Hi Jackie WilsonSaid,
Great post – I agree – there are also a lot of other benefits when you realise that you are running upstairs again, and have the energy back for a few years ago.
Mindfulness – I’ve posted, but as you say – not much take up so far. I try to do 15 mins per day and it really helped me through a very stressful period in February/March. Normally that stress level would have detailed any new eating plan, and I would have been running to the local shops daily for a bag of sweets, or a couple of bags crisps. I started this plan 2/2/16, and kept it going without an issue. I am sure the Mindfulness played a part, as well as the lower sugar intake.

Hi everyone

Click on Resources on the toolbar to see Dr Michael Mosley’s video from Sydney Opera house.
Eureka

I pre-ordered your book, Dr. Mosley. I started following the plan last week, 7th of April. In addition to starting the lifestyle change, I took your advice and purchased a Fitbit. My profile says it all: I was pre-diabetic but was diagnosed with type2 the beginning of December. I made a deal with my doctor that I could reverse it with diet and exercise, otherwise she would put me on pills. She gave me 3 months. That was 4 months ago. I had only lost 5lbs. I need to shed more than 70lbs. Thank you for your meticulous research on the subject and for publishing the book. Love the Forums on this site which are an echo your encouraging tone from the book.

Go for it Pinklady51, I look forward to see you posting your starting weights and weekly losses soon! As I said, this has been a fun journey – it is always great to feel you are achieving goals.

Hi All,
Today is my first day and I’m feeling good. I’ve drank lots of water and had some delicious meals with a total calorie count of 699!!!
This is unusual for me as I usually eat lots of bread, crisps, chocolate and fizzy drinks so it’s being achievement for me today.
I’ve being reading some stories of amazing weight loss and it’s really spurred me on. Well done everyone x

Hi Penny, thanks for that! I will try anything but the story is 21 years ago I had a serious accident, all the bones in my leg were multipley and compoundly fractured. My tibial plateau looks more like crocodile teeth and there wasn’t enough bone left to set my knee back in the correct position so my left leg is a bit shorter than my right leg now. I was told by the consultant that I would be in a wheel chair within 4 to 5 years. That was 16/17 years ago! I still go hill walking, when possible, and still do the gardening etc. A friend who is a physio came every night for months to work on my leg which is, I think, the only reason I have been so able since the accident. I was told under no circumstances to ever kneel on it and I am very lucky to have the degree of bend I do have (thanks to said friend) as I was told by the consultant that I would have great difficulty getting up and down stairs. I don’t.
I was also lucky that the accident happened in France and I was taken from the first hospital to a specialist hospital, even they didn’t fancy the chances of saving my leg so they flew in a surgeon from Switzerland! When I finally got home the consultant here said he would have had to amputate high above the knee because he wouldn’t have known how to fix it and it carried a 90% chance of developing an infection after the op!! He referred to the metal structures within my leg as ‘the Eiffel Tower’, it certainly looked that way!!
I count my blessings every time I look at my two feet!

But I will look at that book because who knows? 🙂

Day 8
1. Your tastebuds come alive. I can now taste the sweetness in tea with just semi milk in it.
2. A healthy snack is not something to be frightened of if you are doing hard exercise.
3. It is possible to eat 800 to 1000 cals [exercise day] each day and feel energised.
This from someone who was probably averaging 3000 cals per day for years, through thinking exercise would take care of everything. Muscle strength and full enjoyment of exercise has normalised again on Day 8.
4. It’s good to try new combinations of foods to reinvigorate one’s enjoyment of eating.
Who would have thought that stewed rhubarb and whole yoghurt would make a satisfying and tasty breakfast?
5. You don’t have to start the day with carbs.
This was the habit that I thought would be most hard to break.
My favourite meal was a breakfast of toast with jam, then porridge and fruit/nuts [and previously muesli].
Low carb is a pleasant change, with the brunches particularly enjoyable at the weekend.
6. The BSD book needs a bit of organising.
The route to the menus passes a week of menu photos – I thought that was the first week. It also goes past lots of recipes, so I stopped off and picked out healthy ingredients randomly, only later realising that the 8-week menus are at the back. Maybe by week 3 I’ll be following it instead of picking out recipes according to what’s in the fridge. However the direction is clear.
7. Losing weight [6 lbs] is gratifying but the other benefits might be more.
All the other things that I was growing to accept as a normal part of ageing: snoring, indigestion, lack of energy and enthusiasm, are getting better too. It’ll be remarkable if this continues. I am taking on faith the lowering of blood sugars since my Dr doesn’t believe in fasting glucose testing.
8. The Mindfulness forum is very quiet, with just 5 topics, two of which are about the No Carb Bircher and Portobello mushrooms!
I’m guessing you are all being mindful, but I posted some clues and links for beginners for anyone interested.

Hi Alanhypo – it does not say no carb, but low carbs. I aim for 60g a day carbs, many on the forum aim for under 50g per day as that definitely pushes you into fat-burning mode.

Hi pinklady51,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04j9gny/clips is the link to the Trust me I’m a Doctor series and there are a lot of clips in it you can look at now. I am not sure if he covered the specifics of this in the last series or if there were sections on eg fats that were relevant etc. It is nice to be able to go back an peruse them.

hi Lynne,

Love your shiny-new thread. xx

Huge congratulations on your continued success too x

Here is a list taken from MM’s book of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ foods.
No to :
• bread, pasta, potatoes, rice. Be wary of “brown” alternatives: the extra fibre can be negligible. Brown rice is OK, but some wholemeal breads have added sugar.
• most breakfast cereals: they are usually full of sugar, even the ones that contain bran. Oats are good as long as they are not the instant sort.
• Avoid margarine and use butter instead
• Treat root vegetables with caution – potatoes, parsnips, swedes/turnips are high in starch.
• Sweet tropical fruits such as mango, pineapple, melon, dates and bananas are full of sugar.

Yes to:
• Quinoa, bulgur (cracked wheat), whole rye, whole-grain barley, wild rice and buckwheat.
• Legumes, such as lentils and kidney beans.
• Full-fat yoghurt – add berries, (blackberries, strawberries or blueberries), for flavour; and or a sprinkling of nuts
• Breakfast/brunch – eggs: boiled, poached, scrambled or as an omelette. Add smoked salmon, mushrooms and a sprinkle of chilli for a change.
• Snacks -nuts are a great source of protein and fibre. No to salted or sweetened!
• Healthy fats and oils plus oily fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel). Add a splash of olive oil to vegetables, improves taste and the absorption of vitamins. Use olive, rapeseed or coconut oil for cooking.
• Butter and cheese in moderation is fine.
• High-quality proteins: oily fish, prawns, chicken, turkey, pork, beef, eggs, soya, edamame beans, Quorn, and hummus.
• Processed meats (bacon, salami, sausages) no more than a couple of times a week.
• Leafy green vegetables like broccoli, spinach, cabbage, lettuce, kale, chard, cauliflower, plus carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are rich in vitamin C and fibre and very low in sugar and starch.
• Sweet fruits: berries, apples or pears are fine in moderation.
• Add sauces and flavouring – lemon, butter or olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, chilli, gravy.
• Alcohol – no more than one to two units a day on average (a small glass of wine or shot of spirits is 1.5 units) and cut back on beer – it’s carb rich.
From: Dr Michael Mosley’s “The 8-week blood sugar diet”
Hope it helps.

Welcome Bungalow,

I am starting week 5 today and am 1 stone 2 lbs down with 6 inches off my waist but have a long way to go, I am certain this will work for you. From day one I have used the recipes but haven’t followed the menu plans, I have downloaded the myfitnesspal app which is great to track your calories and carbs. It takes a by of navigating for a technophobe like me but you will get there.

My tea tonight I am doing a chicken breast, about 200 cals with a boursin garlic and herb cube of cheese inside at 65 cals and wrapped in 2 slices of prosciutto at another 65 cals, having courgetti with it and perhaps another veg.

Our favourite form the recipes at home are the harissa chicken and beetroot falafels.

Good luck.

I’ve found similar problem same app my fitness pal says 52% carbs yet followed all food advice,today only fish oats cereal chicken (small amount)
It says no carbs on this diet doesn’t it ?
Where are they coming from
Also what do we do for roughage ?
Cheers folks Alan

Here’s another I don’t get
In the morning it’s higher but I thought it was the sugar/glucose made it high and if I’ve not eaten all night shouldn’t it drop ?
Also after five hours of a subway chicken salad bowl it’s only 6.7.

And lastly if I’ve not eaten sugary foods for 3 days why do I feel so damn good already ? Weird.
Not tired feel alert
Maybe psychological 🤔
Once again many thanks from a newbie
Alan

Hi Judith
This may be of help – a book called ‘you can heal your knees’ ( I think!) which really helped me.
Penny

Calling all British Citizens – please sign our petition! 216 votes so far! 🙂

Hi Christine
I’d like to say I’m not jealous but I’m green! Even your roast chicken with salad yesterday sounded lovely. I’m sure you’ll find something just as yummy and good for you tonight. I’m imagining lovely fish dishes!

Hi Bunga, welcome to the forums! I second what Bill said. Not everyone has the time for some of the recipes in the book – I have some firm favourites from it – but use a lot of my own recipes too. It gets you away from being afraid to eat out as you have got used to calorie and carb counting and can easily make sensible choices.

Find the recipes you like in the book at first to break you in gently! 🙂

That’s funny Marcus – I was thinking of doing something similar. Now I know it works. Thanks 🙂

Hi lostgirl it’s lovely to hear you sounding so positive. I think I’ll have a go at those celeriac roasties. What a clever idea! 🙂

I would cut your chocolate bars into small pieces and then freeze them – they last MUCH longer in the mouth that way without you eating too much 🙂

I’ve never heard of Yorkshire provinder soups, I’ll have to google them!

High five, girl 🙂 🙂

Hey guys, thanks for all replies, it’s fantastic to hear so much positivity.

I finally got into the complex carbs yesterday. We hosted ten guests for a gathering and rather than have my own food separately I served a mezze of dishes from the BSD book (augmented by some french bread and butter for the guests). It was absolutely delicious! Guests came back for seconds, thirds… and even fourths in a couple of cases. The beetroot falafel proved to be a huge hit and disappeared faster than the bread.

I think DR MM might have accidentally written an amazing party food recipe book!

By the way which MM documentary did you see? I’d like to track it down and watch as I found the 5:2 one useful

Hi Christine, the summer clothes really show off the weight loss, don’t they? 🙂

Thanks again. Maybe it’ll have to be courgette pasta instead! I have been talking to a friend today to try and convince her to try this. I have been thinking for the last few months that I needed something like a sharp shock to reset everything. A quick way so I wouldn’t get bored etc. so this is looking more likely. I am going to pick a date and start 😄

For the ketostix, the darker a pink colour it is the better! It varies during the day, Hashimoto has found for her it is highest in the morning, so she now tests once a day. If have found the same. I am mid-range colour mornings, and paler at night.
Squashes were one thing the book advised to avoid in the 8 week stage. The veg above the ground and better than those below ground (root veg and they tend to have more sugars) but carrots were allowed. I will try to extract a list of the veg’s from the book later today. Cauliflower rice is fine. I did buy some premade and would not get too excited about it, but if you make your own it may be better – certainly if you can get a good texture to is.
good luck with the journey – it has been a fun experience – strange way to talk about a food plan :-)!

Bunga,
I would use the menu plan as it saves thinking; you will already need to spend time buying healthy stuff and preparing different meals anyway. I started with calorie restriction using food in the house and avoiding junk and alcohol. Then switched to looking at the pictures in the book and thinking that was the first week and bought random other ingredients after flicking through the recipes later on. I finally realised at the back of the book that there’s 8-weeks of carefully planned menus, starting on a Monday and onwards that can be easily followed!
The great thing about them is that you have to try different things. Eating yoghurt and e.g., stewed rhubarb, for breakfast was a scary concept but was a revelation. Tasty and it fills me up. I was a lifetime ‘toast and porridge with fruit and nuts’ kind of a guy, which is reasonable, but carborific and calorific.
I love the BSD but think that the book could be better organised.

Day 2 of the wedding diet. Have eaten 420 calories so far…..what to eat for the rest?
Suggestions would be welcome👍
Also managed 30 mins swim.
Onwards and downwards…

Hi all,
As many of you know, I’m in Tenerife at the moment, I have just got ready to go out, at home I’m normally wrapped up in layers of clothes to keep warm, i have just put summer clothes on! Yippee I look like I have lost weight, even though I still have 1 stone 9lb to lose, so folks just wait till the summer and imagine how you will look without all those layers and weight! It’s something to look forward to, even when you have a blip! Like I did yesterday when I had that chocolate! So keep on keeping on.
Christine

Thank you so much Orchid. That was really helpful advice. I am going to look carefully at the kinds of foods I’ll be eating. Is there a definitive list of thos e recommended vegetables/fruits etc that one can have? I have seen for example butternut squash spaghetti which would be great to replace pasta. There are of course other things like cauliflower rice which one can use too. I really like the idea of going full fat again, trying to convince people that it’s ok to do that is hard going. I had known about full fate for a while but had avoided yogurts and most cheeses because that’s what we were all told! I am going to order the blood sugar monitor and ketostix. Is there information with the ketostix to explain what the fat burning range is?

Can I use the above and soy sauce in stir frys?

Hi Karra, why not ditch the salty pork scratchings and have some nuts – whole unsalted almonds, sunflower seeds etc – plenty of healthy fat and no salt 🙂

Hi Christine, so glad things are a bit happier for your daughter at the mo.

Well, enjoy that swim because I don’t think I’ll be venturing into any water here!
It’s Janet and Lynne I’m meeting up with, really looking forward to it! 🙂
Forget the plane blip and ENJOY 🙂

Hi Deb so pleased you have reached your new lunch box target!!! 🙂

Hello All! I’ve finally caught up reading all of your posts and I am so pleased for all of you!

I am happy to announce that I am down another 3.4lbs, bringing my total to 7.8lbs in TWO WEEKS. Also, down a half inch on my waist (bringing that shrinkage to 1.5″)

I am ecstatic with these results! I am also happy that this diet has reduced my meds (no insulin, halved the Janumet*, and nixed the Forxiga** and statins).

But mostly I am happy that I reached my first reward level (5lbs) and have purchased NEW LUNCH CONTAINERS! With SCREW TOP LIDS. So now I can transport soup without fear 😉

Bill – a thought about your plateau. It could be from coming off the metformin and your body adjusting to that. You have the right attitude though! ONWARDS!

Cheers,

Deb

* Janumet contains a combination of metformin and sitagliptin. Metformin works by decreasing glucose (sugar) production in the liver and decreasing absorption of glucose by the intestines. Sitagliptin works by regulating the levels of insulin your body produces after eating.

** Forxiga (Dapagliflozin) is a tablet medication which helps to reduce blood glucose levels by helping the kidneys to remove glucose from the blood.

OK, you wavered – but you’re back on track now and have realised you didn’t really enjoy the foods you shouldn’t be eating as much as you’d thought, so hopefully the temptation won’t be so great in future.

Hi Gwendolineanne

I think you are suffering from a bit of boredom and fatigue. You have done brilliantly well so far, nearly 12 pounds in four weeks is awesome! But however great the achievement, we can be our own worst enemies, talking ourselves down and knowing there is still work to do. Its time to shake things up a bit. Try some new recipes, some new foods you might not usually eat. Try on some clothes you had stopped wearing so you can see what a difference you’ve made to yourself. How about a shopping trip for something new? What other non-food treats could you indulge in to remind yourself that you are worth it? This is a good time to re-energise yourself and make a fresh commitment to the next four weeks. You’ve already proved that your tastes are changing so go with that and keep up the good work. All the best to you.

Its probably partly because your body is switching from carb burning to fat burning. There are quite commonly symptoms at the start of the programme but they usually settle down within a few days.

Lucia, are you ok? Getting worried that we’ve not heard from you today.

Lucia, you have been so supportive of everyone else on the forum so cut yourself some slack and don’t beat yourself up. None of us are perfect and we all have wobbles of the doubt kind as we have all done every other diet under the sun and failed. Despite attending classes in the past as we have all done I have never felt so supported as now on the BSD, I had a bad week last week and just wanted to hide but that is the worst thing, share your fears and hopes as you are doing, there are so many people rooting for you and know that you can do this.

My greatest fear was falling off the wagon and never getting back on, yes I did have a treat when out for our anniversary meal and the scales said I had put on 3 lbs but by the end of the week I am 2 lbs down from last week, so that’s 1 stone 2 lbs in total in. 4 weeks with 6 inches off my waist, never has that been done before. Look at where you were and where you are now, you can do this.

This probably sounds like an odd suggestion, but I find inspirational books and movies help, esp autobiographies. A good one I read then watched recently was called “wild” by Cheryl Strayed. Nothing like walking in another’s footsteps who’s real life drama dwarfs you own to keep your head in the game so to speak. Good luck!

Hi Sharon, yes butter on your veg is fine 🙂
good luck

Hi Lea,
Keep at it. Have a look though the book and pick a few recipes you like.
I’m starting week 10 and I’ve had great weight loss, but I’ve still a lot to lose. It’s true what NewLife says, the less carbs you eat the less you’ll crave them.
I don’t have any kids in the house, but because I’ve changed my eating habits my other half has gone the opposite way and is eating more convenience food rather than cook a meal from scratch just for herself. She is pretty healthy despite being McDonalds best customer!
This forum is a great motivator, always plenty of help and good advice.

Hi Everyone
I feel better already, not so despondent , I will try not to worry about the exercise and concentrate on the diet. I think I may have been having too much veg in the evening. I am making a real effort with the fluids today. Can I have butter on my veg?
Thanks again I have never posted on a forum before

Hi Saz12345,
I agree it is not in the book, it is a figure that many people have been using to make sure they go into fat-burning mode, gained from experience. If you put 50g carb into the search engine at the top right of the page you will get a number of threads with people asking how many carbs. I have found 60g a day is fine for me, I am burning fat.
I started on shakes, but the Optifast ones are only available in the UK on prescription. I bought Slender and once the milk is added, it was 31g carbs three times a day, but only 2g fat, so one day with 3 shakes, and home made veg soup plus some veg, 715cals but 115g carbs and 8g fat! Wrong proportions for fat burning. I lost weight in week one, not as much as I would have expected and by week 2 my waist was not dropping much, but my hips were. I moved to real food and dropped to 60g carbs a day and I have lost weight consistently and my stomach fat has dropped away and now in proportion to my hip measurements.
Hope that helps.

I’m now halfway through the 8 weeks and I must admit weight has slowed right down this week with only 1lb lost. 11.8lb loss altogether. Unfortuantely at the weekend I wavered as well. Ate a few things that I shouldn’t have and actually didn’t really enjoy them either. I even resorted to cooking chocolate. The first few squares tasted divine but third and fourth didn’t so that was good as didn’t eat any more. I knew this would happen as soon as I get to somewhere near a target that I set, it all seems to go pear shaped. Well back to it today and maybe vary my foods a bit more, as I don’t think I did last week. The support from this website it actually fantastic and I love reading everyone’s posts.

Here’s to a good week and good luck everbody.

I am in the UK, and bought Mornflake medium oatmeal from Sainsburys – I followed the instructions in the packet to the letter and for 100g of oatmeal I got 1000g of porridge. so 4 servings. at 92 calories and 14g of carbs. Not bad and you could easily add flaked almonds, passion fruit, raspberries etc to make even more yummy. (even a tablespoon of double cream if you were feeling decadent!

As an experiment, I have left the portions to cool in the fridge and will heat one in the morning, to see if they taste ok. It should reduce the calorie and carb count as some of the starch will be converted to resistant starch and provide fibre rather than calories.

Is there a food technologist out there that could confirm my theory?

Thank you hashimoto!

Lea – stick with it. The fewer carbs you eat, the less you crave them.

Carol – wow!!!

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 🙂