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.

Hi Lucia
Excellent shopping list! Yep junk food seems so long ago. Had a laugh at KFC. I went on hol to St Lucia (yes!) some years ago. The chap taking us round the lovely island said KFC stood for Kan’t Fry Chicken! 🍗😅

Yes I’ll go clean again tomorrow. Eventually I’ll accept that this is a way of life now.

Hi LindaA
Ok. I let you off the bridge til later on!
I’m good. Just thinking what to give my best friend (Linda) for her wedding anniversary meal Saturday? She has to eat very low CALCIUM diet! NO lovely leafy greens for her!!
Decided anti pasti starter, Greek lemon chicken with rice for her & husband, with feta & tomato salad for me & my husband. He’s doing BSD with me. Pud, she likes melting chocolate & I like fresh fruit salad ( strawberries , blueberries, raspberries & cherries). The men love cheese! She low calcium water, but I’ll say cheers with a glass of Greek red wine. Nuts for nibbles. Think that will do. Ta for making me decide. Now I want my dinner!
Cheers 🍓🍒 🍷

Hi,
I only go to Iceland once a month, and I stock up on frozen veg and meat. Some pasta for hubby.
As it is payday this weekend, Iceland has a visit from me.

Re the veg shop.
I get a cauli, drum head cabbage, lettuce, toms, mushrooms, apples, beetroot, celery, onions, water cress, nuts, peppers, pears, radish,
Then
Bananas and new potatos for hubby. I go through them in the week, or prep and freeze them.

Don’t I sound professional, only in the twinkle of an eye, I was going to kfc or McDonald’s or burger king on the way home from getting a trolley full of junk food.

Slapping myself on the back.😇😇😇😇😇
Love Lucia
Xxx

That is a great way to do it! I weigh myself every day, but it can affect my mood.

Natalie just get back on the wagon! These ‘experiments’ have proved to us that we really can’t go back to our old ways. I had an awful sugar crash yesterday as well as the bloated stomach.

I think we have had to try it to understand we can’t go back 🙂

Hi AliB
Sounds like your organised menus will be the way to go for your busy life. Good prep.
Up that fluid intake. It’s not the hot country that’s the problem, you have to drink plenty for this diet to work well. We are shaking up our metabolism to rid the liver & pancreas of fat! You got to lubricate that process! By the end of two weeks you won’t be running to the toilet half as much. Keep going. 🎼🎺

Ok, speaking of failed experiments… I hate tea without sugar, but love the ritual and probably the caffeine too. I don’t like artificial sweeteners, including Stevia, and also tried honey which was disgusting, but after three weeks I still wasn’t used to it unsweetened. At the start of this week, week four, I decided to reintroduce sugar into my tea. Just a third of a teaspoon a couple of times a day, not enough to affect me, right? Hmm. Suddenly I’m eating chocolate every day. And a bit more. And extra healthy calories too, snacking in the afternoon on cheese or cashews or an apple when before I didn’t need food between meals. Now 800 calories isn’t enough. Maybe a nibble in the evening. And today, a huge slice of cheesecake! Yeah, I think I can say the experiment to have “just a little bit of sugar” hasn’t been a success.

Thanks Eureka
I’m aiming for another 20kgs, so 8 weeks may be pushing it, but I’ll give it a shot! I’ve been reading Lucia’s posts and she’s certainly an inspiration 🙂
How are you going this week?

Hi LindaA
Welcome. Wave wave! Great results keep going. Maybe a Lucia challenge of walking over that bridge of yours by week 8?

Thanks so much everyone!

Reading what you all say on Forums is fantastic and definitely the key to keeping motivated and on track. Thank you for your advice!

I’m not tempted to stray despite not losing anything and I agree that I’m probably not drinking enough yet. It’s difficult at work because I teach, and today I’ve had so much water I’m dashing down the corridor and leaving students warming up in my room (I teach Brass and Piano in the UAE!) so I’m reluctant to have too much at work. Not that the kids mind. They think it’s funny!!

My weight reached 131kg on prednisolone and now I’m down to 113. Still a huge amount (but it surprised my new doctor out here!) and the fast gain is responsible for my diabetes. I’ve told you all now. That’s a load off!!! I don’t look that heavy, but I feel it, and just want to be less self conscious, so by sharing the awful number, that’s a good start for me!

I’m going to keep at it and see where the journey takes me….hopefully into smaller knickers!!!!

A 🙂

Hi Tippytwo
sometimes saying I told you so gets a bit boring, but never on this forum 🙂
Pleased to see the weight gone, onwards and downwards for you now 😀

Thanks for all your help. I experienced a sugar crash yesterday, I think? Suddenly very sleepy during and evening meeting. Very wierd. I’m not craving carbs, but I lazily just go for it sometimes. I’ve also plateaued after a blinding first week. Still committed, as generally I feel so well. You guys are a real blessing, too! And the new way of sleeping is a real gift! Onwards and upwards. Love the fried garlic and ginger & veg idea, barby!

Hi Napangardi

Well done for the gym!! I’m not getting anywhere near that at the moment but I walk as much as I can I guess.

I’ve just looked at your profile and we weigh exactly the same!! Well we did…you’ve lost 1.5 kg now and I’ve stayed the same!! Whereabouts in the world are you? From the time difference I would say NZ or Australia? It is 14.23 here right now. I’m guessing you’ll be asleep by now!!

I posted on another thread earlier about not losing anything, and they say it could be because of the dieting already, or the stress I’m under at the moment, the AI or living in a hot country!

I’m at work now, and the only way I can do this is if I am uber organised and plan the week’s food and cook it in advance so it is in boxes in my fridge to grab when I get home. I printed off all of the recipes on this site, so will browse tomorrow and tailor my shopping accordingly. I’ve made everyone else’s food I advance too, so I’m not tempted to stray……When I’m teaching I get so absorbed anyway that I forget to be hungry, and after a while you just get used to it!! Today was a colleague’s birthday and there was cake and fruit. I stole the cake and gave it to my piano student who I was teaching at the time, and wasn’t even slightly tempted. So it must be working!!!

Have a good day tomorrow. It’s the weekend for us Fri/Sat. Looking forward to not having a 4.45 alarm call in the morning!!

Ali 🙂

Ah…LindaA…tomorrow is my weigh in day….keep tuned and I’ll report in.

Thanks Switzerland, it certainly is. I’ve been following your posts too. How are you doing this week?
Linda

Welcome to the forum LindaA – what a great result for you – losing weight quickly is so motivating, isn’t it?

I live in Sydney, Australia, I’m a post menopausal 56 year old female and started the BSD diet last week and today is week 2, day 2. I’ve read the book at least 3 times and I think I have read nearly every post over the last week to learn as much as I possibly could. I’d like to to thank all the regular posters – you know who you are – as the motivation has been wonderful!! I’ve been on diets before, but predominantly low fat and now I know why the weight has always piled back on. This diet is so easy!! I haven’t felt hungry, I only had a couple of headaches on days 2 & 3 and although I haven’t been counting calories (I’ve done this so often, I’m pretty good at judging) I’ve been following the delicious recipes. I’m drinking plenty of water and I’ve built up my walking over the week to at least 1 hour a day. The result????
Starting weight 89.9 kilos, one week in…85.3kgs. A massive 4.6kgs (just over 10lbs) in the first week😄 Sugar hasn’t touched my lips, I’m only eating good carbs and I’ve stopped drinking alcohol. I’m lucky not to have T2 or be pre diabetic and I’ve no other medical issues to worry about. This is now my life and again I’d like to thank everyone who encourages us newbies. I understand that this sort of loss won’t continue every week, but it’s one hell of a start😀

Hi Whalleyrange
Great stuff. Welcome to the new way of life.
That is exactly what we are trying to change. Low carb Mediterranean diet for all Type 2 Diabetics, world wide would be great too!

Hi Ali, just got back from the gym….feel tired but good! I am determined to get there three times plus a week. I am literally five minutes walk from place but of course drive as evenings are easier for me…. I do not know what I do in the morning but I never have enough time.
Sorry to hear about your flare up..and given you have lost so much on your own I suspect not shifting as yet is to be expected, I am weighing each day and have lost 1.5 kilos. I am not finding it easy but I know my eating is habitual and of course stress related.
I am enjoying however experimenting with recipes. I need to plan for my return to work…have never done this when dieting as I tend to cook when I get home but often eat as I do!
What is the time difference between here and AbuDhabi.ie as I write it is evening….

Hi Bill1954 & hashimoto
At least we are narrowing the field down re foods to walk away from. It’s knowledge we didn’t have before.
I know that Gliadin, in the Gluten of bread ” kills” me! I love bread & potatoes. They don’t love me anymore SOB 😥

Hi Revenanto & Carolg
Great work both of you. There is something about this BSD way of life that hooks you in. Not just losing the weight, but finding (maybe for the first time) that you are in control & really feel much better than you have for a very long time.
Do it while you can. Do it while you want to. Try & do the low carbs bit for the rest of your life. This Mediterranean diet is really good. Don’t forget Prof Taylor’s words, to maintain Your personal target weight, eat two thirds ( 2/3) of the total amount you used to eat
Keep on keeping on

Hello Peggy,
I have lost 19lbs in 4 weeks, and experienced one frustrating plateau, but starting to see a pattern of losing on 2 or three days a week and staying the same most days. So I am less worried about no weight loss days.
My Mum often jokes and says she hates being old, but the alternative is worse! I feel the same about the diet, the 8 weeks is challenging but the altenative is to revert to my ‘normal’ eating habits and be lfat and sick. So keep going – it can’t not work, and the timescale is not important as long as you keep going.
Two suggestions: buy some ketostiks – Sainsburys pharmacy and Boots sell them and check in the morning that you are in ‘ketosis’ – burning fat. (If not cut down the carb element of your food and increase the fat) and secondly, don’t ignore the mindfulness part, it is easy to just focus on the eating, and for some of us mindfulness and meditation is challenging as we resist being quietly in our own company… You could try the website headspace.com where you can do a free 10 day course of short meditations – it is a lovely gift to yourself to take just 10 minutes out the day to care for your emotional well being. Keep posting – we all want to help and know how you are doing!

Hey an update to cheer you all up if you haven’t lost weight after day 6 or similar, I weighed myself this morning Day 10 and found I have lost 3lbs overnight – just like Bill1954 suggested happens sometimes. Hooray, for those of you that are struggling with this, keep motivated and keep going.

Hi AliB
Welcome. You are fighting battles on many fronts & stress is a huge influence on the body.
Calories , carbs & 18kg weight loss already is all excellent. A FBS of 4.7 wow!

You, like me are in this for the long haul. Sometimes I’ve gained, sometimes I’ve lost weight. I’m getting there because I’m doing it. Not beating myself up when weight goes up. I am getting there because I need to, I have to. I’m Type 2 Diabetic. This is not a quick 8 week fix for me. So I keep on keeping on.

Despite your obstacles you need to keep on doing this for yourself. We are here to help & lend that ear if you want a rant. Life is very frustrating sometimes even when you are doing everything right. Hang in there!

Do try & keep your fluids up. 2 – 3 litres daily. I know how hot the Middle East can be, (Bahrain). It’s sapping energy wise & hot to sleep too! It’s very good you have a brilliant school for your son & job for you. I do hope your husband finds a new job quickly.
Hang on to that good GP & use your support network where you are. People rise to the occasion if you let them
Eureka

Yep posted in my diary thread, 1 chapati at lunch and FBS of 8.8
If carbs are the food of the Devil, he must be one big fat bloke.

Hi Peggy, don’t despair, it may come off in a rush one morning.

Check that you are drinking enough fluids – 2 to 3 litres of water a day.
Are you keeping your carbs low?
🙂

What do you mean Alan? 300g of carbs???????

Hi Ali, you are going through some stress at the moment and that may not help either.
It’s only been 5 days so stick with it as you must lose weight sooner or later on this!!! 🙂

251 signatures! Don’t forget you can post this on to your social media accounts! 🙂

Hi Revenanto congratulations on doing so well so far. I agree with Bill it is a lot easier than it looks at first.
I’m also a long termer at the 11 week mark and have lost 2 stone 8 lbs so far. I want to lose another 9 stone so I’ll be with you all the way. Keep plugging away.