Thank you Orchid!

The grading is a challenge. They decided earlier this year they were asking me to do more than it was reasonable to ask of anyone – and hired a part-time assistant. Training is generally a net drain for a full semester, so short term it doesn’t generally provide much assistance. Fortunately the training for my current assistant did not (as I feared) result in a net increase in time – the assistant is extremely good at providing the kind of feedback I do. Unfortunately, her other commitments prevent her from actually providing much assistance. Out of the 1000+ papers for the semester, she managed to get through a few more than 100. I had hoped for closer to 300.

And the big challenge is that there is a hard, fast deadline for the grades – I exclusively teach students who are graduating. So this could not have come at a worse time.

Hi if you are a British citizen please could you sign our petition? Thanks 🙂

Just suggested to an overweight friend that he ask his GP to refer him for ‘ exercise on Prescription ‘ which is funded in the UK by a lot of health trusts. I downloaded the referral form for him off the internet. His GP signed the form for him and the following day he had an appointment!
In Norfolk where he lives you are offered 12 weeks course of some kind of exercise to suit your needs, with assessment, monitoring and support
Sure lots of people doing the BDS would be eligible, just search ‘exercise on prescription’ plus your county / city.

Ha ha – pants falling down- at home I hope or all sorts of trouble!!! ‘I am qu’ is a typo can’t remember what I was going to say! No, went to see doctor a couple of weeks ago and they want to do my blood tests and see how I’ve been doing long term, currently on 1000 mg metformin in the evening plus a statin for cholesterol and tablet for high blood pressure – he did say may have to take me off the drugs – how good is that! I did have fleeting but many giddy moments which have now passed – I’m too scared to take myself off the drugs although my best mate ‘nurse debs’ did say at least halve the metformin – which I haven’t..

Also I have a pair of tract suit bottoms which keep slipping off – fun isn’t it!

Keep up the good work and I’ll try and remember what ‘qu’ was??!!

I can recommend a mini trampoline ( rebounder) for a quick workout. Can be surprisingly energetic. Lots how how-to videos on u-tube. They’re fairly cheap, don’t take up too much room, and you can even watch TV while you bounce! They store nicely behind the sofa. Rebounding is supposed to be extra good exercise, it’s weight bearing, but lower impact than running etc. It’s what NASA recommends, that’s good enough for me…

Christine,
Thanks.
The first trial (after dinner) is going to be an evening at the pub. I’ve offered to drive 🙂

Bill,
I agree about the injections – it’s after that it’s uncomfortable. I’m on monthly injections at the moment at the Bristol Eye Hospital so I’m getting lots of practice. 😉

John

Had a wholemeal seeded bread sandwich when out to lunch today, and 20 minutes later had attack of reflux which was briefly very uncomfortable. Maybe you and your friend are right Marcus B. I was formerly very fond of bread, and another toast, made all my own spelt bread, so it was genuinely added sugar free. Not missing it, strangely. Only had the sandwich as the only other option was soup…
Going out for meals is a challenge, especially in a small town. I hope that cafes and restaurants will get onto the low carb bandwagon soon…

Hi TFB
Like some others, I’ve carried on beyond the 8-week limit (currently 13 weeks) and am feeling no ill effects whatsoever. I’ve lost a stone and a half (9.5 kilos for our metric chums) in that time and am aiming for another 6-7lbs (3.5 kilos) to reach my target weight. I’ve stopped thinking of it as a diet and now view it as a change of eating habits. I followed the diet rigorously for the first 8 weeks, but do occasionally now have the odd slice of toast or bread when I feel like it, along with a potato or two occasionally. This seems to have no effect on my weight, which I’m losing at a steady 1.5 – 2 lbs per week. I also exercise every day (15 mins core strength in the morning and try to walk a few miles every day plus a weekly yoga class) so maybe that’s helped, too.
I was diagnosed pre-diabetic in January, which was the kick-start I needed. Wish I’d done it years ago – I sleep better, my skin is clear and (curiously enough) I’ve had no recurrence of the gout I was suffering from prior to Jan (which was the reason for the blood test in the first place).
Good luck. Your body will let you know when you need to stop losing – till then, go for it.

Tallyhoo
Are you still on metformin ?

I’m on four a day 500 mg plus one xelevia /sitagliptine 100 mg

I stopped taking them both when I started this diet last week did not see nurse ,it’s come down in a week fasting now 6.7

Not sure if done right thing but wanted to measure it without the pills

Surely you must be off pills with those readings ? So low ,what’s qu ?

Sorry lots question second week ,pants falling down feeling great
Alan, thanks for help.

Hi Happywife, I am a bit sceptical of these machines, for fat percentages at least, they rely on a constant percentage hydration. If you get a fat percentage reading one week then take one the next week and are less hydrated, you cannot compare the two. I think the dehydration pushes up the fat percentage (from memory – others please correct it if is the other way around). If you tend to be consistently hydrated and take the measurements at the same time of day, then you may be ok. You should also see the hydration reading on the output from the scales.
The house scales I have state I should weight myself at around 3pm as that is the best time for being hydrated. Needless to say I don’t tend to be around the scales at that time of day! First thing in the morning, the fat %age varies and I can see the hydration also varies, with no real relation to the weight loss shown on the scales.
What my scales also give me is a reading of visceral fat – score of 1-20 , there 12 and under is you are at an ‘ok’ level. I have been on 12 since I got the scales last year. I assumed, these were unlikely to be very accurate after reading about the hydration and %age fat. However, the score has gone down to 10 in the last 8 weeks since I have been following the 800 plan – as an indicator – it is in the right direction. Is it accurate – don’t know.
The scales, however are accurate, consistent and I can step off and on and get the same reading. My old scales, if I stepped on and did not like the weight, I stepped off and on again and it usually obliged and gave a lower reading :-).

Juliet the medical advice is : if you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated!! So just try and ‘neck it’ whenever you can!!! 🙂

So, here goes on a little self experiment. On Monday I started taking the Inulin daily (6 gms) and I went to the gym where there is a fancy pants machine called a Boditrax, this is supposed to give all sorts of readings – fat percentage, fat mass and visceral fat among other things. I hadn’t been on the machine for 4 weeks and it showed that although I had lost nearly 2 kilos (no was not following BSD properly until last week) the fat percentage had gone up by 0.2 my fat mass had gone down by 0.5 and the visceral fat reading had stayed the same. So fellow BSDers I will give it another month on the diet and taking the Inulin and report back on results on the visceral fat reading. Honestly not sure if this machine can do what it says it can but as it hadn’t reduced the visceral fat reading as a result of the 2kg weight loss think it may be worth a go. Has anyone got any experience with these machines and their accuracy?

Hi MerryMary, if you can find any Pilates classes in the area, they are great for strengthening especially injuries. The reformer sessions are especially good, if you have bad knees, you are not going down to floor level every time! I had a rotator cuff injury that was partially healed, and stubbornly refusing to improve further. It left me with restricted shoulder movement and strength. I have been going for 18 months and despite being overweight, have improved my core strength and also my shoulder is almost back to normal. We also have others in the group with arthritis and someone who had a slipped disc and whose back is almost normal again. The exercises are controlled and steady so do not jar injuries, and the teacher will help adapt each exercise to your capabilities.
It is very relaxing as the hour goes past quickly and you are concentrating on movements to the exclusion of everything else.
It also complements Yoga really well.

Nice combo Bill – and good to see the readings check out.

Popadum = 30 cals it seems.

Hi Alan, don’t worry about your fasting BS level yet – mine started at 10.6 and am on metformin, this morning at 5.1!!!!! It took me 3 weeks before I saw a noticeable difference in this so don’t panic. I am qu

As of today I’ve lost 2 1/2 stone and that’s since the end of January – soo happy and excited. Still on 800 calories a day – ish – but this way of eating suits me really well – was out for lunch AND dinner yesterday and didn’t put on anything- just had starters – protein and salad – and wine (oops) – Keep going and you will see results! Good luck

Hi john
🙂🙂 thinking about you
Christine

Hi bill1954
Thank you!
And ouch I don’t know how you kept still while having a needle in your eye! I cringe when anyone tries to touch my face,
When I was 11 I had an operation on a polyp in my nose, I’ve had the ‘face’ aversion since then!
Very brave man, well done
Christine

Well done Switzerland. It is the small changes to our normal routine that will make all the difference in the long run isn’t it?

ps: the reason why I wasn’t losing weight prior to the BSD when I was still then doing over 12,000 steps at work, was because now when I am offered chocolates (thankyous from patients) or cake made by the manager as a treat for her staff, I decline the offer!!! Whereas before on a busy shift I would inhale it :-)) I need to re-educate our “feeder” manager to give out apples instead of cake!
So now on approx 800 cal days the 12,000 steps are actually making a difference! :-))

I was at our local Indian restaurant a couple of weeks ago. I had chicken tikka starter and tandoori king prawns with salad for mains.
Delicious and no adverse blood sugar readings.

Well done Fluff! I agree with what’s been said about it getting easier the further you get into it. I don’t crave chocolate or cake at all and, most of the time now, I don’t feel hungry at all though I’m always ready for my meals. I could still murder a slice of hot toast though!

Hi all,
I have been walking the dog on days when I am not doing over 12,000 steps on a 12 hour shift at work (I’m a midwife on a busy postnatal ward). Next week I am determined to get back to yoga classes as I really need the stretching and meditative effects of it. I have been a gym junkie in the past, but loathe it now. I have just given so much money to gyms over the years and not used them enough. I know I need the strength exercises though. I have arthritis in both knees from playing netball for 35 years and a dodgy left shoulder! I sound like an old crock but I really need to be careful not to injure myself as it is very important that I can keep working. I love dancing and just might pull out the old Zumba DVDs that are gathering dust in my TV cabinet and get back into that in the comfort of my lounge room. :-))
I do have a question though…I purchased a “Zip” fitbit to wear on my uniform to track my steps and it was working a treat until I tried to sync it with myfitnesspal app. And now the fitbit has a blank screen. Has anyone in these forums had a problem like this?

Ha ha Jackie – like I would drink beer? I assume that the poppadums are loaded with carbs too?

Really looking forward to making good choices on Saturday now instead of not planning and blowing it all as I usually would have done!

My GP’s reaction when I asked for his support pre-BSD is recorded elsewhere on the forum. It seems to me that some GPs like to preach the mantra about lifestyle change to patients who have weight, BP or blood sugar problems but, when faced with the reality of someone who wants to make that change, can’t deal with it.

Meanehile, in the real world, some us want to take charge of our own health. It would be nice to be supported in that. Hats off to those GPs who are like that.

Beverley thank you for sharing. Very brave. That is what I love about these forums. Its kind of anonymous and also not as we all support eachother along this fascinating journey into the world of no sugar. Bill, your comments struck home with me about how we are learning the tools to educate not only ourselves but our children and grandchildren. As I have a 6 week old grandson and another grandchild on the way due in October, it excites me to think that the brainwashing of the past from the corporate fat cats could potentially be a thing of the past. Wouldn’t be wonderful to have a future without sugary foods shoved in our face at every turn on TV.

Actually my shake recipe is a bit more in calories if you add avocado 🙂

Hi JillB,
your weight loss is fantastic! Don’t be disappointed with yourself. Try carrying that much weight around in a sack for a day and you will soon see how great it is not to! 🙂 I’ve lost almost 10 pounds and still have some to go.
As for shakes, my husband and I have been making them with a bullet for quite a while now, and I have just changed some of the fruit added to suit the BSD. So no more frozen mango pieces or banana. So this is the basic recipe that we use:-
– A splash of coconut water ( I look at the labels for the one with the least sugar content)
– A larger splash of Almond milk
– A large tablespoon of pure coconut yoghurt
– A small handful of frozen berries
– A quarter of avocado (in season)
– A few baby spinach leaves (occasionally)
– a tablespoon of Blend 11 mixed seeds and coconut flakes (Goodmix Superfood brand here in Australia) which I put into the youghurt overnight to activate the seeds and soften them a bit
– a piece of fresh pear (if I have one)
This shake is delicious and so good for you too :-)) I have worked it out to be approx 900 kilojoules or 215 calories.
Hope that helps??

Christine,
All good advice – thanks.
John

Welcome to the forums Fluff!! It sounds like you are off to a flying start! I am into my 3rd week and am feeling great. Not craving sugar at all which is astounding for me! This really works. Some days I may have gone a little over 800 Calories towards 1000 but overall you get into a rhythm. These forum posts have really helped me to stay focused and keep my “head switched on”. I find that way I don’t feel the need to discuss with others who may want to boo hoo the idea of “only 800 calories per day!” I’m 4.5kgs down so far and am starting to fit into clothes I haven’t worn for ages. Good luck and hang in ther with all of us here :-))

Well if it were a race NewLife I would be winning but we know it isn’t! I’m down another 2lbs this week, making 19lbs in total. I’ve started keeping better track of my weight over the last couple of weeks (in fact I came back in here to check some) as I have been weighing twice a week so was confusing myself! another 25lbs would be great but I’d settle for another 15lbs.

Well done everyone, collective pats on backs I think.

hashimoto – thankyou. I will try eating more fat. I have fallen into a bit of a rut with what I’m eating I suspect and it doesn’t include much fat…hmmm. Will also try and keep up the water thing and be a bit more strict about drinking regularly rather than when thirsty. Thanks for the tips, really appreciated : )

Hi Neodiver,
When I was looking through posts last night I was wondering how things were going for you and had you had the results. I saw the news this morning, and like the other wish you strength and fortitude for the battle. Knowing is always better than wondering, but it must still be a big shock and trauma. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Having seen both my brother and his wife subjected to chemo and radiotherapy etc twice in the last 7 years, I know how much it can strain you. Neither had much appetite, and the 800 diet is a good balance of foods, so you may not go as far off of plan as you think.
For your teaching and marking – can you do it with someone else? In that way you get someone else up to speed to help you through the work? It also means you can work in short shifts of work. You will be very tired and sleep is very important as part of allowing the body to heal. A couple of hours work, then a rest, then a few hours later in the day with support, may help you keep things moving.
Hopefully you will get support from all those around you – you are clearly strong-willed and determined, but do take the help where offered.
Wishing you all the best.

Hi Fluff
Get through a week without chocolate or cake and, it may seem unbelievable now, but your cravings for them will lessen and then vanish.
Let us know how it goes when you post your weekly weight loss. Until then, if you have any questions, just fire away. The “BSD International rescue team” is here to help

I wonder if anyone could give me some advice please? I don’t want to go back to my GP as, given his reaction when I told him I was doing the BSD, he’ll tell me to scrub the diet.

I am on 20mg of lisinopril daily for blood pressure. I am now into week 3 and have noticed a couple of times in the last few days that I have felt light-headed. I checked my BP and found it is lower then normal. I think I need to reduce the BP meds. As I am only taking one tablet a day I guess I should just stop taking it and monitor my BP? Has anyone any experience of this please?

hi Ji,,alone22,
Spelt is in the wheat family – an older form, but wheat. It if 70% carbs and has a higher protein and other vitamin content than modern what and lower gluten so some gluten intolerant people can eat it.
For this diet – it is too high carb I’m afraid.

Thanks all!

Cherianne – thanks for the heads up on steroids. A quick look suggests they won’t be necessary. I’m in the earliest stage (or perhaps the second, depending on what surgery ultimately turns up), and it looks like steroids are primarily used for late stage, following failed treatment of one form or another, or as an antineoplastic agent (and I’m the lowest possible grade for neoplasms). But I’ll ask.

The challenge with the second opinion is that not all of the results are back yet – but the next available appointment was late May. I know more than I did when I made the appointment (since I didn’t yet have a diagnosis), but less than I will know by early next week (when all the pathology reports are back, as well as x-rays and MRI and additional bloodwork).

Dee Power – best of luck! Both on the diet and in getting your GP’s approval (not always easy).

hashimoto – I’m definitely a bear once I have something specific on my radar to focus on. I tend to have as much energy and focus as it takes to get through anything predictable in good spirits. Focusing on finding the best solution keeps my spirits up – and my emotions away from dark places. The challenge comes when the hits just keep coming far longer than I expect. So I’ll hope for a routine progression – and I’ll be fine.

Anyone else stopped taking meds without seeing nurse or doc ? ?????🤔🤔🤔
BS gone down I’m getting around 6.7 fasting and 7.1 to 7.8 two hours after meals so don’t think I’m in any danger.

Strangely I found a nurses chart from five years ago with ave bs reading of 6.4 now if she had put me on this diet at the time ……..

Instead don’t drink eat healthy exercise nothing specific no diet plan just lots info to baffle n confuse

Welcome on board Fluff and good luck with the journey. There are a few veggies on the forums, myself included, and yes – the diet does take a bit of adjusting especially of you don’t have eggs.
I look forward to your posts and good ideas.

Hi,
I am two days in to this plan now. Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who posts on the forum for the inspiration to start it. I have read and read lots of posts to motivate myself and so I thought I should put myself out there too! I met my lovely partner last summer weighing 126 pounds and have managed to put on just over 2 stones (28 pounds) in the intervening months. This due to being so happy and eating lots of cake and chocolate and cooking lots of lovely meals with him so not all bad! However, most of this weight is around my stomach and waist and I have been feeling really yuk about it and how I crave food all the time and my clothes don’t fit me. Having read the book I feel really buoyed on by the health benefits of me losing the weight and also to get my head back from feeling forgetful and foggy – hopefully!. I am nearly 49. I am about 169cm and on Monday morning I weighed 157 pounds. There, it is now in black and white! I am vegetarian but I don’t eat eggs so I am having to adapt the diet as much as I can and also use Myfitnesspal app to check my calories. I thought I would try and post what I am eating in case it helps any other vegetarians with ideas etc as that is what I find really useful about the forums. I now have a family of 7 (myself, my partner and 5 kids) so I have to cook for them as well as myself. Let’s just say temptation is all around…….

Monday – Porridge made with water and splash of soya milk
Big salad with carrots, cucumber etc.. and a big tablespoon of hummus

Tuesday – Stewed blueberries (just with a bit of boiling water – no sugar) and dollop of Total Fage Natural Yoghurt
Homemade squash and chickpea curry with a spoon of yoghurt
Big plate of steamed broccolli, spinach and asparagus (cooked with olive oil in oven) and Tamari sauce

So far I am not missing chocolate or cake as I am in determined mode lol but only day 3…..
I drink loads of green tea and water too.
Hugs to everyone on these forums and to anyone reading preparing to start XXX Fluff XXX

Beverley thanks for sharing your story, I think lots of people will hear echoes in the earlier part of it.
The fact that you have already successfully changed your food intake in the past will give you a great foundation to success on this new way of life (I don’t like calling it a diet, that’s only a small part of what has become a massive lifestyle change for me)
Apart from the obvious benefits to you and your other half, you now have all the tools at hand to educate your children and grandkids into a way of life that will never include diabetes!
I hear you about the sweet tooth problems, but, if you can do without sugar for a week, you will find that, as with the grains, you won’t crave for it any more and more than that, after a few weeks, you won’t even think of sweet things. I was talked into trying something sweet at Easter and, although I knew it had a taste, in my mind I couldn’t associate it with sugar. It wasn’t sweet, it was just a taste.
Best of luck for the next few weeks, I’ll watch your posts with interest.

I don’t think that exists anywhere to be honest.
If it did I suspect it would save a fortune on weekly shopping bills.
Of course, if you have the IT skills to do it…….. 😉

Hi Jilly,
they’re not very sweet, but you can use coconut water (more cals) and you will get used to it 🙂
I use ginger, raw choc or cinnamon to make them more interesting. Turmeric wasn’t the best!
I don’t like kale either but prefer it in smoothies to cooked.

4 weeks in, eating fabulous food, lost 1stone 2lb so far and getting the ” have you lost weight” comments from people now which is always lovely. Yes I feel hungry at times, usually around 3.30pm, a jar of 30g mixed nuts helps stem the cravings until dinner. I have made curries from scratch, husband enjoying the variety of food but he has carbs with his and my Nurtribullet has been a great investment.
For over a year now I have been suffering from cronic ankle/foot pain . After months of investigations a benign tumour was found and removed last August. Since then my foot has been in agony, unable to walk any distance, pain kept me awake at night, painkillers taken by the hour, unable to shop for goodness sake and my life impacted significantly, it was pretty miserable. Numerous scans , blood tests etc could not determine the cause of the ongoing cronic pain. On a scale of 1-10 I would wake up at a 7 and it would move to 9 by the evening. Now for the positive bit! One week into the diet and the pain was improving, 3 weeks in and it is almost unnoticable. I am walking without a limp or a stick, I am walking the dog again, I am able to walk up stairs without going one at a time ,it is unbelievable.
I had checks for arthritis, gout etc and I wonder if it was a gluten intolerance effecting my joints?
Anyone else have any long term pain reduced by this diet?

Christine, you need to reproduce this in that thread about benefits of the diet that aren’t weight related 😉
Anyhow, you’re as young as you feel 😀

I have been low carb (but not calorie restricted) since Jan and lost 8kgs. I then began following the Fast 800 two weeks ago and have lost a further 2.5kgs – happy days 🙂
This week, for the first time, I have begun to feel hungry. It has coincided with ‘that time of the month’ and I know our bodies use between 100 and 300 calories more per day in the three days leading up. I have ended up eating a little more, but making sure it is something appropriate such as two scrambled eggs, rather the the bloody great tub of ice-cream and full packet of biscuits that I actually want!
I was just wondering how anyone else is dealing with this monthly ritual. Are you going for resolve and battling through it undeterred or are you relenting and eating a little more?
I also noticed, before I decided to relent and eat a little more, that I was no longer in ketosis. Does anyone know if this can be a side effect of hormones at this time? It’s so frustrating, losing weight is hard enough without a monthly battle with your own body!
Thanks x

Don’t know if correct
Didn’t see nurse or doc
Stopped all pills
Taking readings daily
Now fasting down to 7.1 from nine
Don’t know if that’s good or to go back on pills
Feel great lost 8 pound first week now into second
Opinion welcome
Alan

Hi Saelaine,
That sounds about right to me, and pretty much where my average daily totals are ( using a different app).
Sometimes my protein and fat swap places lol but it all works out by the end of the week. 🙂
Have you started the BSD yet, and if so how are you doing on it?

Hi Lucia
Youngster! Thank you, I’ve never looked my age, ( I got a good combination of genes from both parents) however I’ve never been told I’m a youngster at my age (68) on the 12 of this month.
What made you think I was a youngster? Well pleased though I have to say
Christine, the youngster! 🎉🎈

Hi stringbreaker
I’m still catching up after the hols, so sorry if this is late, I will keep thinking about you on your various travels, I found if I ate ANY carbs while on the holiday, the day after I struggled, so it might be a good idea to limit them if you can while visiting carb eaters, you could always eat everything on your plate and just a tiny bit of the carbs, so as not to appear ungrateful, you could always say you are stuffed and complement them on the food you have eaten!
Good luck
Christine

I had LASIK surgery twenty years ago to correct my eyesight. I was awake (with anaesthetic drops in my eyes and my eyes held open) while they cut my corneas. No pain, but so scary! And a nasty burning smell from the laser on my eye. I wonder now how I had the courage.