Hi Grandmarob, welcome to the forums! A common cause of headaches, as Skywalker says, is dehydration so if I were you I would check that I was really drinking the 2 – 3 litres of water a day that Michael Mosley says is essential. The other cause – as Skywalker has already said – can be stress! Have you tried the mindfulness techniques that Michael suggests? Your mind will wander and you will need to refocus – but pmshrink says that is normal. Just the doing has a beneficial and calming effect.

I’m quoting Skywalker again here but the fats and low carbs are really important. In the first two weeks I didn’t dare move on to full fat yoghurts ( so brainwashed by all the low fat nonsense) and consequently didn’t feel too good. Full fat Greek yoghurt was a total revelation to me and I now have it most mornings for breakfast – with a sprinkling of ground flax seeds and a few berries.
Professor Taylor says exercise is not necessary when you are on the fast 800 so I really wouldn’t worry about it at the moment. Gentle walking is absolutely adequate and with hip problems I wouldn’t think of anything else until your 8 weeks are over and you get advice from your GP/physio.

Stick with it as you will get results 🙂

I am following the diet plan to the letter, because I need to lose a fair bit of weight and Im also pre diabetic . When I was working we used to say a little tongue in cheek prayer when things got difficult ‘Thank you God, for this learning experience’. It is now Day 15 and in the last week I only lost on one day and I gained on one day. But my body shape is changing, my clothes are loose, my belly is shrinking, my blood sugar is normal and I am so much more energetic. Also I used the ketostiks and Im definitely in ketosis (fat burning) so all is good, but my scales – they lie and deceive and undermine !,!! So my learning experience so far – keep the big picture in mind And trust the process. It would be an interesting Phd to assess all the people getting stuck. It is so easy to blame the person, but I would wager that we tend to be older, habitual dieters and our bodies are trained to resist weight loss. Just a theory.
Grateful thanks to all the posters on this thread – at least I know its not just me!

Oh, and don’t worry about exercise, in a recent interview in Australia with Docs Mosley and Taylor, Dr Taylor said no need to exercise during the first 8 weeks of calorie restriction, you will lose weight anyway.

Hi John, I make my chickpea flour batter only slightly thicker than I would make the batter for toad in the hole – I’ve never measured the water so I can’t help there!! Don’t forget to add your herbs/spices of choice! 🙂
Weight loss is so strange at times, isn’t it? I had a sudden 1 pound drop yesterday after several days on the same weight – but I knew something was happening because my jeans were looser round my waist.
Judith

Hi Hadenough, you’ve certainly come to the right place. This forum is incredibly friendly and supportive and will help you every step of the way. I’m not diabetic but others who are have had amazing results, reducing and/or coming off meds completely and losing lots of weight very quickly. I have osteoarthritis in my knee and within days it was improved, I’m now in my 5th week and can bend my knee almost completely and painlessly, swelling has gone right down and I’ve taken up yoga, managing lots of the kneeling positions – just amazing. So I’d say don’t wait another minute, just start today, read the “what have I eaten today”thread and “recipes” for ideas and just ask if you have any questions. Good luck and welcome to the group. Jules x

Hi Neohdiver, You are really motivated and I wish you every success. I am just completing week 10 on Fast 800 14:10. I could not easily do 16:8 but I take my hat off to you (Musto sailing cap substitute?). I will watch your progress and admit that I was not diabetic but my wife was pre-diabetic that motivated me to try and I was technically obese any way. Your evidence may be widely read and inspire some of the medical fraternity to look a bit more seriously at what we are all doing for a variety of reasons and not just blood sugar reduction even though that is one of the most important for us all and vital for our diabetic colleagues. Good luck…

Hi I have just read Michaels book.

I have been Type2 for many years now and am on high does of insulin as well as metformin. One of my biggest problems is because I have arthritis in my knees and back, I find it almost impossible to exercise. I get around on a mobility scooter. Does anyone else have this problem and if so how on earth do you exercise?

I am also overweight, live alone and feel, at times depressed and lonely. I want to make a start on losing weight but find it hard with no support. Sometimes I just want to say hell with it all and stop taking my insulin and tablets. I have been overweight for most of my life and like many others, I lose weight then put it all back on plus some.

Any help or support I would really appreciate.

Hi Grandmarob don’t be disheartened, at least not yet anyway. Headaches have many causes but one is dehydration and another is stress s both things together would make life pretty miserable. Reducing carbs means increasing fluids and fats and proteins. If you keep a diary of food intake you will spot where the carbs and sugar are creeping in.. I only count calories and sugar and have lost over 33 lbs in almost 10 weeks. Stick with it, it is a simple formula, exercise is good for you but you would lose weight without exercising much because calories in are being reduced and once your body is triggered into burning body fat you will soar! Most people do…

Had 3lb weight loss in first week of the diet, however for the first few weeks have horrific headaches
now weight loss is stuck after 6 weeks only lost 7 lb So far, feeling totally depressed having read the book thoroughly not the reults i thought i,d have, due to hip injury i dont get a lot of excercise, can anyone help?

Hi Alan,

I just microwaved it for about 4 minutes, easy as. Agree with Natalie, don’t over pulse it.

I’m going to have a bash at making the chickpea flour flatbreads this weekend.
Can anyone (Hashimoto?) give me just a rough clue how much water is needed for 9oz flour.
I don’t think I’ve made a batter since schooldays (a long time ago – it was for a lamb chop toad – delicious)
I know there will be no absolute quantity, as everyone’s pastry and batter is unique
John

I did something similar I took photos in some ordinary clothes and a target dress that was too small. Took photos in same clothes and occluded a head shot then I have used some software and put them all side by side in scrapbook pages. The head shots serve as really good reminder as you think you haven’t changed much but that is wrong.

The only problem I’ve had is after a very spicy dinner. I was going to put it as a solution in the constipation thread! Maybe your stomach flora is still adjusting.

Hello Orchid, I got a shock this morning when I appear to have gained 0.8 kg overnight! All I have done is to have one pint of Guinness at a function last night. Without wishing to be too indelicate I am still carrying the last 30 hours worth of food intake so that would explain most, if not all of it. I have averaged under 850/day for the 10 weeks to date. The boat I am on this week affects the scales every time it rocks but even so? I was expecting to sneak into the top of the Normal range by the end of tomorrow when I jump on the scales on Monday morning, maybe I will need a few more days. There are 8 kg in the Overweight range so often the Prime number does not appear to change for ages, but nibbling away at the next level (‘scuse the pun) is or at least was, motivating for me. We all shrink for a variety of reasons and with different levels of passion and commitment. I am lucky to have the time to be quite focused without having to work 9-5 anymore. I don’t get wrapped up in exotic menus as there is no need, but fewer carbs = better health.

I chose this diet mainly because I need fast results to keep me motivated, and here was someone telling me I was allowed to go as low as 800 calories and still be healthy! In the past all I got was ridicule or worry if wanted to go as low as 1000. Reversing my prediabetes will hopefully be a lovely extra benefit.

Yes I agree a couldn’t see my self all the time either ,but put in a diary thought be interesting to look back at changes every few months.
Good reminder not to go back once we’ve attained those fabulous bodies of a top gymnast/model
(Well I can dream)😀
Alan

I haven’t been hungry much but I’m short, female and inactive so I might need less calories than some others. I do feel hungry after exercise though. My main problem is still wanting to snack at night even though I’m not hungry. It’s just habit. Other people have mentioned feeling empty or not being able to sleep due to hunger, I’ve generally been very full and satisfied by the food and sometimes feel like I’ve eaten too much, which is weird. Protein, fat, and a big pile of vegetables. I am def. an emotional eater so it hasn’t made much difference to me whether I’m on a 800 cal diet or 1200 or 1500 – I still want to eat more when I’m sad/bored/stressed regardless of what I’ve already eaten that day.

xrissy,

If your goal is to put diabetes into remission, I believe the 800 calories v. 1200 calories is a critical difference. If your goal is weight loss, not so much.

I’ve been eating 1200 calories a day since October 2 and have almost certainly been in ketosis most of that time (although it is not a specific goal of mine, so I don’t check). I’ve eaten fewer than 50 carbs most days (although my specific limit has been fewer than 20 in a 3 hour period. During that time I lost around 50 pounds, and never moved beyond management of BG. Even with 50 lbs down, if I ate something with more than 20 net carbs, my blood glucose shot up just as much as it did on October 2.

Nearly three weeks ago, after reading Dr. Taylor’s research, as well as doing research on fasting and insulin, I started the BSD fast 800 + 16:8 intermittent fasting. The goal of both is to restore my 1st phase insulin response, and put my diabetes into remission. In the second week I had a meal that contained 33 carbs and nervously tracked my blood glucose for 3 hours – the peak was 6.16 (111). Little more than a week earlier, 33 carbs would have put my BG over 7.8, and likely closer to 10.0. So, I achieved – in a little over a week at 800 calories – something I was unable to even approach while consistently eating low carb/keto at 1200 calories for 6 months. (Even with the stress of multiple doctor’s visits this wee testing for what is almost certainly breast cancer, my average BG is still under 5.6 (I believe 5.4, but I left my meter at work). My average for the preceding 3 months (on a ketogenic, 1200 calorie diet) was 6.

The difference to me is remission (meaning I won’t have to actively manage my BG by dietary control) v management of BG by careful monitoring of every bite I eat. 1200 gives me the latter; 800 gives me (I hope) the former.

But – if you’re not going for remission of diabetes – it probably doesn’t matter.

I don’t think I’d want the “before” photo in front of me all the time, too depressing. I’d rather an aspirational picture of a healthy person on a beach or something. But use whatever works for you! And taking measurements is a good idea.

Alanhypno, olive oil has 41 calories a teaspoon, quite a lot but we need healthy fat in our diet.

I’ve eaten cauliflower rice a few times (not from the book, don’t know if it’s exactly the same) and it’s quite nice especially if it’s covered in some kind of sauce anyway! For me the trick is not to pulse it too many times in the food processor – it should still have rice-size bits not be ground to powder.

Hi Elyzab,
From one home baker to another: Sad to say, but I think that bread is not something you should eat on the blood sugar diet.
While a tiny bit of whole wheat bread may skim under the carb limit for the day, and It won’t be quite as high in carbs as white flour, it still is a carb rich food.
Grains like wheat are grown because they have a concentration of carbohydrates in them, so make a great fine textured flour for a lot of tasty recipes. Complex carbohydrates, like those in your whole wheat, are strings of sugars tied together, and your body will un-string them, turning them in to a lot of sugars.
If you are on this diet to control your blood sugar, I would steer clear of that bread.

As a baker, it is quite frankly easier to just pull the plug on the old favourite recipes such as bread for now, and learn some new favourites. Almond flour, chickpea flour and coconut flour are lower in carbs, so very useful, but I have found to make the diet work, and reduce temptation, it is best to minimise baked goods of any type.

Looked at the cauliflower done in the oven but is there too much olive oil on it
Isn’t olive oil 100 calories a tea spoon
Thanks Alan

On my first day I took lots measurements all pats of my body and added to iPad diary
I added lots photos to the day I began onto the diary page

Going to look back and compare in couple months.

Just looking at my photos in my shorts is enough to keep going,whenever I flip back

I did once hear of a guy putting his photo on his phone screen saver to keep a reminder.
Then there’s the fridge door,car dash board,biscuit tin,(going too far?) and face book !😂
Alan

Hi, total newbie to this forum here. I’m just about to start the diet and was wondering about coconut oil for cooking. Is it okay to use it, and is it like olive oil in the diet? Thanks for any assistance and advice.

Hi, for me, cutting back on carbs to between 25g and 30g per day works for dealing with hunger and cravings. I seem to be very sensitive to carbs. Between meals I do feel empty but it isn’t hunger as such, so I can tell myself “Only two hours before I eat” or whatever it is.
I also save some of my calories for a mid evening snack, maybe Greek yogurt and berries, or a small piece of cheese with half an apple, some nuts with half an apple, whatever I fancy at the time. Without that, I have problems sleeping because I felt so empty that it almost hurt.
Even with strict adherence to the calorie and carb limit, I seem to only lose around half a kilo a week, but it’s half a kilo I wouldn’t have lost otherwise. Good luck, it’s worth the effort.

My husband and I got off to a flying start – each losing 3+ kg in the first week, then 1kg in the second. But now we have reached the end of week 3 … and nothing! nada! no weight loss at all!!
Reading the “wow, I’ve lost so much” endorsements makes me feel sad!!
We are certainly not planning on giving up. We are eating really well (yes, keeping to or under 800; yes, checking those carbs and fats; yes, drinking lots of water). We have increased exercise. Can’t work out how come I am eating less and burning more and my weight is not changing!! I so envy those people that talk about massive weight loss!!
Today I was driven to look for answers and so arrived at the website and this forum. It has been helpful reading through the replies and knowing that others have the same frustrations.

End of week 5 weigh in this morning. 102.8kg, so -1.8kg for the week, -13.4kg (29lb?) so far.

The weekly “splits” have been

Week 1: 6kg (a lot of water of course)
Week 2: 2kg
Week 3: 2.2kg
Week 4: 1.4kg
Week 5: 1.8kg

Three weeks to go and on target to hit my hoped for goal of the even ton.

Keep going guys. It works.

Wow never thought of the string thats a great idea. I do plan on finding a clinic so will weih myself as well.
Hanks for the support 😉

Thank you hashimoto,
No help required, only I can change this bad attitude I have acquired. I am in my 3rd week, could be doing better weight wise, I am continually hungry with constant “nervy” feelings in my abdomen, light headed and dizzy, not particularly a fan of the food, cranky, going “stir crazy” always in the apartment busy thinking up what to do with the next few menus, then preparing them, then finding I haven’t got one of the essential ingredients, so skip that and look for something else. I thought that I had done my weekly shop successfully. My blood pressure is up for the first time in years, I am technically high but have been normal with the help of medication. My stress level is getting higher with the break down in my computer and pedometer. \even this website is playing up….after 3-4 weeks of successfully logging in with my registered user name and password, the website decided to not accept this anymore ! I have contacted the tech in there and after a day+ they answered, sympathised, offered suggestions and then said they would do it for me. I said “yes” but haven’t heard since. I am making allowances for the fact that they might be in the UK, therefore in a different time zone. There, I have my monkey off my back…I hope ! Is it proper to ask if I am conversing with a man or woman ??
I have also acquired severe cramps in my calves in the early hours in bed since being on this diet. Anyone else got this problem ?

I was very happy with my first week weight loss and have it has definitely stalled since then (half way through week three), but I’m focusing on the fact that I am retraining how and what I eat, un-learning almost six decades worth of unhelpful eating habits, rather than focusing on the weight loss. It’s hard: the temptation to jump on the scales and check every morning to see if I have lost anything is huge. I know it will come if I stick to the diet.

I think one of the key aspects of this diet is remembering to drink two litres of water a day and I’m finding that not so easy. That’s another lifetime habit I’m working on – remembering to drink more.

For me, most of the dietary changes required in the blood sugar diet are easy because apart from snacks and occasional junk food our basic diet was already very healthy. I am becoming more knowledgeable about high carbohydrate foods though – it is easy to eat too many high carbohydrate healthy foods even when we’ve stopped eating bread and cakes and biscuits!

I’m confident I am going to get there but I still have my doubting moments. I’m finding the forum really helpful. I KNOW this diet is sound, sane, sensible and will set me up for eating healthily for the rest of my life and I want that to be a long time. 🙂

Hi, anyone else had this? Am on day 5 of week 2 and have had stomach cramps and diarrhoea after my evening meal for the last 4 days now. And it’s getting worse 😳.

Can you tell I am bored as the telly is rubbish tonight?🤓😐😒🤗🙁😕😟😟
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Falling off the wagon.
What an expression, why do we fall off the wagon?
Why don’t we shut the tailgate, or sit further into the middle of the wagon.

Is we feel as though we may eat too many calories or too many carbs or sugar. Why don’t we make sure those little critters are locked away or not even in the building?
Why don’t we push ourselves further into the safety of our little blog community?

Or even better wear a safety belt, tellEVERYONE including the know it also, who can recite chapter and verse of how many calories are in your eyelash. Then if you go near the naughty stuff, you get bombarded with many sharp intakes of berth or a crazy figure yelled at you. DONT YOU KNOW THERE ARE SEVEN HUNDRED AND NINETY SIX CALORIES IN THAT SANDWICH..,.,.,….?????
Works very time.

Keep the wagons curling, we may just get out by the skin of our teeth.
Love Lucia
Xxxx

My goodness skinny secret agent 0012 – I wondered what you were doing – measuring cheese – none of us get to be skinny secret agents 00anything without measuring cheese. Isn’t it tricky, especially block cheese.

So, set the scene, a dangerous mission is ahead. We may not come back alive.
You have to get th correct combination.
A bead of sweat appears on my brow.
I reach for the lethal substance, I only need a small amount, too much and I could blow this whole building sky high.
Easy does it, little by little, the needle points to the red , danger area, omg, another bead of sweat. Will I be able to complete this mission. So much depends on it.
Carefully now, my hands start to shake, just a little more, the needle is among touching the red, just one more tiny amount. My mouth is dry, my hands shake a bit more, I wipe my forehead, with a tissue. I think I can make it.
Yes, just a tiny bit more.
Phew, all done , the danger is over.

Anyone else having problems weighing the right amount of cheese?

Love Lucia
Xxxx

I hope so Cherrianne.

Day 55 weight 10st 5lb
Blood sugar 10.4

Went down to Mum’s at 7.30am and worked until 3pm only stopping to have 2 cuos of coffee and 2 shakes. Had my pills with me but forgot to take them. The house isn’t spotless and the washing isn’t fully up to date, but it is a hell of a lot better than when I arrived! Came home and slept on the sofa for an hour – I am by no stretch of the imagination a domestic goddess and my husband did the ironing I brought back with me. I’m back down on Sunday to tackle a large amount of paperwork – much more my thing.

I felt ravenously hungry tonight, I made myself a bowl of popcorn to try to quell the temptation of the remaing chocolate from the egg that was calling my name – very tired as well so hopefully will have a good sleep tonight.

Been invited to the Young Farmer’s Advisory Committee meal out next Friday – me and my husband have had several challenging years and this is the first time we will have been able to go for a long time – looking forward to a good catch up.

Hoping everyone is still going strong – losing weight, inches and sugar from your blood. Keep going. 😇

Hi gang,
I now love plateaus, they give me a wonderful kick in the pants. Then just when your bottom lip comes out, it happens.
It’s just like being put into a brown paper and given a good shake.
I love it.
Do you remember the bags of crisps and the salt came in a blue paper twist? You had to undo it , empty it into the crisps and give it a good shake. Well that’s how I feel about plateaus.

This damn computer just said I liked platipus. I may like them, I don’t know any personally.
Have I gone off on another tangent?

Glad you all think I am sane.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Lucia I just LOVE LOVE LOVE your writing. I cannot tell you how big a support it is reading your posts. Even though I have been following this way of life for 4 months now I am no expert and still have days when I am just hanging in there or being downright NON BSD. But you keep me sane and never fail to give me perspective. All of which has helped me to keepisode on losing. I was told tonight that 12.5 kilos is a pound off 2 stone.
Have a brilliant weekend😊

Hi April – there’s something about this diet that makes you feel good almost immediately! I felt different after a few days – more energy, more motivation, determination not to let anything drag me back to old habits. I’ve had the odd blip but shrugged it off and carried on. As you continue it gets better and you feel less inclined to let what you have achieved slip away. The physical difference for me was obvious after a few days and that was amazing for me after years of dieting and failing to make much difference. This diet makes sense to me and I now know what my body is doing when I eat so I am less inclined to do anything that ruins my day. Stick with it, it works and you will feel encouraged to change what you eat so it’s not a diet, it’s a way of life that makes sense!

I love it, Lucia! You really should be a writer, a novelist, you have a unique and witty way with words and ideas 🙂

Imagine the scene.

My name is Lucia, skinny Lucia. (In a James Bond tone)
Well, doctor strange-scales, we meet again.
You think you can play your mind games on me.
You think you can throw me a plateau, just when I am feeling happy.
Well, I have news for you, you and your plans are toast. (Carbs pun)
I have a a bid on a new set of scales, so you will be a thing of the past.
(The skinny secret agent 0012 , glides gracefully over to doctor strange-scales, in one stealth move, grabs him and tosses him out of the bathroom window, a crashing sound below)

I will take that hot water, shaken, not stirred.

Love Lucia
Xxx
What do you mean, I should get out more 😎

Just 5 days into the Blood Sugar Diet, I feel transformed! I’ve spent the past few years gradually feeling more and more fatigued as my diabetes progressed. Even last week, all I could manage at the gym was half an hour of light exercise and that would leave me exhausted. Today, I flew! On the cross trainer with my old man rock music on, I was almost moved to happy tears; I felt so good! What a relief! So I did 20 mins on there with a couple of sprints, then 20 mins on the treadmill and another 20 rowing. I burned 1140 calories! I had to smile to myself as I got dressed because I noticed my skin was pink instead of its recent grey! And I’ve lost 9 pounds in 5 days. Dead chuffed!

Thank you Sabrina

Can you tell I have got info on carbs?

Love Lucia
Xxx

Do you know how long it has taken me to understand that my brain washed idea that
I need carbs for breakfast eg cereal,
I need carbs for lunch eg butties,
I need carbs for dinner eg pasta or potatoes.
Is not true

Do you know the sun actually rises if I don’t have carbs.
WOW! That’s a biggie.

Have go, at reducing them, try and do without them, but they are little sneaky – weakys. They will get into your food no matter what.

Do your best, have a try.
I feel better without them.
It just take a long time for my brain to understand this.
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi all, I make my own wholemeal bread (with glucose powder not sugar) – is this still out in the first eight weeks?

That’s fantastic captainlynne, keep up the great work. Your achievements are very motivating.

Hi lemu
You are about to start on a exciting 8weeks.
I stumbled upon BSD book while I was waiting for my husband to come out of a meeting and I took refuge in a library to warm up and have a sit down and as I walked in it was on display by the door. I found a chair and read it for an hour and it just made so much sence — on the way home I found a copy of the book in sainsburys and it was the best £2.45 I have ever spent.
I’m on week 13 and have lost 3 stone 4lbs and have about another 2 1/2 stone to go — but after years of yo yo dieting I now feel I understand food for the first time— I am now in control of my food not the other way round.
Keep posting your progress.

Weight loss is perverse.
I’m raising calories at the moment and so weight loss is naturally slowing – I’ve stagnated for about 10 days.
Went back to The Smoke last day or two to tune a few old friends’ pianos.
Stayed with Son, Daughter-in-Law and Grandkids. All great except I knew dinner would be carb rich. Son had kindly asked if I wanted to bring my own food to fit in with the regime but that seemed a bit self-obsessed so I went with the flow.
Dinner was a great pile of mashed potato with chicken pieces in sauce with nice veg. I must say I really enjoyed it.
On returning home I hopped on the scales just to give me an inkling of the horrors awaiting me tomorrow morning.
(Mid-afternoon is always my worst time of the day for weighing)
I expect you can guess what’s coming …….. Down a pound.
Crazy or what?

Hi Christine Denise,

Janet1973 is correct the recipe is on the website. You can make them thin or thick depending on your preference or what you are going to eat them with. I’ve used them as a wrap & they taste really good.