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?

Thanks very much for the info about the book, just diwnloaded it to my kindle!

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

Hi everyone, read the book today andfound it interesting and well written. I’m not diabetic and my sugar levels are fine BUT i’m overweight and apple shaped. I’ve done original 5:2 withno problem but can’tseem to shift the podge around my middle, istheblood sugar diet a better option for me?

I mix equal parts sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and milled flaxseed in a tub. Give it a shake to mix them up and then add about a dessert spoon of the mix to Greek yoghurt.

I am justing starting on the 5.2 bsd diet after also doing 5.2 diet which was very successful but wasn’t sensible enough in my eating choices on days off so wasnt sure about my nutrition. I also have tinnitus which gets worse at night if I gave very little to eat and I dont sleep very well. I gave put some weight back on since then and I was diagnosed as pre diabetic a few years ago. Lately I have had a very itchy skin after having biscuits and sugary things (very bad I know) so I have a feeling that my blood glucose levels are up. I am reluctant to go to gp at the moment as I am going on holiday in 7 weeks and I dont want to have anything diagnosed that may affect my travel insurance. I dont know what my levels are so I thought I would get a blood glucose meter to test myself but I dont know anything about them or the procedure. Could anyone give me any suggestions on meters. I think its fabulous having this forum to exchange ideas and get support. Good luck everyone.

I bought Davina’s latest book Smart Carbs immediately after reading MM’s latest book The BSD. Both books are informed by nutritionists – I certainly wouldn’t have bought Davina’s book otherwise. MM’s book says roasted sweet potato has a high gi, and is effectively candied. Guess which recipe is in the Davina book?! It makes me worry about how good the rest of her recipes are. Many contain root veg for example. Any thoughts?

Great advice from people – I’ve stuck to the plan during my second week and decided not to weigh myself every day but wait until the end of my week 2 on Saturday. I’m hoping to have had a’whoosh effect’ (read some interesting research on this) as mentioned earlier in this thread by Cassowary. Fingers crossed….

Aly just use a UK proxy server to access amazon UK

Hi Crescentmoon
In terms of just eating, I m trying to keep carbs down, fat up and protein in the middle. This is because we ve all spent years trying to keep carbs up and fat down. It’s an effort to change that mind set. It’s as though fat is evil and carbs of no consequence. Now we know it’s the other way round!
Penny

Hi Magiek
I agree!
Penny

Definitely exercise is a big part of the ‘cure’ Penny. If everyone reads Michael’s exercise schedule, they will see it is quite arduous. Like yourself I can only fit so much in and have managed to get to 10k only twice in a month. The tip about not sitting longer than half an hour is a good one. Moving also gives you less time to think about food!!!

Hi Steph
You have to do what you feel most comfortable with. 800 calories does sound very low and the thought of it terrified me at first too but the principles of this diet make it easier to stick to. For example upping fat intake….it goes against everything we have been told over the years but it really does stop you feeling hungry. So ordinary yoghurt, olive oil, coconut oil, full fat milk…no low fat anything. Two tablespoons of full fat Greek yoghurt at breakfast plus some seeds, nuts and few frozen berries and I’m not hungry till lunch time. No snacking…because you are not eating refined carbs you stop craving them…so it’s not that difficult. Some elements of fasting…I wasn’t fat until I started to snack and have breakfast first thing. Now I don’t eat breakfast til later but have a coffee first thing with full fat milk or cream when I get up and eat breakfast at about 10.30 and don’t eat after my evening meal.
It’s worth a go but don’t beat yourself up if you go over your calories some days and can’t do 800 everyday..follow the general principles, take it a meal at a time, a day at a time, make the food you do eat delicious not boring and see what happens. Lots of us have been where you are, we all want to lose weight and get healthy but there is no competition or pressure. Rooting for you and sorry this is so long….got a bit carried away!

Hi Magiek
I was having the same thought, about excercise.
I’m doing a few thousand steps a day, between 1 k and 13 k depending on available time. Also 1 hour of Pilates which I’m going to double.
That’s all I’m doing at the moment.
I’m definitely feeling better in general and sleeping better.
Penny

Hello everyone. We seem to be getting great results according to this thread. I have dropped my Glicazide for nearly a week now and haven’t had a reading over 6 so all is well with me too. Sometimes after fast days it has gone as low as 4.4. I would like to see it stabilise a bit more before I reduce any other medications. I think some of us could get a little hasty and I shouldn’t like to see anyone having to call in the docs due to blood sugars soaring again.

Not many are talking about the exercise part of the programme. I know Michael recommends upping physical activities as well as following the diet. I have been walking regularly and am up to 7.5k steps per day. I’m also doing the resistance exercises so I am building muscle as well as losing fat. My general health and mood is improving too. I hope that you all feel as positive as I do just now. Good luck.

Hi Paul

I’ve finished the 8 weeks and can confirm that my weight, fasting blood sugar levels and blood pressure have all dropped.

Hi all

So I have the book The 8 week blood sugar diet and have read it once.

I am just 6ft and 74 kg and have a waist measurement of 35″ [ sorry for the mixed units , they seem to work for me !]

I cycle regularly at least 3 x 12 miles every week with 3 good hills involved , and do quite a bit of dog walking as well.

The Diabetic Association web site say I am at risk of getting Type 2 , risk now 1/33 will be 1/7 as I age.

However I am more interested in whether the diet and 5:2 can reduce my blood pressure ?

I was on medication but I was not happy with the possible side effects and came stopped it couple of years ago.

Currently my BP is around 195/95 however it does vary considerable through out the day it can be high when I first wake and lower after the bike ride !

regards Paul

Hello everyone!
I finished the book last week, and plan to start the diet on Monday. My question is, can I succeed if I try and do the 800 calories for 5 days of the week, and have 2 days off? Does anyone think this could work? I don’t want to try the fast option, but I’m not sure that I could keep up 800 calories, 7 days a week. Should I just bite the bullet and go for the full plan? Or try 2:5 first?
I am about 3 stone overweight (I have struggled with my weight since having children) and my dad has type two diabetes, so it’s something I really need to worry about. I’m 35, so I really want to nip this in the bud now, before it becomes a big problem.
Thanks for reading!

I use the MyFitnessPal website to note all my food intake, it’s great. I don’t have the facility on my mobile to use apps but I’m guessing it’s the same thing. Very happy for you that Week 1 has gone so well. Thanks for the good wishes. 🙂

The theory behind it is that, during sleep, your sugar levels go down so your liver releases stored sugar to compensate for this. It’s a well known phenomonen called the dawn effect.
A snack containing fat a couple of hours before bedtime can help by giving your body the calories it needs during the night.

what is the name of the magic seeds ? i sure need to try a few of them , and how much do you use ?

My cholesterol dropped from 6.3 to 2.3 when I started eating seeds in Greek yoghurt for breakfast.
That was before before I started on this diet. Looking forward to many more changes now!

my blood sugars are at an all time low , i think that is what is really supporting me on this diet before they were 10 12 15 and more day and night , i thought 6 to 7 was good , now down to 4.6 , the last time i asked my doc was it reversible, he said you need to go on a cabbage water diet , and how would you like that !
better call in to doc and get a check over , before i shrink any more . let you know how i get on.

I’ve only done a week but looking back through my diary I can see that a split three ways has given good results? Eg 30ish% for each, higher and lower on some days for each but not by much. Will be interesting to see if this changes over future weeks however, as obviously week one will give the easiest results… On another thread I’d read that people were aiming for 50g of carbs.

Hiya,
Don’t think anyone else has mentioned it above but have you tried using the myfitnesspal app? If you can? I use it on my phone but you can also do it on your computer? It really helps me make sure I’m counting it all correctly so I stay within calorie budget, and it helps with working out the calories of random things that I wouldn’t have a clue about?
Try to stay with it. I’ve just completed week one and am thrilled with my loss and have found it really quite easy – I’m sure the app has really helped.
Good luck and stay positive, it will work once you get your head round it I’m sure 🙂

Freezing the apple juice sounds like a plan. I just used water for the raisins but I might buy a triple pack of those little cartons of apple juice for next time.

Hi Penny,
Can’t remember my exact results because MFP wanted me to round it to the nearest 5%.
So roughly:
Carbs 15%
Protein 45% (87g!!!)
Fat 40%

But so far, using the recipes in the book, protein is more around the 25% mark, fat around 65% and carbs only 10ish%.
This is only based on two days of data though!

Sounds like yours is pretty similar so I feel reassured! I definitely don’t feel hungry at all so that must be a good sign that my body is getting what it needs. Couldn’t even eat all my chicken and walnut lettuce cups for lunch today! Full up!

800 cals a day is definitely do-able!

Yeah,this is probably the wrong forum for a rant like that. Apologies. I’m now with my good friend Costa. Medium skinny. 109 calories. Nothing to eat though. Going to drown my sorrows with falafel tonight. Lovely.

Well, that’s another job interview I’ve been to where the employer failed miserably! Why are they so arrogant as to think we aren’t scrutinizing them as much as they are us? Its not because they have the upper hand, these employers are desperate for willing victims. Well, I am neither desperate, willing or a victim! So there.

AllieBee,
I wasn’t drinking much before I started either but when liquid is the ONLY thing you can put in your tummy, you soon find you drink a lot more! I still drink tea, just decaf with just a tiny splash of milk. Again, you soon get used to it! I also have fruit tea bags and sometimes just hot water.

This is a kind of second hand response – maybe someone can expand on this? I know my sister used to say her sugar went up overnight after eating what amounts to this diet. But it went down later in the day or something…? I know there was something about morning readings being affected by something else, and so being a bit of a red herring.

Should make it clear – my post was talking about cholesterol myths – I agree that fat can be carried in the blood, but not that we absorb cholesterol from foods in any significant quantity.

It’s about fat that’s been laid down in the body as a result of excess calories, not about the fat that you eat (unless, of course, you eat so much that that is converted to body fat too).

Oh, and a lot of studies (can’t speak for what Moseley may be using as source material) don’t distinguish between good and bad cholesterol, so can be misleading.

It’s a huge myth – just like the ‘don’t lose weight quickly’ thing. That said, it’s still better to eat some fats over others, but those naturally occurring aren’t the problem (even from animals) – it’s the artificial or trans fats that cause the problems, and these are being phased out/banned on an increased basis.

Hope this makes sense – I’m writing in a rush 🙂

Hi AllieBee,

I started on Monday (3lbs so far) and my husband is not ready for this diet. He prefers to go running instead! So far, he’s had exactly the same food as me in the evenings (pesto salmon with loads of green veggies, chicken curry, tuna salad and mushroom omelette) but I will put in a baked potato, or cook some rice or pasta for him to go with whatever we’re eating. To be honest, we’re probably eating better than before! And I can honestly say I haven’t really felt hungry.

There’s loads of recipes on the web (just look for low or zero carb) for inspiration and I use MyFitnessPal to portion out. I never thought ahead about meals, but do have to do some planning now.

Please drink lots of water though. Can’t emphasis that enough! I felt dreadful on Tuesday, really flu like, nauseaous and headachy, but apparently that’s normal and is your body adjusting. Keep going and you will feel much better, and today someone at work said how good my skin looked and how bright my eyes were! Going on a Hen Weekend tomorrow, so will no doubt undo some of the good work with wine etc, but that’s ok – be good with what meals I can, and then start again properly as soon as I get home.

Good Luck!

Thanks for taking time to reply, everyone. It’s clear I’m not the only one, so probably am not ‘doing it wrong’. I will give those coconut flour scones a try, thanks for the tip. Can’t say I’m missing bread or potatoes, but I used to have a lot of rice or pasta with everything – no pasta now, but a little rice twice a week. Shrinkydinkyman, I so agree with what you say – this diet has to work for me too because I just cannot go back to where I was. Hence I’m looking at this as the start of a new way of eating, forever. I also understand the ‘thin man’s wardrobe’ – I have beautiful clothes in the wardrobe that haven’t gone near me for years! I’m determined to be able to wear them again. Bill1954, I will start checking the forum threads – so many it is hard to choose. I could spend my life online! I like what you say in your Week 1 summation, i.e. body not knowing what’s hit it. After years of abuse – I fed it constant chocolate/sugar, pasta, potatoes, bread, ice cream et. – it’s definitely in shock I think. I think I’m having my plateau early too. I believe my body has responded very fast to the changes, same as it does when I have started a new exercise regime so I guess I need to look at this as a good sign. It;s great to get other people’s views, because you often put things in a way I would not have thought of, so thanks to all of your for your input. I’m feeling a tad cheerier now and will try to have more patience as I carry on. 🙂

Thanks everyone for the replies. Salky what a fab result very encouraging!! Also my hubby has said he will read the book so that he has an understanding of what I am up to which is great. Bill It’s good to know you are not struggling with hunger I hope I am the same. Janet I definitely think that cooking ahead and planning the fridge freezer is the way forward. I was explaining to the girls this morning round the breakfast table that Mummy is going on a special eating plan to make her really healthy and that I will often be eating different things especially over the next 8 weeks. Think i was worrying unneccesarily I will just feed the troops their norm and continue trying to put weight on the hubby lol. Girls were very intriguing as to why I was not having my usual 2 slices of buttered toast this morning. I had natural yogurt and apple with a wee teaspoon of seeds. My verdict – seeds are lovely!!! Yum. Girls didn’t want to try it out though!! Ha ha. I will start properly on Monday. I am trying to incorporate some changes just now so it doesn’t come as too much of a shock on Monday. I have been trying to drink more water which I find hard. I drink so much tea about 6 cups a day with milk – love the stuff – but don’t want to use all of my calorie allowance on the milk.

Right away for a cuppa lol

Thanks again
I’m looking forward to Monday.
🙂

HI Bruce, have to say I fell off the wagon on Wednesday, had a team meeting and our tradition is that we cook and eat together. I avoided most of the carbs like rice, but know I blew the 800 calories, but I also used the opportunity to see how much sugar and carbs others are eating. And how easy it is. So I went home and got back with the plan and I think my pangs are reducing a bit, or I am filtering the experience after yesterday. I can see water and tea really helps. I know I am on a slippery slope with my health and its intetsecting with my age and I really want to have a dynamic and fabulous ” rest of life ” so I am feeling committed to doing this BSD.
I picked up on Cherriannes comment on full fat foods and find that does make a difference for me. I have followed diets before where one weighed out teaspoons of oil. But I think the drizzle of olive oil approach feels less austere and my belly feels less deprived. I can see afterma few weeks one can get a feel for the program. I hoping my weigh in tomorrow gives me some encouraging results.
Thanks for your message, I really appreciate the support, having someone use your name and address you really has power.
Hope you are doing well too, why not look at the fats side of your equation. I know the full cream yogurt makes all the difference at breakfast. Cheers.

Has anyone else found that the calorie count for many of the recipes given in the book is very inaccurate? I am gluten and dairy intolerant, and follow a low FODMAP diet to help manage my IBS, so I knew I would have to make a fair number of substitutions for some of the foods used in the recipes. I am only on day 3, so haven’t checked on that many yet, but of the recipes I have checked, I get a different calorie count every time, and all but one coming up with a higher number than is stated!
Sometimes it is as little as 20 or 30 calories (Spinach & Pea omelette, Chicken Butterbean and Walnut salad) which isn’t that significant, but it can be as much as 116 calories more (Sardine Dip).
I know that Michael has commented on another thread that in the ‘Almond Butter with Apple’ recipe (page 186) it should read: ‘makes 12 portions’ of the almond butter rather than the ‘4 portions’ stated in the book, but that only brings the calorie count down to 150 for the butter, and that is before adding the apple, seeds and goji berries!!
Michael says in the book that keeping to 800 calories is important at this stage, but just going by the calorie count in the book, it isn’t likely to be possible without calculating the calories for every recipe you use, which take ages – and I speak from experience!!

There are people having a hard time, there are threads on it on the forum. The thing is, everyone is an individual and things will happen at different times for different people.
My theory is probably rubbish but it goes like this.
Week 1 – 2 lots of weight loss and lower BS readings. The body has just been assaulted with a way of eating that it has probably never experienced before and it doesn’t know how to react hence the rapid decrease in weight and blood sugar.
Week 3 maybe a plateau ? The body is now recovering from the initial shock and goes into protective mode where it will automatically maintain weight by retaining water and using stored sugar until it finds a way to cope with the new regime.
Week 4 stored sugar is used up. Now the body has to find a source of calories to burn so it goes into fat burning mode and now we’re cooking on gas.
BTW I see a lot of people who have lost a good amount of weight initially trot out the old “most of it is water” chestnut. I’m not so sure that this holds true on this diet given the copious amounts of water we are glugging, add to that the fact that there are several folk on here who were already on some other diet (maybe low fat) before starting out on this one so the water loss thing is well in their past but they are still getting great results.
Stick with it, you will get there, maybe not as fast as otheres but, better safe than sorry.

Hi Kbskylady.
Try not to get despondent. If you have read the book cover to cover you will find everything you need to make this a successful diet for you. But for me this is not just a fad diet so that after i reach my targets i just go back to how i ate before, otherwise in a few months i will be back where i started! (17st 4lb)
So for me this is a life style change. and i shall be adopting a true Mediterranean eating plan.
i have lost 13.8lbs since staring out last Monday (the 8th) I have found once i got over the first couple of days i was feeling more happy/energetic and sleeping better. The meals in the book are tasty and filling and do not leave me with cravings.
I am still partaking of moderate amounts of alcohol. The odd glass of red wine or a gin and tonic.
My tummy woodge has shrunk, my belt doesn’t feel tight. But what keeps me motivated about from better health/longer life grandchild etc, is the Grands worth of clothing hanging in my thin mans wardrobe just waiting to be worn.
So i wish you success, dont give up.
Regards Shrinky.

Although, if you have a look at the cheesy scones! thread, 6 eggs ain’t working!

As many as you like! The theories about eggs increasing your cholesterol are all debunked now and they have all the proteins in them that we need. As a person who doesn’t eat meat, eggs are a daily part of my diet.

Hi AllieBee
I don’t eat any meat but my husband loves his meat so I have made two different meals for the last twenty years. It doesn’t have to cost more because you can often batch bake for yourself and refrigerate/freeze stuff, saving you time and effort next time round.

On the other hand, if you really want try to keep your meals the same, I’d suggest maybe giving the rest of family larger portions than yours and maybe including the carbs that you will be avoiding – potatoes, rice, pasta, bread etc.

I’m going to agree completely with Salky. My partner, while fully supportive of me, doesn’t want to do the diet herself and has been really good at cooking two different dishes each mealtime.
I’m actually quite happy to sit while she munches on what are for me, forbidden pleasures.
The fact that I’ve never been hungry since starting the plan helps a lot of course.
So AllieBee go for it and don’t worry

On this site you can calculate your chances of heart disease and diabetes ( if you haven’t got it) in the next 10 years. It’s what the NHS use.
Very illuminating and motivating!
Penny

http://www.qintervention.org

Hi there

I wondered about Corn flour or Corn meal? Would that be allowed on the diet. Sweetcorn isn’t mentioned much. I was thinking of making some cornbread as a substitute for normal bread.

What do you think?

Hi Mark
Thanks for QRisk info.
I calculated mine at qintervention.org
Very interesting and motivating! Luckily not sky high.
Thanks
Penny

Hi team,

I’m new to the diet. I’ve no health problems at the moment, but I want to eat better and stay healthy.

I’m concerned by the amount of eggs in the recipes. As a guide, how many should I eat in a week on this diet. I’m not doing the 800 cals a day version. I’m just following the food group rules.

Thanks

Hi AllieBee, I see where you are coming from. I scared the daylights out of myself when I got the book 6 weeks ago. My wife has been brilliant and decided to go on the diet with me, so we have been able to plan our meals together. The arrangement is, however, as she is much lighter than me, when she decides that enough is enough I have no problem at all with her going on to eat “real” meals alongside me.
My advice to you would be, sit down and go through the book again. I did just that and the second read brought a lot of new information to me.
I can honestly say that, at least in my case, everything I’ve read has applied 100% to me. The best bit is that after the initial screaming desires for goodies has died down, as you progress you will find yourself totally losing interest in food in general. Now, after losing 20lbs. in the last 6 weeks I feel so at peace that my other half can sit down to all sorts of scrummy dishes, and I don’t bat an eyelid.
So, basically, do your own thing, let the others have what they want, you do your diet and you can still all sit together round the table and enjoy your meals.
Go on, go for it!! A little discomfort followed by a wonderful feeling is so worth the effort.

The Optifast shakes are used here in Australia as part of a very low calorie diet to treat obesity and the carbs give you enough energy not to feel awful on 3 shakes a day (plus a cupful of non-starchy veggies)- I took them for about 4 weeks a few years ago and they are extremely effective They are also nutritionally well-balanced which I imagine is why they were used in the Newcastle study. Even 60 grams of carbs is considered low carb (less than 50 grams is considered ketogenic) and so they still fall within the parameters of a low carb diet. An additional advantage is they taste pretty good for a diet shake.