Switched to MM’s recipes yesterday,vtrying to get through plateau.

Yesterday

L – mushroom with chickpeas & spinach

D – pan fried salmon with ginger & lime on spinach

S – apricots, hazelnuts & Greek yogurt
(Never want breakfast so use yogurt dish when need a sweet treat. Also gives me a longer fasting period)

Today

L – beetroot falafels with rocket – these are delicious (tried to make them in my smoothy maker, didn’t work so popped to Sainsburys for a blender – double points day so got one for nectar points plus £2.50 – bargain)!

D – Greek salad

S – Greek yogurt, strawberries, Brazil’s & pecans

Great to hear, Janet! 🙂

Sounds good, Lostgirl! You are creating new recipes!!! 🙂 Way to go!!!

Great to hear, Lostgirl! Your half and half is a good idea!!! 🙂

Had an amazing lunch.. See what you have eaten post .. But had Pepsi max .. Half and half with carbonated water ! It’s a start.. It’s not perfect but at the moment it’s all I can do… I am
Also brewing some licorice tea and will turn that into a cordial.. Well just experiment
Thank you for your support.. I am perking up!

Hi Fluffyslippers
Sounds like you’re doing well.
We look forward to you coming over the 8 week line. A lot of us have carried on with fast 800, sometimes with a few more calories.
Best of luck
Penny

Omg one of the best lunches ever!!

I don’t know how this stacks up calorie wise or carb wise but …

Stock is so expensive so bought a veg boullion and mixed accordingly with water. Then added a thickly chopped onion, peas, broccoli and quorn fresh frankfurters chopped up .

Tasted amazing!! And took minutes to do. It served a large bowl ( i use le cruiser soup pots) and then Is leftovers more than one portion worth!!

Thanks for the welcome! I feel a little apprehensive about it all but I think you’re right, Bill1954 that I need to take it one day at a time. Going to spend next couple of days planning, then off I go!

Hi Patsy, NewLife, SunnyB, Spirit and Janet, thanks so much for the encouragement, you’re absolutely right, small losses are still a step in the right direction and we just have to endure the plateaus knowing what we’re eating is doing us the world of good. I will take your advice and not weigh every day, hope for a good result soon. I started on MMs recipes yesterday and OMG they are delicious! Will certainly stick with them. Really recommend the beetroot falafels.

Hi everyone!
I’m wondering what people are doing with their vegetables these days? Do you have any really good ways of preparing your vegetables as either a main or a side dish?

I picked up a recipe yesterday on tv for cauliflower. You coat the top of a full head of cauli in yoghurt with garlic and curry powder and bake in the oven at 170 for 45 mins. I’m thinking if I cut the cauliflower into quarters I might be able to cut the cooking time to 30 mins.

What else can I be doing to have a wider range of veg and keep them interesting?

Thanks in advance.

For the first time in ages, I realised I actually enjoyed going food shopping today. I don’t cook fancy meals or follow recipes as such. Before the diet, I had gotten into a rut of buying very high carb ready meals that I didn’t find inspiring or particularly enjoyable but I didn’t know what else to eat. I hated food shopping then. But now I’m finding my meals more soul-satisfying, the idea that food is doing me good again instead of harming me is a really nice feeling!

I also followed 5:2 last year and have just started BSD for the health benefits rather than weight loss, but anticipate losing about 5 -8 lbs overall.

Losing weight was a bonus and now I just want give my body the best chance as I get older. Having been recommended medication in the past for DT2 and hypothyroidism, I want to be able to prevent any further development by diet rather than medication.

My main problems is carbs and I am hoping to adapt my diet accordingly over the next few weeks – at the moment it’s so easy to go over 50g, but it’s early days. Overall I feel better on 800 cals per day rather than the two 500 cals per day method with 5:2

Wow half a stone down before you’ve even started – congratulations 🙂

You’re right that sudden unexplained weight loss can be a diagnostic factor for type II diabetes – because of the lack on insulin (or lack of a response to insulin) your body isn’t able to take the glucose from your blood to use as energy, so instead it switch to burning your fat and muscle stores instead.

I’m ordering that ‘Black Box Thinking’ right now Lynne! 🙂

Hi, Perth W.A. here, just bought the book today still trying to get my head around it, desperately researching recipes, I love to cook ☺ good luck on your journey, I’m about to start mine…..eeeeekkkk!

Hi Laska, I have also finished the 8 weeks, but with a holiday looming at the end of this month I decided to continue for 4 further weeks, as I will have little control into what I eat the 2 weeks after that. I suspect it may be easier than on a low fat diet – ignoring bread, rice, potatoes, pasta etc should work. I am vegetarian and the holiday is full board and was booked before I started this. I do not expect to be offered much choice, so it will be eat or not, so I am banking a few extra kilo’s off now so I do not shoot up to much during that period!
Looking past that, I may need a couple of weeks back on the 800, then I was looking at doing 5:2, where it is 5 days 800, 2 days not for a few weeks – using the 2 days for days when I am visiting people or at lectures, then moving to 4:3, 4 days 800, and finally reversing to the 2 days 800 and 5 days not. The 800 is always there as a backup should I need it. I have 10kg to go to get to ‘normal’ BMI and that is my target.
I was not sure why you felt you still needed the one ‘fasting day’ when the 4 days on 800ish were already fast days?

Wow Lynne you are introducing your twins to new foods!! Bet they love the spiraliser ( if that is what you used). They will be having so much fun experimenting with new foods.

You haven’t opened a can of worms, Lynne, you have shown us there are people on these forums who have a shared experience of a different kind. We understand each other.

The book I am reading is called ‘The Empathy Trap’ with a subtitle of Understanding Antisocial Personalities. It’s by Dr Jane McGregor and Tim McGregor. I wish this book had been about before I got married – I would have understood all the warning signs and run a mile. My ex’s second wife had him committed. Says it all. It also informs me that those of us caught up in this kind of relationship have done so because we are empathetic personalities. I would highly recommend reading it. I had it on my kindle but so many people want to read pertinent points that I thought it would be easier to have a hard copy which I could highlight. You really ought to get it 🙂

Wow! You are so kind. To be fair, my mum has always been difficult, even before my dad’s stroke etc. I am quite sure she is depressed but the stigma is still there for many older people. Subtle help from her GP is probably the best way forward. We live in a rural area and the carers’ wellbeing support group I tracked down is too far away for her to be bothered to try to get to. Sigh. Working very long hours and also with no-one to support me, I can only do so much. My line manager is supportive, thank goodness. Yes, looking after myself is the most important thing. Thank goodness I’ve discovered this site.

Cherrianne – well done for the support you are giving your family! I think that the only way I can get mine to listen is by doing it first and letting them see the results (hopefully!!).

Well it has finally stopped raining so I’m off for a nice walk 🙂 Enjoy your Sunday.

I’ve seen lots of posts mentioning this, but had something at the back of my head about licorice having an adverse effect on blood pressure. On Friday I checked the packaging for different brands of licorice tea and they all mentioned that sufferers from hypertension (high blood pressure) should limit how much of it they drink, with one brand advising no more than one cup of licorice tea a day for those with high blood pressure.

Sorry to have opened a can of worms ladies! Sorry for apologising. Etc. 😳

Judith, what is the book you are reading? Sounds interesting.

Lunch today was steak with courgetti and carrotetti (?), plus red cabbage with apple
Courgette was new to the girls and they originally said they didn’t like red cabbage, but changed their minds when they tasted it.

Judith and Cherrianne. I saw the book at the railway station and it looked interesting. And was half price at WH Smith

It’s called “Black Box Thinking” by Matthew Syed. One of the comments on the cover says “An extraordinary, inspirational book which reveals how great performers and teams are driven by an insatiable curiosity for marginal gains, together with the intellectual courage to challenge their most cherished assumptions.”

Hi there, hope yr travels on the BSD are going well.

As this is an international site, I just wanted to see how many Aussies are out there doing this, so we can help each other out with what products we see in stores etc. I’m type 2, no meds, and about 6 weeks through the 8 weeks diet. I have had two breaks from the diet so far, life happens. I lost 4 kgs quickly, and have kept them off but not lost any more. Still I happy with progress. I’m a wife, mum of two school aged kiddies and work part time. Good luck everyone.

Hello all!

Nice to see some fellow cysters on the board!

I self diagnosed myself in my early 20’s and luckily my doctor listened to me and did the tests to confirm.

I was insulin resistant for MANY years and tipped over into diabetes about 7 years ago (I’m 42 now). Low carb has always worked for me, but I have to admit I haven’t been the best at sticking to it at all.

I’ve been doing the BSD for 7 days now and, whilst I did struggle the first four days, I am more confident than ever that the combo low-cal/low-carb is the right one for me.

Good luck on your journeys!

Cheers,

Deb

Hi Fluffyslippers
Your weight loss has been tremendous. Well done you! I think your indulgences over Easter were just realistic, if we can manage to have a little bit of something on special occasions without looking to turn every day into a special occasion then that’s a win-win for me. It takes time to develop new habits and to ditch habits of a lifetime so I’m sure you will develop your own strategies in social situations over time.

On the alcohol, I agree with you but also probably we are drinking on more of an empty stomach now than we ever used to. I don’t drink much but I had a few last night while at a reunion do for work. I really can’t cope with the hangovers but I couldn’t before the diet either!

Hi everyone. I am sure l read somewhere that one of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes is weight loss. Is this true? Started diet proper today but last five days l have tried two 600’s and three 800’s days and lost 7lbs.

Hi fluffyslippers , I think the lower calorie intake also affects our reactions to alcohol!

A lot of us are carrying on after the 2 weeks. I’ve increased my calories but still sticking to the principles of the diet. 🙂

Fantastic, Kathy54! Ball is rolling again! 🙂

Same here, Cherrianne 🙂

Cherrianne, what wonderful news! You are inspiring your whole family!! 🙂

Duh! would be good if I could count . I meant ‘4 days doing the BSD M diet .. (not 5 .. )

that is 2 days eating what I want (with wine most likely but really watching the bad carbs) ,and 4 days doing the BSD M diet at around 8/900 , then 1 day fasting (a light dinner of protein. veggies only ) ? I can do this FRi eve and sat ,being the 2 ‘higher days’ Sunday fasting, ..( no breakfast or lunch ) Mon-Thursday 800/900 cals.
How does that sound ?

Hi fifip,
They are new to me so I’ll have a look, thanks. You’re right about the stevia, its a plant rather than a chemical so it doesn’t spike the blood sugar or have the same acidity as others such as aspartame. I think xylitol is also a natural sweetener. Rose is our resident expert on such things, she’s a dentist.

Cherrianne, you are echoing the thought I didn’t like to mention. My mum started getting ‘difficult’ at the early stage of dementia. That’s what made me think of it. The best thing is to have the doctor involved as soon as possible because if it is dementia, not just depression, then she can go on meds to delay it getting worse. If it’s depression the same applies. I know with mum she realised what was happening and made a very concerted effort to disguise it. Her own doctor was absolutely useless so I ended up getting advice from my own GP as to how to move forwards when things got really bad.
Mag, the sooner you talk to mum’s GP the better. If it is the very early stages of dementia you need to know from the GP what kind of support you can get for later on. If it’s depression then it will be easily solved.

Most of all you really need to look after yourself. I carried on in a job that demanded many hours of work and helped with mum. It took a huge toll on me as my own health wasn’t too good to start with. I had no one to tell me to take time for myself.
If it is the worst – early stages of dementia – it is best to talk to your line manager and let them know what you are facing. Tell them you don’t need time off for appointments at the moment but things might change in the coming years.
The more moral support you can get for yourself the better.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you x

HI all..so aftre my 8 weeks I am
19lbs down , 5 inches off waist .. back to ‘normal BMI ..i’d really like to lose another 10 lbs to get back to 10 stone

I need to start negotiating how to make this work going forward as I did the Fast Diet successfuly three years ago , then put it all back on! ,

So i far Im thinking doing a sort of’ 2:4.1′. that is 2 days eating what I want (with wine most likely but really watching the bad carbs carbs) ,and 4 days doing the BSD M diet at around 8/900 , then 1 day fasting (a light dinner of protein. veggies only ) ? I can do this but FRi eve . sat , o the 2 ‘higher days’ Sunday fasting, ..( no breakfast or lunch ) mon-thursday 800/900 cals.
How does that sound ?

HI all.. joining you here on the post 8 week thread!
19lbs down , 5 inches off waist .. back to ‘normal BMI ..i’d really like to lose another 10 lbs to get back to 10 stone

I need to start negotiating how to make this work going forward as I did the Fast Diet successfuly three years ago , then put it all back on! ,
So i far Im thinking doing a sort of 2:4.1. that is 2 days eating what I want (but watching the carbs ,and 5 days doing the BSD M diet at around 8/900 , then 1 day fasting (a light dinner of protein. veggies only ) ? ,, how does that sound ?

Hi Magpie, could your Mum be suffering from depression? That might be a reason for her lack of motivation, or the onset of dementia. Either way a chat to the GP is a great idea. Often older people are so frightened of appearing to not be coping that they cover up really well to GP’s, District Nurses etc. Her GP may be unaware of any concerns about her motivation or health. Your Dad sounds pretty amazing and determined bless him!
Yes Judith, Mum started the BSD just after me. Took a while for her to get her head around being able to go full fat, and watching her carbs but she’s done really well. So well that my brother started the fast800 last week, and my Dad has been enquiring about going low carb because he wants to have the same amount of energy she has. Now that was something jaw dropping because he’s a typical Englishman of his generation. Loves his bread, potatoes, dumplings, pastry and talks longingly of his Mum’s suet puddings, treacle pud, spotted dick etc. all of which Mum refuses to make for him as he doesn’t need the calories.
My sister gave Mum a fit bit thingy for her 75th birthday which she loves. For the first month we were getting daily updates on how many steps and how much sleep she was getting. It ‘talks’ to her phone so we were even getting screen shots of her tally. She is rightly proud of her achievements and we are proud and pleased that we’re likely to have her around for a lot longer. 🙂

Hi
I’m type 2 diet only. Had BP before & take meds.
Need to lose weight as practice nurse keeps telling me to try metaformin & add in another BP tablet.
Mentioned this diet to her – answer she had never heard of it , eat healthy, exercise & you won’t have a problem with your weight.
I only have 2 weeks before I go on holiday, thinking I should wait until I get back or would you start it now ? I try on holiday but not so strict we r self catering.
Any advice & guidance welcome please

Today’s menu

L – cauliflower & broccoli cheese
D – lamb gyros with stir fried broccoli, green beans & asparagus
S – Greek yogurt & frozen berries

Hi vcolq best of luck from me too.
Just take it one day at a time and keep telling yourself that’s another day towards not wanting the red wine and choccy. Do that and sometime in week 2 or earlier it will become a reality. Lot’s of us were amazed that not only do we not want those things now, we actually don’t think of them.

Yes I was wondering that too Judith, it sounds like an interesting book. Never miss an excuse to read a new book 🙂

Yesterday’s menu:

B – yogurt with ground linseed topping
L – Lettuce, shaved parmesan and Caesar dressing
D – 2 x mini chicken fillets, 3 x chicken wing pieces and lettuce with Caesar dressing

Today’s menu:

B – yogurt with raspberries, blueberries and a sprinkle of mace
L – one egg omelette with hummus and smoked salmon
D – pulled ham with lettuce, shaved parmesan with olive oil and sherry vinegar dressing

Thanks, hashimoto, I hadn’t thought of talking to her GP. That could be the way forward as any suggestions from the doctor might be taken more seriously than anything I suggest. Yes, my dad is doing OK – I found him mowing the lawn the other day!

Anyway, I need to look after myself too so onward and upward! 🙂

Also I found that I felt really sick the next day after drinking one vodka with diet soda. So I’m off alcohol for the 8 weeks, did anyone else find they got sensitive to alcohol? I’m guessing it is something to do with changing liver function?

Hi alexginda
Go ahead and ‘save’ some calories for your special events and then enjoy them. I have had a wedding and hubby’s birthday since starting the BSD and used the same method to cater for them. I think on both weeks concerned, I averaged slightly over the 800 per day at the end of the week, but that’s two weeks out of eight (for me minimum) and I am still losing weight, so am not stressing about failing to being dead on the calorie target.

My advise is to keep a check on your carb intake, as this might well impact on weight lose if too high (try to keep it about 50g per day). And be sure to keep fluid intake up as well, as this assists the weight lose too.

Look forward to reading your first week results soon.

Hashimoto 123 now I have just signed

Hi guys
I am just starting Week 6.
Starting weight 101kg, now at 94kg (15.9 stone to 14.8? so I’ve lost approx 15 lbs/7kg)
I’ve been amazed how well I feel, and losing the constant hunger has been great. I did have a bit of trouble over Easter – so many food traditions – and I allowed myself a 2 easter eggs, 2 hot cross buns and a few tiny bites of dark chocolate over the weekend. My triggers are social eating more than anything, I can feel a bit deprived or left out when I can’t eat what others are having, but I recognise that my body is different. I tell myself my body is built for survival in hard times – just that we have too much food around now!

My weight loss has been moderate, not fast, and with a few plateaus, so all the posts about others having slow periods or bouncing up a little are very encouraging.
Best answer to feeling hungry has been to increase my salt intake. I was craving nuts all of a sudden and thought I needed the fat, but it was actually the salt. And drinking heaps of water seems to drop my weight – but with a 24-48 hour delay!
Looking forward to the 8-week line, I’m not sure what I’ll do then. Maybe keep going on 800-Fast for a bit longer?

Hi everyone!
I also have polycystic ovaries and insulin resistance. I’m day 8 of the diet and today had some bleeding after years of no ovulation/menstruation. Hoping to be able to come of the metformin and get pregnant this year like Cassie in the book! Fingers crossed, but taking today as a good sign!!
Nice to have found some women here going through similar things. I feel like PCOS is so common now? My sister just found out she has it too.

122 signatures now, come on peeps, as Janet says let’s keep this thing rolling along!

Good luck on starting the Fast 800 vcolq. Don’t waste time beating yourself up for the blip – you have proved you can make positive change and you will do it again. Make good use of the forum for support and let us all know how you do once you have started the new regime – I’m sure you’ll be posting great results very soon.

Hi Janet, have you thought about one of those fruit-water bottles? I have just ordered one – if you look at the Resources part of this site, they are there. This might work for you?

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. 🙂