That’s great, Frank!

Like you say, it’s good news whatever the reason.

If you’re drinking more water that might be helping?

That’s a yummy idea Eureka!
I’ve also spiralised beetroot to make borsht – it really cuts down on the cooking time!

Hi Eureka, I hugged the hot water bottle to my stomach all night last night.

It’s definitely diverticulitis rather than a bug. Its throbbing in the same part of my bowel as always happens when I get it.
Last time I had a costa brownie was a few years ago and then they were in manufacturers cello wrap. Now they are just unwrapped squares on a plate so I think cross contamination with gluten foods is a possibility. It did have the unmistakable texture of GF flour but that doesn’t mean it was ‘pure’.

It’s a good idea to contact costa as they ought to go back to the wrapped versions that have been kept well away from gluten products. Also it has just occurred to me that they use the same tongs for the gluten and non gluten products. That could be enough to cause problems for some people.

Thanks for your input, it’s appreciated 🙂

Hi hashimoto
Think I’d ring Costa & ask if others had a problem & was it indeed Gluten Free ? I’d also be thinking maybe cleanliness was suspect with such a bad reaction as you are having? Hope you get some sleep. Does a hot water bottle help?

Hi Christine, no problem, there are lots of us ‘talking’ to each other so a very easy mistake 🙂

Hi hashimoto et al
Spiralize carrots & beetroot & then pulse them in a food mixer. It makes rice. Then stir fry, steam, microwave or eat raw. Great veggies

Julia you will love it!

Lynne and Julia there is a Cuisique youtube demonstration video which is worth watching 🙂

Hi Kris
Not sure how many weeks you’ve been on the diet and whether you’re changing medication doses…
Personally, diagnosed D2 a few years ago, I do just one reading a day, on rising, before breakfast – not even a tea or coffee (just as my doctor insists for the annual blood test, nothing consumed in the previous 8hrs and as DrMM suggests in page 121 of his 8wk BSD book). I’m looking for consistent long-term trends here, rather than readings during the day and after meals when I know they’ll be up and down.
If I was on insulin and needing to monitor sugar spikes more carefully, I believe I’d have to upgrade to readings more often but never less than 2hrs after a meal (it’s all about glucose tolerance – see DrMM on pages 253-254).
After 8wks and nearly 20lbs/10kg lighter, my daily diary shows mine have dropped from around 6-6.3 to the lower range of 4.7-5.4.
I’ve definitely noted a rise in morning readings if I eat anything the day before that’s been contaminated with sugar or anything remotely linked to carbs like bread/flour/potatoes/rice/pasta.
That’s enough evidence for me about how my system is coping in the blood sugar department. If my readings were jumping wildly from one morning to another, I’d have to ask my GP for a referral to a Diabetes Educator at my local Diabetes Centre who’d organise more detailed tests and focussed advice.
Best wishes!

Hi Judith,
I thought I had got one of the people’s names wrong but was too,late to edit it!
Christine

Hi Californiagirl
Belated welcome! Guess you weren’t really dreaming! Well done on all fronts, for picking up the book & all the rest. Not just my pants (knickers) falling down now, my jeans are going south too. I feel a spending spree coming on. And the charity shops benefit too on this diet/ way of life. Hope you are ready for new clothes too.

If you are happy with the BSD then do it for a bit longer. I’m 12 weeks in & captainlynne is 19 weeks I believe. I’ve posted before that prof Roy Taylor Newcastle uni, original diet Diabetic Reversal trial, said bring your calories back up until you are eating 2/3 of the total amount you used to eat. You may put on 1 – 2kg over a few days because your glycogen stores return to normal & glycogen is stored in the water inside your body. We all like eating this way.

Have a look at the Answers & info topic in Fast 800 I posted to Chocolate_ee
Your compatriot, Jenny Ruhl – Blood sugar 101 & Diet 101 the truth about low carb diets, is the fount of all knowledge re diabetes.
Keep on keeping on & glad you here

Mine also arrives tomorrow – was waiting for payday yesterday! Cannot wait as the pencil sharpener type cheapo one I have takes ages to do one courgette. Spag bol here I come…

Hi californiagirl! That’s a brilliant result re your waist.

Lots of people are staying with 800 calories for longer than 8 weeks, so just go for it until you are happy with the results! 🙂

A GF brownie in Costa, my stomach bloated within half an hour of eating it 🙁

I’d been shopping for a cozzie for hours and decided I could have one because I had 150 calorie breakfast at 8 and it was 3 in the afternoon.

So, I can have 1600 calories a day with no problem but a bit of starchy carb plays havoc with my guts! 🙁

BSD for ever!

Oh fantastic lynne! My sister’s arrived a couple of days ago and she loves the courgetti, in fact sbe prefers it to spaghetti. She also said she wasn’t bloated after it which harks back to the conversation Janet and I had on the forums earlier! How many people don’t know carbs, especially wheat, cause them problems until they stop eating them?

Guess what I’ve just ordered – delivery tomorrow!

What was it that got you, Judith?

Lidl also do a Turkish version of the full fat yoghurt I’m, tempted to try that next time to see if there is any difference in taste.

I suggest adding a few frozen berries just warmed in microwave, + tea spoon chopped nuts/seeds – delish.

Thanks lynne. Self inflicted – though I wasn’t expecting this result!
I’m still in pjs and drinking like a fish and sticking to low residue foods. I’m hoping it might improve by the morning. 🙂

This post is a confession of a “lurker” — I have been following several threads but not participating since February. Today is my day 56 on the BSD so i thought I should come clean and say “hi” from California! I ran across the book in February at London Heathrow on the way to a winter ski holiday — I almost didn’t buy it because I was embarassed and I figured everyone around me was thinking “well she sure needs that” — but I bought it anyway and although it was a struggle for me (I got really hungry!!) I did it. I couldn’t face a scale so I used a measuring tape — I have lost 6 full inches off my waist and yes 😜 I can relate to pants falling down! I am a bit trepidatious about what comes next — I am continuing for a bit because I have more to lose but it sort of scares me — I have actually become comfortable on this super-restrictive diet — how funny is that!! Thank you for all your funny posts in the past weeks — it helped me hang in there.

Hi christine, Captainlynne, janet1973 and I met up nearly a fortnight ago. They are both really lovely ladies and we had a good old natter! I think we could have talked for ever! 🙂

I would second – Lidl Milbona Greek Yoghurt- the dark blue pot. (light blue is low fat) Absolutely delicious! Can’t live without it.

Hi HappyLife,

In a 20cm cast iron frying pan:

Fry half an onion (chopped)
1 clove garlic
1 small chilli pepper (if you like it)
Some sweet pepper,mushrooms (basically what veg you fancy)
When it is all cooked add some rocket and let it wilt
Add 4 eggs and quickly stir it through the veg, leave to cook through.

When almost cooked pop it under the grill to cook the top.

Sometimes I add left over bacon
Sometimes I sprinkle cheese on top before putting under the grill

As a rough guide the frying pan is half full before I stir the eggs in

Courgetti
Fry some garlic and chilli, add courgetti. Stir in some cream cheese or parmesan (or both!)

Hi AngieP
I eat twice a day mostly. Breakfast, which could be early or late 9 -10am. Then between 3 – 6pm. I try to get a long fasting period in during the 24 hours. But don’t obsess. Saturday I’ll eat later as got guests. Be flexible, just keep carbs in the back of your mind. The more you do this the better you will be at it.
Then it’s your turn to help & spread the word

Congratulations Frank

Eureka
Glad you are going to May Marathon as well. That makes two of us at least.
No of course we don’t waddle any more 😉
(Btw ….spotted on another post that you were on Week 12 and had lost 1 and a half stone which is sort of a ‘snap’ for me too.
Hope you are getting loads of people saying ‘Wow you have lost a lot of weight’. Finding that a bit embarrassing atm).

Anyone else up for taking the walking/jogging challenge of 26.2 miles during May? A sort of Marathon..I definitely realize this isn’t good for everyone due to the various injuries and health issues we seem to pick up in life. You could choose your level.
My maths isn’t good……see above post!!
But if you did the recommended 10,000 steps a day ( or 5 miles )..phew…..it might be possible to do 6 Marathons in a month!
Am I getting a bit too intense here?????
Anyway little challenge/ big challenge?
Anyone else in?????

Hi Judith. Sorry to hear how the brownies affected you. Hope you’re feeling better!

Rubyswallow, many folk following the BSD find their gastric reflux disappears when they are no longer eating carbs.

Hi catgirl,
I haven’t seen any post from you in a while, I hope everything is going well with you? I might well have just missed reading your posts, however would still like to hear how you are getting on
Christine

I eat breakfast then most days I don’t feel hungry until it’s time for my evening meal

Hashimoto – would you please share your garlic frittata recipe? Sounds yummy!!

Hi Revenanto and Carolg

Been away for a few days and just catching up on posts.

As hashimoto said, I’ll have finished 19 weeks on the BSD tomorrow. That includes two separate weeks when I’ve been away from home in hotels so no calorie counting but sticking to the BSD principles.

When I started this on 19th December I had 6.5 stones to lose. To date I have lost 3.5 stones. My aim is to stay on the BSD until I reach a weight that the medics and myself are happy with. There are also many others on these forums that are staying on the BSD for longer than the 8 weeks and we seem to be collecting information on here about all the health (and non-food) benefits we are finding.

My suggestion would be to stay with what works but you may wish to check with your GP about the possibility of reducing any medication as your weight drops.

You can see how many of us ‘old-timers’ are doing on the Fast 800 forum on this site. I’ve started two threads on there – ‘over the 8-week line and after’ and ‘over the 16-week line’

Let us know how you get on.

Hi Judith,
I have been meaning to ask for ages but I keep forgetting. Did you finally meet up with janet1973 and Julia? How was the meeting did you have a good time exchanging ideas and recipes etc?
Christine

Thanks so much for posting this! I am just starting today and just got the book! So figuring out what I can eat is a little daunting. Your diary is greatly helpful!
How much yogurt and fruit for breakfast?
Today I made the no carb Bircher for breakfast which is 245 cal total and I found online. After 2 hours I was hungry so had 12 almonds.

Big thanks for any advice!!!
🌷

Hi general
That’s kind it’s still fresh!

Hi Scott

It’s been said we are two nations divided by a common language!

I’ve travelled Stateside many times but still find it strange that you drive on the pavement while walking on the sidewalk. Our scones are your biscuits while our biscuits are your cookies! Not that we talk about them any mire – too many carbs!

Good to see folk from your side of the pond joining us on here. Let us know your progress.

Hi Lynne,
Will let you know if and when, what we do decide! Hubby has already said, ‘don’t want to fly into Chicago’ what does that man want? It’s a good job I love the idiot!
Christine

Sue call
Tel : 0800 701000

Hi Sue1234
Ring Accucheck tomorrow or even try tonight , now! They always very helpful to me

Hi Eureka. Sounds a great lady. If you would like to ‘chat’ my email is captainlynne@gmail.com

Thanks Judith, Janet and Bill 😃

Christine – glad to help. It just happened to catch my attention – I love New Orleans. Never knew I liked jazz until I was taken to Preservation Hall in the French Quarter. That was before Katrina. My friends wouldn’t let me leave the hotel on my own! They didn’t realise some of the areas I’ve lived/worked in here😊

Usually lot of holidays ‘leaf peeping’ in New England, but firstly time I’d seen the cruise I’ve told you about. Hope you find something you like😊

Using silicon cupcake cases is a great idea 🙂 thaks for the tip, will definitely be trying those this weekend!

Day 69 weight 10st 2lbs
Blood sugar – I took 4 readings within minutes of each other – results as follows:
Element machine 15.0, 10.9, 11.3
Accucheck avviva 8.8

It was the first reading that made me suspicious. I don’t feel confident with my machine any more. Am going to get the Manuel out and try to check the calibration again over the weekend.

Hi Lynne,
Thank you for that info, about the cruises etc, will have a look on line later,
I look forward to being able to do that, go away and come back to the same weight! Well done,
I will be on the twelve week and over on Monday, I am hoping to hit the 2 stone loss by then, that’s only a two and a half pounds to go! I am being very good at the moment, after a few weeks of not losing its good to see the dial on my scales go down.
Are you at the weight you want to be or are you looking to lose any more?
Christine

Hi general lynne (promotion suits you)
Mum started at 60! Her promotion with, To God Be The Glory, her favourite. Wrote to many working overseas before her recruitment. Two Brigadiers working in Africa for many years were best friends. As were two Captains in India. Small world, always. They said her letters kept them in touch with home & above.🕊
Hope the lady today is at peaceful rest

Hi want loose,
Welcome, you will find answers to questions from other forum members on here, and lots of support too, they are like a family, so don’t hesitate to share, and keep,posting too.
Christine

Hi all- jackiemac, FiFip, Barry, Janet1973, bill1954,
I have managed to get the gram flour from tesco so a big THANK YOU to you all, it is so good to know we are all looking out for each other! 👏👏👏👏👏 To you all
Christine

Also, check out our thread called ‘what have you eaten today’, there are loads of recipe ideas on there. Quite a lot of people do use my fitness pal but I’m not one of them, I prefer to keep an old fashioned handwritten diary. It can be really useful to record everything especially in the beginning. It can help you get – and keep – your head in the right place. It can help you be mindful of everything you are eating – and what you don’t need to eat and also, its a record of what has gone right and gone wrong for you. Great fun to look back on after a few weeks!

There is another website called dietdoctor.com which lots of complementary advice on low carb and some good recipes too.

Hi Judith,
I managed to get the flour from tesco so thank you.
I am so sorry you are suffering, I also have diverticulitis, and my experience is the treatment is worse than the cause, so I hope you get get better without the treatment! I sometimes have a bad bout but can manage to recover by watching what I eat, not easy, I also ( when I was eating carbs) avoided gluten if I could I’m sure it doesn’t help with our condition.
I have loads of gluten free flours etc, so I don’t know what I will do with the them now!
Take care Judith.
Christine x