Silly girl Judith, you can mail me any time 🙂
Anyhow it would have given me a break from the garden. (Painting all done and looking good, now all I have to do is build the swing and arch we managed to acquire over the weekend) Did I say “all” ? I’m going to suffer for that 🙁
I sense a conspiracy, do you know my OH by any chance ?

Thanks ever so must for that clear helpful piece of positive advice bill1954
I’m taking blood readings each day which I’ve never done before,hopefully they’ll come down.
Day three ,weekend I ate correct food but too much,learning fast
Cheers Alan

Hi
2 stones down in 9 weeks
Blood sugars in pre diabetic range now.
Lost 5 inches from waist measurement
You can do all of that and more.
Go for it and let us know how you get on.

Hello and welcome to the forums.
All the evidence you need to get those BS results back to within normal range is here.
You won’t get instant results but you will definitely get results.
I was a long term diabetic and blood tests taken just 4 weeks into this eating regime had me at pre diabetic levels.
I have stopped all medication now and the sugar levels seem to have settled now.
I too am an ex smoker and I know the struggle that can be. Believe me when I say, this diet is nowhere near as difficuilt as quitting nicotine.

Hi Pinklady51,
I was watching MM’s recent series in January and bought the book – like you I had already tried the 5:2 and found I my lifestyle at the time was too unpredictable (travel and hotels) to manage the two days now fasting regularly so I stopped it intending to make go back to it.
I was not diabetic, had a BMI of 33 and 25kg overweight (pretty much 4 stone). I decided to test my blood sugars and discovered I was very close to being pre-diabetic. That was a shock and spurred me on to make sure I did not get any worse, although I was wary of the low calorie approach and could I keep to it. From the info it looked like I could get my blood sugar reading down in a couple of weeks, and I intended to move onto the 5:2 as soon as it was away from the pre-diabetic range and take the slower approach.
My blood sugars dropped enough to move to the 5:2 within 3 weeks, by then I realised – this was not hard, I was not hungry (I used shakes the first couple of weeks – mistake – it was simple, but I snacked (cherry tomatoes, carrots and almonds) more than once I went onto real food). Having lost 5kg in 3 weeks, I decided to keep on this for the eight and see how it went. I lost 12kg (26lbs) in the 8 weeks and 2 weeks on am now 14kg (30lbs) down, 2 dress sizes lower and I stopped being classified as obese after 5 weeks.
The ketostix are a way of checking if you are burning fat. I only got them last week. I started with good scales, a tape- measure and I did buy a blood sugar meter. I also already had a wrist blood pressure monitor and my scales measure fat% as well as a few other things. If you are worried about being pre-diabetic then either go the surgery and get measured, or buy one. I found it useful to have it as initially I took readings daily to see how it progressed and I could adjust my foods accordingly.
All you really need is a pair of accurate scales and a measuring tape. The scales will show weight loss and there are lots programmes online to convert to BMI if that is useful for you (see NHS website for one). The measuring tape will show you where the weight is coming off from . This is important. Take your waist and belly (2 in below waist) measurements as well as hips and bust. Arms and thighs as well if you want. What you are looking for is that the belly fat that is around the liver and pancreas is reducing. I spotted that I was losing more from my hips than waist in the first couple of weeks and started monitoring carbs, as all I was looking at was the 800 cals. Once I lowered the carbs to 60g a day, the fat around my waist and belly shifted.
Measure everything and record. Good kitchen scales that measure digitally are a must. Either through and app, spreadsheet or on paper, measure your calories and carbs daily – some people use carbs only and don’t worry about calories. you need to see what works for you (see my other post on that).
I weight myself daily and initially recorded it daily along with my waist. I then moved to recording it twice a week and now on once a week. I still step on the scales daily to motivate! Most of the grocery stores who deliver now have the product details on line as well, so you can plan from that if need be.
Sorry this is a bit long – hope that it helps.

He He
we have twins in the family as well but they are only 6 years old so even more of a punishment (or pleasure whichever way you look at it)

Well done to you all! It’s great to see people achieving their goals.
I am on my last day of week one. I haven’t had significant weight loss (2lb) but I have not been doing a great job of counting carbs and calories. I see the program works and I want it to work for me. I think I need to follow Michael’s diet plan more closely and see if I can do better in week 2. Avoiding temptation in a house catering for carb- hungry teenagers has been tricky and a test of my willpower – not winning yet!
Lea

Bill, I could send the twins as backup. Their dad nicknamed them Ronnie and Reg😳

Hi I am a 65 year young female, retired College Lecturer 4 years ago. Hereditary Type 2 diabetes dx 2007 – recently quit evil weed subsequent BS spiralled as a result. Now need to get back to normal. Difficulty is that I seem to be one of the ‘thin’ sufferers that Michael mentions. My weight around my middle/tummy. Not wishing to hack ‘obese’ people off, as my daughter battles with that issue and gets a bit niggled when I say I put on weight. Having gone up a waist size by increasing around a stone in weight, all in tummy area.

However, as I say – finally beat the nicotine habit last autumn – my HBA1 in Dec had shot up to highest ever – 13.5 when it had previously averaged 6.5 – 8. Indeed was fasting 7 last May! A bit of research led me find an article on this, saying after quitting smoking can take up to 3 years to return to normal! I am currently working with my DBN on lowering without increasing meds – currently on Metformin 1000g a day – which I kicking hard against. I admittedly dropped my guard over the quitting period – my weakness is sweet things – but not overly hugely. Started self testing, as previous GP and DBN advised against. BS currently between 14.5 – 16.5 and I am very concerned, hence this diet. The 5:2 diet was suggested by another practice nurse. I got to this diet via research on reversing diabetes research by Prof Roy Taylor of Newcastle University.

Looking for advice and mutual support with other Type 2 sufferers.☺

Bill, poor lucia, threats of……? Chuckle chuckle 🙂

Hi everyone, I’ve been doing the LBS diet for just over two weeks now and lost ten pounds. I have stalled now for the past 4 or 5 days, but my real problem is that I am so tired, exhausted actually. My husband is eating the same as me at meal times for support, although he’s not following the rest of the diet, and his energy levels have increased tremendously, he cycled 82 miles yesterday and felt great. I can hardly get myself out for a one and a half mile walk each day. I am drinking 2 litres of fluids a day, keeping below 800 calories, eating full fat yoghurt and milk etc. What can I do to improve my energy levels.

Hi orchid, I. Have clear memories of that program too 🙂

Newlife, great results 🙂

Hi bill, ive put together a list of ideas. Ive emailed the tech team about it. I’ll email you my list for your furtber comments/suggestions. I didn’t want to bother you during family time at the w/e

Quiqui,

“Compatriot I think -”
My username has my country on the end – are you a Kiwi?

Jim

Hi EvaZ and I love to bike ride, welcome to the forums! We’re all part of the BSD family, regardless of nation, creed etc. The important thing is that we are all on this journey together! 🙂

Hi Lisa and welcome! You can do it 🙂

I’m 4 weeks in and have lost 16lb so far. Most of the time I’m not hungry. I’m not craving chocolate. Amazeballs 🙂

Well done to you too Christine. I think restaurants are much more used to coping with modified menu requests than they used to be. We are the customer after all 🙂

Stingle make the most of that first moment your doc sees you! Don’t sit down too soon, make sure he/she really sees you it’s an amazing moment when they can’t believe their eyes! 🙂

Hi Barby, yes that is the yoghurt I use – Yeo also do one. Rachel’s is a little bit thicker. I have also been using fruit picked some time ago and frozen and it is fine.
What I started doing a few weeks ago after a couple of accidents with the microwave (pressed 30 mins instead of 30 secs) to take the berries out the night before and putting them and the yogurt in the dish and leaving in a cupboard overnight so defrost – that way both are at room temperature when I eat them.
So per 100g – Total Farg 96 cals and 3.8g carbs; Rachel’s 105 cals and 5.0g carbs; Yeo; 129 cals and 6.4g carbs. Don’t know the Lidl one as there stuff is not online.
Good luck with the mince – sounds good.

Sorry Penny, I wrote it, it’s an Americanism I picked up (ex-wife is American) – it means I know, right?

Bill, YYYAAAAAAYY, Meds free!!! You’ve done it Bill, I’m So thrilled for you :). :). :). :). :). 🙂

I love the way your stepson is not doing the BSD – just eating the same lunches as you and no starchy carbs. Sshhhh don’t tell him anyone! 😉

It’s amazing how, if you follow the principles of the diet, eating out is not a problem! I ate out 3 times with no consequences last week! I find if I say no chips, toast etc I am always offered some more salad, veg etc

Patsy, it’s brilliant that your mum started you on this and well done on what you have achieved so far!
Good news from purple penguin, fi and ay caramba as well.

What a wonderful start to the week guys!!!! 🙂

Hi alanhypno
Try doing bacon and avocado wrapped in gem lettuce for lunch they are easy to cook and they store in a container to take to work, also try lucias mushroom, bacon and egg thingy, get a bun tray put a mushroom in the bottom , wrap a rasher or two round the edge, then crack in egg in and bake in the oven, I did them on 180 fan for fifteen mins, and they were great I took them on the plane and had them for my lunch, we are in Tenerife at the moment.
Hope that helps
Christine

Thanks hashimoto, it felt good.

Thanks hashimoto, it felt good.

So, I’m 4 weeks in. I lost 4lb last week bringing my total to 16lbs so far. I’m over the moon 🙂
I haven’t been measuring but I’m in a smaller size clothes and my BMI is down from 31.6 to 29.1.

1st goal reached, sock shopping later on!

For those whose weight loss had slowed – keep going. Mine had been 2lb only for the last couple of weeks and now 4 🙂

I hope this feeling lasts 🙂 I’m 17st 9lb which is about a stone heavier than I thought I was (and what I was actually at the beginning of the year!) not sure how that happened but it’s stopping right now and I’m going to work my way to a much more acceptable weight. I haven’t felt this motivated in a long time. But I read the book and at last, I’m reading evidenced based stuff that fits in with what I’ve always believed. I’ve always heard vlcd’s are really bad, it’s good to hear that it’s ok! and when you have a lot to lose, it’s a great place to start. “Cutting down” has never really worked for me as we aren’t a hideously unhealthy household, but clearly something needs to give, so here I am about to completely change my ways! The spiraliser will be coming out more regularly, the nutribullet will get used more regularly, my lunches will have more thought put into them and I will try a little harder to reach the 10,000 steps goal each day, rather than wearing a wrist band for no apparent reason (as I have been doing since November)…. I have reactivated my Myfitnesspal and I’m good to go! 🙂

Would love to hear people’s success stories, in fact, off to find a few now! Hope everyone is well.

Lisa xx

Well done Fi, great results!

Bill, med-free! Whoop 🙂

Hi newlife fe
That’s the thing I think we will all find difficult, going out for a meal. I had salad and roast chicken last night ( I am in Tenerife at the mo) had a few mental wobbles thinking they wouldn’t do that as a meal, however they were very good, the waiter said whatever you want lady!
Keep up the good work christine x

Hi alanhypno
Glad you ‘found’ the yogurt, I use it all the time now, I particularly like it for breakfast with blueberries, I can’t wait for our raspberries to fruit I will have those then too, try crushing almonds or walnuts in too, it ads to the variety.
Christine

Hi all this is a great post as I’m veggie too and concerned about the menu plans. Does anyone use quorn as soya and I don’t mix! I love skaes with a protein supplement to. Will these work? Also are any of you prediabetic or near prediabetic? Or are you none of those and simply need to lose weight as you want to not get to that point? I am so totally exhausted every day by the amount of weight I carry, probably need to lose at least 3 stone, I’d be happy with that and have tried evey diet going including the 5:2 but got so bored with it and it petered out. I am hoping this short sharp body shock will help reset everything. I am concerned that this is aimed at those who are prediabetic and have type 2 rather than those of us who are heading that way and want to change. I want to plan my start and so am researching and your thoughts on this would be plus ketosis what the deal, should I order the ketostix and how does that work? Thanks in advance from a slightly scared veggie, apologies for questions 🙂

Hi,
Whilst reading some of the posts this morning and seeing the frustration that the Aussie programme has created, I was reminded by a piece in MM’s book.
I remember watching a programme (Horizon?) in the early noughties that showed that ulcers were caused by bacteria and not poor lifestyle and excess stomach acids. It interested me as I trained as a bacteriologist before I moved into IT. It was a classic case of not being able to replicate a bacteria found in the incriminating locality back into mice and replicating the symptoms. The Australian doctor who made the discovery decided to take a very brave step and infected himself with the bacteria and was getting stomach inflammation and vomiting within a couple of days. He then took an antibiotic cocktail to treat it and was fine. After that he successfully treated a number of patients with antibiotics successfully.
I have always remembered that programme. What I did not know was that that was MM’s first TV programme and he was reporting on it. It was a similar situation to diabetes. Lots of time and money invested in drugs for the current thinking and a new simple, cheap solution was found. The other thing I did not realise was that the medical establishment ignored it for a few years. The British Medical Journal just said it was one-sided reporting and rubbished it – recognise a pattern here?
Patient demand and evidence from those treated with antibiotics drove the changes and it is now the standard approach for ulcers.
So – keep telling the medical staff about your successes and this will take the same route!
Keep the faith.

Hi Judith
I didn’t reach that magic number, however the scales read 13.0.0 so it’s easier to remember when I get back and see how much I weigh in then!
Angela has had a good few days according to the messages, she had a day on Sunday just planting up their garden with Ashley, we had taken the plants down last time we visited, they were all from Angela’s greenhouse ( it’s actually mine, however I have been given the boot from the garden and everything in it) I am happy if she is happy, it’s just that it won’t keep her even s a full time job, so she can keep it as a very good hobby and find full time work doing something else.
I had a hiccup on the plane, have got over that now, I am being good now! It was a great journey to the airport, lovely and sunny, in the car! No problems anywhere, even our apartment is lovely overlooking the pool, where I am sat at the moment, the pool that is! It’s cloudy at the moment, will go in for my first swim as soon as the sun peeps through the clouds. Cheers for now, and thank you for your concern, it’s appreciated.
Hope you enjoy your get together with penny? Or was it Janet? I can’t remember, see I’ve only been here half a day and I’m already going against!

It’s amazing the change in peoples attitudes I have seen over the last few weeks on here.
Let’s face it, we all started out doing this for ourselves, no one else, and that is a great attitude to have.
Now though, more and more of us are looking closely at the disease and the results we and others are achieving and now we want to get the word out, not just for us, for others!!!
This way of life has the power to change the world and we are at the forefront of it all, lets take our time, record all of our personal evidence, and then let the powers that be have both barrels.
Let us all do for our grandchildren what the status quo could never do for us.
Type 2 Diabetes can be beaten and we now have the tools to do it!

Well done Bill – that is fantastic news!

Hi Janet
The chocolate incident was just pure boredom! I should have put it in the case, it was just that Lucy came on Saturday evening with the girls and gave me the chocolate, the youngest Dana, loves to share her choc, however she was adamant that I should put it in my travel bag, I didn’t have the heart to stop her, then of course time and events take over and i forgot it was there.
I am being very good now, yogurt, strawbs and walnuts for brekkie, and I only had one slice of brown bread(my first one in ten weeks) toasted with marmalade too. I am trying to eat sensibly while at the same time keeping it in the realms of normal.
Happy holidays for me cheers for now.
Christine

Thanks Caramba – it is helpful to see how others are doing who are in a similar situation. I enter my details into a spreadsheet called “New You” and I am still classed as Obese Class 1 (which sounds awful) so I will be really pleased once I am classified as Overweight which shouldn’t be too long now! Good-luck to you and everyone else (the first thing I do when I get into work in the morning is open up the forum on the website and then I minimize it and then just click on it throughout the day for all the encouraging news and banter – Bill always makes me have a giggle!

Throw the veg on the plate and don’t worry about the calorific values of it, it’s almost all complex carbohydrate anyway which is good.
I’ve never counted calories, just cut out the carbs and I’ve lost 2 stones and I’m finally off all medication with blood sugar readings at more or less normal range now.
Just don’t let yourself get hungry for the sake of a few veggies, that’s the path to failing nad you have no intentions of doing that.
Michael does mention in the book that 50% of your plate should be filled with veg 🙂

Hi Lucia,
I hope you are feeling a bit more optimistic this morning! We have all been there in the past, one of the differences I think, is this forum which has been great and unconditional support to everyone who needs it.
I get bored easily and that is the time I am likely to get complacent and think – it is ok just to have this, or go out for afternoon tea…..etc and before you know it, the lbs are back on.
What has helped me, and it is more by chance than good planning, is that I have been making some changes to how I approach the diet about every two weeks. First it was shakes, then it was how to replace them and planning what normal foods I could eat, then concentrating on the carbs, not just the calories and then over 4 weeks it was – drop the skimmed things etc.,
Since finishing the eight weeks, I have had a lot of desk work to do so little or no exercise, and the weight loss slowed to 1kg a week not the 2+ I have had. To reenergise my interest as I could see me heading towards, this is fine at this weight – lets settle at this weight for a while, I decided to find out whether I have been fat burning and got the ketostix. Now I am monitoring that in the morning and at night to see if I can see what foods I have eaten that makes it darker rather than lighter and adjusting accordingly. The next challenge will be planning the 5:2.
Take a few hours to yourself to look at your blog, look at what has worked and what has not, and making a few changes to bring in more of the ‘positives’ plus approaches that you read others are doing can keep the interest and challenge that we have in the first few weeks.
Always remember – ‘the past does not have to equal the future’! Plus a very twee statement, ‘today is the first day of the rest of your life’!
Go find some puddles and play!

Well done Fi
Your journey is going really well. Your stats sound similar to mine in some ways. Except before Christmas my stats were about the same as yours but I unexpectedly lost about half a stone before I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at the end of January.
Have now completed 10 weeks. Weight 11 stone. Waist 35″. Fasting BS 5.7 this morning.
Unfortunately my HBA1c showed 7.2 at the end of March so I still have a way to go.
Need to lose 1 and a half stone to get to a healthy BMI.
Good luck.

Wow Red 4 kilos in week 1 is magnificent
I bet you’re looking forward to the next 7 weeks a lot more than you were.
Congratulations, onwards and upwards. 😀

A massive achievement for Bill and the meds! !
I’ve just started week 6 and feel I’ve reached a plateau. Today’s weigh in is approx 12st 13lb, about the same as last week. No changes in my diet. Still walking 2.5 to 3 miles briskly 5 days a week. Hopefully as Bill said “the only way is down”!
I’m still on my Metformin although my FBS levels are on their way down again after a little blip – today’s was 6.2 (on 2000mg Metformin daily).

Well done girls, you’re both going great guns!
Interesting to hear about the IBS, an unexpected bonus for you Denise
Keep posting and let us know how you both progress.

Well today I have had 3 tablespoons of Rachels Organic Greek Style Natural Yoghurt. I mixed it with some frozen blackberries I thawed in microwave (I picked them 18 months ago but they seem fine). I added a sprinkle of milled flax and also a tiny sprinkle of chia seeds, plus 1 tea spoon mixed ground nuts and seeds.I served it in my nice glass desert bowl, and actually enjoyed it, I scraped the bowl . I am having to re educate my taste buds, all the extras you’ve suggested really help. Tonight I’ll prepare some in a little pot to take to work, as I try not to eat until after 10.

I hope the yoghurt was ok, it wasn’t as sharp as some I’ve had, and very creamy. I will try the Lidl one and the Farge, so see which I prefer. Does anyone know if some are much better than others carb wise?

I am still feeling my way, going to make a veggie quorn mince later and add loads of allowed veg, will probably make a chilli as love a few added pulses. May stir a little yoghurt into that too. I also bought a sweet potato, now got to work do what to make with it – did I mention I’m not a great cook :}

Well done, Daria!

It’s very encouraging to read posts from people who’ve been on the diet for a while and have had such good results.

Brilliant Stingle, you took your future into your own hands and you changed it completely, no more worrying about how this horrid disease is going to ruin your life.
As to moving forward, I’m strictly in the no carb camp. They got me where I was before the BSD and no way am I going back.

In the hotter weather (hopefully we’ll get some!), you might like to try natural yoghurt – perhaps with fruit or nuts for a change. I wasn’t sure it’d be very filling, but have been surprised. Do get a kind with some fat in though.

Congtatulations on becoming a veteran Daria
An excellent set of results and more proof (if any more is needed) that this lifestyle does the job.
what are your plans now ? 5:2 Med maintainence, or staying on the fast 800 to lose a little more?

Fi, you’ve done brilliantly!

Forgot to measure my waist. Another 1/2 gone! Yay.

Bill, I do feel as though I have it cracked as I’m not weighing stuff or counting calories, but am reading ingredient labels and thinking carefully about my choices and keeping portion sizes under control as well as walking a lot more. I’ve had a glass of wine some nights and a small amount of carbs when eating out – and I’m still losing weight! There’s no reason I can’t stick to this level of the diet permanently and just eat a tiny bit more once I’m at my ideal weight.