Hi everyone,

I’m in my second week of this gorgeously-healthy eating plan, having lost 8lb in the first week, and I thought it was time I delurked 🙂

I want to thank everyone who posts, I’ve found so much inspiration and encouragement here.

I’m not diabetic but I’m high risk with a strong family history and I have about 3st to lose. I’m a sugar addict/binge eater and I’ve yo-yo dieted my whole life. This feels like a new dawn to me – my cravings are less, there’s a pkt of choc digestives in my kitchen and I’ve not really felt tempted by them: unprecedented for me. Usually, if it’s there, I eat it.

I do have concerns about the choc-fest that is next weekend. I’ll be spending the w/e with family, kids, easter egg hunts, choc galore. There will also be carb-heavy meals I won’t be in control of – a bit of a worry but I can probably negotiate those. My main worry is the chocolate. Does anyone have any tips on how to stay strong?

Help!!! None of my trousers fit anymore….and as for the underwear;-0.

End of Week 7 and I have lost 16lbs. Think I will carry on the diet until I am out of the ‘overweight zone’ if I can.
This diet is completely doable and a life changer.

On the subject of the stalling weight issue. Between Week 5 and today, for a whole 10 days, my weight stubbornly stayed the same or went up a pound (yikes!). Then for the following four days I lost a pound every day.

Keep telling myself that as a determined character I can stick to this diet despite small setbacks.
After all I am the only person who can fix my health.
Good luck everyone. May the inches and weight fall away.

Oh and am off to measure my bits!

Thanks Grandma48 – it’s a slog at the moment and I have been so diligent! Just having a moan – not ready to throw towel in yet but hard to hear about all the great weight loss going on. Fingers crossed I wake up one day and poof it’s gone! 🙂 Thanks again for support x

hi ann077 i am in the exact same boat as you. how are you going? Everyone says keep going so I’m cheering for you!

Hi tinforest
Don’t be disheartened. I too am a slow loser in kgs, but have you tried measuring yourself? I’ve dropped a size in trousers, lost inches on the tops of my arms, my shoulders (where I didn’t even know I was carrying fat), my waist, hips and thighs are all down on when I started. I’m just starting my fourth week. If you haven’t already measured, do so now, record as many measurements as you can and check back in a week! The guys on here – so supportive – say that sometimes the figure on the scales doesn’t go down because our fat cells are now full of water, but the inches are falling away. Stay strong and focused – you will soon see some results.

I was a MASSIVE Coke Zero fan like 2 litres per day, i have cut that out of my diet, as well as having an equal or stevia in my coffee. I am using almond milk instead of Zymil (not sure if that’s any better but calories are lower) however, the almond milk is sweetened so in not sure if I’m having a bit too much over 2 cups of coffee in a day.

I went today without sugar and it was surprisingly easy. Still bloated but I’ll see how I go in a couple more days. I will get a copy of “Sweet Poison” and see if that helps. You guys are great, thanks.

I am disheartened. I have been so accurate, no cheating (don’t even want to) and at the end of day 9 i have barely lost 1 kilo. Am i expecting too much?

Congratulations to everyone who has lost great numbers – must feel so amazing!!

Hi Lynne,
I have puzzled on this, but can’t work it out – ‘drawing on gnus’ ?

Happy birthday, and like captainLynne said nothing has ever worked as well for me as the BSD so massive thanks.

We also bought new scales in Week 2 (on about Week 7 or 8 now, have lost count a bit), after we discovered that our old scales were completely erratic and unreliable. Unsure therefore exactly what we weighed to begin with, or accurately how much we’ve lost, but both husband and I reckon we’ve lost around a stone. However, my weight has stalled completely in the past 3 weeks (not put any on though, which is good)…..this is due to not paying as much attention as we should to the program as we’ve been going through a lot of stress recently with problems with husband’s job and a close relative’s probable kidney cancer diagnosis. When I’m stressed, it’s always my diet that suffers – I just can’t concentrate on eating healthily. Job situation now resolved, so at least that’s one stress out of the way. Anyway, today I am wearing a pair of jeans I haven’t even been able to get into for a good couple of years….I don’t even know what made me try them on, but am glad I did – what a boost! I also bought some ketostix…..did the first test this morning, I’m not in ketosis (I knew I wouldn’t be), but it’s spurred me on to concentrate properly on the plan and cut more carbs, which were beginning to creep up again.

Love this idea and I’m happy to add my NSVs to the list

Sleeping better – not waking as often during the night and feel more rested in the morning.

More energy and feel more vital – actually want to get off the sofa and do something.

Skin more radiant – doesn’t look as tired and worn.

My waist has started to put in an appearance again and my tummy’s flatter – not talking wash-board you understand, but it is definitely not as bulgy.

Jean are looser – can get into my small ones and do them up, but I need to lose a pound or two more for them to be presentable in public.

Dress I want to wear to a wedding this weekend now fits properly again – and makes me look good!

Sinuses improved, even though I am now eating dairy again and this had always been an issue and caused me sinus problems in the past.

Finally – and I can’t say categorically that this is due to the diet, but – I have had a frozen shoulder for months, but since starting the diet it has improved drastically. I no longer need any pain killers at all and the mobility is also improving. This might be coincidental – and I’m sure the GP would say so if asked – but we all know this diet is changing our bodies, so I have to wonder if it might not be at least in part responsible for this change too.

https://www.thehealthychef.com/2012/02/quinoa-power-porridge/

Managed to post the link!
Quinta porridge.
Protein packed porridge!

Of course with the comments being online they will naturally attract the Trolling that is so pervasive now. When the success of BSD is so obvious to others as it is to ourselves we shall not need to worry about the bias shown by organisations vying for attention. Truth will out…

I made the mistake of buying new set of scales this weekend and though they are good quality they read 0.3 kg higher than my old ones and an older inherited one. We had them for around 30 years! Anyway, keeping the new ones recycling the old ones, bit like myself…

Hi georgiarose
Don’t let the lack of weigh loss at this point derail you. These events are common on this diet, so just stick to you guns and eventually you will see the kgs start to fall again. You have done well to date, so use that positive to keep you focused. Let us know how you get on.

Yesterday was chicken stew for lunch and prawn omelette for dinner.
Finished the day with 3 strawberries sliced with Greek yoghurt and sprinkled with a tsp of milled linseed.
This was a concious effort at reducing the carbs even further and increasing the fat levels a bit.
Fluid intake over the day was about two and a half litres.

Hi buffy
gram flour isn’t very clever as a dough.
To make the flatbreads, you make them exactly the same way as you would a pancake exept the batter is just the flour, water, and a pinch of salt.
Well done on your 2 week results, you’re well on your way

We’ll see Lynne
If they recommend the low carb route I’ll stand and cheer
However, if they (as I suspect) go with the old low fat drivel, then I think it will be time to get loud by responding to every report you read.
Trouble being that we will be regarded by the powers that be as some sort of minority group.
Bootcamp indeed.

Had it one night last week but cooked the fish without batter.
It was delicious with the home made mushy peas and took me back to the old days, minus the chips of course.

Hi Penny sounds like paradise. Back here in Blighty my son got the keys for his double allotment and OMG the front fence had been pulled down and the pile of rubbish extended back to about 20 feet and 4 feet deep! I couldn’t believe my eyes. All that to deal with before we even start work on the neglected allotment! There is a native hedge along one side – mostly blackthorn, hawthorn and elder. The council have topped it and kept the lane side part trimmed but inside the allotment it has outgrowth about 10 feet long!!! I’m ordering some other native plants such as wild cherry plum, crab apple, hazel and wild crab apple. It will be good for foraging and the wildlife! My back, arms and shoulder hurt from all the hard work yesterday but at least it is good, healthy exercise!
🙂

Gez that is a remarkable set of results
Well done mate and thanks for sharing, others will find your experience so inspiring.
Hi Sharon, that was the perfect answer to Hallies post, you are showing just what can be done and that is exactly the kind of support needed
Hallie you won’t believe it yet, but in a couple of weeks it will be your posts that are inspiring others.
I hope I get an invite to one of these diabetes bootcamps, I suspect I won’t last long 😀

Scotgran – amazing results, go on, have the fish and remove the batter ( an average of 200 cals of fish) the taste is great, I tried it one night last week. Luxury without the falling of the wagon! And you will be part of the family food fest! 🙂 Not sure what the calories are in mushy peas because I don’t eat them but fish and mushy peas is a good supper! 🙂

Hi Libby
a few of us have had dawn effect problems.
For me and some others, a fatty late night snack does the trick. I use full fat yoghurt with berries, some have a piece of cheese or a handful of nuts.
Try it, better for you than the carbs as the fat stops the hunger and will keep you feeling fuller for longer than the carbs will.
Don’t worry too much about those fasting readings, it’s a natural phenomona and they will come down.

Lucia if you did all that I think you would slide right off just like Bill 🙂

Grandma48 isn’t it lovely when you can suddenly fit comfortably in smaller sizes! I love hearing news like that 🙂

Georgiarose that’s good news about your blood sugars 🙂

Couldn’t start the day without my coffee.
There is no problem with it as long as the milk or cream is counted in your daily calories.

True, Bill, true, we must all make our voices heard in GP surgeries. I have a blood test at the end of the month to check on my thyroid and blood sugars – I refused to see the phlebo as I want to reinforce the message with the sympathetic asthma nurse. ( My son says I am turning into an activist – he’s pleased, really!)
I am going to bring up the possibility of a little self help group for the diabetics in the practice based on this book. May not go down to well but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

You’re quite right handing out the books would be far more cost effective and actually help those who want to help themselves. 🙂

Hi Hawks, sorry to hear you have had problems. Due to a lot of chest infections I have had an awful lot of oral steroids over the past several years – they too cause hunger pangs and weight gain so I know how you feel. However, this diet has sorted that problem for me. I would only suggest that you keep tabs on your meds when you lose a lot of weight as they will have a stronger effect on less body mass so you may need your doctor to reduce them under supervision. I am currently having my massive doses of inhaled steroids reduced under medical supervision as the combination of antibiotics three times a week plus weight loss plus generally better health on this diet seem to have improved the severity of my asthma.
Keep well, best wishes 🙂

LMAO didn’t think old eagle eyes would miss that one !
I heard this and the first thing I thought was that it would be a whole lot cheaper to send out 200000 copies of michaels book.
There will be a massive waste of money involved here and, without trying to sound clairvoyant, I wouldn’t mind betting they will be trotting out the same old low fat nonsense as before.
On top of your suggestions, I would say let everyone who is having any success on this diet make sure their GP’s know about it.
If we can provide them with the evidence, they may start speaking out.

Sharon, 18lbs? way to go girl! Fantastic news! 🙂

Just read a news report on the success Prof Taylor’s first trial, saying how even people who had been diabetic for 10 years reversed it in the 8 weeks and 6 months after the end of the trial they were still eating healthily and still not diabetic.

The report goes on to say this could be a cheap way to treat diabetics.

You should see some of the comments though, ‘type 2s are not diabetic. You’re not diabetic unless you take insulin. Just go on a diet”.

Someone on the BSD has responded.

So, to counteract all the naysayers, it’s up to us – both those of us in at the start of the BSD and those who follow in our footsteps – to show ‘them’ that it is effective. And that the benefits are sustainable. So I guess us ‘trailblazers’ will be around on here a long time.

And, yes, the article is correct – it is a cheap way to counteract diabetes. We’ve been saying that. Prescribing the book is a cheaper (and more effective) way of treating diabetes. But it is also more effective than the conventional ways currently in use.

Ho hum. Far too early to be on my soapbox. Sorry folks. *Off to get some breakfast*

Thanks Judith, as Lynne says…. It’s amazing! The proof of the pudding so to speak will be maintaining the weight loss over time and keeping it off. Calorie and Carb restriction to lose the weight and get your insulin response under control and lower Carb intake (compared to pre BSD diet) coupled with regular moderate-intensity exercise to keep it off.

I personally want to be able to eat fruit as I please and have the odd carbohydrate heavy meal as time goes on, so developing an exercise habit will be key to that dream……

However, back to reality for a moment. I’ve still got about 16 – 20 kg to go to get to what I consider my trim weight and now that my visceral fat has diminished, I’ve still got a large amount of subcutaneous fat around my middle ( mega muffin-top) and chest that has just got to go 🙂

So, while walking and calorie restriction is seeing it recede slowly, adding HIT while restricting carbs on those 800 kcal fasting days should theoretically speed fat burning.

I’m also doing (very light at the moment to avoid injury) upper body weights on a home gymnasium machine to make sure that I’m putting muscle back into the ecosystem. I’m doing this set on my “recovery” days, but it can easily be done as the set of exercises that Dr M lists in his BSD book. There’s more info and plans in the Fast Exercise book.

Just to add one more piece to the puzzle, I used the “mindfulness” app that Dr M recommended in the beginning to help get to sleep when I cut the glasses of wine every night back to 1. I know I was using wine as a sleeping and de-stress aid. That really helped me in the beginning and then with exercise increasing, I didn’t need anything to help me get off to sleep so it is a very holistic approach. I’m still on just 1 glass a day and haven’t used the mindfulness app since week 2 😀.

Sounds yummy. I did something similar with lettuce. Wrapped different fillings in lettuce leaves and had little tasty wraps for a lunch a few times.

Bill I might even tie my old bloomers to a flag pole saying ‘do the 8 week blood sugar diet’ lol 🙂

There is an announcement today ( see BBC news app) that GPs are being asked to identify 20000 prediabetics in order to recieve help. Sadly we know the advice to exercise and lose weight is NOT what they need. They need this diet (and exercise). This is going to mean lot of money is going to be wasted and, in the end, people will not be helped. Bill said in a previous post that this should be given out in GP surgeries, it may have been a bit tongue in cheek, but if the govt / NHS is going to plough a lot of money in then giving out this book to diabetics and prediabetics who are willing to give the diet a go will be far more helpful and cost effective.

Folks, it’s time to get the word out there. The plan is to ‘help’ 20000 this year and 100,000 next year. You can look at the details on the news.

What I propose is:
Write to NHS chief executive Simon Stevens
Write to Diabetes UK chief executive Chris Askew
Write to The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP (secretary of state with overall financial control of the NHS )

If enough of us make a lot of noise over a period of time they might just start listening.
So my fellow pioneers and trail blazers are we going to have a go?
Here’s to a rosy future!

Thanks for that Janet. Good luck to you too!

Hi Gez, thankyou for your kind words. I agree with everything lynne said and she said it so well. We needed to be honest to help ourselves and others. We so much want others to find freedom from diabetes drugs and a new healthier, therefore happier life.

I read on the BBC news app this morning that the government is investing money to provide help for people with pre diabetes. My heart sank. This means the 100,000 people getting ‘help’ will be spun the old line leading to increased poor health. We know the answer lies in this diet!

BTW Gez, I like what you have written about exercise! You are proving with your data that it really works 🙂

Morning evie,

I concur with the others, lots of us have encountered the same. Fear not, it will start to go down again.

Also consider if you are drinking enough water given all the exercise you are doing. Or that you might be retaining water?

Hi buffy, that’s a great weight loss, you must be really happyniw that your jeans fit comfortably, I know I was 🙂

Hi missay, add it to the recipe section – it is a recipe! – then we can all find it easily and give it a try 🙂

Thank you. Well weigh in on Monday I had gained 600 grams but I am back on track now

As far as I am aware Stevia is not an artificial sugar – it is a natural plant that is approx 300 times sweeter than sugar. Sometimes Stevia is mixed with other ingredients ie Erythritrol (called Natvia). This is the one I have been using IF I need to put sugar in coffee. I don’t bake with it although you can, because the flavour does something to my stomach in large doses.

Whilst prepping lunch today and after I had all the ingredients on the kitchen bench – I had an idea! Oops watch out there!
On my slices of ham (mine were circular – and this is what gave me the idea) I spread the chutney. One on I grated carrot (hate celery) and cheese and rolled up like a wrap. On the other I grated apple and chopped walnuts and rolled like a wrap. Hey presto – two course lunch – savoury followed by sweet. I munched on the remaining apple and walnuts at the end.

Hi Missay,
I am about to start the 800 diet. My greatest pleasure is an early morning strong coffee with cream while I read the paper! I have been trying to talk sternly to myself about cutting it out, but I feel as if I can give up anything else except that. Then I saw your post. Oh joy! So – one coffee with regular cream per day will fit OK on the 800 diet? It didn’t upset your results?

thanks
Sally

Hi Matrika
Thanks for your answer. The carb top up is to ensure that the dawn lows don’t happen whilst you’re asleep. Has happened a couple of times 🙁
Last night I was awake very couple of hours making sure I wasn’t having lows – quite draining!
Yes already I have started to drop my insulin because of the no carbs and my resultant blood checks are starting to halve at least. The GP has given me some guidelines how to gauge the insulin required each day so I can follow those.
Also I was checking out the recipes and saw some for low GI crackers so I might give them a try on the weekend.
Onwards and upwards!
cheers

Hi Bill,Nalin,Jay & Sunny. Started food diary yesterday. I eat awfully bad & have been over eating as the diet starts soon. (Nxt Monday-28/03/16). No fruit or veg recorded as yet but plenty of sugary,fatty supplements like ice cream, biscuits, potato chips & frankfurts. I was Borderline diabetic 6 months ago. M seeing Dr tomorrow. Have been feeling a little down the past few days & lost a little motivation & belief in myself but back on track thanks to re-reading Ur emails. For the nxt two months The Blood Sugar Diet will be my priority. After that, the benefits of a healthy lifestyle will hopefully be lifelong but I don’t want to fall into the old trap of getting ahead of myself, as I usually do.
Anyway, take care & good luck!😜

Thank you SOS, went looking for pomegranate tea bags today with no success but gave me the impetus to pick a few different types of teas so thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

Hi shyvarn,
Getting rid of sugar and artificial sweeteners is good not just for weight loss but for overall health and if there is diabetes in your family, a good investment in your future.

An Israeli study last year found that artificial sweeteners as well as table sugar changed the composition of gut biota and in addition and alarmingly created insulin resistance in LESS THAN A WEEK in fit and healthy study participants.

The results shocked everyone. The study is easy to find if you search for it. I may have the detail incorrect but that is the gist of it.

The study on Stevia is not in yet as far as I know but I gave up Stevia after this one came out. I found it very hard. For motivation I read David Gillespie’s Sweet Poison. He’s an Australian lawyer so it is written in plain english but has a lot references if you are into information. He’s an ex Coke lite drinker. 🙂