My husband bought me a box set of the old ones, I remember watching them when I was younger 🙂 I’m currently on season 6. I’ve watched the new series as well and I enjoyed it, pretty sure they will make more as they left it all up in the air!

Thanks Izzy, following your lead and really appreciate the travel tips!
Haven’t eaten meat or chicken for 41 years but I do eat fish so planning on getting fish and vegies wherever I go for now.
Hoping Starbucks (they are everywhere) will have their protein pack which had a hard boiled egg and a little peanut butter in it.
We switch places we stay 7 times in 18 days but I will plan well by then to make sure I can stay on it!!!
So exciting as today (this afternoon) all my pain caused from day 1 is gone!!
I think it’s from candida die off possibly. It’s better so that’s all that matters right now!!
💖🌷

Wow Izzy! Huge congrats on completing week 2!! You are an inspiration and I thank you for that!!
Re X Files, newest season or old and if newest what’s your thoughts on it? I want them to continue it! 😄

Re shakes
I went round all the shops that sell shakes to check the prices to find the cheapest ones, I ended up buying Superdrug’s own brand as they were on offer 3 for 2. When I needed some more shakes they were on offer again at 1/3 off. I didn’t want to buy skimmed milk as my husband only likes semi so I made the shakes up with water as well as milk. I now make my shakes with only water which means if I have to go somewhere at short notice I grap my shaker and a sachet and water is readily available. It also gives me a few more calories to play with for other meals.

Hi there. I don’t have diagnosed diabetes 2, but do have high blood pressure. Started BSD on 10th April 2016. Had a hiccup initially due to celebration with friends, but still lost 2.8 kg in the first week and blood pressure has dropped.
2nd week lost 1.3 kg and 3rd week 700 grams. That’s 4.8 kg in 3 weeks. Amazing. I have also dropped 6cm off my waist. So happy with this plan and don’t feel hungry at all now. I lacked energy in the first couple of weeks, but now full of energy. Would highly recommend.

Hi Georgia thanks for the kind words! I spent the weekend in bed but am feeling better now and thinking about getting back into my exercise next week… Hope all goes well with you… ?

HI Lucia,

hope the mountain climbing went well. I find doing most things in jeans to be uncomfotable, Leggings are definitely easier and comfier to be throwing yoga shapes in.

Polly x

Hi Sue1234
Any problems with machines is very unnerving. We are trying too hard to have them misbehave

Lunch, Tiger Tiger – Whole Water Chestnuts in water, 140 gram
Tiger Tiger – Sliced Bamboo Shoots In Water, 140 g
Wakame – Instant Miso Soup, 2 Packet (18g)
Generic – Garlic Clove, 1 clove (3 g)
Carrot – Medium, 35 gram
Egg – Organic Brown, 50 g
Onion – (Red), 37 gram I used the miso as a base and chucked the rest in, it was really filling too. Egg added at the end as I was trying to go for the hot and sour soup texture but I’m not sure how to do it without scrambling the egg… was still nice though

Dinner, Iceland – Chicken Thighs Amended, 178 g ovenbaked
Generic – Celeriac, Boiled Mashed, 235 g
Goldessa – Cottage Cheese 4.5%, 100 g
Was going to mash the celeriac with butter but just put the cottage cheese on top of it instead.

I forgot to say… I bought some coconut flour and I might try to make pancakes. Maybe…

My diary is helping me keep track, I hope yours does too!

Well done on the 4 lb’s off already!

By May 18th I’m sure you will have some tried and tested foods for in the car. I take lunch to work every day and I quite like either home made scotch eggs (I added the recipe they have no breadcrumb coating) or cheese or ham salad. Also you can make some low carb soup to flask up, depending on what facilities you have in between driving.

The oils in the cooking for this way of eating won’t matter as much only the sugars and other carbs. I guess the main thing is to avoid pasta, rice, potatoes and bread. Avoiding coated food like things cooked in batter, or breadcrumbs. Most menu’s would have a meat based dish to your liking and you can ask for no potatoes and some extra veg.

Hi everyone,

My name is Michelle and I’m starting this journey tomorrow. Can anyone recommend shakes that people use? I plan on using teal food but might want to suplement a shake here and there. Excited to start. I know it won’t be easy. Currently I’m taking Metformin, high blood pressure meds. I want to be done with these. I’ve just had it really. Any tips anyone has would be much appreciated.

Hi captainlynne,

that’s a brilliant result, I’m hoping my weight loss and becoming no-longer-diabetic will happen as well as yours has/is.

You really are inspiring to a lot of us newer eaters in the blood sugar style.

Polly x

Hi Marcia
Oh to run again! It’s all ay caramba’ fault. 😉 When do we have to post our intention to do the London marathon then? Hope we can all keep this up? 💤

hellooooo again my lovelies, another day done for me. Can’t believe that tomorrow is the last day of week 2, WEEK 2!!!

Had a lovely morning chilling with my husband and kids, then I walked to the shop to buy eggs (we’re getting through a lot of eggs lol) then I cooked us all brunch. I had bacon, fried egg, cherry tomatoes and a couple of freshly picked grilled chilli’s. I forget the name of them but they aren’t spicy ones. I have 3 varieties growing on my window ledge 🙂 Over the years I’ve managed to kill pretty much every plant I’ve had including cacti, but chilli’s… Well I am THE chilli mama. I’ve grown loads from seed and given loads away. We like our chilli’s here lol.

This afternoon was spent re-organising my bedroom whilst watching Game of Thrones. There were a few occasions throwing out rubbish, chocolate wrappers etc that I had a few minor cravings but nothing enough to make me fall off the wagon. To my shame I was a classic secret eater. No more.

Dinner was stuffed courgettes, made with minced beef, onion, green beans, passata and a little cheese.

I was behind with my steps but watched an episode of X-files on my treadmill and all is well with the world of Izzy.

Now, I still have a pile of stuff on my bed to put away so I’m off to do that, then bedtime with a herbal tea and snooooooze time.

Hi Syb. Try putting some asparagus, or broccoli, and a lilltle bit of feta or goats cheese in some greased muffin tins, cover with beaten egg and bake until set. Easy to transport and perfect with some salad.

The machine I am having problems with is an “Element” manufactured one and nothing to do with Accuchek. But thanks for trying to help.

Yesterday Day 70 weight 10st 2lbs
Blood sugar 11.8

Today Day 71 weight 10st 1lb Another 1lb lost. 15lbs in total.😀😀😀😀😀
Blood sugar 9.8

Only 8 lbs to go and I will have a normal BMI. 👍

I have a growing attachment to courgetti lol

Demi, at least you were naughty with something low carb, we can’t be good all the time and 7 miles is a great walk!

I’ve tried mooli and kohlrabi on my spiraliser, both are very good. I do find it can’t really handle celeriac (which I’m sure is too starchy to be allowed anyway). I love the texture of spiralised veg, much nicer than grated.

Hi Polly, I had a lovely holiday in Wales a number of years ago would love to visit again.

many have managed to reverse their type 2 diabetes, I hope you get to be one of them.

Will definitely try the cottage pie with cauliflower mash😊

hello, I’m in London, just starting the 800 cal plan. I stuck to it today except was naughty with some brazil nuts. I knew it was a mistake buying them. However I did walk 7 miles, so I’m forgiving myself!

Hi Hashimoto
Getting your carbs right can be very tricky and at times a constant juggling act. 100g per meal may not be good for everyone but it works well for me😊. When I talk about carbs I’m talking about pasta, rice, potatoes and biscuits At the moment I have 100g per day and do feel the need to have any carbs for lunch of dinner😊.

Bread’s my absolute downfall, always, the thing I just can’t control, so I’m putting the breadmaker away for 8 weeks. Interested to know that spelt has better GI than ordinary wheat, because I have found a lovely light spelt flour that gives a wonderful crusty loaf. I’m looking forward to that in two months’ time!

Hi happylife, oh I see, I know having too high a level can cause heart problems. Getting levels right can be a tricky business
🙂

B – 2 hardboiled eggs
L – Quorn burger + salal + half burger roll
D – large bowl minestrone soup with parmesan

Well done Eureka.

1st BHF Marathon
8,500 steps which is about 3.7 miles. Took ages brisk walk with a couple of very small runs in between. Had 2 hour nap afterwards lolo before dinner. Lovely first day. Can’t wait for tomorrow😊…thanks ay caramba for getting me motivated and the Fitbit info.

Hi Hawke, I was thinking why I had gained weight back and whilst constipation is not the issue I know I am not counting calories and then last night it occurred to me that for the first few days I drank my water quota but not since then, So in terms of accountabikity, I am going to drink the two litres of water suggested today.
Stress seems to be a big issue for many of us…what do you do to destress so to speak…I am trying meditation but have to be more consistent ., a common theme across all areas of my life😩
Napangardi

Hi keeptrying,

As Patsy says, you can adapt the recipes to suit your preferences. Many of us doing BSD800 have reported the absence of acid reflux when eating this way.
The book also explains the science behind the BSD and its core principles.It’s suggested in the book that the reader completes reading the book before commencing BSD in order for you to have all of the information you need to get started.
The forum page is a valuable asset for those of us on the journey – it gives support and information.

Good for you. Its touch to cut curbs for me because I feel like nothing else can fill me. Can I ask what do you cook with meat? I can think only of rise and potato. Can you share some recipes please!

Hi Hashimoto, thanks for your response! The reason it was lowered was for the first time in years my thyroid levels were better. On any higher dose I get heart palpitations (hyperthyroid) so the level was changed.
Thanks for all of your advice, it’s really appreciated!!
🌷

Only a small part of the book is actual recipes and in any case they can be adapted to suit your taste.

L – cauliflower & broccoli cheese
D – spicy pork ribs & courgetti lightly fried in butter, garlic & chilli flakes
S – full fat yogurt & berries

planning to make the cottage pie with cauliflower mash from recipe on here for tomorrow, will help use up more from freezer.

Hi Collie,

quite honestly I try and point other people to the research but lots of people believe what they’ve been told for years by the diet industry, government industry and that ol’ chestnut – common sense (as they see it). I would just tell people that it is what you are choosing to do and you’d rather they be supportive or just not mention it at all. If you are stuck then there is always gazillions of support here or a friendly ear.

Good luck with it although after a few days the luck will take care of itself and the carbs won’t have the same siren call 😀

I’m stuck in Wales, lol. It’s a nice place to visit but have been here too long and am waiting to move on.

I started driving out of necessity and think that that has helped to contribute to me being more stressed as walking is great. I’m not in a great place mentally so use driving as a way of not having to talk to people. But I’ve been meeting a couple of my friends lately and walking.

I’d already started doing a ‘rest based training’ exercise programme I bought online – it’s sort of high intensity interval stuff but you work as hard as you can until you have to stop and then rest until you can continue again. So I’ve been doing that since January.

I got diagnosed with type II diabetes on Monday and get my first diabetic appointment on the 9th. I have no idea if my blood will get tested on that day again and if it would be just for that day. Am not stressing so much about the diagnosis now I’ve read a lot of things on the web and seen so many people being able to control it through diet and exercise.

Polly 🙂 x

some good ideas on that page 🙂

I already do one of them, I stream stuff to watch on my laptop whilst on my treadmill, makes the time pass. A walk outside is nicer and holistically better for you I think, but I can’t always get out so it helps keep my steps up 🙂

Good idea to leave your laptop/tablet in another place so you always have to get up for it. I could do that…

My son is inadvertently helping because he keeps losing the tv remote lol

Welcome to the family Ivanka.

You’ll find lots of help and support on here.

Together we will show ‘them’ that this not only works, but is sustainable too. We’ve found ourselves in this right at the start of the adventure and are collecting our results as we go to show our individual medical professionals and anyone else who is interested.

You’ll see from the various posts that folk are seeing great improvements: weight loss, reduced blood sugars, reducing or stopping medication, reduced blood pressure to name but a few. Those who’ve tried a ‘treat’ of carbs often find they react badly after being on the BSD for a while so we’re beginning to understand how badly the carbs were affecting our health and our bodies (and how addictive they are) so have decided we won’t be able to take them back into our diets. It’s this new way of eating forever 😃

I look forward to seeing your progress.

Hi Ivanka
Welcome. Great start. Happy you have joined us. Do make sure you drink that 2 – 3 litres fluid. It helps everything. Look at Forum Fast 800, Topic – For anyone suffering from constipation. Dated 5.4.16 to SunnyB.

Also go to http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres. This is Prof Roy Taylor, Newcastle university where the original findings & trial to Reverse Type 2 Diabetes took place. He is funded by UK Diabetes now to do a bigger trial. We can’t wait for the results so are doing it real time with real food, not shakes ( mostly). Search & download info for dr’s & Reply from Prof Taylor on frequently asked questions. This diet by Dr Michael Mosley is based on that trial.

Go to Forum Fast 800, Topic – Percentages. Dated 17.2.16 by Vicfish. Re original Optifast diet & carbs fats & protein amounts used. optifast.com.au print shakes dietary content.
Hope this gives your Dr all the info needed to really support you. More advice will be along soon I’m sure. Good luck

Mine too lynne 🙂

Hi HappyLife,
I’m assuming you are asking about hypothyroidism and inflammatory markers?

If you have Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism it is an autoimmune disease and causes inflammatory markers in the body in the same way as type 1 diabetes.
When I was eventually diagnosed with Hashimoto’s it was because of the goitre – not the blood tests which kept coming back ‘low end of normal’ until a more expensive test was used.
The consultant told me I had a high chance of developing diabetes.

For most people with hypothyroidism levothyroxine meds stay stable for life – but not always! Mine is always all over the place.

If you have Hashimoto’s this diet will reduce the inflammatory markers, just as it is doing for the diabetics. This in turn lessons some other health problems which lots of us are experiencing as insulin resistance is also reduced. Improving asthma symptoms is one of the benefits for me as is less arthritic pain and no acid reflux.

I don’t know if I have explained this very well.

My weight had massively increased before this diet – and it was all on my torso – a fairly typical problem with hypothyroidism!

If you have put a lot of weight on after having your meds reduced I wonder if you need a higher dose?
🙂

hello
I am thinking of getting the bsd book, even though I don’t have diabetes
but my question which may seem a bit odd, is what are the recipes like

I mean I know they will be all different – but if they are largely spicy/hot then it is really pointless my buying the book as I cannot bear that sort of food, and also I have to be very careful because of reflux

if however they are mostly just low carb then it may be worth my while

just wondering – any pointers would be greatly appreciated

I’m the dishwasher Izzy 😒

Eureka
Wow sounds like a Eureka moment. Great start.
Went to a Classic Car event today and ended up standing around and chatting for most of the day but remembered my step count and set off on my own late afternoon. It was rather cold though.
Not sure where you get your stats from but my Fitbit says I did 9000+ steps and 3.72 miles. So much the same distance.
Yey!!!
Great BS figures.
Our Marathon May begins.

Happy May to one and all ! Hope everyone has had a good day. Just tested my BS and it occurred to me that I’d read several queries from different folk asking which is the best blood sugar monitor so just thought I’d share which one I use as it’s excellent! I got the Code Free monitor and strips from Amazon. Very reasonable price and a really neat little kit.The strips and prick sticks are much cheaper than a lot of others too. Just thought it might be helpful to someone contemplating which to buy. Keep going on this fantastic eating plan..we owe Dr M and Prof Taylor a huge debt of gratitude!

Izzy
Love your creative ideas. Get writing that novel 🙂
We should all take some time for ourselves. Have recently returned to some old creative hobbies myself.

On a completely different note.
As well as trying to be conscientious about the BSD. Am on slightly fanatical campaign to move more, to stay healthy.
If anyone is interested here is a link to ‘Quitting the Sitting’. An American site which has some ideas about becoming more active.
http://www.quittingthesitting.org/ideas.html

Ay caramba!
What have you got me into? I live near a Hall with a lake so decided May 1st I’d start the Marathon walking around it. Remember I’m starting from sedentary ZERO! 7000 steps in 1 hr 10 mins. Knees a bit wobbly & cold clouds coming in so went home. FBS 6.6 after, good as off meds now. Enjoyed it 😀
7000 steps should = 3.5 miles, but was checking my stride /height ratio & it’s probably more like 2.88 miles. Tick it off ✅ Used exrx.net to calculate.
Also 17mins per mile @ 3.5 miles per hour to aim for pace wise. 85mins to complete 5 miles! The oracle says I’m low active now?
And I thought I was just going for a walk 🐧

everyone is welcome here 🙂

I’ve had an interesting day sorting out my bomb site of a bedroom. I’ve filled two bags with rubbish and one for the charity shop! reorganised my wardrobe, my drawers and my creativity corner 🙂 (full of all my favourite things) and put a painting I did myself on the wall. Hopefully in a month or two I’ll be throwing out loads of clothes that are too big and welcoming down my bags of smaller clothes that are currently hiding in the loft!

I’m an engineer as my day job which is very analytical, but I’m also quite a creative person. Last year I wrote a fantasy novel aimed at my daughters age group, and in January just using youtube tutorials I started painting. I doubt it will ever be more than a hobby but I love painting. haven’t recently because I lost my mojo but it’s coming back.

My dream is to give up work and stay at home with the kids and write. Nothing ventured nothing gained 🙂

My creativity corner happened last year when I really needed to do something just for me. So it is a wooden cabinet filled with my things for writing, painting, and my camera. It’s my little peaceful place – everyone should have one!

Hello. New to the site and the diet. Glad to find a forum where I can find the like-minded and, I hope, some personal accountability.

My story: My diet has been low-carb for the most part for the last 15 years. Except when it isn’t. The plentiful carby treats at grad school, and spending too much sedentary studying are my downfall. Had lots of mysterious weight fluctuations for years, no matter my diet and activity level, caused by an auto-immune disease that has been present (and misdiagnosed) for decades. After a major procedure that treats the problem but causes weight gain, I packed on 80 extremely resistant pounds, trading one life-threatening condition for another one. Diabetes just kills you slower.

After months of increasing A1C results, I was increasingly irritable, lethargic, struggling to sound compos mentis when called on in class, and letting chores and errands pile up until the last possible moment. Things were falling apart, and I was facing a rough round of final exams that were going to be disastrous if I carried on this way. I needed to kick-start a reversal, because nothing I was doing the “low and slow” way was making a difference.

My GP called with my latest batch of lab results and said, “A1C up to 7.2. You’re officially pre-diabetic. I know you won’t like it, but it’s time for some Metformin.” She agreed to let me think it over. I gnashed and grumbled and finally called back a few days later to say, “Okay.” To my surprise, she said, “You know what? This is a big step. You’re in the middle of finals. Stick with the low-carb diet, walk as much as you can, and we’ll re-visit this in a month.”

Stumbled upon the 8 Week BSD in Audible.com, listened, listened again, did the preparation, and called the GP for permission. She said while she loves the Mediterranean diet, she doesn’t like the ELC aspect, and believes low-and-slow weight loss preferable to what she thought would be quick and profound results (that she is sure I’ll gain back shortly). Fortunately, she reluctantly agreed on the conditions that I keep a meticulous diary of the usual stats and have a full check up within a month.

Maybe she’s agreeing so I can be her guinea pig? Whatever it takes to get permission, I say. Both my parents are Type-2, overweight, and struggling with blood pressure. I’m not going down that road. I’m committed to doing this and want to lose 40 pounds by June 27 before moving on to 5:2 to shed the rest.

Using all the recommended gadgets and apps. Six days in, this is what’s happening (including yesterday’s 1400 calorie consumption offset by a day of serious physical labor in the yard):

Female, age 40
Weight: -14 lbs (mostly water but, I’ll take it)
BP: 117/56 (and I quit the bp/diuretic!)
Fasting Bgl: Down from 129 to 113 mg/dl
Waist: -3.5″
Average pulse rate: 77 to 80 BPM

Upsides: Already feel miles better in less than a week. Gone from lethargic & “down” to getting work done I’ve neglected for months. Accidentally cut down on caffeine. Better focus on study. Happy to hop on the treadmill a few times a day to catch up on “fun” reading/podcasts/DVR. Already been able to tell a plant-based-diet evangelist sibling to NAFF OFF with the constant hassle about how great it is (maybe some day, but not now, ok?). Even though I gobbled an extra 600 calories of veggies & protein yesterday while doing some hard yard work, I saw no change on the scales (I’m a little…constipated, should have had more H20). My fantasies of not being health-handicapped by one thing or another all the time are feeling less fantastic with each passing hour.

Downsides: Everyone else telling me it’s crazy. My parents, when I told them what I’m up to, were worried rather than hopeful. “800 calories?! That’s so dangerous!” I’ve turned down a few invitations “out” and one offer to bring me dinner. When I explain what I’m doing, it gets the same reaction as my parents’ with a few well-meaning bits of advice about what I really should be doing instead. Thanks and take care, I say.

One obese colleague, determined to lose weight before we both go overseas for a fellowship in July, looked excited and interested when I told her what I was up to on day 1. I think she is waiting to see if I die before she gives it a try herself.

I hope that if I’m successful – and I believe I will be – my parents, friends, and GP will give the Fast 8 a hard look and maybe change their minds and even give it a try. I’m already collecting the information sheets to hand over with my diary and statistics when I see the doc in three weeks, and can’t wait to see her reaction.

That’s it. I’m so glad to find such a wealth of information here from others doing the Fast 8 as well. All the best to you, and thanks for reading.