Thanks for this – I’ll take a look.

Hello, can anyone tell me what the best cheese to have is? Im so brainwashed by low fat foods i really dont know what to choose. I know full fat is ok but what one……
Thanks!

Shadow – I was diagnosed with diabetes nearly 7 years ago, after checking my blood sugar on a friend’s meter and had reading of between 18 and 20. My symptoms were that I felt like I was slightly drunk and my concentration was terrible and I had no energy. My friend was shocked at the readings and made me phone the doctor’s straight away. I have done a fair amount of research since. The average amount of time someone has diabetes before they are diagnosed is 10 years! The longer you have it untreated the more damage it does to your body. By the time mine was diagnosed 1/3 of my kidney function had been lost. I also found out recently that I have scarring on my liver due to the buildup of stored fat. Eventually you can go into a coma with too much sugar but it is a very very very slow process.

A long time ago (mid 1990’s)I was diagnosed with high cholesterol and went on a low fat (high sugar) diet. With hindsight this is what possibly led to later problems.

On a positive note weight today is 10st 13lbs ( 3 lbs lost)
Possiby because of stress my blood reading is 11.

Made coconut flour flat bread but used 4 1/2 tablespoons of coconut flour because mixture seemed too runny with the 1 1/2 it said in the recipe.

Also made some coconut flour biscuit/cake things with a recipe I made up. Will try one tomorrow and if they seem edible will post the recipe.

I’m finding The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance by S Phinney and J Volek very clear and helpful. It is very much in line with the advice being given from this site but as in book form, it has much further depth and detail. It’s available in hard copy but I’m finding it easy to use in the Kindle format.

Amazing and inspiring bill .I fell off the wagon tonight and had fish without the batter on but then had about five fatty chips! We got our beloved campervan back after a month off the road with a fuel pump gone which had to be sent away so went on family outing to mudeford and had fish and chips! Hope won’t be that bad an effect on my first week weigh in tomorrow morning!
I feel a lot better after the seven days, sleeping better and seem to have more energy which you wouldn’t have thought on 800 calories! I love doing spinach with homemade dressings from the book and salmon, anchovies which I love and sometimes feta cheese! Also managed my 1000 steps easily this week with extra energy for dog walking!
Will post my first weigh in tomorrow!

Having read in the book that tropical fruits are best avoided due to high sugar levels, why are passion fruit, melon orange and mango included in the recipes?
I am now on day 4 , instead of chomping at the bit for lunch at 12.00 today i didn’t eat until 3pm -I was shopping until then but not ravenous. My blood sugars have dropped from 6.4 on sunday to 5.6 today-lowest they have been for ages.
I am enjoying the recipes especially the portobello toast with goats cheese, and the blueberry and green tea shake was nice. If I feel peckish out come the roobush and ginger and lemon teas.

I’m on day three and i have to say the recipes in the book are very inaccurate and confusing – grrrrr

This is confusing enough as it is. Can someone please have a look and confirm if i’ve got this right or wrong:

Page 215 – Courgetti Prawns. It states ‘serves 2’ and gives a calorie count of 390 (at the start of the recipes on page 183 it states all calorie counts are for one person). I have added up the calorie count for the entire ingredints from a variety of different calorie food tables and keep getting 380-390. How can this serve 2????

Please let me know what you think.

Not helpful

Hi I have been interested in this diet for a while now, I am currently on a hearble shake twice daily and a low carb meal once a day with protein snacks between meals, I am really struggling to loose the weight but feel very well and fairly fit. I am 55 next birthday and ideally would like to loose around 3 stone, I am 5’7″ & 13 stone 13 lbs 🙁

Is anyone else similar to me who could encourage me to embark on the BSD diet, the shakes suit my lifestyle, but maybe they are not helping?

Look forward to hearing from anyone

Hi Mooster, it’s amazing what hashimoto’s can do to you. I also have dry eyes, dry skin the hay fever all year round, chronic asthma, bronchiectasis, multiple triggers for my asthma and severe gluten intolerance. All these things happened after I was diagnosed with hashimoto’s. It was like being hit with a sledge hammer. Fortunately this diet is helping me to feel so much more energised. A friend who hadn’t seen me for a month was amazed today when she saw me, she commented that I looked really healthy and energetic. She was so impressed she took some recipes home with her and is trying the diet herself.
I’m looking forward to the 8 week mark – not because I want to stop the diet – but to see how much more impact the diet has had.
All the best

Hi Reynards, I’m just a bit wary because when I did the 5:2 diet and lost over a stone my blood test showed I was on too much levothyroxine. Then it had to go back up when my weight did. However, my GP is puzzled by the fact that my levels fluctuate a lot – he said usually you find that once you have titrated to correct levels of thyroxine it generally stays stable for life. It may well be that I am just odd. I have made an appointment for mid March so will see what happens then. It would be good to know what happens to everyone else’s levels as they lose weight. I have got to say that I find this diet so much easier than the 5:2 and intend to stick close to it once I have reached my target weight. Wishing you the best!!

Thanks Cherrianne. Good tip – I will do that 🙂

Hi Yumelda,
I don’t see why not. They are about 3 cals more and have less carbs than blueberries for the same weight. I’ve been using them in the green tea shake because they are abundant where I live. I find all the seeds a bit annoying so I leave the shake to settle for a few minutes so they go to the bottom.

Hi Landrews22. I make my own, but I think Yeo Valley and Rachels Dairy both do one.

Hi Natasha,
This weekend is the start of my fourth week on the diet and my blood sugars have become fairly consistent now.
The first week or so I forgot a few times and grabbed fruit from the bowl or absentmindedly nibbled a few grapes while packing children’s lunches for school. I had a revelation one day when I ate a nectarine and looked up the carbs to discover it had over 12g. So I am much more mindful now.
My Mum is also doing the diet as she found her blood sugars were getting harder to control and her cholesterol was going up. Neither of us wanted to start medication. She lost the couple of kg she needed to lose and is also back in the non diabetic blood sugar range.
It’s been harder for her to get her head around being able to have full fat products because of forty years of being told that low fat is the way to go.
I think we will both be able to avoid medication now, and we have a great GP who is willing to listen and very open minded. One of my cousins wasn’t so lucky and had to sign a medical waiver when he wanted to try the fast 800 instead of medication!
I agree with you that the food is great on the BSD and is more likely to become a way of life because it is varied and not special diet food. You get inspired to find ways of adapting what you would normally eat. Hence the zucchini slices instead of pasta when I’m making lasagne. Plus the fact that friends and family have started to groan if I offer them zucchini, my plants have gone berserk producing them. So I have to be inventive or I’ll have no friends left, even my chickens roll their eyes when I bring them the scraps lol.

Thank you for the replies which are most helpful. Still struggling with finding a full fat sugar free yogurt as even Greek style states a sugar content on the label, Any suggestions of the most suitable brands?

Bill1954
Thank you so much for your reply, it is very reassuring. I have ordered a blood glucose meter so that i can keep a check on it. Good lyck on your journey.

Hey Kev
Coming up to 4 weeks in, last weigh day I had lost 15lb, fasting blood sugar down from 9.9 to the high 5’s.
Never felt hungry but, like others, I have been feeling the cold.
Just got some chickpea flour so baking flatbreads is on the menu 🙂

Hi, can anyone help me please.
When a recipe says “1 Chicken Beast” how much should this weigh raw?
Thanks

Great to hear Viv, keep it up as it sounds that you’re going through the withdrawal that I will be, but it will be oh so worth it on the other side !. If this helps, I have a friend who is/was Diabetic (Type 2), and has lost a large amount of weight on this diet. He swears by it, and although he still has to monitor his B/S, his quality of life has improved exponentially. He honestly believes (as does his doctor) that if he continues with this lifestyle change, his diabetes will be reversed !. I’m pre-diabetic myself, just inside the danger level, and this has really shaken me up into action. Deep down I know I can do this, but I will have to treat this as a prescriptive diet, that is sticking strictly to the 800 cals, and eating very similar foods every day. It’s just the way I work, if I don’t have to think about food too much, such as its breakfast eat this, lunch eat that etc, then I will succeed. My daily plan will be eating the foods that I actually really enjoy, and nourish me.
Breakfast will be a green juice with avocado, Kale, spinach and fruit, as this contains protein and hand on heart, I actually really enjoy it, as I’m not a big eater early morning.
Lunch is going to be a salad every day, because you get more bang for your buck, lots of food for very few cals. It will include an egg for protein, and either chicken, Tuna or sardines for the essential Omega oils.
Dinner will be either steamed fish or a piece of chicken with a mountain of steamed veg, I have to be careful that I fit in with the family to a degree (I have two teenage daughters), and I don’t want them to develop any weird eating habits, so as long as they see me with what they believe to be a decent dinner then all will be fine.
Anyway, enough about me…

Cheers Bill, how are you getting on ?.,

I started Monday and am thrilled with my BS readings already. Headache is a problem but once drink plenty of water it goes away. I did 12,000 steps today. Planning is a key factor, I bought the ingredients for all my meals at the beginning of the week and will do so next week. I would so love to come off Insulin !

Does anyone have any idea about whether I can legitimately substitute blackberries (from local hedgerow, frozen) for blueberries in the blueberry and green tea shake (or other recipes)?

Thanks Nidge I will give it a go from monday.

hi Kev
80 a day !!! enjoy your grape 🙂
Seriously, welcome to the forums.
There are loads of people on here having day to day success with this diet.
I look forward to you becoming one of them

Bill

Hi all, I’m on week 2 day 2, down 6.8lb! Going well although very few true 800 cal days but I’m managing with what I’m doing – aiming to keep to under 1000 for most of the week. Enjoying it greatly

Hi Hashimoto. When I saw my GP on Monday I asked him whether my levothyroxine might need some adjustment as my weight dropped. He said it shouldn’t make any difference to the amount I need every day which really surprised me.

I don’t really know about this pre diabetes thing, I certainly hadn’t heard of it before joining the forum.
I was always told both at the GP and the hospital that I had to keep my sugar levels between 4 and 7
You haven’t been diagnosed as diabetic and TBH the comment about diabetic coma is totally irresponsible.
If your levels stay between 4 and 7 constantly you are in no danger whatsoever of having a hypo never mind a coma.

Hi SunnyB

Pleased it’s going well for you. I’ve had the odd hunger bang before bed but apart from that I’ve felt full during the day. I’ve been forcing myself to drink as I know I don’t drink enough. I’ve been planning my meals for the following day the evening before, I work 9.30-12.30 and if I haven’t prepared or planned in my head what I’ll have for lunch I tend to eat anything within reach without thinking!

I had No-carb bircher for breakfast today and it was so nice!

I started the 5.2 med diet last week and have managed quite well, i think, and lost 3ib. I do find it hard keeping carbs down but have cut out bread pasta rice and potatoes but cant get my head around full faf as for last 40 years i have had fat free but am giving it a try.

I was previously diagnosed as pre diabetes with blood sugar level of 6.1. Due to good diet etc i got it down to 5.5 but unfortunatley have gone off the rails for 6 months. I am devastated to find out today when i went to a local pharmacy and had blood glucose test that it is 6.7. I went because I noticed i was having an itchy skin after biscuits and even though I have cut carbs back am feeling same itchiness today. I also dobt sleep very well when my calories are restricted too much. Part of pharmacys policy is to suggest going to GP within 14 days which i dont want to do as i am going to hong kong in 5 weeks and dont want to have to sort out extra travel insurance. She did say that i could have diabetic coma which has scared me but is it really likely? Is this irresponsible? I would be very grateful for any comments/suggestions.

Should I be using low fat or full fat e.g yoghurt and cottage chees

I meant 800 calories, not 80 ! That would be a little extreme..

Hi everyone, I am officially starting tomorrow on the 80 cal plan. i will initially follow it for 8 weeks, but may increase it to 12 weeks as I have about 3 stones in weight to lose. As always, I’ve researched this topic to death !, but Michael has made it easier for us all, as he has applied his usual high level of commitment and enthusiasm to the subject. I am so looking forward to getting over the first week, which I know may bring a few physiological changes, headaches, hunger etc, but I know these will pass. I can’t tell you how excited I am to have finally found a plan that works and is based on sound scientific principles.
I will measure myself tomorrow morning and then get going on a life changing revolution !!.

I’m looking forward to chatting with you all about the various successes (and problems) that you have had, have a great day, speak soon.

Kev

Stick with it Viv!
When you start to see those pounds melting away the headache just won’t matter, be gone by then anyway.

Hello!
I just started the 8 weeks diet and finding difficult to substitute the dairy.
I am not allergic but I am particularly sensitive to milk and most of dairy products; mature cheese like cheddar is fine.
Does anyone know if I can use soy yogurt and and so on?
Many thanks

Hi Cherianne,

Thank you for sharing your interesting and positive story. I love hearing personal accounts about what brought people to do this diet, it makes it all the more motivating.

I am hearing more and more stories from people like yourself who you would not think had t2d as they are not particularly overweight and have a healthy lifestyle and diet. I think there is a bit of a misleading stereotype that the only people who could develop t2d are, for example, apple-shaped and overweight. It has been a real eye-opener to find out that this is not always the case.

I knew t2d is often hereditary, but I didn’t realise it is something that a relatively healthy person can be susceptible to. I remember reading an article written by a journalist who was naturally slim, very fit and very healthy, and for the purpose of a health article he was doing research for, he had to have a blood test. When the results came back that he had t2d, it was a huge and unexpected shock for him. He went on a special diet to reverse his condition, which was completely successful and wrote a big article about it. Thinking back, I remember the diet came from Newcastle University – which is where the blood sugar diet was developed, so he might have been one of the first ‘guinea pigs’ to trial it. Anyway, it just goes to show that looks can be deceiving, you never know!

You and your family sound like the perfect example of how deceptive t2d can be, and how it isn’t always the result of a bad diet.

Good luck at your next GP appointment. He/she must be very proud of you for taking such a proactive approach to conquering it! It will be interesting for you to see the results of your check-up. Do you think that this diet will mean you won’t need to be on medication, or is it more complex than that?

I know exactly what you mean about this diet being about making lifelong changes. I think I said in my last message that my friend asked me if she thought I would be able to carry on after the 8-weeks, and I truly believe I can, and will. I never ever want to go back to looking and feeling so bad again. I’m not going to swear-off sugar, but think I will only have it occasionally. I definitely prefer all the meals I have cooked on the plan to what I used to eat.

Can you remind me how long you have been on the BSD?

Thank you for the encouragement! I fell in love with Melbourne and could easily see myself living there, it’s such an awesome place. I also went to Sydney which I really enjoyed, but not as much as Melbourne. I need to meet an nice Aussie man I think lol. Thank you for the tips about where to go, I have written them down.

I fully understand about the weather playing havoc with nature. Although we don’t have anything near to your climate in the UK, we have had exceptionally mild weather this winter which has confused the hell out of the flowers and trees. So many flowers started blooming months before their time.

I don’t grow any fruit or veg so I really am full of envy about your hoard! Homegrown apricots and the such sound absolutely delicious. You must be a very versatile zucchini chef!

Right, I’m off to make the chicken, butter bean and walnut salad for lunch. It’s one of my favourites. It’s great that there are such varied and delicious vegetarian options in this diet, makes it so easy for all.

Well, it’s going well so far, only third day in though. Seen some positive results with blood sugar readings and not feeling hungry at all. I planned and bought all the ingredients for my meals at the beginning of the week and will do so next week. Only problem, headache but I’m trying to drink more water. It would be wonderful if I could come off insulin, but time will tell.

Thanks Lolo. No I’ve never been in the pre-diabetic range but my Dad is Type 1 and my body shape puts me in the at risk category. x

Well done jahooly.
Keep going you’re doing great.
Nidge

Fredforest, it’s probably because you’re eating more vegetables. Green veg contain a lot of Vitamin K which impacts on Warfarin’s effectiveness (if you have an accident or need surgery you are given Vitamin K to counteract the warfarin). My INR drops when I am eating well and goes up when I eat rubbish.

Hi Terry trumpet.
I am in my third week and was 20 stone 9lbs and I am currently just under 19 stone probably a bit less.
I am a long distance Truck driver and as you can imagine it is not a job renowned for fitness.
I carry some free weights with me and do arm exercises/push ups along with sit ups.
As you can see 23 lbs in less than 3 weeks is great in my book so I do not see a problem with BSD for you.
Give it a go and at 800 calories a day your weight will drop at some point .
Good luck
Nidge

Hi Ami, I’m not a diabetic – but I think they’re all in the normal range? Were you diagnosed pre-diabetic at all?
And WOWZERS! 1 stone is awesome! Well done! xx

Hi OscarBelle,
I have the same thing. At the beginning of the week I was absolutely shattered! I seem to be coming through it now though, I added a small big of fruit into my diet yesterday and I think that helped a lot xx

Hey Scotgran! What an amazing achievement! That must feel fantastic 🙂 It’ll be lovely to get outside now that the weather is brightening up a bit, I’ve been doing to strengthening exercises – but would so prefer to be outside! xx

I am starting the 800course but have problems exersising with my arthritic knees , will I still get a good result.

Hi TP

Thanks very much for that, after ,my meeting I did actually stumble across the MODY and thought that maybe what I have – I think a specialist conversation and tests are required! I have a feeling i could be insulin resistant and though I think I’m fat (fat mentality) and i do carry it in the middle, i’m only less than a stone away from my ideal weight. I lost 3lbs in the first week on the 800 but this week so far i’ve put one pound back on which is a bit annoying however my BS’s are getting better so that’s the main thing!

I’ve not heard of the C-Peptide test so thank you for that – i will look into getting one!

Many thanks again!

Hi Peter

This is (once again) the NHS talking cobblers!

When you consume insufficient carbs to power your body, it swaps to using fat. This is called Ketosis and you get ketones in your urine as a by product. Ill informed professionals get this muddled with Ketoacidosis, which is very dangerous. Ketosis isn’t! You can check for ketones by using Ketostix to test your urine – ketones mean the diet is working!

Hope this helps

TP

Hi Charlie,

(This is my first post here, so be gentle with me!)

One of the problems is that when you are diagnosed as “diabetic”, they base the decision purely on your HbA1C level. This a bit like throwing a car away when it won’t go, when actually it’s run out of petrol.

There are several types of diabetes, and whilst type 2 is the most common, there are also LADA, MODY and 1.5. If you are not overweight, the chances are it’s more likely to be one of these variants, than type 2 tbh. The only way to know for certain is to see a specialist and ask for a C-Peptide test which shows if you are actually producing enough insulin.

I have been low carbing since I was diagnosed T2 4 years ago btw!

Hope this helps

TP

Thanks Bre123 and Penny,
To be honest I think the exhuastion may be due to my hectic life (work full time, 2 kids, husband works away etc.) and lack of hours in the day to sleep! I have gained weight steadily since becoming a mother I think due to the fact that I eat, not because I am hungry but to give me a boost through the tiredness to enable me to get things done! I think I need to focus on getting enough sleep – I drink pints of water throughout the day and as active as I can be (always go for a walk at lunch time etc.).

I felt particularity tired after eating the bircher museli (recipie in the book) yesterday morning. I wonder if it was due to the raisins and apple juice? Have had the same this morning but swapped the raisins/apple juice for more yogurt and feel _much_ better.

OscarBelle

That’s marvellous scotgran, keep it up ! and make sure the hubby does too.
As he sees his weight and blood sugar come down, he will become as excited as you are.