Hi,

I read that people trying to kick sugar substitute with dextrose. This may be fine for families kicking the sugar habit, but is it safe for diabetics? Same question about Xylitol too, although I am a little less suspicious of that.

Thanks.

Thanks Hashimoto. I will do.

Marcus, I eat them in moderation as they do take longer to digest and, along with the fat intake, they do help to keep you feeling full for longer. The fibre also helps with the toilet thing but you really do need to keep your water intake up to at least 2 preferably 3 litres per day.
It doesn’t have to be plain water, tea and coffee without sugar is ok as long as you count the milk in with your calories.

Thanks everyone for the good wishes and encouraging words. Will check in when I can. Good luck to everyone for continued good progress. xx

Hi orchid that’s good fat burning! I test first thing in the morning. You could try a few times of day to see what happens 🙂

Hi Hashimoto,
got the Ketostix at last and just tested 2.5 hours after meal (27g carbs, home made veg soup). Came out 0.4 ++ mid pink (two colours above it). I assume that does mean I am doing some fat burning? I think you said you do one last thing at night as that is the best reading – am I remembering it correctly?

Thanks Bill that’s really useful to know. I do have one question:

Is it important to include complex carbs?

So far I’ve stuck to fish, veg, eggs and ‘good’ fats. Is there any particular reason I should be including complex carbs like chickpeas or pulses?

Ilya was always the dishy one for me, I remember getting a lady Penelope annual for Christmas and it had full page photos of Ilya and Napolean solo in it! How sad that I remember after all these years – just feels like yesterday.

Bon voyage Sunnyb! You will feel the benefit of what you have lost so far. Have a lovely time and check in with us whenever you can!xx

When making your own meals up how hard is it getting fat ,carbs,protein,etc correct ?

Hi all,

I know stevia is used as a sweetner, but has anyone actually eaten stevia leaves? Right now, here in Romania where fruit and veg is abundant, seasonal and extremely cheap (lucky me!), there is a glut of stevia, as well as bear’s garlic, nettles and red orach. It all looks delicious. The red orach is going into a sour soup with veal tonight, and the bear’s garlic into omelettes, but as for the stevia, I’m stumped. Has anyone any ideas for it?

Kags

Good to hear MarcusB but be prepared for some carb withdrawal symptoms (not everyone gets them)
They do clear after a few days then you should feel just like you do now.
Best of luck on the plan, there is loads of support and advice available on the site but if there is anything you need to know, just ask.
Keep posting your results, you have made a good start, lets see where you are a week from now.
Welcome to the forums

My best tip is clear your schedule. Make sure for the first couple of weeks at least, that you have no social engagements and are free to settle into the new diet.
Why don’t you make Hubbie keep his snacky items somewhere out of your sight.
I’m also doing my own food plan and finding it hard to stick dead on 800 cals a day without feeling hungry. I’m told the trick is to have enough fat in the meals but hard to add fat without adding calories.
Anyway I’m not being too anal about it and losing weight but probably a but slower than most.
Buy yourself some Keytostix as well from the pharmacy. They help tell you whether you’re in Ketosis state (fat burning not carb burning).
Good luck .. I am a sugar junkie and type 2 … finding the sugar cravings hardest to cope with 🙂

Sunnyb have a wonderful trip and do as Bill said! x

Hello all.

I started the 800 yesterday, weighing in at 16 stone on the nose. This morning I weighed myself and I’m now 15 stone and 5 pounds.

I realise this is mostly water and weight won’t continue to come off at this rate, but I feel much better in myself – I instantly have more energy and feel much more alert and focussed.

This wasn’t entirely unexpected, I knew my weight was slowing me down quite badly but what’s remarkable is the speed with which my energy has returned. I was expecting my body to take a while to adjust, but instead it appears to be doing cartwheels at the fact I’ve stopped pumping it full of processed carbs.

Thanks to everyone that’s taken the time to post on this forum with their stories, advice and tips… in a world of processed frankenfoods this is place is a shining beacon of hope.

Hi Bill, sadly yes. Wheat, barley and rye all contain gluten. So even malt vinegar has a bad effect on me – the ‘malt’ part of it’s name comes from malted barley.

Yes, I’m using green lentils in my soups now but red lentils in dahl. Unless of course I make lentil and bacon soup then it is red lentils all the way!!
🙂

B – plain yoghurt / strawberries
L – 50g cheddar, 2 sl ham,apple, tsp pickle
D – slow cooked shoulder lamb – 3 lean slices, 3 tbsp cabbage, 3 tbsp runner beans, tsp mint sauce, 5tbsp gravy

Cups of tea

I also thought I’d never get used to plain natural yoghurt but now I have it every day. I use either fresh strawberries on top or cherries. The bags of frozen cherries -Tesco own brand- are really nice and only £2 a bag. 10 cherries is 20 cals. I find a bag lasts me ages as I get out 10 at a time to defrost. I sometimes have a few flaked almonds too if I can fit the cals in.

Hi Christine, that’s really weird. 🙁

Hi eureka,
Flirt? That auto correct thing is at it again! Hehehe
Christine

Hi Judith,
Apparently I wasn’t hacked, they think it was an auto correct thing! And the other post they think someone else was using a computer where I live? Or something like that, anyway I know I didn’t write anything so not sure what’s happened, I did see all those phone numbers though so I’m not crazy, was beginning to,think I was seeing things all’s well that ends well, I think!
Christine

I have a confession to make…

I bought the FitBit early (https://www.fitbit.com/ca/alta). I am starting to track and ramp up my exercise next week and although i could use a step-tracker on my phone, I would have to carry it with me all the time with is a huge PITA (pain in the…). So I ordered one. Hopefully it will arrive today or tomorrow and we will be ready for action. I think I’m going to change my big reward to something fun…

Speaking of which.

Even before I heard of this lifestyle I had been waking up 45 mins earlier in preparation for walking, instead of driving, to the train station in the warmer weather. The train station is almost exactly 2kms away from my house, so I’m hoping for better weather next week to check out the timing. I am not, in any way, shape, or form, a morning person – so this has been, and still is, a challenge for me. Fingers crossed and I’ll keep you posted!

Diet wise…

I’m still feeling hunger, but it’s the pleasant awareness, not the gnawing ravenous hunger that I would get when I was eating the crap I used to eat.

Keto is still small this morning, so I’m going to cut the carbs a bit more today and add in more fat and see if that kicks it back up to medium (or more) tomorrow.

Make today a great day!

Deb

PS – an updated list of Goals/Rewards/Tracking can always be found in my profile.

Hi Natalie, glad we sorted the cucumber puzzle! sometimes there are so many options on calorieking it can be hard to see the wood for the trees lol.

Hi Jillyb, I would go with the suggestion to eat a lot of what your husband eats but cut out the carbs, it will make your life much easier. Cooking three meals a day is rather onerous!
A lot of the food I eat is my ‘old’ meals minus the carbs – roast dinners without spuds or Yorkshires, curry with no rice ragout without pasta etc. I’ve had friends round for meals and done that —- and still lost weight! 🙂

Cherrianne – I can totally picture it, it’s me when we get below -10C, lol. It’s grey, rainy and plus 2 this morning, so I wore my spring jacket today. Mind you, I am wearing a thick sweater underneath it. I do remember our Grade 8 (13 years old) trip to Manitouwadge in Northern Ontario, in the winter. It took us 24 hours to get there by train and when we stepped off it was -45C. You could only see our eyes for all the winter wear, but our host class were walking around with open jackets. I guess you get used to it, lol.

Eureka – thanks for the tip, I wasn’t aware of the cold effect! It would explain why I was absolutely FREEZING in my office yesterday (I put on two cardigans and a blanket). It wasn’t the temp in the office as that is pretty consistent. Hopefully my body regulates soon! I am so excited for your “A Mari usque ad Mare” visit to my favourite country! I’m also a little jealous, lol. You are going to see places that I haven’t gotten around to seeing yet (isn’t that always the way?), but I have been many places in Canada and will be glad to give you some suggestions.

StringBreaker – Thanks! I find rewards keep me motivated. Just a gentle suggestion – keeping your reward non-food is a great way to break the habit of thinking as food as reward rather than fuel. I’m not saying don’t ever eat it again (it’s one of my faves too), but try to find a way to separate food and reward.

Bill, just wanted to say I love the way you reframe things to look at the positives – you’d make a great expert patient 🙂

Hi

I have read Ian’s book and in the book he says you can use Meal replacement shakes or meals, can any one shine a light on what he used, as this may be a easy route for me when I am working

Any other advice please would b greatly received, I have been diagnosed with type 2 but am not on any medication and would love to try and reverse this diagnoses

Glad it’s not just me!

SunnyB have a great trip 🙂

No apology needed Jilly, we’re all in this together👍.
You know, it’s your choice- you can tailor it to your lifestyle and needs. MM says in the book that the Fast 800 is challenging- that’s why it’s designed to be done only for & weeks.
Gosh, I can so relate to feeling hungry and cranky 😁😁!! Give yourself a break, you have already made the first step and that’s the main thing.
Why not try Bill’s method, or do the 5:2 BSD?
Lots of love x

Hi jillyB,

I’m like Bill – I don’t count calories (although I try to be mindful of portion sizes). I’ve cut out all refined carbs and I’ve switched to full-fat dairy because it has less sugar and keeps you full. I’ve lost 12lb so far – it works 🙂

Could you eat the same meals as your husband but just modify your plate a bit eg skip the potatoes, have more green veg etc?

Hi,

Can’t speak from experience but I’ve heard a glass of warm water first thing in the morning works wonders.

I may have found the reason for the cucumber discrepancy! I am eating little Lebanese cucumbers that weigh around 100 grams, not 300.

Hi Bill,

Thanks, I’ll give that a go – fingers crossed.

Hi, bill1954

Thank you for your advice….I am very tempted to try your method as this will stop all the angst I am going through preparing, planning and cooking meals. My husband is retired so this means I have to cook 3 meals each day. As he is not interested in my meals, he is very supportive, but it is hard as I am no spring chicken anymore

Regards jillyB

I’m glad you’re coming out of the worst of it, Caroline999! Things will improve in every direction now!!

Hi Judith
do you have a barley intolerance ? I seem to remember you mentioning something like that, I love the stuff and I’m getting a real taste for green lentils too.
Strangely enough I’ve just had lentil and bacon soup for lunch – delicious!
I’ll go check my emails 🙂

Have you seen the pickles cartoon today about being an early riser?

Made me smile.

Love Lucia
Xxx

Newlife that happens to me all the time!! There are so many emails in my box from this site I try to read them quickly and get myself in a muddle!!! 🙂

Hi gang,
Just showing my face for a few minutes on lunch, how are you all doing?

Feeling my age as Janet 1983 remembers David McCallum in sapphire and Steel.

I remember him in the days of black and white programmes, called the man from uncle. Preferred him tha that Robert Vaughan. Robert or Napoleon solo got the girls, Ilya always got the messy jobs and he was the brains. His haircut looked like a bowl on his head, but it really shined. Must have used lemon juice.
Anyone else feeling old?

Love Lucia
Xxx

Hi eureka, I posted mine to
haveyoursay@bbc.com

I couldn’t manage it from the article on the bbc news website. Emailing directly to James Gallagher sounds like a good option 🙂

Jilly don’t worry, we’re all human and we all have those cranky spells 🙂
Like I’ve said lots of times. try not to overthink it, just do what feels right for you, an adjustment can always be made if you find it doesn’t suit you.

Hi Natalie,
my calculator estimates a cucumber at 8.25 inches and 301g, so a quarter is 75.25g and 11.29 cals, 2.73carbs. It uses 1 gram cucumber to 0.15 cals, 0.04 carbs. This included the peel.

mummytummy,
Please accept my apologies, I certainly didn’t mean to offend you. It’s late at night and I am getting a bit cranky.
I was interested in bill1954′ s comments, too. He doesn’t count calories and concentrates on the fats and carbs.
I wonder if that will work for me ?
I seem to spend all day planning , adding up cals and preparing food, this is making me very tired. Please forgive me for sounding brusque.

jillyB

Thanks Bill, just emailed you back.
Was out at butchers and then visiting my dad (again).

I decided to get a ham hock to make soup like my mother used to. Accidentally asked for ham shank, I thought it was enormous! Got home and it was dated incorrectly. went back to the Butchers today, no ham shanks but he offered me an enormous gammon. I don’t like gammon and asked if he had a ham hock. They weren’t as expensive so he insisted on giving me a pie of my choice ( their pies are famous!!). So I choose a steak pie to give to dad ( he is a pie lover), so the butcher said I will give you the largest size so you can both eat it for lunch. It must be for 4 – 6 people! Well that’s dad fixed up for a couple of meals before he goes to Bolams in Sedgefield tomorrow for his massive meat purchases! I do mean massive!! I don’t know how he can get through two freezer fulls on his own, but he does, in a remarkably short time!!

I really wish I could add some pearl barley to that ham hock soup, it was always my favourite part!!

For people on a budget I could recommend getting a ham hock from your butcher’s. Cheap and makes an enormous pan full of delicious soup. 🙂

Hi SunnyB
Have a great holiday and don’t worry about weight while you’re away.
Water retention from the hot climate and the flight will all affect you so just have a good time, eat all that beautiful fresh Turkish food, and if you manage to find a bar / cafe with internet, make us all jealous and check in 😀

You’re right, diet coke is a no no! Artificial sweeteners can cause you to keep craving sugary foods so best avoided. You can have Stevia which apparently doesn’t have the same effect, but lots of people don’t like the taste.
Water, fizzy water, herbal or fruit teas hot or cold, slice of lemon in hot or cold water, tea or coffee ( don’t forget to count any milk in it) are all fine though.

This is just by way of a final check-in, prior to our road trip out the Turkey, which begins at 5.30am tomorrow morning. Sadly, I didn’t hit the one stone lost before the trip and actually – due partly to constipation I suspect – I gained just under a pound this week, so my last recorded weight was 11.5lb lost since starting just under seven weeks ago. Little disappointed, but it is what it is.

Anxious not to lose control of things while we are away and plan to keep track of carbs and have ketostix to take with me, to keep an eye on ketosis. Hopefully I won’t come home in two month’s time weighing what I did at the start of this mission! I will drop into the forum when I can and will definitely be back properly after our trip away.

Good luck to everyone in the meantime.

And we’re looking forward to watching you progress through your journey Ambrosia3.
If you need any help. commiseration, or even just a litttle celebration, give a shout out, we are all here to help.

Kingdoone, glad to have you here on the forums. It’s not your fault those in authority were pedalling the wrong info. TBH I can’t blame them either. Nobody really knew until Prof Taylor did his clinical tests. So please don’t feel guilty or shamed. You did your job the best way you could with the information everyone was given.

Bill glad your bloods are back to normal!! 🙂

Hellybelly, welcome to the forums! 🙂

Gross I’m afraid, It’s 800 no matter how much you exercise but look at it this way.
The whole point is to lose weight fast so If you exercise and burn calories, the weight should go faster.
Unfortunately, apps don’t understand the concept of the Fast 800.

Hi Spendloven,
SunnyB is right, this week is the tough one. Treat yourself kindly and take time out to do some things you enjoy. Rest when you can, have a nice long soak in a warm bath, get an early night ( assuming toddler will settle and sleep quickly lol), drink plenty of fluids and keep your fat intake up.
Getting out in the fresh air does help too. You are nearly through the worst of it, so take a deep breath and keep on keeping on. 🙂