This is encouraging to me Kath. I’m in the planning stages and having never been able to stick to a diet, I’m a little worried. I’ve even bought the ingredients for the guilt free brownies cos I think if I don’t and I start struggling, I’m going to need a little sweet boost. I’m just hoping that I will still be here in 5 weeks. Thank you for posting. I start Monday.

Day Three!

(puts hand up for dolphin cruise, waits for hashimoto to out bill as a weekend caped crusader or something equally eye-opening…)

busy work day today, so I didn’t get any peppermint teas into me, but stuck to my three coffees and did manage lots of water.

had two shakes and for dinner I have just finished up chicken breast which I pan fried in a small amount of coconut oil, and I used a dollop of hot peri peri sauce. Once coloured up I tipped in some zucchini, one yellow button squash, and a floret of broccoli (spiralled and sliced up as required) and finished it with a tsp of marscapone cheese to add some fat and calories. Dee-lish-us.

I have cooked vegetables three nights in a row. unprecedented. it does take a little time, but the novelty hasn’t worn off yet. (just as well, day three and all that)

I still have over 100 cal, so I will either have another of the 150 cal shakes, or maybe make a cocoa with some stevia and some of the full-cream milk I bought. Thing is, I dislike full-cream milk, i PREFER skim the most, hilo next – creamy drinks horrify me. Dated from having jersey-cow-warm milk as a kid URRRGHUGH the tongue coating was instant… (jersey cows have high butterfat percentage, and old daisy was especially icky. yes. she was called daisy. I know. don’t look at me, it was Grandad who named her.)

anyway, unsure if I will be able to cope with a full-cream-milky drink. See how I go.

Overall, today was pretty easy, but I was busy. I even eschewed chocolate cake (birthday in the office today) headache was minor last night, I don’t think I will get one tonight, if I do it will be late. After day 2’s ^&%&$ weight gain of .2 I have just glared at the scales so far, I will try to leave it until next Monday. I have to sort of system which will lose one week, and then give me nothing or gain for a week, I read peoples lamentations about ‘no loss for two days’ with amusement – MEASURE you waists, people! when the scales stay the same you’re often still centimeter-ing down!

did a clinical pilates class tonight, I was a tad worried I would be a bit pathetic because of the lack of food, but it went well and has actually raised my energy levels – I did feel a bit flat and slightly light headed this afternoon. My glands in my neck are also slightly up – dunno if its a dip in immunity because of the regime change, maybe I’m just fighting off something? wait and see.

so far, so good. not really hungry, but I did imagine roast potatoes when I was in the fruit and veg aisle. Odd, chocolate and lollies, – MEH. piles of spuds – transported to roast veg and gravy…

still think the most important part (for my relationship with food, and emotional connection to it, comfort crutch etc etc boring psych stuff here) is to focus on each week. not the whole timeframe. not how I’m gonna eat forever. just the right now.

right. time to try the full moo.

Hi Fatblaster glad you’re still determined – must credit the fried garlic and ginger idea to Hawks and possibly Hashimoto among others, it really pays to trawl the threads, when wanting inspiration.

Re sugar crash, hopefully someone knowledgeable will comment soon.

Today I went back to early threads in January, when the first pioneers were just finding their way – interesting reading. Many of them are no longer active here, I like to think they’ve all shed their weight and diabetes, and are happily getting on with life.

I’m now off to find something inspiring to do with an aubergine, another new food ingredient for me!

Hi Natalie
My son did that climb some time ago ! Me ? No Thanks!! Was just giving LindaA some goals 😄 Perhaps a night at the Opera house would be best

I moved to Sydney six months ago, I don’t actually know if you’re allowed to walk over the bridge except special occasions – but what you can do (for a fee) is walk/climb up and over the arch! Very steep and very high. You’re basically on maintenance ladders or something. And you’re clipped onto the railing at all times. But I am very scared of heights I so I don’t think I’ll be doing that.

Hi All,

Just reading through the wonderful posts and making menu plans to commence. Can I ask, does anyone suffer from Acid Reflux (LPR) and tolerate the Mediterranean diet OK? A lot of the foods recommended, like capsicums, tomatoes, eggs and berries, I can’t tolerate. I know I will need to work around this with a little careful planning.

Hi Lucia
Excellent shopping list! Yep junk food seems so long ago. Had a laugh at KFC. I went on hol to St Lucia (yes!) some years ago. The chap taking us round the lovely island said KFC stood for Kan’t Fry Chicken! 🍗😅

Yes I’ll go clean again tomorrow. Eventually I’ll accept that this is a way of life now.

Hi LindaA
Ok. I let you off the bridge til later on!
I’m good. Just thinking what to give my best friend (Linda) for her wedding anniversary meal Saturday? She has to eat very low CALCIUM diet! NO lovely leafy greens for her!!
Decided anti pasti starter, Greek lemon chicken with rice for her & husband, with feta & tomato salad for me & my husband. He’s doing BSD with me. Pud, she likes melting chocolate & I like fresh fruit salad ( strawberries , blueberries, raspberries & cherries). The men love cheese! She low calcium water, but I’ll say cheers with a glass of Greek red wine. Nuts for nibbles. Think that will do. Ta for making me decide. Now I want my dinner!
Cheers 🍓🍒 🍷

Hi,
I only go to Iceland once a month, and I stock up on frozen veg and meat. Some pasta for hubby.
As it is payday this weekend, Iceland has a visit from me.

Re the veg shop.
I get a cauli, drum head cabbage, lettuce, toms, mushrooms, apples, beetroot, celery, onions, water cress, nuts, peppers, pears, radish,
Then
Bananas and new potatos for hubby. I go through them in the week, or prep and freeze them.

Don’t I sound professional, only in the twinkle of an eye, I was going to kfc or McDonald’s or burger king on the way home from getting a trolley full of junk food.

Slapping myself on the back.😇😇😇😇😇
Love Lucia
Xxx

That is a great way to do it! I weigh myself every day, but it can affect my mood.

Natalie just get back on the wagon! These ‘experiments’ have proved to us that we really can’t go back to our old ways. I had an awful sugar crash yesterday as well as the bloated stomach.

I think we have had to try it to understand we can’t go back 🙂

Hi AliB
Sounds like your organised menus will be the way to go for your busy life. Good prep.
Up that fluid intake. It’s not the hot country that’s the problem, you have to drink plenty for this diet to work well. We are shaking up our metabolism to rid the liver & pancreas of fat! You got to lubricate that process! By the end of two weeks you won’t be running to the toilet half as much. Keep going. 🎼🎺

Ok, speaking of failed experiments… I hate tea without sugar, but love the ritual and probably the caffeine too. I don’t like artificial sweeteners, including Stevia, and also tried honey which was disgusting, but after three weeks I still wasn’t used to it unsweetened. At the start of this week, week four, I decided to reintroduce sugar into my tea. Just a third of a teaspoon a couple of times a day, not enough to affect me, right? Hmm. Suddenly I’m eating chocolate every day. And a bit more. And extra healthy calories too, snacking in the afternoon on cheese or cashews or an apple when before I didn’t need food between meals. Now 800 calories isn’t enough. Maybe a nibble in the evening. And today, a huge slice of cheesecake! Yeah, I think I can say the experiment to have “just a little bit of sugar” hasn’t been a success.

Thanks Eureka
I’m aiming for another 20kgs, so 8 weeks may be pushing it, but I’ll give it a shot! I’ve been reading Lucia’s posts and she’s certainly an inspiration 🙂
How are you going this week?

Hi LindaA
Welcome. Wave wave! Great results keep going. Maybe a Lucia challenge of walking over that bridge of yours by week 8?

Thanks so much everyone!

Reading what you all say on Forums is fantastic and definitely the key to keeping motivated and on track. Thank you for your advice!

I’m not tempted to stray despite not losing anything and I agree that I’m probably not drinking enough yet. It’s difficult at work because I teach, and today I’ve had so much water I’m dashing down the corridor and leaving students warming up in my room (I teach Brass and Piano in the UAE!) so I’m reluctant to have too much at work. Not that the kids mind. They think it’s funny!!

My weight reached 131kg on prednisolone and now I’m down to 113. Still a huge amount (but it surprised my new doctor out here!) and the fast gain is responsible for my diabetes. I’ve told you all now. That’s a load off!!! I don’t look that heavy, but I feel it, and just want to be less self conscious, so by sharing the awful number, that’s a good start for me!

I’m going to keep at it and see where the journey takes me….hopefully into smaller knickers!!!!

A 🙂

Hi Tippytwo
sometimes saying I told you so gets a bit boring, but never on this forum 🙂
Pleased to see the weight gone, onwards and downwards for you now 😀

Thanks for all your help. I experienced a sugar crash yesterday, I think? Suddenly very sleepy during and evening meeting. Very wierd. I’m not craving carbs, but I lazily just go for it sometimes. I’ve also plateaued after a blinding first week. Still committed, as generally I feel so well. You guys are a real blessing, too! And the new way of sleeping is a real gift! Onwards and upwards. Love the fried garlic and ginger & veg idea, barby!

Hi Napangardi

Well done for the gym!! I’m not getting anywhere near that at the moment but I walk as much as I can I guess.

I’ve just looked at your profile and we weigh exactly the same!! Well we did…you’ve lost 1.5 kg now and I’ve stayed the same!! Whereabouts in the world are you? From the time difference I would say NZ or Australia? It is 14.23 here right now. I’m guessing you’ll be asleep by now!!

I posted on another thread earlier about not losing anything, and they say it could be because of the dieting already, or the stress I’m under at the moment, the AI or living in a hot country!

I’m at work now, and the only way I can do this is if I am uber organised and plan the week’s food and cook it in advance so it is in boxes in my fridge to grab when I get home. I printed off all of the recipes on this site, so will browse tomorrow and tailor my shopping accordingly. I’ve made everyone else’s food I advance too, so I’m not tempted to stray……When I’m teaching I get so absorbed anyway that I forget to be hungry, and after a while you just get used to it!! Today was a colleague’s birthday and there was cake and fruit. I stole the cake and gave it to my piano student who I was teaching at the time, and wasn’t even slightly tempted. So it must be working!!!

Have a good day tomorrow. It’s the weekend for us Fri/Sat. Looking forward to not having a 4.45 alarm call in the morning!!

Ali 🙂

Ah…LindaA…tomorrow is my weigh in day….keep tuned and I’ll report in.

Thanks Switzerland, it certainly is. I’ve been following your posts too. How are you doing this week?
Linda

Welcome to the forum LindaA – what a great result for you – losing weight quickly is so motivating, isn’t it?

I live in Sydney, Australia, I’m a post menopausal 56 year old female and started the BSD diet last week and today is week 2, day 2. I’ve read the book at least 3 times and I think I have read nearly every post over the last week to learn as much as I possibly could. I’d like to to thank all the regular posters – you know who you are – as the motivation has been wonderful!! I’ve been on diets before, but predominantly low fat and now I know why the weight has always piled back on. This diet is so easy!! I haven’t felt hungry, I only had a couple of headaches on days 2 & 3 and although I haven’t been counting calories (I’ve done this so often, I’m pretty good at judging) I’ve been following the delicious recipes. I’m drinking plenty of water and I’ve built up my walking over the week to at least 1 hour a day. The result????
Starting weight 89.9 kilos, one week in…85.3kgs. A massive 4.6kgs (just over 10lbs) in the first week😄 Sugar hasn’t touched my lips, I’m only eating good carbs and I’ve stopped drinking alcohol. I’m lucky not to have T2 or be pre diabetic and I’ve no other medical issues to worry about. This is now my life and again I’d like to thank everyone who encourages us newbies. I understand that this sort of loss won’t continue every week, but it’s one hell of a start😀

Hi Whalleyrange
Great stuff. Welcome to the new way of life.
That is exactly what we are trying to change. Low carb Mediterranean diet for all Type 2 Diabetics, world wide would be great too!

Hi Ali, just got back from the gym….feel tired but good! I am determined to get there three times plus a week. I am literally five minutes walk from place but of course drive as evenings are easier for me…. I do not know what I do in the morning but I never have enough time.
Sorry to hear about your flare up..and given you have lost so much on your own I suspect not shifting as yet is to be expected, I am weighing each day and have lost 1.5 kilos. I am not finding it easy but I know my eating is habitual and of course stress related.
I am enjoying however experimenting with recipes. I need to plan for my return to work…have never done this when dieting as I tend to cook when I get home but often eat as I do!
What is the time difference between here and AbuDhabi.ie as I write it is evening….

Hi Bill1954 & hashimoto
At least we are narrowing the field down re foods to walk away from. It’s knowledge we didn’t have before.
I know that Gliadin, in the Gluten of bread ” kills” me! I love bread & potatoes. They don’t love me anymore SOB 😥

Hi Revenanto & Carolg
Great work both of you. There is something about this BSD way of life that hooks you in. Not just losing the weight, but finding (maybe for the first time) that you are in control & really feel much better than you have for a very long time.
Do it while you can. Do it while you want to. Try & do the low carbs bit for the rest of your life. This Mediterranean diet is really good. Don’t forget Prof Taylor’s words, to maintain Your personal target weight, eat two thirds ( 2/3) of the total amount you used to eat
Keep on keeping on

Hello Peggy,
I have lost 19lbs in 4 weeks, and experienced one frustrating plateau, but starting to see a pattern of losing on 2 or three days a week and staying the same most days. So I am less worried about no weight loss days.
My Mum often jokes and says she hates being old, but the alternative is worse! I feel the same about the diet, the 8 weeks is challenging but the altenative is to revert to my ‘normal’ eating habits and be lfat and sick. So keep going – it can’t not work, and the timescale is not important as long as you keep going.
Two suggestions: buy some ketostiks – Sainsburys pharmacy and Boots sell them and check in the morning that you are in ‘ketosis’ – burning fat. (If not cut down the carb element of your food and increase the fat) and secondly, don’t ignore the mindfulness part, it is easy to just focus on the eating, and for some of us mindfulness and meditation is challenging as we resist being quietly in our own company… You could try the website headspace.com where you can do a free 10 day course of short meditations – it is a lovely gift to yourself to take just 10 minutes out the day to care for your emotional well being. Keep posting – we all want to help and know how you are doing!

Hey an update to cheer you all up if you haven’t lost weight after day 6 or similar, I weighed myself this morning Day 10 and found I have lost 3lbs overnight – just like Bill1954 suggested happens sometimes. Hooray, for those of you that are struggling with this, keep motivated and keep going.

Hi AliB
Welcome. You are fighting battles on many fronts & stress is a huge influence on the body.
Calories , carbs & 18kg weight loss already is all excellent. A FBS of 4.7 wow!

You, like me are in this for the long haul. Sometimes I’ve gained, sometimes I’ve lost weight. I’m getting there because I’m doing it. Not beating myself up when weight goes up. I am getting there because I need to, I have to. I’m Type 2 Diabetic. This is not a quick 8 week fix for me. So I keep on keeping on.

Despite your obstacles you need to keep on doing this for yourself. We are here to help & lend that ear if you want a rant. Life is very frustrating sometimes even when you are doing everything right. Hang in there!

Do try & keep your fluids up. 2 – 3 litres daily. I know how hot the Middle East can be, (Bahrain). It’s sapping energy wise & hot to sleep too! It’s very good you have a brilliant school for your son & job for you. I do hope your husband finds a new job quickly.
Hang on to that good GP & use your support network where you are. People rise to the occasion if you let them
Eureka

Yep posted in my diary thread, 1 chapati at lunch and FBS of 8.8
If carbs are the food of the Devil, he must be one big fat bloke.

Hi Peggy, don’t despair, it may come off in a rush one morning.

Check that you are drinking enough fluids – 2 to 3 litres of water a day.
Are you keeping your carbs low?
🙂

What do you mean Alan? 300g of carbs???????

Hi Ali, you are going through some stress at the moment and that may not help either.
It’s only been 5 days so stick with it as you must lose weight sooner or later on this!!! 🙂

251 signatures! Don’t forget you can post this on to your social media accounts! 🙂

Hi Revenanto congratulations on doing so well so far. I agree with Bill it is a lot easier than it looks at first.
I’m also a long termer at the 11 week mark and have lost 2 stone 8 lbs so far. I want to lose another 9 stone so I’ll be with you all the way. Keep plugging away.

Hi Cherrianne, its a miracle…4.8 fasting glucose….my first ever normal reading in my life. Hooray, put out the flags. I followed your instructions 2 tbsps yogurt at bedtime and it worked so will keep that up. Thank you for all your investigations on my behalf. I am not sure I can manage an ap at this time BUT may change my mind, so would be interested which one you use. I am trying to keep carbs to 50g, but not always getting it right. Also not quite clear about fruit…..I know the types but am guessing one days worth on the diet is 6 blueberries and 1 apple….??? On the 5:2 which I will move over to at some point, perhaps as maintenance, again not clear on what is permissable in terms of fruit sugars on 5 days….would I dare go to 3 pieces, one fruit with each meal with yogurt or is that too much…..perhaps you can guide me to something I have missed in my reading. I am SO grateful, for your help. Thank you Tofa

Hi Whalleyrange, fantastic results!

I agree that Drs should be promoting this diet!

If you are a British Citizen have you signed our petition asking the NHS to encourage T2 s to follow this diet? You can find it on the ‘Please sign our petition ‘ thread 🙂

Hi emptynestmama,
Welcome to the forums and the BSD way of life!
It sounds as if you are already very clued in about how to do this!

As Bill said it is the simple starchy carbs which we eliminate from our diets.
Most foods have some complex, slowly absorbed carbs. Most people on this diet try to keep at 50g of carbs a day, or less. You can use calorieking to find both the calories and carbs in foods.
I don’t know which country you are in but in the UK we need to deduct the fibre from the carbs to get the correct figure for us as it us an American site.

Good luck 🙂

Hi everyone, its great reading all the fantastic results people are achieving on the BDS and for me its been a revelation. GP said I was insulin resistant with BMI over 39 and 120.3 kg. At the end of week 6 I have lost 12.3 kg so down to 108 kg. As important I have lost 4in from belly and 2 from chest. I decided to start monitoring my BS levels this week and pre dinner levels around 5 and post dinner 5.5. I’ll keep monitoring for a while before going back to GP to have bloods tested formally.
It must be more than 15 years since I was this weight and know that this is a total change in lifestyle and not a diet. It should be prescribed by GPs and promoted by the health services to show that diabetes is a symptom of our western diet and the consequence of poor advice based on poor science. Keep going everyone.

Gee, Neodiver! You are a one woman wonder! All this s… going on and you are in a good mood!

You are inspirational.

Let’s hope from now on the admin starts to run smooth 🙂

Judith x

Hi Ali
could it be that your location is the key?
I haven’t lived in a hot country but I do know from holidays that I always gain weight in a hot climate due to water retention.
I may be way off the mark here, but is there a chance that because of the heat your body is retaining the fluid that most of us lose in the first week so slowing down the weight loss?

Hi Revenanto congratulations on the weight loss. Isn’t it a lot easier than it looks at first?
I’m also a long termer at the 12 week mark. Lost 2 stones 1.5 pounds up to now and still going strong on the fast 800 without any problems at all.
Once you hit the 8 week mark, come and join us on the Over the 8 week line and beyond thread
Oh, if you are a UK citizen, could you sign our petition please, the thread with the link is in this forum, thanks.

Bill I am still suffering from eating a GF brownie yesterday. It looks like all starchy carbs are bad for us 🙁

I wonder if it is just people with hypothyroidism and diabetes?

Don’t experiment with rice, Bill, GF flour is mostly rice 🙁

Stick to the chickpea flour flatbreads. You could probably show a Turkish chef how to make them – tell him he can advertise them as GF and good for diabetics. You may even get a free meal! 🙂

Hi Emptynestmama43
We don’t cut out carbs completely, we try to cut out the simple carbs found in rice potato wheat flour pasta etc. Coconut flour however has only the good complex carbs and heaps of dietary fibre so it’s ok.
Chickpea or Besin flour is good too and can be used for flatbreads, wraps, bhajis, and batter, give it a try, there are recipes on the site for both flours.

Talk about an experiment gone wrong!
After having good results for weeks, I had a home made curry for lunch yesterday taken from a batch made and frozen last week and I had no problems then.
so, yesterday, I decided to try a single chapatti with it to see how I’d react. At dinner I had a burger poached egg and tomatoes just to put this in perspective.
I vary my blood tests day to day and yesterday I was doing FBS and pre bedtime.
Epic fail 🙁 pre bed reading was 7.9 so I knew this morning wouldn’t be good and I was right, 8.8 from a single chapati!!
Looks like I won’t be going back to eating any kind of wheat bread from now on.
I need to see now how long this is going to take to stabilise.
not a happy bunny today 🙁

Hi there.. I have been doing the BSD for two weeks ( into my third) and my period is a week early for the first time in however long. I was wondering the same thing !

A fellow Izzy yay start soon Izzypeach don’t put it off longer than you really need to, and thank you for your kind words 🙂

So yesterday was day 9

Breakfast yoghurt and blueberries

lunch cheese salad

dinner meatballs with spiralled carrot

http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/16449/chinese-pork-meatballs.aspx?o_is=LV

loosely based on the above recipe, I used half a normal onion, no ginger, added the obligatory chilli that goes into almost everything in this house lol. They were quite nice 🙂 I also left out the cornflour, and because of that the mix was quite sloppy. next time I might try only adding one egg but the looser mix perhaps made for a nicer meatball anyway without the meat being too compacted. Hard to know.

I’ve not been posting my steps but my daily average is still above 10000 so I’m pleased about that. My normal previous average would have been probably half that.

I’m feeling a bit better today. Still having a heavy period, but even after just one day at 1200cal I feel it easing off. I’m going to relax the calorie count for a few days, and give myself a chance to process the hormone soup I seem to have in my body.