Sharon – drinking that much is really hard, I agree! I really have to force myself sometimes. Often what I do is make sure I drink a full, big glass of water (one of those massive IKEA ones, probably 300ml at least) before I have my shake or meal; and then at least two in between meals. It adds up! Re exercise – any movement is better than none so 10 minutes is already something! Don’t beat yourself up over it!

Jaaylow – sugar free jelly has worked for me in the past but at the moment I’m trying to avoid all treats esp the fake sugar ones; I did scoff some raw mushrooms and sugar snap peas before dinner one night (was totally desperate!) which were surprisingly nice 🙂 Probably not that helpful though!

Orchid, please can I ask where you are getting the 50g figure from? It’s not in the book that I can see and a sachet of Optifast has 20g carbs so 3 of those, plus 240g veg, must be closer to the 70g that you mention.

Eureka, completely agree about the exercise, great if you can do it but concentrating on the food you eat is the thing!

Good luck everyone!

Thanks for replying, I hope this is just temporary, yes, I do suffer from lack of energy and tiredness due to having Lupus, but this is much worse than normal. I have a suspicion that I may not be eating enough fat and protein so I’ve upped them both a bit in the hope it will make a difference. I don’t think i’m eating too many carbs. I have been anaemic in the past so that’s something to consider. Thanks for the help

Thanks Newlife and Bill! Great to hear, those are amazing results. I will keep you posted. My Dad and Brother are diabetic (T2) so would be great to show them what can be done! That and my Daughter, will keep me motivated I’m sure, along with hearing results like yours!

Hope you both have a great week 🙂

Thanks everyone 🙂
I want to get this right!

Bena

You have just set up your own forum so feel free to keep asking the questions.

If you’re below 800 calories every day, maybe you need to eat a little more?

As long as it isn’t potatoes I don’t think extra veg can do much harm. Probably better to add some more in than to be forever hungry and giving up, or eating something high carb.

Ben, You can get a set of measuring spoons (metal or plastic) and a tablespoon is 15ml – your sliver spoon may be around that – mine delivers 16ml. It is easier is to use a convertor and then weigh on digital scales. There are a lot of calculators on the web – search under tablespoon to grams (or oz) and it put in the number of tablespoons you need. An example of one below.
http://calculator-converter.com/converter_tbsp_to_g_tablespoons_to_grams_calculator.php
Without a page reference, and some context I can’t help you the almond question.

Oh bill if only you knew!! Not only have a jumped off the wagon I rolled down the hill of chocolate

Past 24-48 hours been stressful hardly eaten and what I have chocolate. I don’t even like chocolate !!!

But I’m firmly back on the wagon and had a lovely Yorkshire provinder soup.. They are low carb and not bad calories but packed with flavour and goodness. So packed I’m thinking of the thinning them out as cheaper and still as nice .

Atm life is stressful. I slipped in the field walking dogs and don’t want to move . But I need to. Have mri scan in May and maybe consultant . I want to set a 2 stone goal . So
I can go to see that nasty consultant and flaunt my loss!!

I think having soups like Yorkshire provinder is great for a lazy day.

I had made a soup last night.. Roast veg and chilli but I burnt the veg and it tasted god awful.

But we learn . I am lacking in sleep I can’t function properly but that’s not the diet that’s life..

The celeriac roasters were heaven!!! Not to keen on parsnip

It was my first time with celeriac and to be honest was dreading it as had heard horror stories .

I’m still on a high ok chocolate bad but as someone said … Make
Something diet allowed which is naughty and keep in the freezer then I will be reaching for something controlled.

There are 4 more bars of chocolate ( small bars) and I’m tempted to scoff But I will try not too!

Sorry I’m rambling just I am am discovering my weakness and finding ways to make me strong.

Off to walk 4 dogs in This weather later!! What fun!!!

Hi Bunga
make full use of the recipe section and check out the “what have you eaten today” thread for loads of ideas for yummy meals that fit into this diet, or get creative and let us know what you are eating.

Hi Bunga, welcome on board. If you find the menu suits your palate, then it is an easy way to do the diet as it is all planned out for you. If you use the recipes in the book, make sure they are using ingredients that are used in the 800 cals per day and also don’t up the carbs too much. Some recipes are more useful for the 5:2 or maintenance phases – eg ones with dates. Also – for the recipes double check their calorie counts. You may need to adjust the portion sizes for the 800.
There are people on the forum who have followed the menu’s and others who have adapted the principles to recipes they enjoyed.
Have fun!

Hi Jimz
Yes Qui=ki 0ui=wi
My brother saw this personalized numberplate in Napier, and I liked it as it reflects my French roots.

Hi jaalow
Well done. The ‘ hunger hormone’ goes away as you lower the carbs. Keep going
Eureka

Hi Brightspark,
I agree with Bill, for most veg just eat it when hungry. I have a large bowl of cherry tomatoes in the kitchen that I take one or two from if I need to snack.
Don’t forget – we still need to be eating our 5 a day. The portion size is 80g per for each veg/fruit so aim for 400g (just over 14oz) of fruit and veg of different colours. Add in tomatoes, spring onions, onion, garlic. Avocado is also fine – but not too much. That will fill your plate up to 50% 🙂

Hi saz12345
Welcome to BSD. Well done it’s all good. Keep going for as long as you can. The diet will creep up on you & this will be the way you want to go!
Eureka

Hi sharon1066
Welcome. You are doing really well. The original diet trial was done by prof Roy Taylor, Newcastle uni. It was 3 x Optifast shakes a day + 200 calories of veg weighing 250g. Total 800 calories. We can’t get Optifast here so you use the ones you’re happy with.

The point is he said DON’T worry about exercising if you can’t , concentrate on doing the diet. As you lose the weight you may be more able to then think about exercise.

We are happy you have come aboard the good ship BSD! Dr Mosley’s 8-week Blood Sugar Diet is doable. The best tip is drink that 2 – 3 litres of fluid a day. Also have a bit more salt on your food. The headaches are telling you your body is making a change with this new diet. Most of us have had ‘fuzzy’ heads. It mostly lasts just a few days. Take some paracetamol for instance if it’s a bit too much. Fluids are the key. Going to the loo a lot will settle down too.

My husband had the Carb/ Keto flu but it was only a couple of days. You feel a bit achy & not much energy. Reread the book & mark the important points for you.

If you can keep going with the 800 calories a day you will lose weight. Some of us lose it quicker than others, don’t worry about that.

Go for the diet & then see what you can do exercise wise down the road. Keep reading & posting your progress. There’s always help on here
Good luck
Eureka

Hi Annie, that is a good weight loss – well done. Check how many carbs you are eating per day – it is not just the calories you need to monitor. Check you have a good balance of protein and fat so you are getting all you need for your body to function, too many carbs will cause sugar spikes and tiredness.
There are others on the forums that have medical experience so can probably help more. Is this is a change for you or were you very tired before this? If you have been anaemic in the past, it may be worth taking iron supplements for a short period, although having been anaemic in the past myself, it normally comes with a raging headache as well as tiredness.
There is a period of lethargy that some people experience in the first few weeks, I didn’t but for most it went away weeks 3-4.
Hopefully it will for you as well.

Hi Sharon, which shakes are you using? If you are using Optifast then it may be ok, but other shakes are very high in carbs and that maybe why you are seeing no changes. 7lbs is good and you do get step changes, but check your daily carbs as they should definitely be under 70g per day and many on the diet are aiming at under 50g per day.
Good luck

I have just completed my first week and have lost 5lbs!!! I am delighted. I did 800 cals Monday to Friday and relaxed a little over the weekend with a glass of red wine on both saturday and sunday night. I am using my fitness pal to log all my food. Another plus, is that my husband, who is not on a diet also lost 5lbs Ha Ha. I did feel a little dizzy once during the week but otherwise have had no headaches etc and feeling quite good on it. I’m not that hungry most of the time, but just feeling today that I would probably love some chocolate or something that feels like a treat!!! maybe containing no more than 50 cals. Any ideas? anyone ?

213 signatures so far!! Please sign if you are a British Citizen and haven’t signed so far!!! 🙂

Well put, Bill! We can do it for our children too! Let the renal wards empty of diabetic patients going through hell!!! Up the revolution!!!! 🙂

If there are newbies who are British citizens please sign our petition!!! It has it’s own thread!! 🙂

I am also one week in and have lost 7lb but that was in the first 2 days nothing since I am having two shakes a day, veg for dinner and yoghurt and fruit after, I am trying to drink that amount but it is hard. The trouble is I am disabled and exercise is really difficult I can only walk for ten mins and then I have to rest I have been trying to do more but it is almost impossible, I wondered if this means I will be unable to loose any weight on this diet. Think I may have ‘carb flu’ as well the headaches are horrible. Anyone out there able to help I would really appreciate it.

Good morning Lucia my friend!!! Hope today is a lot easier for you!!

Confession time:
I experimented with a glass of red last week and as it didn’t go very well so I thought I would follow MM’s suggestion of a spirit instead. That went even worse! I woke at 4.15am with a banging head. Downed a pint of water and a mug of hot milk followed by a piece of cheese and a handful of almonds.
I still have a headache.
I’m skipping breakfast because of the dawn feast.
Lesson learned!

The birds are singing – or at least they were until a kestrel appeared in the garden!!!!
Hope they sing for you all day! 🙂 xxxx

Enjoy your lunch hun 🙂
Our little girl came into her first season a fortnight ago so the dog walking has been seriously curtailed until next week, we’re both looking forward to getting going again, plus there will be lawns to mow weekly and all the other stuff associated with the garden.
I’ll be looking for an improved weight loss – or else.

End of week 9 down 3.25 lbs last week Total so far 2st 6.5lbs how good is that. BS creeping down gradually in the 6s mostly, with odd 5.something, and an odd 7.1 just to remind me I’m not there yet.

Grats on the coming off meds Bill, great news you must feel so good.
I have an appointment with diabetic nurse tomorrow for blood results from last week

Lol had to edit as said as I was down 6 stone …sigh .. if only.

Hi Bill, I hang my head!! Do you know I feel like I do know your OH!!!!

Bill, it will all help with your BSD exercise plan!! I still have to paint all my fences ( I like to do it every year) it takes me a few weeks because bending my knee is a problem. Spent all day yesterday gardening now I’m off for lunch with a friend again – 4 times in 8 days !! It was one of the things which worried me at the beginning of the diet – now I know I am absolutely fine and staff are always so helpful with my no carbs requests!! 🙂

Oh and sorry I forgot to mention, I am not diabetic but have a lot of weight to lose and thought this would be worth a try. So I am not testing blood sugars or anything.

Whoopsydoo Lostgirl
you seem so much happier with yourself now, great to see!
Loving the idea to shape the celeriac like potatoes, that’s really thinking out of the box.
Keep it up, you’re going to be REALLY happy by the time you hit the 8 week mark. 😀

Hello everyone

I just finished my first week on the BSD. So far I have lost 10.5lbs which is great, I am very happy with that. Mostly water of course and also I overate ridiculously in the preceding few days before starting so was probably a bit ‘inflated’ to begin with. But still I am hopeful for the next weeks. The possibility of losing 10kgs in 4 weeks is very exciting!

I am only going to be able to do 4 weeks of the fast800 section of the diet (new job, new living situation will make it impossible to continue) but I am hoping that that is still enough to kickstart further weightloss on a Mediterranean diet in the following weeks. Let’s see.

For anyone considering the diet I would definitely encourage you – it’s really working so far for me. A few things from my very limited one-week experience which may or may not help anyone:
– Water: really I would advise to take seriously the 2-3L in the book. It makes you fuller and helps you to lose weight for sure. Your new hobby will be going to the loo…. but still do it! I haven’t had any headaches, grumpiness, feeling bad at all and I think that’s partly due to good hydration. Also my skin looks nice!!
– I am using a mix of shakes and real food. For me it takes the stress out of the nutrient side of the diet (getting enough vitamins and minerals) and I spend less time in the kitchen where all the temptations are. I am not obsessing about how many grams of carbs and fat I am getting (I have read the original Newcastle studies and the proportions of Optifast are good enough for me as a general guide) but am eating a lot of green vegetables too.
– I really find it helpful to weigh my food with a digital scale. For me the logic is: if I don’t, how can I really say I am sticking to 800 cals and know whether the diet is working? I log everything I intend to have in MFP a the beginning of the day and then adjust as I go along. I started losing weight 5 years ago and the only time my weight has been reducing in those years is when I have faithfully weighed and logged everything. (Much too slowly until now!!) It really works for me, I am too weak-willed to not cheat and make what a recipe says a ‘handful’ into a massive fistful and a bit extra snuck in while I’m cooking! Especially when small things (nuts, oil) can be so calorific. However, I do hope to stop weighing after the initial section of the 800 calorie diet.
– Sometimes (ok, a lot of the time), I am really hungry. I have not found yet that I am satisfied with 800 calories to be perfectly honest. So that’s quite tricky and a bit ‘mind over matter’ for me just now. I hope it will get better but I do worry that I will ‘crack’ at some point. Fizzy water helps, hot drinks help, but I still have quite a lot of desire for a big pile of pasta or a cake. But I just try to have a word with myself and hang on until it’s time to eat again. So far I haven’t fallen off the wagon!

For me the biggest change in my previous dieting life with the BSD is that I feel as if I’ve been given permission to lose weight quickly. I’ve struggled before with 1 – 2 lbs a week and it’s so dispiriting seeing it go so slowly. So I am really hopeful for the next few weeks!

Good luck to everyone and I will try to post another update next week…

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?