Hi Rowantree – there is an explanation in the Blood Sugar Diet Book – Chapter 1 under the section carbs and insulin. This diet is about reducing the carbs to stop blood sugar spiking and help reverse diabetes. It is also a good preventative diet as well to ensure weight loss and not get to diabetes in the first case, so it is not looking at cholesterol which oats and barley can help.
Oats, particularly processed oats are high glycemic load – that is they release their sugars into the blood quickly thus spiking the blood sugars. All processed oats do this, which is why it is suggested you avoid them – thus porridge oats which is what most muesli is made from. Rolled oats, the type that is unprocessed – is slow release – lowish glycemic load so you can use them – they are what my grandmother would have used and needed soaked overnight before cooking, or toasting lightly and adding to cranachan, we also used them for putting on herrings before grilling the herrings – they are delicious.
I have not tried them in muesli whilst on the 8 week diet and intend to add them in and barley on the 5:2 phase which I start soon.
Hope that helps.

Hi hashimoto
Re: consolidation of FAQS

At the start of the 8 week BSD adventure we didn’t know what, we didn’t know? Neither did the book!

Enough of us have completed BSD in real time with real food ( not hospital monitored shakes) to have a general consensus of what works best for the majority of people undertaking the diet.

This was & is THE experiment We are doing the BSD on our own, for the most part.
The time is right for consolidation of good , tried & self tested advice. And , where to go to find more!

However, BSD is not an easy option. We’ve all thought long & hard about it. The awareness & enormity of what we are doing (& for the rest of our lives) looms large.
We all need light relief. We ALL care about the people trying to make this life saving & improving change. That’s what makes this forum so special!

It was & is my goal to be informative, encouraging & praising.
In that regard I would like to see :

For Newbies : BSD FAQS tried & tested as we know them

Chat : To keep our minds, bodies & souls on the BSD track

Eureka ( I have found it! )

I am loving this new way of eating! We (my husband and I) have just completed week 2 and I have lost 9lb overall! More importantly I feel so much better, less bloated and my IBS has been so much better. I don’t feel hungry at all.
I hope to increase my activity levels and start running again but the last two weeks I have have had vertigo so exercise hasn’t been a good idea! Here’s to our healthier life…….

Matrika

Here in the UK I once had a dietician tell me fish was a high carbohydrate food😱

I never went back!

Thanks from me too, jimnz, I have forwarded the link to a few people.
Totally agree with you Matrika! And poor pof taylor is so cautious about saying if you have had diabetes for more than ten years…. but we have people on these forums who have had diabetes for years longer and have/are reversing it!!

Sends me nuts too Matrika.

BTW if you are a British Citizen would you sign our petition?? Apologies if you already have! 🙂

Hi all – just started this, have bought the book but can’t find what I’m looking for.

I am using My Fitness Pal for calorie counting – when setting my goals, what proportion of each am I looking for? I have found the bit of the book that says 45g protein per day for a female, which is about 50% macronutrients – how do I split remaining 50% between carbs and fat?

I’m doing the quick version of diet if this makes a difference?

Thanks in advance.

Thanks very much for posting that link jimnz.
I am the only person I know who doesn’t have a tv…so I only watch programs that are linked on the web…I’d better get back to watching the Insight program on “SBS on Demand”. This was terrifically inspiring…what came shining through to me is how very diplomatic Michael Mosely is…the diabetes “experts” there I thought were fools and idiots and I was furious that they didn’t acknowledge the results of Prof Taylor’s work….If something is proven , certainly it needs to be replicated but for the diabetes” expert” to be waffling on saying there are 100s of diets and no-one should leave here today thinking this one is the answer…well yes… and some of us diabetics have had to try all these diets because the “experts” were so unscientific and ignorant in their advice. I walked out of a Diabetes Australia consult with one of their advisors when she was insisting that vegetables weren’t carbohydrates…I felt my well being was threatened by her ignorance and it was clear to me that their advice was rubbish…and I really dislike men like those on the program in positions of responsibility who actually advise the government on policy who know bugger all about how to ACTUALLY treat this disease in a healthy way and not kill us as off they have been doing for years.

Sorry…sends me nuts. Apologies for ranting.

Good research there, Odette, and much better than my simple explanation of ‘retained water’! 🙂

Hello,
i am on day 9 and had a three day plateau, then the weight loss resumed. Researching round the internet I found that there is a phenomenon called ‘the whoosh!’ The following is from another blog ‘It is actually called dieter’s edema and it’s pretty common and the reason weight loss is non-linear. I personally only show a loss about every three weeks to a month where I will drop 2 or 3 pounds at once.
What happens is as your body begins to empty fat cells, it replaces the lost fat in the cells with water, in anticipation of replenishing your fat supply. Because building new tissue is hard work for the body (even fat cells, believe it or not) it will attempt to keep the cells as long as possible by filling them with water.
At this point is when people notice their fat feels “squishy” or “chunky” or “dimpled” or….you get the picture.
As we stay consistent on our routines, our body has no choice but to relinquish the water and fat cells eventually and when it does, we experience the “whoosh” effect.
This can take a widely varied amount of time from person to person. My “whoosh clock” (for lack of a better term) runs 3 weeks to a month before resetting. It has run as long as 6 weeks depending on what type of exercise I do. If I am heavy lifting, it tends to run longer. I believe this is due to my sore muscles hoarding water as well!
When we take diet into consideration, things like sodium intake can cause variations in the Whoosh Clock’.

Searsh the woosh+water retention, it’s interesting. Do you keep a diary or chart? Each day I put an up or down arrow to show loss or gain, and a red dot to show no change. I know tha t I will need quite a few red dots to get to eight weeks, because you cant lose weight every day, so psychologically itelps to know the red dot days are important too!

Apologies for the wee typos, but I have zombie fingers today, and tablet doesnt recognise my finger taps. sigh.

Alos day nine and nine pound s down! Ah-may-zing!!!

I think that you can use any cheese you want. I have used cheddar and mozzarella. Watch out for the calories though cheddar has nearly twice as many as mozzarella, but I use a mature version so less still has some taste.

Hi meredex, I imbibed one night – a glas of red wine – and scales showed a pound gain the next day :(. Lesson learned! 🙂

I’m new to this and am not intending to do the full diet but cut as many carbs as possible.
However….I don’t understand why porridge and oats aren’t OK. Oats help reduce cholesterol; aren’t they full of fibre and vitamin B? And I thought they were complex carbs!

Please explain – really confused!

Captainlynne I really want to meet you 🙂

Jacqjax, the same thing happened to me only my scales didn’t budge for 12 days! Excellent advise by Hashimoto, stick with it and keep us posted x

Captainlynne, the more the merrier for me, lets see what we can sort out via email.

I know Hashimoto (hangs head in shame) First drinkies in nearly 2 weeks, and I soooo enjoyed them! Back on the water for me now 😊

Eureka, your post made me smile – thank you. I get called lots of things, so general is great 😃

I dont like goats cheese so wondered what else I could use in a Portobello mushroom?

Hi grandenmark you will still be able to sign 🙂

Judith and Janet, would love to meet you both but don’t want to gatecrash.

How about another time? I live near Durham but depend on public transport.

Hi janet. I’ll email you 🙂

Hi meredex if those drinks were alcoholic they won’t help you because of te sugars/ empty calories. I would advise staying of them for a while 🙂

Hi jacqjax, it sometimes happens and then suddenly drops off.

Check list:
1. Areyou eating 50g of carbs or less?
2. Are you drinking 2-3 litres of water a day.?
3 Are you eating enough fat?
4 get some ketostix to check you are fat burning
5 measure youself – are your clothes getting looser?

Hope that helps!

If you are a British Citizen please could you sign our petition? 🙂

Hi lucyjane, well the scales didn’t move for 8 days!! Nothing, not even 1/2 pound! I stuck to it and I’m 1lb down today so I’m hoping the plateau has passed. But I did go out last night and had a few drinks so it could be that I’m dehydrated! I’ll know more tomorrow when I weigh. It’s really frustrating when you stick to the plan and it doesn’t seen to be working. Keep with it and I’ll let you know tomorrow, don’t be beaten xx

Hi Alan

Glad day 1 went well 😃 There’s no catch, eating more fat helps us feel full longer. 😃

Keep up the good work and keep us informed how you are doing.

Judith, how about the Monday evening? I’ll have my little dog with me and I’m staying in my flat in saltburn. I can either come to you or you can come to me. I think you have my email address already?

Lol janet, your last post made me chuckle – but it is so true for all of us:)

Izmol1 you don’t have to stick to the recipes in the book if you don’t want to as long as you stick to the principles. Of 800 calories, 50g of carbs or less, 2-3 litres of water a day and full fat. A lot of us like fage greek yoghurt with berries or seeds for breakfast 🙂

Hi Janet and Cherrianne

I am on FB but have changed how I use it over the years. Now it’s mainly family, real-life friends and colleagues. It’s a way for me to keep in touch with folk in different parts of the country and world. I have removed lots of groups and individuals for a variety of reasons. I now spend more time on here than on FB 😃

I have been on a couple of other forums too – WW and DiabetesUK. Used to get too many trolls on WW, spoiling it for everyone. Not been on the Diabetes forum after my first few weeks on the BSD when I posted there about this.

This is the most supportive and friendliest group of people and it is a pleasure to ‘know’ you all.

These are incredible improvements you must be so proud of yourself 🙂 and such great inspiration for all the diabetic newbies just starting out!

Lily, I’m impressed with your calculations and the way you reached them.
Thank you !

Stingle, I’m so pleased for you! What brilliant results! 🙂

Fantastic results stingle. Looking forward to seeing you in the ‘over the 8-week line and beyond’ thread.

What a brilliant post. Thank you 😃

Thanks nigel 🙂

Hi suzie, you don’t need to stick to the recipes in the book BUT you do need to stick to the PRINCIPLES of the diet so:
1. Count the calories
2. Keep carbs to under 50g a day
3. Drink 2-3 litres of water a day
4. Eat FAT – it’s important and helps keep you full
5. There is a photo in the book showing typical foods for the diet, that should help you
6. Look at the thread What have you eaten today, it is full of ideas for meals
7. There is a recipe tab on the tool bar, you may find something you like on there 🙂

Finally – welcome to the forums and the BSD way of life.shout if you need help, there are always people to help.
If you are a British Citizen please can you sign our petition 🙂

Thank you so much for the encouragement. I will take a look at the other threads.
I am a British citizen but have been out of the country for 7 years. Not sure if that means I can sign, let’s see

Just signed, Cheers.

Orchid on ‘trust me I’m a doctor’ mm carried out an experiment on eating before exercise or not. In the 5:2 book it states it is more effective to exercise before eating. However the experiment through up an unexpected result:

MEN exercise is more effective BEFORE eating

WOMEN exercise is more effective AFTER eating

I can’t remember all the reasons but that was the finding. 🙂

Hello and welcome Grandenmark,

I too am mother of the bride. I started the journey 9 weeks ago today also needing to lost the same amount as you. My daughter’s wedding is now in 3 1/2 weeks time!

Yes is the answer, it is perfectly doable in your timescale – or sooner. She will however be proud of you regardless.

to date I have lost 22lb. I bought my dress after week 1, but in the size below the one I was at the time – motivation or what!

So if I can do it, anyone can.

Keep posting to let us know how you are getting on.

Gardenmark, stick to the diet and 2 stones long before september is utterly doable. Look at weigh in thread and Captainlynne’s two threads, over the 8 week line and 16 weeks and over.

Welcome to the forums 🙂

If you are a. British Citizen please could you sign our petition, you will find it on the please sign our petition thread 🙂

Hi please sign our petition, we have been stuck on 207 since friday. If you are a British Citizen you can sign 🙂

Ok, not the bride but mother of the bride. Tried on the dress I wore 4 years ag to my other daughters wedding and couldn’t zip it up!
Now my youngest daughter is marrying in September and I NEED to lose 2 stones. I want her to be proud of me and I want to make her proud.
Anyone out there think it is a possible target or not realistic.
Here goes. DAY 1

Hi lucia so lovely to hear of someone in a loving relationship xxx

Lucia if you suggest hoola hoop I would definitely put my back out! How about skips? Oh no, I can’t do that either! We could ‘watch with mother’ – that’s no good we’d be sitting still. Errrrrrr
Can you play What time is it mr wolf on your own?

Did you watch tbst program about staying younger? I used to do that sitting from standing position with legs crossed with my class sometimes after wet playtimes just to use energy and refocus. HELPPpppppp I can’t do it anymore without putting a hand down. I can’t get back up without using two hands. I never knew I was helping children to stay young!!!!!!

Xxx

Hi cherrieanne, after a wet start the rain came out so Bill will have been painting and then blowing bubbles in his jacuzzi! I think he is keeping his w/ends for family so we may not hear from him until Monday . 🙂

Thanks Penny, I shall just keep on trying as trying seems to help, good to know it isn’t possible to succeed 🙂

Thanks Penny I’ll keep using CK 🙂

Fantastic newlife! Your desire to be healthy overcame your embarrassment of ‘making a fuss’ in a restaurant! You know you have really cracked the dining out on BSD now! 🙂

Janet it would be lovely to meet. Pick a time between the 18th -21st and we can sort something. I live in the middlesbrough area so it is absolutely doable 🙂

Thanks Christ1948 – I’m an introvert and online support has been a lifesaver for me over the years as I find it much easier to ‘talk’ this way than IRL.

Penny – IKR?

I did well at my pub lunch yesterday – I asked for burger, no bun, salad instead of chips. It came with chips!! It would have been so easy just to eat them (I hate making a fuss in restaurants) but I sent it back and got the salad instead. 🙂

Hi Suzie – absolutely!

I’ve cut out all bread, potatoes, rice and pasta. So instead of sandwiches I have salad. Instead of the other starches I have more green veg or salad.

I’ve cut out all junk food and desserts. Eating full-fat dairy keeps me feeling full, a knob of butter on veg is yummy, nuts and seeds are great for snacks.

It’s very do-able.