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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Keep smiling, keep moving, keep losing
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi Hashimoto,

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

From what I can remember,
Love Lucia
Xxxx

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Confused

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

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

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

I nearly had a small Yorkshire pudding with dinner tonight…then I read the packet…15 grams carbs…it stayed in the freezer… (apologies to all those who would cook from scratch).

Lucia you are definitely getting better weather than me – the day started in such a promising way and then I was surprised by rain while pottering in the greenhouse – didn’t stop me – or the ‘ weeds in wheels shoot long and lovely and lush’ (straight from my favourite nature poet G.M. Hopkins) nor the birds from singing but oh I do wish for a day of sunshine – the only ones we had lately was while I was in bed with that ghastly bug last week 🙁
I noticed when I saw newspaper headlines on the news this morning that there was a reverse diabetes supplement in the paper – but like you I think I have everything I need in Dr Mosley’s book and I’m sticking with it
Have a good week 🙂

Day 29 – update measured waist today 36″ so I have lost 2 1/2″. Feeling a bit better about things. 😁

Hi SunnyB
I can really feel your pain in what you have written and I have been there so many times myself. I wish I had a crystal ball to see what your next weigh-in will tell you but in its absence, lets try a little perspective. So you went over your calories – but only to around 1000? That’s still a very low cal diet and your carbs were well within ketosis range. I think what is happening here is your own little devil is trying to make you feel so guilty that you head for catastrophic eating. The 800/20 is quite strict so when we have just a little tiny bit that feels naughty, it sends us running for the hills. But you really haven’t been that naughty. I might be sticking my neck out here but I really think you will be ok. Any SLIGHT gain will be water not fat – you absolutely haven’t taken on board enough calories for fat to reappear. So, my lovely, don’t listen to that little devil, he wants to derail you with cries of ‘whats the point??’ Your plan for your time away is a sound one. But go and enjoy yourself, have what you feel like having at the time and know that the easiest weight loss plan you have ever done is waiting for you when you get back. And you still have time to lose some before you go. I firmly believe in life is too short but not yolo cos I’m a bit of a Buddhist 😉

Hi Hashimoto and cat girl,

I hope my mutterings will get a few more people off the settee, away from the telly and outside into the spring.
It was such a beautiful day today, I don’t want anyone to miss it.

Yup, I shall be boogy ing to various tunes. I am tone deaf , don’t know the words, don’t know the tunes, but I shall sing them as loud as I can get away with 🐵🙈🙉🙊
I am hoping singing too, will burn a calorie an hour. What do you estimate?

I have to be careful when I am hoovering , once I get my blubber moving, it doesn’t stop when I do ☺️ But when I am a size 12, there will be no movement, just clean carpets.
It’s a pity wobbling doesn’t burn calories or I would be there now.
But I am not impatient. Mid May will come soon enough.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi penelope59
Could I suggest you check your carbohydrate intake, as if this is high it might be hindering things. I found that by lowering my carbs, I managed to get things moving again, having hit a two week plateau. Hoping that this downward trend will continue. Let us know how you get on.

Hi Shyvarn
I think your gain might be partly due to muscle tone – muscle weighs more than fat – and the looking smaller is as a result of being toned. Have you thought of trying 16:8 fasting for a period? This means you don’t take in any calories for 16 hours from mid-afternoon overnight to early morning and only eat during the 8 remaining hours during the day. Might be worth trying to see if you can kick start things again. Or alternatively, lower your carb intake and see if that helps.

Just suggestions, hope you manage to find something that works for you. Keep us posted …. good luck!

Oh by the way,
Is I was sitting in the sunshine having a read, what was in the mail on Sunday?

A supplement leaflet thingy, from dr David Cavan, the reverse your diabetes diet. What is going on.🤔

I am a simple creature, like like one thought at a time in my head, any more than one, my ears could blow off..
And now someone who hasn’t got the nice blue eyes of dr Michael Mosley is trying to join me in the sunshine.

I will put away this leaflet and when I am ready, I will read it. I think our dr Mosley has explained things really simply for the likes of me. This dr Cavan isn’t photographed in the supplement?
I had to google him.
Sorry, not yet, maybe in a few weeks time. I am not listening, Lalallalala la la la lalalalalala lalalal 🙉
Love Lucia
Xxxx

I can do 3 minutes of stupid dancing, I find music helps me go daft doing the hoovering and housework and often get caught out by hubby mid gyrate(should I admit to that) 🙈 I am sure that the ripple effect from my blubber should help burn extra calories and there is a time delay in me stopping and the flab catching up – not a pretty sight but hopefully not for much longer!

Hi Aly. So long as they arent the quick oats you can have oats if you bulk them up so that they are not the entire meal. I make up 30g raw oats with water and a pinch of ground cinnamon then after it has cooled down a bit i add either half a banana (about 50g) or 40g of raspberries or blueberries and last of all 60 full fat greek yoghurt. I dont ever eat more than half a banana at a meal as in this diet it is a tropical fruit (nor recommended) and a whole one would be too high for glycaemic load. This also works brilliantly with 30g cooked quinoa (made up with water) instead of the oats. When quinoa is really chilled these combinations make it actually tastes like dessert and I find all versions have good fibre levels and keep me full till lunchtime (esp the banana version) without a big sugar spike). I do have 100ml of milk in a sugarless cafe latte as well. If i dont have the cafe latte i up the quantities of the yoghurt and oats. On its own the
Banana oats version in quantities given is 146 calories. All other versions with different fruit are lower in cals. (I do track cals as i find small differences in quantities of some foods can make big differences).

To mix it up and increase the protein I sometimes add 10gram of almonds to increase the good fat and protein. This quantity of almonds adds 63calories and can keep me going until 2pm.

Ive lost 7kg in the 4 weeks ive been doing the diet. The first week in spite of drinking 2-3 litres of water a day I became constipated so i have been making more high fibre choices in my overall calorie count and tracking fibre since then to good effect. Good luck as you explore your options.

Hi lucia, catkins ( long and wriggly, like lambs tails) grow on trees such as hazel ( as in the nut) and hornbeam and pussy willow (round, soft and furry) grow on willow trees. Hope that helps. I like the idea of you and catgirl doing 3 minute dances. I. Often wriggle to music when I’m cooking and hope I’m never seen! 🙂

Keep us posted AnnaandAlfie and be sure to use the forum threads for support when the going gets tough. There’s so much positivity here to help carry you through – they have certainly helped me when I’ve been struggling.

Hi lucia it is lovely that this diet has led you to discover the joys of walking and nature. I come from a family where walking has always been a way of life and have done my best to inspire the children I have taught to find pleasure and awe in the world around them. It’s never too late, as you are discovering, and you seem to have inspired one or two others to join you. There is so much for you to look forward to as the year unfolds.
Have a great new week on BSD! 🙂

Thank you so much, that is a really helpful rule of thumb. I am sure once I get my head around it, it will be much easier! And yes, I am UK!
Onwards and upwards (or rather downwards…)

Bill1954 I apologise most profusely for not acknowledging your post! I’ve only just re-read the thread and realised I missed it first time around. You are such an inspiration, thank you for sharing your journey with us all.

Hi spirit,
Thank you for your blog.
I am glad you like my mutterings.
Boy did you get a work out with your car park situation! You sound as though you have the fitness section sorted and done.
I wish I was at your level, but I am in my way.

Pussy willow, is that called catkins? Does it look like lambs tails? I will ah e to look it up. Yes, it was a lovely day today. I didn’t want to stay indoors, so went out, walked then sat and enjoyed the fresh air and done a bit of reading.
We should all sleep tonight with the fresh air.
The weather man says it is changing this Friday ready for the weekend. Oh well, we can all go out puddle jumping.

How far into the eight weeks are you? Do you have any tips or words of wisdom?

Love Lucia
Xxxxx

Hi Janet1973
Thanks so much for touching base – very much appreciated. I have been tracking carbs daily and had seemed to consolidate a 2lb loss during this last week. However, I think I have really screwed up this w/e! Had a 30th birthday celebration for my daughter yesterday and I was approx. 120cals and 5g carbs over – inc. a couple of glasses of champagne. So I though, no problem, be good today …… another disaster! Somehow I have topped today out by being 150cals(!!!) over …….. AAAHHHH!!!! On the carbs, I was well under 20g at 15 – mainly because most of today’s cals came from fats and protein based foods.

I’m so annoyed with myself and fully expecting to see the 2lb back on when I do my main weigh-in tomorrow morning. I have a wedding to attend next Friday and then we go out to Turkey at the end of the following week. Trying not to feel a bit doomed to fail right now. I have it in mind to stick to v. low carb while we are away and only have the very occasional glass of wine or brandy, but it feels scary.

Determined not to give in, but is that enough?

Hi cat girl,
What a change in us both.
We are both moving about, on the right track for eating, and enjoying the fresh air.
Your garden will look beautiful with the planting you have done.

I have been for my salad stuff, feta, fish, chicken etc. My shopping trolley contents has changed so much from what I used to get. If I keep like this I will be wearing open toes sandals soon.

What do you think the next little challenge should be?

How about three minutes of dancing each night this week?
Three minutes should be the length of a song?
Should fit in , in the adverts section of the telly.
Your own style of dancing, even if it is crazy wiggles.
It can be done, in the lounge, kitchen, bedroom or in a locked bathroom.
Shall we give it a go?
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Very well done Ali2on, thats an amazing result. Whats a few chips between friends? Back on it tomorrow and more great results!

Hi AnnaandAlfie, welcome! I will let the more experienced posters give you the benefit of their wisdom on all this as well but as far as I am aware, the recipes in the book do include some carbs and each person has a slightly different response to carbs from different sources… so I think it’s a case of try, test your BG (if you do) and see what works, as long as it’s in the 800 calorie count.

Not sure if this helps but the GI lists (there are loads available) show the likely impact of a food on your blood sugar – this is one site but you can also do a search on an individual food, for example ” melon GI ”

http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-eating/glycemic_index_and_glycemic_load_for_100_foods

Now 7 days done, and I’ve lost 6 pounds 🙂 haven’t re-measured my waistline yet, but it must be getting better!
I’ve found it easier to get my calories by including more fats and protein (cheese, eggs, meat).
I’ve had a wee bit of a naughty day today with chips at lunch time out with friends. I did get a burger with no roll, though.
Enjoying a wee glass of red wine (inside my calorie count) this evening 🙂

Hi Annaand Alfie
Welcome to the clan! Hope you will find the threads on the forum helpful and supportive. Re you question on veg, as a general rule of thumb use those that grow above ground, as those that grow below are much higher in carbs. However, watch out as some – broccoli and kale for instance – can be surprisingly high in carbs. Carrots are okay occasionally, but parsnips are high and so best avoided. Fruit – I’m pretty sure the book says melon falls into the ‘tropical’ bracket and I would suggest that kiwi and figs do too. It is the sugar content that you need to watch out for. Think if you stick to fruits native to UK (sorry, assuming you are from the UK) you should be okay. I have high fat yogurt and approx. 15g of raspberries as the base of my breakfast each day for instance.

Sounds like you are all set to embark on this new venture. Good luck – hope you achieve your goals.

Thanks for this SOS. I also find the background taste of coconut a bit off-putting, its just not quite right for savoury foods. I’ll look into this as an alternative. Made me laugh about the body lotion.