Thanks, I’m going to try that, as they sound tasty. I will report back.

When to come off meds
Rightly or wrongly I stopped them when I started two weeks ago with readings over 9.5
Morning fasting now 6.5 and two hours after food 7.5
Today I got 4.5 an hour after lunch which kinda scared me so had boiled egg n butter
Lost one stone in two weeks ,zero booze biscuits bread etc no urges.
Weird
Alan cheers guys

you could use the waffle recipe and just fry up little flat ones, like pancakes? I know they wouldn’t have the funky waffly texture but might still be nice.

that’s great you guys are giving me all sorts of hope that I can do what I need to do 🙂

My ultimate goal is around 50 lb’s away and I know I can’t do that in 8 weeks.

I’m liking your action plan. I’m sat here with my diary looking through the recipe thread just now trying to plan. I have two kids plus a very hungry hubby to feed too, so I’m trying to choose plenty of things that they can have too just adding rice/pasta/potato to their portions and not mine.

Hi Alan I really like the full fat yoghurt for breakfast with a few milled flax seeds on top, very filling and low carb. failing that an omelette? 🙂

Looks like you have it well sorted, Lynne! It’s amazing how we can eat out without fear once we have a handle on this diet 🙂

those sweet potato fries look nice but yeah I’d guess too high in carbs for us 🙁

Actually Hairbear that may not be placebo – lots of people are reporting improvements in their skin! 🙂

Barby get the Cuisique, the food is fed through vertically rather than horizontally which makes it easier – and the integral jug catches the food! 🙂

You can spiralise your veg, put it in separate bags in the fridge ( for up to 4 days) then add bits of veg to a stock to make a bulky but low calorie soup as a snack. Or mix the veg for coleslaw but only add some yoghurt and seasonings of choice to the amount you are about to eat – that way it keeps nice and crunchy – not slimy like shop bought!

Ooh and courgetti! I fried onion, chilli, garlic and sweet pepper first then added my courgetti. Then stirred in some cream cheese for a cheap, fast and tasty lunch. You can add whatever you want – fish, meat, cheese.

Thank you Hashimoto and I’m sure I speak for many other members when I say how appreciated it is that you always make the time to encourage so many if not all members on this forum.
Outrunner, rant away, totally share your views on wrong info for all these decades on diet and nutrition, it’s all so confusing but thankfully we are taking action and can spread the word to encourage others.
x

I only eat natural yoghurt so no added sugar but yes, most low-fat is incredibly high in sugar.

I want one too ! just found this recipe http://www.lakeland.co.uk/r80908/Sweet-Potato-Fries – probably too unhealthy?

Thanks for the info guys and gals, not too concerned too much about the 800 calories, mainly the principle and how it works, so far, impressed with the results. Look forward to vastly reduced meds. May seem odd or just a placebo effect, but shaving smoother and definitely more alert.

Judith, I liked your Spiraliser – just popped one in my basket on Amazon waiting for payday.

Working on my action plan for next week – in a hotel Monday to Thursday. I’ve stayed there before do have a reasonable idea what the meals are like. Unless, of course, they’ve changed things from last year!

Breakfast: buffet style. Will walk past fruit juice, cereal etc and head straight for the cooked breakfast. Avoid toast that sits on the table.

Lunch: buffet style. (I normally don’t eat lunch now, but most evenings next week the evening meal is quite late, so will probably eat at lunchtime too). Cooked meats and various salads, just watching portion sizes and being careful with the salads. No bread roll! Avoid the hot option – too many carbs usually. Definitely no dessert.

Dinner: this has to picked at breakfast (at arrival on first day) and is 3 courses, served set the table. Because it will be later than I normally eat, I won’t want much – especially after eating at lunchtime. Usually a choice of about 3 starters – soup plus possibly pâté, melon or something similar. Will make best choice possible – or just not have starter. Main course – again a choice of 3 or 4 dishes- usually fish, poultry and meat alternatives. Have decided I’ll see what the choices are and if I’m not too happy with them I’ll ask if I can have a salad. Again, I’ll decline the desserts. Last year I had the cheeseboard one evening – if was huge, with lots of crackers and fruit!!!!!

Oh, and no shortbread biscuits at coffee breaks.

That’s my thinking. I don’t think low-carb will be an issue – it’s going to be keeping an eye on portion sizes. And not eating too much late in the day😳

Sounds lovely, Barby, and yes they should work as fritters. 🙂

Hi Hairbear, welcome to the forums. some people are TOFIs and it works for them – not sure whether you would go down to 800 calories though! Bill 1954 has come off meds by just using portion control and 50g or less of carbs a day. No calorie counting. That might just be the ticket for you 🙂

Glad you like them Hashimoto – some may have weird ingredients/measurements etc, but worth a look. This waffle mix looks good, I don’t really want to get yet another kitchen gadget though, so thought it might be nice just fried as a sort of fritter?.

I’m also wondering about the spirializer, I may try the julienne cutter on my Kenwood Chef first, or other alternative is simple julienne peeler, Oxo do a good one. It’s a whole new life, this low carb thing. Off to supermarket now to get some more veg!

Savory Cheese Chive Waffles
1 cup processed, raw cauliflower (should resemble coarse crumbs)
1 cup processed mozzarella shredded cheese
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese/shredded
2 eggs
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp chives
fresh parsley, optional
sun-dried tomatoes, optional
Heat waffle maker until ready. Add scant 1/4 cups filled with batter on the griddle. Set the timer for 4-6 minutes, peeking after minute four. If the waffle maker sticks, let cook slightly longer. Remove once cooked. allow to cool on a plate. Refrigerate remaining.
Makes 6 waffles.
Nutritional Information per waffle: Calories: 135, Carbohydrates: 3g, Fiber: .8g, Net Carbohydrates: 2.2g, Protein: 11.7g, Fat: 8.5g

Hi Lucia, Christine, Judith et al,

Thanks for your good wishes.

Lucia, if you want to keep an eye on my efforts to follow your walking challenge you can follow my progress on “Strava” (free App)

I put this morning’s walk onto my cycling log this morning by mistake but it is there if you look.

You can set it up to “follow” me if you wish. (Look for John Lambert)

Bye all – see you in June.

Alan you are doing so well my Dad’s diabetic nurse always said the same thing about needing more carbs. But whenever mum added more his levels spiked (of course they did!) so in the end my mum and dad ignored her advice. Over the last 10 years of his life, every time he went to the clinic and saw the doctor he was told that he was the model patient in terms of his blood sugar. They knew what worked for dad. So keep on keeping the carbs low and maybe even consider substituting the porridge for something low carb. Some folk find it doesn’t spike their levels but others like Captain Lynne find their bodies don’t like it.

I bet your next HbA1c blood test results will be loads better.

Judith I’ve been known to be standing in the queue at a cafe, waiting to be served, only to walk out because it was taking too long and I needed food, and needed it fast. Then I’d be running around trying to find somewhere else. If nothing else, I learned that ‘fast food’ places are anything but😱

It’s really good now, being able to go out without worrying about finding something to eat😃

On Monday we drive to Ravenscar near Scarborough and we usually stop en route for lunch. I’ll be happy with my black coffee while the others tuck into their sandwich, chips or whatever. No more picking up shortbread biscuits at the coffee breaks (or wondering which container holds the milk) – black coffee again. In the free time I think I’m going into Scarborough with someone for a catchup. She’s not seen me since January! Black coffee time again.

In the past I’ve packed snacks for bedtime (as if three hearty meals a day, plus biscuits, wasn’t enough). This year I’ll just take some decaffeinated coffee (in case I need it) and a refillable water bottle. Prefer fizzy water, but it’s noisy when you open it – not good in meetings😱

Izzy look at Barby’s poat about free kindle books – there is a spiraliser recipe book for free on Kindle.

Sorry Lynne I am getting g confused over weeks – it means I reached 16 weeks Tuesday gone!!! 🙂

Just type your subject into the Search box on top right – you will find most things easily enough…

Wow, Barby you are a STAR!!!!
I love new recipes!!! 🙂

Hi hairbear
Welcome! Bill1954’s posts are on a thread called ‘this has to work for me’ in the ‘Welcome to the BSD’ area. Just scroll down the list of topics until you come to that one.
Julia

Hi Izzy. As Hashimoto says, I’ve just finished 18 weeks on 800 and feel great. I’ve still nearly 3 stone to lose and want to stay on this until I reach that goal.

I originally asked the team about this and their response was that it was ok to stay on 800 for a few extra weeks, then move to 5:2. But as you will see from the posts, lots of folk are now staying on 800 longer term with no ill effects.

I do see my diabetes nurse monthly for her to monitor my progress. Last month they expressed doubt about whether or not this was sustainable – so the stubborn part of me is determined to show them that it is.

Just found some more low carb free Kindle books (mainly American) – might be worth a look. The first one has a recipe for cheesey caulifour waffles that looks delicious. I don’t have a waffle maker though.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unbelievably-Healthy-Gluten-Sugar-Recipes-ebook/dp/B00ZUVACPC?ie=UTF8&keywords=free%20low%20carb%20cookbooks%20for%20kindle&qid=1461422210&ref_=sr_1_5&s=digital-text&sr=1-5

http://www.amazon.co.uk/LOW-CARB-COOKBOOK-Dinner-Recipes-ebook/dp/B00TEC9SZ8?ie=UTF8&keywords=free%20low%20carb%20cookbooks%20for%20kindle&qid=14

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spiralizer-Recipe-Book-Gluten-Free-Weight-Loss-ebook/dp/B00ZN5JR2E?ie=UTF8&keywords=free%20low%20carb%20cookbooks%20for%20kindle

http://www.amazon.co.uk/PALEO-Paleolithic-Massive-Cavewoman-Gluten-Free-ebook/dp/B00HK0NCEY?ie=UTF8&keywords=free%20low%20carb%20cookbooks%20for%20kindle&qid=1461422210&ref_=sr_1_6&s=digital-text&sr=1-6

http://www.amazon.co.uk/LOW-CARB-COOKBOOK-Breakfast-Recipes-ebook/dp/B00TEBVUKA?ie=UTF8&keywords=free%20low%20carb%20cookbooks%20for%20kindle&qid=1461423014&ref_=sr_1_21&s=digital-text&sr=1-21

http://www.amazon.co.uk/KETOGENIC-COOKBOOK-Ketogenic-Cookbook-Happiness-ebook/dp/B00NYD0U1E?ie=UTF8&keywords=free%20low%20carb%20cookbooks%20for%20kindle&qid=1461423455&ref_=sr_1_21&s=digital-text&sr=1-21

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Courses-Ketogenic-Cookbook-recipes-ebook/dp/B00WD81M2W?ie=UTF8&keywords=free%20low%20carb%20cookbooks%20for%20kindle&qid=1461423455&ref_=sr_1_24&s=digital-text&sr=1-24

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Low-Carb-Bible-Ketogenic-Cookbook-ebook/dp/B00WCSGQ2E?ie=UTF8&keywords=free%20low%20carb%20cookbooks%20for%20kindle&qid=1461423455&ref_=sr_1_32&s=digital-text&sr=1-32

Hi Izzy, lynne has been doing this for nearly 17 weeks and I can vouch for the fact that she looks well! 🙂 I’ve been going for 16 weeks by Tuesday – but have been slowly increasing my calories – but not starchy food!! – for a while. I’m 8stone 12 now and I’m quite happy with that!
WEll, that was a much better result than I could ever have anticipated at the beginning! 🙂

Thanks Captainlynn, how do I find the posts, not sure how these forums work.

Lynne until this diet I used to regularly get the shakes and dizziness when I suddenly needed to eat – but I would find it could take a couple of hours for that and the headache to go. I really should have had that test before I started!!! 🙁

Hi Lucia – I will never be a vegan!!! But I do like to mix it up a bit. There are some veggie meals I just can’t do without – just as much as I can’t do without my English Breakfast.
Hawks had some good ideas for veg didn’t he? I like fish sauce ( not the smell of it) but a small amount in some dishes gives a lovely flavour.

Did you see the article about meditating knocking 7 years off your brain age???

xx

Yes, Judith. It is weird😳 It doesn’t really help when they move the goalposts for diagnosis either!!! They changed it here, and diagnosis levels here are different to those in the USA😱

Personally, I used to be really shakey if my readings went under 5. Now I’m almost always between 4 and 4.9 with no problems😃 It used to be really bad when it was ‘time to eat’ and I couldn’t find anything quickly enough. Now I normally just eat morning and evening – no shaking, no panicking 😃

Hi,

Thank you for the conversation or the gentle debate about eating meat.

I think it is interesting. I have had a meat free day today, I am going to see how my body reacts. I would like to do it gently and over time.
Will I ever be totally vegan?
I don’t think so, but you never know and I am not saying never.

Tomorrow I will have eggs, veg salad etc, I will try again, hope you are all looking inwards on how you feel emotionally and physically about this.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

amazing story of BSD and love the funnies as well lol

I guess you’ve answered a question I’ve been pondering that we don’t have to change to the 5:2 after 8 weeks? we can keep going on 800? It was a question I was going to ask further in assuming I can get to week 8!

Hi Bill 1954.
Who to I make a complaint to please?

A month or so ago, I had plenty of sitting down time to blog.
Now, with this diet, I was up early, I had energy to clean the house, do two loads of laundry, to stay out walking in the beautiful sunshine that is still here now.
I want to do much, move, be active, see, feel, smell, enjoy experience everything.

So the problem I have, that I want to complain about is……

How can I blog if I am doing all that?

🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

Thank you are two simple words, this is all I can offer all of you, please take them as my gift to you.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi Hairbear.

Welcome to the BSD family. Can I suggest you read Bill1954’s posts. He’s type 2 and was on medication. Now he’s medication-free.

Lynne, that must have been so awkward for you!!!

Hi john,
I understand what you are going through.
I had to come to this diet gradually. I thought to step straight into it was too great.
So I had a week to get with it. You are only taking a few weeks, so I will be waiting here with the team really to welcome you back into the fold.

I also had a 24 hour blackout from the blog. As I felt it was getting a little to heavy. I came back refreshed, I hope the same thing happens for you.

I will miss you, but please keep cycling and running, keep trying to stay within say 1200 calories, and bring it down a hundred each week, so when you come back you will be at 800.
But let me put your mind at rest, I look forward to your return even if you can’t do the 800, if it has to be 1000 or 1200.
Just keep trying, keep moving, keep motivated, keep happy, keep in touch.

Love Lucia
Xxx

Lynne this blood sugar thing is so weird!! Mine was 3.8 and I feel the best I’ve ever felt – admittedly I’m not diabetic. It sounds so complex I’m really glad it is a problem I do not have!

Forgot to say: I can now eat without running to the toilet shortly afterwards with violent diarrhoea 😱😳😃

Alan, 4.5 is ‘normal’ so try not to worry. I think it could be one of two things (or even both.

Your body has been used to higher blood sugars, so when it drops you feel wobbly because you’re not used to the lower readings. I’ve not taken meds but would think they would drop your results further.

It could also be a reaction to the porridge you ate earlier. I don’t know what time you ate that, but if I eat porridge my blood sugar spikes and then drops much lower (that’s why I avoid carbs, including porridge, now!). Sometimes when we eat the carbs our blood sugars go up, then show a significant drop – making us want more carbs to make us feel better.

As I said 4.5 is perfectly normal (under 4 is getting into hypo territory) but if you think you need something to eat I suggest a small amount of protein.

Hope this helps.

Hi Christine, Michael Mosley is a TOFI ( thin on the outside fat on the inside) so I think it does work for them. I don’t know whether they would do 800 or not. You could always email the team for advice on the matter.

It’s lovely that they are supportive of you when they have problems themselves 🙂

Hi Judith,
No chance of them following the diet, Richard has had great problems trying to put on weight, his diabetics is very erratic, he has to inject before meals, he is very fit, walks a lot, he has walked John o groats to lands end!
His father was diabetic with same erratic problems too!
Judith has lost nearly three stone and is as thin as a rake and is still diabetic! So not sure what our diet would alter for them, they are very supportive of me though.
Christine

How sad is it that I’m getting excited? hahaha

should arrive sometime next week 🙂

You could also make baked apple and cinnamon crisps if you use the ribbon blade 🙂

Alan I wish I could help but don’t really know anything about diabetes problems.
🙁

Hi Izzy, you can use the julienne blade with the safety hand grip to make crisps from root veg like beetroot and carrots for a treat for kids/visitors 🙂

thanks I’ve had a look and ordered one.

I had a sudden… wicked idea.

Spiralised courgette, cut into small sections (think…curly fries) seasoned with spices and tossed in a little olive oil.. baked in the oven. Low carb curly fries? omg I actually think I WANT courgette curly fries!

it is frustrating but also remember us women get a raw deal. hormonal fluctuations can make us hold water too but that doesn’t mean that you haven’t lost fat today just not showing on the scales yet. Don’t let a bad day/week stop you think ahead. I don’t want to think how many times I have found myself thinking…. if only I’d stuck to my diet I’d have lost loads by now -when looking back and wishing I had 🙁

Hi christine I’m so pleased your friends could see the changes in you AND commented! It would be really good for them if they decide to follow this diet 🙂 if they were interested in the website there us a good chance they will start!
Judith