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  • I prefer to look at all the folk in the Med countries that I have visited over the years and who use olive oil much more than us.
    They don’t seem to have anything seriously wrong with them so I will believe that rather than some research found on the internet and probably sponsored by a food company.

  • posted by  Celsa on just checking….
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    I’m not diabetic either, just a bit overweight, and I read the book and started eating the Mediterranean style diet and the weight has been dropping off very steadily (3.7kg since 29/01. BMI now 27.2). I don’t count calories because I don’t have the patience for it, and I’m not aiming for 800 calories a day anyway, but just cutting out refined starchy carbs and eating more veg and full fat dairy instead seems to be the big difference. And the food keeps me fuller a lot longer (swapping my morning toast for an egg and tomato has been a huge help!) I rarely feel the need to snack. Also my nightly reflux, which seemed to be triggered by starches or sugars has almost completely gone.
    I can’t be very active at the moment because of a foot injury, but once that’s sorted and I’m back to walking long distances and a bit of running I will up my carb intake a little for the calories I’ll need.

    So, I recommend the book for the diet suggestions even if you’re not diabetic or prediabetic!

  • Ive always cooked with olive oil but recently become aware of information saying that it is harmful to health. Having browsed the web the information is contradictory so I am non the wiser. I assume that Michael Moseley is aware of the controversy and believes it to be safe to use given the dietary advice in his book. I would be very interested to hear people’s views. I hope to start the BSD diet next week.

  • posted by  JamesH on Week 1 complete, anyone need a 'diet buddy'?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Thanks Karen,
    I’ll post on this thread next week. Yes I started on a Friday, normally it’d be a Monday preceded by a weekend blow out! But I thought I’d try and take ‘control’ straight away. Good luck with it.
    James

  • posted by  Aly on Catastrophic eating emergency support!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Oh dear, so many of us with the same problem! I had counseling years ago to help me deal with a traumatic childhood but was not able to address the worst part. It is all tightly shut in the box in my head but we are products of our childhood. I did weight watchers successfully for years but abandoned it when I moved over to clean eating.
    As I have mentioned I am also vegetarian. I bought Rose Elliots book, low carb veggie but to be honest am disappointed as it does not fit in with my clean eating principles. The BSD is so different from my normal eating it makes it difficult to get on with it. I agree that sugar is the real enemy and although I have siblings with type 1 diabetes I do not think I show any signs of being even pre diabetic. I am over weight but to be fair to me I am 59, had three children and six pregnancies and a total hysterectomy at the age of 44 for health reasons. So my tummy is bigger than it should be!
    I lead a healthy life on my fledgling smallholding spending lots of time outside with chickens, ducks and geese. Soon we will add bees to our smallholding. Possibly this year a pair of in milk goats for milk and cheese. I cook almost everything from scratch…today’s bread is on the go just now..so it is hard to check the calorie content. I avoid factory made food as much as possible. I am comfortable where I am and it has taken a long time to get here. At the mere mention of diet I go into sabotage mode. There is far more to life than being a size 10.

  • posted by  Jane H on Catastrophic eating emergency support!
    on in Fast 800
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    I’ve got Sarah Wilson’s book. Thanks Janet1973 for your post – in fact I’ve just been reading/enjoying yours and antielil’s chat to each other on another forum (it is so easy to lose the thread so to speak!).

    I am with you 100% – sugar is poison. My children are bored of what they call “lectures” and I call “education” but as a family we are gradually reducing the sugar intake significantly. The trouble is, when I am in the grip of it, I go underground and stuff it in secretly. I am finding reading these forums helpful – provided I don’t sit for hours reading them, which is also easily done.

    Having stuffed my face this morning, I intend to drink lots of water with lemon, walk, fast for the rest of the day and cold turkey on the sugar tomorrow. Back to meal replacement shakes for a while, I think, as they remove the need to make any kind of food choices at all.

    Tentative steps โ€ฆ. thank you โ€ฆ.

  • I’m doing this for two reasons – one, I’m about 10kg over a “normal” BMI and have been ever since I had my youngest child (who is now 14!). Two, my husband is type 2 diabetic controlled by tablets at the moment, but neither of us are getting any younger and we both want to live to a healthy old age. The first week on the 800 BSD was tough, but I’m pleased to say I’m 2kg lighter than when I started so that’s a big incentive to continue. I did lapse a bit when a colleague brought in some birthday cupcakes, but I found I didn’t really enjoy it at all as it was way too sweet and sickly. I have found myself craving toast, but I know it’s not actual hunger, more habit.

    But now comes a bigger challenge than avoiding the breadbin – eating out.
    Has anyone got any ideas for restaurants (chains like Pizza Express/Cafe Rouge/Giraffe, etc.) where there are low carb options that I could pick? We’ve promised to take our teenagers out for a meal so I don’t want to disappoint them, or put myself in the way of too much temptation…

  • posted by  KarenH on Week 1 complete, anyone need a 'diet buddy'?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi James,

    I’m starting the diet next Thursday, I know it’s a random date but it makes sense to me! I’m reading through the recipes and I’m looking forward to starting.

    I’m glad to hear it’s working for you, if you still want a buddy next week then I’ll be here.

    All the best

    Karen

  • posted by  JamesH on Week 1 complete, anyone need a 'diet buddy'?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi all,

    Just finished my first week on the BSD, and lost 7.8lb and down to 228.4lb. Aiming to go sub 220lb (but 210lb is the ultimate target) as I do Judo and want to complete in the sub 100kg category. Good progress in the first week, but daily weight drop off slowed as per many of the other comments on the Forum. Does any one want a ‘diet buddy’ and to post weekly goals and progress towards them to keep each other motivated?

    I put the shopping list together for week 2 last night. I must say that I’m surprised at how unhungry I have been particularly after the first three days. I’m really enjoying the food, and cooking.

    Keep going for it everyone out there, I’m sure that by following this plan and lifestyle change we’ll all feel better for it.
    Cheers James

  • posted by  Janet1973 on Catastrophic eating emergency support!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Sugar is an addiction, a worldwide one, much bigger than drugs or alcohol or any other addiction. Probably 90% of Brits are addicted and it starts from the very first spoon of pureed fruit that is put into our mouths as babies. So Jane, its not that you are weak; you are fighting an addiction. Two excellent books on sugar addiction and how to break it are Sarah Wilson’s ‘I quit sugar’ and David Gillespie’s ‘The Sweet Poison Quit Plan’. Both are founder members of this new diet revolution which we are now part of with bsd. We all need to think about sugar in a different way. Its not a treat, its a poison.

  • posted by  Jane H on Catastrophic eating emergency support!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Thanks for reply, auntylil!

    I am brilliant at telling friends what they need to do nutrition wise etc and I have had counselling – have rattled and aired all the skeletons and am pretty well adjusted – no nasties! Just an iron willed inner saboteur. Like you, I treat myself with non-calorific goodies (!) but once I fall off the sugar wagon I plunge headlong into continual bad food choices. I need to adopt the “one day at a time” approach – the space it takes in my head and emotions is exhausting. Although no-one would have a clue as to how I struggle as I come across as one of life’s bubbly and cuddly people (aka slimmer person weeping on the inside) !!

    I know what I need to do, am desperate to do, want to do, but I just fail at DOING it –aaaaagggghh !

  • posted by  Bill1954 on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    3. Stabilizes Blood Sugar and May Prevent Diabetes

    Fiber, particularly soluble fiber, not only lowers blood cholesterol levels, but it also helps slow the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. This is hugely important both for people with diabetes and for anyone else with blood sugar challenges or metabolic syndrome. Chickpea flour has a form of complex carbohydrate called starch that the body is able to slowly digest and use for energy over time in a much more beneficial way than consuming refined carbohydrates.

    Thereโ€™s a lot of evidence pointing to the fact that high-fiber diets are a much more effective type 2 diabetes natural cure than diets low in fiber. Legumes in general cause less of a rise in blood glucose than foods like potatoes or almost any sort of wheat-based flour food.

    While refined flours can quickly raise blood sugar levels and lead to โ€œspikes and dipsโ€ in energy, chickpea flour is a slower-burning carbohydrate that doesnโ€™t impact glucose levels as substantially, which means it has a lower glycemic load. Eating more low-glyecmic foods is a way to naturally reverse diabetes, have more energy and prevent sugar cravings

  • posted by  Bill1954 on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Chickpea Flour Nutrition Facts

    Eating more chickpeas and chickpea flour is a great way to increase your intake of fiber. And because theyโ€™re such a high source of fiber, many studies show that eating more chickpeas, and pretty much all types of legumes, can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, obesity, diabetes and even some types of cancer.

    Chickpeas also offer a good array of vitamins and minerals. For example, theyโ€™re thought to have calcium and magnesium in an ideal ratio, a very high amount of folate โ€” which is essential for a healthy pregnancy โ€” good dose of energizing B vitamins like vitamin B6 and a decent amount of heart-healthy potassium. They even contain some of the powerful antioxidant mineral selenium, as well as iron and plenty of plant-based protein. Gluten-free diets are also becoming more popular, so youโ€™ll love the addition of this flour to your pantry if youโ€™ve recently decided to go gluten-free.

    ยฝ cup of chickpea flour (or besan) has about: (2)

    178 calories
    3 grams of fat
    10 grams protein
    5 grams fiber
    5 grams of sugar (no added sugar)
    101 milligrams folate (50 percent DV)
    0.75 milligrams manganese (37 percent DV)
    0.4 milligrams copper (21 percent DV)
    76 milligrams magnesium (19 percent DV)
    146 milligrams phosphorus (15 percent DV)
    0.2 milligrams thiamine (15 percent DV)
    2 milligrams iron (12 percent DV)
    0.25 milligrams vitamin B6 (12 percent DV)
    778 milligrams potassium (11 percent DV)
    3 milligrams zinc (9 percent DV)
    7 milligrams selenium (6 percent DV)

  • posted by  Bill1954 on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Cherrianne
    thanks for that, I’ll have another look at the flour this weekend although I’m sure I read somewhere that the carbs are the good, hard to digest ones. Either way, it’s still a lot better than regular flour.
    I’m delighted with the way the sugar levels are dropping as that, to me, is by far the most importaant aspect of this diet.

  • posted by  auntylil on Catastrophic eating emergency support!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hello dearie – I’ve just posted on ‘alternatives to fizzy pop’ thread about my similar state. During my first week on the diet I found rewards like cds and a book and this week expensive magazines and ordering bits for my developing garden. Perhaps you could treat yourself to a manicure, sauna, new shoes, trip… what else do you like other than food and drink? When I’ve been broke in the past I’ve found treats in charity shops, especially Oxfam book shops. A friend of mine went segwaying but fell off so that wasn’t quite so good!

    Stay safe but enjoy yourself, and I would like to know what you decide on. I am familiar also with the sabotaging thing and if you can it would be worth exploring that with a counsellor to get more insight and awareness as it is straight forward to sort it when you know more and how. If you can afford to pay to see a counsellor great but your medical centre will be able to do nhs referral if you prefer. Apologies if I come across as preaching to the converted, it’s just that this sort of thing was my professional territory.

  • posted by  auntylil on Alternatives to fizzy pop
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Stuck! Need lots of fizzy water today as woke up feeling sickly after eating defrosted and reheated veg curry & cauliflower rice from last week. A daughter ate a portion too and she’s fine. And put on a pound – eeeek, crash bang wallop. This will be a valuable test. Perhaps it was a sly vodka and tonic that did it. I think I am okay on days when I don’t have to eat with other people or do a lot as I can then calmly apply myself properly.

    Perhaps a fasting/detoxing kind of a day will get me sorted. Treated myself to two rather lavish magazines for decorating and gardening ideas as anticipating I will feel more energetic and fit for such things within a few weeks. Starting physiotherapy tomorrow for a health issue and also had stitches out now from minor surgery two weeks ago so I am climbing out of a bit of a pit.

    I don’t like goji berries at all, I wonder what that’s about. Planning on growing blueberries along with raspberries, and also found a clematis whose berries you can eat so that will be good. Need to start potting veg seeds ready for the spring. I have a terraced garden (not large) which is ideal for me. So that’s me, day 12 on the fast 800 diet.

    Hoping you all find ways of getting over your various hurdles too. I am still heavily committed to it and to rewarding myself in ways that don’t involve calorie intake โ™ฅ

  • posted by  Cherrianne on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Wow Bill, well done! You’ve got to be so happy with that. What a dramatic change in your fasting sugars in such a short time.
    Be wary with the chick pea flour, I looked it up because I love middle eastern and Indian food. It has anywhere between 53 & 58 g carbs per 100g. Not sure why it’s so high when chick peas themselves, and hummus, are so low. I’ve looked at a few sites to double check that it’s accurate. May be someone with more knowledge will be able to tell us the science for it.
    Waiting to hear what this week’s loss is, you are doing so well!

  • posted by  Jane H on Catastrophic eating emergency support!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    SOS! I have spent years falling off the diet wagons, scraping myself back on and falling even further each time I fall.

    I was /am so convinced that this blood sugar diet is my way forward but after the initial honeymoon period my eating and thinking goes beyond catastrophic.

    In these modern times of self analysis I recognise that I self harm with food, especially sugar, and I am literally desperate to just DO what I need to do but I sabotage myself the whole time.

    Any help / ideas / miracles anyone??

  • posted by  PescoVeggieDownUnder on day 1, Hello everyone!
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hello fellow BSDers,

    I started on Monday 15 February and today is day 5. So far, so good. I find VLCD easy to do as I am one of the lucky ones who doesn’t feel hungry or deprived. The recipes in the book are fabulous and so tasty, although very time consuming to prepare. I have no idea how anyone follows it to the letter if they are working full time. I also found it amusing to buy 6 red capsicums this week and I’ve eaten them all to myself! Moreover, as a pesco-vegetarian, I’ve had to adapt the meat recipes to Quorn products and as a result, I’m eating a lot of it.

    Tonight I’m having foil-steamed King George Whiting (a small local fish here in Australia which is sustainable and sustainably harvested and named after none other than the former King of England) bought fresh from the best fish and chip monger in Melbourne, with green beans but sans the coriander (I cannot abide the fresh stuff). And what a shame I can’t have the chips! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    I’ve found both my Wednesday and today’s workout at the gym (which includes HIT aka Fast Exercise) unusually hard going. I think it’s a combination of recently upping the level on the Power Mill (stair master) and the reduction in calories and carbs.

    I’d love for this diet to be translated into a vegetarian version (Michael, are you reading these posts?). Thus, I’d like to thank both Aly and Essentially Jane for the low carb vegetarian book recommendations. I will definitely check them out.

    All the best to everyone. I hope each and every one of you reaches your goal.

  • posted by  Bill1954 on No weight loss happening?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    gateofheaven after reading some of the posts on here about health professionals with bad attitudes, it’s refreshing to read that somone else, like myself, has a GP who is supportive of them.
    Your story is a fine demonstration of what can be achieved even with minimal exercise.

  • posted by  MikeH on 6 weeks in and it's working for me
    on in Fast 800
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    6 weeks ago my fasting blood glucose score was 6.7, so well on the way to type 2 diabetes. Using the Mediteranean diet and strict calorie counting, I’ve lost a stone (still need to lose more), and my score has gone down to 5.5!

  • posted by  Bill1954 on Easy lunches advise
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    I made a big pan of chicken broth with barley and good vegetables, portioned it out and froze the containers.
    Now I just have to pick up a container from the freezer each morning (Got lentil soup in there as well now)

  • Last night I was still really hungry after tea and thought I’d have an Oxo drink – was horrified I didn’t have any! Marmite hadn’t occurred to me before, so I looked on the label. I thought it said one teaspoon was 35 calories or something according to the jar, so I had a cup of tea instead.

    Maybe I was reading it wrong, though, as have just Googled this, and it seems 4g (not quite a teaspoon – and not loaded up) is 10 calories – this could easily double if you don’t let the excess run off the spoon first, though.

    Slightly fewer calories in Bovril, but not enough to make a difference if one is preferred/available over the other. High in sodium however, but then so is Marmite.

    Oxo has 15 calories per cube – seems higher put portion size easier to control. Also loads of sodium.

    So, it’s the salt/sodium you need to look out for. In my case, a mug of tea is only about 20 cals as I only take a little milk and there’s no salt, so that’s another option to fill a hole in a warming way.

  • posted by  malkay on Slow Weight loss
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Morning, Grumptoglam. Thank you for your reply. I’m just off to work, but quickly googled ‘whoosh effect’ and scanned through the article. It looks quite informative, and reassuring, so thanks for that. Just have to keep going, and hope the tape measure tightens soon!!

  • posted by  Bill1954 on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    I wasn’t expecting anything dramatic this week as I hurt my back on Monday so exercise has been a no no. I’m also getting serious puppy dog eyes from our Shih Tzu as she is missing her long night time walks.
    Weigh day tomorrow so we’ll see but I’m delighted to report that after hovering between 6 and 7 all week, my sugar reading this morning was 5.8 and, as the whole point of this diet is to get the blood sugar down and try to reverse the diabetes, I have to be happy with that.
    Going to source some chickpea flour this weekend as I’ve found some nice low carb recipes for it.

  • posted by  Charliee on Easy lunches advise
    on in Fast 800
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    The beetroot falafel are indeed lush… I packed up the no carb ploughmans for my oh today and yesterday we had the Mexican platter.. Its not too tricky to get something together but hard to find something outside the house so it is requiring that extra effort if actually planning and preparing something

  • posted by  GrumptoGlam on Slow Weight loss
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Malkay,
    I’ve had a very similar experience. 3stone to loose. 6lb came off the first week and not an oz in weeks 2&3… I stuck with it and now in week 4 im 3lb down… As ‘motherofthebride’ mentioned the ‘whoosh effect’ I googled it and this might help you stick with it..

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/797688/experience-with-the-whoosh

    Your body will let go of the weight sooner or later so keep going! One morning soon you’ll be thrilled you did. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • posted by  Essentially Jane on day 1, Hello everyone!
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Blackspot,
    I think this is awesome. I used to work loads of shifts and getting through the night can be really difficult without nibbles and snacks- was for me anyway
    Keep up the good work.

  • posted by  theblackspot on day 1, Hello everyone!
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi all, I’m on my first 12 hour night shift on the diet.
    I was getting quite stressed today at the thought. As I woke up at a normal morning time, as I’ve been on earlys if feels like a very long day. The OT cooked a really nice dish of chicken Breast with a wodge of feta in it, cooked in a tomato garlic sauce.about 350kc each for dinner at 5pm.
    It’s now 3.30 in the morning and I’m on lunch eating egg salad. It’s not been the hunger marathon I thought it might be, and that’s despite me chosen today to start running!

  • posted by  gateofheaven on No weight loss happening?
    on in Fast 800
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    Because i see this as a unique opportunity to do 800 calories for 8 weeks – and only that according to my very knowledgeable doc, I am taking this to the Nth degree. I’m weighing everything, counting carbs (only in the beginning), making sure i have 50 grams of protein and some fat with each meal. I was clearly in ketosis after 3 weeks and cutting out porridge. Each body is different – so everyone’s reaction to specific foods will be different. After the 8 weeks, i’ll go to two days a week for the other 90 pounds I want to lose. My medical history dictates that i do the 5/2 afterwards according to my doc.

  • posted by  gateofheaven on No weight loss happening?
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi Penny and toofattorun. I too, cannot find the Links that Penny is offering.

    For toofattorun: I cannot exercise at all. Accident recovery. I have been on the diet since Jan 10th. Have lost 23.4 pounds, 4″ inches around my waist. Blood sugars went from 112 to 74 this last week.

    I had to cut out the porridge and tough out the ketosis in the beginning. It worked! My body is now burning fat instead of protein and carbs. When the body burns fat, the mind clears, the emotions even out, the blood sugar does down, blood pressure goes down, the veins and arteries become more supple. It is worth the effort and discomfort to get there. I eat between 30 and 50 carbs a day. I add fat (although not much on 800 calories! – about 40 calories each meal) to each meal, eat 50 grams of protein a day. For me (and every body is different) I add legumes to my evening meal for carbs, at the suggestion of my doc. I sleep better with them.

    I have multiple autoimmune illnesses and pituitary insufficiency, which means i do not produce most hormones, and now the accident recovery. I too have fibromyalgia, which is getting better with the diet. I have excellent physician support and knowledge so I can do this. But as my doc and I discussed, I had to be willing to be uncomfortable. The blog support has been so necessary for me.

    I check my blood sugars constantly throughout the day because dieting can set off the autoimmune pancreatitis that I have, necessitating extra prednisone, which makes me hungry as a goat. But the weight loss has been motivating, just as Dr. Mosley said it would be.

    If i can do this, truly you can.

    As a friend from India said to me once, “You Westerners have it very easy. When we turn on the lights, maybe we have light, maybe we don’t. When we turn on the water, maybe we have water, maybe we don’t. If we want rice, maybe the store has it, maybe it doesn’t. If someone is sick, maybe we can get them care and maybe can’t and they die. We know that life isn’t easy and we’ve built the skills to deal with difficulties.” I took her words to heart and have lived by them ever sense; learning bit by bit how to handle “hard”.

    Be kind to yourself, be gentle, be compassionate to yourself. This is an experiment and it works. Do look into full fat milk products to help you feel full – Dr. Mosley has an excellent paper on it in these blogs. He also says eggs for breakfast – i wasn’t an egg fan, but believe me, i am full after eggs! (i add lots of good greens and other low-carb veggies some days).

  • posted by  Anonymous on No weight loss happening?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Penny,
    I get what you’re saying but I can’t really exercise every day because I have fibromyalgia and I get so physically exhausted. Also it says in the book that the meals are satisfying and that you don’t get hungry afterwards or feel the need to snack but my friend and I felt both those things. We were eating porridge but were not eating any bread (nor crackers, ryvita or pittas), potatoes or bananas or other tropical fruit. We did have some brown rice but Michael said that was OK. And I drink water constantly because I’m thirsty all the time due to my diabetes! I take a bottle of water everywhere with me! I don’t like normal tea or coffee – I only drink herbal tea, so I really don’t understand it. We both realise that we have gone back to the beginning by eating chocolate but we were so angry and frustrated we didn’t care at that point. Thank you very much for your support and your kind message of encouragement and advice ๐Ÿค—. I’m afraid I can’t find the ‘useful links’ that you mentioned as I have no idea how to find the thread ๐Ÿ˜ฎ! Please help! Must be getting old ๐Ÿ™„!

  • posted by  Rubbu on Davina recipe not good?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Just found this on http://www.ketogenic-diet-resource.com/low-carb-food-list.html
    Low carb veg…..
    Alfalfa Sprouts
    Any leafy green vegetabl
    Asparagus
    Avocado
    Bamboo Shoots
    Bean Sprouts
    Beet Greens
    Bell peppers*
    Bok choy
    Broccoli
    Brussels sprouts
    Cabbage
    Carrots*
    Cauliflower
    Celery
    Celery root
    Chard
    Chives
    Collard greens
    Cucumbers
    Dandelion greens
    Dill pickles
    Garlic
    Kale
    Leeks
    Lettuces and salad greens (arugula, Boston lettuce, chicory, endive, escarole, fennel, mache, radicchio, romaine, sorrel.)
    Mushrooms
    Olives
    Onions*
    Radishes
    Sauerkraut (watch for added sugar)
    Scallions
    Shallots
    Snow Peas
    Spinach
    Sprouts
    Summer squash*
    Swiss chard
    Tomatoes*
    Turnips
    Water chestnuts
    * Limit amounts of these vegetables, as they are higher in carbs.

  • posted by  malkay on Slow Weight loss
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    I lost 5 lb in week 1, 2 in week 2, and nothing so far this week. I would be happy with half a stone in 3 weeks, except that I still have lost nothing from my waist measurement. In fact I think I gave increased by about half an inch!! Everyone else seems to be loosing inches rather than pounds. I am worried that my body doesn’t seem to be letting go of the dangerous stuff. I don’t need to lose weight from anywhere else as I’m very apple shaped, but not excessively heavy (started at 10 st 4 at 5′). Any ideas anyone?

  • posted by  pmshrink on How Will My GP React?
    on in 5:2 BSD
    permalink

    Hi Charlie
    From what I’ve seen on here that is exactly the point, to prevent hypos. As you can see your sugar falling, you probably need less meds. Presumably the team you’re seeing can advise you on this? I imagine it’s important to reduce them, but slowly.
    Good luck tomorrow.
    Penny

  • posted by  pmshrink on How Will My GP React?
    on in 5:2 BSD
    permalink

    Hi Speedy. That was a good answer!
    With this diet and all of us here you probably won’t need the op anyway. Think of the money and suffering that could be saved!
    I was thinking about gastric bands only today. That I feel as if I have a mental gastric band that stops me wanting to overeat and stops me wanting carbs. Because I don’t crave those things at all anymore.
    Penny

  • posted by  Rubbu on Davina recipe not good?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi there
    I have not referenced Davina’s book but one thing you could try is use my fitness pal to enter the ingredients with the related portions/measurements and the app will provide you with total calories, carbs, fat, protien and sugar. The bsd book does advise to stay away from starchy veg (mainly those grown under the ground) yet carrots seem ok to use but limit peas and sweet corn. It is confusing but I find mfp app very useful to really understand the carb content

  • posted by  charliebee38 on How Will My GP React?
    on in 5:2 BSD
    permalink

    Hi everyone,

    Please can someone advise me – I’m 38, T2 diagnosed 5 years ago after my son’s birth – and on 2 metformin and 1 glicazide tablets in the morning and same in the evening.

    My question is, I’ve seen a few people saying they’ve come off Glicazide, is this to prevent any hypos and should I be requesting to do this with the diabeties team at the hospital who I have an appointment with tomorrow? I’m worried my sugars will sky rocket if i’m not on medication as well. Any responses are welcome!!

    My sugars used to range from 10/11 in the morning up to 17 afternoon, and back down to 9 to 12ish in the evenings. I exercise about 3 to 5 times a week and i’m a veggie! i’m 5,3 and 10st 5lb so i’m just on the cusp of normal weight/BMI.

    Since starting the 800 diet 4 days ago (though I did a week at 1,000 to 900 before this and lost 2lbs) they are now around 8/10 in the morning and i’ve even hit a 5.2! – I’ve had steady readings which is really encouraging.

    Thanks all!

  • posted by  Speedy on How Will My GP React?
    on in 5:2 BSD
    permalink

    I was doing the 5:2 (my own fault didn’t keep it up) and got the rolled eyes from my dietitian who jumped in with: Oh a crash diet’.
    But I was ready and asked her what she would call how you eat after a gastric band operation.
    We get on well so she had to laugh and agree that that was also a crash low calorie diet and was being recommended to me!
    (Only I am too scared of the operation – but that’s another story.)

  • posted by  pmshrink on How Will My GP React?
    on in 5:2 BSD
    permalink

    Hi Ckuate
    I ve not had your experience, but just want to say welcome, and fantastic you ve found the diet and it’s working for you
    Penny

  • posted by  Cherrianne on Increased level
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    I’m with Bill on this one. It used to happen to me and was so disheartening. I could have a great reading before bed and wake up two or more points higher, not having eaten since 6pm. I was getting worried about needing to start on meds. so I googled it and found all the info.
    Now I have a small glass of full fat milk or some cheese before bed. This is week three for me and I achieved my best fasting sugar yet, 4.4!!! If I’m tired and forget to have the fat/ protein combo before bed I can easily be high 5’s or 6+ the next morning.
    I’m sure this would work for you too

  • posted by  Fredforest on BSD and Warfarin
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Anyone else on Warfarin? Since dieting in earnest my INR levels have headed downwards. As I have lost weight my Warfarin dose has gone up and my INR has gone down.

    It’s now 1.4 and my Warfarin has gone up.

    I am convinced that it is due to the weight loss and perhaps losing the fat in my liver but wondered if anyone else has a similar experience?

  • posted by  Ckuate on How Will My GP React?
    on in 5:2 BSD
    permalink

    Hello all, reading with interest all this information, I have recently turned 60, ive been diabetic, type 2 since my early 30’s and on insulin (high doses) for 20 years or more. I have started to have some nerve damage to feet, and eyes at one point to the stage where i was unable to work for 6 months. this gave me a shock and i have had to try repeatedly to get my blood sugars under control. The advise i have had from my consultant so far, is stick to a diet, including carbs. A friend told me about this diet, and i have now read the book and commenced it a week ago tomorrow. I have lost 5-lb in a week, and my blood sugars are amazing, even first thing on a morning i am getting readings of 7.7 or 8.3, which has never been the case for years. I have started to reduce the amount of insulin I am taking, to prevent hypos. I have spoken to the diabetic nurses at length today, and they have been supportive of this regime, advising me to reduce my Levemire by 5 units a night so long as the blood sugars keep going down. I am peeing for england, but dont mind. I am sleeping better, but have had severe mood swings, at one point i could have punched doors through windows! This appears to be easing, I hope. I would really appreciate some feedback from anyone who has been on high levels of insulin for a number of years, and how they have managed to keep on this diet and reverse their diabetes. I thank anyone for replying