Morning all,

Lucia – wobbling will actually help reduce your fat, that’s the principle the vibration plates work on – and it’s fun.

Hashimoto, the pussy willow is small and furry. I’ve put it in a vase on my hearth.

Lucia, today I start week 7. It’s been slow for me. Week 1 was the most I’ve lost in one go – 8lb. then plauteau-ing for a couple of weeks, then drastic reduction of cals to get it moving again. Speaking of getting going – that;s been an issue for me until that is I remembered how good Potters cleansing herb tea is for clearing out the ol pipes!

I didn’t have loads to lose, I did the Dr Mosely 5.2 (original) diet back in 2013 and lost 3 stones. Rather alarmingly a bit of that had crept back on in the last 18 months. I thought I’d been eating healthily – loads, and I mean loads of fruit, pasta, brown bread etc. who knew eh!

I had a breast reduction in august so all my size 12 tops fitted properly again. I’d just wanted the bottom to match. My daughter is getting married in Florida on 10 May and I fly over on 6th. I bought my dress in the size12 – at the end of week 1. I left it hanging in the wardrobe without trying on until last week. It now fits. today is the start of week 7 and I’m keeping going because I want to lose another 7lb or so.

I usually get away from this computer at lunchtimes (work from home) so tend to wander down the road to see the horses. It’s a steep hill on the way back up and that really works the leg muscles. However, I have found that the vibration plate has firmed up in places where the walking hasn’t affected!

I don’t know if I quite belong on this thread but I thought I’d check in to tell you my experience. I am pre-diabetic, 45 years old, about 25 kgs overweight. I started the blood sugar diet straight after Christmas but never had more than a few days in a row 100% sticking to the diet. Most days were more like 1000 calories, sometimes more, and often those extra calories were chocolate! So I never got away from refined sugar. And I didn’t exercise. By week eight I couldn’t really be said to be on the diet at all, I was just eating whatever. Nevertheless I never felt like I completely abandoned it, I was still eating a lot more veges that I used to!

Over the eight weeks I lost a total of 4 kgs. I’m not sure whether to be happy with that or not, it doesn’t seem much for a lot of work but on the other hand it was “real” weight that didn’t come straight back on once the diet was over. I have regained a little bit in the last couple of weeks after an endless stream of parties.

Anyway, after a break from dieting and feeling yuck when I eat too much junk, I’m starting again next week and this time plan to actually stick to the plan! 800 calories of clean food, and gentle exercise. I’ll see what the results are like if I follow the rules.

Hi denise, great weight loss! I’m impressed that you are doing so well and coping with applying it all to shift work 🙂

Hi Hawks a 10 point drop in your BMI is amazing, well done! The bsd should be a doddle for you with all that experience 🙂

Hi Sunny

I have done 2 weeks now and have lost 10lbs so this is very motivating. I am finding that I am not at all hungry, and although I work 12 hours shifts, I try and keep my eating to all within an 8 hour window. I now bring my breakfast to work with me and eat this about 9am whereas before I was having breakfast at 6.15am, so by 9am was looking for more food! I then have two 45 minute breaks throughout the day and have my lunch and my supper in these. You have to be SUPER organised so I use my days off wisely and have become very selfish in allocating time to myself during my days off to do this for ME! As I usually only do one night shift (but am ironically writing this one as I’m coming off a 2nd night shift), I tend not to eat throughout the night at all. This is easy to do when its just one shift, but with 2 shifts, then I have done the same principle as I practice in the day to the night. We are not allowed out during our night shifts, so I now bring an ipod to work with me and relieve some of the quiet times by moving to some music so I’m still getting in some steps during the shift too.

I use a small handful of almonds as a snack, or chop up salad veg such as cucumber, carrots and peppers and snack on these. The low calorie soups would be a good idea for your husband too as he can use these instead of the cup a soups.

I wish you both the best of luck, but when you start losing the weight, it will be the best motivator you can have.

Denise x

Sorry. To hear about the pain you have been in Mosleyfan, sounds as if you have had a lot to cope with in life. Glad you are seeing the benefits of the diet 🙂

Should have said when I was doing chi Kung was the first time my cellulite legs disappeared too and removes fat really quickly whilst relaxing you too reduces anxiety. And was the slimmest I have ever been. Bonus was even though I wS being stalked by my ex and bringing up 4 kids with no family or Any help… Looked a million dollars and years younger To the point that my solicitor said the court judge would find it hard to believe how bay I was being stalked even though I had a psychological domestic violence order haha shows you benefits of chi Kung … I’m starting it again ! I have had a neck op x2 spinal fusion hand fusion and full of arthritis lol so no excuses arthritic people

Did I mention I’m using the free ‘fat secret ‘ app now ? It’s soooo good ! Enter your good eaten and calculates instantly fat protein carbs etc and you can get a pie graph even shows you a picture of what you’ve eaten shading g fat protein carb really highlights well

That should have read 800 cals….and I think like was posted… I wasn’t eating enough fat

Hi all sorry have not replied have been in agony with shoulder pain… Anyway was walking at the shops and pull up trousers nearly fell down!! Nicely awkward so I seem to have turned the corner… But it’s weird not dropping any weight at all first three weeks… Double checked scales but now. A kilo gone (Australia!) and measuring weekly had kept me going with 890 cals a day and thank you to all for your great support … Wasn’t drinking enough wAter … It’s 30 c here haha and I still drink tea and coffee all day like a pom! Also watched what you said about carb counting .. I wasn’t doing that… I’m an English fat pear do not centrally fat… Just strange monster of visceral fat arrived with menopause!! I am going to add in chi Kung again I used to teach it and it’s like tai chi but much better! Lowers BP can heal internally when you get really good at it! You can just stand and move your arms to form a circle finger tips touching at busy level .. Palms towards chest. Then sink down into semi squat … Don’t have your knees going over your toes… For those that can see toes lol… Focus on your breathing … It’s reverse to what we usually do.. As you breathe in you let your tummy stick out haha shudnt be hard ! Then breathe out imagining your tummy button is drawing back to your spine… Get a book from library or go to amazon online !

Matrika, that’s shocking! If that is the way a prof thinks then there is a hell of a way to go! 🙁

Great news Aly 🙂

Penny, I’m ‘seeing’ it. I used to watch the eagles in Oman – not too far from Goa as the crow flies. Sounds wonderful 🙂

My current GP wrote on a recent blood test request “eshews statins”. I should think so…I have a cardiac calcium score of zero!

She’s filling in for my regular doctor who is a lot more supportive and off having a baby…but basically, no GP I have seen has much clue about the connection between food and insulin hence BGL, they are obsessed with BGL and can’t get beyond that. Its infuriating. And patients are accused of not working hard at getting healthy or losing weight!

I had one professor in charge of a diabetes clinic thump the desk and growl “a calorie is a calorie” in response to me telling him I respond differently to carbohydrate and other food groups. I’ve given up on them and only attend for my tests, so I have the information to keep on working from.

So, two days back on the wagon and I have lost once more 3 of the 4 pounds I put on during my week of catastrophic eating. Hopefully this is all the proof I need that this does work!

Hi Bill must sent that from Dohar Airport in Qatar!
Goa is beautiful. Very hot! Wedding on Wednesday. ( grandson, who is half Goan. )
Think of me lazing in the pool in the 37′ heat watching eagles gliding over head!
Hope your celebrations are going well.
Penny

Hi Penny,
Are you in Australia?
I was trying to access it from a PC…joining was easy but haven’t actually used it since I found the Samsung app on the phone (researcher Darwin led me to it)…it is pretty good except it is a bit rigid ie can’t input leeks green leaves, only the white (which I’m not eating). Similarly I can’t always reduce the quantity to what I’m using eg teaspoon coconut oil… 1/2 TBS is their smallest quantity. But that is really not very important…its great so far for me and it beeps and tells me when I’ve reached daily exercise goals or calorie goals…it gives me a reward which I find fantastic!

Hi matrika
I haven’t joined Calorieking and I use it all the time. Hmm.
Great you found that app on your phone.
Good luck
Penny

Hi Captainlynne
I literally saw that on my docs records -‘non compliant’ !
They took it off after I said I’d seen it.
Are we supposed to behave like good children and not question anything??!!
Penny

Hawks that sounds delicious 🙂

Bill. Fantastic news. Really pleased for you all.
Penny

Hi Mosleyfan
Someone else this happened to found that when she checked on her scales that measure body fat and water content her fat was down 11% but her water was up a lot hence no weight loss showing.
I had water retention at first. I got some hawthorn tea from Amazon. Works really well.
Penny

mountainman,
You could take some glucose tabs with you if you are concerned about dropping blood sugar levels…don’t know if you are diabetic but that is what people with blood sugar probs usually carry in case of hypos and they work instantly(ish).

Thanks hashimoto.
I think I got an answer! Using the ketostix was doing fine til rhubarb compote for brunch (with full fat yoghurt) stopped the ketosis …have been measuring to try to figure out what it is and that is all I have eaten today so, seems conclusive. I cooked the rhubarb with strawberries, obviously they are a no go for me. I can’t eat the rhubarb as is without blueberries or some sort of sweetener and am sorry about this cause I love rhubarb and haven’t eaten it since I gave up stevia.

Will eat the compote I cooked and then see how I go. Sticking rigidly within the 800cals a day and exercising my way up to 10,000 steps. Am at 8,000 just for now. My phone app is happy.

I have gained a kilo this week so far but will keep on with the experiment. I am totally contented with the 800 cals it is fine for me and the food suggestions are easy to work with.

We had the autumn equinox yesterday, much cooler and easier to exercise so maybe that will do it.

Hi Hawks and welcome to the forums. You’ve done a great job getting your BMI down. I’m sure you’ll have great success on the BSD.
Keep in touch if you need advice or support, there’s always someone who’ll be able to help. Reading through the other threads helps you pick up all sorts of tips too. Although having done the 5:2 you would be pretty knowledgeable already 🙂

My husband and I are about to start this BSD and are very motivated to succeed. I am trying to be prepared so as to avoid “falling of the wagon along the way”
My husband does shift work and his roster requires 4 weeks at a time of night shift with day & evening shifts between blocks of nights- It is the nights I am worried about as I know one of the things he and his colleges do to cope is eat a lot of the worst kind of snack food- lollies chips cup-a-soups etc. I would very much appreciate any tips on meals that can be prepared ahead of time and suitable snacks for when he just cant cope at night and needs a pick me up at 3am.
Many thanks in advance for any advice on offer

I have found a breakfast “cereal” than is cereal free. It is locally made here, so not something you can get, but the ingredients might be something you can make up easily:
I have put the ingredients in order of volume with the main one at the top

flaked almonds
sunflower, flax, pumpkin & sesame seeds
shredded coconut
small amount of dried apricot
cinnamon for sweetness

I sprinkle it over full fat yoghurt and then chop an apple or pear over this

Hi
I am not diabetic, as far as I know, but blood sugar tests were some time ago.
I was very overweight after a very long bout of deep depression, so once I got that under control, decided to try to control the weight.

I have been on the 5:2 diet for a couple of years, and tried severely reducing carbs for 6 weeks late last year as an attempt to break a plateau, which worked, but then I had a long summer break from all that dieting stuff.
Then I heard an interview with the author about the BSD, so felt a bit more inspired and bought the book, and am trying to implement the Med style 5:2. I am keeping down the carbs fairly strictly.
Over the last couple of years I have got my BMI down from 41 to 31 but obviously have a long way to go yet.

I’ve just finished week 9 — lost two stone and enjoying the diet. I know that it was only meant to be for 8 weeks but I’m not sure if I can trust myself going back to a ‘ regular’ diet.

I feel for you scotgran, that was some walk – but now you know where to go berrying in Autumn lol 🙂

wonderful isn’t it Lucia? Your mention of May provoked the memory of The May Magnificat. Are you a Hopkins fan too? 🙂

The 5:2 Fast Diet and the BSD 5:2 are quite different. On the 5:2 FD up to 500/600 calories are allowed on fast days. On non-fast days you can eat anything you like, including alcohol, within reason. On the 5:2 BSD the aim is to reduce blood sugar, and tackle type 2 diabetes, therefore on non fast days you stick to the high fat, low carb Mediterranean diet, refrain from alcohol, but do not count calories. The Mediterranean style of eating, reduced alcohol, would be less calorific, therefore the higher calories on fast days should result in weight loss.

Thanks, FatCat.
I will give them a try later this week. I used to do a lot of baking, but as part of this diet that has gone out the window and I am limiting my baking to once a week.

I too have many gallstones that I cannot get removed on NHS. I have lost 10 kg so far in 6 weeks and have had no flare-ups. We are all different though. I never thought I had a high fat diet to cause them but one parent and sister had them too. I cannot see how being on BSD would be bad for anything much and Prof Taylor alluded to that. Food shortage is not uncommon in many parts of the world and in our history. If the gall bladder is full of stones it may have ceased to function anyway. Monitor yourself and do not worry unduly. Mine were diagnosed in 2006 and I have had no advice on what not to eat from either my GP or 2 consultants. Good luck keep us posted as you must have finished your 8 weeks BSD by now.

Hi Sue1234,
Things are happening again for you, it must be a relief.
Have you looked at a thread called ‘rising fasting blood sugar levels’ in the fast 800 forum. You will see there’s a few people experiencing high blood sugar levels starting anywhere between weeks 3 & 5. The general consensus seems to be that at this point, the liver is releasing stored sugar and so blood levels rise. There are better explanations for this on the thread.
It happened to me and had me very concerned. My blood sugars had come right down to mostly under 5, fasting, and I was so pleased. Nothing I did with my diet or eating pattern made a difference to the spike in blood sugars. Now they’ve dropped back down again. Low 5’s for past few days and 4.7 this morning. Hang in there, it will pass 🙂

Hi scots gran,
I am so jealous, mud is great for the complexion You must be glowing!!!

And you got through it all and came back to tell the tale. Are you related to cat girls bear gryls? Just don’t eat the bugs?!!!!??!
You will be climbing up snowdon next.
Glad you are out, about and active. I am not there yet, but I soon will be.

Keep smiling, keep moving, keep losing
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi Hashimoto,

Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.

From what I can remember,
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Yesterday I went for a walk. Saw a road closed sign, ignored it assuming the walking bit was open. Wrong! Consulted a dog walker, set off through a marshy field, then into a wood, got snarled in brambles. One tree looks much like another so I had a bit of a problem retracing my steps. I actually ended up further away than when I went into the wood. Anyway my one hour walk in the sunshine ended up being a two and a half hour yomp through mud and thorns.

End of the 7th week and things are looking good.

I am down to 83 kg. Last summer I was 105 kg at my 6 monthly diabetes weigh in. 83kg is 13stone and 1lb which is in the overweight rather than the obese range for 5′ 10″ and less than I weighed on leaving the Army.

My trousers are far to big, my shirts are like tents. I have lost a little muscle tone but until I can sort out the arthritis problems I will have to live with 8000 steps per day and using the stairs when I can.

I will be attempting the diet when the book releases. My blood sugar is still normal, but creeping towards the higher end of normal. My mother has type 2, I’m hoping to talk her into attempting it with me.

I can’t wait to know how it goes for you tomorrow. I don’t think you will struggle while you are away. You have changed your mindset not just your diet so I think you’ll find it very easy to avoid the carbs which gives you a bit of licence for the odd snifter. But that’s all to come, we’ll concentrate on this week first. Everything crossed for you. Totally agree on the checking labels. I would never have thought there was so many carbs in one tiny yorkie pud! I’ve just had an old clothes fest though, trying on stuff that didn’t fit 6 weeks ago. Very satisfying – I have ‘new’ things to wear and no guilt as no money was spent!

Welcome to the club AnnaandAlfie. Lots of support and advice on here, and usually someone around. Look forward to seeing your progress.

Happy birthday for the 22nd, and thank you. Nothing has ever worked as well for me as the BSD.

Luckily I’m not a veggie so can make do and mend. 5 days a week I have breakfast at work. A boiled egg! I used to have a Miso broth too but they were too salty for me so I ditched that. Weekends I have a brunch so yesterday it was a smoked salmon fillet and today it was it’s twin. Very nice too. Last week it was smoked haddock.

Not sure what to do over the Easter, 2 days at home sans boiled egg 🙂

Hi Janet1973
Thank you so much for the perspective and kind words. I will let you know what happens tomorrow and don’t worry, I’m not about the start scoffing down choccies and biscuits! It’s not so much the little devil, as my annoyance with myself at not being in control. I know I can do this, I’ve proved that over the first three weeks after all. You are right of course about being easier on myself while I’m away and having the easiest weight loss plan to come back too, but I’m determined not to completely trash all achieved so far whilst doing so.
Well done on resisting the Yorkshire. I’m in the habit of looking at the carb counts now and it makes it much easier to put things back and resist! I too do not believe in yolo – used to do Regression Hypnosis.
Will update on the weigh-in tomorrow.

Hi Skinny
Yes, the bsd 800 book says that new research suggests 800 cals for both men and women is sufficient to get weight loss. It is probably based on the ‘new’ med style principles, I don’t think they really featured too much in the original 5:2.

I used the 5-2 fasting diet for a year last year before falling off the wagon. Bought MMs books and they were my health bibles. After coming off 5-2 I have gained a stone in weight so have taken an interest again only to find out there is a revision. On my fast days I was consuming 500 calories or less but now the rule seems to be 800 calories. I understood the scientific facts said that 500 calories for a woman was the maximum amount of calorific intake for a fast day to reset blood sugars and tackle visceral fat.

Confused

I have jumbo oats, apparently they are ok. Bizarrely I found them on Amazon France although they are not available in the shops here.
I have a small amount with a bit of full milk and hot water. I add 1/2 tsp honey. With a black sugarless coffee this keeps me going ages. Keeping this in my eating plan makes it work for me. First thing in the morning is very busy for me so I do not have time for much else. I have three cats to feed, 2 dogs, 17 chickens, 13 ducks and two geese! Thankfully hubby sorts himself out!

When i have looked at what Ive eaten when I’ve stalled very often the difference has been that I’ve eaten less good fat on those days. It has taken a really big shift in my thinking to get over the whole ‘low fat is good’ that I was truly suckered into. When Ive upped my fat with a bit more olive oil or avocado or nuts or full fat dairy it has seemed to get things going again provided i still keep roughly to the 800 cals per day. Good luck and hang in there.

Fantastic Sue 1234, you will have some very loose clothes now! It’s a lovely feeling isn’t it? 🙂