I checked out mfp and found it highly confusing as I can’t seem to put specific measurements in – for example, half-a-tsp of butter.

I need to count every calorie and stick to the recipe instructions like glue to be sure that I’m doing the right thing in the right way. If I use guesstimates and improvise and substitute one ingredient for another, I won’t stick to it – especially if I don’t lose weight or my weight plateaus. I will lose faith and give up.

Also, as others have said, I have found quite a number of differing calories for the same food.

I think I’m going ok with the 8WBSD meals. I’ve now used most of the recipes and I’m losing weight fast. I’ve lost one stone (14lbs) in 19 days and feel (and look!) like a different person already.

I am on day 7 today. Got no energy, I’ve not been hungry since day 3. I’m actually at a Tractor show and had to put a stall up and unload my van. It was fine on Friday putting it all up. However, I’m dreading taking it down later today because the energy has vanished. Can’t really be bothered to write this post if I’m honest. But thought some of you may be able to give me some ideas of how to boost it. Thanks in advance

Goodluck Kev keep posting I’m enjoying the read.

came across this very funny account of someone making their own tonic water (complete with recipe!)
http://portlandfoodanddrink.com/making-tonic-water-my-decent-into-madness/
M.

instead of working (catching up on emails) I have spent the last half an hour searching for a good tonic water! obsessive or what!?!
Fentiman’s Light looks like it may be good but can’t find detailed info so have written to them.
Best so far: Q Tonic with following information:
“Hand-picked quinine from the Peruvian Andes
•Organic agave as the sweetener
•60% fewer calories than regular tonic water
•All natural ingredients
•No high fructose corn syrup
•85% lower glycemic rating than other tonic waters”
I will hunt for a bottle and try it and write to them to check detailed data………
M.

HI, I made these last night and I think they are really great.

I used large eggs, I have never heard of a table spoon of butter, before, next time I will use 75g. I didn’t have baking soda so I used 2 teaspoons of baking powder. I did let the mixture stand for a few minutes, and I needed to cook them for just over 20 minutes. They did spread out a little in the oven.

I will make again.

Hi Mary
Welcome to our thread! The more the merrier! Yes, I love this thread, its that auntylil. She’s quite naughty. Thank you for the clarification on the fizzy water. I have very sensitive teeth and could bore you to death now I know you are an ex dentist but I’m happier to know that the water is the lesser of two evils and I will be sure not to make with the swishing.

Now, what’s your story Mary?

thank you MaryR and Eureka – I will keep looking and post if I find anything more.

There are lots of reliable sites on the net that can help with that kind of information. There are other threads on here with more info on carbs. We are all picking it up as we go and learning from each other.
Choose a site with a recognisable source of research. I also use an app that I think might only be available in Australia that lists common foods, will scan barcodes so you can enter foods you usually use and store them in a list and you can type in recipes and it will work out cals, carbs, protein etc per serve for you. There must be something similar in the UK. Other people on the forum have mentioned ‘my fitness pal’ maybe that is an app as it sounds similar.
There is so much to learn and reeducate ourselves about food. I am treating this 8 weeks as a lesson in what and how much to eat so that I can be more independent at the end of it and still maintain good blood sugar levels.
I wish you success with this, and hope we’ll soon be hearing of the great things you’ve achieved.

Hey Kevin
I sympathise with the bit about the kid’s lunches! That’s my struggle too. But you can do this… and it will hopefully mean you are around and in good health to see the grandkids too.

So, second full day begins. I seem to have picked up a cold so am feeling rough. I had the mother of all headaches that woke me overnight and had to take paracetamol. It is still with me this morning but not so bad. I am hoping today will be easier. I am still shocked about the big lie over fat, all the money I spent with weightwatchers. Made me smile though to see their membership is down. The more I look into this the more obvious it is. Clean food and no more factory made stuff. If I cannot make it we don’t have it!

I agree it’s not necessary to get too hung up on the calorie count, I know that if I keep to all the rules, eg no carbs, no sugar, no alcohol, and stick to the plan using the recipes, the calorie count will be low enough to carry on losing weight. I’m using Cronometer, and its really good, I found it much easier to use than MFP, tracks everything you could think of, easy to put your own foods and recipes in. Yes I did find discrepancies in the calorie counts of some of the recipes, but decided just to keep to what the book said it was and adjust the size of the helping on Cronometer to fit the count given in the book. Unless my calculations made it fewer than in the book, then I used the lower figure! But I am just using it for weight loss, I’ve no reason to think I’m prediabetic. 16 lbs in four weeks so far and loving it!

Hi, just read this thread for the first time and it’s made me laugh a lot! Thank you!
A couple of weeks back there was a comment about fizzy water being harmful to tooth enamel- as a recently retired dentist I can confirm that it is, because the carbonation process creates acid. However it’s not as bad as fizzy drinks, and shouldn’t be a problem if you don’t swish it through your teeth. If concerned, use a straw.
Mary R

Hi Shadow
Isn’t it crazy that we all struggle with the thought of eating more fat when we can see low fat has made us fat- because it means high carb really!
Also I ve been thinking as I wrestle with the eat fat idea- well if I don’t eat carbs, what am I going to eat instead? It has to be more fat, because that was what was missing before. Gradually convincing myself!
Read something about Eskimos- they used to live on fat without getting heart attacks. ( now they have sugar and heart attacks) so that should help us get a grip.
So I agree the propaganda against fat has been most effective.
All we can do is try it and see, because low fat definitely hasn’t worked.
Thanks for your good wishes. Good luck.
Penny

Thanks, Eureka. I did look at Fever Tree, and I know it has the fewest calories, and no artificial sweeteners, but it’s sweetened with fructose which is even worse than ordinary sugar (half glucose and half fructose) for fat deposition, because the only place fructose is processed by the body is in the liver, not in other cells. In that respect the ordinary Fever Tree might be less harmful- I’m not sure. Bottle Green are doing one which tastes good, but I hadn’t analysed the ingredients before I started the BSD, I’ll look next time I’m in Waitrose. Four weeks in and not a single G&T! Three small glasses of wine though :-). I wish my leg cramps had stopped- no such luck!
MaryR

Hi Penny, I meant to say that I have bought the book you recommended! Thanks

Hi captainlynne – amazing results!!! Hope the trip to Prague doesn’t cause you too many foodie temptations! Also I hope you have a really lovely time – you deserve it

Thanks MaryR – I am definitely still on track! 24lbs lost so far! I really want to see all this belly fat go! I am promising myself I will buy a new dress when that happens. I’ve stuck to jeans for a few years as they flatten and hide the belly better than a dress. My waist is making a welcome reappearance. Can’t wait to see what I will be like at the end of 8 weeks! I’m so glad it is going well for you too.

Hi pmshrink Thanks, but don’t think it is extra carbs as I am sticking rigidly to the diet – as I haven’t eaten bread or pasta for years (I’m gluten intolerant) I haven’t found it difficult to ditch the other carbs too. I’m beginning to think it could have been more physical activity as I seem to be dashing when I could walk as I feel so well. I have also done some very strenuous hill walks – I don’t know why the penny didn’t drop sooner! My body seems to have adjusted to it now. Thank you for your support, it really helps – it focuses the mind when people offer solutions to problems and helps me stay positive.

Hi captainlynne, whatever caused the couple of days of feeling hungrier has passed. I had kept my fluids right up so I am mystified as to how it happened. Perhaps due to the fact that I am much more physically active as I feel so much better than I have for several years. Thanks for your reply, can’t wait to join you at the 8 week stage!

No problem gonnabedazzling. I suck at memorising stuff so I keep my own list of favourite foods written in my diary per 100g for quick reference.

Cloud, I have just come from the new version of weight watchers, indeed I have been a leader twice. The new version, although much improved, is still based on at least double the cals of the bsd. Of course, this is because it is meant as a long term steady weight loss program with most people losing 1-2 pounds a week. If you want to see the results promised by the bsd you would have to cut the smartpoints a lot. Also, ww is still very much about low fat so you will find full fat products carry a lot of smartpoints.

I am not personally using the recipes much as they just don’t fit with the kinds of food I like. 800 calories doesn’t really give any of us a massive amount to choose from but I am finding that going back to the basics of getting a good source of protein plus lots of vegetables and a little bit of fat is really all I need to be doing.

Then there is the cost, they have new kit for these new smartpoints of course, not mention the cost of meetings if you want the group support.

The recipes were not prepared by Dr Mosley and I do agree that they let the book down but don’t let them detract from the fact that Dr Mosley’s work is groundbreaking and working for many people on these forums. You might not agree with me but because of other people’s good experiences here, I think its worth doing the calorie counts myself. Once I’ve recorded them in my diary, I don’t have to do them again.

Hi I am about start the 800 cal plan and for ease I am going to use the meal plan in the book. Does anyone know if there is a shopping list anywhere that would have that I need to get. I only ask as it takes a while to compile it and thought if someone already has it would save me some time.
Thanks
leigh

I was the same last year- gong to the gym and not eating much and not losing any weight. Then I did the body coaches plan which introduces weights and eating absolutely loads ( high fat/ protien low carb though) I think doing that has helped this being so effective for me as it ramped up my metabolism and then there has been such a difference from eating more and then stepping down to eating much less. I don’t lose every day every few days I have no loss and then I have more when it starts again. Other people have talked about a ‘woosh’ where you fat cells empty and then fill up with water temporarily so suddenly it comes off – fingers crossed that’s what has happened to you. I am on the Facebook group and people have discussed the there too so if you are on there it might be worth joining. I totally feel your pain- it’s a constant battle! X

Day 3

The journey continues…

Woke up feeling really empty, this is obviously going to be my ‘thing’, I have to be careful I don’t make bad choices in the morning, so today I had a pint of cold water as soon as I got up, it seems to do the trick, until I get myselg organised with breakfast !.

I’ve been feeling a bit ‘lost’, I suppose it’s the sugar withdrawal ?, I also feel a little lightheaded but I’m sure that will pass.

Food diary for today –

Breakfast – Weekend ‘treat’, so scrambled egg (1 egg) and a rasher of bacon
Lunch – Green salad with sardines, cottage cheese.
Dinner – A Sri Lankan lentil sambar, ready meal from Waitrose as I’m working, oh with some veg as well.

At 9pm I had the major munchies, so i made a bovril drink, which is going to take me a while to get used to, but seemed to take the edge off my hunger !

I hope it’s ok to keep a diary like this on here, It feels good to write down my day and highlight any thoughts !

I slept like a baby last night, I normally wake up a few times during the night, but slept right through and felt really rested when I got up, also apparently my snoring has improved (says my wife), so long may that continue !.
I’m also chewing gum, but I don’t want to carry on for too long because of the artificial sweeteners in it, and we all know how bad they are for you.
It’s becoming very clear to me that the secret above all else, is drinking loads of water. It just works, simple. I’m aiming for 2-3 litres a day.
Final thought ? I’m going to start HIIT exercise on Monday morning as I have a home gym with a bike on a turbo trainer, so I’m looking forward to that.

Goodnight all.

Thanks for the tip about the NHS website Janet 1973. That has speeded up the process of checking the recipes quite a bit.
I too am disappointed Cloud that more care wasn’t taken with making sure the the calorie counts were correct before publishing such an important book. Having said that, I am sticking with the recipe plan and making good progress. I’m just getting very at memorizing the calorie values of ingredients!

Thank you for that Cherianne. I think I’ll have to find another book specifically on low carb as I don’t feel I have a good enough grasp of it at the moment.

Hi Lachlan,
The best time for fasting blood sugar is when you wake up. You might find that this reading is a bit higher, due to the dawn phenomenon you mentioned.
Many of us have found that a small protein/ fat snack before bed helps overcome this. I have a cheese slice and some milk. Bill1954 has full fat yoghurt.
We have both had a reduction in our fasting blood sugars.
You are lucky that you started on the BSD so soon after diagnosis. You have every chance of successfully avoiding any diabetes related complications. All the best for some great results.

Hi Cherrianne

Thanks for that. Encouraging words always make me feel positive and I know how important that is to stay focused on this. Actually, I was only diagnosed last month but I think I had it already for at least a year without being diagnosed. That’s two of that have mentioned the late night snack so in going to get on that tonight before bed.

I’m doing my best to keep an eye on the carbs and being quite strict about it while I’m on the diet but will certainly take note of that advice as I move forward I.e. As I get on to normal calories again.

Thanks again.
Lachlan

Hi MaryR

I drink FEVER-TREE Naturally light tonic water with ice in it. I sometimes get cramp quite badly in my legs so drink it for the quinine content too. ( not had cramp since started this diet though). You can pretend it’s got gin in it! I don’t like tea or coffee so stick to water & hot fruit teas

Fever- few nutrition facts per 100ml. Tin comes in 150ml size
Energy : 63kJ. 15kcal. Total fat: 0g. Of which saturates: 0g. Carbohydrates: 3.8g of which sugars : 2.9g. Protein: 0g. Salt: 0g
No artificial sweeteners, flavourings or preservatives. Ingredients: carbonated spring water , pure fructose (fruit sugar), acid: citric acid, natural flavours, natural quinine
Waitrose, Tesco & I think Sainsburys stock it £3.99 – £4 for 8 cans. Sold in bottles too
Hope this helps
Eureka

Thanks Bill
I’m going to try that tonight. Fingers crossed!

I’m a bit bemused by the issue around the calorie counts. If I’m going to plan on eating 800 cals a day and using someone else’s recipes, I’d like to know that what I’m eating really will give me 800. Errors in the recipes in the book seem to mean I might think I was eating 800 but find I was taking in a lot less – which sounds dangerous. Or it might mean I ate a lot more, which sort of defeats the purpose. I accept that people are getting good weight loss results with these recipes, even if they don’t check the calories themselves. But, I suppose if you thought you were eating 800 but actually were eating say 600 to 1200 then you would see a weight loss. But personally, I wanted more than that – I wanted to eat 800 cals a day to reverse type 2 diabetes, the loss of weight is a nice side affect of that. That hope was what I got from Dr Mosley’s tv programme. Doesn’t look like I can rely on these recipes to get me there. Perhaps the new version of the Weightwatchers plan, with its strong restriction of carbs, and backed by reliable recipes and support would be better. I am disappointed.

I’m pleased to say that actually after weighing and thinking I’d put on 1.5lbs, I had a cup of tea and a wee and weighed again and I had actually remained the same. And I did it a few times to make sure. That’s less disappointing! Having lost 7lb the week before I’m happy to remain the same for week 2, especially as it was my time of the month. Thanks for all the advice re constipation though, v helpful as that is becoming a problem. However I think I’m getting low iron so will start up again with spatone, which may counteract any effort to relieve things 😕
Good luck spirit, I’m sure your loss will start again. It’s hard to stay motivated when it’s not happening but I hope you can. Doing 5:2 with 800 cals on the other days sounds too extreme… Let us know how you get on this week X

Hi Victoria,

congratulations on your weight loss, that’s a great result!

I am on the blood sugar diet sticking to 800 calories. I’ve always been watching what I eat and I love to exercise. For a while I worked out in the gym + swimming 4 hours a day, 6 times a week. I was very fit but the weight loss was minimal.

I am trying to stay positive and hopeful that the second week will be better and I see some pounds coming off.

I have a Fitbit Charge HR and I am active throughout the day. The minimum I walk every day is 10 000 steps but most days I do around 15 000. Yet my body is very resistant to all of this.

Penny
Thanks so much for your reply. I am cutting my calories on 2 days to 800 and not being as strict on other 5 days. I am not having any bread, pasta rice or potatoes on any day and looking carefully at all carbs. I am doing full fat although that is hard after 35 years fat free. Maybe I need to be a bit more inventive with my meals so that I get maxmum benefit out of them.
i will get the book you suggest. Good luck on your journey.

I use MFP which can be a bit hit and miss. I do not like any tea, can just about tolerate fruit tea. I mostly drink water with a small amount of black sugarless coffee. Some of the things you mention I cannot get here. I do have jumbo oats though so am happy with that. Today I have come in under 800cals, I felt hungry earlier but it has passed. I don’t know if I will lose weight quickly but will not weigh myself as I can get too obsessed by what the scales say. I have some size 12 jeans I will keep trying on until they fit!
I cannot believe I have done a full day with no cake, chocolate or biscuits! And it hasn’t bothered me!

Weight 10st 12lbs
Ran out of testing sticks so no blood sugar reading today, but now have some for tomorrow.

Made vegetable curry, used full jar of curry paste, 3/4 can water, good pinch of cumin, and the stalks off the grated cauliflower as a variation of the recipe. I managed to burn my finger and the cauliflower rice – but my curry stll tasted good. I have 3 lots of curry to freeze and 4 lots of cauliflower rice getting frozen. If you are thinking of making the curry allow plenty of time as it takes ages to chop all the vegetables.☺

Congratulations Scotgran! I also started off at 12 & 1/2 stone and have just reached 11st 11lb – I’m a little jealous because it’s taken me 4 weeks longer than you to get there! Like you, I’m feeling better and feeling more like taking longer walks as the weather improves. Good luck.

Hello this is my 2nd week on this BSD and my husband is doing it with me, we have both followed the diet as best as we can, we did take three days off the 1st week as we were away from home, we decided that we would not be able to follow the diet for that time away, but we got straight back to it on our return, we have both lost weight that we are really pleased with, I am used to cooking from scratch so it’s fun to follow some of these recipes, but I calorie count when I make my own soups, and dinners. Your polly tunnel sounds like it should give you some lovely organic produce, those happy eggs sound good too. Good luck in finding that health food shop.
Gail.

Hello

I have PCOS too and I am almost 2 weeks in. I find out so hard to loose weight but I have had fantastic results on this. I lost 7 lbs in the first week and another 3lbs so far this week despite being really ill and barely getting out of bed this week but still sticking to the food. I already did a lot of exercise and I did a lot last week but I am still staggered by the losses I’ve had. I am doing the 800 fast and sticking to it absolutely. Are you doing the low carb med or the fast diet?
Victoria X

Hello,

I just wonder if there are any ladies who suffer from PCOS, trying the blood sugar diet.

I was diagnosed with severe PCOS when I was a teenager. I have never been slim in my life and I was told by doctors after all possible tests and examinations that I am very unlikely to lose weight.

When I came across the BSD , I got very excited. I’ve been on the diet for a week, haven’t lost any weight :-(, but my sugar level is now 5.2 mmol. Down from pre-diabetic 5.6-7 mmol.

I hope to hear from someone with the same problem

Thank you.

just checked my TDEE score to see how many cals are needed just to maintain my current weight, and it is 1,590, well i’m having under half that every day.

shrugs

Found out that my thrush and cold sores may be because of high cortisol, the hormone released when under stress and/or low blood- glucose. One has to wonder about the stress of eating mushrooms! Also found info. re: Candida die-off which happens apparently when people with Candida overgrowth do the detox or candida diet which is low carb/no sugar as well as no blummin fungi. Mention of toxins coming to the surface. Sent off for Lysine and Zinc from beloved ‘Natures Best’ as they are supposed to help as well as Vit C.

Inspite of all the things I’m complaining about I have been sleeping much better too since attempting the BSD. I made some bread last night with Spelt which turned out like a house brick; also made some blueberry muffins using soya milk and Spelt and they are lovely. I shall allow myself one a day so have frozen a lot of them. Also had a small banana today so I am definitely not on the BSD. The use of coconut in the BSD and other nuts not so great for people like me as nuts have something in them that herpes simplex thrives on.

I don’t know – with the lactose intolerance, no gallbladder fats digestion problem, vegetarianism, dodgy thyroid, etc etc inability to do much exercise I wasn’t ever going to be much of a candidate for a BSD success so thank you for your kind words. You make so much sense, I salute you! Namaste

btw I can’t stand Catherine Tate – must be because her geriatric alter ego reminds me of someone… Apart from resembling a plague victim currently I am quite a glamorous pensioner so whilst in Boots earlier spending my pension on Canestan, eye drops, Cold sore lotions and patches I also bought a new mascara as I have to look my best for the physiotherapist and the man I am attempting to interest in painting my living room ceiling for me.

Can’t find Elvis’s chilli recipe. Would love to try it so please share. 🙂

Hi Lachlan,
Welcome. You are already achieving great results if your fasting levels were that high a year ago. Do try the protein/ fat snack before bed it really helps.
I’m also TOFI but have found myself to be particularly sensitive to carbs. It may be that you need to monitor your carb intake quite closely, rather than calories. Especially if you need to keep your weight stable.
Let us know how you get on. I’m sure we’ll be hearing about big improvements in your readings soon.

hi, I use myfitnesspal and my carbs are under 50 per day. so no idea why it’s not happening. Well the first week did, just not since. I’ve been out for the day meeting my daughter for lunch. I had a small mixed grill without the chips, but with 2 grilled tomatoes and mushrooms. That will be the extent of my carbs for the day.

Hi Aly,
I used to have oats for breakfast all the time but I love the green tea shake and find that very filling. I add a couple of teaspoons of psyllium to it which tends to thicken it and helps fill your tummy ( you can’t save any for later with the psyllium cos it turns gluggy), and vary the fruit.
I’ve also tried the baked beans and mushroom from the book, also filling. Yesterday I had half a peach chopped up with two tblspns Greek yoghurt, flaxseed meal and psyllium. That kept me going from 8.30 till 1.30.
There is a recipe on the forum for stuffed capsicum that sounds nice, page 5 I think, I’m doing that for dinner. I will post some recipes too when I get a chance. I love to invent new ways of cooking seasonal veg, which we grow ourselves. With 5 kids and a husband I have a ready made group of food critics to hone my skills on.
Do you use some sort of food tracker/ app? I find it really helps to type in recipes and then check carb, protein counts etc and tweak the ingredients or amounts until I’m happy. I also use the diary section to monitor my daily intake to make sure my carbs stay low enough.
Good luck with your diet and vegie growing!!

Welcome to the forums.
Try a fatty snack, I use greek yoghurt with berries, an hour before bed.
I had the dawn effect and that brought the readings down.
Constantly between 5 and 6 now.

Hi Yael
I also make every thing myself, put it in MFP ‘recipes’ so I know exactly what’s in it.
That way no hidden sugar or calories.
Penny

Hi Shadow
I m not sure how you’re doing the diet exactly but I wonder if you just did the BSD completely it would help you. Forgive me if I’m misunderstanding.
So no grains sugar or potatoes or tropical fruit. 800 cals and 10,000 steps plus other exercise, building up gradually. That’s it really. Plenty of fat. Full fat everything.
This diet is specifically designed to help your liver and pancreas so I don’t think it would be bad for your liver.
Did you have a look at Jenny Ruhls book ‘low carb problems solved’. ? (£3 on kindle) Maybe she covers what you’re concerned about.
Penny

Hi GofH
I agree with you. So important to watch the carbs like a hawk. No porridge!
Penny