Judith, I’m getting bloods done next week. Usual nurse is on the sick, so I hope this one is better!

Janet, where does the cruise go? How about a group booking? 😃

That makes sense to me. I’m allowing myself the odd drink with sweeteners, which I’d never normally touch, just during these 2 months- whatever gets you through. My mantra is ‘it’s only 2 months’. I was fine for about 10 days, but have been really hungry for the last 4. Only eggs seem to fill me up properly (I’m a veggie).

Hi All

Lost 3 lb last week, which more than makes up for earlier disappointment. Went to the doctor today for routine appointment re blood pressure medication. My reading was higher than I usually make it – white coat syndrome, perhaps – so no lowering of medication, for a while yet. I was also weighed and learned that I am actually 5 lb less than I thought I was, which puts me on a BMI of 30 and no longer obese! Back to my own scales now, so I suppose I had better lose another 5 lb quickly!

Did you know there is even a low carb cruise! It sails in may and its on the ship I would love to be on, the royal Caribbean allure of the seas. Low carb cruising – my idea of heaven!

Hi, I was going to just follow the recipes out of the BSD book for 2 months, but too many of them have meat in so I’ve started claorie counting (never thought I”d see the day). Most packaged food in UK seems to have calorie counts on the front, but for other stuff I use http://www.fatsecret.co.uk/calories-nutrition and http://www.calorieking.com/foods . After these 2 months I hope never to have to do it again.

It does take a little while to get used to the changes, but it gets easier – honestly.

Could you go without tea for a while? I used to take two sugars and gave up by stopping tea and all other hot sweetened drinks for a week. I was so pleased to have tea again that I didn’t care that it wasn’t sweetened.

If that sounds too awful along with doing the rest of the diet, you could try having half your normal amount of sweetener for a few days and then cutting that amount in half for a few more days and gradually wean yourself off them. If you use tablet sweeteners you’d have to crush them.

Thanks, FiFiP.

Hi, does anyone know of a spreadsheet online that contains the glycemic index, carb content and calorie for each food? My fitness pal and the University of Sydney have a search mechanism but for quickness I’d like a spreadsheet to follow. There doesn’t appear to be any good apps out there either as far as I can see. What source of information do you all use? I’m just getting ready to start the diet and one minute I’m excited, the next I’m dreading it. Many thanks!

Well 5 days in and no weight loss but not particularly worried about that as my BS readings are going down – started around 16 – 18 now averaging 10 – 14 depending on time of day taken ☺ hoping this is a good sign!

Hi. I’ve seen about someone in a similar situation who used a soup maker in his hotel room. It’s quicker and less conspicuous than a slow cooker.

M&S do a multi grain porridge contains a high fibre mix of oats, barley, Rye, spelt and flax seed – no added sugar – all good stuff for diabetes sufferers!

Hi Bill. Got an email this morning from one of our diabetes organisations (sorry, deleted email & can’t find it) talking about a young man in Scotland reversing his diabetes on a Paleo diet. There’s a new thread on diabetes.co.uk forum about the BSD.

I’m craving everything but what I miss the most is sweetner in my tea or a slice of toast, I’ve not craved chocolates or cakes so far which I’m shocked at thought I’d be worse, I’m crabbit which I expected but also tired and feeling low, how can I stop or what can help to minimise the cravings? I don’t want to fall off the wagon I really want to lose the weight this time

Hi everyone,

Thank you for the kind words which you all have given. Just to give you a quick update, we have been doing this now for just over a week, started last Monday. Despite a blip over the weekend, which saw me put on weight…. I have no idea how, it seems to be going the right way. I am 2lbs off from a stone weight loss, and beginning to feel really good.

I am finding it hard on some days, very hungry but then it seems to be manageable on others. I dont think Ive done 800 calories been more like 650 – 750 but dont feel like eating, so not done it.

My wife and I went out for a meal with friends on the weekend, and thinking smartly ordered a meal which would have taken me over, but was not full of carbs.. I could not finish it, which is a massive achievement for me, and I didnt want desert after :-). Despite going out still lost 2lbs the following day.

The target of 3 stone weight loss by the end of the 8 weeks is well on course, and long may it continue.

My wife is also doing well, doing this with her has been a godsend, I dont know if either of us would have managed without each other.

Thanks again

No, a fortnight ago I made a bit of a scene at the reception desk, pointing out that when I made the appointment for blood tests I was very specific about seeing a nurse and NOT a phlebo. I watched them enter my appt. It was with my nurse. When I was called in it was the same phlebo who left me with a badly swollen and bruised hand. She tried to take my blood using a butterfly – I don’t know what the hell she did but it felt like the insides of my arm were being pulled out!! Now it is on my notes in big ( as Judge rinder would say) that I refuse to have blood taken by a phlebo.

The nurse made an excellent, pain free job of it and got enough blood for the tests. The phlebo had only got a trickle after all that pain!!

I lost 7 pounds and 1 .5 inches off my waist bmi down .my first week

Happy.

Yes, I think I will start the diet as soon as possible, fingers crossed.

Christine I made a three course meal for a friend last night based on 3 meals on the BSD. For me that is the most food I have had in one go since before Christmas. I was so stuffed I rolled around all night with stomach pain!! Our stomachs will have shrunk! So I think yours could have been a combo of the food and alcohol. I’m never, never eating that much again!

Hi Natalie
If you were using red lentils they do cook quite quickly, only need about 15-20 mins of boiling. These are great for adding to the kind of soups you need to thicken, or blend to get a smooth soup.
The brown ones take a little longer and the green or French lentils longer still. The green ones hold their shape better and are nice cooked with a bay leaf, chopped onion and some sage or tarragon. I cook until the liquid is nearly all gone, then serve with a lump of soft cheese, chèvre or Brie on top. A meal by itself.

Thanks Bill,

Sounds like they didn’t butcher you this time Judith?

Bill, somehow I am not surprised by their response. They are stuck in past decades. They probably still don’t believe it works judging by the Diabetes Australia bloke on the video. Good thinking on your part to send the link to them though!! Hammering at them might get them to listen eventually! 🙂

Twills, first the very fat jeans, then the fat jeans soon it will be normal jeans!! Keep on keeping on!! 🙂

Janet, my asthma nurse says there are some patients you simply can’t help because they won’t help themselves. It comes to something when you really have to say that about your nurse!!!

I had my bloods (again cos phlebo messed it up) done yesterday – for my thyroid function and cholesterol. Looking forwards to the results!! 🙂

I had my blood taken this morning just to see what 9 weeks of hard dieting has done for my underactive thyroid. The nurse was putting a big bag of jellied sweets in her drawer when I arrived. When I told her about the diet the first thing she said was what happens when you go back to eating normally and having 2000 calories a day. I told her I can never go back, this is a new normal and I was never able to eat 2000 calories a day anyway. Then she said its not a balanced diet. I told her a diet of man-made carbs isn’t a healthy diet. She said we need carbs. I said I get carbs from vegetables and pulses. She said she couldn’t imagine eating chile con carne without rice. I gave up.

Hi All,
There are a few new Aussie BSDers so we need to keep this thread near the top so it doesn’t get missed.
Pecans are a good low carb nut I have discovered. 1.0g carbs and 142 cals per 20g of nuts. I buy the pecan pieces from the baking/ dried fruit section of the supermarket. They are cheaper and the smaller pieces make you feel like you’re eating more. 🙂

Another 1lb off this week, which considering it was my birthday at the weekend is pretty impressive! I’m really not finding it that difficult to stick to very low carb eating and I’m sure I’m eating less calories than previously but definitely not less than 800. We’re away on holiday in 10 days and I intend to keep low carb while I’m away (self catering which makes it easier) and I might have another 800 calorie week when we get back.

I haven’t measured myself but am wearing a size smaller jeans that I dug out from th back of the wardrobe (to be fair they are what I call my fat jeans, as opposed to my very fat jeans I have been wearing!)

Hi David,
You will be a diabetic in remission very soon. Many of us have now proven that it is possible to eat your way to better blood sugar control without recourse to medication.
You have made a great start to the BSD and your weight loss and blood sugars are very good. Be aware that you may experience a temporary spike in your blood sugar levels once your liver really starts to shed that stored fat. There is a thread called rising fasting blood sugar levels on which a few of us posted about our experience with this. Hopefully the stories on there will help anyone else experiencing this to understand that you do pop out the other side with even better blood sugar results.
Stay in touch. Everyone loves to hear about each other’s progress. This is a very friendly and supportive forum. 🙂

Sounds like a feast! I will get there – just need to plan to cook new things and not fall back on some of the easy family favorites like pasta and risotto! Thanks for the support.

I walk with hubby 5 times a week, 2.5 to 3 miles at a fair rate. It takes us about 35 mins. Through the forest, some hills, etc. I surprised myself recently as a quick trip around Sainsbury’s clocked 1.8 miles on my pedometer!

Just looked and I got a private tweet from Diabetes UK after asking them to sign the petition.
It reads
“Unfortunately do not sign up to petitions, but we wish you all the best with your campaign”
Wouldn’t you think that something like “sorry we do not sign petitions but we will publish the link on our forums to let the members know about it” would have been a much better answer.
Are these peoiple getting salaries and protecting their jobs ? I would have thought that what is now a proven method of dealing with the disease would have excited a lot more interest than that.

Beetroot is fine, Dr M uses it in some recipes. I am not a fan of squash, so would always seek a substitute.

Rule of thumb is that if it’s a veg that grows above the ground it’s fine.

Below ground, with exception of onions, treat with more caution.

Some sites say sweet potatoes are better than ‘normal’ spuds, on the diet, as opposed to maintenance they should both be treated with more caution.

That must feel really good… Well done.

Hi all
I made an interesting observation today after my birthday meal yesterday.
Yesterday evening before we went out I had a glass of prosseco, we were given two! Bottles from the management because it was my birthday,
We then went out for our meal, we decided to splash out a bit, so I had warm avocado with scallops, prawns in a Thermidor sauce with cheese and baked in the oven, then salmon in champagne sauce with carrots and green beans. I was stuffed, I could not have had a pud even if I had wanted one, I also had one glass of white wine.
When we got back I had a coffee with some 80% dark choc, as a treat,
I was very sleepy so went to bed, I slept till 4am went to the loo slept till morning, however I was stuck to the bed feeling sluggish and not wanting to get up!
I finally roused myself got up and ready for another day, I didn’t feel great though, so was it the two hours plus walk I did or the two glasses of alcohol? I don’t normally drink just the occasional glass with a meal, or was it the two course meal, I have no illusions that it was low carb, or ‘good’ for me, I did however think that being lots of protein it might! Be ok. Oh yes forgot to,say, I had to take a tablet for my hiatus hernia as I had terrible acid reflux, I haven’t had that since before the diet!
So for the rest of the week I will be back to my sensible eating regime!
I have found it enlightening that going off piste for one meal can cause such intense reactions to my body.
I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, was it worth it though? I just thought it was interesting enough ( for me) to put it out there for others to read and digest.
Christine

Hi Alice
Oo a carrot on legs!!
You planning on getting a fake tan ?
😀 😀 😀

Thanks Bill1954, I’ve been following low fodmap diet since Aug but keen to tackle weight loss now. Yes, there seems to be lots of ingredients I can’t have esp. pulses. I seem to be ok with dairy though ( thank goodness!) Might just take a bit more planning. Thanks for your help.

The FODMAPs in
the diet are
:
F
ructose (
fruits, ho
ney, high fructose corn syrup
(HFCS
)
, etc)
Lactose (dairy)
F
ructans

(
wheat,
garlic,
onion,
inulin
etc

First problem I see is the dairy stuff. We are encouraged to eat full fat dairy on this diet. onions too are a main constituent of my meals. Perhaps consult the team, you can find their contact info at the bottom of any forum page

Hi! I use soy sauce – a low salt varient in many of my vegetable stir-frys.

Not sure on Oyster sauce, am assuming yes if both sugar + sweetner-free.

Hi Hashimoto,
Thanks, I’m hoping to be more of a carrot with legs than an apple in a few months time 🙂
I love BSD

Hi, just wondering if anyone has started the Fast800 diet but also following a low Fodmap diet ( for IBS, Crohn’s etc). I’m looking forward to starting the Fast800 but combining both diets are going to be a bit trickier. Just wondering if anyone has any tips? Thanks

It really interests me but have yet to begin. I bought “The little book of mindfulness” and in it there’s a 10 step beginners guide to meditation. Even just reading it all makes me feel more relaxed!

Brilliant Bill!

Such a significant achievement!

It is amazing Bill, well done 🙂

Bill you are working wonders with those blood sugars!
You must be so pleased you are off all the meds. Proud of you and your fantastic achievements. 🙂

orchid,
Any meditation is good it seems.
Not sure if you have the time in the early morning, but it’s the one time of day which by definition is quieter and welcomes meditators – other preferences are available of course.

Well done on stopping the tablets Bill. That’s fantastic ! !!

Thanks Jim for posting that. Great programme. 🙂

Buck passing is sooo annoying! It means neither of them know enough to advise you!!! Bill took the risk so I would follow his advise if I were you 🙂

Your meals sound lovely boomboom 🙂

I would really like to know more about the inulin effect before trying it. We could do with an answer from Michael on this one!! I am growing chicory plants this year – but it was to add the leaves and flowers to salads – and they’re pretty to look at!! 🙂