they’re trying to sabotage my diet, they don’t even know I’m dieting.

You’ve lose weight, so the calorie differences can’t be too bad, but checking them for yourself might help speed things along. Good on you for losing the 12 lbs.

As I have started this new path of life style change, I find myself mostly solo. I’m not complaining but at times it would be nice to have support from people around me. All my family/friends have never had to struggle with their weight. Does anyone else feel like this at times?
I’m now into my third week, I have lost 6 kilos (13.2) pounds. I am extremely happy with this!!! I hope everyone has a lovely day!!

nah, there’s not much sugar in there, it definitely hasn’t woken the carb monster at all – and oh Hashimoto – we get Aldi on the 9th of June! WOOHOO I am excited, we have been waiting donkeys ages for it, I will go through it with a fine toothed comb!! I hear they have good greek yoghurt too.

Saturday near lunch and all I have had is coffee do far, i guess I should go break some eggs or something, ho hum. Stayed on plan yesterday, in fact was under so bad I had a babybel and a boiled egg before bed. must remeber to keep the water up, I have been a bit slacker in this regard the last couple of days, nad its water which is used up in the fat processing – so not enough water, not enough fat burning!
seeyas.

Hi Georgianna,
I am so sorry you have had such a scare and I hope things resolve themselves quickly for you with happy results!!
On the other hand amazing news on the weight loss from your first week – AMAZING!!! I lost 9 pounds and thought I was doing well – I have a lot to lose!!
Re negative feelings and physical ailments I had several this week with the first two days also being the absolute worse…. I am still having tummy problems again too much.
Hang in there and I am wishing you the best always!!

Hi everyone, I have had one heck of a week Both good and bad. I will start off with the good. I have been on the diet exactly on week today and have lost 13 pounds. It hasn’t been easy. Two days into the diet I started having chest pains and have gone through a series of tests. Still don’t know the answers. It has been a very stressful week. Can’t tell you how many times I wanted to give up on the diet, but so happy I stuck with it. The only thing that got me through was by reading everyone’s posts.

hello – Eureka has got you covered, but I just want to add – do you take an iron and B vitamin supplement? being vegetarian makes that a bit more crucial. If you don’t, then I recommend liquid iron (tastes disgusting, though) called Fabfol. My iron dives quickly so I have to watch my intake of these too :).

you would be amazed how a deficiency can make you feel, when the deficiency is gone! A good multi a few times a week when on the diet is my rule too – 800 cals doesn’t give you a lot of wriggle room.

That’s a great weight loss Tallyhoo, what an achievement! 🙂

Hi captainlynne, (….hoping I’ve worked out the time difference correctly)
All together now. SURPRISE! Happy 20 week BSD to you.
Thank you for your posts, they’ve given me an insight into the BSD way of life and its possibilities. Congratulations on all of your achievements on the BSD.