Thanks so much hashimoto and Bill, you have both been so supportive and encouraging to this old girl!! Continued success on your own journies 👍

Hello! I’m beginning the 8 week programme today. I read the book recently after being diagnosed type 2 in November 2015. I’m on metformin because I can’t control my diet well enough to keep my BS down.

I also have lots of other issues at the moment – I’m menopausal with some awful symptoms and just recently diagnosed with depression. I have been a binge eater and compulsive overeater for as long as I can remember. I apologise in advance for the epic post, but I would like to get the best advice and support from people here – and I naturally do go on a bit. Sorry 🙂

We lived on a small farm when I was growing up, and a favourite family story is when I was a very small child – we’re talking maybe 3, I would go along the line of just-ready tiny garden peas my granddad had grown, shelling them as I went, and eat the lot! Or pull up a row of baby carrots, one by one, and clean them in the water butt… and again, eat every last one. Raspberries, strawberries, apples, pears, swedes, tomatoes even gooseberries all fell victim to my odd binges. I was like a swarm of locusts once I’d got a taste for something. I wasn’t overweight as a child as I was very active – I never stopped running about outside from dawn to dusk.

As I got older, and more self-conscious, I discovered chocolate, sweets and junk food, and started secretive eating. I was still very active, though, until my late thirties, when there was a kind of tipping point. I reached fifteen stones, and my overeating was simply out of control and has stayed that way. I think I gave up at fifteen stones. I couldn’t see how I could get slim again from there and I stopped being active. I really wish the fifteen stone me could have talked to the 22 stone me that I became last year. I did manage to lose a couple of stones every now and again – and I’ve lost weight with slimming world over the past year but unfortunately I’ve started gaining again – I’m currently 20 and a half stones.

I need to change, if I’m not going to give in to a lifetime of increasing medication and slow descent into diabetic complications. I am going to give the BSD my best shot. The book made a lot of sense to me and the success stories on here and elsewhere are really convincing. I’d love to rediscover health, and maybe one day ride a horse again.

It feels a bit strange to depart from the “if you don’t eat enough you’ll slow your metabolism down” mantra… it’s still chanted everywhere you go. I am convinced it’s wrong, now. The problem is, I don’t trust myself – I really don’t believe I can do it. But I’m ready to give it my best shot. Here I go – today’s the day!

Aly I have just found a perfect site for you

satisfyingeats.com

Some lovely looking cake grain free etc, gives the calories, carbs, fats etc with the recipes. I’m going to bake some myself when I have guests. In fact I will make one for easter

Waiting for a new baking book to arrive will really cheer you up – but take it easy until you are recovered 🙂

Another voice for hanging in…..I had a stall at the end of week one until yesterday, end of week two and suddenly a drop of 4 lbs !!! This does work, you just need to keep the fats up and carbs low….you can do this 😀

Found a good book so ordered it from book depository. Yippee, guilt free baking!

Great to hear Funkydoo
I think I’m going to get a rubber stamp made.
You know the one, it says I TOLD YOU SO
Seriously, this way of eating is forcing our bodies to rethink the habits of a lifetime.
We are all individuals and we will all react at different speeds but you have just proved that, if you keep faith, it does work
Have a great weekend

Morning Bill and woo hoo what a birthday weekend you are having! Daughter not in danger, joggers loose, sugars looking better and 3lbs off! A well deserved good weekend 🙂

Thanks Bill, will have a look. Just made up some egg mayonnaise to stuff in an avocado for lunch. No baguette today! Need to make my own mayonnaise for next time.

Just to add my voice of support and encouragement too. Week 2 was tough – little weight loss and felt very tired and down. My energy and mood getting better all the time.
Even though I have a lot of weight to lose (5st), I have stalled and lost nothing in the last two weeks (weeks 3 and 4) – so do completely empathise with you!
I do have huge motivation to get healthy and fit, and it is the support from the great people in this forum that has kept me going…….
(Just a thought – you might also want to read Michael Mosely’s “Fast Exercise” book which explains HIT in detail – 15 minutes might be more effective than 40 minutes of slog!)
As others have said, 1.5kg (1/4 of your expected weight loss) is a great start. Do let us know how you are getting on and I too encourage you to stay with it!

Happy birthday evie
Have a great weekend then look at Monday as the start of a whole new life.

Hi lucia, no carbs in a worm, it’s all protein
Have you ever seen a starling taking insulin 😉
Have a great weekend.

Lachlanh I stopped my exanatide injections in week 2 and I was planning to drop the metformin as soon as the sugar levels stabilised below 7
Then those all over the place sugar readings started so that was put on hold.
I think they are starting to steady again so if they stay down this week I’ll stop taking them

Aly the stress of feeling so ill and down is what pushed you into these actions.
All the proof you need that this is the diet for you is on this forum and there are always people here to help.
It must be so frustrating for you loving to bake. Could this help ?
Try googling grain free baking. You’ll find hundreds of recipes that are far healthier than traditional baking
I hope it helps

Great stuff Col, well chuffed for you 🙂
Week 7 weigh day and I’ve lost another 3 pounds or 1.36 kg for a total of 23 pounds or 10.43 kg
I’m really happy with that.
Best of luck to you all on this weeks results.

Woo hoo, talk about a bright new day
Decided to hold the celebration until tonight as (I dont believe I forgot all about it ) tomorrow is my birthday !
Had a brilliant nights sleep, I didn’t wake until 9:45, I never do that.
Showered, dressed, and noticed the joggers I last wore a fortnight ago were slack and had to tighten the cord.
Sugar level was 6.9. Walked to the chemist to get weighed and I’ve lost another 3 pounds for a total of 23 pounds gone 🙂
I really don’t think I could be happier and I owe a massive debt of thanks to all you guys.
I started this week not knowing how I was going to cope, it was the outpourings of support from all you lovely people that got me through it.
I’ll be starting this new week looking forward to a much brighter future.
Onwards and upwards !

Hi cat girl,
Vigorous shirt ripping will burn calories, I am sure that is the only reason you are doing it.😇

Looking forward to hearing everyone has gone for a 30 min walk this weekend, even in if it is in 10 minute bursts.

I ran for 120 steps but forgot to breathe, I am going to try it again today.

Speak later
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Thank you for the tips… I am constipated have a movement every 4 days!!!! I have to say my poo is just like childhood poo😀……and I going to be indelicate here too….smell is not as potent either. I guess less bacteria in the gut? I read somewhere its bacteria in the gut which produces the odours…….. Right no more details ….!

The eggs in this recipe make me wonder whether the texture will be at all like the traditional scones that I know. The binder will surely give them more bounce/spring than the delicate scones I am used to?
The scones I grew up with had no egg, no sugar and minimal stirring to develop gluten. They are fragile inside with a very light texture from a high amount of baking powder, and are very melt -in-the-mouth. All the sugar and butter came from the toppings of jam, clotted cream, whipped cream or butter.
Is this based on the US style of scone which I understand may be quite different?
If I want to do a traditional scone, can I use something other than egg? What would coconut flour behave like in a dough with no egg, say using milk or cream instead? I have no experience with coconut flour.

Thank you for your encouragement. I went to a boxing sessions with my daughter this morning. I did break the diet today I went out with my girlfriend to celebrate my birthday and I had 2 glasses of white wine. But I will be back on board on Monday (I have just found out my daughters have planned a birthday party for me tomorrow).

Hi Bill, I woke up this morning and one of my first thought was that you must now have the MRI scan results. I was so pleased for you and your family when I saw this post – have a lovely weekend and relax 🙂

I agree with sticking with it – I suddenly lost 6lb overnight having seemingly lost nothing in the previous days. If you’re eating 800cals and exercising, it will come off eventually. Keep on keeping on!

I think calculating the ingredients you use specifically is a good way to get used to quantities. Even just the brand or supermarket you use can make a difference to calories. My fitness pal is a great app and you can put your own recipes in. Plus it’s about removing those carbs so that is the principle. 6lb in a week.

Thanks for the encouragement all! On scales this morning and 6lb has gone plus an inch from my waist! Really pleased and realising it’s all worth it. Celebrating with some gram flour pancakes for brunch!

Col, brilliant news, a fantastic reward for your dedication and self control! I am really looking forward to your future posts! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Aly my friend says to her partner who is always searching for ‘the’ answer to something, but spends so much time researching he gets more confused ‘stop digging so deep the answer is much nearer the surface than you think’! You found the answer in the BSD so you are right to put aside the digging tools and go with it.
I saw. My GP yesterday – took along my data, the book etc she saw immediately that this was the answer for herself and her mother because I had lost almost two and a half stones since she saw me in january. It will work for you – neither SW or WW worked for me but this is like a miracle 🙂

Just at the end of week 2 and am delighted to report a whole stone, 14lbs or 6.3 kilos! No hunger and able to move around much better….stalled for several days but upped the fats, cut carbs even lower and it worked. No sugar craving either…..think this may well have kicked them for good….so here’s to the next 6 weeks and then maybe 4:3 or 5:2 until at goal and for rest of life. If I can crack this, anyone can. Thanks to Michael Mosley, genius!
Thanks to all those further down the road who continue to post and inspire, it has meant so much to know the peaks and troughs that can happen in advance and so be ready to ride em out!

Good luck Munchkinsnan! Stick with it and you will see great results 😀👌

Thank you so much. Guess I am run down at the moment, taking antibiotics hasn’t helped! Have promised myself I will give it another go as it makes sense to me and I trust Dr M. There are so many research articles on the net, going back a long way by people convinced their way is right. The bio chemical research shows the truth but governments have ignored it. Why?
Think maybe I must stop the research and just accept this. Off to slimming world website now to at least stop any more money going out!

Hello Bill,

Absolutely fantastic news Bill, I bet you all slept better last night (with or without the SC)

Hi Aly, I feel your pain. Being ill with a chest infection knocks the stuffing out of you, makes doing anything or thinking clearly very difficult which explains the state you have got in to.

Stick with the BSD plan – it is sugar free – talk to your family about WHY you are following it and that you are not happy with feeding them sugary foods. You can compromise, cake, biscuits etc could be a once a week treat. I had a Rose Elliott book ( lent out not returned) I think it was called something like sugar free baking/cooking, anyway there was a cake recipe where the sweetness was created from adding mashed butternut squash. I know that includes flour (not in bsd spirit) but it would be a compromise while your family adjust or if they don’t want to change the way they eat at least you would know it was healthier than the old style baking.

Can you cancel the slimming world membership? Talk to your bank, see if they can help. There should hopefully be a ‘cooling off’ period.

ABOVE ALL be kind to yourself, you are still not fully over the chest infection. My GP told me it can take 6 to 12 weeks to feel well AFTER the infection has cleared. I’m so sorry you are having a tough time but there is light at the end of the tunnel 🙂

Thanx Cherrianne, good suggestions, will stock up on cherry toms and celery, I do like seeds too and cheese – actually I like most food ha ha.

I dont have scales whilst travelling but am continuing to measure my waist, did go down to 34 inches (from my original 37 inch waist) but now hovering at 34.5, this may be water retention from long haul flight. It’s sweltering here in Thailand but exercising daily by walking uphill on a steep incline near accomm – did 20 floors today – got me out of puff so must be doing some good! A case of onwards and upwards!

Limiting breakfast to eggs plus natural yoghurt – omelette with cheese is actually quite filling – seeing but not being tempted by the croissants, toast, danish pastries plus fruit such as melon, grapes. Dinner front, keeping to low carb is manageable in this country, was pleased to see this morning that Red Thai Curry soup with prawns is fairly low in carbs and again, is quite filling and actually enough for dinner.

It can be hard breaking eating habits of a lifetime but it can be done, the forum members’ posts are evidence of this and very encouraging. Onwards and upwards my friends.

I’ve not taken medication so don’t know the ins and outs but damage to blood vessels can occur from around a reading of 6.7 according to Jenny Ruhl.

Oh what a mess! Totally off plan for a week and feeling wretched.
Have read the book sweet poison and my head is spinning. I don’t know what my diet should be. This food plan makes sense as does the no sugar. I have done lots of thinking whilst stuffing my face and have come to the conclusion that I must limit carbs and sugar. I have to avoid cakes and biscuits which is hard as I have always made my own and enjoy doing so. How can I poison my family? I will have to get more inventive with vegetarian food too.
I feel my head is reeling with all I have read. I am angry that we have been given the wrong information in order to line someone’s pockets.
Really it all comes back to the decision I made a few years ago to eat only clean food. I need to add in the low carb to lose my excess weight.
I am angry with myself too because I was convinced to sign up to slimming world online. I can’t really afford it so feel bad. Some of the food plans I can use but it uses fry light, low fat cheese etc which I will not touch.
So I am going to creep away and re establish this food plan and try to resist joining any other commercial diets.

Malkay – there was a post on another thread by someone saying no weight loss at all, but that the scales showed less body fat percentage and more water. I think it was at day 11 or similar with same set of scales each day. So definitely things must be happening even if not where you want them to! As many say, what’s not going in has to show in improved shape eventually!

Nikki you have confirmed something to yourself – you can control what you eat when out. Ok ok the starchy veg BUT no biscuits and little of the mousse. You can confidently eat out when you can choose from a menu ! A positive step in my book 🙂

oh no don’t feel guilty!!! enjoy – you have worked hard and your body is clearly thanking you 🙂

Hi lachlanh,
I am not taking Metformin or any other medications and I don’t eat when my BGL is up, I just drink water til it comes down.

Only time my BGL is high is morning and I eat after it comes down, often 1pm.

hi tinforest – I feel guilty posting my progress because I know everyones situation, response to the diet, and path is different… all I can say is that I have felt similar to you on a number of occasions in the past and that all I have ever done is keep trying. that’s all we can do. having tried various diets in the past I am convinced this is the way forward. if you keep going I am sure you will have a breakthrough soon – don’t give up because as you know the alternative is not appealing 🙂

Congratulations carsong, that is a fantastic result with your blood sugar dropping so well…and your weight. 🙂

wow!! that is amazing, congratulations! i am end week 1 and feel awful. no weight loss, sick feeling, and disappointed. trying to keep going but it’s really hard

Thanks Bill.
Because I am not able to eat a lot of the recipes in the book I am substituting mostly and it is helpful to input local produce (not in a packet) and get the calorie breakdown and carb fat and protein numbers for everything and have it automatically input a daily total.

Also happy with the steps registration…a lot more accurate than the thing on my wrist which I am about to give away since I am on a walking frame and it doesn’t register my steps accurately at all. The phone, in a bag on my hip registers brilliantly. I am using the SHealth for measuring my heartbeat now too, yesterday the first time I used it in the gym. All very new for me and I’m delighted and hopeful that I will be able to get very healthy with this…I have been using Samsung phones for years and have never explored the apps at all, just use my own ones I have downloaded, particularly the FODMAP one which has kept me out of hospitaal since I discovered it. Next week I am going into the Samsung store to ask them to show me what else is in my phone that I may benefit from.

Re:carbs…I’ve been keeping an eye on the carbs for years now, at one stage lost 20Kg on a high protein diet… til i discovered it created high inflammation and stimulated insulin too…so then I moved onto water and broth fasting. Acute awareness of carbs and no fructose is how I have stayed completely medication free in spite of type 2 diabetes and being overweight. I am the poster old girl for my GPs clinic, I am their ONLY post 10 years diagnosis diabetic patient who is completely medication free with perfect blood pressure and no diabetes side effects. I think they hate that I do all this on my own without their input but love the result. 🙂

This diet for me is more food than I have been eating…and I am hoping it will work, otherwise I am back to fasting as my insulin control. Which is not a great social thing, fasting is a bit isolating I find.

END OF WEEK 2.

Hello People! I am now 108kg after 2 weeks so nearly 10kg lost! My fasting sugars have been 4.3-4.5 for four days in a row and I feel great. I know the weight loss is slowing down (it has to right?) and that I may see increased mmol/L Week 4/5 but I haven’t felt this good in 6 years. Thanks for all the insight and advice I have gathered by reading other posts 🙂

Not been too bad – using ‘myfitnesspal’ app but I think I need to get digital kitchen scales so I know how much I am eating. Have been guessing using the pack size and counting out food. Bit of a head ache but find otherwise. I have a pair of trousers still not worn as too tight so going to try them on after three weeks – wish me luck 😃

I’m definitely more emotional than usual. Had a crying fit this morning for no good reason. Felt a bit low for rest of the day. This diet does impact on our hormones so it could be that …..

Good morning Judith, and it is a good morning, I can’t stop smiling at the thought of Bills good news. 🙂
No mozzies last night, a bit too cold for them finally. Nice bright sunny autumn day today. Weather behaving as it’s supposed too lol! Only 17 at the moment but seems on track to reach the 21 forecast.
I’m off soon to take one of my girls to a birthday party so I’m glad it’s not too hot or raining. I’m helping out there, they are going to do some sand art so definitely not an indoor activity. Can you imagine the mess a bunch of 10 yr old girls could make with glue and sand? She’s one very brave Mum!!
Catch up with you later, after your sleep 🙂

Hi Auntylil
Only discovered you today and what a joy and inspiration you are. My son works with people who finds themselves in your situation and is a firm believer in the positive overcoming the negative. So stay strong, believe it will all be ok and I’m sure it will. By the way, I love unicorns and believe in their magical powers, so magic away Auntylil. We’re all on your side.
Xxx

Thank you so much, Rose, SunnyB and Allychat. The point about not losing in a uniform way makes sense, and I guess it will be my belly’s turn soon. I think I just need to go away (4 days in Ireland), and keep to the low carb, but not worry about calories, then start afresh next week. I think I’ll keep going for a bit to see what happens. I’m eating no starchy carbs, and am not on any meds, but am prediabetic with glucose intolerance. My hypoglycaemia has been much better while on the diet, so that is the positive I am grateful for, and is enough to keep me going. Thank you for the encouragement – I was feeling quite down about it.

Good morning not so fatty,
Thanks for that, I’ll remember the name of your endocrinologist. Great to find someone like that. I too have met some fantastic health professionals over the years. We seem to have had nearly parallel working lives. You in mental health, and me for many years as a district nurse. Wonder if our paths ever crossed? Lots of liaising between our two professions over the years, especially when I was working in the inner and very outer southern suburbs!
Hi Sue1234, things ARE going in the right direction for you, however slowly you feel it’s happening. Who knows what inner changes are happening that are not evident yet? It’s good to go back and read the book again, I seem to find something new or refreshed in my mind each time. So glad you’re enjoying your veg now, they give you lots of food for little calorie/ carb cost. Just make sure you’re keeping your fat intake up to encourage your body in the fat burning mode and I’m sure we’ll be hearing of even better results soon 🙂

Frustration this morning. Went out last night to friends, and had lots of starchy vegetables. The plan had been they would come here, and I had a good menu planned – the fish in foil, with a big salad, and a fruit platter after that, with some whipped cream. but for good reasons it was better we went there, and the notice was too short to ask for special food. It was one of those situations when I felt it would be rude not to eat what was on the plate. I’m frustrated because it sets me back in adapting to the diet, and I’m not through the tough stuff yet, so it’s pity to go backwards at this stage.
BUT – lots of positives too
no alcohol, didn’t nibble any of the biccies offered before the meal, and managed to palm off most of the chocolate mousse (and I like chocolate mousse), and having friends you can see at short notice.
next time – I’d do the same. With more warning, and with some friends, I could ask for some low carb offerings.
i’ve a organised dinner out next week, but I’m not too worried about that, as I don’t feel quite the pressure to eat what’s on the plate.
Glad it hasn’t made me feel guilty or down on myself, but will be happy when I’m through these early weeks. And I’m trying to do this in a real life, and in real life things don’t always go to plan. So veggie frittata for breakfast and back to the straight and narrow.

Wow a lot has been going on since I last checked in. Hello everyone. I didn’t realise we had such a diverse bunch on here.

Day 27 weight 10st 7lbs
Blood sugar 9.9 ( finally going in the right direction)
I read through the book today again, tomorrow I will be at the end of week 4. I had hoped to have lost more weight and had better blood sugar by now but I have to remind myself that I have been a diagnosed Type 2 Diabetic for almost 7 years and if it’s going to take longer for this diet to work for me then so be it – I’m prepared for the long haul! I’m not a fan of veg usually but I have been tucking into it and actually enjoying it.

My downfall has been lack of exercise, but a lot has been happening in my life- I’m aiming to get an exercise routine started on Sunday that I can stick to.👣👣👣🏃🏃🏃🚶🚶🚶