Latest forum posts

  • posted by  hashimoto on risk of gallstones and gout
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi I agree with Bill, after all dieticians are still doling out the low fat high carb nonsense! 🙂
    Also it is amazing what is happening to people on this diet – I know it is anecdotal rather than trial based – but there are a number of us who no longer suffer from acid reflux – yet the criminals are supposed to be fat, spicy foods and alcohol. Well, we are eating fat, I have not stopped eating spicy food and have had an occasional small glass of wine with no ill effects! 🙂

  • posted by  hashimoto on Blood Pressure
    on in Fast 800
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    PS I should add that my friend who is on medication for high blood pressure has been advised to add salt to her food when her BP crashes – despite being on renal dialysis. So it can’t hurt the rest of us to follow that advice! 🙂

  • posted by  SkyWalker on risk of gallstones and gout
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi Beverley, my gallstones (many) were diagnosed in 2006 and are not bothering me just now and as I am getting healthier and fitter I do not expect that they will, I am in week 11 but have increased my intake a bit now…

  • posted by  Bill1954 on risk of gallstones and gout
    on in Fast 800
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    I wonder if he or she is the same kind of dietary expert who have been telling people to eat low fat high carb.
    I also wonder if he has as much experience in his field as Professor Taylor and Dr Moseley.
    The fact is, if a radio producer wants to push a certain viewpoint to listeners, they will always find an “expert” who agrees with that viewpoint. It also happens a lot in court cases.
    You just can’t believe everything you hear or see in the media.

  • posted by  hashimoto on Bella the details begin
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi Bella, welcome to the forums.
    Are you following the BSD or 5:2???

    Wheat bread/toast is off the menu on BSD as it is low carb and bread is high carb.
    Could you have, say, 2 eggs and some tomatoes for breakfast? Or a full fat yoghurt with some seeds or berries?

    If you have any questions just ask away as the forums are full of helpful, friendly people who will answer your queries.

    Good luck 🙂

  • posted by  Bill1954 on Blood sugar spikes.
    on in Fast 800
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    AKB382 did you come off the meds under medical supervision ?
    Did you stop them all at the same time or stagger it ?
    I first stopped my Exanatide injections and monitored the sugar readings for a week, then I halved the metformin, again watched the results for a couple of weeks, that was when I got the spikey readings that others have experienced, it took a couple of weeks to calm down.
    Finally, after consulting the GP, I stopped the last Metformin and really haven’t had any BS problems since.

  • posted by  hashimoto on Blood Pressure
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi SteveT, like you I have a blood pressure monitor, I have low blood pressure so am always under your ‘normal range’ but when I was light headed at the beginning of the BSD and checked with my monitor my BP was at the lowest possible end of acceptable. So I think this is a natural occurrence while our bodies adjust to low calories and low carbs. I keep saying I’m in week 13 but having just checked the calendar it is week 15 and my BP is still lower than at the beginning, but the same as it was 10 years ago so I am very happy with that. My 90 year old dad is still about 120/70 (without meds) so hopefully you can lower your lisinoprol dose and hopefully by the end of 8 weeks come off it!!! 🙂

  • posted by  hashimoto on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi AKB382, I’m not diabetic so can’t help much on that front and I don’t know if you came off all your medications at once or not, or if it was under medical supervision.
    I don’t know if you have looked at Bill1954 or cherrianne’s posts but they both had problems with rising bs levels which lasted for approximately 3 weeks – but their rises began in the middle of the 8 weeks.
    Have you thought about having real food rather than shakes?

    A ‘conversation’ with them may be of more help to you. 🙂 Don’t give up hope, whatever you do!!

  • posted by  Janet1973 on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    I’m really sorry to hear that, its so demoralising isnt it?. I understand that the Professor’s patients were using shakes but from reading the forum over the last 11 weeks or so, our members seem to do better with real food rather than shakes. Would it be worth while trying the full bsd with real food for a,couple of weeks? It has worked for so many people here, I would suggest giving it a try.

  • posted by  AKB382 on Blood sugar spikes.
    on in Fast 800
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    Well I’m sorry to report it looks like it hasn’t worked for me.
    Having started the regime of 25th Jan, my weight is now 86KG, BMI of around 24. After 3-4 good weeks fasting results of lower than 5.3, BG reading have been raising since I came off the medication.
    Fasting results 12.6 last couple of mornings. Continue to have shakes for breakfast and lunch and lots of greens with dinner.

    I came off the medication metformin, pioglitazone and Victoza as I say remained relatively stable for a few weeks, I am now reconsidering introducing the medication which is off course massively disappointing. It kind of puts me back where I was. I’m so gutted !

  • posted by  AKB382 on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Well I’m sorry to report it looks like it hasn’t worked for me.
    Having started the regime of 25th Jan, my weight is now 86KG, BMI of around 24. After 3-4 good weeks fasting results of lower than 5.3, BG reading have been raising since I came off the medication.
    Fasting results 12.6 last couple of mornings. Continue to have shakes for breakfast and lunch and lots of greens with dinner.

    I came off the medication metformin, pioglitazone and Victoza as I say remained relatively stable for a few weeks, I am now reconsidering introducing the medication which is off course massively disappointing. It kind of puts me back where I was. I’m so gutted !

  • posted by  hashimoto on Over the 8-week line and after
    on in Fast 800
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    Sadly bizibee the low fat diet is still being advocated by so many in authority ( and diet industries ) that it may take a long time before folks are hit with the facts 🙁

  • posted by  Steve T on Blood Pressure
    on in Fast 800
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    I guess like a lot of people who have a BP problem, I’m “lucky” enough to have a BP monitor and have been taking regular readings – so there’s no need for me to see a practice nurse as I can see exactly what is happening. The lightheaded episodes prompted me to wonder what was going on during them so I tested blood sugar (which came up 5 or 6) and then blood pressure. Those readings came up 120/76, 128/69 and 127/79. The diastolic (second) element of these readings is I think the problem – they are below the Normal range.

    I am approaching the end of Week 3 and have lost 18lbs. I feel that this weight reduction has definitely reduced my BP as my readings have reduced steadily since I started. I will be asking my GP later whether my lisinopril dose might be dropped from 20mg/day to 10mg/day. I hope he’ll be helpful.

    By the way Rod, I love it that somebody who is trying to take charge of their own health is marked “non-compliant’ in their health records! That seems to me such a grotesque thing to do.

  • posted by  Bizibee on Over the 8-week line and after
    on in Fast 800
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    There’s no current research that favours a low fat diet over long term. Low fat has the biggest failure rate. Eg the Predimed research. Dr Jason Fung says that you can lose weight for a while on any system but keeping it off requires lowered carbs, higher fat and in his view some fasting. He describes several fasting patterns, including a 24 hr one (as an alternative to the 36 hour one in The Fast Diet). Basically this is just going from one meal one day to the same one the next with only liquids such as tea, water or broth. This gives the insulin production a rest.

  • posted by  hashimoto on Over the 8-week line and after
    on in Fast 800
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    Janet is so right – none so blind -horse/water – my best friend’s partner has T2 retinopathy, kidney problems, nerve pain in feet and ‘wants’ to be well. Cooked some bsd meals for him, bought the book for him but he is still tucking into greasy greggs pastries, chocolate and cake. Its too much effort to change his habits. In a way that’s worse reasoning than ‘don’t believe in it’ 🙁

  • posted by  Bill1954 on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Respect to you JillyB
    I lived for almost 2 years in constant fear of losing the sight in one or both eyes and had spells when I did lose it in one or the other but never both together.
    My team at the eye hospital were superb so I’m happy to hear you have a good doctor.
    Best of luck.

  • posted by  hashimoto on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
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    I hope everything turns out ok for your hubby georgiarose, hopefully he won’t want to have 5 coffees plus cake and sweet stuff in one go instead of lunch again!

  • posted by  hashimoto on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
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    Congratulations FoFi for saying goodbye to the obese level and entering the much nicer overweight level! 🙂

  • posted by  hashimoto on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Jillyb you and Bill are so brave! I’m sorry to hear about the loss of sight in one eye and am keeping everything crossed for you re your good eye. 🙂

  • posted by  FoFi on Tasty shakes
    on in Mindfulness
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    That’s why I suggest putting the yoghurt in last, so that when you invert the cup the yoghurt is on the bottom. It is liquid enough to spin around.

  • posted by  jillyB on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    captainlynne

    I, too, have to have injections in my eye – have for a couple of years. Initially I was of the same feeling as you. But I can assure you, if it ever happens to you, the thought of it is far worse than having it – I was quite surprised until I had the first one. All I feel is a rather dull pressure for a couple of seconds. When I was first told, I had to wait for a week during which I stressed out waiting for a whole week. I have lost the sight in one eye due to an incompetent eye doctor and when the other eye started I was with another doctor who is fantastic and we are trying to keep it with the help of injections – so necessary. The only draw back is on the day I have it I can’t see properly, can’t read, compute or watch telly, or anything but sit and listen to the radio. But, heh! It is worth it to save the good eye !
    jillyB

  • posted by  FoFi on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
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    I’m finally overweight (BMI 29.8). What a relief, it did take a little longer than I hoped, 14.2kg down since 1st Feb, but with a 10 day sabbatical over Easter and another few days off up until last weekend. Back on full time now for a few more weeks.

  • posted by  jillyB on Tasty shakes
    on in Mindfulness
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    FoFi

    Thanks for that, I love both of these 2 foods. But that doesn’t sound much even in the smaller cup….won’t it stick around the bottom of the cup ?

    Regards jillyB

  • posted by  georgiarose on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
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    Thanks Cherrieanne, Will organize a trip to a GP. Unfortunately not near our family doctor at home. Now he tells me he had 5 coffees and the bakery sweets at lunch time, instead of lunch. Will let you know how we go.

  • posted by  Cherrianne on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi Georgiarose,
    Hubby needs to see his GP ASAP, something is going on with him to get a BS reading of 8.3 isn’t normal in a non diabetic so his body is under stress of some kind.
    There’s not enough info there for any of us to help you, but he needs some medical attention if blacking out. May just be a medication review due to his weight loss but better to get a check up now than an ambulance trip later.
    Best of luck with this

  • posted by  Robmac on Bacon?
    on in Fast 800
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    I know Leanne,

    I dreamt of Steak Pie and Mash last night, and woke up feeling really bloated!

  • posted by  Robmac on what exercises are people doing?
    on in Fast Exercise
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    Thanks Red Devil,

    Yes I am doing weights, plus 100 situps per day. I need to ‘up’ my walking though.

    I will go back to the book re exercises and build on this.

    Thanks again.

    Rob

  • posted by  georgiarose on 'Weigh in' thread
    on in Fast 800
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    Help please. Hubby (non-diabetic) doing diet with me, week 8, 10 Kg loss each, just briefly blacked out. We have no sphygmomanometer, but blood sugar at 8.3, fairly normal he did have 4 coffees this morning and some cake (first time during diet).
    Has this happened to anyone else?
    He is lying done. Seems a bit better. Drinking water

  • posted by  Beverley on risk of gallstones and gout
    on in Fast 800
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    I heard an academic on the radio yesterday, a dietary expert, say that staying on low calorie diets and losing weight rapidly has a high chance of developing gallbladder stones and gout. Anyone heard anything about this? And if so, anything we can do to protect ourselves while on the diet?

  • posted by  boomboombum on Kia ora! Any other NZers on here?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Thanks Hawkes didn’t think of the hydration side of things I have increase my water intake significantly,
    Muscle mass doesn’t make a difference to weight 100gm fat is the same weight as 100gms muscle, but muscle mass does have a effect on size had to use the ties on my pj pants so will do a waist measurement this week will do that at the weekend

  • posted by  captainlynne on Over the 8-week line and after
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi Christi

    Yes. The words horse, water and drink come to mind. Or a picture of head hitting wall😱 She cited ‘current research’ but discounted ours. Her choice.

    Hope your friend listens at some point. I think most of us have been to SW and/or WW at least once, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve joined them!

    Time for exercise everyone. All together now. Dancing shoes on?

    “Let’s do the time warp again”

  • posted by  captainlynne on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi all.

    I’m 65 so reversing it doesn’t help, but adding the two together – 11!!!!! I always said I stuck at 19 (no particular reason), so anywhere between 11and 19 suits me fine😃

  • posted by  Hawks on Kia ora! Any other NZers on here?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Any chance you are either increasing muscle or more hydrated?

    Have you been doing waist measurements? Others say those are sometimes a mental boost when the weight doesn’t go down, but things are still changing in your body. I don’t measure mine, but I have a belt that keeps needing new holes every so often – at the smaller end ha ha. Used to be the other way.

  • posted by  captainlynne on My reflux has disapeared!
    on in BSD Med Style Low Carb
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    Hi Type2Partner. It sounds strange, but I needed to buy food on a railway station after I flew home from holiday recently. Needless to say, the option was sweets or sandwiches. I bought a BLT, ate the filling and binned the rest. In the past the only available option was McDonalds – I bought a burger (no fries), ate the meat and salad but left the bun. Neither option was ideal, but I felt them to be the best choices in the circumstances.

    I live near a small city, but most eating places there are still of the sandwich or something with chips style. Since starting the BSD 17 weeks ago I find I eat breakfast, then nothing until evening. If I am with someone who is eating again lunchtime I just have a coffee. If they ask, I just say either that I’m not hungry, that I’ve already eaten, or that I’m going out for a meal later.

    One thing I can find is a breakfast. BHS do a 4-item breakfast which sets me up for the day. Perhaps you could find something similar. I find many cafes serve an all-day breakfast.

  • posted by  Christi1948 on Over the 8-week line and after
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi captainlynne
    As Janet said , there’s none so blind as those who cannot see!
    I have another friend who had her kidney out last year( it was cancer, however they ‘got’ it all) she has put a lot of weight on and went to slimming world, she has lost a stone and a half and swears by low fat everything, and won’t hear the words you will put it back on plus when you finish the diet! I feel like I am in a time warp! or something!
    Christine

  • posted by  boomboombum on Kia ora! Any other NZers on here?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    mmmmmmm not having a good week this week, have put on a 1kg since last Tuesday not sure why , I did have a couple of wines at the weekend but not that much !!! LOL,
    Have been really strict on the calorie counting this week, but still weight has crept up, have 3 sessions in mind over the long weekend hopefully they will kick start the weight loss again, I feel thinner and better in myself and my clothes definitely fit better so those are pluses, but I do like having the physiological boost of seeing numbers on the scales decrease

  • posted by  Christi1948 on My eight weeks….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi Lucia
    Haha so I’m really 86 then! I think I might just add the two together and be 14!!!
    I wish I was in size 16, I seem to be losing weight but not inches at the moment, go figure!
    Christine

  • posted by  captainlynne on Over the 8-week line and after
    on in Fast 800
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    Had this conversation last night with a physiotherapist (socially). She has to lose weight and get her cholesterol down so she’s eating veggies, grains, nuts, pulses, low-fat and taking statins.

    Told her that folk on here are getting hood cholesterol results but just not interested. She’s seen my progress but discounts what I’m doing, and the whole BSD ethos.

    Oh well, won’t have to see her again after August.

  • posted by  RodB on Blood Pressure
    on in Fast 800
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    I read your post with great interest, Steve. I have a similar situation with my GP (the worst thing is to end up with ‘Non-compliant’ recorded on my e-health records, lol) but ironically he’ also says as an intelligent human being I’m in charge of my own health. When it comes to my GP, I’ll let my annual blood tests do the talking. After Week 8 (and only 12lbs lighter), I feel my BP has dropped but I need to take regular daily BP readings. I haven’t done so yet, having focused on blood glucose levels instead. I need some hard evidence like regular daily BP readings to justify to myself my coming off meds (even if it’s only 40mg pill a day). And the results have to show consistency. Keeping in mind BP is an indicator of external stress (unrelated to diet) which can obviously fluctuate, I’ll rely on two or three months of BP readings. So long as the records are consistently in the Normal range for BP, I’ll be happy. If BP starts to drop to below Normal, then I believe I can be reasonably sure the meds are pushing BP below normal. Keen to see how you go!

  • posted by  Hawks on Blood Pressure
    on in Fast 800
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    Can you make an appointment with a practice nurse instead of your GP just to get a blood pressure check?
    If it is quite low, you can then see the GP if needed to review meds, and avoid seeing them at all if it is not.