Latest forum posts

  • 1. It is possible to lose weight relatively painlessly [ok, I’ll say, -9lbs].
    2. A Tanita bodyfat/weighing machine is a thing of beauty, and encourages resolve.
    3. Less is more: cooking tasty stuff and eating normal portions of high quality meals is fun.
    4. Once you open your eyes, the variety and quality of food on offer is remarkable. E.g., a local farm type shop sells 2kg containers of proper, high protein, Greek yogurt for £2.99. Previously I’d have walked right past and gone to Tesco’s as it’s ‘easier’. Most of the produce they sell is locally sourced and has been a revelation.
    5. Selecting a joint of meat should be done with a new attitude: asking for what you want not just taking what displayed.
    Buying too much encourages you to eat beyond the 800 and roast pork is not as exciting after meal #3 if you try not to eat it all at once!
    6. Clearheadedness is a great side effect of the BSD.

    7. Obligatory Mindfulness plug: it is very complimentary habit, like exercise, to the BSD.
    I thought I was being mindful if alone by sitting at the table and mindfully eating BSD healthy meals, whilst reading a book on the iPad. Mindful eating is in fact that strange thing of Just Eating.
    Other mindful activities available include Just Walking, Just Meditating and Just Showering.
    I had a bad case in a pre-BSD life of wondering, often out loud, what my next meal was, whilst consuming my current one.
    Prof Mark Williams of Oxford tells a story of travelling to the West End to see a play and catching himself watching but not watching. He missed much since he was busy planning the trip home in his head.

  • posted by  Patsy on Basil! (Imagine that in a Sybil Fawlty-like screech)
    on in Fast 800
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    Lots of the recipes in the book involve fresh herbs, so I decided to grow some of my own. It’s really quite easy. Perhaps a bit too easy …

    Any of you clever lot like to suggest lots of uses for a surprisingly large amount of fresh basil?

  • posted by  Lucia on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Any more economy tips for fitness/exercise etc?

    Look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves
    Look after the carbs and the blubber looks after itself.

    The sun is shining here. It will probably be snowing by the weekend. Anyone working on their tan yet?

    The only tan I will have is rust?!!

    May sit out tonight like a rock lizard and catch the last rays of sunshine.

    Keep happy keep losing, keep going
    Love Lucia
    Xxxx

  • posted by  captainlynne on Bacon?
    on in Fast 800
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    Glad to help Robmac. Just need to keep an eye on portion sizes!

  • posted by  jane c on What have you eaten today?
    on in Fast 800
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    I was so fed up and hungry last night, thought I’d make an effort today.

    B- portobello mushroom, poached egg, wilted spinach
    L- mungbean dhal + 1 mini onion bhaji (Morrisons)
    D- waiting for the zucchini lasagne from recipe section with extra veg & quorn mince.

    Will come in around 900 cals, but that’s ok.

  • posted by  Janet1973 on Pasta and Rolled Oats confusion
    on in 5:2 BSD
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    My nana is 93 and Italian. She left Italy during ww2. She has often told me how pasta was only ever eaten as a starter, therefore very small portions, and pizza was only eaten by peasants. Make of that what you will….

  • posted by  FiFiP on First day on the diet ,here I gooooo
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Such fantastic results Hashimoto, so happy for you!

    Have made the decision it’s for life too, if I can stick to Med principles 5 days a week + just loosen up a bit on high days and holidays, then I shall be very happy.

    Despite my current plateau, I have lost chins + at least 1 tummy. Result!!

  • posted by  hashimoto on First day on the diet ,here I gooooo
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi Rachel, it has been a complete success for me. I am in week 13 because I will stick to this way of eating for life. I lost 2 stones 11 lbs and now weight 8st 12 lbs . My asthma has improved, my acid reflux has vanished, my general health is so much better and I have lots of energy. My friends tell me I am more like I was 10 years ago. So stick with it and watch your amazing results!!
    I am not alone in deciding this is the way of eating for life! so many of us have reaped the benefits!!
    🙂

  • posted by  Just do it on What have you eaten today?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Make the most delicious soup today with something I normally throw away – cauliflower leaves. I used the leaves of 2 caulis along with a bit of broccoli, onion, fennel, leek, veg oxo, handful each basil & parsley. At the end I added leftover cauliflower cheese – just a couple spoonfuls. Blended when cooked – absolutely delicious. Couldn’t find cals etc for the leaves but sure not high. Will never waste them again!

  • posted by  Robmac on Bacon?
    on in Fast 800
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    Thanks again!

    Black Pudding as well. It gets better!

  • posted by  RozyDozy on guilt free baking
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    That’s the trouble, orchid. If you know you have something in the house, it’s worse than having a conscience nagging you. I took a couple of the frozen brownies out of my freezer today and scoffed them with a cup of tea, thus cancelling out any good done by the 2-hour walk I’d just completed. I have told myself that once I have used up the cacao nibs & dates I will not buy any more so I won’t be able to make the brownies anymore. It’s just so annoying because I’ve trained myself not to buy choccie bars in the supermarket but I still splurge on supposedly “good” things. We are our own worst enemies.

  • posted by  RozyDozy on weighing yourself
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi mera123,
    For a long time the accepted advice was to weigh once a week. I think the BSD encourages daily weighing (evidence apparently suggests that it is more motivational). Think it’s down to personal preference, really – if the weight is coming off you will notice it, either by feeling like you have more energy, or clothes fitting better. I used to be a weekly weigher, but doing the BSD I’ve become a daily weigher. The problem is that if you jump on the scales and find that you have plateau’d or gone up then you will be disappointed, no matter what the interval! I have found by daily weighing that if I do experience an upward blip I just look back to see what I weighed a week earlier – most of the time I have weighed more on the earlier weighing. It’s the overall trend that is important.
    Sometimes the scales can be the enemy. Other factors such as measuring waist, or keeping tabs on blood sugar readings, etc. can give you an indication how you are doing.
    Regards, Rose

  • posted by  RozyDozy on Freekeh
    on in 5:2 BSD
    permalink

    Hi, I too wondered about this. I recently bought a packet of Artisan grains greenwheat Freekeh – the info on the pack proclaims that it is Low GI & high in protein. The figures quoted are (per 100g):

    347 kcals / 1471 kJ
    Protein 18.5g
    Fat 4.3g
    of which Saturates 0.8g
    Carbs 63.5g
    of which Sugars 2.9g
    Salt 0g
    Fibre 10.9g

    It quotes a GI figure of 43.
    It seems that 50g is a single serving. I suppose it depends how much you are restricting carbs – one serving will be slightly over 30g carbs which might be over the limit for some. Probably best to avoid in early stages of diet – maybe have very occasionally, just for variety to introduce something different (which was my reason for trying it). (I should point out that I’ve been BSD-ing since January, and I am neither T2D nor pre-diabetic.)

    I can’t warm to the idea of cauliflower rice, I like my cauli to be cauli-shaped! I normally just steam a few florets. I tried freekeh as it has a similar texture to rice but it’s not something I would eat regularly, no more interesting than ordinary rice, so once the pack is used up I probably won’t try again.

  • posted by  Rachel62 on First day on the diet ,here I gooooo
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    hi hashimoto
    Thank you so much for your reply, I think you are correct and will have a proper cup of tea tomorrow. Am having water – a complete change for me, keep thinking about the glass of wine I cant have lol!!
    How are you finding it so far?

    Rachel x

  • posted by  orchid on Bit disappointed and also bloated
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Barby,
    I lost the same .1 of a kilo twice last week and nothing till this morning, which is weigh-in day and 0.7kg came off. It happens. We hit a plateau and then the body moves on.
    As the other say – we are all unique and our bodies will adapt/change in different ways at different times.
    Stick with it, and watch the carbs. Has your waist measurement gone down at all?

  • posted by  JackieMac on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Well done Bill and everyone else doing well. I’m a bit stuck, but all my own doing. Maintaining though so happy with that for now.

    Can’t believe you are complaining about shopping Bill, I mean how long does it take to buy a mankini? 😀😀😀

  • posted by  hashimoto on First day on the diet ,here I gooooo
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi Rachel, yes lots of people felt a bit light headed and spacey in the first few days! It soon passes! I still have tea or coffee with a small splash of milk each morning then switch to water – plain or sparkling. There are so many herbal teas you are bound to find one you do like. Perhaps you will feel better about it once you have had your morning cuppa? No sugar, of course!

    Make sure you do drink between 2 and 3 litres of water a day in some form – your morning cuppa will count.

    Don’t forget you need to eat FULL FAT on this diet so a nice greek yoghurt with a few seeds and berries is a lovely, easy breakfast!

    Good luck and ask for help if you need it, there is always someone awake somewhere in the world to answer you 🙂

  • posted by  mera123 on weighing yourself
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hello

    How often should you weigh yourself a week to notice a change in weight when you are on the 8 week BSD diet?

    Thanks

  • posted by  RozyDozy on Countdown to slimdown…
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi Plumptious (love the handle!),
    Never mind the number of steps – pedometers are not the most accurate things – the point is you were beavering away for 2 hours, using your muscles. Feel smug! You’ve benefitted & so has your garden! I’ve been frustrated with my pedometer when I’ve knocked it & accidentally reset it to zero, or when it reset itself because it needed new batteries. Other times I’ve just forgotten to wear the darned thing. A pedometer is just a tool to help motivate you – using one doesn’t actually help with weight loss, it’s you making the effort to exercise that’s important. Take care, Rose

  • posted by  Rachel62 on First day on the diet ,here I gooooo
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hello everybody
    Day 1 for me too, felt a bit odd to begin with and have discovered I absolutely do not like pomegranates……. and definitely missing my morning cuppa, had a rhubarb and ginger teapig instead which didn’t really cut it.
    Was diagnosed with pre-diabetes in February which came as a total shock and was a follow on from starting bp meds in August, so action is definitely required to get this hideous weight off and hopefully get back to normal!!
    Did anyone else feel a bit peculiar (light headed, spacey etc) at the beginning?

    Good luck to everyone on here, I have been reading your posts with interest and its great that there’s so much support for each other !! :)))
    Rachel x

  • posted by  Lrred on Indian Restaurant – Best Choices please!
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi, I’m new to this but I think I would choose king prawns in a tomato based sauce and lots of vegetable sides, and maybe ask for one spoonful of someone else’s basmati rice – and avoid naans because once I start on them I’d have to eat it all! I’d also tell the person who will be sitting opposite me what I’m doing so they could a. keep their carbs out of my reach and b. frown repeatedly at me if I was getting tempted to give in and eat them!
    Good luck!

  • posted by  orchid on guilt free baking
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi, since we are admitting things….. My father used to bake the Christmas cake every year and my mother iced it. After Mum died he carried on baking it and also make one for my brothers house and for me. I came home with a full size rich fruit cake – my favourite. I had some between Christmas and New year, but decided that I really should NOT have this lying around the house. I cut it into slices and froze it – to be eaten over coming months.
    A few days later coming home from work stressed, I took the cake out the freezer and defrosted a piece – it did not take long in the microwave – fatal discovery.
    Sure enough a few days later, it was another piece out and defrosted, then given how quick it was a second chunk came out, defrosted and eaten in one sitting.
    After a couple of glasses of wine at the weekend, that was repeated – I did not bother with one at a time – but started with two and was nibbling on another frozen piece as I waited for the other pieces to defrost.
    The freezer does not stop a determined carb calling! 🙁

  • posted by  RozyDozy on guilt free baking
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    I made the guilt-free brownies – although I froze them I still managed to eat 4 of them before they got near the freezer! So much for guilt-free. Don’t make them in the first place is the moral of the tale!

    Hawks – your dog sounds like a noble beast, taking the calorie hit.

  • posted by  RozyDozy on Bit disappointed and also bloated
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi barby, what Patsy says about not comparing your results to others is so true. The contributors to these forums have different start points, different medical conditions/medications, etc that influence weight loss. My weight loss hasn’t been a straightforward downward slide, like Cherrianne says you can plateau, go up before coming down again. Just yesterday I had a major splurge – I’d felt lousy for a couple of days (fighting off a cold) and this morning my weight had gone up by over a pound which I put down to all the extra liquid I was imbibing because I felt ill. Today I feel a lot better and things are under control. Yes, it can be frustrating when things don’t seem to be going the way you want – sometimes you just have to tough it out – but once you are past the worst of it you can take blips in your stride. Best of luck, Rose

  • posted by  captainlynne on Pasta and Rolled Oats confusion
    on in 5:2 BSD
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    Hi. While my friends in Italy do eat carbs for breakfast, pasta and pizza play a small part in their diet.

    In their home a small amount of pasta is a first course, followed by protein and either veg or salad, then a little cheese or fruit. Pizza is a very occasional meal.

    Eating out it is usually possible to have a meal without pasta, and no need to order pizza. There are meat, fish and poultry dishes on most menus.

    Lots of olive oil and fresh produce 😃

  • posted by  captainlynne on Bacon?
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi again Robmac.

    My grandkids were here for the last few weeks. When their parents came for them they always have brunch – bacon, egg, sausages, black pudding, baked beans and tinned tomatoes. I’d already had my breakfast – bacon, egg, and black pudding.

    Sometimes I have breakfast in British Home Stores. A 4 item deal. Normally have 2 rashers of bacon, and black pudding. Depending on what I fancy that day the fourth item can be egg, baked beans.

    No need to miss out on a great cooked breakfast. 😃

  • posted by  hashimoto on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Shopping? I HATE it! Mostly shop on line, the only real shopping I tend to do is in plant nurseries or supermarkets. I don’t even go into bookshops very often as I love my kindle! 🙂 Cookery books etc I order online 🙂

  • posted by  hashimoto on First day on the diet ,here I gooooo
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi Christinetoo, welcome aboard the good ship BSD!!! Everyone who has stuck to the plan of low carbs high fat and 800 calories has had fantastic success!! Look at captainlynne!! Her results are amazing!! So are Bill1954s!
    I love parsnips too, especially curried parsnip and apple soup but as parsnips are a starchy, carby veg it will be better to go without them for the 8 weeks of this diet. That way you will have greater success. Then slowly reintroduce them when the 8 weeks are over.

    Bon voyage! 🙂

  • posted by  Plumptious on Countdown to slimdown…
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Tried out my pedometer whilst gardening this morning. I did 2 hours of barrowing, digging, weeding and hoeing and am absolutely cream crackered. I am disappointed by the steps registered though….it seems bending, stretching ,contorting ones body underneath branches and kneeling up & down don’t really have an effect on it. Never mind -I got lots of fresh air and sunshine so that should count for something if only vitamin D boost (Only 1720 steps since getting up…..it feels more like 17 miles lol!)

  • posted by  Plumptious on Countdown to slimdown…
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Thanks JaneyCD.
    We have one about 8 miles away so will go one day this week and have a look. I do go there sometimes but usually for rice and naughty things which are just not allowed from now on. I love the Indian sweet things called gulab jamons …not sure that this is the correct spelling…but I will give myself a strict talking to upon entering the shop and avoid them. I was thinking more about online businesses.

  • I am off out on Saturday night for my baby Brother’s 40th Birthday on Saturday and we are going for an Indian meal in our local restaurant. Does anyone have any suggestions for what to eat? I love all Indian food but want to make sensible choices as I don’t want a bad belly. I will be on the wine, but am such a light drinker that won’t be much of a problem.

    I am also making him a Harry Potter cake – he is only 40 after all! I will have to make sure he takes all the left-overs home with him!!

    Any tips gratefully received!!

  • posted by  FiFiP on First day on the diet ,here I gooooo
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    I’m a bit of a foodie too Christine! Not diabetic, but carrying serious amount of blubber around my middle….it’s not cake, biscuits or sweets which are my downfall, it’s social drinking.

    I am adapting Hairy Dieters recipes along with several other favourites to give me a wider range of recipes to chose from and have been using several of the recipes on this site.

    Weekends have been the biggest issue, so during the week, if I have been OTT at weekends, I tend to be very, very rigid with the diet, often just eating twice a day.

    Have lost 21lbs, hit a bit of a plateau, but not over-worried, I WILL lose the next 1+ 1/2st, once I get my steps up and start cycling now the weather is nicer.

    Am enjoying the foods and the shift in my body shape, have dropped 2 dress sizes and the local charity shop has benefited from all my big trousers : )

  • posted by  Christinetoo on First day on the diet ,here I gooooo
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Thank you FiFiP – Ive had a home-made luscious parsnip, leek and lemon soup for my lunch and snacking on my tub of Total Greek yogurt and berries. I am a bit of a foodie, love cooking and really looking forward to messing about with recipes to make them fit into the plan. Cod loin with chilli prawns and lots of veggies for dinner – yumm! How long have you been on the plan? Has it been particularly successful for you? I am in work at the mom so may not be able to reply until later but interested to hear of your experience.

  • posted by  Christinetoo on First day on the diet ,here I gooooo
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hello everybody – my journey on the 8 week BSD started last week after my very good friend told me that she had managed to lose 14lbs in two weeks on this plan – not necessarily for weight loss only but to get a handle on healthy sugar intake too. Dont know what started me off but about nine weeks ago I became “aware” of the amount of sugar in so-called diet/healthy products and was absolutely astonished when I compared them to the daily recommended amount of 25-30 grammes. I started a simple sugar awareness plan of my own and lost 7lbs but after speaking to my friend I have now started the official 8 week BSD to see if I can chip away at more of the stubborn weight that seems to have stuck to me over the years! Here I gooooooo

  • posted by  Patsy on Bit disappointed and also bloated
    on in Fast 800
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    Try not to compare your results with some of the people who’re losing more and think you’re failing. 3.5 lbs loss in a week is very good.

    A variation of a pound or so from day to day seems to be normal, whether or not you’re on any kind of diet. My weight went up two days running last week, but I lost weight over the course of the week.

  • End of third week and still averaging 832 per day overall even though I had a three course meal at the weekend. Not counting carbs any more as I have managed to stay away from high carb value items. No weight loss but not surprised as many years ago I had extensive tests and at that time was told 895 calories per day was all I needed and now I’m that much older and more sedentary. Not missing chocolate at all.

  • posted by  hashimoto on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
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    Sabrina that is wonderful news about metformin and your blood sugars – and only at the beginning of week 8. This diet is a miracle!!! 🙂

  • posted by  hashimoto on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi Merrymary – good to see you back and hear of your successes! you are not alone in realising this is a diet you can stick to for life! I put on a jumper today that fitted 3 weeks ago, I’ve only lost a couple of pounds in that time so I am baffled as to why it is now too baggy!!? 🙂

    Newlife, 17 lbs in 5 weeks is really good! Wonder what you can do sans alcohol? 🙂

  • posted by  orchid on Vegetarian
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi Nella, I suspect you have just answered your own question on grapes! I have not had them for similar reasons, if they are nice they are too moreish. The allowed fruit as per the book, berries (blue, black, rasps), apple, pear; in moderation. The odd grape will be fine, if you can stick to the odd one.
    good luck

  • posted by  orchid on some questions please from a veggie newbie
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi Pinklady51,
    Grains are out I am afraid – and the only thing I miss is barley for soup! For your M&S Soup – check the carb content of it and make sure there are not a lot of sugars in it and that it will not blow your calorie count. I have been making my own soup and a pan of soup makes 4-5 portions. One for today, rest for the freezer – about 400ml each. When I worked in London, I used to take one out of the freezer before I left for work and it would have slightly defrosted by lunch (so no mess in my bag). 20mins in the microwave and I had a plate of hot soup which filled me.
    Yoghurt – all full fat versions. TOTAL Fage Greek yoghurt is a favourite on the forum, add your own berries to it. Not sure if it is veggie friendly. I use either Yeo Greek style or Rachel’s Greek style, both suitable for veggies, and add berries, seeds and a pinch of cinnamon for breakfast.
    For lunch, I stick to tomatoes, cucumber, spring onions, red pepper al chopped up and add either hard-boiled egg, humus or feta cheese to it with a dressing. I find that plus soup works a treat. I vary the quantities and the dressings so it is never quite the same each day. Again, for travelling it is easy to carry in a plastic lunch box.
    look forward to your future posts.

  • posted by  Neb on Week 2 Diarrhoea!
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    I had the same problem starting on week two for the about 8 days … Seemed to go away by its self . I managed it with lomitil and kept fluids up… I’m on week 7 and had one short repeat… Could not link it to specific food group … All good … Dropped 18 k and hit BMI…. Happy as ..