Hello all; this is me from my profile:
Nearly 60. “Nearly” diabetic [2 x 48 HbA1c, very recent readings] after recurring virus/bacterial infection. I’ve decided its temporary and to use BSD to reverse it. Always believed in exercise and eating well but not too ‘excessively’. Having re-watched the documentary and read the book I realise I was carb ignorant and that my protruding belly, on an otherwise fit body, told its own story.

I’ve practised over the last 4 days and I think the BSD calorie reduction approach is achievable. I am looking forward to healthier eating and healthier health to compliment the lots of exercise I already do. This will be the first time I have paid close attention to my food and drink, and as a male not keen on even referring to it as a “diet” – to me it’ll be a way of life.
Starting tomorrow.
Questions:
I’ve done the measurements including weight, fat content, photos for the before, waist etc.
1. Do people feel the need to measure blood sugars, weight etc all the time during the 8 weeks, or can I assume that I’ll be happy if I see obvious weight loss etc as visible signifiers, with blood tests at the end? I can weigh and get fat% at the gym if needed but would prefer not to get hung up on the day to day changes.
2. Better to follow the menu suggestions or do your own thing??
I *know* what I should avoid etc and what is healthy, but not sure if I want to count calories, weigh food etc.

Any practical guidance from graduates welcome!

Hi, today was my first day of the diet…. Shake was interesting, lunch amazing! But dinner well followed the recipe and came out rather burnt and crispy……still ate it. Not feeling hungry at all today after that lunch phew filled me up!
I am worried about the cost though, the first 3 days have cost me £60, has anyone else struggling with the cost? Any tips of where to buy cheap, also seeing wastage (my pet hate, as I only buy what I use) will tehnini be used again?

Hi Laska, I would need to reread the book (I intend to when I am on holiday), but I think that just means eating you food within a 10 hour window so there is a 14 hour fast period and that could be done with your current fast days without making it too complex. So breakfast after 8am and nothing to eat after 6pm. You could do that each fast day. There was a short piece on one of MM’s progammes in January about the times of day you eat helping keep you slim that explains it(http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/zBx3JZJCKfNBrWgT0Qyj93/the-big-experiment-could-i-lose-fat-just-by-changing-my-meal-times).
If you are eating 800 cals a day, 5 days a week, and for an average woman (whoever she is) you need 2000 calories a day to maintain your weight, then you are banking 1200 a day from 5 fast days – ie 6000 calories to spend extra on the weekend. I can’t remember if this is maintenance for you or still losing some weight, but it gives you your standard 2000 plus 3000 banked ie 5000 calories a day for each of Saturday and Sunday. That is a pretty good days eating and drinking, 🙂 but you may spike your carbs!
If I have got my maths right, then a bottle of red wine is 25 fl oz – 630 cals and 27 carbs. That would be 8 bottles of wine over two nights without you needing to do an even harder fast day that would probably not give you more than an extra 400 calories to play with.
Personally, I would keep it as simple as possible, as it is much easier to plan and keep to. I tried the 5:2 a few years ago and I could not keep to two days a week for more than 3-4 weeks due to work/travel. Instead of doing 1 of the two days during the bad weeks, I just stopped that week and guess what, I did not restart. For me, fitting in that ‘fast day’ would be the one that is most likely to slip and before I knew it I’d have had a ‘normal week’ ie no fast days, then bit by bit the weight would go back on again :-(.
Hope that helps.

I’ve lost 3stones from 13.25 to 10.25 since diagnosis November 2015, just on med style 1500cal diet. Started off tight on carbs and got tighter, keeping to 80-100grm per day. Most numbers very good, fasting, 2 hr normal and my first 3 month test was down to 48 from 62. Blood pressure massivly down as well. However, if I’m daft enough to do (say) 50gsms of carbs in one meal my 2 hour sugar is still more often than not a bit higher than the ‘normal’ range at around 9. Has anyone any idea if this will also correct, and if so how long it may take. Not planning to lose more weight, but actually finding it easier to keep on the diet than to try to eat more.

Must say it all works really well..but don’t think my doctor is keen on all this independent, drug refusing low carb nonsense!

I spiralised some courgettes, then gently stir-fried them with garlic and chilli flakes, they were a very good side for a pan-fried salmon fillet.

Also, I roasted cauliflower florets in olive oil, garlic and parmesan, and they were divine (although quite high cal due to the parmesan, I probably wouldn’t use as much next time, and you could get away with less oil too).
http://southernfood.about.com/od/cauliflower/r/Roasted-Cauliflower-With-Parmesan-Cheese.htm
(Mine got a bit burnt too, so I’d probably drop the oven temp too.)

Thank you to you all.
Yes I think I would prefer to record on paper daily much quicker that way- I have a nice diary I haven’t really used yet that will be perfect. Then at weekends I could log into a spreadsheet so I can print graphs for motivation, hopefully.
Thanks Lauren for sharing your first week experience in relation to exercise, I will do the same, suck it and see! Better have something in my gym bag just in case glucose drops too much. Are you sticking to the suggested diet plan as in the book?

Oh Lucia, you make me laugh out loud! My dog thinks I’ve gone bonkers sat here chuckling to myself! Thank you so much for your witty, clever, affectionate take on the BSD and life in general. Please, please do write more, I just can’t get enough of your posts.

That picture of marching on the spot while brushing teeth is going to be burned into my brain. I love it. I’d do it but I fear I would drool toothpaste everywhere! 🙂

Hi christi 1948

Your starting weight is so similar to mine.
Me too, I am 2.5 stone heavier than my husband. Would love to be in the same weight bracket as him, or , dare I say it? Lighter than him.

You at 2 tiny pounds away from being in the 12 stone zone. Wow I am so jealous of you.

I am working through a lot of stuff at the moment, so as long as I keep losing and getting healthier, that is all I am about.
I am in a better frame of mind, which is huge to me.

Keep in touch.

Love Lucia

Xxxxx

Lucia, I have just seen the post about me streaking….made me laugh too. Forgot to say the dresses were from M and S. I’m not over fond of shopping so it was a case of going to one shop only, walking through to look for a white cardi – spotted 2 frocks in the right colours for me. Serendipity!! It would never have happened had I actually been looking for a dress!

Well, phone numbers and warm hands eh? ……….

🙂

Hi Hashimoto and Bill 1954.

What are you two up to?

You like my blogging?? just shows you that you are both as daft as me.
😀😀😀😀😀

Need you both.
If we are shopping ages around, are you in your teens bill?

Isn’t it fun?

Keep blogging,
Keep losing
Keep going

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi cherri Anne,
Thank goodness you have found my last hour.
No, you can’t keep it until the winter, please mail it back to me as soon as possible
😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi on a Healthy high,

Thanks for your encouragement, you will force me to write more you know 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃
May I return the compliment.
Go girl!!!!!!

Keep in touch.

Keep going.

Love Lucia
Xxxxx

Hi merry Mary,

A million thanks for the compliments about my writing. Have a look at my previous blog and you will see I started to write these as a diary just for me, didn’t know I would attract anyone crazy enough to read my ramblings.
Don’t forget whatever you do, you can easily lead Bill 1954 astray. ( read later blog)

In Australia? You must know cherri Anne.
Keep the tips for Australian shopping etc going as sometimes the translation of things may not work for people further than Manchester 🌏🌏🌏🌍🌍🌎🌎🌎🌎🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌍🌍🌍🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏
Day three, may I give you a GO GIRL!!!!!!. I have been to day three, I ate the same thing each day, just getting used to a pattern. Now I am switching things around. I think I have been on this plan for a few years now, no? Okay a few weeks.

What’s in season over there, what’s your favourite things to eat in the programme?

Will wait here for a reply………….
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Lucia I wish I could photograph them and post it!
One dress is a rich blue thick cotton with a dark ,navy flower print, some flowers ringed with a little pink or green. It has a dark, navy sash around the waist – because, yes I have a waist again. It is mid calf length and sleeveless.

The other frock is a kind of crinkly material, easy for packing. It is mostly purple and deep blue, with some teal thrown in and some light pink accents. It is also sleeveless and mid calf length.

My description makes them sound very much alike, but they’re not.

One cardi is a navy blue kind of shrug with short sleeves – do they have a name?

The other is a long white cardi with a lacy kind of pattern. Neither have buttons. I just wanted something to hide the tops of my arms and keep me warm on chilly nights!!

The long length helps to hide the enormous long scar on my leg ( courtesy of a bad skiing accident).

You go with 27 and a half, Lucia!! I’m quite happy with 36 as well!! 🙂

Hi Lucia
Hahahaha, oh that was funny , I can just imagine hashimoto streaking, I never thought of not needing as much sun cream! Looking forward to swimming in the pool and not feeling self conscious about all the flab!

Hi Julia 18 to go,

The ask, I agree with you about the frozen veg, I am just neuking them with a little water as they have lots of water already.
Mmmmmmmmm, they taste so good.
🍆🍆🍆🍆🍆🍆🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🍆🍆🍆🍆🍆🍆🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🍆🍆🍆🍆🍆

Grateful for any simple cooking tips for vegetables.

Love luciaxxxx

Hi Christie 1948,

Last day of the 8 weeks, you jammy dodger. I am so jealous, I wish I had started earlier, maybe 30 years earlier 👿😇👿😇👿😇👿😇👿😇👿😇👿😇👿😇👿😇😇👿😇👿👿😇👿👿😇😇👿😇

Regarding the long list of phone numbers, they were for Hashimoto’s streaking in the clothes shop. They all have warm hands and are able to assist with zips.
They probably disappeared when Hashimoto downloaded and printed them off.

Tenerife next Sunday, just think of all the money you will be saving…..
Less body, less suntan cream. ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

Please let us know how you felt being slimmer on a well deserved holiday.

Love Lucia
Xxxxx

Hi Christine, no I am still losing tiny amounts, a few ounces at a time some days. The ketostix say I am still fat burning. I just eat the same food but a bit more of it! I might have 2 bowls of soup and a piece of cheese. Or a meal followed by some nuts. It was the thing that worried me too – will I pile the weight on when I increase my calories. It seems if you stick to the low carbs it is fine. So a bigger piece of beef, a large chicken breast, perhaps with nuts on the salad. It seems to work!!

Sounds as if you are VERY busy, I hope you get a proper chill out on holiday 🙂

Hi Hashimoto,
You need to give me more than two cardies and two frocks. I need, where from , the colour, the shape etc etc.
Don’t leave a girl hanging.

Jealous that you have been out of the changing room, half naked, looking for a dishy man to zip you up.

63. Years old eh. How about we all revere our ages? I dub you 36 in our little magical kingdom here. This will be great for everyone except me. 55 can’t be switched around. I know I will half it. 27 1/2 yup, that will do me nicely.

Love Lucia
Xxx

Hi Spirit, it is easy to highlight and sticker pages you want to read, or just thumb through. I know you can on a kindle but it is much easier in the paperback – especially if people want to borrow ( or you can photo copy a couple of relevant pages for them). I want to re read certain sections.

🙂

Hi hashimoto,
Just read your post, I am also wearing clothes I haven’t had on in two years, I have given a load of skirts and trousers to charity that I had been keeping, some I’ve had for over ten years, thinking I would get into them one day! I still have lots of clothes I can now wear, and a few trousers I’m still waiting to get into, it’s such a lovely feeling isn’t it?
We’ve had a busy weekend with family down from Scotland, 12 for dinner Saturday evening and 12 again today for lunch before they headed back home, Emily my daughter told me I could have coffee with a little cream as cream has no carbs, so I had my first coffee in eight weeks, with tiny bit of Truvia in, it was lovely, I didn’t even succumb to the desserts today, like I did Saturday evening!
How did you start to increase your carbs, did you put weight on, I think I am still worried that I will put it all back on as soon as I increase the carbs, it’s getting a bir paranoid! Also what are these ketostix?
I am amazed how many people you respond to, it takes me all my time just keeping up with the few I do keep up with, where do you find the time?
In the morning I have to get ready for another daughters visit on Thursday, with two of her children, she lives in Bristol, and is calling in on her way back from her sister who has just gone back home from here to Scotland, then she goes home on Saturday and we fly off to Tenerife on the Sunday morning, I often feel like I am chasing my tail,
In the morning is my final weigh in on the eight weeks, then I will join you all on the eight week and after.
Cheers for now
Christine

well said Lucia – you are correct, this is a complete life-style change and not only a diet! Many people eat whilst stressed or unhappy – loving yourself a little more each day can help break that destructive habit.
Can I add that I now march on the spot whilst cleaning my teeth 200 extra steps twice a day :-).

Well done your daughter re the cream in your coffee! 🙂 And welcome to the veterans tomorrow! 🙂

Wow, Lynne, that’s fast! 🙂

Hi Miss Lucia, I am taking exercise. Honestly. I’m digging and weeding my veggie patches and coming in to post when my back hurts too much. Honest!!

Don’t walk too much in your new shoes until you wear them in. We don’t want a Freda to marry Fred, now do we?
Love, Judith xxx

MyLife – I use myfitness pal and build the recipes there, which automatically generate the carb count. (Not to mention that not all of the calorie counts are precisely accurate – so MFP gives me that, as well.)

Patsy – if what you are concerned about is carbs (as I am), and have a low tolerance for carbs (as I do), you do have to be careful about the recipes in the book. I reduced the quantity of lentils in the spicy chicken with lentils, for example, and it still had 24 (net) carbs. That is a higher quantity of carbs than I can eat in one meal without elevating my BG out of the normal range.

Your book ordered for delivery tomorrow, Judith. 😃

Orchid , Hi , Re having a ‘fasting’ day: I re-read the book this weekend and saw that MM said that he has one day a week fasting (14hrs no food) and that it was one of his secrets to maintaining weight after the diet ..Also I thought it would be a good antidote to the 2 days of eating what i liked and having wine !

Sorry to hear that Lucia. I can hear my dad saying ‘Get sturdy brown lace-ups’.. he always said that to my mother when she had to take us for new shoes. The one and only time he had to take us we came back with white patent leather shoes. My mother was not pleased. ‘Well they really wanted them’ he said. You can imagine the rest….

Hope your new shoes are kind to you 🙂

Thanks for those ideas Judith. Will have to try them.

Judith it as just something niggling at the back of my head so thought I’d better check. It applies to anything licorice related of course 😱

Glad I checked, because my blood pressure has been high so don’t want anything that will raise it again 😳

I like courgette fried for a few minutes in olive oil, the when cooked add shreds of crispy bacon and lots of grated parmesan 🙂

Sometimes I fry garlic and chilli, then add the courgette, when its cooked I add a dollop of full fat cream cheese.

Both are yummy!!

Went out to look for another pair of shoes as the broken ones are unreparable and are sadly in the bin.
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi gang,
I have been out walking until now, I expected all of you to be doing the same , but no you are all jangling (slang for gossiping, chatting).

Let me tell you my version of the philosophy of Doctor Michael.

First, ditch the white stuff, sugar, flour, rice etc.

Second,move your butt. Even if you just march on the spot during the tv commercials. Or take one cup out to the sink, come back, take another cup to the sink. Walk to the end of the garden, or path and back. Pretend that you are checking the gate hinges, if you feel you need a reason. Go smell the fresh air.
Build on this.

Third numbers count. Count your calories, count your carbs, check your bmi, check your blood sugar levels. Reduce them, gradually , slowly if you prefer, but bring them down. I didn’t feel as if I could just start 800 calories, so my first week was ‘reduction’ week.

Fourth and the biggest one of all. Love yourself. If you can’t do that, then start by not giving yourself a hard time if you wobble. Then, realise what you are doing is blooming great. Look for the good in yourself. Look for something you like, even if it your eyelashes. It is something, then notice, there are hip bones, under the blubber. Admire the view of your toes, once the big tummy goes. Notice how you can put your socks on easier. How you can get everything into your tights (panty hose for our USA gang) love the idea you are doing something for you.
I love you, so why don’t you? You are my family. I can read and feel how you are all changing. You are all getting more confidence.

If you just work on one step at a time, even break it up to smaller steps. Say, change your cereal of a morning to yoghurt and fruit. Then change your luchtime butties to say, salad and chicken, Then a few days later change your spuds, bread and butter, your rice, in your evening meal to a big dollop of various, colourful veggies and a protein. I did it slowly. People told me I need to change this, that and the other, I took their messages with the love they were sent with, but I did it under my own steam. The sloth won the race, or was it the koala, or was it the turtle? Anyway something not so fast got their in the end.

Step five, what happens if you eat rice, or a bowl of cornflakes or a slice of buttered toast?
Will I still love you and be here for you?
yup, you bet your sweet potato I will be here.
But what will I say, will I tell you off and tell you to leave the BS800?
Nope, I will compliment you on your coming back and speaking on the forum, for your honesty in dropping a clanger. And I will compliment you as I know , that as you are still here, you want to carry on with this great plan.
Sometimes you learn the biggest lesson in having a wobble. How will you know we are here as a family with all our arms reaching out to support you? You only notice this love and support when we help you stand back up. I am human, I make mistakes, just read my blogs, especially when I was so hungry I talked to the food cooking In The oven.

And finally, the future……

We will all be blogging each other, keeping in touch, when we are all writing on the ‘after eight weeks and still here’ blog.
We may have a recipe, we may find an ingredient we may want to share, We may see an article about Michael.
We may just want to chat about life, the universe and all that.

This is what I believe in.

Please take the time to read all the above, and it was written by someone who was a coach potato on 8000 calories a day, only a few weeks ago.

My love to each and everyone of you.

Love Lucia
Xxx

Caraway seed go well with cabbage too. I like it cooked til almost soft, fry it with butter and oil and caraway seeds. Sometimes I fry lardons before I add the cabbage and caraway.

This works well with brussels sprouts too. 🙂

I found this today ( ignore the sweet potato version, but the courgetti carbonanra with fried egg on top looks Lush!)

http://inspiralized.com/2014/01/26/spiralized-pasta-carbonara-two-ways/

Hi merrymary
I am about to finish my eight weeks on this diet, tomorrow morning will be my final weight in, and I will start my ninth week.
I started the diet because I was diagnosed as pre-diebetic, after a prescription review, where I was weighed had blood test done, and found to be wanting, I had already read about this diet so I discussed it with the doctor who encouraged me to do it if I thought I could do it,
On the first Monday I got naked stepped on the scales and I was 14.9, shock horror I was heavier than my husband, ( he is a very fit man, doesn’t know what the inside of a doctors surgery looks like) I was determined to do the diet, however by teatime I was convinced a couldn’t continue I felt so awful, then I decided at bedtime, I would have to carry on, I had spent so much money buying all this weird and wonderful food, we have two fridges, one in the kitchen and an overflow one ( which we acquired when mother in law died) in the garage, both were full of this food I had to eat, fortunately both husband and daughter, who is with us at the moment, said they would try the food too, supplementing the meal where needed.
I am at this moment 13.2, hoping to have lost at least another pound by morning! (Wishful thinking?) I would like to lose at least another stone, if not more, thinking that if I then start eating 5 -2 I might put a few pounds on?
I ama sugar addict, I still hate tea without any sweetness in, so have started having a tiny, tiny amount of Truvia, the diet in that respect has worked, I can only have a little, as it’s too sweet otherwise.
I have also been trying to keep my carbs down to 50g or less, a day, today I found out from eldest daughter who was here for the weekend, that I could have coffee with a little cream in as cream has no carbs in! Revelation, my first coffee in eight weeks.
I hope this long missive has been helpful, cheers for now.
Christine

Welcome Joanev! I’m on day 7 so not much ahead of you, and I had all of the same concerns this time last week about being starving all the time and not being able to exercise properly… but I can honestly say they were unfounded. I still can’t really believe that I can feel full on 800 calories, but by including enough fat and protein I really do – and without the sugar crashes carbs give you I have been really in control of my eating. I’m also enjoying eating far more than I have in recent times as I eat far more consciously than before.

In the book it says not to increase you intake for exercise, so I committed to trying that approach this week. I have been to 5 x 1 hour gym classes (different things, but all a mix of aerobic and strength training) and personally had no problem at all. I made sure that I was properly hydrated, and had no weakness or dizziness. The gym aside my days are pretty active as I move around a lot at work, and walk 4 miles getting to/from work each day – before I started I thought I would struggle with even this basal level of activity. I still don’t quite believe how this diet gives you so much energy, but it really does!

For the first 3 days I had a bit of a headache, which drinking lots of water definitely helped with, but other than that this week I’ve felt great. I honestly haven’t craved sugary food or crisps once – and liked you I used to love nothing more than bingeing on crisps and homemade baked goods!! So I’d say don’t focus on these worries, just get started and take each day as it comes 🙂 there are people on here who’ve come out the other end of their 8 weeks with incredibly motivating results and stories, and they’re very generous with helping us newbies so I’m sure they will have solutions to any hurdles you come up against. But fingers crossed it won’t be half as bad as you think 🙂

133 signatures folks! Let’s keep it rolling! Don’t forget you can click on a tab to post to your social media accounts? 🙂

Hi Joan, I keep a paper diary for my days food, it is always handy in the kitchen! the rest, weight, bmi etc goes on a spreadsheet. You may like to do it all on paper ! 🙂

Hi thepolly, yeh, the sweeteners are one of the reasons I don’t like the commercial ones. I’ve been pointed to some safe ones in health food shops, I will go with them. Thanks 🙂

I don’t think that section exists – I think maybe the book was written with good intentions for it that didn’t quite materialise. Lots of people use other websites and apps for that but I use a paper diary and record everything – weight, measurements, bmi, fat burning score from ketostix, food eaten, recipes, cal and carb contents of food, how I’m feeling, revelations, light-bulb moments. Call me old-fashioned but I just find it interesting even looking back a few weeks to what was happening at that time. Welcome to our gang Joane!

Hi Joan, I must say I haven’t tried. I just made an excel spreadsheet and logged everything in there. I just print it off and take it ( with my peak flow chart) to medical appointments. Until you posted that I didn’t even realise you could!

Have you tried the search button at the top of the page? 🙂

B homemade chicken and veg soup (I know!)
L packet of Nuts and a piece of cheese (I’m busy digging the garden)
D is going to be salad with boiled egg, small tin of tuna and dollop of FF yoghurt turned into raita
A few berries as dessert (I’m aching and want something quick and easy! )
Tomorrow:
B FF yoghurt and berries
L chicken and veg soup (again)
D courgette and onion bhajis with raita made from FF yoghurt

Hi hashimoto, I wouldn’t use the sweetener, think it’s optional and you can just experiment with the flavours generally.

Hi Judith, yes it was saturday kitchen, new host of course. Thanks for these ideas, they sound great and are my kind of skill level!

Thank you Hasimoto for your encouragement.
In the book in the tests you should do before you start section it says that you can log your data safely and anonymously on this website, but I can’t find where to do this. Can anyone point me in the right direction or is the book wrong?

Not too late at all Hashimoto, Thanks for that xx

Hi Spirit, I would recommend the paper back copy if I’m not too late x