Latest forum posts

  • posted by  RozyDozy on Cacao Nibs
    on in BSD Way of Life
    permalink

    Just wondering if anyone else is wishing they’d not bought a pack of cacao/cocoa nibs! I bought some by “Creative Nature” and, frankly, I thought they smelled & tasted disgusting. I was expecting them to be bitter (visited Cadbury World a few years ago so I knew the choccie drink brewed up by the ancients of South America was bitter) but I wasn’t expecting it to be so bad. Admittedly, I’m more of a milk chocolate gal than plain chocolate. I did a bit of Googling and have seen references to roasting the nibs – a bit of deeper delving and it seems that the bean naturally contains acetic acid & tannins (hence the bitterness).
    So I’ve just tried roasting a small batch (180C in a fan oven) for about 9-10mins and the end result is distinctly more palatable – still some bitterness but closer to plain choc.
    I might actually try cooking with them now!

  • posted by  Beverley on The BDS and Cancer
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Ditto to what the others have said about talking to your doctor about your nutritional needs during treatment. I have chronic lymphocytic leukemia (ten years survivor) and from what I’ve researched about cancer and nutrition the Blood Sugar Diet sounds perfect for helping you maintain optimum health and it should aid your recovery. I’d be super cautious about doing the Fast800 version while being treated if your aim is to lose weight – sometimes medications are calculated on our weight and any sudden weight loss might result in an incorrect dosage. Ask your doctor if any of your medications may be affected by any foods – for example, grapefruit is contraindicated with many medications and shouldn’t be eaten if you are taking them.

  • posted by  JackieMac on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi, ref petition – Facebook – I’m going to post it now suggest if any of you use it you do the same. Social media is powerful! I also emailed my local MP.

    J

  • posted by  sianeyb on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Wow , week 12 POUNDS OFF ! Feeling energised, blood sugar down to 5.4 in the mornings over the last week and going well so far.
    Yes I feel hungry at times, most afternoons but I get through it with mint teas, fizzy water and black coffee!
    This is a challenge but pre plan meals, never skip breakfast even if you just have some yogurt and berries and watch the pounds melt away. One day at a time is my mantra as with any addiction, looking too far ahead is not a great idea.
    Keep at it, keep the fridge stocked with great foods. Celeriac soup is a great filler , just blend it all and it is thick and tasty , put pumpkin seeds onto instead of croutons for extra bite.
    Keep going everyone

  • posted by  RozyDozy on The BDS and Cancer
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    As Bill has said, this is the time to listen to the medical profession. A few years ago when I had a cancer scare I got hold of a book called “Foods to Fight Cancer” by Richard Beliveau & Denis Gingras, published by Dorling Kindersley. Many of the foodstuffs written about in the book are encouraged on this diet (fish, broccoli, etc) but some (like citrus fruits) are not. You will undoubtedly have been eating a lot of good stuff on the BSD but see what the nutritionist says.
    So well done on what you have achieved on the BSD so far, and every best wish for a successful outcome for your surgery – easy to say but try and remain positive!

  • posted by  Bill1954 on What have you eaten today?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Oh dear, I had this packet of rye Ryvita so I thought I may as well use it today.
    I wish someone had told me not to spread the cream cheese on them in advance.
    I now have what is very similar to 4 pieces of soggy cardboard coated in cheese πŸ™
    Lunch today isn’t going to be very inspiring.

  • posted by  Bill1954 on Feeling more positive about this!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Kags, good post
    it does look like you’re experiencing the wayward sugar readings that a few of us have in weeks 4 to 5.
    This seems to take on average 2 to 3 weeks to sort itself out from my experience. Just keep doing what you’re doing, it will come right in the end.
    Nice to see the weight loss happening again for you, you know yourself now how to get to where you need to be, it’s just a matter of time.

  • posted by  FiFiP on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Thank you Hashimoto, fully take onboard the non-Uk resident side of things, do hope that the tecchie team make the streams less clunky!

    Lynne, Bill & Hashimoto, I am so impressed at your combined weightloss, that’s a massive amount of fat, simply gobsmacking!!!

    : )

  • posted by  Bill1954 on My Big Restart
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Good to hear Just do it
    Let’s get you on a roll now and see those pounds melt away.

  • posted by  Bill1954 on The BDS and Cancer
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    This is really one for the professionals I’m afraid, they are the experts in their field and are really the ones to listen to at this stage.
    Have a chat with your consultant and nutritionist about it. If necessary, you could always take a break and come back later.
    My thoughts and best wishes are with you during these troubling times.

  • posted by  NewLife on Very low
    on in BSD Way of Life
    permalink

    Lostgirl – what they all said.

    Binning the cake was brilliant. I think a gentle word with your husband is in order – you’re aiming for a new you and so you need new no-food rewards.

  • posted by  Kags on Feeling more positive about this!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi all,

    After posting about not losing weight, it seems I am on the downturn again, finally (hopefully not speaking too soon)! Have managed a loss of 6.1kg over 5 weeks. FBS, however, is all over the place. Had a beautiful 4.8 yesterday, but managed only 5.9 this morning (I am pre-diabetic). I’m not giving up, though. Still have around 19kg to lose and want to see the low FBS reading become stable. I felt so demotivated after my long plateau (almost two weeks), but it is right what many of you are saying. If you stick with it, it works. Just wanted to post to help motivate those who are experiencing something similar.

    Enjoying reading about all your successes! Keep going!

  • posted by  ruthleoniefranklin on The BDS and Cancer
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    I am into my 5th week on the BDS and have lost 7 kilos. It’s amazing and I really want to continue until I lose the 10 kilos my doctor advised me to lose at the end of February. However last week I was diagnosed with a small (8 mm, stage 2) breast cancer!!
    While I do not yet know how the hormones I have been told I will have to take may affect me, I do know they may affect my appetite and/or weight.
    I really would like to continue with the BSD but am wondering how safe it is. All advice welcome. I will be seeing a nutritionist before I have surgery in two weeks time and will also discuss it with her/him.

  • posted by  Just do it on My Big Restart
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Plateau over ! Delighted to say that after stalling in week 2 I have dropped 3lbs in the last three days, what a relief. I shook things up a bit by doing some of MM’s book recipes which I’ve absolutely loved. They include beans and pulses which I hadn’t been having so maybe that got things moving. So stick with it all those on a plateau, it really does come right with a bang.

  • posted by  Bill1954 on Help with nutrition…
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Janet and I sing from the same sheet !
    I don’t count calories either. I find that watching the carbs and sensible portion control takes care of everything I need.
    I’m not saying don’t count calories, but personally, I’ve never needed to.

  • posted by  hashimoto on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Lynne, the comment don’t lose too much i think comes from thd shock of seeing someone lose a lot of weight quickly. People are not used to seeing it. We were all brainwashed by the its best to lose weight slowly brigade.

    Emergency call from dad. Speak later – oh it’s Ict related, not health!!!!! ..:)

  • posted by  Cherrianne on Help with nutrition…
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Lucy, welcome to the BSD way of life, glad you came out from lurking, now you’ll get lots of helpful suggestions. πŸ™‚
    Try having your full fat yoghurt and berries for breakfast, add some flaxseed meal to help with protein and vitamins.
    You could change it now and again with bacon and eggs or scrambled eggs with cheese. This will keep your carbs down and add protein and fat.
    Lunch could be tuna or chicken salad, soup and cream cheese/ Greek yoghurt/ creme fraiche stirred through. Or really thick veg soup/stew with grated cheese on top. Check through the recipes on the site too. Bills flatbread recipe is very nice. If you add Garlic and Rosemary to it you can top it like a pizza, or coriander and cumin and have it with curry instead of rice.
    Dinner is meat/ fish and any above ground veg have very low carbs. Or you could grill/ roast courgette, eggplant, peppers, mushrooms with olive oil and some fried halloumi cheese.
    It is important to keep up your fluids to prevent headaches and dehydration. Any non sugary drinks count towards your fluid intake. If you use milk you need to add it to your calorie count. Herbal or fruit teas and mineral water or hot water and a slice of lemon help to ring the changes.
    Just a few ideas, hope it helps.
    Keep posting and let us know how you get on.

  • posted by  Janet1973 on Help with nutrition…
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Eggs are great for protein, I have a two egg omelette fried in butter with cheese, have a salad or some veg with it and you have hit all the bases in one meal. These days, I always add butter or oil to my veggies and where I would have grilled before, I now fry in butter. However, I do not count calories as this amount of fat would put me way over the 800. I just stick to 50g of carbs a day and I am still losing weight that way. All the best to you, you’ve made a great start.

  • posted by  hashimoto on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi lynne so glad you finally got that deserved compliment.

    Bill is right it depends what you are happy with.

    I am 5’4β€œ, 63 years old and bang on 9 stones. My GP is happy with my weight and BMI of 21.6. Her words were ‘thats good you are in the healthy weight /bmi range’. She knows I am still following the diet and doesn’t have a problem with it. 7 stones 6lb would be the lowest end of my healthy weight range.

    I started out hoping to drop to 11 stone. Revised it to 10 stones. Revised it to nine and a half stones, then 9 stones.
    Now i am aiming for 8 stones 12 lbs. I. Will be happy with that. Don’t want to be seven and a half like I was in my younger days. But alower weight will protect my damaged leg.

    So short answer, lynne, is what you personally will be happy with. I never dreamed I could get down to 9 stones. I think Bill still sees 12 stones as a dream weight!

    The only sure thing is – we are all doing splendidly :). πŸ™‚

  • posted by  LucyAB on Help with nutrition…
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hello All!

    Congratulations on all your results so far..Amazing!

    My name is Lucy and I have been doing some ‘lurking’ over the last month and have decided to join in for real.
    Just to give you some background.. I’m 46 and 5’1″ short and weigh 12 stones on at present.(I was 14 nearly 15 at my heaviest) I lost 6 lb last week doing this properly (ish)
    I have been trying ‘diets’ for as long as I can remember but after initial small successes..given up. My husband (who never puts weight on and who loses it quickly if he does) is heartily sick of me!
    I am finding this way of eating ok but just having problems with balancing nutrients. I seem to eat over the recommended 50g of carbs but hardly take in fats and proteins.
    I have been eating no breakfast then full fat yeo natural yoghurt and fruit (straws,blues and plum) with mixed seed for lunch (which is relish!) and for dinner yesterday I had mackerel and small amount of quinoa and veg.
    Sometimes I go over the 800 calories but often I can reach that total without carbs.
    I have seen the thread re meals and have tried following them … any sound advice?
    I have also struggled to drink water and this has resulted in headaches so I am really trying now on that front!

    Thanks, Lucy

  • posted by  hashimoto on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Ficip It’s a good idea! I am waiting for the tech team to make a decision on making it sticky.

    Part of the problem is only Uk residents can sign. A lot of people on the forums do not live in the uk and the number of threads does not equate to the number of individuals posting. Though as you say there will be ‘lurkers’ in the shadows.

    We all want this to reach as many people as possible πŸ™‚

  • posted by  captainlynne on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    LOL Bill

    I’ve requested the bloodhounds to seek her out.

    Failing that the NCIS team are on standby with their technology.

    Lucia – there is no hiding place! Come out, come out, wherever you are.

  • posted by  Bill1954 on Very low
    on in BSD Way of Life
    permalink

    Lostgirl – you binned a cake !!
    Do you even know what a massive step forward that is ?
    Your mindset told you that it was bad for you even though you initially enjoyed it – brilliant
    Looks like you are set for great things, thank the hubby for his kindness but you are trying to get your rewards in different ways now,, and that will end up benefitting him in the long run too when you get down to where you want to be and are feeling so much healthier and fitter.
    Loads of respect coming your way from me.

  • posted by  Vyvyen on Just bought the book
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hello and thank you for the warm welcomes. Great that there are other vegetarians in here for support. Yes agree with you Bill. Wish I could ‘like’ each and every reply. πŸ™‚

    Vyvyen

  • posted by  hashimoto on Calling all Aussies,
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi gbrown if you do decide to go down the shakes route and they need to be made up with milk use full fat milk as it has less carbs and sugars.
    A few people started on shakes though I think most gave them up quite quickly

    I think you will find real food more interesting – and easy if you keep it simple. Look at some of the meals on the thread what have you eaten today to get some ideas.

    Today I am skipping breakfast and having a small tin of tuna fish, a boiled egg and salad for lunch.

    For dinner I am having a decent sized rump steak with a knob of mustard butter, grilled tomato and purple sprouting brocolli. I will throw a few slices if onion in the pan before the steak goes in and a mushroom or two to soak up the juices.

    So you see, a simple meal. I may be a little over 800 calories so tomorrow i will eat a bit less. I.e. Lots of home made soup will feature in the next few days.
    Simples! πŸ™‚

  • posted by  Janet1973 on Very low
    on in BSD Way of Life
    permalink

    Hi Lostgirl
    Well done for putting the cake in the bin. It was the right thing to do. Someone else here yesterday said we should arrange treats along our weight loss journey but they should never be food treats and I think they are right. This can be a hard thing for people, especially men, to get their heads around. Its really important that you explain to him how it makes you feel when he buys you food. Of course, I know nothing about your husband but he might not be as keen for you to lose weight as you are, for many many reasons.

  • posted by  captainlynne on Over the 8-week line and after
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Good point Judith. And if you’re like me – fewer dark colours in that wardrobe.

    After years of navy and not much else , my wardrobe now needs sunglasses. At least for tops! Need to talk myself into buying brighter skirts and trousers now😳

  • posted by  FiFiP on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Bill, Lynne, Hashimoto – I don’t know how to contact you personally, sorry – it’s about the petition!

    Having totted up the number of streams in all the forums we have a total of 830 streams going on, with just over 115 signatures on the petition so far (last looked yesterday).

    I was wondering if we might post the petition into each forum, as with so many to trawl through, I am wondering if all posters & ‘lurkers’ have actually even seen it?

    I sent it to a mate who posted it on Mumsnet & several have signed from there but I am keen, as I am sure you are too (!!) to get this signed by absolutely everyone possible.

    As Hashimoto (?) mentioned last week, the forums aren’t the most intuitive, they are a wee bit clunky – so I was trying to think how we could maximise the visibility of the petition.

    Sorry if you have already done this, I’m not on all the forums obviously!

  • posted by  Bill1954 on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Depends on what you are comfortable with Lynne
    The BMI calculator says I should be between something like 10 and 11 stones
    Not gonna happen, I’lll be happy at 12 if I can get there.

  • posted by  captainlynne on Week one plateau
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Meredex

    Too many years of various slimming clubs actually helped when I hit plateaux on the BSD. I remembered being told it was my body adjusting. That helped me keep on track when the scales stuck.

    Now, nearly 16 weeks on BSD I’ve lost just over 3 stone, my fasting blood sugars are right down and I feel great b

    Stick at it, you will get results. As those same club leaders used to say ‘the plan works, if you work the plan’ πŸ˜ƒ

  • posted by  Grandma48 on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Oh Captainlynne
    You are aiming for exactly where I want to be. I’m 5ft 2ins and soon to be 68. Got a fair way to go still but I’m hanging in there. Keep on keeping on and glory in all the good comments you will receive, along with how much better you feel in yourself. Go girl.
    Janice

  • posted by  Bill1954 on Calling all Aussies,
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Welcome to all you new starters
    Loads of advice help and recipes on here and if there is something you need to ask, just give a shout out.
    Gbrown, milk is ok if counted into your daily allowance (use full fat)
    Best of luck to you all.

  • posted by  FiFiP on Calling all Aussies,
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Excuse this posting from Pom ! Just spotted your posting GBrown – Milk is rationed as it has sugar in it, it’s on a basis of ‘if you simply must have it” lattes are OUT, it’s just dribble in a coffee or tea.

    Almond milk works for some but I find it too bitter, am now mainlining herbal tea & water, treating myself to a weekly cappuccino, instead of a daily latte…..

    Good luck!

  • posted by  hashimoto on What have you eaten today?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Newlife it’s worth skipping brekkie to have a lovely english breakfast at lunch time. I go for crispy bacon, fried egg, butter fried mushrooms and grilled tomato.

    Then I’m so stuffed I have to force myself to eat a small evening meal of soup or nuts or FF yoghurt πŸ™‚

  • posted by  Vyvyen on Calling all Aussies,
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hello fellow Aussies,

    I’m in Western Australia in the south west Busselton. I’m just begining my journey as I’ve had a great run of eating anything and everything without moderation for 57 years lol. I’m a vegetarian TOFI too. Looking forward to meeting you and learning to behave (food wise). Any great vegetarian recipies would be much appreciated.

    cheers,
    Vyvyen

  • posted by  captainlynne on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Bill and Judith you both look great and I finally got someone commenting on how much weight I’ve lost and saying I look good πŸ˜ƒ – together with the comment about not losing too much! She doesn’t realise I’ve got roughly the same amount to lose again😱 Well, if I go by BMI and what the medics have always said! Is 9st 7lbs too low for 5ft 2ins at age 65 soon to be 66?

  • posted by  Wishbone on What have you eaten today?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Just checked my calorie intake and over by 200 cal for the day. The culprit was four slices of mild Hungarian salami which my calorie counter tells me is worth a whopping 339 cal. Can’t believe it, and it’s only day one….

  • Bill – love your image of the naughty child πŸ˜ƒ . Nothing to do with the twins being here, of course – they wouldn’t dare! LOL

    Loz – the cravings do go. After nearly 16 weeks of living in a low-carb house my granddaughters are with me and they eat bread etc (sorry folks). Bread used to be my downfall, but it genuinely isn’t bothering me.

  • posted by  Bill1954 on What have you eaten today?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hey, if it fits in to your days allowance why not ? I have had one several times on top of that lot. Sometimes I substitute the tomatoes for half a tin of reduced sugar baked beans too .