Hi everyone, I too would love to know what it is about some of us that means we lose weight so slowly compared to others. I was intrigued by Pmshrink’s comment about weight loss being higher the more out of control blood sugars are and Odette saying maybe it’s because we’re older and regular dieters so mote resistant to loss and would make an interesting study.

Shall we try to analyze it ourselves? If those who are struggling to lose weight are happy to post a few details we could maybe narrow it down and provide useful info so newbies aren’t discouraged and feel it’s something they are doing wrong rather than it being normal? Then, if others have similar stats to us but are losing weight sucessfully maybe they could let us know what they are eating/doing so we can make adjustments in the right direction? So, my details:

Female in UK
Age 51
Height 5 ft 3 inch
Not diabetic
Asthma and osteoarthritis (both dramatically improved)
Previously tried Atkins, Dukan, Slimming World
BSD started 17 March 2016
Starting weight 11st 3.4 lbs
Week 1 – lost 4.6 lbs
Week 2 – gained 0.4 lbs
Week 3 – lost 1.4 lbs
Week 4 – no change
Currently in Week 5. Total loss 5.6 lbs

Anyone fancy joining in?
Jules x

Oh and whilst I was doing my chores I was singing the tune to … Mission impossible.🎶🎶🎶🎶🙂🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🙂

Keep happy, it’s sunny but very cold here.
Love Lucia

Xxxx

Good morning team,
Got up early, made the bed, cleaned the bathroom, done two loads of washing, hoovered right through, washed dishes, sorted breakfast, got meals out for weekend, washed the car, lawns cut, it’s only 9:30am.
Where oh where am I getting the energy from?

I heart you Michael Moseley .

See I am even fashionable with my speech.

Now I am going for a walk the long way around to the shops.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

I’ve been T2 since last June, my first daily bs reading was 10+ mmol, weight 99.8kg but by Oct my a1c was 5.7. By Nov weight was 86.6kg with good diet and plenty of exercise and plenty of walking. We had an exceptionally cold and wet winter here in HK which cut my walks (or maybe that was the excuse) and my diet was a bit heavier so weight crept up slowly to 90kg. However, since late March I got it back to 86.6kg. But my BS readings had drifted up to the high 5 to mid 6 range. I told my endocrinologist at the start of the month that I wanted to try 5:2 to get my weight and BS down, and was OK with that. I’m on 500mg Glucophage and 100/1000mg Janumet a day, plus 20mg Lipitor and 100mg Cartia, and she said that the dosage would not let my BS drop to low. But last week I discovered the BSD, and decided to jump right in. On Wed and Thurs, my BS was 5.3, 5.4, about the same as the few previous days, and were the same at bed time, then on Friday morning it was 4.6, the lowest reading I’ve ever had. This morning it was 4.4! Is this a normal response, and should I be concerned that it’s dropping too fast? Advice welcome

Thanks. Sigh! I feared y out were going to say that. It’d probably be good for me to have a bread break anyway!

Have you found any good flours for pastry? Like a quiche crust?

Hi, if you are a British Citizen and haven’t already signed our petition would you mind sparing a minute to sign? Thanks 🙂

Hello, I have just started the BSD too. I loved the book and all the science. I am on my third day and so far it has been a pleasant experience. I cook for a living on a boat, fortunately based in Italy at the moment. But with often long work hours I was reaching for carbs and sugars to get a quick burst of energy ! Slowly the weight crept on and over the years its getting harder to loose. Being short doesn’t help, I only have to sniff a piece of bread and I am 2 lbs heavier!
I have PCOS which causes weight gain without even trying. The body responds badly to carbs and sugar. So I am hoping that following this new regime will re-educate my body to stop craving carbs and sugary food !
I must admit, even after a couple of days I feel slightly more energized. I have felt a little light headed at times, but keeping a big bottle of water with me keeps me aware of how much I am drinking or how much I need to drink !!
The Fage total Greek yoghurt is great, it has more protein by the looks of it than a couple of eggs! I am aiming to try all of the recipes in the book. It helps not having to think too much about the meals. The platters are great for easy lunches and last night I made the Harissa Chicken which was delicious. Today I had the Blueberry green tea smoothie which was OK, but I find blueberries a bit tasteless.
The cauliflower rice I have been doing for a couple of years. Jamie Oliver was using it in one of his books. Its a great alternative to Rice or couscous. I also will try the guilt free baking recipes, since I am human and I will want to have a treat at some point. The coconut flour I found quite easily in Sainsburys, when I was home. I was amazed. Its usually a real drag trying to locate the more unusual ingredients especially abroad.
Looking forward to the big weigh in at the end of the first week. 🙂 Happy eating to all.

Hi AnneElizabeth, 9lbs is still a big weight loss!!! Sometimes the scales seem to ‘stick’ a bit and then you get a sudden loss so please don’t be disappointed! professor Roy Taylor and Michael Mosley say it is not necessary to exercise while on the fast 800 so put your mind at rest. You will still lose weight.
Can I suggest buying some ketostix to measure your fat burning – you may find that reassuring 🙂

A question for the ladies (gentlemen: look away now LOL)

I’m coming up to the end of week 4, and have an incredibly heavy period 🙁 For the last few years, thanks to the mini pill, I’ve had next to nothing, so this is unusual for me. Having Googled, it seems that it can be a side effect of a low carb diet – apparently, the fat cells can also hold oestrogen, so when the fat cells go the oestrogen is released, flooding your system (quite literally …) and causing things to go a bit haywire. Now, it’s only been nearly a week so I am willing to try to stick it out a bit longer, but towards the end of the month I have some trips planned which I couldn’t even contemplate at the moment! I’m not sure what I should do, as it could take months for things to stabilise on their own (although that’s only a guess). I think my options are: (1) stick with the 800 and see how it goes, or (2) start increasing carbs, maybe with things like butternut squash (rather than bread and cereal). Option (3) is obviously go and see my doctor, but she is probably going to say ditch the diet, which I don’t really want to do because it is working!

Help!

Dear All

I’m feeling the frustration! At the end of week 3 and although I have lost 9lb overall this week I didn’t loose a thing! I felt so disappointed but I’m guessing that’s what happens at times. I also haven’t been able to exercise much due to being unwell so that could also have an impact on weight loss? I feel slimmer but so frustrated! On a positive note I love the diet and don’t feel hungry ever! But more importantly am changing my relationship with food so in the long run that will definnately be better for me to maintain a healthy weight, hanging in there seems to be the best option as overall I feel better – not bloated and no IBS!

Hi jillyb, my name is Judith so that should answer your question!!!
If you are not a fan of the food I am assuming you are sticking to the recipes in the book?
You don’t have to. Many of us are eating our usual diet minus the bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. I still enjoy (as does Lucia) a cooked breakfast of bacon and egg with perhaps grilled or fried mushrooms or tomatoes. Lucia makes a kind of breakfast muffin. Lucia I think you should post it in the recipes section!!! She puts a mushroom in the bottom of a muffin case, wraps the bacon around the edge to form a ‘cup’ and drops in an egg and bakes in the oven.
So a curry, a chilli, roasted chicken , fish etc are all on the menu with a salad or veg.

The important things are keeping at 50g or below and including fat in your diet as well as 2 – 3 litres of water a day.

The ‘what have you eaten today’ thread is full of ideas!

Hope things improve for you 🙂

Amazing results Lynne!! 🙂

Hi Xrissy, it does get easier, believe me. You will find this easier than 5:2 as your stomach will adjust quite quickly to the smaller meals every day rather than jumping between a ‘normal’ day and a fast day. 5:2 will also be easier to do once you have reached your target weight on this programme.

Listen to what Neohdiver says about the 800 being critical for reversing T2 – she’s right! 🙂

Another pound rides off into the distance 😃 Another 4 pounds to reach 50 pounds loss!!! Fasting bloods still between 4 and 4.9😃

Another pound gone. Soon (4 pounds) have lost 50 pounds😃 Over half way to target weight😃

Another pound has ridden off into the sunset😃 Only another 4 pounds until I’ve lost 50 pounds!!!!!!😱

Hi Doola, you’re right. Stick with it! Measure your waists, that often tells you more than the scales! Buy some ketostix then you will know if you are fat burning. Lots of us have several days when the scales are stuck but low and behold there is a different, lower figure on the scales one morning!!!
I would check your carbs and fat levels – 50g of carbs or less, make sure some of your 800 calories include some fat at every meal.
Hope you see those results very soon 🙂

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