Hi SunnyB

You’ve got lots of good advice to choose from. Pick what is best for you. I’m sure you will be a lot more comfortable soon
You are following the BSD & you are right about constipation making a difference to your weight. Don’t worry about the scales. Bet you didn’t know that there could be up to 4lb difference in weight + or – in a day. (Jenny Ruhl Blood Sugar 101, second edition. & Diet 101, The truth about Low Carb Diets). Two essential reference books for diabetics I think. Also on line info http://www.phlaunt.com

Prof Roy Taylor Newcastle Uni,was the original 8 weeks diabetic reversal diet trial dr. 8 weeks was chosen, I believe because it was a trial to see if fast , diet restriction & weight loss could emulate Bariatric surgery findings. Those patients undergoing that surgery, forcing them to eat a very restricted diet REVERSED their diabetes. It was found out by accident! It was thought that it would be hard for people to stay on a very restricted diet for a long enough time to bring their weight loss down by about 20% of their original body weight.

My point being that very committed people were chosen to undertake this trial. 3 Optifast shakes of 200 calories a day & 200 – 250. Calories of veg/ salad = 800 calories. They were monitored all the time & it had to happen fast

See : Fast 800 forum , Topic : Answers & info how & why 22.1.16

We are doing this on our own. We are doing it with real food. We count or don’t count the calories (me). If lucky, with some medic support! You / we are doing fine. Don’t obsess with 8 weeks. Some will get there fast others slow. But we will all try & get that life saving goal. This is where it happens. This is real life

The Lord helps those who help themselves

Constipated we arn’t
Eureka

Hi Cherriane,
I have only had juice once in the four weeks and count carbs as well. The last time I went on a strict eating plan I counted carbs, protein and fats so I am good at keeping track of numbers. I actually weigh portions and write everything down to keep on track. Thanks for the advice though.

Hi Jilly
If you’re hungry and lightheaded that means you’re not in fat burning mode yet. Maybe check your carbs and fat. You may need less carbs and more fat. That should put you into fat burning.
Good luck
Penny

Cheers Mark, so far so good, the results are amazon so far (your joke is better!).
Shane

Hi Inka
I’ve read a lot of good things about coconut oil so I bought some – but don’t like it. ! I feel as though my mouth is coated after I’ve eaten it. If anyone has an answer to this problem i d love to hear it.
( it’s good apparently because of the long chain structure ??)
Penny

Hi Salty,
Welcome. I’m certainly not an expert, nor am I diabetic, but I’m sure you should remain on your medication until your blood sugars lower. I’ve noticed others on these forums reducing/increasing medication according to their blood sugar readings whilst following this diet.
Regarding calorie counting. If you follow the recipes on this site or in the book by weighing and measuring ingredients, calorie counting will take care of itself. I have downloaded an app to help. I weigh or measure all ingredients and enter the details into the app which then displays the calorie count and carbohydrate content. I use EasyDietDiary, a very simple app. I’m in Australia but read others have downloaded it in the UK. I’ve tried other apps like MyFitnessPal but prefer the simpler EasyDietDiary.
Hope this helps.

Dear Christian 1954,

I share this with tears in my eyes, my dad who has just turned 80 has early onset prostate cancer, fortunately at the watch and wait stage but he also has Alzheimer’s, I have 3 neighbours who are fighting breast cancer and are hopefully winning, life is such a struggle but I hope you. Only gave happy memories, Sharon.
💕

Hi Cherianne
Great BS result
Penny

Hi eureka
Good joke!- it refers to work not weight tho. I’d never even noticed that possibility.
I am still the slowest loser ever even tho I watch my carbs like a hawk😞
And I had a teeny weeny piece of cake ( first time off piste) -at a 21 st birthday party. It has taken 5 days to get back into fat burning. ( even with cycling uphill) And no weight loss in that time. Moan moan.
Still- mustn’t grumble !😆 I m half way.
Penny

Hi Lachlan
That’s really disappointing for you but it took two weeks for my blood sugars to come down. Hang in there for another week or so, even if you still need metformin. If there is still no improvement you should go back to your GP as it might be worth having further tests to make sure that you really are a type 2 diabetic.
There is a website in the book where you can print off information for your doctor from Prof Taylor’s research. Go to your GP armed with this, and all your stats etc. You will have given it your best shot so well done for that, you deserve more help than I can offer.
Either way, stay in touch and let us know how you get on.

Hi Alan
Fructose is definitely not a good idea. It will spike your BS.
Penny

Hi Sunnyb
I recommend milled flax seed and also dal, I posted the recipe on the ‘constipation’ thread.
I read on dietdoctor.com that on low carb we excrete salt and lack of salt adds to constipation so we should eat more salt.
Hope you feel better soon.
Penny

Hi CallMeDeb

Watch those feet. Diabetics feel the cold more ( yet another side effect). On this diet the first two or three weeks seem to exacerbate that whether you are diabetic or not. It’s your body adjusting Be extra careful in your low temperatures.

When I count my blessings, top of the list is the BSD. It’s going to let me enjoy the others. And one of them is top of my bucket list – Canada ! I’ve waited 54 yrs to come see you. My teacher did a work exchange at a school on Vancouver Island ( can’t remember the name). She waxed so lyrical about it, I longed to go. My big 65 bday July so this is from me to me with love. Oh & I’m bringing the husband too (70yr in Jan) it’s now or never

Thanks for offer re things to see. I think there is an Inuit museum near the hotel by the harbour we’d like to see. Haven’t got the full itinerary yet so will see if we can later. The tour is coast to coast. Small world always

Keep drinking it helps the head. A bit more salt with the diet too as you are peeing more just now
Eureka

Hi Alanhypno, walking is generally agreed to be a good intro to increased exercise. Regular brisk as you can walking exercises your lungs and the heart is a muscle so can be persuaded to become more efficient. I bought a cheap treadmill on eBay for £139.99 and it is brilliant. Program 1 takes you for a stroll at speed increasing in 1 kph increments for one minute each to 5 kph and then down again before repeating same. As you select a shorter time for the same program you get the 2 periods of 5 kph closer together. When I started my hear rate was high and it was a bit tricky. Now I can run up to 10 kph but not for long due to high rates but I am making great progress. So walk as far and fast as you can resting between higher intensity bursts and soon the highs will get higher, the recovery shorter and the endurance will increase too. Cardio vascular exercise is anything that increases heart rate and breathing – safely. All the best….

I notice the petition is growing. Almost at 200 now. My family have signed. But my FB is no good for spreading the word as I only use it for keeping in touch with friends and family who live abroad😕
Family gathering next week so will see if anyone comments – if they do they will get chapter and verse on the virtues of the BSD!

Hello love4alan, when the 5:2 was introduced the 5 days were normal eating days and the 2 days were only 600 cal days. Over time the 5:2 developed into the now 8weekBSD and that became Fast 800 for those of us who were not diabetic or nearly so. As Janet1973 says its about the Med style eating and lifestyle changes where it succeeds. 5:2 is just a slower way to get the same results in the longer term. The principles should lead you to question what you are eating and why. Good advice is to read the labels and ditch the high sugar foods. It is a low carb regime that is easy once on it but maybe harder to get started. We love it and it is not hard now, in ninth week here.

Night night Lucia xxx

Wow catgirl I had no idea so many would be fans of CW. She is a breath of fresh air.

Yes, i watched the show sean murray won. He was brilliant and we were rooting for him!

This particular document is current, newly printed and on display for outpatients at cardiology reception – that’s part of the point it was published only months ago.

I just hate predictive text or whatever they call it on iPads, I meant to say I have a belly like Winnie the poo!

On the back of all the gardening stories I too love Christine who I think is sometimes on the one show, not sure if anyone watched the amateur gardener show to win a show plot at the Chelsea flower show but the winner Sean Murray is someone I worked with for years, he is fab and his wife is a florist, she did my wedding flowers 15 years ago today and also my sons wedding 2 years ago. She is called Eileen from emerald forest designs in Northumberland, if you want quirky, they are it!

So far so good.
The only thing I have deviated with, is, a small, fizzy pop.
I don’t drink tea or coffee, only hot water and once a week a small Pepsi. I haven’t had one since starting the thingy.
I couldn’t quench my thirst, mouth a bit dry, …. Cold on the way?

May have an early night.

Sleep tight and don’t let those bed bugs bite.

Love Luciaxxxx

Christine, that is really strange! It sounds like the sort of post you sometimes see on FB. If that happened to your mum I’m sorry.

Hi hashimoto

Have read the offending article & torn up two drafts. Will sleep on it & do my bit tomorrow. Too angry to be coherent tonight. Same b……t over & over. See what I mean. Still no reply from my MP. Deafening in her silence
Calma calma & pitch it right
Eureka

Hi all I didn’t post the one about a mother with cancer, or asking other people to post, don’t know what happened there?

Well done New Life and Inka.

I don’t use coconut oil exactly, but do buy blocks of creamed coconut which has coconut oil at one end and I’ve been using more of that now I realise it’s OK to eat stuff with fat in. I lurve coconut!

Hi john
You are a cyclist, do you watch the Tour de France? I love it, we went to Paris years ago, and we just happened upon it, you can’t really miss it can you in the centre of Paris? Anyway being the numptis that we were back then we asked someone what was going on and we were hooked!
We watch it every year, and now my brother lives in France we go over if it’s anywhere near him and have a few days going to watch it wherever we can, we also went up to Sheffield to see it there, our son lives there, my husband watches all the cycling now. He also goes out when he can on his bike, how often do you get out and how far do you cycle?

Today is 7 years since my beautiful brave mum passed away from lung cancer so to share in her memory can you please repost this short message. Love you and miss you every day Mum xxxx
Can I ask a favor…. Just a few of you will do it, and I know who you possibly are. If you know someone who fought a battle against cancer and passed away, or someone who is still struggling or know someone who is a survivor…
Add this to your status for 1 hour as a sign of respect and remembrance.
♥

Hi christine I have lived in north wales, rowley regis and harbourne but in my hometown in the north east I sometimes get asked where I am from!

I’ll think of you next time I watch christine walkden!

I translate all those phrases as ‘just eat cardboard as that’s how good carbs taste without the fat! Not to mention the actual health consequences of stuffing ourselves with stodge. No doubt those leaflets are years old. I wonder how many years it will take to get rid of them?

Hi eureka
My daughter who has three children says that about her baby belly, it’s in our genes, all the females in our family have the same belly even Angela, who is single and has never had children, ( I say that because Lucy who has three girls was never married to her partner) Really the youth of today!
I do love the kids it’s just when I was so overweight it just hung there almost shouting at me that was a fat slob! I had very low self esteem as you might have guessed. I am getting better as I get slimmer, thankfully. Thank you for those lovely words though made me feel better about myself.
Christine

Hi Lynne and Sunnyb. I hope lots of us email in. The more there are the more the BBC might want to carry out an ‘investigation’. Wouldn’t it be marvellous if they did AND publicised our petition!
I’ll be dreaming tonight! 🙂

Hi all

Just thought I would report in with my new maximum 50g total carbs per rule. Been doing it for a week now and my levels did go down steadily (lowest reading was 7.0) but yesterday and today it’s started rising again – 8.7 and 9.4! All pre-dinner readings as the dean phenomenon is still haunting me. Had to reach for the metformin again (1000 mg) as levels were getting too hairy before I started getting really strict on the carbs. I will see how the next few days go and let you know but hoping I won’t have to up the metformin as this would be a major step back I reckon. Fingers crossed for the next few days. It’s proving very difficult to get down to the safe levels we all crave but something tells me it may be a long haul thing and not the 8 weeks we had all hoped it would be.

Hi Christi

Well that belly was full of love so you love it too.

I’ve 16lb , no,lost another today so 15 lb to go! Want to get down as far as possible by June to fly thin! Long flights & no wriggle room. I’ll treat myself on holiday, It’s a bucket list one I never thought I’d get. Canada I’m coming to get you!
Eureka

Hi Lauren
Thank you for the idea, I could do that ahead of time and put it in the fridge and get it out a tea time. Thanks will have a go.
Christine

That’s great Judith. They’ll wonder what has hit them!

Eureka,
Thanks – I’ll have to get someone to show me how.

Hi Judith
I like christine walkden too, she originally comes from rishton in Lancashire, I was born in Blackburn and brought up in Accrington near rishton, whenever I hear her it’s as if I’m back home. We don’t get up there anymore, none of our family lives there anymore and those that did are no longer with us. I have lived here in the West Midlands 38 years and I still get asked where I come from!

Judith, I find Silent Witness a little dark now😱. NCIS is Naval Criminal Investigative Service (or something like that. Naval cops. Abbey, the Goth forensic scientist runs on CafPow – a caffeine laden soft drink she drinks by the bucketful. Gibbs is the team leader, a former marine sniper. Two men on the team, Tony and McGee. The female team member changes, depending on which series you are watching.

You may remember David McCallum (from The Man from U.N.C.L.E). He is in NCIS as Dr Mallard (Ducky), the forensic pathologist.

Hope you enjoy it😃

Hi Alan, as you will soon see there is no magic – the principles seem sound. I am retired and have more time to sort food but the bottom line is reduce cereals (not oats though), bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, sweets, cakes and biscuits and replace them with eggs, fish, dairy, oily fish etc as per the book but still eat a wide variety of foods and you will find that carbs provided your food cravings. Reducing sugar intake is a brilliant way to feel better fast for most of us. I have lost 30 pounds since Feb 8th but am still over weight in BMI terms. I find the dietary advice fairly simple to follow and I virtually gave up milk due to its high sugar content – I now have less than 30 gm/day. Many people reduce their blood glucose levels easily some less so. My blood pressure is way down now at rest on waking, and heart rate too. I am so much fitter and healthier in this short time I cannot believe it really given how rough I was in the New Year. Good luck but you will not need luck it is a well used and successful methodology and most fats don’t seem that bad according to many new sources. We shall be proved right or wrong quite quickly and I know how I am feeling and looking now.

Hi janemi
Well done loved your post, it’s great when things work out, keep it up and keep in touch
Christine

Hi stringbreaker

Magic shorts – flog em on eBay !
Eureka

The late and much lamented Geoff Hamilton for me!!!! Then the wonderful Monty Don. Carol klein is another favourite and for sheer exuberance Christine walkden!

I have seen a few of the beechgrove garden episodes.

Does anyone remember clay jones, bob flowerdew and peter seabrook?

I do like the water colour plans alan titchmarch does and he is pretty good on classic fm!

LUCIA!!! 250 miles! Big hugs and congratulations. One month ago you would never have believed it possible!

Christine that food sounds delicious! 🙂

Amazing Sue there’s no stopping you now!

Hi catgirl,
Pleased you had a good night out, you deserved that bottle of red wine, I bet it was a lovely meal and night out,
I will have to tell my friend here, she is originally from Newcastle, however she no doubt knows all about the restaurant that you went to, sounds as if it’s well known?
Will be looking forward to my holiday, we aren’t neven hiring a car this time just going for the rest! With five kids and 11+2 grandchildren they keep us very busy, even though they live in Bristol, Sheffield and Dumfries, and two live here where we live.

Hi Pam1954

Well done. Going down & not stopping. It will come
We are jelly belly babies together! I’m going to see what I can do about mine. Couldn’t think about that until now. I’ll pass on any tips. Meantime get some new tops to distract the eye
What do I do about the turkey neck? Go all katharine Hepburn & knot a scarf! Saga of the 4 lost chins
Eureka

Hi Judith
I like monty don, have you seen beechgrove garden? I think it’s on Sunday mornings, I tape it. It’s quite good
Christine

Hi Hashimoto,

Percy thrower, mr smith. Geoff Hamilton, were the best.
Not Alan titchmarsh, too celebrity – is for me.

Who is your favourite?

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi cat girl, never heard of Winnie the poof.
New character on me.
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi guys,

I’m about to see my doctor to see if I can start this diet and coming off my medication prior to starting on Monday, I’m just a little confused with some things, firstly, is it recommended to come off the medication prior to starting (400 mg of slow release meteor in per day) and just blood test every morning ?
Secondly, calorie count. I have absolutely no idea how to calorie count with certain things, how do I manage this with salad and nuts and other ingredients in the recipe.

I apologise in advance if this is already on a post here or if I’ve missed something in the book !

Eureka
Wow size 14 I’m well jealous! I have a way to go, my next goal is to get into all the size18 that I have, I am pear shaped and can’t get them over my hips yet, I blame my five baby belly!
I hope you are going to treat yourself now you are size 14, how much more do you want to lose?