Don’t ever let anything new discourage you ever…. I have personal friends who have lost a lot and kept it off. I was just hoping for some input in their study. 😀

Thanks so much Captain Lynne, I am still figuring out the threads so appreciate the guidance!
💜

My two cents:

You can’t argue with the statistics. It appears sustained extreme loss like done on TBL does forever (6 years on at least) depress your metabolism and also cause your hormones to ‘up-regulate’ so your appetite increases etc. Making weight regain likely, and also meaning the focus shoudl not be on losing weight – but on maintaining weight you’ve lost. More studies are required, much of the published data on hormones (leptin, ghrelin etc) is based on rat/mouse analogues, but anecdata from large groups of big losers seems to indicate increased appetite post loss is definitely an issue. (I trawled the reddit threads, fitness, xxfitness, loseit and fatlogic when all discussing this study – all of those have LARGE numbers of subscribers, hence my assumptions)

I think that TBL is the extreme end. Those people exercised 7 hours a day and restricted heavily – they had many MANY thousands of calories deficit. Its likely this effect is magnified in them. Also, many of us may be overweight because we naturally deviate from the mean in terms of TDEE (cals needed to maintain current mass) in any case.

No corrections were made for those who had any sort of binge eating disorder, which is apparently known to depress metabolism. I have not looked for papers on this as yet, so just a point.

finally, many of those people still do fiendish amounts of exercise – a LOT of exercise naturally makes you hungry. There are a couple of papers which found exercise in the maintenance phase helps to regulate and decrease appetite early on – but how much? where is the tipping point between maintaining good health and appetite not starting to skyrocket?

Also, i draw all of your attention to our experiences here on the BSD. Cut simple carbs, see dramatic decrease in hunger – this is physiological, related to hormones/insulin. Hunger when you are on plan is emotionally driven as a rule (see point about binge eating etc above) we will all give in occasionally, and then feel like we are back on day one when it comes to appetite – but it goes away…

I think that this study is useful. It makes us aware about maintenance traps, and expect to have some hunger, know why its there, and manage it, however we choose. Some people still like to work out a LOT and just cope with the hunger pangs because they have goals or aesthetics they are aiming for. We are all NOT engaged in anything as extreme as TBL contestants, and now we are armed with more knowledge to help us manage our maintenance phase when we get there.

the take home message is food intake and movement must be seen as a lifestyle adjustment, and maintenance phase by definition means you can’t go back to how you were – we know that. Those with Type 2 have daily glucose readings to help re-inforce the good habits, and pull you up when you stray for a bit.

this study is a little daunting, but I also think its empowering as well. It certainly explains my gradual 10kg regain over two years!

Well I honestly do not care because if I can loose the weight and even keep it off one year heck 6 months even then that for me is still worth it because less weight for me means less arthritis and back pain. I’m all for anything that can give me a better quality of life even if it only last a little while. I refuse to be discouraged!

I actually signed up to the Forum to get a perspective on this! In the book Michael disputes this but I would love to hear his rebuttal to the latest research…

Well it’s almost 8 pm and I did not eat anymore of the crackers I made
thepolly thank you for your input. I stuck to my fast today except for my handful of the low carb crackers, my energy has plummeted though I keep drinking water and raspberry tea I’m waterlogged I’ll be glad to eat tomorrow but then Thursday is my day #2 fast . I must find a better Inspiration and become more determined and focused! As I stated before I MUST DO THIS AND NOT FAIL!

Keep at it folks! I reached my under 100kg first goal this morning – 99.9kg and that’s good enough for me to celebrate! Feels great to be this side of 100kg again. Now to head for 95kg by the end of May… I’m feeling very confident I’ll reach it.

The BSD 800 diet is awesome! I’m not following the recipes or menu plan in the book and am doing my own thing – over the next couple of days I’m going to construct my own menu plan following the principles so that it’s as nutritional as the one in the book. I haven’t been hungry on this diet and I haven’t had cravings.

I have been counting carbs and do notice that when I keep the carbs around the 50g per day mark AND drink at least 3 litres of clear fluid (water, tea, decaff coffee) a day I lose weight. I am sure that drinking all that water is the key. When I don’t drink it I get the headache again.

I have consistently heard on health programs on the radio over the past few months that exercising doesn’t contribute much at all to weight loss – it keeps us toned and builds muscle, which is heavier than body fat. There is a lot more in this diet that simply restricting our calorific: understand how the mechanisms of how the body processes and uses the food which we eat is key. It’s what we eat and when we eat it. The BSD 800 has been carefully put together to ensure that we don’t get hungry or cravings past those first few days, provided we remember to drink lots of water too. And it works. So many people in this forum can attest to that.

It can be disheartening to go through those plateaus every other week. That’s the time to pick up the pace with exercise, walk a few more steps, etc. Exercising helps to boost our mental state and confidence as well as tone the body: it builds and improves our immune system too (much more than all the super foods and supplements can!) I think the magic in the BSD 800 is the fact that we’re eating as much as our bodies need (for normal daily living) and the 10-14 hour fasting that is built in to it and the 5:2 diet do the rest of the work. Michael points out in the book that the diet has three aspects to it: calorie restriction, increase in exercise and mindfulness practice.

My husband has lost 2kg on the diet so far, compared to my 10kg that’s not a lot but then he doesn’t have as much to lose. I love how this diet works for us as individuals. That aspect alone has sold me on it. It works with our individual bodies, helping us to gain health, whatever that means for each of us.

Keep at it folks! I reached my under 100kg first goal this morning – 99.9kg and that’s good enough for me to celebrate! Feels great to be this side of 100kg again. Now to head for 95kg by the end of May… I’m feeling very confident I’ll reach it.

The BSD 800 diet is awesome! I’m not following the recipes or menu plan in the book and am doing my own thing – over the next couple of days I’m going to construct my own menu plan following the principles so that it’s as nutritional as the one in the book. I haven’t been hungry on this diet and I haven’t had cravings.

I have been counting carbs and do notice that when I keep the carbs around the 50g per day mark AND drink at least 3 litres of clear fluid (water, tea, decaff coffee) a day I lose weight. I am sure that drinking all that water is the key. When I don’t drink it I get the headache again.

I have consistently heard on health programs on the radio over the past few months that exercising doesn’t contribute much at all to weight loss – it keeps us toned and builds muscle, which is heavier than body fat. There is a lot more in this diet that simply restricting our calorific: understand how the mechanisms of how the body processes and uses the food which we eat is key. It’s what we eat and when we eat it. The BSD 800 has been carefully put together to ensure that we don’t get hungry or cravings past those first few days, provided we remember to drink lots of water too. And it works. So many people in this forum can attest to that.

It can be disheartening to go through those plateaus every other week. That’s the time to pick up the pace with exercise, walk a few more steps, etc. Exercising helps to boost our mental state and confidence as well as tone the body: it builds and improves our immune system too (much more than all the super foods and supplements can!) I think the magic in the BSD 800 is the fact that we’re eating as much as our bodies need (for normal daily living) and the 10-14 hour fasting that is built in to it and the 5:2 diet do the rest of the work. Michael points out in the book that the diet has three aspects to it: calorie restriction, increase in exercise and mindfulness practice.

My husband has lost 2kg on the diet so far, compared to my 10kg that’s not a lot but then he doesn’t have as much to lose. I love how this diet works for us as individuals. That aspect alone has sold me on it. It works with our individual bodies, helping us to gain health, whatever that means for each of us.

Your tasteless spicy chicken and lentils, need no be so Bongo, throw some chopped toms, garlic and tbsp. of curry paste in there, it will be amazing.
Thank you Peter king for your encouragement an well done you, that’s fantastic. My 6.6 this morning was the lowest its been since I was diagnosed. glad your nurse is supportive, seeing mine Friday, we’ll see.

Thanks everyone for your posts today. I’ve ordered the Code Free but in the end direct from the Amazon seller which was even cheaper than via Amazon. The test strips certainly seem a cheaper lot.

When I was planning on the Accu-Chek Aviva I was thinking of purchasing from Lloyds pharmacy who had it at a good price. But when I went to buy yesterday I discovered it was out of stock. Searching elsewhere suggested it wasn’t being restocked (cannot remember where that was) and then I tracked it down elsewhere but they had low stock and the site had a message about it being discontinued. https://www.weldricks.co.uk/product/3171261_accu-chek-aviva-blood-glucose-meter?source=pl

But if you already have this monitor, I haven’t seen anything about the test strips being discontinued. TBH I’d probably have bought the Aviva if it hadn’t been for HappyLass’s post about the Code Free one

Hi Izzy!
Thanks so much I am already almost 100%! I drank a ton of water and took Umcka every 3 hours and vitamin C so hoping I kicked it to the curb quickly.
Stayed on my food plan, thanks, my hubby does most the cooking since I can be busy with clients and he’s retired. He’s been great as always as I try something new for my health. 😀

Reading all your posts really helps me know I am not alone in this journey!
💜

Lauren you have done amazing on this plan.
Honestly, I know people
Who has lost huge amounts of weight and kept it off for more than 5 years so I really think the biggest loser show issue is they work out 6 hours a day while there and done when they go home.

You are doing great!!!

Hi HappyLife

You are welcome. That’s what we’re here for – we’re all learning as we go along and pass our experience on to those starting out. There are two threads on here ‘over the 8-week line and beyond’ and ‘over the 16-week line’ that you may find interesting. Next thread will be at 23 weeks as I’m on holiday at week 24!

Hi Eureka

We did think about bringing that one home 😃 Decided it would be difficult to get him across the border though LOL.

If you don’t find the totem you could always buy bear bells! 😃

You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day – unless you’re too busy – then you should sit for an hour.
Old Zen adage

Hi keeptrying, I got my book on ebay for £3 I think 🙂

Hi Captain Lynne!!
Thanks so much for your wise overview as I really wanted to hear from someone like you with experience on this plan. Perfect information and your advice is well appreciated!!
💜

Hi Jani123

Where did you hear the Accu-Chek Aviva is discontinued? I obtained one just before Christmas and when I just looked online there is no mention of it being discontinued. I’m in the UK.

My favorite breakfast is 2 tablespoons heavy cream (not half and half) in coffee (100 calories) and if I am really hungry or am going to the gym, an ounce of cheese (100 calories). It sounds crazy but it keeps my hunger at bay, gives me lots of energy and provides that good “fat full” feeling. I got the idea from the Duke University Lifestyle Diet which is low carb (20 grams carbs per day — very low).

Hi general lynne
That sounds great too. I’m sure they wouldn’t miss one Mountie & I’d feed him well 😆 He He!
Husband will have to make do with silver totem on a chain then

you are doing well , it takes a bit of patience but its very rewarding when you see the results , i was a raving 15 and within 6 months im down to 6 in morning and have gone as low as 4.2 in afternoon , stay off the carbs , try the chick peas , haricot beans , chicken breast , like i pile my plate up but with the right stuff , and if things look bad just say ” is the mountain too high for you ” , ive had to read the book 4 or 5 times just to stay on track , the nurse today even thanked me for the information about the book i gave her today and she said i had the best results that she has seen yet this year.

Sounds like you’ve had a lot to cope with Polly, have you taken any help for your depression? Please do if you haven’t. It is important to look after yourself especially when you are looking after others. I had to have help myself in recent times.

Hope everyone is well, I’m still hobbling along on my blistered foot.

Hi SkyWalker. Thank you for your thoughts. I wait to see how my visit to the doctor goes, but I am not optimistic, especially as I have to tell her that I have stopped taking my statins. We will see.

Hi Alanhypno
Well done. Can see you are getting the knowledge & practicing it. Your BS will settle & reduce I’m sure if you keep on keeping on.
Look at http://www.phlaunt.com. It’s Jenny Ruhl web site. Author of Blood Sugar 101, second edition. And Diet 101 The Truth About Low Carb Diets. Look for True Normal Blood Sugars. Professor J S Chtistiansen’s data, page 15 in Blood Sugar 101.
Our present blood sugar targets are set too high! They are based on decades old outdated data, before continuous glucose monitoring was available. The powers that be haven’t changed it. WHY???

My powder is still dry & I need my blood sugars to be stable before I launch all the ammo I’m storing! Let you know when I’m ready, then duck❗️ 💣

Could the dizzy spells be low blood pressure?

Hi Eureka

Met said Mountie (a sergeant) at top of the mountain. He told us it was normally punishment detail (going round talking to tourists) but he fancied a change. Seem to have a few photos of me with police officers in different countries (well, USA and Canada) 😳

Think you might have problems bringing a totem pole home😱

We drove up the Rockies from Salt Lake City, visiting east side of Yellowstone National Park (and ‘Old Faithful ‘) on the way, and over into Canada. Bannf & Jasper before returning down (west side of Yellowstone this time.

Hope you feel better soon, and that you got on ok with your food today.

Your post reminded me when I was pregnant with my daughter (she is 11) I was the same except I couldn’t eat fish either I was pretty much vegetarian for the pregnancy. I would cook meat and even look forward to eating it and then… nope, couldn’t eat it. It was a pain at times I remember staying in a hotel for a week with work and all they had on the menu I could eat was baked potato and sandwiches.

It was different with her brother I could still eat anything 🙂

Hi

Well done and good luck. I started today and have found day one not too bad, though we had the spicy chicken and lentils for tea and it wasn’t the tastiest thing I’ve ever eaten.

Ah, aside from movies I don’t watch TV. I don’t often get blisters but we did walk about 8 miles lol. I was grateful to get home and into my squashy slippers tonight haha, but having had to pop to the shop after dinner my steps are up to 9350 so I’m not far off 10000 anyways. I’m hoping the discomfort eases off by tomorrow.

That’s disappointing about the accu check monitor being discontinued as that is the one I bought for myself and my husband! I find it very good and can only assume they are accurate but they do give slightly different readings. I bought kit from local chemist (same price as Amazon) with meter, lancets and strips. Is quite expensive getting more lancets and strips and yes you do need one lancet and one strip per reading. Hope you manage to get one, I think it is brilliant to be able to keep a check on blood sugars and if I had known about them would have had one years ago when I was first diagnosed as pre-diabetic.

Hi Lindy Lou,

I’ve been more worried about getting enough fibre with restricted carbs. Also I’m keeping track of my food with my fitness pal app and it doesn’t subtract the fibre content from the carb amount. So I was probably getting less fibre than I should have.

Think I’m still working it out and am 3.5 weeks in lol

Hi general lynne
Meet you there then. 👍 Am looking for a Mountie hat ( with Mountie attached. Due South, Paul Gross).
Husband wants a totem pole? Good luck with that then 😅
Should find one in Bannf I think? Or Vancouver. We stay Lobstick Lodge🦀 Great name.
Want to stay on the food rails, don’t like Maple syrup. Don’t like sweet stuff anymore. Great diet 😀

Hello, yes I would like to do this. I had a look at some of your suggestions and thought perhaps the Palouse site was the way to go. I feel like my life is crazy at the moment and do not have tome biput that is the point! I have meditated on anfpd off for a few years but need to be consistent, I will let you know where I am up to as it would be good to share ones learning.

Julia thanks so much for asking
Down one and half stone in three weeks never hungry no shakes or head aches but bs reading doesn’t change much before food and two hours after 7.5 before 7.4 after
Not doing morning for awhile yet as they’re erratic .
Not cooked any menu food I love the fish we buy and chicken ,lots veg and salads.
Alan

Snacking on healthy things is much better than grabbing anything so definitely the way to go. Finding things to do to distract yourself from dwelling on food helps. I’m still thinking about what time I’m going to eat but weirdly it isn’t because I’m hungry – just habit.

Those crackers sounds lovely but I’d be worried that I’d eat them all.

It is so reassuring to hear all your stories, I have just put a post on “this has to work for me” detailing my disastrous weekend and how rubbish I feel at the moment and disappointed in myself. But had much better day today, less carbs, more water and more exercise so hoping for an improvement soon. I didn’t realise how well I have been following this diet until the last few days. Need to get back on these forums again.

Interesting to see how drastic an effect the carbs can have. I was wondering if not having carbs for ages makes you more sensitive as well. It’s academic though I suppose unless you knew how they affected you before you started the BSD.

I have yet to start monitoring my BS readings but am wondering if anyone can tell my what 88 mmol means in the decimal way of reading blood sugars?

Great on getting back to your steps, Shadow2.

Bill that is really multi-tasking and then some 😀

Polly x

Kris Please let us know how you go on with your blood test results ,from what I read on here the blood test at doctors gives an average over last three months so maybe more accurate as overall average but I for one would be interested in result as mine aren’t stable yet but only week three
I found the Beurer app is great for recording bs with a graph also blood pressure and weight graph it’s free on my iPhone
Alan

captainlynne, well done on your fantastic results they are so impressive. Hope you have a good week.

Just checking in. Sorry if not around much, but have a work situation needing time and energy. Will keep reading posts and post when I can. Reading the posts and sticking to the BSD are helping in a stressful situation. Thanks everyone.

Hi does your husband suffer from regular low sugar readings.
If so he should see the doc about reducing his meds. If not he shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
Do tests between meals to confirm.

I had a thought while making my dinner, are his dizzy spells, hypos where his blood sugars are getting low? He may find that when he is on a low carb diet, his blood sugars won’t spike up high like they do when you eat carbs. Once he stops eating, rice, pasta, potatoes & bread, his blood sugars will be on a more even keel and may not dip so low. So for the first week, he could carry around his glucose tabs but I doubt he’ll even need those after a week or two. I think he’s worried like everyone was when they started that he’s just going to be to hungry. For a few days he will be, but you get used to it and then you start feeling the benefits.

Hi HappyLife

I’m one of the old-timers. Started the BSD on 19th December, still on it – just finished 19 weeks – and planing to stay on it at least until I lose the rest of my excess weight.

In that 19 weeks I’ve lost 51 pounds (approx 40 still lo lose). I’m 65, type 2 diabetic (diet controlled but threatened with Metformin before I started BSD). My fasting blood on starting was 10.9. Now it is within normal levels. My BMI ha gone from 40.9 to 32. I’ve dropped 3 dress sizes.

In the 19 weeks I’ve had a holiday and a residential conference where it was difficult to count calories, but I stuck to the principles of the diet – low carb foods, Mediterranean style eating.

I think all us old-timers would say to stick with the plan – low carb foods, drink lots of water.

Any questions, just shout.

Disappointed BS readings
Before lunch of cod n veg and full fat yoghurt Small amount and few blueberries I got BS reading of 7.5 and after 7.4
May start back on my metformin ?
On third week stone and half lost never hungry but concerned it’s too high !
Mornings are erratic as ever
Alan thanks for help and support it helps a lot .

Welcome to the forums.
Yes headaches and flu like symptoms are common in the first few days.
It is down to carb withdrawal and goes away in a couple of days.
Keep the fluid intake up and take your painkiller of choice for the headaches.
This time next week you’ll be feeling much better and celebrating your week 1 results.

Hi, I’m 51 and 5ft 5in. I’m on week 9. In 8 weeks I lost about 22lbs, now weighing approx 12st 5lbs. My max weight should be 10st 13lb so that’s why I’m continuing. I’m also type 2 diabetic so my main concern was bringing it under better control, which I have managed.

Well I have finally got back onto the site although I have read all the posts in my e-mail, had 100’s in my e-mail box after I came back from holiday! Well done to everyone you are doing so well. I had fab Good Friday and manic Monday, decided to have a small piece of easter egg but ended up eating the lot, clearly not quite got the sugar addiction under control. Since then because I had reached my goal weight of around 9st 7lb I decided I would go for the maintenance plan. I came back from holiday only 2 lb heavier but have not yet managed to lose it yet because I think I have gradually had too much to eat. All was reasonably well until the weekend when I blew it by having wine 3 days in a row and a large bread bun and probably too much to eat on the Saturday. I have managed not to have potatoes, pasta or rice and very little alcohol since I started diet but have had odd half slice of bread and porridge once or twice a week which seemed to be working well. I was doing 10,000 steps each day and only been doing half as much over last few weeks. For the last couple of days I have had a headache and last night I had really severe headache in middle of night, couldn’t sleep, drank water in case I was dehydrated along with a paracetamol which didn’t help at all. Before I started this diet a lot of nights were like this and until last night I did not realise how well I was feeling by eating a low carb diet so will need to get back to good eating before it becomes a pattern. I have always believed that these night headaches were caused by my blood sugar but my GP always said it wasn’t. I find it a bit disappointing that this has happened even though it is of my own making. I thought that as I have far less carbs now than I ever have had that I wouldn’t have a problem. Hopefully I am not more sensitive to carbs after following this diet. I did my fasting blood sugar this morning and I was surprised that it was 4.6 which is lower than usual. Could a low blood sugar give you a headache? Anyway will go back to having small snack before I go to bed and hopefully headache will improve over next few days. On a more positive note did 10,600 steps today.
Hashimoto – I read a post of yours about paracetamol helping you sleep, it always helped me and I used them a lot after problems with my neck and cracked rib but got addicted to them so rarely take them now. Co-codamol was good for helping me to sleep but that clearly is not the answer for me now.

He he, he’s devastated, he only lost 4 ounces this week but he has really increased his daily gym session so building muscle.

Hi. I’m 65 and 5ft 2ins. I’ve lost 51 pounds in19 weeks. In the first 8 weeks I lost 27 pounds. In the next 8 weeks I lost another 18 pounds. I started with about 6.5 stones to lose though. Hope this helps

wasn’t someone on telly last week showing folks to stick tape ( micropore I think or similar ) and blisters don’t happen? I think it was the One Show.