Hi Kate,

Don’t worry about going out with friends and staying off the booze, it’s easier than you think!

I’m a big drinker. I can easily put away a bottle of wine and then some – and I have plenty of equally boozy mates.

What I’ve discovered is that whether I’m drinking or not, my friends are still my friends and I still have a great night out… if anything, they seem to find it a bit difficult to watch me drink pints of sparkling water with fresh lime (and mint if the bar have it). Weirdly as their booze kicks in I find my own spirits rising too – that’s something I wasn’t expecting.

It’s also a really good way to up your water intake.

It’s even better if you can incorporate a meal into your evening, but if you can’t do that eat something really tasty just before you go out.

Try it, it’s really good fun!

Hi Orchid try the peanut butter dip recipe from the book! Luscious!! 🙂

Hi jillyb , we Brits have been on metric measurements for years too, but we older generation still visualise in pounds and stones! Though as a primary school teacher I have had to teach in metric for decades you would think I would find it easier these days!! When it comes to my height and weight it’s imperial measures all the way!!

I was a bit surprised you referred to this ‘wretched diet’. What is it you are finding difficult? Can we help in any way? 🙂

Hi Willsmum,
as SkyWalker says, the occasional thing won’t go amiss, so long as it is occasional. I had not thought about Peanut Butter for ages, but I Was watching a wildlife programme last night and they were putting peanut butter out to attract badgers into an area where they were filming. I started thinking about the fact it is nuts so must be ok :-(. After the programme I looked at the calories/carbs and decided probably not – but I will have a look later at a brand like Neal’s Yard who do pure peanut butter!
SkyWalker – I am intrigued by your the ‘Normal Prime =1’, that is that? I am around your height and I don’t get into the normal range until 74kg.

Hi Willsmum, welcome to the forums. Have you tried the peanut butter dip recipe in the book? That really answers the peanut butter urge! Cut plenty of celery sticks etc to have with it. You will love it!!! 🙂

Hi pookiesnackenberger, Cherrianne is right, check out Bill1954 on ‘this has to work for me’. Inspiring stuff!!!
🙂

Hi Odette, I know it seems counter intuitive and it is the mistake I made in the first couple of weeks – more veg = more on my plate. Sadly it also = more carbs!!!

Try a full fat yoghurt, with added ground flax seeds/ berries. It may top 220 calories but I can guarantee it will fill you up!
A smaller salad with a good glug of olive oil also does the trick.
Nuts – love ’em!!! So good for you and full of healthy fats!!!
Use nuts and cheese as an addition to a healthy meal or in small portions as a snack food.
Walnuts and pecans are lower in carbs than other nuts, peanuts are pretty low too. Sunflower seeds are lower than pumpkin seeds.

You really do need fat to help you feel full. It also seems to accelerate the weight loss. JAs Spirit has said just make sure you keep your carbs at 50g or under. Penny recommends calorieking for checking calories and carbs. If you live in the UK we need to deduct the fibre figure from the carb figure.

Hope that helps 🙂

Great job Alan, the first week is so motivating.
I’m sure your sugars will stabilise, just give it more time, stay strong and don’t let it deter you

Hi Kingdoone, fabulous weight loss, it will get even better as the weeks go by!! 🙂

Hi April, a belated welcome to the forums. I’m so glad you have found this diet and these forums. I could not lose weight, other than an odd pound, on other diets, this was has taken me down by 2st 11lbs so easily!!

When you stick with the diet you will find you quickly don’t want/desire starchy, sugary foods. It is a REVELATION!!!!

By the summer ( if it comes) you will be proudly parading around in lovely summer frocks no longer embarrassed by your slimmer body 🙂

Skywalker, that is pretty disappointing in terms of the GP responses! Mine are delighted I keep data records – GPs are scientists and like evidence – at least most do 🙁

Your wife did well to decrease her morphine and anti-depressants.

In terms of G incomes – in Britain – with the population expanding quite rapidly I don’t think there income should be an issue if diabetics come off meds. GP’s are also under pressure not to give out too much expensive medication unless it is necessary.

I really don’t understand your GP!!!

You and your wife are doing so well in spite of the GP – keep it up 🙂

Thankyou Cherrianne for your encouraging reply. It all makes sense – it feels strange not reacting to my body’s demands but I know how dangerous those might be!

I did hang in there and now, Day5 I have lost 6lb and feel I’m getting the hang of planning ahead for what I’m going to eat. I think this is crucial for me – to have an overview of what the day’s food will look like and roughly when I’m going to eat it.

A very long way to go still but I feel buoyed up by what I read on the threads and encouraged by the feedback I have had. Thankyou : )

Well done Alan – you’ve done fantastically well to keep going. I’m sure it will get easier for us!!

Hi Scater, welcome to the forums and the BSD way of life. As well as the advice Bill gave why not point out that you don’t have to pay weekly fees on this diet?? You could suggest you will save the fee money in a pot and treat him to a meal out with it!! 🙂

I got on the scales this morning – a bit blasé – as I was hoping to see my weight had remained stable. What a surprise!!! another pound dropped off!!! Unbelievable!! That is now a loss of 2 stones 11lbs. In my profile I said I hoped to lose 2 stones! As I am now down to 8st 12lbs I really don’t need to lose much more – just four pounds to take me to 8 and a half stones at the most. I’m 5’4″ and 63 years old, I have got down to the weight my orthopaedic surgeon said I needed to be to protect my knee. So I’m very happy.

Keep on keeping on folks, this diet is a miracle!!!

Hi Scater, welcome to the forums.
Try to get him to have a quick read through these forums and see the amount of success others are having.
If that doesn’t work make hi a deal, something like I’ll do this for 2 weeks and if I don’t lose weight I’ll go back to the commercial diet.
If you are like most others you will have seen big changes, not just weight loss by then.

Hi all, don’t forget that GP’s are paid when they issue drugs. MY other half has withdrawn herself from Morphine that was being increased every time she complained following back surgery – he was not impressed or congratulatory. She also withdrew the anti-depressants in January as they too were making her dopey. She is now lighter, happier and able to control her back pain with less damaging painkillers and walking really helps her dodgy hip. So we are a collective knowledge base that is growing fast and one day might be listened to even if not consulted. Evidence speaks volumes… and saves NHS funds of course but may play havoc with a GP’s income if we all take on responsibility for our own health. I have recently been ridiculed for knowing my own heart rates and blood pressure. I may start a thread on this when my “Feedback” is responded to.

I’ll be interested to know how it goes.

Hi all British Citizens, wherever you are you can sign our petition to ask the NHS to promote this diet for T2 diabetics 🙂

Hi Callmedeb, I work on one medium courgette as a lunch time portion. I might have two courgette for an evening meal.

You can actually spiralise a lot of courgette and store it in a freezer bag or air tight container for up to 4 days.
There are so many ways to have it!!

I often fry some garlic and chilli then add the courgette then stir in cream cheese and put a sprinkling of parmesan on top. Quick, easy and delicious.

If I have some crispy bacon left from the previous day I will crumble it on top.

Then you can use plain or spiced courgette as a side with fish, chicken, sausages etc.

I love it!! 🙂

Very impressive, Its incredibly motivating isn’t it. I’ve lost less weight this week than last but I have cheated…..damn fresh bread

Hi Willsmum, lighten up, Peanut butter and a slice of toast is not poisonous, you will soon be enjoying the 800 daily ride. Some folk on here have turned this into a religion of eating weird food and thrashing themselves with exercise. I have not used any of the recipes yet and ho no real interest in doing so. The key is eat fewer carbs replace them with other better nutrients and smile. When the time is right for you it will be time to walk or cycle. Cycling is good because it is non-weight bearing. I am in Week 10 and should hit the so called Normal BMI Prime=1 on Sunday at 80.3 kg for my 1.75m height. All the best and it is a gentle but steep learning curve where you will often find yourself saying, “but I knew that!” and “I just didn’t follow it through”. Cheerio

Brilliant news on the weight loss Alan. Suggest you read the thread “this has just got to work for me” d started by Bill1954. He shares his experiences with his readings so this might help you. Keep up the good work! J

Hi Lucia, Penny also said it ‘is not possible to succeed, it is the trying that is your success’ . I sort of get that now – while you try to ‘be mindful’ you become very aware of how much your mind jumps around and you make an effort to refocus – that is a success in itself. My mind can jump about for ever but I am finding this mindfulness thing has been working for me. 🙂

Odette, keep your carbs down below 50g a day and calories under 800. those are the headline figures you need to focus on more. Then have your fats and a bit of protein to make up your 800cal. there’s loads of recipes and support on here. Pop over to the What Have You Eaten today for inspiration..

debs, I’ve just finished week 10 and my loss has been very slow too. Stick with it and you will get there.

Hi Scater and welcome!

I’m one of those that wouldn’t allow anyone to dictate what I can and can’t do I’m afraid! Do the BSD and show him you can and will do it.

Yikes – I’m up a pound! MUST NOT PANIC!

This could be a temporary blip, right …?

Glad you’re enjoying Turkey, SunnyB

Well done Switzerland and writer 56.

Oooh, you don’t want numb fine fees! 🙂

Good luck with the diet. Maybe it won’t help this particular problem, but it’s likely that losing some weight and inches around your waist will generally improve your health.

Sorry your husband isn’t supportive. Would it help to suggest he reads the book before speaking against it?

Gosh, reading the posts above, it is amazing how our bodies can resist weight loss, I got on the scales today and Id gained a pound despite best efforts. I am confused by the number of posts suggesting eat more fats… It conflicts with the low calorie target,. If i increase the fats, there is not toomuch left to eat…

First week over
Think the scales are broke its telling be I’ve lost 8 pounds eight pounds that’s half a stone n over !!!!!!!
Amazing very very pleased ,not been hungry one bit apart from 9pm munchy urges
But on downside my morning reading slipped back up to 8.5 .
Is this fluctuation normal ?
Alan

Thanks everyone for the lovely supportive posts. I’m afraid I have had rather a crappy Friday and would love a glass of red but I won’t though!

Argh. Some days.

No scale change again today. Tomorrow maybe. This is slow going though! Have a gorgeous weekend everyone. Lucyjane

Thanks Janet for the encouragement. I am hoping eventually it will come off. I drink at least 2 litres of water and am very active. I exercise at least 5x a week. Today I played tennis for an hour and then walked 8km with a 2 km jog. I am doing everything correctly, but it is very very slow! It would be nice to see some better results. I will stick with it, for sure, and will let you know after the 8 weeks. I lost 2 kg first week and only 1 more since. It has been
5 1/2 weeks so far.

Thanks Cherrianne, I’ll check it out.

Hi, I bought the book a week ago and have nearly finished it. My husband is angry that I want to start something new. He wants to encourage me back to slimming world but it didn’t work as I stopped going and have just weighed myself to find it’s all back on again. I’m going to start next Wednesday as I’m in hotels until then with work. I look forward to sharing my journey.

One of the things I find so good on the BSD diet is that everyone talks in calories, stones and lbs !!
Yes, I am an Australian, and we have been on metric measure for years, but being from the older generation, my mind automatically converts to imperial. If I don’t, I have no idea if a kilo or kilometre is good or bad. It slightly makes up for this wretched diet.
jillyB

Lol John. Yes it is.

It’s supposed to be 20C (~70F) on Sunday now. So even though I still have to scrape frost off my car windows every morning so far this week, I might have to cut the grass this weekend (wish I was kidding).

I will have to change my toy boy order to cabana boys ⛱🍹🍹 😎

Deb

Hello all!

I got my veggie spiraller and was wondering what you all do for portions.

One medium zucchini = one serving? two?

I’m looking to make my lunches for work next week and would love some guidance on this.

Many thanks!

Deb

Pandora – I’ll be making cauliflower rice this weekend – I skipped the recipe previously but will give it a go on your recommendation

Hi Willsmum,
Check out the Herman Brot bread website. Might be the solution to your toast and peanut butter craving. 2.3g carb per slice and 111 cals 🙂

Hi CaravanSue, My goodness, scales would be a (necessary) luxury. When you get to a town my thoughts (for scales being available) are with hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, ? stock suppliers, vets, maybe a kind stranger on an outback station?…….depending where you are I do realise all of these may be 100’s or 1000’s kms away.

If you have a ball of string or wool (or a belt) you could record your shrinking waist line by tying a knot at your current position and then knot it each time you measure yourself with the length of string (and have lost weight.)

At least by being in a remote part of Aus there are less temptations around. Well done for doing the ‘travel’ version of the BSD. We’re looking forward to reading of your progress.

I really feel for you, the waiting is the hard part. Fearing the worst but hoping for the best.
Your higher blood sugars are only to be expected with all this stress. Disappointing for you after all your hard work.
You are a strong, proactive woman though, more than capable of negotiating your way through this. I do wish you didn’t have to though.
Thoughts and prayers are with you.

Well done to you all, great responses backed up by evidence.
Could you be cheeky and suggest that with the savings anticipated, they could look at a scheme similar to the NDSS in Australia to supply test strips and diabetic supplies at a heavily subsidised price. We are issued with a card and can access supplies from participating chemists. There is a limit but I have never reached it. Most diabetes nurses can issue free meters and the manufacturers often will provide them ( via their website or through promotions in chemist shops), free of charge because they are guaranteed to recoup their money from sales of the test strips.
May I suggest sending the link to the petition too?

I started this diet on Monday (11/4) and I’m into day 5. I must say I am travelling and don’t have a set of scales to weigh myself but I can see from the size of my belly that I have lost weight. I’m hunting around for a set of scales to actually weigh myself (we are in a very remote part of Australia at the moment) but I am feeling much better. No light headedness/dizzyness and there is enough food for me to not go looking for it. My BGL’s are up and down but I expect that untill my body reacts to the change in diet. Woo hoo

Hi Janec and Janet
Brown rice has complex carbs so is ok in moderation. A tablespoon of cooked brown rice, some onion, cheese and tomato and mushroom makes a great stuffing for a small baked red pepper. I’m vego too but haven’t found the BSD too difficult, just replaced my previous reliance on carbs with more protein, fat and veg.
Have you seen my zucchini ‘lasagne’ recipe? Has the same texture and just as filling.
I use halloumi cheese a fair bit to give that satisfying chewy texture to meals.
Frittatas are filling and good hot or cold with steamed veg or salad.
Mushrooms and lentils go well together and form the base for curries and bolognaise type sauces. I use the gram flour flatbreads with curry, instead of rice and courgetti instead of spaghetti.
Also the mushroom lentil combo with some extra veg and gravy or tomato based sauce in a heat proof dish, topped with cauli mash makes a great shepherds pie substitute. I’ve posted a harvest pie recipe which is quite filling.

Hi Bill1954
Ding dong!
Thanks for heads up. Just sent my email off. Got reply from my MP today. Sort off.
Will post what I said later. Off on family hol today. Was packing but had to stop to email APPG while the pen was hot
Eureka

Hi Pookie, and welcome
One of the other forum members has experienced improvement in neuropathy since doing the BSD.
I’m sure some weight loss will help, but hopefully your GP is following up on this, especially as you aren’t diabetic?
Keep posting and let us know how you get on. You need to eat from a wide variety of foods when on calorie restrictions to make sure you get all the nutrients you need. So it is important that you eat regularly, even though your appetite will reduce. In the long term it will ensure that you stay on track 🙂

It sounds like it John, don’t think it’s a toy boy at any rate lol 🙂
Although she could do with one to shovel away the snow and let her car get out 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Hi Juliet,
There’s nothing wrong with what you are feeling, your body is just demanding carbs. It wants easy to digest sugary foods like it is used to. It doesn’t want to burn fat for fuel so it’s trying to make you provide it with the quick solution!
Only you’re not going to, you know what is best for it in the long run. I used to go to bed early too. It does help in the first few days. So does saving some calories for a healthy, fatty snack. So a hard boiled egg, a 20g slice of cheese, a 50g serve of full fat plain yoghurt sprinkled with cinnamon. Eat slowly and put your food/ spoon down between mouthfuls. Allow the food to kind of dissolve in your mouth rather than just simply chewing and swallowing. The extra time gives your body a chance to realise it’s eaten, and you get a chance to really taste and enjoy your food.
The carb cravings will pass so hang in there, it’s worth it 🙂

That’s good news 🙂
It’s so encouraging when you see progress. Well done on those blood sugars too. Great results!

Biopsy and genetic screening today. Results in 5-10 days – pathologists should really work weekends. 🙂

Just tired. BG still higher than recently – definitely stress.

Lucia, that is exactly what happens to me lol 🙂
I invent new recipes, notice a cobweb, remember I need to sew up the hem of middle girls school dress ( she picks at them while sitting on the mat listening to her teacher), write shopping lists, wonder about re painting the kitchen walls and how to talk an already busy hubby into it.
Penny called it ‘ monkey mind’ very apt 🙂