Cow milk is fine. I don’t see anything in the book to suggest anything other than it being good.

Cheese is restricted to small quantities because it is very calorific – not much room for anything else if you ate a lot of it.

Good luck!

Hi, always happy to chat because I live on my own with two dogs for company.
It’s 2pm here, and it’s just started to rain. A nice afternoon to be staying indoors. I bought an ox tail yesterday and am going to cook it in the pressure cooker, diet friendly of course.
I also drink chamomile tea Izzy, mine has lemon balm, peppermint and lavender and is supposed to be relaxing and soothing. I hope your new recipe turned out well.
Good for you, JustDo it, taking up yoga and swimming. I struggle with exercise I’m afraid. Not because I can’t, but because I keep putting off starting until the day is nearly over. I know all the reasons why I should, how good it is for me physically as well as mentally, and when I do it, I even feel good afterwards. So there’s no excuse really.
Keep up the good work both of you.

Hi

I’m in Australia and starting on Monday (after school holidays) and trying to get some things cooked and frozen for lunch. I am a little confused and am hoping someone here can help.
Full fat yoghurt is good
Cheese is ok in smallish quantities?
Cow milk is bad? Almond my life is ok?

Thank you in advance

Re BS testing
I’m now going to only do immediately before a meal and two hours after for more accurate recording of how its behaving as fasting is so erratic.

But does anyone know how long if at all it should take for fasting bs reading to reduce,I’ve had it down to 7 but back to 8 this morning 😱
Alan 1st 6lb in 3 weeks 😀

Well done Alanhypno😊

Hi – I hope this hasn’t been asked a million times before. I’ve read the book from cover to cover and I know its 800 calories per day, but what is the maximum carbs and sugar we should be eating on a daily basis?

Third week done
My weekly losses are,
Week 1 8ld
Week 2 8lb
Week 3 6lb

Have I reached a plateau ? 😱
I jest of course
Anyone tried Beurer app for weight Blood pressure,Blood sugar it’s brilliant

Alan strangely not hungry 😋

There was a vitamin carb etc list on here,sure it said 300 g carbohydrates ??
Alan

AliB 🙂

Eureka, it is 5am and I am still awake due to pain caused by that GF brownie. Never again!
Like you say, at least we know what foods to walk away from. Walk? I’ll be sprinting away lol

Fantastic start to the BSD LindaA! 🙂

‘Morning everyone

On your advice I upped my water intake yesterday, braved the scales and I’ve lost 1.5lbs!! (0.7kg) Very happy with that. Will continue with this and up it as much as I can so fingers crossed for more lbs off this week.

Have a good day everyone!

Ali 😊

Are these too sweet or carby or are they OK?
They aren’t tropical, as evidenced by the glut growing around here, but are they OK or in the too sugary category?

Online search says:
Sugar 8/100 g
est. 45-50 calories/100g

I do it alternately.

Fage is wonderful. We have it in the US, as well.

Watch for pectin as an ingredient – it nearly doubles the carbs.

How does everyone do this? Fasting and eating once a day or do you eat two or 3 meals? I’m going to see it the book is at the book store in town tomorrow. What kind of meal do you do? Any ideas will get me going in the right direction.

My reflux has if anything been more severe (3days in) but I have been changing from osemprazole (sp? and a PPI) to ranitidine ( a H+ inhibitor instead) which is not as effective and meant I had to take a tablet twice a day – first three diet days i have had to chew gaviscon in the afternoon too.

After hearing other have theirs clear up, I’m hopeful mine will settle down, even just only one ranitidine daily would be fine. I was concerned about taking the PPI forever, hence the change.

my reflux is structural in good part, so less food-based I suspect. We shall see, very early days.

Hi Dave,

If you tell your broad location I’m sure others will chime in with brand names, but overall a good full fat plain greek yoghurt is the go. Check it isn’t reduced fat, and also hasn’t had honey or something added (happens a lot to greek yoghurt).

greek yoghurt is strained so it is thicker and creamier as a result – this also concentrates it’s protein a bit too. Here in Australia farmers union is a brand I have tried. I have heard the UK types mention a brand like faage or something? good luck.

Bopping up thread Oi Oi Oi
Isnt anyone in NSW? I want some of those low carb spuds and that bread!

Soz for delay, I posted this important (to me) question then merrily forgot about it.

Gday Cherianne – thanks for the confirmation on the breakup of the 800 cals, which I think is super important. If you just try to stick to 800 cals without checking carbs I believe it doesnt work. Sticking to 50g carbs a day I am finding quite difficult since there are unexpected carbs in lost of things, like low cal foods etc, so just doing 800 cals isnt enough IMHO. I have started but faltered and am about to restart, I lost 2Kg in the first week when I was being super good so I know it works.

Hi Toofastblack – yes the app does work it out but it gets the wrong breakup, as above, you need to adjust that in the settings/goals.

Well done Olliepops but I do understand. Although 14lbs is really fantastic, and should not be ignored, I do understand your expectations. I can only suggest that you look at the carbs, they are hidden often, and this is really a low-carb low calorie diet.

Hi,

Please can you advise which full fat yoghurt is recommended for the 8 week blood sugar diet.
I visited the supermarket and found myself confused by the bewildering array of products on offer, most high in sugar.
Which high fat natural yoghurt do you recommend ?

Many thanks

I am using CalorieKing http://calorieking.com/ to help calculate calories and carbs and weigh almost everything I eat. This is growing my confidence in the diet and my ability to choose low carb foods. I am having problems with feeling confident that it’s okay to eat fat – my training to reach for low-fat options at the supermarket is still strong. Eating nuts is helping, especially if I eat them really slowly.

I am expecting to not lose a lot in the last 3 weeks of the 8 week FastBSD diet and am thinking that’s when I need to add some physical exercise to my daily activities to help the weight loss process along. Although building muscles will mean adding weight, but at least it’s not fat. 🙂

In the book Michael says the diet if adaptable to foods from other cultures, for example, Asian inspired recipes and menus – just follow the basic guidelines of using non-starchy vegetables, drinking lots of water and avoiding anything labelled low-fat. High sugar fruits, such as tropical ones, are a no-no too: try apples and pears instead. I snack on dried apricots (a couple a day at most eaten very slowly) because they are highly nutritious. Nuts, including almond meal or L.S.A. (linseed, sunflower and almond meal), are a mainstay for me too though they bump up the cals and carb count they are filling in a sustaining way.

I think taking out the grain carbs and starchy vegetables from your diet should have an immediately positive effect on your acid reflux – I’m not an expert but that has been my experience in the past. Cutting out bread, and then other wheat based foods from my diet resolved that issue for me before I found out about the blood sugar diet. 🙂

I am taking lots of readings. They continually disappoint.
Maybe I am eating too much ?
The readings range from 6’s to 9’s whereas they were 8’s to 12’s so I am pleased about that but I can start in the morning at 7.00 am at 7.0 on the Accucheck and after walking for an hour as briskly as I can it still reads 6.9. It sometimes even goes up. But then it inexplicably drops to as low as 3.9 then on other days, 5.9 or 6.5 I can not understand.
I try to test about half an hour after eating. As a regular gauge. But even that is erratic.
The lack of energy is awful, I sleep after a walk no problem. But I am 7 I have had D2 for 8 years, I have lost 20kg and am determined to lick this sucker !

Would love to hear from other people about the Blood Sugar readings…..what are yours doing ?
If some clever lass could develop a chart that we could post the readings into that would be a great reassurance. Need some rules….like only following 1 hour after food because we are looking for evidence of insulin being effective in our systems again aren’t we ?
Well thats what I want and when about week 4 I was getting good 5’s and 6’s and now it is 6’s and 7’s I wonder if I am being careful enough.

Good luck fellow D2’s

Hi melb100 and Eureka (and other dear readers), I’d thought at first that my motivation is purely physical- health driven, which it is, but for me it also encompasses the sense of wellbeing that the low carb mediterranean way of life gives me. Not feeling hungry constantly is life affirming and a great motivation for continuing the BSD. I can’t help but think ‘this is how I used to feel decades ago’ and when I reflect on that, back then I ate very few processed foods.

Hi everyone, Well it’s Week 5 Day 1 for me and I’m delighted to announce that I lost 2.1kg in the last week (that’s a total of 5.6kg over the 4 weeks, with no loss week 3). I’m so HAPPY that I stuck with the BSD and conquered my week 3 plateau. It’s really empowering to have stuck with it. The old me would have given up. It’s also with great pleasure that I announce my waist circumference is down 6 cm from Week 1 Day 1.
I also want to mention that for me it’s the whole package. I’ve also been walking every day (varying distances because ‘life’ gets in the way), but I do aim for 10 000 steps now. Daily mindfulness meditation has been beneficial. I use the Smiling Mind App (Australia). Have a great day BSDers.

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