Mag, I’m so sorry to hear that. Perhaps you should phone her GP to discuss it with him/her as what you are describing is concerning. 🙁 Good on your dad for trying to stay active. 🙂

I think Stevia is ok diet-wise, I haven’t got the book with me but am convinced there was something about it in there, it is derived from a plant, not a chemical-cocktail. I am not a fizzy-drink person, am lucky that I don’t have this to deal with.

But coffee is good for asthma so I still have 2 cups of coffee in the morning – then water and herbal teas for the rest of the day!! If any one tried to take away my coffee……..

If you keep away from sweeteners long enough your tastes will adjust, hopefully 🙂

Hi Ambi
Well done on sticking with it, even when you were suffering so badly. I personally think the first week is the worst. After that, I found I settled into the rhythm of the new eating regime quite quickly. Like you, I find it tough drinking just water, so I divide mine between plain water and herbal teas. I keep a 200ml glass by the side of my kitchen sink and every time I go into the kitchen, I drink a glass of water, which I record on my check list. You’d be surprised how small a 200ml glass is, making it bearable to quaff quite quickly.

I find mint tea and lemon and ginger teas settling for the stomach and fruit teas can be drunk cold as well as hot, so they make a good option to help keep fluid intake up.

I’m sure we will be reading your positive results soon. Keep with it and I’m sure you will be feeling much better soon.

Hello SOS, have you changed soap, shower gel, laundry products recently – daft question but worth asking!?

My mum was from Sandy Gate, Marley Hill. We lived down South but she wanted us to have the same childhood as she had experienced, we ran wild, such a shame so many children don’t get to experience this type of childhood any more. Everyone is so risk-averse, fear obsessed.

Hi SOS,
I haven’t heard of anyone else suffering fom dry skin. One person found themselves with a bad problem with spots on their face but I think yours is a first.
Some people report peeing a lot more than normal in the first couple of weeks. If this is happening to you, it might be that you are getting dehydrated.
The other thing to check is to make sure you are getting a good amount of fats/ oils in your diet. This may help dry skin.

Lets keep this thing rolling along!

Hi Judith, I saw that episode of trust me I’m a doctor. All of them were fascinating, I’m eagerly awaiting the next series or a programme about us!!

Thanks for the advice on liquorice tea, unfortunately I cant stand the stuff and would die of thirst if it was the only thing available! I don’t like stevia for the same reason, it tastes of liquorice to me. No, I think I’ve just got to bite the bullet on this one and stick with the fizzy water. Maybe improved weight loss will be enough of an incentive. cordial isn’t great for me either as it sets off my sensitive teeth. Tooth kind my eye!

But if anyone tries to take away my coffee….oh wait, that’s bad for underactive thyroid sufferers too isn’t it?? Sometimes life sucks!

Thank you, hashimoto and Cherrianne, your quick responses are really appreciated. I forgot to say that my dad had a stroke 8 years ago and it is since then my mum has become harder to motivate to look after herself. Dad is quite active for a person who is paralysed down one side but my mum is causing me so much concern. She barely moves and I’ve tried so many different ways to help her but she has just given up. At 78 – and as my dad’s carer – it’s very worrying. She refuses all suggestions of support and is increasingly difficult. It is adding considerably to my own stress levels and so, as you have suggested, the best way is to lead by example.

You are both so encouraging. Thanks! 🙂

Hi FiFip sounds like we had almost identical childhoods!! My mum couldn’t use a whistle though as dad worked a lot of night shifts. We were just told to be back at dinner time – and hoped our stomachs would tell us when that was! Unless we took jam sandwiches and water and stayed out over the hills all day! 🙂

Hi Lynne, I meant to ask – what was the book called? I might order it for myself. Hope you are having lots and lots of fun with the girls!!! 🙂

Yep, raced around the woods, had a den, climbed trees, explored the stream, mum had a police whistle, used to use it when she needed to get us back inside for mealtimes!

Thanks for that Switzerland. I stopped off on the way home from the beach today and bought the last one on the stall. I was hoping someone would tell me what to do. Shows you can rely on the forums 🙂 always someone willing to help.
I’ll have a go at baking it tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it.

Yeh FiFip, I was so skinny my nickname was ‘rake’ as in skinny as a rake. Bet you ran about all day like me when you were a kid? Jumping becks, swinging on tarzies, climbing trees ( I even had a ‘reading’ tree in the woods), running up hills, building dens etc etc

Hi Janet, there was an episode on ‘Trust me I’m a Doctor’ where an experiment with sweeteners and stevia showed saccharin types of sweeteners caused all sorts of unexpected problems in the body – even raising cholesterol. Partly why I am so concerned now I have discovered saccharin in several toothpastes!!!

Try the liquorice herbal tea – really sweet – but no sugars or sweeteners! I can’t believe how sweet it is. It tastes just like the ha’penny liquorice root ‘sticks’ I bought as a nipper – you know the ones you could chew all day and the still tasted sweet?

Like Cherrianne, I am having to put one teabag in a large teapot as it is far too sweet for me one bag to a mug. You could have it hot or cold. You could make it strong, chill it and add sparkling water for a fizzy drink, and no damage done!
🙂

Oh yes, my mum used to make lovely dumplings like this, golden syrup on one end, jam on the other & I was such a skinny kid!!

Wow, cherrianne, I didn’t realise your mum was doing it too! Amazing results for her too! Fantastic! 🙂

I love Pepsi max – as much as I love coffee. I managed to stay off the PM for about five weeks but it has slowly crept back in. I think I have been in denial about how it affects me but last week I only lost half a pound and had quite a lot of PM. I would have expected better weight loss as I know I was burning fat well once I got past the ‘Easter Sunday effect’. PM was on today’s shopping list but I’m going to swerve it and see if it helps at all. Again wishful thinking, but I just can’t get my head around why something with zero calories would be so bad for me?

Hi Ambi, welcome to the forums. You really have had a rough start but you should be proud of yourself for sticking with it. 🙂
As Hashimoto has said the liquorice tea does help. So do some of the fruit teas like spiced apple, or apple and ginger. They are very soothing to a hungry tummy when drunk warm, and nice cold too. A slice of lemon in hot water helps with sugar cravings. It’s best to avoid sweeteners altogether if you can, because they do trigger the same reaction as sugar and you won’t lose the addiction. Maybe try fizzy water with a slice of lemon, orange or lime? I cut my citrus up into thin slices and keep them in a zip lock bag in the fridge ready to add to hot or cold water. If you want tea or coffee with milk make sure you add it to your count.
This way of life is worth the initial battle. Your body will soon be repaying you with more energy and renewed health. Keep posting, we’ll celebrate your success with you and support you through the tough times.

Our protein levels are coming in higher than 60. We eat quite small portions of protein, usually up to 100g of meat and fish, with 2 eggs, 10/20/30g of cheese (depending on how hard it is) and between 50-75g of yogurt. So we are often halving supermarket portions of gammon, steak etc. When I looked at the amount of actual grams of protein in my protein portions, it came in higher than 60, nearer to 70g and I didn’t actually add in the protein within the other things I ate, like veg or caraway seeds. So I think the amount will be coming in nearer to 80g. I don’t think you need to worry about this as even at its lowest, we will still be well above nutritionally recommended amounts. You do need enough protein to stop you feeling hungry. We are only using a couple of teaspoons of oil per day. I would like to increase this to about 4 teaspoons of olive oil, mostly taken cold, given the recent research. We are just avoiding sugar even in fruit, as the sugary ones are high in carbs too. When I am desperate for something sweet, I am now having a cup of coffee with milk and a saccharine tablet. Which seems to work. Hope this helps. But I am in my first week, so there are probably much more experienced people to advise you.

Ok, in that case I won’t feel too bad about corrupting you!

Hi Magpie, welcome. My Mum is a young 75 year old who now has heaps of energy, has only 0.3% to go on her HbA1c to be in the non diabetic range. She has lowered her cholesterol to the point of not needing statins. Her BP is great and she lost 8kg on the fast 800. She averages over 12,000 steps per day, often 15,000. Your parents could do it too, and once they see your success they’ll be motivated to have a go.

Hi Ambi, the more carbs and sugars you had preBSD the harder the carb withdrawal hits but as you are finding it starts to disappear. Once the first two weeks are over (MM says they are the hardest) it all becomes so much easier.
People on here advice 50g of carbs a day or less. I have started googling foods I eat on Calorieking and making a list – I don’t have a smart phone so no app.

Have you tried sparkling water? A sprig of mint and a slice of lime makes it feel luxurious. I bought some liquorice tea bags the other day ( cherrianne recommended them to someone missing sweeteners) and I can honestly say they taste VERY sweet – but no sweeteners or sugars! My friend across the road always says she needs a spoon on honey in herbal teas, I asked her to try the liquorice without and she was really surprised! Said her husband would like it too!!

Captainlynne has already lost 3 stones so your 5 and a half is doable.

Good luck and keep posting! 🙂

PS we are all finding this ‘diet’ becomes a way of life so you shouldn’t find yourself yo-yoing on it 🙂

Hi vcolq, welcome to the forums!! You already know what to do so you don’t need me to tell you to kick the red wine and choccy habit for a while!!

We all wish you luck with starting the fast 800, it will make you much more energetic and healthy. Keep posting! 🙂

Perhaps it’s our past that’s made us strong!! Anyway as you say, onward and upward – or should that be downward as far as the scales are concerned?!!!
Janice

Hi MerryMary, I agree about Lucia, her posts are a pure golden stream of consciousness narrative. I love em 🙂
BTW Lucia, we have found your lost hour! Our clocks went back last night in South Australia, so we had it. I made the most of every minute lol. Will give it back at the end of our winter xxx

121 signatures so far. Calling all new UK resident BSDers to sign our petition!

Hi, I thought I would come out of the shadows and introduce myself too! I’ve been LCHF since Jan and have lost 17lbs so far. I am finding that my weight loss is slowing, or rather grinding to a ‘dark chocolate, red wine filled’ halt! Those old bad habits haven’t gone away 🙁 I have no issue with my blood sugar, but have been overweight all my adult life and want to finally get rid of it. Interestingly, I actually came across this way of eating due to a neurological condition I have and it was suggested this is a better diet for the brain. The weight loss was, initially, a happy by product, however, the more I have learned about the harm carbs do to our body, the more determined I am to lose the weight and make this way of eating permanent. Ha, I say determined… obviously this determination is wine and dark chocolate soluble!

Whilst I will continue to eat LCHF for the few days, I am looking to start the Fast 800 on Thursday 7th April. Wish me luck!

Lucia, you are inspiring! Thank you. Go girl!

Hi jandz, you were more than within your rights to refuse junk, even more so when you had specifically told people you were no longer eating sweets and crisps. Almost sounds like sabotage.

Keep some celery sticks on your desk!!

It is sad that with all the publicity about sugar and poor health that a bunch of adults would act so irresponsibly 🙁

Good on you that you are remaining strong!! 🙂

PS magpiemag – you may be able to persuade you parents to try this diet when they see it working for you. That would be awesome!! 70’s isn’t old these days. My dad is 90 and doesn’t think of himself as old 🙂

Oh, wow, grandma48, so sad that so may of us have been down that road. Hey, but onward and upward to us strong women!! 🙂

Hi Lynne, I,m just wondering if the scenario was more that they noticed the weight loss, they couldn’t fail realy, but didn’t want to say anything in front of you. I wouldn’t mind betting it’s been discussed in private though.
They’re your kids and they love you, they have just seen you turn up having dropped a lot of weight. Knowing my kids, if they didnt kniw what was going on, they would be worried and probably wouldn’t question me for fear of worrying md to, they may even think you’e hiding an illness from them.
Don’t get despondent hun, we all understand you and we all are backing you 100%

Hi magpiemag, you sound so organized and motivated! This really will shift the weight and improve your health. I would recommend buying a pedometer – it really helps clock up the steps. If I am low I go up and down the stairs a few times., or wander up and down the garden. I’ve even been know to drive to a large supermarket in bad weather just because it is easy to clock up a lot of steps going up and down every aisle!!

Start making lots of soups for the freezer, they are a godsend on busy days. Don’t forget to add cheese of FF yoghurt to them – or plenty of olive oil. Try the Fage Total yoghurt (not the 0%), it’s yummy.

Looking forward to your successes and keep posting! 🙂

I am a serial dieter. Great while I’m dieting but soon go back to old habits once the ‘dieting’ stops. I am now in my 40s and heavier than I have ever been. As far as I know I am not diabetic or pre diabetic yet but my eating habits and being 5 1/2 stone over weight certainly can’t be doing me any good !

The first 3 days for me were terrible, migraines pretty much all day every day ( I am susceptible to migraine usually anyway but this was a bad spell). I did try to make sure I was drinking enough but couldn’t shake it off. (On the plus side had no inclination to get out of bed to raid the fridge)

Day 6 and I am feeling much better, haven’t been hungry at all and it looks like I have lost 6lb, happy with that!

I am struggling with cutting out sweeteners as find water hard to drink in big quantities so am turning to squash. Not sure if this is a problem?

Also a bit confused about carbs ‘permitted’ per day.

Anyway , despite hellish start I am now getting in to the swing of things, fingers crossed for continued good losses 🙂

……and me! 18 years free and no intention of going down that road again!

Hello all! I’m so looking forward to this!

I’ve just bought the book having researched various ways of getting off the 40 year diet unmerrygoround which has resulted in yet more weight gain and a scary lack of motivation to do anything about it. I’m not diagnosed as diabetic but type 2 runs in the family. I’m 56 with a stressful, sedentary job and the weight is just piling on. My parents (one is T2) are on such a cocktail of medications which seem to rule their lives and I’m sure some of them are just dished out because they are old! Actually they are only in their 70s and I am determined that when I’m at that age I won’t think of myself as old.

The bottom line is I have a lot of weight to lose, am a diehard coach potato, am vegetarian and at risk of diabetes if I don’t do something about it now. I certainly don’t ever want to have to visit the doctor at the alarming rate my parents do! This approach appeals to me as it addresses the mental and physical sides of wellbeing and there’s lots of stuff for veggies. My freezer and cupboards are ready to go and Day 1 is tomorrow. I’m always happy to chat to people on the same journey as I think that helping each other is key. I’m hoping to be able to report some great success very soon 🙂

Thank you hashimoto, I’m pleased with the weight loss, better off than on.

I’m so pleased I’ve lost the sweet craving, my colleagues at work decided on Thursday they would set up a ‘tuck’ shop in the office, by Friday there was a large selection of crisps and chocolate available to buy. I have no way of avoiding walking past as they’ve placed it all right in front of the entrance to the kitchen area!

Then the woman who sits next to me walked in with share size bags of sweets and plonked a bag of peanut M&Ms on my desk…these used to be my favourites! But guess what…..I gave her them back and explained I no longer wanted them!

I think she was actually offended but I’d already told her not to bring any in when she mentioned it earlier in the week.

It was sad seeing colleagues getting excited at the thought of a tuck shop and what they wanted to be available to buy 😟

Hi Jim, fantastic weight loss. Wow, so lucky you jumped in the car and got the only remaining book. Go You!!!
If you have managed so far with diet and exercise control it shouldn’t take long to reverse your type2 on this diet. I recommend you read all of Bill1954’s posts, His results are bordering on the miraculous!! 🙂

Hi jimnz, 6kg in 3 weeks is fabulous, that’s almost a stone in old money.
This works for your sugar levels. I was re assessed as pre diabetic after having blood tests taken just 4 weeks in.
I and others did experience sugar spikes around about week 4. They were explained as being caused by stored sugar being released from the organs and typically take a couple of weeks to sort themselves out.
Best of luck to you, keep us informed of your progress.

Michael Mosely was interviewed on Radio NZ about 4 weeks ago – one Saturday lunch time. Realizing that one of our local booksellers had the 8 week Blood Sugar Diet book in stock, I jumped in the car and into the city while the other radio listeners were thinking about lunch. Turned out it was the only copy in the shop.

Been working away for 3 weeks now and have managed to drop 6 kg. I think I have found a reasonably safe takeaway food from the local Chinese shop – Egg Foo Yong. I have tried it and find it remarkably filling

We have a fresh salad chain in the city that sells pita bread wraps. Now that I am on the programme, if we want a quick lunch, I get the salad with chicken, served in a waxed cardboard box instead of the pita wrap.

I am 76 and a retired teacher of high school mathematics. I was diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes about 4 years ago. So far, it has been only diet and exercise controlled – no medication. My plan is to reverse the diabetes.

Jim

Well done for getting back on the diet lostgirl – that’s interesting re. the pepsi max – I still have some artificially sweetened things to use up but I will change to fizzy water instead as soon as they’re used up.

Ha ha janet. I was thinking of breaking a bar up into sqares and freezing allbut one square. They last longer in the mouth when frozen too 🙂

X3 to have Lucia made an author 🙂 She posts some of the most entertaining stuff about, a bit like a favourite newspaper column, the one you turn to first.
Merrymary, the thread you need is the “Over the 8 week line and beyond” in the fast 800 forum.
I just hit the 2 stone loss mark on week 9 and their are folks in there who make that look like a drop in the ocean.
Wishing you all the success you would wish ypurself.

Hi spirit there seem to be more people who have suffered that way on these forums than I would have expected. Makes you wonder. Especially as the.long term stresss of living in fear damages the immune system and can cause the kind of illnesses that can lead to excess weight.

Like you I can spot troubling traits quite quickly now. I’m 63 and not likely to dip my toe in that particular water again either…

We should pat ourselves on the back for being survivors who have taken control of our own lives again 🙂
We are strong women, you, me, catgirl and lynne 🙂

Don’t let me entice you over to the dark side! But then again, you might not like it anymore. Only get a small bar eh?

Hi vyvyen.
One comment in your post screamed out at me and really summed up the reasons for the worldwide epidemic of obesity and T2D.”I wish I had known they were not healthy”
We have had, for decades, food manufacturers filling us up with dangerous carbohydrates. On the back of that came riding in the weight loss companies with their useless low fat regimes, even the medical profession is singing from the same song sheet.
Welcome to the revolution!!!
Together we can and will make a difference, every week that goes by, more people start this healthy eating plan and every week there are more success stories. You can’t hide that or make it go away and soon it will become common knowledge.
Welcome to the BSD, wishing you all the success you are hoping for.

Hi lostgirl – a stone so far is good, very good! I would recommend you drop the pepsi max though! My old head was very fond of saying ‘if you always do what you always did you will always get what you always got’. It’s very true.
Next time you can’t resist a veggie burger could you make a big salad with some feta cheese added then bring just your veggie burger home? You can still enjoy your burger minus the chips which have caused you weight problems. You would have the bonus of feeling so virtuous as well. Swallow it down with a diet coke if you can’t do without.

Could you make it a once a week treat? It would give you something to look forward to with the knowledge you are still doing right by your body.

I would recommend making a batch of coconut flatbreads and freezing all but one. When the cake urge gets too strong replace a meal with one topped with yoghurt or cream and strawberries

Hope you have a better day today, you deserve it 🙂

I agree Hasimoto, it is hard even when you have broken free of your shackles. I too have been free of an emotional abuser for 15 years now (had to count that up!). There are lots of ways that I’ve since learned to protect myself, i.e. starting to see new people and then running a mile when I see traits from the other person I don’t much care for. I now have built a ‘fort’ around me and yes, maybe some of that was the weight.

I have a nice enough life, I’m living near my son and daughter, I see them often, my daughter gets married next month in Florida – which we are all looking forwards to. Having a bloke around just doesn’t figure in my wants or needs, despite family and some friends telling me i ought to dip my toe in the water again. I can’t see that ever happening though!