How wonderful to see such a supportive group and all the inspiring posts of success!

Two weeks in today and I’m 13lbs down, I also lost 2″ off my waist last week (don’t have a tape measure here in my parents’ house this week). I was really pleased that my blood sugar went from 5.6 to 5.2 the first week, but this morning it was 6.00. I was surprised because I was pretty stringent about the carbs, but I suppose spikes will happen and it was a stressful week.

I’ve found it hard going though. The end of last week, I really felt ill like I had the flu. I felt so shaky and weak that I could barely get out of bed. When I looked on the internet it said ‘keto flu’ when your body goes into ketosis was common and to up your salt levels which helped a bit. I’m feeling tireder and tireder which is surprising because the doctor said the fatigue from my anemia should lift around Easter, which is why I thought it would be a good time to start this diet and really give myself a boost. When I looked over my last blood test result however think they might indicate that I have iron anemia rather that B12 anemia, because my neurological problems have improved but my fatigue and breathlessness have gotten worse. I’m a bit gutted to be honest, I’ve been looking forward to getting my strength back after over a year of feeling like crap, but it’s back to the doctor this week and (if I’m lucky and it’s just iron) it’ll possibly take another few months to see an improvement.

The harder it’s been the more I wanted to stick with the diet so I wouldn’t have to start again :-). The last few days I have really not felt great though. I’ve finally decided today to listen to my body, stop the diet, go to the doctors, and try and start again when I’m feeling better. I’ve been hungry and craving carbs since I began, I had some potatoes for dinner and some dessert and felt the better for it. I don’t know why, maybe my body is just craving carbs for energy. Disappointing but I’m going to try to stick to 5:2 and eat as best I can in the meantime. You guys definitely make me want to get back to it as soon as possible so I can join the veterans club party!

Hi everyone, I cooked the Zucchini (Courgette for everyone in the Northern Hemisphere, lol) and Pumpkin Seed muffins this morning and they turned out beautifully. I wondered how I would go with 1 for breakfast – it was filling and satisfying. I’ve never cooked with coconut flour before.

Things I noticed while making them: 1. The final mixture seemed dry, but when touched had moisture in it. 2. There was no way that I could place spoonfuls of mixture into the muffin cases (the mixture seemed crumbly) so I used my hands and pressed the mixture in.
3. I baked them for 13 minutes (remember, oven times vary).
I hope this helps because the muffin was delicious and other BSDers should enjoy them. I intend freezing some for emergency meals.
It’s Week 1 Day 5 for me today and I’m still on a steep learning curve

Hi TWS Andy. Keep going..it works 🙂

Hello everyone. Thanks for the lovely comments :). Week 2 ..thanks for the tips I will try them and see the result. I’m usually coming in just under 800 so I think there’s enough room for a small portion of cheese and nuts at night. I’ve always been a “Feaster” so is probably an adjustment to stomach size too lol.

L 🙂

Hi pmshrink,

Calorieking has an app with a tracker, you don’t need to get the information from there then put it into MyFitnessPal, Calorie King can do it all. Graph weight loss, create your own recipes etc.

Week one weight loss (round two of BSD): 1.6 kg. I was actually down to a 2 kg loss a few days ago but then the weekend happened….

I’m very happy with a loss of 1.6 kg in a week, and ready for week two! I need to make another pot of yoghurt. (This isn’t as fancy as it sounds. I have an Easiyo which is basically a thermos. You mix the yoghurt sachet with warm water, then put that container into the thermos with boiling water and leave overnight. Voila. Yoghurt made at home. Then add fruit.)

First Day! Still unsure about 800 for 8, will see how it goes.
B – 2 hard boiled eggs and 2 slices beefsteak tomato w/coffee & 2 Tbl of half & half
L – 2 Tbl Roasted red pepper Hummus, 1/4 cucumber, 2 small celery stalks & 1 radish
D – Progresso light Santa Fe chicken soup
Not sure if soup is on the program, but instant miso is processed & so are bouillon cubes, anyways, I’m @757 cals.

Hi TWSAndy

Welcome to you & your wife. Great to have you on the BSD ship. It’s definitely a voyage of discovery. You will find out what is good for you to eat & just how strong you can be mentally in doing it. You took the first step & we are here to help with all the rest
You are doing this for you, never mind the others, you are the ones that count. I’ve just finished 8 weeks & my husband did it too. The company was good to have & the results even better

Would you both please read & sign our petition. Click on forums & latest topics above. It’s in the Welcome to the BSD forum , Topic – Please sign our Petition. The Link & petition number is there.
Many thanks
Eureka

Hi, any suggestions for the best shakes/meal replacements to use for the first two weeks? Many thanks. Julia

Thanks Pmshrink I keep seeing that book mentioned so will get a copy, sounds interesting.

Hi, I don’t mind cooking, love it actually. I do need to speed up though which comes with practise. I’m of the see food and eat it variety whilst the hubby has more distinguished tastes coming from a family of chefs so he’s the one that complains. I just get on with it lols. Definitely trying some simpler things and going to basics me thinks. Going to try the books brownies tomorrow

Well done everyone!!!

I would also recommend dal, which I make with yellow split peas, mustard seed, cumin seed, Chile flakes, garlic, and onion. Works a treat and delicious!
Fry all ingredients except the split peas in some oil, then add water, simmer with the peas added til they’re soft.
Penny

Many thanks for kind words

Stringbreaker – onwards & downwards like it. Now if I were to have a tattoo…….

hashimoto – Up the Revolution!

Karra – and change will come x

Out of quotes, going to bed
Eureka

Yum Karra… I love cabbage rolls. ..envious of you with being satisfied with 500 calls, lol, I’m struggling to keep under 900.. looking forward to the recipe on the recipe thread. Dx

Ok. Week 1 results in. …… drum roll please. … 2.2 kg (4.8lbs) loss and 4cm (1.5″) off waist. FBS this morning 6.4. Oh yeah!!! One happy little vegemite here. 😎Dx

Hi Karra
Maybe you could post the recipe? Sounds good!
Penny

Hi Mylife
I get my info from Calorieking.com and put it into ‘my foods’ in MyFitnessPal app. That way I know it’s sccurate. MFP will then add the carbs etc up for you.
It’s all a learning curve!
Best of luck
Penny

Hi Nysilver,
I used to have quite a high FBS due to the dawn phenomenon. Then I started having a protein/fat snack before bed eg small cup milk +20g cheese and this really helped bring it down.
After starting the BSD I had great FBS until around week 4, took about 3 more weeks to settle. Now consistently under 5. Never been on meds. Still have warm milk at night just because I like it at bedtime.
See the rising fasting blood sugar levels thread to follow other peoples journey with this.
I’m sure yours will improve doing the BSD 🙂

Congratulations Bill, your posts and advice have been invaluable to me as a newbie. My first week weigh in today and results are great. As you say “onwards and upwards”…… but not “outwards”. Looking forward to continuing the journey with you as a mentor. Dx

Well put, eureka 🙂

Hi everyone,

I hope you don’t mind me posting but I have been reading the board and you all seem like a friendly and supportive group.

My wife and I have started the program today (I refuse to call it a diet, as always find they don’t work!!!)

Although I have been skeptical about the program I am surprised the first day has been, we worked out in total we have gad 597 calories and I know this is under the 800 we don’t feel overly hungry, slight rumblings but nothing major…

I suppose my issue with this will be my colleagues at work, they all think we are idiots for doing this and that it won’t last etc, some say we are making ourselves sick by doing it. This seems to be serving as motivation, I know why I want to do this and so does my wife, we want to be healthy, happy and hopefully start a family. For once in my life I don’t feel alone doing this as my best friend is with me, and I’ll prove everyone wrong!!!

I have a target of 3 stone to lose, this will take me to my lowest weight, I know it will be hard, but be worth it in the end.

Thanks for reading, sorry for waffling on!!!

Totally understood christine! You just do what you need to do and post when you have time. Enjoy your hols, yoy deserve them x

Hi everyone,
I just wanted to ask if anyone else was in this position?

I had chicken stir fry last night, and ate the extra 2 tablespoons of brown rice…. BIG MISTAKE!
I instantly wanted MORE! I didn’t have anymore though, but for the first time in a while i was hungry right after dinner. I was hungry ALL NIGHT!

I started to crave my normal late night snack- a cheese and tomato toasted sandwich….
So i made a smoothie, hoping the the yoghurt would satisfy me (instead of the cheese)…
No good… So i made an open cheese and tomato on vitawheat lunch slices (wholegrains, but has GL of 55)
Went off to bed and this morning I woke up with my tummy grumbling again!!! I haven’t felt overly hungry like this since i started the diet….
Good news is that i still lost .6kg
But I’m shocked at how hard my body craved and is now craving carbs…
How do we just eat little bits?
Will the cravings ease up further into the diet?
Thanks in advance!

Hi Bill1954

The first thing I said to you on 2.2.16 was ‘hang in there’. I was a week behind you & on hol at the time. Your post resonated with me & 8 weeks seemed a lifetime away!

Well hang in there you did. And look at you now! Despite setbacks & family stress ( so pleased for your daughter) you are king of the heap!! You have enough knowledge now about diabetes & how it affects you, that you can pass it on to help others. You should seriously think about being an expert patient. Wouldn’t you have liked that ear to talk to at one time? You have done so well, congratulations
Think about it
Eureka

Hi Justdoit
A lot of us go through these sort of difficulties.
You could have a look at Jenny Ruhls book ‘low carb problems solved’ (£3 on kindle) which I’ve found helpful.
Best of luck
Penny

Stringbreaker, did you find your fage yoghurt?

Hi red devil, welcome. Your nick makes me think of my favourite food – fiery red chillies.

I know what you mean about poached egg sans toast. I find a 2 egg omlette easier in that respect or an egg and some bacon and grilled tomato 🙂

Hi hashimoto
Thank you looking forward to losing more and keeping you posted!
Sorry not up to reading or posting much, I am shattered after the busy weekend with family, then having to do a quick turnaround ready for next visitors coming Thursday, then our holiday on Sunday, I will be ready to rest when I get to my destination on Sunday night!m

Hi Joanev
Good decision to join us on this diet!
Re lightheadedness, carbs and excercise. The idea is in cutting carbs right down you switch from carb burning to fat burning. This process takes 2-3 days during which time you ll probably feel hungry. After that you’re in fat burning mode, so you should feel fine, including when exercising.
Good luck
Penny

Well done Eureka, both you and your hubby are an inspiration to all of us just in the starting weeks, it really shows it can be done. You should really be proud of what you’ve accomplished in the 8 weeks and I’m sure you will continue on this journey as you know it does work, so it can only get better the longer you stay with the plan.

hugs
Karra

Hi Everyone,
Joanev I started this dietry change ytd and thought to make it easy on myself by following the book’s menu plan.
Wk1, Day1 was lovely. Two new ingredients for me eggplant and pomegranate seeds.
Strangest experience however was this mornings breakfast poached egg sans toast.
So far everything has been lovely .
Planning on joining the 8 week club in 8 weeks time. 😊
Red.

Hello Bill I have been following a lot of your posts, and was so very pleased for the out come of your daughters health scare. I have to say I did send out prays at the time for you all.
But now what lovely news, you have done so well, you do inspire me to keep at this way of eating, thank you for sharing your journey with us all.
All the best to you Bill, from Gail

Hi Skywalker I’m guessing that we must be approx same body shape and required weight loss. I don’t check BS daily get 6 months MOT for type 2 and have avoided medication other than BP and statins hopefully they will drop as well. 1st day in to post 8 weeks and as you say so easy
All the best

JB

They will be, joanev, they will be! 🙂

Hi eureka, welcome to the veterans club. You and hubby have acheived a lot in your first 8 weeks. I say ‘first’ because I think like me you don’t want to eat toxic carbs again!! 🙂

Hi Penny thanks for input. MRI never been talked about and though its easy to self diagnose and go down the wrong road I can relate to what you are saying. Have given up on GP and treating with MSN which now seems to be kicking in albeit extremely slowly or is it that knee not now under the same pressure as was 6 weeks ago, perhaps a bit of both? Anyway feeling a bit more mobile just in last day or so can only be good. Now over the 28pounds as well woohoo!!! All the best with your own progress

Jim

Eureka – Brillian!
Onwards and downwards.
Keep us posted.
John

Well today has gone really well. The blueberry and green tea shake was OK, I didn’t feel hungry until 12pm. The jewelled peppers were really nice but I used dried herbs that I already had in, it would have been even nicer with fresh herbs, I also enjoyed the lamb aubergine very filling. Let’s hope the rest of the 8 weeks will be as good.

Thanks lucia, say thanks to hubby as well. 162 yaaaaaaay

Hi Veterans

You have certainly earned that accolade after your war of attrition on carbs!

Today I’m finished; that is, just starting!
My 8 weeks was to see what , if anything , I could achieve. I’m 16lbs down, BMI down 28, waist 3.5 inches lost, hips 2 inches, thighs 2.5 inches. FBS 9.5 – 4.8 varying between these figures a lot. I will probably have to loose another 16 lb to give myself half a chance at consistent low BS. I really have to keep very low carbs, probably even ketogenic diet ( fat for fuel) in the end.
I’m happy, you see I relied on my knowledge gained from the 5:2 diet which took me 6 months to loose 2 stone
& my BS were still no better! BUT, I did this 8 weeks by eye! I didn’t count calories or weigh food. I know what 500 calories looks like.
I didn’t eat rice, pasta or sugar. I had potatoes 4 times & bread twice. They spiked me well & truly. I had 4 glasses of wine & 2 beers & 2 Mojitos in 8 weeks & I never finished one of them! I drank water like a fish & one glass of Fever Tree tonic with ice a day. I don’t like tea or coffee
My husband joined me on the diet as his BS were prediabetic. He lost 18 lb & BMI 25, now in 34inch trousers not 38inch! BS fine.
Now I get very serious. I know this is the eating life I (we) want to stay with – can stay with.
I have the knowledge, the power of choice & the great stories & witness you have all borne. This can be done
Too many carbs for type 2 diabetics are TOXIC.
‘ I do believe, we shall overcome one day’.

Eureka

Callmedeb, I was thinking the same lol 🙂

Hashimoto thanks for soup ideas – never tried courgette or asparagus in soup so will, and red onion/roast pepper with feta would be good.
FiFiP the reminder about all those cans of beans in the cupboard for rainy days also helped.

My leftover veg, bean and chorizo soup was excellent and filling. Clearing out the fridge before starting planning and balancing a bit more carefully …

Lynne – a scarily impressive performance.
Interested – I’m guessing you are using one of those Amazon blood sugar meters with strips?
I am hoping for a quick reversal in blood sugars since I am so newly diagnosed and have convinced myself that its all due to a viral illness, and if so, will not need a device. Beyond that I’d like to severely trim my waist and improve the way my body works to complement general fitness.

Strangely on day 1 + 4 [warm up] I am already feeling full of energy, as if something has lifted.

Thanks all for great encouragement to get going.

Hi lucia, great going, girl! I did send it to a few folks, so far only my son has signed. My dad doesn’t really get it. I’m hoping for a few more signatures. It is on my facebook too.

You are making a good job of persuading people to sign. I doff my hat 🙂

That’s amazing Lesley! You’re going to need to have it altered down at this rate 🙂

Hubby has just become 162 on the petition.
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi Hashimoto.

Email the link to other members of your family.
Ask them to click the link sent to their email.

Will try and get another three tomorrow.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi gang,
I have just read vic fish 37’s fantastic blog.
I think we all need to get tee shirts made with VIC FISH 37 on. What a role model. What a story, what an achievement.
I am going to read it again tomorrow and have a look at the website.
I hope everyone reads this blog.

Thanks vic fish 37 for sharing.

Love Lucia
Xxx

Hi Chicatwist and forum readers, I’ve been going for a 30 minute walk each day – not too strenuous – but there is 1 steep hill to get up. No ill effects and I find it ‘clears the head’ in a mindfulness kind of way.
Hi Cherrianne, How did the spaghetti squash go? When you said you’d purchased it at a road side stall it reminded me that there is some lovely fresh produce available at the various farmers markets. I came across a rockmelon sized zuchinni (courgette) at our local farmers market last month (I’d not come across one before).

B – full fat yogurt & frozen berries

L – red lentil & pancetta soup

D – roast beef, cauliflower, broccoli, savoy cabbage & gravy