Hi all. I am a 56 year old man, 6’2″ and 275 lbs. (188 centimeters and 125 kilos). I have the food, got a scale, am ready to get a good night’s sleep and begin the BSD Fast 800 in the morning. I am prediabetic, have high blood pressure, have some neurological issues that are probably related to blood sugar, and am just generally tired of feeling poorly. I overeat and consume a lot of sugar primarily for emotional reasons, looking forward to seeing if I can commit to this!

Well done Marjorie. You are right, there’s nothing to be gained by wasting time and energy beating yourself up for slips and blips. Think all of us identify with that syndrome, but I’ve found with the BSD it is so much easier to just get on track again the next day. We all need to be kind to ourselves and forgive ourselves when we err – we are human after all!

Best of luck everyone for great results at next weigh-in.

You’ll get through it csmcnevin and before you know it you’ll be forgetting to eat because you’re not hungry!

It really does get easier the longer you do it, just give your body time to adjust and acclimatise to it’s new fuel.

I’m two weeks in and have lost a little over a stone. I weigh myself every morning (a good motivator to what’s going to happen throughout the day!) and take blood glucose, waist and chest measurements once a week. I think measurements are very important because without them theres no numbers to backup all the effort you’re putting in. Sure, in a week or so your clothes will feel looser but I for one need to know something is actually happening the day after because the process is all largely unseen.

The most difficult thing for me was changing my attitude towards fats as in… eating it without the guilt! My problem before was that the fat generally came with a load of carbs. (love fast food, bread, potatoes but still waiting to not want it!!)

You’ll do it and theres loads of support here 😀

My hubby is also watching the footie but to be truthful I am also a closet fan! However I do get bored with it quite quickly, prefer the rough and tumble of rugby and much better eye candy! Very sexist of me but who cares.

Made prawn stir fry tonight with pak choi, mange tout, sugar snap peas, peppers, mushrooms, onion, courgetti, garlic, ginger, chilli and soy sauce. Calorie count less than 200.

Lucia you must work for some Dickensian company doing the hours that you do, I can thoroughly recommend retirement which I did at 56, went back about 3 months later and do about 12 hours a week and just work when it suits me on the nurse bank. After almost 38 years in the nhs felt it was time for some down time and lots of travel as I am a sun worshiper🏖🏝🌅

Hi Bill

I did my blood before lunch today, by coincidence and it was 9 something. I have had mayonnaise for the last few days and more protein. Before this diet I had already been pudding, chocolate and sweets free and always eat ready meals that were less than 10g of Sugar per hundred. I gave up take aways and had home made sweet and sour made with sweetener. The only thing I did that is different to this diet is that I had a sandwich and crisps for lunch and I had either potatoes, rice or pasta with my main meal. I also didn’t eat breakfast just had a cup of coffee instead. That was the way I ate since 2009 when I was diagnosed.

I am not avoiding fat, I just don’t seem to be eating much. It’s the funeral tomorrow so I’ll have a shake made with water in the morning and hummus with veg for tea and just eat the Tatie pot and trifle at the funeral tea and take the hit the day after!

The food industry are the biggest crooks of all. They’ve had the whole world duped! Hopefully the next time you see your aunt and uncle you will be looking both healthier and chilled out with all your new food knowledge!

I’ve had a pretty successful 8 weeks whilst eating porage for breakfast most days.
25g porage and made with water (try it – it really is OK – add a little cinnamon, half a dozen raisins and a 1/4 teaspoon of honey)
It must be proper rolled oats (as in Quaker “Old Fashioned”) and not instant.
The carbs are slow release and keep hunger away until luchtime.

Hi,
I just had chicken,bacon , spinach pasta, but without the pasta.
It was yummy.
I was head achy when I got home after a poor nights sleep. Took a couple of tablets and it’s an early night for me.

Hubby is watching the footy tonight, so I have to amuse myself. I will google some size 12 dresses and dream.

Hashimoto, it serves bill right for wanting me to chase him up and down the aisles in Asda. Bet you he’s going to look them up, as long as it’s not a mankini.

Sitting with my feet up, not doing anything crazy other than drink the pint of water beside me.
Tomorrow I will seize the day, today I am just holding it lightly
😝😝😝😝😝
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Thanks Penny, I’m guessing that it was probably at least part of the problem. Feel like I’m on track to hit my goal of a stone lost well before 8th April now. This Friday might throw up a small problem, as it is my husband’s birthday, but I will be sure to save plenty of cals and carbs during the day and keep the fluids up!

Well done Orchid and MaryR – did it seem like 8 weeks?

I too made it “over the line” on Monday

Jan 5:2 diet result -12lbs
Feb – Mar BSD result -23lbs

YTD -35lbs (didn’t measure anything else – just waiting for my trousers to fall down)

A huge “Thank you” to Prof Taylor, MM and everyone on the thread

Time to slowly up the kCals and see what happens.

Headaches often hit in the first week. Don’t be scared to take painkillers if needed, but they will subside eventually – if you have to work, you’ll probably want to get rid now rather than later though. You are certainly keeping well hydrated! On days when you know you won’t be home to eat at the end of the day, it’s probably worth putting a little extra thought as to how you are going to manage that, so that you don’t end the day feeling deprived. Maybe take a more substantial lunch with you and then a smaller finish to the day won’t feel so bad.

I’ve been looking at diabetes.co.uk. They are in favour of low carb for diabetics and have free downloadable recipe books, divided by types eh vegan, Italian, Indian etc. Which I downloaded. But unfortunately they seem to be low carb AND low fat – hopeless. But there are good recipes, just add fat!
Penny

Thank you for the link can’t believe it, when I was on a diet ( the sort of diet you do when you do it for 3 days…I would eat 4 bananas in a row!!! ) wow the education on food is complex

Good 2 words)) thanks for sharing)

Another hug squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze

Do you think the food industry are like the pharmaceutical industry ?? ( my uncle says the biggest crooks are the ones who wears a suit ) I kind of agreed but then I never saw El Chapo in a suit

My uncle/aunt said to me today that I am starting to look healthier, look stressed but healthier) only see them every 4 months so please that I had good feed back ( what a pun )))

Vegetables are a lot more appetising with butter, olive oil and/or cheese, all of which you can pretty much est freely when you are only counting carbs.

Yes, not good news I’m afraid. Of course fruit is better than cake. But veg are better than fruit. Of all the fruits, berries are the lowest, hence the berries with yoghurt which a lot of people have here.

Hey SunnyB

Thanks for the warm welcome and encouragement 🙂

Oh… how I dream of week 6 LOL

Road trip to Turkey sounds awesome and plenty of Med eating there to boot! I’m sure you’ll defo hit your target by then.

Thanks again 😀

Hi Bizzylizzy
It may have been on diet doctor. com
It really works for me to stay way under that – nearer 30g. But it depends on the individual.
Penny

20!!!!!! Arghhhhh thought fruit was good.

I ate an apple the size of a house yesterday

Ouch(( gutted

Going on the link now…..

Was skipping lunch and having an apple (

1 medium apple – 20g carbs

https://mobile.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/food/apples/carbohydrate

Hi Annie16
Well done for getting through the difficult bit!
Now for the reward.
The other reason- apart from remembering Fat is Our Friend – is that normally we re biting carbs which we re eating. If we stop eating them we burn stored fat. But that takes different enzymes in the body, and it takes 2-3 days to make them. So you feel starving, then it goes away
Penny

Lucia. Bill. Leotard? I’m splitting my sides x

I read somewhere on one of the forums about putting fruit flavoured teabags into sparkling water, this really makes a nice change to plain water and tastes lovely, it’s worth a try to give a bit of variety and zero calories.

Up the revolution FiFip! You and lynne are real BSD warriors.

Note to self: time I caught up with technology and bought a smart phone then I could join you two in deer stalker, magnifying glass in hand:)

Hi Rob

Sounds like you’ve had an interesting day. Your mind likes to race doesn’t it lol!

My words would be vanity and optimistic.

I don’t do porridge with water either, I cant remember if that figure included milk too, it might have done. But the point is, porridge is quite high in carbs I’m afraid.

Your posts are fine (and funny) – we often name each other if there is particular conversation we want to flag up so just keep ’em coming.

You need to be drinking as much as you can as it helps to de-tox and is needed to keep your bowels working. Tea, coffee and soft drinks (sugar free) do count towards your water but of course actual water is best if you can. 2 – 3 litres a day.

Go easy on the hugs, I suspect you might be quite strong!

The archaeology in orkney, Orchid I’m positively green x

Hi Rob
It’s not just calories in and out – carb calories can spike your blood sugar if there’s too much or the wrong sort ( eg sugar) whereas the same no of calories as fat won’t do that. It’s the blood sugar spiking that puts fat round the organs leading to diabetes.
As for the Egyptians – all such societies rise and fall – the Mesopotamians ( now Iraq/Iran), the Phoenicians, ( Syria), the Greeks, the Romans. No doubt one day the US and Western Europe will be little backwaters!
Penny

Hi Janet

Rule is 50 carbs per day

What’s the count for an apple??

Your very kind for doing this

Hi another learning day,
Just realised if I check my mail box your replies are there, ( I spend ages trawling through the the forums to see if I have had any replies ) so apologies to any one that I have not replied too. Will check mail daily now as I do need the support

Bad day for me today…..one of those days that need comfort eating,,,and I did but it was inform of the fish pie))) didn’t do the topping as I have no idea what that veg is that I was supposed to buy

I like
Carrots, turnips, sprouts, cabbage, jolly green giant peas, leek ( I am Welsh)))) here’s some more useless infor…what do Wales have daffodils and leeks as their emblem ?? Answer….Saint David during a battle with the Anglo Saxons informed the soldiers to wear the leek in their hat to show who is friend or foe!! The Latin word for leek is the same for leek so when the word spread we used both!!! The war was in year 500) like eggs, steak, chicken, porridge ( please tell me I can eat that??? And if so how much ???) aubergine …well so far every thing in the book ( still sticking to it ) except for walnuts/avacardo

Answer to my previous question …what happened to the Egyptians …rem the next biggest structure after the pyramid ( proven night as the fire that burnt down the Lincoln cathedral can not be incl ) Eiffel Tower!!! Any way the answe is someone said it was the work of the devil to do arithmetic/science!!! So they slowly were over taken in the education dept!!

Will be booking dr appointment tomorrow for the next 2 weeks for bloods and cholesterol test…

Bought scales yesterday))) long way to go tho ((( arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Janet just seen your menu….looking at it, made me feel as if I was in macie d’s thank you)))) squeeeeeeeze/hug but porridge with water yuk won’t being eating that.

Is it ok to drink 2 pints of water day

Orchid…have you read up on the four horse men? It highlights exactly what you just said

Is this the best way to reply to all ? Or individual ones better??

TO ALL……one word to describe why your doing the diet..( love, health, image ??? And 1 word to say how you feel right now…( happy, starving, lethargic , lonely …etc

Mine, health and desolate

Keetz- Glad to help! ☺️

Hi Keetz
I think it’s fairly normal to feel thirsty when you first start drinking a lot of water. Possibly our thirst alarm is usually somewhat repressed by never drinking enough. Now it’s going off all the time! But it will calm down.
Penny

Yes, I agree its too easy to micro-manage every tiny gain and loss but its not really a healthy state of mind. I lost a stone in around 9 weeks and have another stone to go. But having got half way, I find my state of mind is much more relaxed and I am not weighing every day now. I don’t even count my carbs that strictly, I know roughly what my regular foods are and I still manage to get a very naughty latte in there for 15g a day. I would probably have lost an extra five pound by now without the lattes but I’m just not ready to let them go!

Hi Sunnyb
Yes I think poor hydration could have done it. And water is heavy, so if you retain it ….
Penny

I was planning on sticking with the 800 calories until I had lost at least another stone. Hoping that is OK as I am sure I read it somewhere in the book!

I am surprised when I have thiings, like a white wine or a gin and tonic at how little I am now enjoying them. Doesn’t mean I don’t keep trying though!!

Thanks for your support, appreciated, I am trying harder now 🙂 x

Hi Inka
I feel for you – sinus infection is nasty.
I don’t see why the antibiotics will be a problem.
Hope you feel better soon.
Penny

So while I am slaving here, chained to my desk for another hour. You are all partying. Got fed up and snuk to the cloakroom and my phone. 😇

Glad the money and the compensation has been received.
Glad you are all losing pounds , stones, etc.

Walked this morning before work and got soaked, I don’t know if it is the walking or I have shrunk in the rain but I am going the right way.

Love the idea Bill wants me to help him lose weight. I am into yoga at the moment, do you fit into your leotard Bill?

Got to go, speak soon. Don’t want to be nabbed in the phone.
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi melnz
Well done with the weight loss!
The the afternoons- Michael says have lots of soup, so that would be a good time to do that.
Hope it helps
Penny

Thanks guys 🙂

Treeponey – wow! That weight loss is incredible! Brilliant stuff. Very inspirational.

Sunny B – thanks for the kind advice. Today was a bit messy as i wasnt home for dinner so had to grab something out and eat on the run which made it seem extra fleeting! If i was at home, i would’ve tried to have an omelette or chicken salad or something. Guess its about being more organised. I also had a headache today for the first time (i’ve drank almost 4 litres of water today… to try and get rid of it!) but its still there. A mugginess 🙁

Fantastic Lynne!

Enjoy your dance.

Btw, i did have my raggedy days, my days of plateaus and discouragement. But the blogs really did help with the encouragement. I think that it was soooo important for me to succeed, that every little set back was over emphasized in my mind. Once the diet became second nature around the 5th week or so, it was much smoother going. It was a piece of cake by the end of the 8th week. And now that I’ve figured out the 50 grams of carbs or less a day, I’m peaceful. And yes, I do Love a pat of butter on a small piece of bread, lol. It is quite the treat for me!

Yes, 3 of course, sorry!

I know what you mean about hyperactivity, mind you that’s back down to diet, which brings it back to sugar + refined carbs…..

Anyone seen the 2 Jacques Peretti documentaries on BBC2 last year, The Men who Made us Fat, as well as The Men Who Made us Thin?

Compulsive viewing, both are ‘must-sees’, establishes when the fat-epidemic all started…. with maize, the US Govt subsidised production of this crop immediately post the Great Depression era…..then in the 1970’s the food businesses started introducing the by-product, corn syrup into food to bring costs down……..

I think it’s on You Tube now.

Thanks Janet. It has been a long haul, but the fast weight loss was truly a great motivation.
I would say that if I eat 800 calories, keep the carbs down on day one after indiscretions, ah hem, that it is the middle of the second day of low carb that the hunger stops.
I simply allow myself to be hungry! until i get to the ketosis, which signifies itself with a sweet tasting mouth for me. 🙂

Hi csmcnevin
Well done on getting to day 3 and sticking to the daily 800cals. It sounds like you are being a bit too harsh with yourself though, by not having fat and protein at the beginning of the day. Try having some full fat yogurt with fruit and a few nuts first thing and you will probably find you don’t need all the snacks during the morning. If you manage you calories well, you should be able to have a proper meal in the evenings – something with meat/eggs/fish and salad/veggies. Remember fat is important for getting your body into fat burning mode and it is also important to make sure you are well hydrated, which will also help to keep the pangs at bay.

The BSD is all about retraining our bodies with regard to food and is not just about what we eat, but how and when, so may be consider trying to change you pattern of eating, so you can save some calories from snacks, for a satisfying meal once a day.

The first week is a shock to the body, but it will get easier as your body becomes accustomed to the new regime and the hunger pangs will die down and become more easily manageable.

Best of luck with the rest of the week and we’ll all look forward to reading your results soon.

Another set of tricks that I use.
The first meal is usually eggs per Dr. Mosley with ghee or coconut oil and flax seed meal to um, keep things moving.
The second meal I also keep the carbs down.
The third meal usually has legumes in it to give me sustained energy through the night so that i sleep better. According to my doc this has something to do with epinepheran and low cortisol (i don’t produce hydrocortisone).
If i feel puny, i eat a small mandarin orange, kiwi, or berries. But, at the END of the meal at my doc’s recommendation.
He said that the fat and protein stabilize the blood sugar and it doesn’t go up as high when carbs are then introduced.
Because i am not on medication for diabetes and have more freedom than most, i try to ‘fast’ longer periods between my last meal and breakfast and do not snack. This helps with fat burning per my doc and is quite easy now that i’m in fat burning mode.

Hi Gateofheaven

Thank you for your insights, there is so much in there that I can identify with. I am also only counting 50g carbs a day and losing weight at about your rate. I wonder how long it takes for the ketostix to stop working? I guess they never stop working if I keep falling off the wagon and so out of ketosis? I certainly don’t bounce back into ketosis as quickly as you, I’m averaging 2-3 days to get back there. I will also be interested to see what my next thyroid test shows. Thanks again and best wishes.

Thanks for the suggestions.

There were some things I needed, so they’re on order still some credit left though.

Judith, great idea about Christmas presents. I only see them a few times a year and their tastes change so much, that last Christmas I sent money. Apparently that went down really well. The girls spent it in the sales on what they wanted (rather than what I thought they would like (not necessarily the same thing). I also sent cash to,their parents – money is tight for them so I thought that was better than sending ‘stuff’. Again, it went down well. Don’t normally like sending money, but it works really well.

Bill, I have bought some new clothes, but don’t want to get too many until closer to my holidays in June. Wore a new top today in a size I’ve not been in for years 😃

Wow Lynne. That is fantastic. A huge well done!

Bill: Please don’t ever ‘fade away’. I’m sure I’m not alone in disliking the idea immensely!

Yes, it does get easier!

I am halfway though my “last” week… and have lost 9kgs. Not as much as some, but I’m happy with that and fully intending to keep going. I’ve low carbed more or less since I was diagnosed 4 years ago, so this is really just an extension of that.

Good Luck!

TP

Wasn’t a deerstalker – more Miss Marple LOL. At least we have camera phones now, much more discreet!

There at least 3 epidemics: diabetes, dementia and obesity. And let’s not forget hyperactivity – I’ve seen how my granddaughters act after a Subway kids meal😱 They were nearly running round the walls.!

Excellent article Bill, thank you.
My doc wrote up research discussing why we should be eating high fat and low carb. Basically we want to burn fat, not protein, nor carb. It took me several weeks to be comfortable eating fats after having 65 years of believing fat = fat. When I shifted my calories away from carbs to fat, I started feeling much better, less to no hunger despite being on high doses of prednisone. Think about the way they fatten up cattle. They put them in a feed-grain (high carb, low fat) lot and they gain immense amounts of weight. The doc also said that prime athletes with only 4% fat can go farther and longer if they are burning fat. They run out of carbs and protein quicker.

My doctor said that one receives sustained levels of energy burning fat and that the mind becomes clearer. I have found this to be true.

I experimented and came up with 50 carbs or less a day based upon my own experience.
However, I wish I had known ahead of time about ketostix, so that I could have refined exactly how many carbs i could get away with, lol. But, by the time I did my doctor said it was too late. In the beginning the stix will show ketones being thrown by the body. But at some point, the brain and body, as he said, “WOW, we like that stuff and let’s retain the ketones”. That’s why the ketostix won’t work after a while. You are no longer throwing ketones, your body is retaining them and using them as a preferred fuel. Note symptoms of ketosis like a sweet taste in the mouth, thirst. These and other symptoms can be googled.

I am well beyond the 8 weeks. During the 8 weeks, I followed the diet to a T. Weighed everything, counted every calorie. I lost 30 pounds and 5″ around my waist. Interestingly, I had to take large doses of prednisone through out the diet and in the early stages thought I could gnaw my arm off! The last time that I needed high-dose prednisone i had NO hunger what so ever. Hot diggity dog!

The only mistake I made was when I first came off of the 800/8 week process and I wasn’t quite sure what Dr. Mosley was having us do. I started eating ‘normal’ amounts of carbs and gained weight. Ultimately I found that bottom line, if i wanted to keep the weight loss going, I ONLY needed to keep the carbs under 50 grams and keep the fat up. Also, 50 grams of protein per Dr. Mosley. I could eat normal amounts of food and continue losing weight.

Frankly, I had had enough of counting and weighing etc. I do one day of 800 calories a week and keep up the low carbs, high fat, and 50 grams of protein the rest of the week. That’s all. By now I have a pretty good idea of what 50 grams of protein and carbs look like. Same with how much fat I need to eat. I have a diary of carbs that i eat regularly plus the ones that are treats. I just keep treats et al under 50. I was losing about 3 1/2 pounds a week with the daily 800 calories and now I’m losing about 1 1/2 pounds weekly. And this is with no exercise do to an accident injury. My blood sugars stabilized around 74 from 112 about the 5th week.

I toyed with continuing the 800/day diet, but had to discontinue the rigorous 800 calories because my endocrine system, particularly the thyroid was showing sub-par functioning through regular testing. This was predicted by my doc who said that rigorous dieting could affect the thyroid. He was watching for other signs of low thyroid. By the 7th week, the thyroid functioning had gone from high normal to low normal, so I knew that 8 weeks would be all that would be wise.

I have multiple autoimmune illnesses in addition to pituitary insufficiency. I had to watch blood pressure particularly as it went down way too low. Much salt and extra hydrocortisone later, I no longer faint.

While most would probably say that i should not have done this diet, with very careful and constant monitoring on my part and excellent doctor oversee, it was and is possible. I will say that the first week or two, I didn’t feel so hot. I learned that extra water and salt were very necessary.

I am not hungry. I have had a day here and there of dietary “indiscretion” and yet seem to bounce right back into no hunger and ketosis within a day. Because I must eat to take the medications, it sometimes is a hilarious process. I don’t want to eat, but must and i find that very funny after years of struggling.

Wishing you all the very best!

Hi all,

Just starting this whole thing – i thought i would NEVER be able to do only 800 kcals a day (I eat healthy snacks all through the day, and am renowned for never missing a meal!), but here I am on day three. Found day one and two very manageable…. but day three is haaarrrddd! I think its because I started the day with Zoats (zuchinni oatmeal – very american!) and broccoli soup for lunch so havent eaten enough fat and protein today. I just had a protein bar and some greek yogurt bringing me to 741 calories for the day. But i want to eat a proper meal! Determined to stick it out but in need of some encourgement! It gets easier right??

Thanks!
C