This is a great thread and has given me some inspiration for some new breakfast choices!
Loving the yoghurt, berries and milled seed idea – didn’t even think of it, and I have some in the cupboard!
Have posted on a few other forums – stalled in week 3&4. Now in week 5 & I am definitely starting to feel slimmer. The scales have been stubborn – but I think this week will see a change.
I’ve readapted my approach & reduced the carbs to below 50 each day.
Breakfast – Blueberry, avocado & yoghurt smoothies (with some super supplements)
Lunch – Salad leaves, cucumber, beetroot, seeds, celery & a teaspoon of olive oil.
Dinner – Thai butternut squash soup, poached egg & kale.
Snack – 50ml organic milk (for teas!)

Well done everyone – love the forums, a real inspiration xx

Hi Grandma48/Jan

Sounds like you have made a good start. Using Kindle, you can mark passages in the book, so that it is possible to find them easily again. Anyway, like you I have been struggling with balancing the fat/carb/protein mix to achieve the 800cals and weight loss. Had a good first week, but the last two have been a bit iffy.

I can’t honestly remember the book saying not to count cals in veg, but I would be surprised if this were the case on such a controlled diet. I have been counting the cals in everything consumed, not that it has stopped me plateauing and struggling to get things moving again. I’m into week four now and hoping this week the scales will be kinder, but I’m keeping a very close watch on the carbs this week.

Think if you are struggling to keep the carbs low, it’s probably best not to eat too much in the way of pulses and legume, as these do have higher carb values. Similarly root veg also show quite high on carb, so best to use veggies that grow above ground, as they have much lower and in some instances almost non-existent carb values. Go for cabbages, sprouts, spinach, salad stuff, broccoli, cauli, aubergine, courgette, etc.

Good luck and let us know how you get on with adjusting your diet and if it helps you achieve better weight loss.

Yesterday’s food:

Breakfast: Greek yogurt and cooked mixed berries

Lunch: Salad – romaine lettuce, rocket, cherry toms, olives, gherkins, basil, cooked yellow pepper, beef, spring onions, mayo/sour cream, a small pear

Dinner: Garlic lime chicken stirfry with peppers, courgette, mange tout and onion, garlic, lime juice and zest, onion garlic granules, black pepper and oregano

Water, two cups coffee with milk

Cals: 857 Carbs: 44g

Hi larpent,
I laughed so much when you asked if I have enough fat! You would know I have plenty if you saw me trying to get everything into my tights of a morning. 🙄
I thought I was doing well counting my calories, now I have to look at fat and carbs. That may take a little longer working all that out. I will try though.
I have 800 to 850 calories. Per day.
I thought the full fat Greek yoghurt tablespoon big blob on my apple would cover the fats needed.
I think, maybe my body is in shock , or just stunned. It’s probably saying , what the devil is she up to now? She will get over it and get back to the old routine, I will just wait here for now.

Isn’t it wonderful, the light nights and wasn’t it mild again today? I am walking to the next bus stop to work and getting off a stop earlier both ways. Every little helps… Or is that an advert?

Just off to my sock drawer to apologise to my tights. Didn’t realise the torturous life I have put them through.
Love Lucia xxxx

Scotgran that is fab!!! well done! Love the expression ‘tummy wedge!’ so stealing that one haha xx

Hi Bill,
So sorry to hear your family’s news. Thoughts are with you and keeping my fingers crossed the MRI comes back with more positive news xx

Hi Penny,

Have been AWOL for a few days, getting a new tablet sorted out, and busy at work. You’re right about MFP. I don’t trust it unless I have added the item to my favourites myself, or I can confirm the accuracy of the database info myself.

I bought the BSD book on my Kindle and it makes it very difficult to flick through to find something specific. I’ve been measuring my calories and carbs on Fitness Pal and although I can keep the carbs low with fish, cream, butter etc, the minute I start adding the vegetables – particularly pulses – the carbs shoot up. I’m just starting my third week and although I had a creditable 4lbs loss in week 1 (just stopped smoking as well, so guess my body is fighting itself), only managed 1/2lb last week. I’m not unhappy with the weight loss cos I can see the inches coming off. I have been following the forum since I started, did my first post yesterday, and I seem to recall reading that Michael Mosley said not to count the vegetables! Is that right? I am measuring and counting olive oil, butter – basically everything – and although I can keep within the 800 calories no problem, I’m finding it hard to keep below the 50g carbs. Also I am not eating anything like the amount of veggies I did before I started this plan. Can someone please advise? Thank you all so much – your positive attitudes and advice is priceless.
Jan

Hi Hashimoto,
So glad to hear you’re on the mend. I’d noticed you MIA and had a feeling you might have caught the tummy bug too. It’s a bit hard not to when you’re cleaning up copious amounts of vomit. 🙁
Hopefully your son’s kidney probs are just temporary, probably down to dehydration from the vomiting. Are you both getting some electrolyte replacement drinks? Not the so called sports ones, but one for upset tummies sometimes helps with nausea. If he can keep up his fluid intake and manage some protein, I’m sure your son’s results will be much better on Monday.
Good job you went with him to hospital so you managed to get prompt treatment.
Have plenty of rest, plenty of fluids and hopefully you’ll feel 100% again soon.

Thanks for all the advice – going to put it into practice and get back to you with the results!! Feeling very optimistic😀

Hi jellitum,
Thanks for your kind words about my ramblings. I was doing it just for me, a diary, but it has brought me so much more.
I think I would be first to die in a famine, thousands could live for years off my blubber🙃 In fact I could cancel out any famine.
Can you give me an example of what and how much you eat in one day?
How did you cope with your plateau? Did you curse the scales, sulk for a few minutes and got on with it like me?
When I weigh myself next time, I am going to cut my toe nails and shave my legs, surely that is at least another gram or two😜
Stay happy jellytum.
Love Lucia.
Xxxx

Gwendolineanne, welcome to the forums, this diet WILL work for you, believe me! I didn’t believe I could lose my excess weight but I am 2 stones 3 lbs down already. I’m looking forward to your posts as you will be so happy with the results of following this diet 🙂

Glad you weren’t offended I pointed it out Janet1973. I’m guessing that it is 16g of protein needed and not 16ounces then. That is very little and I’m certainly eating more than that – would think most of us are. Will see how I go for the rest of this week counting cals and carbs, before deciding if I need to be counting protein as well!

I would say still keep taking your medication until your GP advises otherwise. I’m on 2000mg (4 tabs) daily and my review isn’t til June but I’m continuing on it til then.

Hi bill 1954, is that you being masterful?
Yes, I had a good sulk probably for a good five minutes. I have threatened my scales that if they don’t come up with the goods, they will be sleeping with the fishes. 😄
I think it is good to feel let down, I have to go through disappointment so I can control myself not running for the chocolate.
I have had a lot of water today, you know a balloon filled with water, squishy? Well I felt like that this afternoon.
Just had my evening meal, feel stuffed.
I am not worried now, about my gain, as just look at my lessons learned and my friends coming to my rescue. Bill, please stay with me here on the website for my eight weeks.
Love Lucia xxx

Hi lulalinda, fantastic results in one week! Looking forward to your next weeks posts – and the week after….:)

Well done Bill 🙂

Thats fab news Bill, lovely to get results like that.

Hi, hashimoto. Thanks for having me along 🙂

Hi lynne, I’m still a bit weak and wobbly but I haven’t had this infection as badly as my son. I brought him home early on friday suffering from a severe stomach bug. The dr referred him to hospital for tests early sunday morning. His full blood count came back showing a lot of changes and probs with his kidneys. I have never seen anyone vomit such large amounts every few minutes (it had started thurs night), they sent him for chest and abdominal xrays when i suddenly knew I was going to be sick (very fortunate timing) the dr dealing with my son got a prescription of two types of anti emetics for me to take immediately as he was worried howi would fare at my age with health probs given how ill he was.I’m over the sickness, just nausea left. My son has to have full blood count repeated next monday. He was already thin but he is now a stone lighter. He is beginning to look better, thank God :). The dr was going to keep him in hospital but when I was sick they decided he had a nasty viral infection.
I’m glad you’re back ‘on line’, I love your posts x

Thank you so much hasimoto.
Purplepenguin….. I have daffodil pedometer which is advertised in the resources section of this website and find it is really good. Got it from amazon. Only records steps though after you have been walking for 7 seconds but dont find it is a disadvantage.

Hi Juliia, welcome to the 8-week line and after. Keep letting us know how you are doing.

Hi Hashimoto. *waves*. Thanks 😃 When I was away it seemed like everything was served with dumplings or bread or both (at least where I could afford!). . I normally eat local food on holiday, so it was unusual for me to go to TGI Fridays – but the steak was good (and did two meals 😊).

Good to see you back. You ok?

8 ounce eggs…they’d take some cracking!!!

Great news Bill. 😃

Day 3 everything going well, I’m doing 2 replacement meals and 1 X 400 calorie meal, should I still be taking my metformin? Thanks

Ha ha, you’re quite right SunnyB. I had another look and I have been getting my grams and ounces all muddled up! The theory was good but my application was rubbish!

Hi Janet1973

Sorry to contradict your protein weights referenced on your last posting, but 16 ounces is actually one pound – i.e. close to half a kilo – and therefore two large eggs could not possibly contain the equivalent in protein. My calculations show protein in two large eggs as around an ounce (26g). If it is 16g of protein, two large eggs would actually be in excess at approx. 26g. I haven’t looked at the site mentioned yet, but I’ll take a peek later, as I have heard in the past excess protein can hinder weight loss.

Hi shadow2, wow, 11st 10lbs down to 9st 9lbs is something to celebrate. Well done you and wishing you all the best on this life long path 🙂

Did you get a withdrawal?? As I don’t know if I get dips of low sugar but I shake and shake badly… I was told it’s either low sugar or more likely going Cold turkey . Apart from Pepsi we eat veg and meat.

I have to change… So I have to do what ever it takes . I am nearly 29 stone!!

Oh and also agree that Penny’s little glasses are a great idea. I just use bars and gates in my diary but I might have to channel the picasso a little bit!

Hi everyone
Eureka posted a link to another website;
ketogenic-diet-resource.com

This is a really useful website and might provide another piece of our puzzle of slow weight loss as it discusses how much protein you need for ketosis, and therefore, weight loss. I always thought protein should be kept high when dieting, but it turns out that too much protein can hinder weight loss. Maybe this explains why, when we know we are ‘being good’, we don’t lose much; perhaps we are getting just a little too much protein so ketosis doesn’t happen.

For instance, one of the possibilities for me at 5 foot 2 inches (shortass!) is that I only need around 16 ounces of protein per day. That’s just a bit more than two large eggs a day. I’m prepared to monitor my protein intake (along with everything else!) to see how it affects things for a few days. How did it all get so complicated!

I am just starting my 4th week and have lost 6lbs and about an inch off my waist. I am doing 5.2BSD so not reducing calories as much as most people but am thrilled with my progress. I am now 9st 9lbs which is the lowest I have been for about 40 years. Since I first started 5.2 diet in July 2014 (when diagnosed with pre diabetes) I have lost a total of 29lbs, unfortunately went back to bad eating habits end of last year and 4 weeks ago my blood sugars were in the late 6’s, tingling all over body and felt terrible. Now my fasting blood sugars are low 5’s or high 4’s which I am very relieved about it. I am now up to 10,000 steps a day and feel much better. I have found this diet much easier than I expected and know I need to keep to low carbs for rest of my life but am looking forward to a more relaxed meditteranean maintenance plan. I could not have done this without the help and support from these forums and the recipes posted by everyone. Keep going everyone, it can be done.

Hi innermonologue, why should we mind you posting? We are all in this together! Welcome on board 🙂

I think you will find the sweet tooth lessens considerably after a week or so of the diet. Mine hasn’t disappeared but I now find Pepsi max too sweet and prefer fizzy water with lemon in it. Never thought I’d hear myself saying that 😃

Hi purplepenguin I would recommend the CSX. Pedometer, I’ve had a few over the years and that one is my fa ourite. You can find details of it on the resources tab on this website, ive had mine for almost 2 years. It goes in my dressing gown pocket first thing ( it’s amazing how many steps you can do on a morning before dressing ) then into my jeans pocket for the rest of the day. Hope that helps 🙂

Justabloke? Just a bloke? Those stats are amazing. What a bloke! 🙂

Bill
So sorry to hear your devastating news, hope MRI scan is a bit more positive. My thoughts are with you, take care.

How are you doing carommartin? Just thought I’d check in to see how its going.

Thank you.

Just can’t wait for the book to arrive . I’m eat fairly good but I think I found my problem. I drink Pepsi max and ok no sugar but according to hospital it’s worse as apparently I’m drinking crack cocaine of the sugar world . I do like sweet stuff so hope there is something .

I really hope it works as 1 friend has lost a stone in 4 weeks!!!!! Other one is doing really well.

Hi. Julia, welcome to the over the 8 week line and over, what fantastic results you have had so far! Don’t forget to keep posting your progress!
🙂
Hi captainlynne, wow you did so fantastically on your trip, especially as the right food was a bit harder to source than here in Britain! You are a role model for us all 🙂

Lucia,
you should write for a living! Your enthusiasm shines through, there are some really poetic images and humour too!

I hadn’t noticed, but I’m in the middle of week 2. I am not far behind you in the weight and inches, but got there on 2000 cals/day despite all sorts of exercise. I’ve always said I’d be the last to die in a famine because a little food goes a long, long way with me! I have lost 2kg in the first week, plateau for a couple of days, now another half a kg down.
Good luck!

Hi all
I have just finished the 8 weeks🙌
Started out in mid December at 93 kilos. Less some days, more others… weight tends to fluctuate but that was the worst number I reached. Had a nasty 3 weeks with flu from 31st December so restarted the 8 weeks once over that. Now at 82.5 kilos and hoping to stay around here and lose another 10-12 if I can… something I’d lost hope was even possible for me last year. No diabetes yet (had blood test last year) but it is hugely prevalent in my family. I am now back to running and working on upping exercise levels to keep things moving in the right direction. Not to mention staying with this way of life permanently.
These forums have been inspirational as so many have said. We all sound like scratched records but I cannot express how much they have helped me when I have fallen off the wagon, as I have many times.
Best wishes for continued progress to everyone on here!
Julia 😊

Welcome! I wouldn’t get hung up on ingredients. Frozen veg often cheaper than fresh and no wastage. Ditto berries. Lidl and Aldi have many things at good prices. Main thing is to read these forums avidly as they will provide loads of support and there are additional recipes here too. Good luck and hope to be hearing great news from you soon. I have lost over 10 kg with the fast800 BSD and would have been more if I hadn’t had a few slips along the way. Have not been this weight for almost 10 years despite many attempts at losing weight.

Draw a line under the pizza and move on. Stay focused and get back on track. You will be seeing better results soon.

Thanks for your replies 🙂 It’s nice to know it’s not a problem unique to me, but demoralising all the same. I will keep on with it (despite the slice of pizza I had for lunch today!).

Dear Gabby67′ my husband and I are also on day 2, I don’t feel too bad but he is light headed and feeling lethargic, the way I see it is that these early days are not just about getting used to a low calorie low carb diet but after all the unhealthy food and alcohol we have previously put into our bodies(hubby and I) but also about detoxing as well which is bound to make you feel yuck! Stick with it and see what the next few days bring. Good luck.

Yesterday I was told I will die soon unless I change my life.

I have mobility issues and due to problems
In nhs I have gained weight over the years

I need to loose weight I friend is on a his diet and I’m trying it.. Have ordered my book but is there anything I need to get?? I already eat veg and lean meat

Yes MaryR I found the same dry, undercooked but even cooking them longer didn’t help. I am going to try the brownies so any tips appreciated – the recipe is too basic; I assume you have to chop the dates and cacao nibs although it says neither!

Hi sunnyb, i have had several pedometers over the years but my favourite is the one I. Bought a couple of years ago, it’s the CSX, you can find the details for it on the resources tab on this website. If I’m short on steps i walk to the corner shop and back -2500 steps. Sue1234 I f. I don’t want anything from the shop i just walk past the shop and loop back by another side road. No one could tell i was walking for the sake of walking – and if they did? Well, I’m walking for my health, that’s a good enough purpose for me. Watching the steps accumulate is a buzz as you get close or overtake your daily target.The CSX also shows the number of steps you do in a week 🙂

I didn’t think much to these either, though I’ve only tried them once and was not inspired to try and modify it. The mix was very dry, even with adding extra liquid, and the result pale and uninviting; the cooking temp and time seemed out as well. I have to say that I think the chocolate brownies are a much better bet, and are my go-to emergency treat when necessary, a batch always in the freezer in small bites , 100 cals each. It did take 4 attempts to perfect the technique though- I’ll post it if anyone’s interested.
( I think there was some discussion about the courgette muffins in an earlier thread- voicing similar opinions!)