Haha hashimoto im lactose intollerant!

I just bought a bathroom scale from woolies. Price was 25.00. Scanned it promotion 15.00. Scanned my rewards card 5.00! Lmao its like fated!

Reached home weighed in 89kg! First time in years im under 90! Pretty sure i shed 4 to 5 kilos! How is this possible!

Very pumped!

Hi Cherrianne, there are several ways of cooking spaghetti squash: bake, microwave, boil. I’ve only ever baked it using the following method. Heat oven to 180C. Pierce the spaghetti squash all over, smear with olive oil (like you would eggplant and capsicum), place on baking sheet whole and bake for 40 mins – 60 mins depending on the size of the squash. Then cut in half, remove seeds and strands of flesh resembling spaghetti. I’ve only ever used it as a spaghetti substitute. There may be others out there that have different uses.

Hi,
I’ve been lurking in the shadows for a while, now on day 6.. Just wanted to say a big Thank you … All the information you share has been a god send, first day was really stressful, but reading through all the posts understand it so much better now and Calorie counting has never been my thing 😝 I’m totalling my Calories, Carbs and Protein .. BUT .. Can’t remember where the protein part came in, remember reading it on one of the posts said to try and stay under 45g per day ? I think it had to do if you were counting Carbs side of things .. Any help and I site would be appreciated ..
Thank you 💙D X

Hi Switzerland and Cherrieanne,

I look forward to doing this journey with you. Great to meet another vegetarian TOFI too :). I’ll be scrolling through the vegetarian recipes on this site. I don’t know if I can keep off the bread and I love cereals. Wish I’d know that they were not very healthy.

Cheers,
Vyvyen

just checking in to say after a few days of stable weight, it has now gone down – so moving in the right direction again, so hanging in there really does work.

and the other thing I say to myself is that muscle (in a certain volume) is heavier than fat (in the same volume) thing. I have been working hard in the gym, and a smaller fitter body of the same weight is ok, especially when only part way through.

Hi Vyvyen, welcome to the BSD way of life. I’m vegetarian too and a TOFI, my blood sugars are stable in the non diabetic range since doing the fast 800.
There are some really nice vegetarian recipes on the site. I can recommend the courgette bhajis and stuffed peppers.
You’ll soon have your carb addiction under control 🙂

Thanks for that Switzerland, it’s pretty cool here in the Adelaide Hills and I’ve seen a sign at a roadside stall for spaghetti squash. I’ve heard of them but no idea how to prepare or cook. Any tips? I’d love to try it as we are vegetarian and always open to trying new veg 🙂

Hi Vyvyen, Welcome to the BSD. The posts on the forums are such a support. I’m looking forward to sharing your journey. The book and the forums are such an inspiration. I’m Week 1 Day 3 and sat down to a bowl of cauliflower soup at lunch. I ate 3/4 of the bowl and stopped because I felt full. I cannot tell you the last time I actually felt satisfied by 3/4 of any meal! Let everyone know how you’re going.

I’ve been looking into the Uric acid/gout thing over the past few days. Turns out that low carb/high protein diets are not recommended as these naturally increase the amount of purines in the body which leads to higher Uric acid levels. Now I know why the levels are high I can safely explain this to the quack on my next visit. I’ll be introducing blueberries and cherries into my diet and cutting down on red meats. Looks like it’s white fish and veggies for me!

Hi Cherianne and Chicatwist, Another handy low carb alternative to traditional pasta is Spaghetti Squash. In the cooler parts of Australia they’re being harvested/almost ready to harvest depending on your exact location. 1/2 cup cooked spaghetti squash has 4 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fibre and 21 calories.

Hello,

Bought this book a couple of weeks ago as I tested my fbg for the first time ever and it was 5.8. Thought I’d better get my act together with a family history of diabetes and heart attacks. I’ve had a good run for 57 years eating anything and everything and never worrying about weight gain. I’ve now discovered I must be a TOFI. My only weight is in the middle. I’m also a vegetarian that’s addicted to carbs and sugar! Really looking forward to going through this journey and lifestyle change with everyone on here.

Vyvyen

Hi MerryMary

great to hear your story. I wasn’t around when they handed out height either, and am also enjoying autumn days of 32º.

Sounds like you’ve done some great preparation, and I think that’ll really help when you’re tired and coming off night shifts. A quick trick I’ve used is an “antipasto” type plate with a couple of slices of salami, a few cubes of feta, some olives and chunks of capsicum, tomato, cucumber – whatever I can find in the fridge, and found it surprisingly effective.

Remember when you fall off, and I’d guess most of us do, get back on. It gets easier with practice. And do use the forums – there’s lots of support, at all times of day or night. I was sure this morning I wanted cake with my coffee, but checked on the forums before I went out and had just the coffee. Also walked past the chocolate and yummy cup cake shop!!

so good luck, and keep posting. lots of us will be glad to hear of your ups, and downs, and ups again.

Hi MerryMary,

I too am in Australia and have started the BSD today, 3rd April. We are going on an overseas trip in eight weeks and I want to hop on the plane much lighter, smaller and fitter than I am today. Like you I am height challenged and before menopause was reasonably OK at 60 kilos but since then my weight has just slowly crept up and up and I am now at 66 years of age 13kilos heavier with a fat tummy and high cholesterol. I thought when I retired I would be able to take it off but have failed dismally.
Despite walking every day, doing yoga and gardening lots I still puff whenever I walk up hills and overheat really easily. Am scared that I will just have a heart attack and die in five years time as did my aunt.
I have tried every diet known to woman and have always found low carb worked but its just not doing the trick anymore. Fine for maintenance but not losing weight. On the 5:2 I lose on the fast day and within a day or two have crept up again.I like alcohol more than I should and find if I drink wine before I know it I am reaching for the chocolate….so no alcohol for 8 weeks. Have joined the gym and am feeling very committed. I want my healthy fit body back again.
Would love to know if any one has any delicious fish recipes.

Thanks for the great support as we are starting the 800Cal plan tomorrow. We are using one of the online apps to manage the daily diet. Are we correct in aiming for the following? (Calories=800, Carbs=50, Fat=??, Protein=60, Sodium=??, Sugar=10). Is this the same for him & her?

Hi MerryMary, I also commenced BSD 800 on April 1. So far, so good. I got REALLY hungry yesterday and everytime I wanted to eat outside of BSD guidelines I reached for water. The water (and the many trips to the loo) distracted me enough to stick to the 800! I weighed myself today: 1kg down and 1cm down on waist circumference. Still a long way to go but very motivating results. It’s great to be on this journey with you.

Choose health!

Thanks Allychatt. Clearly stated. I’ll stick to counting calories 👍

Hi merrymary, I. Started out at 11stone 10lbs and am now 9 stone 1lb and now have a bmi if 21.7 so I’m pretty happy with that. I increased my calories a few weeks ago and according to the ketostix I am still fat burning – I’m losing ounces rather than pounds but I’m hapy with that. I’m wearing clothes which haven’t seen the light of day for over 10 years!! Today I treatedmyself to 2 new frocks. I have only worn jeans fir years asthey helped to disguise mybelly fat!

This diet is wonderful!

I agree with you about lucia’s posts, she should be a newspaper columnist!! 🙂 x

I love avocado mmmmmmmmm

Hi Lucia,
I seriously believe you are an author in disguise! I love your posts so much. I would buy your book if you wrote one??!! I am in Australia and am just starting day 3 of the BSD. I have read some but not all of your posts. Together with Bill, Hashimoto and Cherianne I feel like I belong here. (I haven’t read everyone’s posts) 😊
Are you all happy with the weight loss you achieved in the 8 weeks? I can’t find anywhere if you have said how much you lost? You are all so inspiring! I am starting to feel better already.
I hope I get to chat with you along my 8 week journey.
I’m going to the kitchen to make my breakfast – an egg with avocado! Yum!!
Chat soon
Love MerryMary xo

My skin is becoming very dry and itchy. I’m having to slap on the body lotion several times a day when possible. I hardly ever used it before. Anyone else experienced this? It’s beginning to get unpleasant. I am drinking loads of water and eating well and weight loss progressing but wondering if this is yet another side effect of the low carbon diet

I agree cherrieanne, my dad says it wasn’t to do with the war as his father trained the family that way, but dad was born 1925 so his dad had gone through the first world war and dad was born only 7 years after it ended. Perhaps people prior to WW1 were so much more savvy than todays generations? It ties in with food history in Tudor, Victorian and edwardian times. We are the lucky ones whose grandparents and parents knew the old ways.

I love cauli leaves too. Brocolli stems have more nutrients than florets etc. Now some fat cat is.making mega bucks from stripping leaves off veg and selling it as super food!. They’ll do the same with turnip tops when they realize they are edible. 🙁

CaptainLynne

Now I’ve seen your latest post I understand why your son and d.i.l. didn’t mention how good you are looking. I suspect they don’t want to admit that they have a problem, so if they don’t acknowledge that your problem is disappearing (along with the excess lbs), they don’t have to admit to theirs!

You just keep on keeping on. Do yourself up to the nines this Wednesday and trust that your friends will be able to share in your success – all of us on these forums certainly are!

Hope you have a lovely time with the girls. As long as they like what they are eating, it won’t matter to them how healthy it is….

Janice xxx

So glad I’m not the only one who enjoys the leaves! I’m especially fond of cauli leaves they are tender and sweet. I use the stems of broccoli in stir fries, coleslaw and soups. My Mum taught us to save the water veg was cooked in to use for gravy and soup. I think those people who grew up in the war time rationing appreciate the need to use all the food and vitamins.

Hi hashimoto,
When I logged on earlier there were thousands of posts with phone numbers very weird, then when I had finished my post I went back on the forums they were all gone, obviously a bit of a blip!
Be seeing you on the eight weeks and after forum on Monday! See you yippee
Christine

Hi all, well I have begun the 8 week challenge of the BSD!! 2 days down and feeling great! Peeing like never before so clearly losing some fluid. I’m not going to weight myself till tomorrow. I figure twice a week is enough without getting too paranoid. I will switch to once a week as time goes on. I cleared out the cupboards of anything tempting but my head is in the right place now so I’m very motivated. Something I have done to help with shift work and to get through the first week is order fresh “Clean and Lean” Youfoodz meals dor dinners. It is a company here in Australia that delivers to your door in an ice packed esky cooler. They aren’t frozen so low in sodium and meals are great like poached chicken and asparagus and quinoa salad. Small portion sizes too. Average calories per serve is 350 so a good dinner amount. I made a slow cooker full of my very low calorie chicken soup too so that is helping for work lunches.
If anyone has good ideas for easy quick recipes I am open to suggestions??
It’s so good knowing there is support here. Hope everyone is well? MM xo

I just made and ate 3 of one of my favorite dishes – homemade cabbage rolls. I bought the mince from Farm Foods, it’s low fat and low carb, but tastes pretty good. Rice is the barenaked rice which is also low fat and low carbs, cabbage low in everything, tomato soup (high in carbs) and tomato juice and one onion. I made a total of 18 rolls, and divided them up into little foil containers for future meals. After having calculated the calories, it works out to around 220 calories per meal give or take a few calories. They were absolutely delicious, had them with green beans for another 34 cals. Even with having Yoghurt twice today before and after my main meal (and feeling very very full) I am still below 500 calories for the day. Happened to me yesterday too, it worked out to just under 500 cal.

Now off to do some situps, then the Wii Fit, and finally the Rowing machine. I even managed a longer walk today with our dog. Poor thing doesn’t remember the word “Walk” anymore as it’s been far too long since I took him out.

Hope you’re all having a good weekend.

hugs
Karra

That’s interesting but includes stevia – a sweetener!

Hi Chicatwist,
The BSD counts calories for quick weight loss, possibly because it is what people are used to, and it is what the original research used.
Those of us who are diabetic are keeping our carbs low because this stabilises blood sugars quite reliably. Anything under 50g carb per day will lower blood sugar and achieve weight loss.
You will lose weight either way you choose to go. If you are diabetic, I would recommend counting carbs. It is a good way of educating yourself about which foods and what size portions are best for blood sugar control once you have lost weight.
Keep posting, and reading, you will pick up plenty of advice and your successes will inspire others. 🙂

Sadly, orchid, barley, wheat and rye are the three main sources of gluten 🙁
Sounds like our mothers made similar soups! 🙂

Did you also get apple dumplings with golden syrup on top when there were plenty of windfalls? 🙂

Thanks hashimoto!

I wish I could post a picture, the snow is sticking now. It looks like a wonderland! So pretty!

Roads should stay fine though. Fingers crossed!

I’m definitely rooting for the angel, there will be fries (on other people’s plates) tonight, lol.

Deb

Hi all, I’ve been slowly learning how this new way of eating works and have been reading forum posts with interest. There are a lot of interesting and intelligent points being made.

When it comes to toothpaste I’m very tempted to start making my own, am generally trying to get rid of chemically based stuff in my life. I came across this post on the subject and hope it’s of interest

http://familysponge.com/health/coconut-oil/homemade-toothpaste-coconut-oil/

Well, thanks Cherrianne., very handy app. I was wondering though do we count calories or carbs for the best results. Some foods are high in calories low in carbs eg rockmelon. Any suggestions? I’m relatively new to this plan 😀

Hi deb, your weather sounds as good as mine! Stay strong tonight, your dream was obviously that little angel on your shoulder!

Enjoy your evening witb your friends 🙂

I hadn’t seen the news, but funnily enough I was in the orange supermarket a few hours ago and saw a bag of brocolli leaves. That was a new one on me and I did a double take to check I really had read the label right! I always cook the whole head, leaves, stalks and all but was surprised that folk would pay for leaves only. And yes I was always taught to add veg water to soup or gravy too. These days I tend to steam them in the microwave though so not much water to add.

Hi julia18 Togo

I will stay on the full diet next week, then next Sunday we go off to Tenerife for a week, where I will eat mainly Mediterranean food with the occasional coffee latte or a piece of choc or ice cream, then when I get back it will be back to the diet until I feel happy with the weight, then do the 5-2 or again occasional 800 week whatever I feel comfy with.
I’m hoping my sugar addiction will have been kicked into touch, however I know I won’t be able to resist certain foods, my daughter who has come for the weekend, with her husband and three of her four boys, was impressed that I had resisted the chocolate cake with cream and mint icing! And ! She noticed straight away that I had lost weight, so I feel that was a real positive for me.

Well done christi, keep posting when over the 8 week line! 🙂

What’s all this about phone numbers! X

Hi Hashimoto, I need to do a bit more background reading as I was sure I had read that Barley was gluten-free! So sorry you can’t eat it any more 🙁 My mother made a very similar soup to that one! My other favourite she used to make was kidney soup – yes really. It was a ham stock, lots of root vegetables, cabbage and kidneys chopped into it with dough-balls (with thyme in them) on top! A meal in one. Not something she made often as it was a lot of prep and cooking, but absolutely lovely.
I can just see kids faces today if they got that put in front of them!

Julia that made me giggle !
My father always says the same re frozen veg. 🙂

Did you see the news about kale being superceded by another range of veg? It included things like the leaves off brocolli et al ? Really?? It’s new? My dad is 90 and he has always said you should cook the cauli leaves with the cauli etc. That cabbage water was too rich in vitamins to throw away – you drank it or added it to the gravy rather than plain water. His is the generation that ate butter,cooked their roasties in goose fat etc. Looks like they knew more than us! 🙂

Happy Saturday!

Just finished making a batch of my Easy Chili (recepie added to the site) so that I have lunch for tomorrow and for the rest of the week.

It’s been sunny, then blizzard, then sunny, then blizzard… All day. Currently snowing, but nothing is sticking to the ground thank gods.

I had a dream last night that I was out with friends at a local fast food place and was being soooo good, until I ordered large fries. The order that came was the size of a cafeteria tray, piled high. I ate two of them and then threw the rest away. I’ve felt guilty about the two I ate in my dream all day. Isn’t our brain fun? I should be impressed that dream me threw the fries out!

Tonight will be a test. I am actually going out with my girlfriends for dinner. I have already planned my meal, and the few who know what I’m doing have promised to keep me on track if I look like I’m about to stray.

Hope everyone has a great evening! It’s weigh in day tomorrow!

Cheers,

Deb

Christi well done on making it this far and don’t leave us!

Judith – if you carry on with this progress you’ll have men queueing up to offer assistance with unzipping your dress 😃.

Lucia – frozen veg is often better than salad. I read once that for every day fresh veg sits on a shelf it loses 10% of its vitamins, whereas frozen veg is frozen soon after harvest so providing you don’t drown them totally when cooking you are getting the vitamins and not the drain. Anyway there is nothing better than green beans briefly sautéed with a knob of butter and a clove of crushed garlic. Although your colleagues might not agree 😃

Thanks julia. I’m hoping for better weather to enable me to get into the garden too 🙂

I am on the eve of my last day on the eight week diet, I have just fed 12 for dinner, with chocolate cake, scones and Easter eggs, I did succumb to a bit of scone! Daughter and husband decided to share one between them so I had a third of hubbys, plus a square of green and blacks choc, ( still under 50 g carbs though)’it will have played havoc with my last weigh in, On Monday but hey you have to join in the celebrations some times don’t you? This was a late Easter gathering and an early birthday party (for me) so I allowed myself forbidden fruits!
Tomorrow is my last day on the diet! I am going to try and be good, chicken for lunch (for 12 again) and no dessert for me, honest, I had my naughty fling this evening,
On a totally random point, what is happening to our forum posts? I just logged on and there are, it seems, thousands of unrelated posts on numerous errors topics with phone numbers etc, what’s going on?

Seems like lots of us are enjoying new clothes. And I love the idea of the hair getting done and lippy going on as well as the new clothes for a midweek lunch, Judith! Knock ’em dead, I say!

I feel like I am getting to know you all so well. What heartache so many have gone through and yet what generosity of spirit on this brilliant forum. It must be one of few where there is no backstabbing. Just overwhelming support.

So many good things I am learning here from you all and not only about the diet. Have a good Sunday everyone – am hoping for less rain up here tomorrow so I can finish sanding the shed and tidying my garden 😊

Hi Fifip. Prunes are definitely not a banned substance. Michael directs us to low GI and hi-fibre foods. Prunes are highly recommended on low GI as are kumara (orange sweet potato). I know as both are ‘sweet’ it seems counter intuitive but so long as you watch your quantities and fit them into the overall 800 calories it will be fine and the increase of fibre will help with constipation and your weight loss. Im finding including legumes such as chick peas, black eyed beans etc is also helpful with constipation. I cook them myself from dried varieties so that i get them as tender as I like them and know there are no additives. Keep your fluids up too. Good luck.

Thanks orchid, its lovely not to look 6 months pregnant in a dress at 63! 🙂

I tried these and they were a total disaster – the birds got them. And I was upset too by the waste of money and ingredients. I’ve decided not to try any of the “sweet” recipes in the book. That recipe can’t have been tested, can it?

Captainlynne, I so felt for you when I read you post. Sometimes people are scared to say something in case they are wrong or are worried you are ill! They may also have seen some thing different and were not sure what it was. A friend was telling me last week that she had straightened her hair the day before, and people who knew her were asking if she had started wearing glasses (she has always worn glasses) or if she had got new glasses! They knew there was something different, but could not pin it down!
I am going home in 3 weeks, not sure if anyone will notice or not. I do expect a ‘you are looking well’, but not much more. We are still grieving my sister-in-laws death (she would have noticed!) plus nephew has important exams so there is so much going on. However, like you – this is for me and not for anyone else. I am having a great time on this journey and trying on different clothes from the back of the wardrobe each night. I know there is a big difference!
Keep up the great work.

Hi lynne, what a problem you have there.

It might not sit well with you but I wouldn’t say anything to the twins, just adjust their diet to a healthy one. I doubt the family would think twice about a cooked breakfast or fruit and yoghurt as anything other than breakfast.

A bit trickier when son and d in l come, if they comment on no starchy food on your plate explain you are having to cut starchy carbs for medical reasons – which is true – and hope they don’t make a fuss. If they do, could you say you are doing it under medical supervision – you are going to your diabetes clinic regularly so if it was causing you health problems it would come to light. Not too much of a stretch of the truth.

I feel for you because you are in a tricky non supportive situation with your family.
You are right to worry about your d in l. Cruising to disaster with her eyes wide shut.

Are your son’s professionals medical people?

X

Well done Hashimoto – lovely feeling to get into something you did not expect to – congrats.