Hi LindaA
Cor you’re brave! I was jesting! Now that would stress me! I’d love the view but no head for heights. Love the fireworks New Year though. My Linda has watched them several times from across the bay. Lucky girl.
Was cooking for 14 all last week so 4 is a doddle. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Keep spreading the BSD word. Walk away from the cake 😀

Good morning AliB!
Yes I am from Australia, South Australia in fact. Enjoy your sleep in. I have a headache and feel ghastly… I am hoping it is the effect of minimal carbs and no sugar!
The gym was good , met one of my parents there and thought oh well I am exercising and that is what is important …I did not recognise him as had only seen him in his suit and tie! He has Tatts, and is somewhat muscular😀 He recognised me but in my defens e I am new to this appointment so do not know everyone by sight…they need to be attached to a child…theirs preferably!
I am not surprised that you are not exercising much yet….you do need to sleep….
Enjoy your weekend with your children and rest!

Hi melb100
Welcome. Good choice.
I’m Type 2 Diabetic. Mum & dad died from type 2 complications. I’ve waited three years for this diet ( diagnosed 2013) can’t wait for the results of Prof Roy Taylor’s Reversal of T 2 trial. I hope this works for me but no guarantees! The Lord helps those who help themselves. I’m in for keeps

Hi SkyWalker
I suffered from acid reflux for years & had to sleep with 3 pillows as I couldn’t lie flat in bed as I would wake up ‘drowning’ in gastric acid! NO MORE REFLUX? Completely gone as soon as I started this diet! I was chewing 3 Rennies a night before.

It could be that bread or dairy was causing my problem? It is known that chocolate increases the production of seratonin which relaxes the oesophageal sphincter muscle of the stomach, thus releasing gastric acid & causing reflux.

Eliminate the irritant et voila c’est disparue! It’s gone 😀

I have been on-off low carbing for a few weeks and noticing how much better I feel when limiting the processed carbs and sugar, so am starting this 800 thing properly as of tomorrow.

Motivations are varied but include
1) to lose weight, especially round my belly – for the sake of holiday photos but also guarding against the return of lower back problems
2) to avoid the shame of having to explain to my sister, a super fit triathlete/ medical doctor, that I have eaten myself into type 2 diabetes
3) to try and fix my relationship with food and stop thinking about sugar all the time
4) **TMI** to try and control IBS which includes HORRIFIC carb bloating, constipation and the foulest stinking gas known to man. Think the stench of Mordor, multiplied a thousand times.

I’ll be interested to see if and how these motivations change over the next few weeks.

But also, dear reader, I’d love to know what are YOUR motivations? Why are you here? Have the reasons changed over time?

Thank you

Yesterday day 67 weight 10st 3lbs
Blood sugar 10.9

Today Day 68 weight 10st 2lbs
Blood sugar 9.6

Felt really slim today. I ate some low sugar chocolate after my tea yesterday and today. I was more productive in the toilet today, I think the chocolate helped. 😀

Two weeks til my hols, looking forward to some sun 🌞. It snowed nearby today and it was really cold here.

Hi Eureka and Natalie
Sorry Eureka, I misunderstood! I thought you meant the metaphorical ‘bridge’ to my weight goal!
Yes, I’ve already walked the Sydney Harbour bridge a number of times, as recently as last weekend where I did a 2.5 hour walk with a girlfriend to catchup. It was either that or cake and coffee in a cafe and surprisingly, I thought this the better option. As coincidence would have it, she’s been doing the 5:2 diet, but hadn’t heard about the BSD.

I also did the bridge climb last year, a birthday present from my husband who can’t do heights and said I was on my own! It was absolutely fabulous and I would highly recommend it to anyone of any age. It’s very easy and there is no danger of falling as you are linked by a metal rope to a bar the entire way.

Eureka, that dinner sounds perfect!! I had to cook for visitors last week – 8 in total, and did the lamb meatballs, they went down a treat😀 Let us know how yours goes.

What a lovely idea Izzy, how did your experimental meal turn out? I’ve been to yoga tonight and am feeling very Zen – oooommmmm! My half stone loss reward was restarting yoga classes and I’m loving them, go twice a week now. I’ve also started swimming four or five times a week – have you taken up any new activities? Jules x

H Christi, I wasn’t hungry so had a yoga class instead! Great idea re salad though thanks.

Hi eureka,
Ah another cake maker, my eldest daughter makes cakes for her friends, she lives in Scotland, so we don’t get to have many of her cakes, not that I would do now anyway, we live in the Midlands. I think it is marvellous how a cake can look like a castle or football pitch or a pair of running shoes, she has just done that for a running buddy’s birthday.what sort do you do?
It sounds like Canada will be a great adventure, I would love to do Canada, New England in the autumn, ( I refuse to say ‘fall’! ) New Orleans and Memphis and of course, Graceland!
We are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary next year in August so we want to do something special, but we can’t decide, well I keep saying what about this or that and hubby just doesn’t seem interested in my idea. So any idea greatfully accepted.
Oh and treat, I am going to get a little sparkly silver bangle and I’m going to get it engraved with something to do with the bsd diet like 800 or record my final weight loss, not sure yet, it was Lucia who challenged me!
Christine

Hi, my reflux blamed on a hiatus hernia that used to cause me to cough after the acid found its way into my throat but no longer.

If something says e.g ’47g carbs per 100g, of which sugars, 3g’ is that a better option than ’47g carbs of which 45g sugars’? The split in carbs confuses me!! Sorry to jump on the thread!

Don’t give up! I’ve also been a ‘slow Burner’ lost a stone in 6 weeks. But my whole appetite and cravings have changed and I’m not feeling the hunger for in between food. It’s doing you good. My motivation comes from knowing I have beaten those cravings and tiredness of the first 2 weeks and I don’t want to have to start again so I’m making consistently better choices. The weight will come off.

I’m 10 days in and it’s passed much faster than I expected. I’ve found I’m not struggling at all at the moment, but I’m not flippant and I know there could still be difficult days ahead.

Today I felt great about the fact I went to get food shopping on an empty stomach… and DID not buy any crap and did not buy anything to eat in the car which historically I would have done 🙂 yay for me. In all honesty I actually didn’t really want anything anyway so I guess my carb cravings for the moment have gone. Very happy with that!

I’m low on steps today but I know I have plenty steps in store tomorrow so my average will stay high enough. I have two separate appointments with the nurse so I’ll be walking there and back twice and will take the long way to make sure.

Food today..

breakfast yoghurt and blueberries

lunch cheese salad

dinner a kind of courgette lasagne… made with layers of sliced courgette in between layers of mince with onions and peppers in tomato, with some cheese on top. Hubby had his with pasta.

I’ve surprised myself with the food and as I’ve been chatting to my trainee at work about it, and he wants my food haha.

Hi Christi1948
You are doing well, nearly 2 stones lost. The joy of new knicks ( as my mum called them ) is not far away! I’m holding off buying new ones as I’m going to Canada in June & will buy cotton ones I can throw away as we cross the country. No chance to wash & dry them on this trip! Am normally frugal with clothes.
So, as the size goes down guess I’ll celebrate with a better choice of new clothes. Am size 14 now so revelling in that for the moment. Think I’m boyish figure as Gok would say. Will see when the rest of the lard comes off! At least it’s melting off the right places.

I could celebrate by making a cake ( not eating it though). If you give your taste buds a chance they really don’t crave sugar any more! I make celebration/ wedding cakes as a hobby & gift them to family & friends. You can’t buy mine. Exotic sugar paste flowers is my bag. BUT that’s on hold for a while. Not that I’ve anything against sugar❗️☠

Funnily enough I’m off to Carluccios restaurant for an Opera evening next week. It’s a Mother’s Day treat from my son. They phoned me to ask about the menu & what I could eat on the low carb diet. I just need a fruit salad for pud as the rest is ok. I thought that was very considerate of my son & Carluccios.

What’s your treat going to be? Get planning your new wardrobe, I’m sure Summer is out there somewhere under the snow ☀️

congratulations on making such a great start 🙂

I’m only on week two myself so not a veteran but I’m surprised to find myself enjoying this way of eating!

Lets keep going and get healthy 🙂

Hi barby, I’m the same as you. In the past if the scales went up I’d just rage quit and binge eat and drink. I always felt powerless and like a victim to the scales and my body. I really wanted to lose weight and stop my whole life being about dieting. It is really keeping me motivated not attaching a number to my size and weight.
I plan to weigh my self again at the 8 week mark.
Good luck.

Hi Izzypeach, I was really apprehensive when I started too.It helped thinking about my health, energy and wellbeing more than just my appearance. I read the book a couple of times and it helped to read about others’ challenges. I started a food diary and wrote down a comment from one of the case studies”I’m not going to do anything to jeopardise this” I remind myself everyday.
I’ve found that my tastes have really changed. I was really surprised how sweet beetroot, capsicum and apples are. Now all my food tastes delicious.
If I’m super hungry I drink some ginger tea, eat some protein, or make the beetroot falafel from the book which is really easy and filling.
Good luck with your diet.

I wondered if anyone fancied joining in here just for chit chat, I’ve been trying to read all the threads but I always run out of time. It would be nice I think to have one thread were people can drop by as often or not as they like, and just share anything. Get to know each other easier.

I’ve just put my son to bed and am sat here reading threads with a cup of camomile and spearmint tea, waiting for an experimental dinner to finish cooking…

Hi PinkLady51,
Don’t exacerbate a chest infection by sending confusing signals to brain and body. Get rid of infection before challenging your system. There is no point in making life unbearable. Fast800 etc are rewarding but you need to be ready – body and mind in order to succeed. Eat what you must but a few weeks you will not seek such things as toast and marmalade – it is your addiction to refined carbs that is driving the craving – a simple addiction for which there is a cure but it takes a few determined weeks to “get it” properly. Get well, try again later and you will be glad you did…

Hi,
So now it’s raining with sleet. My walking plans may be a bit wobbly now. I want to go out into the fresh air, but not fozen air!

I may do it all by push bike so I get the exercise and hopefully stay dry.

Any body thinking of taking up a new hobby like tap dancing (bug don’t fall into the sink)
Or body painting ( you need a 12 inch roller to cover me)
Or building a life size model of the leaning tower of pizza from cocktail sticks (yes I mean pizza… Maybe pepperoni)

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi Bill,

wow you make it sound so exciting thanks so much for taking the time to reply and make me feel welcome and encouraged. Judging by the last 2 days on the plan and being down 2 lbs I can see that you’re right. Thanks again for the wise words.

Dee

Hi all, I’ve had a great couple of days ! As you know I started the plan on Tuesday straight after having my bloods done. I’m not feeling hungry like I thought plus everything is so flavourful. My favourite meal so far is the Red Pepper Jewelled Feta, wow yummmmmmy Visited with my Doctor today and got his approval to follow the plan, his exact words were; “this is the way everyone should be eating”. I’m really pleased with his response except for a comment he made about the medication probably being permanent, puzzling ??? Stuck to the plan, replacing meat, fish and poultry with vegetarian alternatives. Even my caffeine withdrawal headache has subsided. Feeling really excited and positive about the weeks to come and am most grateful for the wonderful support I’ve received here xxx. I do have one question ; ‘are the no guilt bakes allowed with the daily meals or are they to replace meals ? By the way I was going to wait ’til the end of week one to weigh myself but failed, got up on the scales this morning and was thrilled to see a 2lb weight loss, amazing.

Thank you all, talk to you tomorrow 🙂
Dee

Hi eureka,
Pants falling down, not in that club yet, I passed the finish line for my last size drop, still waiting for the next size down, then I will be in the pants falling down club, seriously, I am Apple shape so although I have lost 1 stone, 10lbs I have only gone down one size, in all the skirts and trousers, I am having to fasten my bra on a tighter bar but that’s all, I can still get away with my tops being a bit big, just! I am also,doing the ‘in stages’ weight loss, my next goal is 2 stone loss, so that’s three pounds to go.
Question, how do you celebrate the next faze of weight loss? You can’t very well go out and have a slap up meal with cake etc, so what is your preference for celebrating now?
Christine

Hi just do it,
I went to McDonald’s recently and had a great tuna salad, so you don’t need to miss out when friends and relatives are going there. Hope you managed to have something tasty and no carbs?
Christine

Hi caramba
2,000 steps in a mile. 10,000 steps in 5 miles so doable. I’ll take a look & see. Thanks

Hi….I too was planning the med style, low carb way of eating as a way of life for the future but thought I would have to do 5:2 or 6:1 to maintain the benefits, so interested that your glucose levels and weight remain stable. Perhaps its your use of your ap….I don’t have Iphone so would have to look for different version! I have only been counting carbs in pulses, grains, beans of various sorts, in other words , in the most obvious places and ignored those in nuts, fruits etc. which I sort of thought would balance up the fact that I have not deducted the fibre content of the former carbs. Do you include carbs in nuts and fruits etc in your own carb calculations and stick to the 50 gms? I am not keen on counting calories but usually know what I can eat and not eat to stay low. My challenge will be to maintain weight in the future, rather than keep losing, having got into this routine! Perhaps I do need the ap to stay on track?!. Thanks v. much for your encouragements…good to be warned future readings maybe erratic for a while. Tofa

Barby, try the minced lamb stuffed aubergines in the book – they’re the tastiest recipe I’ve tried yet. I used minced beef instead of lamb and added leeks and topped with cheddar., also scooped the flesh out first before pre-cooking the skins and cooked with the filling. It was so good I had it for lunch and dinner the same day!

Great shopping on the BSD isnt it? I feel so proud of my trolley now. I look at other people’s and see all the carbs and just want to tell them all about what we’ve been lucky enough to discover! Re McDonalds I took my son there after dentist this evening, a rare event luckily as it’s miles from home, and usually I would have enjoyed something from there but tonight found the smell absolutely disgusting so not tempted in the least! Thanks Doc M!

Cabbage. I’ve always hated the stuff. But now cooked with bacon, onion, butter and seasoning I can’t get enough of it.

Hi Chongololo
For someone who hates cooking you are doing a great job! No cake , tick. One step at a time gets you where you are going to.

I’m drinking loads of water and I *think* I’m keeping my carbs low – the most carby thing I’ve had is probably carrot, lentils and a small glass of whole milk (not together!).

Wondering about doing My Marathon for May with the British Heart Foundation. You have 31 days to complete 26.2 miles whenever/however you choose. Think for me it could be brisk walking rather than jogging!!!!
Also Myfitnesspal is running a ‘ May 2016 Sit Less Boot Camp’ that is setting a daily challenge.
Need to lose another stone and a half….can’t decide whether or not to try one of these ….or both!!
Anyone else up for a challenge????

Hi Bill I had an hilarious experience with the Oz airport officials! I love ’em!

Sorry to all cliff richards fans for what follows:
On a flight from darwin to alice we were delayed ( sitting on a very hot plane) for nearly an hour – with a hot and bothered asthmatic toddler, when the great man entered with his groupies. Then he had a hissy fit because his groupies were allocated seats with him. He demanded first class and his groupies to sit at the back. It was a tiny plane, no 1st class so people had to move from their seats so his groupies could be seated at the back and him in the front. Then he got off at Mt Isa with a lot of fuss before we continued to alice.

A week later i was catching a flight to Perth, went to find a trolley for the bags and banged right into Cliff who was looking very lost by the trolleys. The groupies of course were still waiting to get off the plane.
I turned back to the desk, trolley and bags in tow just in time to hear this conversation between a receptionist and a burly, uniformed, gun on each hip airport official:

‘you’re supposed to be looking after cliff richards ‘
Cliffs face lights up
‘how the hell am i supposed to know who he is’
Cliffs face falls

Bill, roflmao!!!

Hello all. I hope everyone is well. I took the plunge on Monday and started the BSD. As I need to lose weight fast because of other issues but blood sugars fine I am excited by this diet. The idea is sound and I have enjoyed it so far. However 4 nights of disrupted sleep and a chest infection is leaving me feeling like hell. Craving carbs like crazy but trying to avoid the toast and marmalade pick me up. Timing could not have been worse right! Also need vegetarian inspiration! Any words of wisdom such as what do you do with the diet when you feel like hell? Also did any one else get thunder snow yesterday like we did in Sussex????

Hi barby I think Hawks and I go for similar tastes! I certainly fry things like garlic, chilli and ginger before adding courgetti!
🙂

Can I throw Malibu in as the best thing made from coconut.
Heresy too I know but mmmmmmmmmmmmm

Good luck, Barby! I await to hear about interesting Aubergine-themed creations!

Avocado with poached egg – a good combo

What a great idea Kath, thanks! I have a love/hate with scales, because it is so demotivating for me if I stay the same or even, go upwards. It can make me just binge. I lose slowly too.

I have weighed about 3 times so far. I am half wanting to do it again as I feel lighter, but then if I hadn’t lost it would really demotivate me. It’s all mind games with me.

I will now measure with some string (always assuming i can FIND my waist! ) I know from my clothes I have lost a bit, but I’m not yet down a size. When these trousers are falling off me, then I’ll weigh. Come to think of it, that’s a good idea, weighing only when trousers falling down. I’m size 22 now – so I’d love to work myself down to a size 14 lol lol lol impossible thought …. but is it?

Welcome Izzypeach – I am usually a total failure at dieting, but I didn’t honestly crave sweet things. Get some snack things in too, like celery and carrot sticks and a little houmous, and I suggest make a big pot of filling veg soup (you can have a bowl anytime if you’re struggling at first). In my mind I welcomed the hunger pangs as “great its working” – and forced myself to drink much more water than usual, it won’t work unless you do) Look forward to hearing of your progress.

I’ve been following this way of life for the past 4 weeks, getting great BS readings in the mid 80s each day. Yesterday one of my cats escaped and got lost under a neighbour’s house for 3 hours. My habit is to internalize stress and go into a super-calm mode until the situation has been resolved, probably not good, but it’s what I do… So, measured my BS at 7pm – 122! Cat is back home, telling her sister all about her marvelous adventure and I’m back in the 80s – thought that this would provide a good example of BS science in action; cause and effect!

Hi Cherrianne
I’d love to visit but there is absolutely no chance for the OH
She doesn’t like planes anyway and was having panic attacks on the flight to Mexico which is only half the time.
It doesn’t help that she’s been watching that stupid nothing to declare program and considers Australian customs officials to be nothing short of demons 🙁

Oh, meant to say I haven’t any experience of the 5:2, or read up on it so can’t help with your questions.
I’m doing the med style, low carb way of eating. I plan to stick with that for life. I don’t worry about calories, just count carbs and make sure I have reasonable levels of protein and fat. Have been maintaining weight and blood sugar levels, so I’m happy with that.

Wonderful news! A blood sugar in the non diabetic range, doesn’t it feel good 🙂
You can expect them to be a bit erratic at first as your liver and pancreas shed that stored fat, but by about week six they should settle to a consistent level.
It seems like a miracle doesn’t it? 8 weeks is such a short span of time but makes such a difference to your health. So happy you’re seeing good results.
Strawberries are a good low carb fruit. You can have 6 medium strawberries for 15 cals and 1.9g carbs. 50g rockmelon is 14 cals and 2.8g carb. 1/2 a small mandarin ( about 36g) is 16 cals and 3.2g carb.
I am in Australia and use the Australian easy diet diary. It’s for iPhone and iPad and you can google it and get a link to it in the UK. Very worthwhile to track your intake, and for working out what you can eat to balance your macro nutrients.
There is so much to learn about managing your blood sugar levels. This whole BSD is completely different to the usual advice that you can’t expect to always get it right. The sneaky labelling on food doesn’t help either. Still you are on the right track, and getting the results you deserve.
Keep up the good work 🙂

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.