Hi Silver, welcome to the veterans club!

I have done a lot of weeks on this diet, I’m at the weight I want to be at so have increased my calories but stuck to the principles. No starchy carbs for me, thank you very much!!!

A lot of us feel the same – the new life style not a diet!!!
🙂

Hi pmshrink
Thanks Penny, husband just saw him & impressed too. Three years upset wiped away in one visit!
I’m getting there & feel good. Hope you do too

Hi Scott
Welcome. Very good weight loss. Your FBS 150 – 97mg/dl ( 8.3 – 5.4 mmol/L English) great too. I only wish!
Hope that ‘starving’ feeling quells soon. Make sure you are eating those good carbs & fats. I don’t get the ‘ munchies’ very often & have a hot drink when I do , it helps me wait it out ( I don’t like tea or coffee so it’s fruit teas)
I try & have one or two long fast times during the week.

I like the coin idea. Swimming over to Canada (as if) in June so I’ll borrow arugula & cans for three weeks
Keep on keeping on

…and I am at the end of my 8 weeks BUT it feels more like the beginning to be honest. The beginning of what? The beginning of me believing that if I set my mind to something that I thought was nigh impossible – I can actually do. And that that is a brilliant feeling. I have stayed off sugar for 8 weeks and I have lost 4 kilo. I wanted to loose more but I had a holiday in between and did drink some alcohol and had to guestimate what I was eating calorie wise. Although I didn’t put on which I was happy with. I enjoy eating this way and I don’t want to stop. I would like to loose about 7 more kilos and I think it is possible. Any tips aside the book I would be most grateful for. Also has anyone given up dairy and still done the BSD? So to close this post – I feel good, I am positive and my skin to be honest has never looked better and I have soon much more energy in the morning. I had a long flight on my way home and ran out of healthy snacks. With a 7 hour layover I ate what was available – my son’s breadsticks – and what was so interesting was how it played havoc with my digestive system. I know its about dinner time, so i won’t go into unnecessary details but the internal functions are well happy with my new eating habits. I will stay on the forums as I still have some work to do – this is a lifestyle that we have had the guts (pardon the pun) to create for ourselves and its hard in this super laden world of ours – but anything is possible. Thank you ! Would also love to hear from anyone else that is nearing the end or has ended –

How do you feel?
Whats your plan of action?
Do you, iike me have further goals?

Hi PeggyCarterRogers
Welcome to the BSD (blood sugar diet) your new best friend!
You / we all have a hunger hormone (Monster) in us. It’s called GHRELIN (pronounced GREL – in). Some people can’t switch the monster off when it’s been fed!! But you are going to learn how to do it with this diet.

Simple Carbohydrates – Bread, Potatoes, Rice & Pasta keep it hungry. Take them away & eat good, Complex carbs & you tame the monster! Read the book a lot. Read the recipes a lot. Try & get more knowledge about what is good for you to eat. Use the web sites people have posted on the forum. This time you are thinking about learning about food, not just eating anything. This is for you & your children.

Although it says 8 weeks for this diet to work, there is no rush. You keep going & just aim to lose your weight. Professor Roy Taylor , whose work Reversing Type 2 Diabetes, Dr Michael Mosley based this book & diet on, said the important thing is to lose a substantial amount of weight. You say you are not diabetic yet ( although mum is) so let’s keep it that way. Let’s see if we can help you & your mum.

Bill & lots more folk have done wondrous things on this diet & really help & support you. They have woven the T – shirt, never mind worn it.
No need to be terrified, you will be in control 👌😀
Eureka

Hi Kate_Is
Hope you are still jogging around the garden….ha ha;-)
Would like to try this but mine is too small for that…..might bump into a dustbin or two!!!
Sorry I didn’t reply earlier but have been away and am the proud new owner of a fitbit that has motivated me to walk over 10,000 steps each day.
Sadly that didn’t stop me putting on 2lbs this week! Think that a wine-tasting tour, cocktails and buffet lunches are to blame lol.
Back to BSD now though. Still got a way to go to get down to normal, healthy weight so I will definitely persevere.
BTW as other people have mentioned you have to cheat with myfitnesspal and add extra bogus calories over the 800 to get it to calculate your daily results. I usually add 300 extra calories at the bottom and the app is happy with that.

Well done MerryMary on your many steps and chocolate refusal techniques. On days I don’t do exercise classes I have discovered my step count is too low, so the fitbit is a great motivator.
Get moving everyone 🙂

Thanks Bill! Good advise I have been pretty good with the low carbs but probably have not had enough healthy fats.

Hi Eureka
Great re GP.
And you’re doing so well.
Penny

I think it’s possible that eating refined carbs was one of the triggers for your binge eating. After reading the book, it does seem that these foods leave us wanting more, rather than satisfying our hunger. The reports of people not being hungry after the first few days seem to back that up.

Good luck.

Hi Scott and welcome to the BSD global community.
Loving the coins idea, Penny does the same thing with water, lines up so many empty glasssses to cover her daily intake and removes one each time she has a drink.
Whilst watching the calories, keep a close eye on the carbohydrates as it is this restriction that really spurs weight loss. Make sure that you are replacing the carbs with healthy fats to keep you feeling full and to assist your body in the transition to fat burning
Best of luck for the next 8 weeks 🙂

Off to see the GP tomorrow – blood glucose now 4.6 when it was 7.2 when tested 10 days ago, today is day 7 of the 800-cal regime.

Quick comment about wrist monitors for blood pressure (just my 2p worth) – my GP advises strongly against them and I have to say that mirrors my personal experience.

After using an Omron blood pressure gauge for years, I always hated the tightening cuff on the upper arm and the ensuing thudding pulse down the arm as it took its reading – so I bought a wrist monitor, admittedly one from Lidl!

The day after I took the first reading (hadn’t done one for months with any gauge) I was breaking down the GP’s door to get an appointment – the reading was way in the danger zone (maybe pushing 200 systolic).

Turned out the meter was wildly inaccurate – your mileage may vary as they say 🙂

Everhopeful, if I were you I would move back to the weekly menus for at least a week as they are worked out by a professional nutritionist and see if that makes a difference rather than using your own menu – it takes all the stress out of working things out. I certainly don’t like some of the dishes but I am determined to try all of them at least once. I don’t feel hungry at all on this diet, hmm, I wonder if I am eating too much, mind you I am sticking to the ingredients and weights and measures.

Of course we can.
Personaly I never counted the calories, just the carbs and I found that I was only eating small potions so that took care of the calories. To date I’ve lost 2 stone 3.5 pounds doing it that way.
I have a small fatty snack before bedtime, fruit & full fat yoghurt or a crispbread with a little cream cheese or pate. I find this helps and also keeps down that early morning pesky sugar reading.

Okay thanks again Bill1954, I think I need to look again at my fat intake. Is there an app that you (or anyone) can recommend that whilst logging calories will give a fat intake too? I feel that I am probably concentrating on my calorie intake too much, though I would still expect to be losing more weight than I have done, after all a ‘normal’ calorie controlled diet wouldn’t be as low as 800 calories. I have natural yogurt for breakfast every day and nuts through the day as snacks which are high in fat too. I will review what I am eating. Thank you . . .

lets keep at it together ever the optimist! We can do it with support . . .

Hi everhopeful, I’m sure it was Funkydoofamily who had the big whoosh.
Yes the fat intake does make you feel more satisfied but not just that.
When you burn carbs and the body uses them up, there is nothing in storage so it screams out for more, you know that feeling as hunger. When you burn fat, and that runs out, your body will quite happily start burning the fat it has stored, hence the weight loss, but you have to help it along by giving it enough fat to make it switch into fat burning mode, or if you prefer the current PC name, Ketosis.
Hope this helps.

Hi Carommartin
I weigh everything and count calories. I put it in Myfitnesspal which calculates carbs fat and protein as well as calories. I found that their info was not accurate sometimes so I made my own list on ‘my foods’ so I know it’s accurate. I get most info from Calorie King. Com. You have to deduct the fibre from the carbs on that site because it’s U.S. to get net carbs. Calorie King have their own MFP type system but I’ve never used it.
Some people – Bill for example- don’t count calories. So whichever you prefer!
Penny

I am just into week four, I had hoped not to want food for comfort by this point but alas no joy there. Will try to stay strong but can’t deny this is hard at the moment. I really hope you enjoy some success soon.

Greetings from the other side of the pond. Starting week 3 and down 10 pounds. More importantly fasting blood sugar averaging 97mg/dl vs 150 before the diet. Some things that have helped so far: when I am starving and I think I am crazy for sticking to 800 cal I have a peak at these forums and realize I am not alone. To keep track and make a game out of it I keep 8 coins in my left pocket 1=100 calories as I eat throughout the day I transfer the appropriate number of coins to my right pocket. Pretend I am on a transatlantic vacation(or should I say holiday) by referring to the UK posters. Rasher of bacon sounds so much more exciting than a slice, rocket instead of arugula, and a tin of sardines way tastier than a can. We can do this let’s get it done!

Thank you Bill1954, yes I am being very careful about carbs, no bread, no rice, no pasta etc, occasionally some potato. I try to drink lots of water in the day especially whilst I am at work (at a desk) but I don’t always manage to drink what I would like to . . not helped by the fairly long trip outside to get to the loo. I know getting up and walking is a good thing but when it if freezing cold or raining it is not encouraging!! I am also aware that I don’t do much physically during the week whilst at work though I do try and make up for it at the weekends. I wonder whether I am eating enough fat, but would this really make that much difference to my weight loss? I thought it was more to make you feel fuller for longer and I do not feel hungry. However your comment about someone losing 6lb after a plateau has certainly helped my motivation!! Thank you.

ever the optimist – how long have you been on the BSD? I hope you have some success on the scales as well soon! We just need to plod on and keep confident that eventually it will reap rewards!!

Hiya again, one of the reasons I was initially diagnosed as pre diabetes by doc was that I felt drowsy after lunch. As I have said this is day 8 on the diet and I have noticed if I have a ploughmans lunch or today I have had the hummus (recipes from the book). I have felt drowsy again. We tested my blood last week after two hours in the evening (after evening meal) Tuesday was 7.8 and Friday was 5.7 so I thought – oo on my way to better health. Does anyone else feel drowsy after their lunch – I do sit down a lot with my job.

Hi, I feel your pain! I too seem to have stalled and I don’t know why, I am being very strict on calories but the weight is refusing to budge, I don’t want to give in but I am finding this tough now, and as you say food is a comfort. Good luck, I hope you get a break through soon and manage to stay strong.

Julia, I grow a big tub full every year and make pans of parsley soup. I make enough during the growing season to have it at various times through the year. It tastes wonderful!
Parsley is also really lovely chopped on top of Rose Elliott’s black eyed bean and vegetable stew.

Parsley is rich in a range of vitamins and minerals including iron ( 30g = 10% of iron for the day), you’re right we really don’t eat enough and we could all add it to salads, stews, currys etc

Folks we should all google nutritional values of parsley and add some to our food.
That is my challenge to us all! 🙂

Too true Natalie!!!
I prefer spinach to potatoes anyway!!!

LouLou you have done really well!
Have you tried the mindfulness approach to filling the emotional void?

I can’t remember who it was but someone posted a list of their blessings for a day – it included things like getting a parking space without hassle!!
It really does help if you list every small thing during a day – I even list someone acknowledging I have let them passed when driving – little things can mean a lot when you add them up.

20cm of your waist is amazing in just 7 weeks! You must be so proud of yourself!
Plan a treat for yourself when you get another 5 cm off your waist, perhaps something new to wear or a BSD lunch with a friend.

wishing you the best 🙂

Hello all!

Thank you Matrika – I guess I just don’t know if i’m insulin resistant or not? Maybe my post may shed some light for those of you who are more knowledgable than me, thanks for the tip on the supplements – I’ll get ordering!

So I finished the 800 calorie 8 week programme a few weeks ago (lost 6lbs in all) and i’ve generally been sticking to around 900/1000 calories, mostly my sugars are alot better but i’m still starting the day around 10/12bs 🙁
I’m happy to say i’m remaining the same weight and now the kids are back at school I have hit the gym / road / dog walking.

Anyway! I was kindly advised to seek a C-peptide test which I had to do privately as it’s not on the NHS, my concern was that my GP wouldn’t be able to interpret the results and give me the ‘you are destined for insulin’ talk, she said it was academic what type of diabetic I am because I’ll end up on insulin anyway eventually (Gee, thanks). She did admit that she didn’t understand the results which is better than lying about it.

So I am waiting to see the same patronising consultant at the hospital again, but I’ve asked for it to be in May so my HbA1c takes into account the 8 week programme and my general change in lifestyle. Then if i need to be on medication, fine, but it needs to be the right dose/type and I want to delay going on to insulin as much as i can. I’m also still waiting on an antibodies blood test results from February….

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else has had the Insulin C-Peptide test as me or if anyone knows what these results mean? I know it’s a low level of insulin i’m producing but I don’t know how relative this is to non diabetics or more importantly to Type 1 – I’m assuming thier insulin level would be 0? I have had a quick google but I don’t want to self diagnose and panic 😀

so here they are
Insulin – 23/pmol / L CPeptide – 400pmol/L
Glucose 6.7mmol/L (sps result)
LOW INSULIN AND C-PETIDE FOR GLUCOSE LEVEL

Thanks to anyone taking the time to read and with any advice
x

SaraB, I just read this post and me too! I had no idea it was anything to do with this diet. I did 8 weeks BSD just after Christmas, took a month off the diet, then doing it again now for a month. I didn’t connect that with the fact that my last four periods (ie since I started the diet) have been the heaviest of my life. Is this problematic long term? I also had one period that lasted three weeks. I assumed it was just me approaching menopause. I’ll do a bit of research now.

Hi everhopeful
You seem to be keeping a good count of the calories. What about the carbs, are you watching them as well as making sure you eat enough fat and drink at least 2 to 3 litres of non sugary fluids per day?
Despite the plateaux, if you are doing that, you have to lose weight, it’s simple physics.
I remember one particular poster who plateaued for 3 weeks then had an overnight loss of 6 pounds!!!

I am about to start week 8 and wanting to continue as have had remarkable loss. I do not have a scale so have done waist measurement and so far I have lost 20cm. Very proud of this achievement but, still have 15cm to get into healthy range. I do not find it difficult but am finding it sometimes hard to fill the emotional void with something else. So, I think I need to continue until that urge disappears (and I lose 15 more cm).

Paula,
Small world indeed! It was about 2008 or so that we were there…too long ago!

Isn’t it weird that what a lot of us want as a treat is to be allowed to make ourselves feel sick with too much food or the wrong food. Like that bloated headachy feeling is a special treat for birthday or Christmas, we deserve it? No we don’t!

He hee
they call me an expert Peggy but like you I’m just an ordinary person following a new lifestyle. I’ve went from 16 stones 9 to 14 stones 5 and a half pounds in 12 weeks and my blood sugar readings are just about normal now.
You can do the same, if not better. Yes you will have the odd slip up, if you do, don’t beat yourself up about it, just climb back on board the wagon and continue your journey.

Don’t rush at it even a small reduction in carbs will have a positive effect, Bill is one of the “experts” here having achieved so much.

This is encouraging but I am now just in week 3 and I haven’t lost any more since my first week. Through week 2 I kept my motivation going thinking it’s okay, other people had this and it passed. But I have to admit to now feeling a bit less motivated. I have been very strict keeping under 800 calories except on an odd day (literally an occasional day) where I may have slipped to 900 / 1000 which I don’t think is too drastic (correct me if I am wrong). I strictly log my food and in fact some days I am way under the 800 allowed. In my first week I lost 7lb and apart from a fluctuation up / down by about a lb I haven’t changed in the last 8 days. At the moment I am managing to keep on track but if I am honest if this continues I think I will find it hard to stick to. I am not hungry, but when feeling low I still find food comforting.

Any advice welcome . . . .

Judith et al – I think I once read it has the highest concentration of vitamin C of all veg/herbs?
But of course we don’t consume it in such large quantities as other veg.

Thanks for responding, I really appreciate it. I think you’re right Bill, it’s the idea of 800 calories that’s the most daunting – it sounds so little! I like the sound of some of the recipes on here though, and I’ll be trying them. Hopefully I’ll start losing weight quite quickly and that will help me keep going.

SkyWalker you’re right too, eating is an emotional crutch for me and has been for as long as I remember. Losing that crutch is scary.

Fatty, it really is making me wonder how much bad health problems have been down to starchy carbs!!! It’s amazing how they make people feel ill again after trying some.

I’m a coward – I’m not even going to try.

I said to my friends last night that my idea of having a roast potato and a roast parsnip at Christmas as a treat is rapidly disappearing. Why make my self feel yuk? I don’t long for any of it so I just won’t have it. 🙂

Bill, I was a bit surprised actually, I go every 6 weeks so didn’t think she would see such a big change!!!
I like the idea of being like Ronnie Corbett on the plane – I would have so much more room!!

My red, pink and purple tulips were standing proudly above a fairly deep carpet of snow this morning! How is the weather by you?

I was going to go into town for some new swimming cosies but the hail storms have put me off. Doesn’t feel at all like cossie buying time! 🙁

Hi Pete, you don’t need to be a bore! Just a revolutionary!!

I had friends round for dinner last night – a variety of health problems and therefore some individualised foods BUT half of them were so ‘stuffed’ that couldn’t manage a dessert of berries and FF yoghurt!! Not a starchy carb in sight!!!
This is what we had:
1. broccoli and cauliflower soup with a dollop of cream cheese
2. Peanut butter dip and hummus with a lot of crudité ( one friend can’t eat spices)
3. onion bhajis ( the friend who thinks she can’t eat spice proceeded to eat 2 bhajis)
4. Salmon parcels ( veg/spices according to needs of each individual)
5. Mix of berries with FF yoghurt

All friends later said they had not even noticed that there were no starchy carbs with the meal!!!
Just goes to show! I bet your friends would be the same!

I hope your holiday in France goes really well 🙂

You know what Hashimoto… they really do make me sick…. part of what happened is that, after the bread, I got – what I had aways identified as a sinus headache, or a low sugar headache… and then eating the rest of that rubbish made me feel WORSE…and I did not sleep well last night…

You and Bill are often saying how much your learning – we all are… Like some one else said the other day… I also don’t drink alcohol much because it makes me feel BLUGH.. and I am adding carbs to that list too…. (sorry I cannot remember who said the same thing) But whoever it was – thanks for making me make the connection too….

Onwards.. x

I’m in exactly the same boat. The weight fell off last week (would this be a lot of water?), and now has pretty much stopped. But I am no longer as hungry, my abdomen is noticeably less bloated and my skin has improved enormously. I’m thinking of not getting on the scales for a couple of days.

Christine, parsley is a fantastic food, we should all eat LOTS more of it!!
Judith

Fatty, you’re right, yesterday WAS just one day. Now you are back on the wagon with a valuable lesson learned:
starchy carbs are lethal for you!!!
Hashimoto

Thanks both for your responses, you are right and your response has motivated me to keep going and not to worry too much about the weight. On the plus side, today I am wearing a dress that I haven’t been able to get into for a year!! Thank you

Hello PeggyCarterRogers, your issue is sounding emotional in that you recognize your situation but have so far failed to deal with it. Lose the majority of carbs and you will soon be inspired to do more generally. We cannot all be wrong. It took me over 10 weeks to get from Obese to Normal range. Yes you have a long way to go but you have at last found the answer – only you can implement it. We are all here in support so just keep in touch, read other posts and search for whichever topic interests you most. You will succeed and this is a great support group. Your Mum will be so proud when she sees you changing in a very short time. All the best, it really works!

Good advice, Eureka!
Like you I have LOTS of cookery books! Chongolo, you could enjoy looking through vids and books and choosing recipes which appeal to you. In books you can mark pages with sticky notes. If you don’t like mess the cuisique spiralise catches food in an integral jug and you can have a courgetti meal in 2 or 3 minutes of cooking in one pan. Any spiralised veg can be kept in freezer bags or airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days saving you a lot of time (and mess) for a few days! You will love the taste of freshly prepared meals. I do keep different veg in their own bags.
As well as TK Max, Dunelm mills and Wilko’s have bargain priced kitchen stuff. I would suggest a non-stick pan if you don’t like mess – they’re quicker to clean!!

I’m with Eureka –
Ditch the junk and eat the real, healthy foods!
Judith 🙂

Sounds like the week 2 blues to me.
A lot of people have it. It’s just your body reacting to lack of carbohydrates, soon you will start burning fat and the weight loss will start again but hey, half a stone down in a week isn’t anything to get upset about, it’s just a small victory in the battle and there will be more to come if you keep faith and just do what you’re doing. Make sure you are getting enough good fats and plenty of water.

Losing half a stone is success in any language. Be realistic, it takes time to burn fat once your body switches over to using it and not storing it. Mental attitude is important. This is not a race. Carbs make the body convert food to produce fat. Reducing carbs input i.e. white stuff like flour, sugar and potatoes results in the body converting fat to energy and so using up excess stored calories. You need to replace carbs with protein and good fats and plenty of fluid. There is no quick fix. You need to be patient and do as recommended in the books. All will be well. The first 7 pounds was probably mostly water. Spend some time going through the old topics and posts in the forums and you will see what is required is nothing that special so long as you eat sensibly and do a bit more activity. Good luck, keep going most of us wavered for a while before losing 17 kg in my case.

Hello Peggy
you’re not alone in feeling nervous, many people do at the beginning. Remember that the initial diet is only 8 weeks out of your life, and if you wish, you can take it a week at a time.
With your starting weight you should initially lose a lot in a short time. Don’t be scared of the figures either. 800 calories sounds almost starvation level, but I and many others can testify that, when you eat the right foods, it’s enough not just to get by but to keep you feeling full with no cravings for carbs and sugar – honestly, it may take week 1 – 2 to happen but happen it will.
We are all here to offer support, call in any time, even if it’s just for a chat. Many people have been through what you are going through now and there are answers to most questions within this site.
Best of luck on your journey, we’re all here to help you get where you want to be.

Hi Chongololo
Welcome. I think you’ve diagnosed your own problem. You can be clean & tidy in the kitchen. Clean up as you go along. Look on line for how to vids re basics like chopping food. I think maybe you would like the idea of preparing food in a professional chef way.

I have a tv in my kitchen so I can follow programmes & watch cooking progs too. Try a radio or music so you don’t feel alone while cooking. It matters that you take care of yourself & enjoy what you eat. Set the table nicely & sit at it for your meals. It’s better posture for digestion than a tray on your lap all the time.

Write down what food appeals to your eyes, nose & taste buds. Think about what new food you might be willing to try. I use cook books for ideas, I have a lot! I enjoy preparing for parties!
I will be cooking for four this weekend. My best friend’s wedding anniversary, she has to have low calcium food ( or it can put her into heart arrhythmia ) so it’s a challenge to feed us all well.

Enjoy learning about food, it can be fun. Delia Smith is a very good cook who teaches how to using her books; Delia’s How To Cook books one , two & three. Look at her web site. Also Jamie Oliver videos & books cooking in just 15 & 30 minute meals!
Try some finger food with no cooking. Also stir fry is very quick & only uses one wok or large frying pan. You only need a good chopping board for veg ( + one for meat prep alone is best) & a couple of good sharp knives. One large, one small. I prefer large prep knives. T K Max is a good shop for pans & knives at lower prices

You could have some fun & learn a new skill to impress by. Try it. Ditch the junk food & eat the real, healthy stuff
Eureka

Hi SaraB, I am in very similar situation to you (mini pill, but now having heavy bleeding). Did your bleeding settle down?