Hey guys
I’m just a tubby, not on the diabetic spectrum, but like you I shook my head when I hear the news on the planned new pre-diabetic programme. On Breakfast on BBC this morning, there was someone who had been on the pilot scheme and from what she was saying, the diet plan is the same as the government has been promoting for years, so no change to our new way of thinking. Like you, I can see this whole thing being a costly disaster, unless someone at the top sits up and listens.

I’d be very happy to sign a petition to get this reviewed in Parliament, but unless their top level medics will listen to sense, then a change of plan seems unlikely. Having said that, if it’s not tried, how do we know?

Fantastic weight loss TWills63! If you look at my profile I was hoping to lose 2 stones. I didn’t really believe it was possible but have lost 2 stones and 6lbs! This will work for you too 🙂

Hi

Just checked about online petition. It is 10,000 signatures needed.

The site is https://petition.parliament.uk

Just had a quick look (got to go out in a minute) and whoever starts a petition has to answer ‘what do you want us to do?’ Then the email addresses of 5 supporters are needed. Whoever starts a petition needs to live in UK.

Back later

Hi Natasha the scales I use are digital and were bought from tesco a few years back. As I recall they were less than a tenner and are accurate even now. Tesco are advertising on google 3 different lots of scales one for £7.00 one for £8.40 and weight watchers ones for £15. Asda are also advertising for glass scales at £10.00. Hope this helps.

Hi all

I am with you on this one. I don’t see my diabetes nurse till early June, haven’t seen her since January so she should see the difference in my bloods.

How do we go about getting an on line petition started?

Hi, just wondering if anyone could recommend bathroom scales that are accurate and not expensive (I am in the UK). Thanks!

Yeah charliebee38
myself, cherrianne, and a few others experienced this typically in week 4.
the sugar readings seem to stay a little haywire for up to a fortnight before settling down but some have had a second lot of high readings.
It’s nothing to worry about too much, explained as your body getting rid of stored sugar.
Hang in there. the readings will come back down.

And write to our individual MPsThey are duty bound to respond and if enough of them are hearing about this diet they might just start joining the dots, even letters to newspaper editors who might be interested in the financial aspects.

Welcome guys
You have both had a great start to the plan.
Easter is just another obstacle to overcome, we all know that putting chocolate in our mouths is bad, so why do it.
Got to admit it’s a lot easier to resist after about week 4 as the cravings have gone and the sight of the stuff does nothing for you.
Just like a holiday can be enjoyed without alcohol. it can be enjoyed without sugar

Can another activist sign up? *waves a large BSD flag high*

Later today I’ll look for email addresses for those folk Judith and send off letters. I was just thinking about those online petitions – you know the ones, get (I think) 10,000 signatures and it has to be heard in Parliament. I wonder …..

I’ve been beating the BSD drum with my diabetes nurse as you know. I’ve got an HbA1c due mid-April, then an appointment with said diabetes nurse. I’ve been thinking of offering to speak tothe docs (but it seems our practice is staffed by locums!) but could offer to speak to diabetics in the practice.

Got someone coming to speak soon who works for NHS and she’s not seen me since just after I started this. Her role is talking to people about healthy lifestyles, including healthy eating. Mmmmmm ….. Could be having an interesting conversation their 😃

Seem to be reading a lot of articles lately about folk low-carbing. Eddie Izzard said that during his 27 marathons in 27 days he ate high fat low carb, a complete about turn on conventional marathon pasta parties. And just read today that chef Tom Kerridge has lost weight by giving up alcohol and going low carb.

Wouldn’t it be great if the powers that control all the finances would listen so this could be rolled out at every GP practice. Then at least those who are prepared to make changes and help themselves would have the tools to do so. How often do we hear that they want us to be proactive in our treatment? Well, let them put their money and their actions where their mouth is.

Hi TWills 63 – wow, you’re doing great!

Great ideas Libby and zebbie. Might just have to try them when my granddaughters visit soon 😃

I’ve just been researching food labels. Well, yes, ok, food shopping.

I picked up a pack of sliced meat that looked interesting, turned it over to check the ingredients and nutritional values. Then I did a ‘double take’ because the listing of nutritional values showed total carbs per 100g as almost zero, but sugars as a higher figure – I think it was about 3 (too surprised to write it down). How does that work?

The same store, famous for its quality sells cooked chicken, whole or portions, roasted in a sugar marinade. Why a sugar marinade?

And I bought some beef meatballs from that same store. This was the third time of buying them. First time everything was ok, second time I had an upset stomach but put it down to all the veg I had with them. This time I’ve again glad an upset stomach but didn’t have anywhere near as much veg, so checked the ingredients but can’t think what might be causing it. Ingredients are: British beef, rice flour, cracked black pepper, sea salt, preservative E223 (Sulphites), ground black pepper, antioxidant, ascorbic acid, ground ginger, dried pimentos. The label does show Sulphites as an allergen – anybody got any other ideas.

The last portion of said meatballs is finding its way into the rubbish bin. Note to self: do not buy them again 😳

If a Gnu (or Wildebeest) was to appear on the high street, most would run away, some would try to stroke it, and the WW members would be firing up the BBQ 😀

Since it appears to be delurking day then I will do the same 🙂 I’m almost at the end of week 1 and like the opening poster I also have a family history of diabetes and have been a yoyo dieter all my adult life. I have about 2 stone to lose but I’d be happy with 1! I snuck onto the scales this morning because I couldn’t resist and have lost almost 10lbs!

I second the thanks to the regulars here for the support and motivation.

Hi Hashimoto and thanks for the congrats, this really does feel like a new way of life.

I love the idea of piles of brown crap and will start visualising immediately 🙂
Luckily the adults in the family only buy eggs for the kids so I don’t have to negotiate that hurdle.

Hi Lynne, it is NEVER too early for that particular soap box!!! We are probably starting to say it in our sleep anyway lol 🙂

Hi misssay. Sorry, I missed that😱

Should read ‘staying on this’.

Although drawing on gnus could be interesting- as long as no gnus were harmed 😃

Hi Charlieb, look at cherrieann’s and Bill1954’s post re this problem of blood sugars – it will bring you relief! 🙂

Hi NewLife, can you start visualising chocolate eggs as a pile of brown crap? Full of sugar. Out to get you. Enemy number 1? The destroyer of all your new life is about?

In a couple more weeks you wouldn’t even be tempted. You may find you are not now.

If you know someone is likely to buy you an egg could you ask them to buy you a bag of nuts, seeds, tub of coconut oil……anything that you can eat which isn’t chocolate?

BTW brilliant first week weight loss!

hmm – i seem to have hit a slow spot . I’m in week 6 now and lost 6lbs so far, I just need to loose one more to get to a 4stone loss in 2 years , but more disconcerting is my bs’s are going up. 12 this morning 🙁 I’m eating the same stuff and exercising alot so not sure what’s going on.
The good news is is that i’m booked in for a c-peptide test so hopefully be able to get to a definitive diagnosis!

Had a couple of trolls already SkyWalker
they’re so pathetic they stand out like sore thumbs and usually are made to vanish withing a couple of hours of posting. 😉

Thank Bill,

You guys have all been so much help to me all the encouraging and supportive post have really kept me going. I was feeling really anxious when I made the decision to do this diet until I started reading the forum. I want to help and support others like you guys all did for me. The more people that do the BSD the better I say.

Hey guys, don’t give up
If you stick to 800 cals and keep the carbs below 50g / day, and keep up the fluid intake then you have to lose weight, it would be almost impossible not to.
Try checking your carb intake and if you can cut it a little more and get those calories from extra fat, that may help.

Tinforest
I endorse ay caramba’s final comment – may the inches and weight fall away!
Good luck xx

Hi everyone,

I’m in my second week of this gorgeously-healthy eating plan, having lost 8lb in the first week, and I thought it was time I delurked 🙂

I want to thank everyone who posts, I’ve found so much inspiration and encouragement here.

I’m not diabetic but I’m high risk with a strong family history and I have about 3st to lose. I’m a sugar addict/binge eater and I’ve yo-yo dieted my whole life. This feels like a new dawn to me – my cravings are less, there’s a pkt of choc digestives in my kitchen and I’ve not really felt tempted by them: unprecedented for me. Usually, if it’s there, I eat it.

I do have concerns about the choc-fest that is next weekend. I’ll be spending the w/e with family, kids, easter egg hunts, choc galore. There will also be carb-heavy meals I won’t be in control of – a bit of a worry but I can probably negotiate those. My main worry is the chocolate. Does anyone have any tips on how to stay strong?

Help!!! None of my trousers fit anymore….and as for the underwear;-0.

End of Week 7 and I have lost 16lbs. Think I will carry on the diet until I am out of the ‘overweight zone’ if I can.
This diet is completely doable and a life changer.

On the subject of the stalling weight issue. Between Week 5 and today, for a whole 10 days, my weight stubbornly stayed the same or went up a pound (yikes!). Then for the following four days I lost a pound every day.

Keep telling myself that as a determined character I can stick to this diet despite small setbacks.
After all I am the only person who can fix my health.
Good luck everyone. May the inches and weight fall away.

Oh and am off to measure my bits!

Thanks Grandma48 – it’s a slog at the moment and I have been so diligent! Just having a moan – not ready to throw towel in yet but hard to hear about all the great weight loss going on. Fingers crossed I wake up one day and poof it’s gone! 🙂 Thanks again for support x

hi ann077 i am in the exact same boat as you. how are you going? Everyone says keep going so I’m cheering for you!

Hi tinforest
Don’t be disheartened. I too am a slow loser in kgs, but have you tried measuring yourself? I’ve dropped a size in trousers, lost inches on the tops of my arms, my shoulders (where I didn’t even know I was carrying fat), my waist, hips and thighs are all down on when I started. I’m just starting my fourth week. If you haven’t already measured, do so now, record as many measurements as you can and check back in a week! The guys on here – so supportive – say that sometimes the figure on the scales doesn’t go down because our fat cells are now full of water, but the inches are falling away. Stay strong and focused – you will soon see some results.

I was a MASSIVE Coke Zero fan like 2 litres per day, i have cut that out of my diet, as well as having an equal or stevia in my coffee. I am using almond milk instead of Zymil (not sure if that’s any better but calories are lower) however, the almond milk is sweetened so in not sure if I’m having a bit too much over 2 cups of coffee in a day.

I went today without sugar and it was surprisingly easy. Still bloated but I’ll see how I go in a couple more days. I will get a copy of “Sweet Poison” and see if that helps. You guys are great, thanks.

I am disheartened. I have been so accurate, no cheating (don’t even want to) and at the end of day 9 i have barely lost 1 kilo. Am i expecting too much?

Congratulations to everyone who has lost great numbers – must feel so amazing!!

Hi Lynne,
I have puzzled on this, but can’t work it out – ‘drawing on gnus’ ?

Happy birthday, and like captainLynne said nothing has ever worked as well for me as the BSD so massive thanks.

We also bought new scales in Week 2 (on about Week 7 or 8 now, have lost count a bit), after we discovered that our old scales were completely erratic and unreliable. Unsure therefore exactly what we weighed to begin with, or accurately how much we’ve lost, but both husband and I reckon we’ve lost around a stone. However, my weight has stalled completely in the past 3 weeks (not put any on though, which is good)…..this is due to not paying as much attention as we should to the program as we’ve been going through a lot of stress recently with problems with husband’s job and a close relative’s probable kidney cancer diagnosis. When I’m stressed, it’s always my diet that suffers – I just can’t concentrate on eating healthily. Job situation now resolved, so at least that’s one stress out of the way. Anyway, today I am wearing a pair of jeans I haven’t even been able to get into for a good couple of years….I don’t even know what made me try them on, but am glad I did – what a boost! I also bought some ketostix…..did the first test this morning, I’m not in ketosis (I knew I wouldn’t be), but it’s spurred me on to concentrate properly on the plan and cut more carbs, which were beginning to creep up again.

Love this idea and I’m happy to add my NSVs to the list

Sleeping better – not waking as often during the night and feel more rested in the morning.

More energy and feel more vital – actually want to get off the sofa and do something.

Skin more radiant – doesn’t look as tired and worn.

My waist has started to put in an appearance again and my tummy’s flatter – not talking wash-board you understand, but it is definitely not as bulgy.

Jean are looser – can get into my small ones and do them up, but I need to lose a pound or two more for them to be presentable in public.

Dress I want to wear to a wedding this weekend now fits properly again – and makes me look good!

Sinuses improved, even though I am now eating dairy again and this had always been an issue and caused me sinus problems in the past.

Finally – and I can’t say categorically that this is due to the diet, but – I have had a frozen shoulder for months, but since starting the diet it has improved drastically. I no longer need any pain killers at all and the mobility is also improving. This might be coincidental – and I’m sure the GP would say so if asked – but we all know this diet is changing our bodies, so I have to wonder if it might not be at least in part responsible for this change too.

https://www.thehealthychef.com/2012/02/quinoa-power-porridge/

Managed to post the link!
Quinta porridge.
Protein packed porridge!

Of course with the comments being online they will naturally attract the Trolling that is so pervasive now. When the success of BSD is so obvious to others as it is to ourselves we shall not need to worry about the bias shown by organisations vying for attention. Truth will out…

I made the mistake of buying new set of scales this weekend and though they are good quality they read 0.3 kg higher than my old ones and an older inherited one. We had them for around 30 years! Anyway, keeping the new ones recycling the old ones, bit like myself…

Hi georgiarose
Don’t let the lack of weigh loss at this point derail you. These events are common on this diet, so just stick to you guns and eventually you will see the kgs start to fall again. You have done well to date, so use that positive to keep you focused. Let us know how you get on.

Yesterday was chicken stew for lunch and prawn omelette for dinner.
Finished the day with 3 strawberries sliced with Greek yoghurt and sprinkled with a tsp of milled linseed.
This was a concious effort at reducing the carbs even further and increasing the fat levels a bit.
Fluid intake over the day was about two and a half litres.

Hi buffy
gram flour isn’t very clever as a dough.
To make the flatbreads, you make them exactly the same way as you would a pancake exept the batter is just the flour, water, and a pinch of salt.
Well done on your 2 week results, you’re well on your way

We’ll see Lynne
If they recommend the low carb route I’ll stand and cheer
However, if they (as I suspect) go with the old low fat drivel, then I think it will be time to get loud by responding to every report you read.
Trouble being that we will be regarded by the powers that be as some sort of minority group.
Bootcamp indeed.

Had it one night last week but cooked the fish without batter.
It was delicious with the home made mushy peas and took me back to the old days, minus the chips of course.

Hi Penny sounds like paradise. Back here in Blighty my son got the keys for his double allotment and OMG the front fence had been pulled down and the pile of rubbish extended back to about 20 feet and 4 feet deep! I couldn’t believe my eyes. All that to deal with before we even start work on the neglected allotment! There is a native hedge along one side – mostly blackthorn, hawthorn and elder. The council have topped it and kept the lane side part trimmed but inside the allotment it has outgrowth about 10 feet long!!! I’m ordering some other native plants such as wild cherry plum, crab apple, hazel and wild crab apple. It will be good for foraging and the wildlife! My back, arms and shoulder hurt from all the hard work yesterday but at least it is good, healthy exercise!
🙂

Gez that is a remarkable set of results
Well done mate and thanks for sharing, others will find your experience so inspiring.
Hi Sharon, that was the perfect answer to Hallies post, you are showing just what can be done and that is exactly the kind of support needed
Hallie you won’t believe it yet, but in a couple of weeks it will be your posts that are inspiring others.
I hope I get an invite to one of these diabetes bootcamps, I suspect I won’t last long 😀

Scotgran – amazing results, go on, have the fish and remove the batter ( an average of 200 cals of fish) the taste is great, I tried it one night last week. Luxury without the falling of the wagon! And you will be part of the family food fest! 🙂 Not sure what the calories are in mushy peas because I don’t eat them but fish and mushy peas is a good supper! 🙂

Hi Libby
a few of us have had dawn effect problems.
For me and some others, a fatty late night snack does the trick. I use full fat yoghurt with berries, some have a piece of cheese or a handful of nuts.
Try it, better for you than the carbs as the fat stops the hunger and will keep you feeling fuller for longer than the carbs will.
Don’t worry too much about those fasting readings, it’s a natural phenomona and they will come down.

Lucia if you did all that I think you would slide right off just like Bill 🙂