This is the way I’m seeing it now.
Compare your body to a car, it’s been running happily on 4 star petrol but everything gets clogged up with carbon. You have a can of unleaded in the boot and you run out of fuel.
Put unleaded in and the car may stutter a few times but as it gets used to the new cleaner fuel, performance gets better as the carbon deposits melt away.
The high sugar readings are the result of your body getting rid of those carbons (stored sugar) and once it’s gone, performance will improve.
Simplistic perhaps but it works for me.
Oh BTW 7.1 fasting reading this morning so hopefully the start of a downward trend again.

Agreed, lots of above the ground veg, use below the ground veg (swede, turnip, parsnip, carrots ets) sparingly as they do tend to have more carbs and sugar.
Cauliflower is very versatile and can be made into mash for pie toppings or cauli rice. Celeriac, I find, is a very acceptable substitute for swede. Add herbs and spice to vary your menu’s.

it’s really what works best for you
I never eat breakfast so I tend to go 200 for lunch, 400 dinner, and 200 late night snack.
As long as you are cutting out the carbs and keeping the fat intake up, along with drinking lots of fluids, you should be ok.

For me 3 small meals works best as if I leave it too long I start to get a bit shaky and light headed but that may be in relation to being type 2 diabetic. However I always have my tea at 5pm latest and don’t eat again until about 9am but that seems to be ok, seeing as for most of that time I’m in bed asleep!

You’re well prepared Nat, now go for it.
This time next week you will be a happy bunny (mustn’t use that phrase at the end of the month)
It’s nice to see how the new starters are starting to team up with each other and Lucia is already proving to be a great poster, that kind of support really does make a difference if you have a wobble along the way.
Best of luck to you two and everyone elsr starting the journey this week.

Thanks for the thoughts and good wishes guys, scan today so we should know something soon.
Todays Fasting sugar readings down to 7.1 so heading in the right direction again.
Thought occurred to me that I hadn’t been to the loo much this week, until last night that is. I wonder if that could have anything to do with it.

Hi Holoso
the sweet tooth is an obstinate animal to get rid of, but it has no staying power. 2 or 3 days in it should go completely.
Until then, if the monster rears it’s ugly head, try a few mixed nuts with a couple of raisins or some full fat yoghurt with berries to take the edge off.
You have taken the first big step, it just gets easier from here on in.
Be loud about this with your daughters, tell them how good you feel and how much weight you are losing, if they are like most girls, once they start seeing your success, they will become very interested.

Welcome JB,

I don’t think it especially matters when you have them either. Having said that, the 5.2 (original) diet shows that the longer you fast between meals, the more fat you burn.

But it’s entirely up to you how you do it. There isn’t a wrong way.

Morning Bill (and welcome FiFIP)

I’ve just read the above about your daughter. Healing vibes being sent from West Yorkshire that everything will be well today.

Glad also you’ve had reassuring news from the team here.

xx

I don’t think that it matters. I usually miss out a meal, normally breakfast, or occasionally lunch (not both) and then have a larger dinner with the family. Missing breakfast I find very easy and I usually have something high fat for lunch such as greek yoghurt or houmous. If I’ve missed breakfast I sometimes have a snack when I get in from work (normally an apple or some yoghurt).

I am finding this reasonably easy to keep up and I am losing weight.

Bill hope all goes well for your daughter your must be so worried. Keep your chin up. Big hugs xx

Hi guys
don’t worry too much about the carbs in chickpeas as they tend to be more of the hard to digest complex carbs than the bad simple type.
A lot of us have been using chickpeas and especially chickpea flour for making flatbreads and even pasta (thanks hashimoto) with no ill effects

Hi lucia
isn’t it amazing to try stuff that you thoght was forbidden to you and find you enjoy it so much.
You will also be amazed at how good you feel by just changing what you eat without ever feeling hungry
Your whole attitude to this new lifestyle is great and I just know that we are going to see some very positive posts from both you and and you too Jeff.
Looking forward to watching you both progress through this journey.

Hi boog 23,
Thanks for your kind words but the good thing is, I can SEE the damage I was doing, I can identify the rut I was in.
I have turned the page as it is a big day tomorrow, the Start of BS800.

I had another weird experience, I tried one tablespoon of Greek full fat yoghurt and an apple for breakfast. I thought the yoghurt would taste like flour and water paste, but it wasn’t, it was really tasty and filling.
Crazy that you are scared to try new things because you already know you won’t like it. It’s taking that step into the unknown. What a surprise I got. It’s great. Everyone should try it.
For lunch I am having salad and two tablespoons of cottage cheese because I fancy it.
My evening meal will be fish done in the oven with a squeeze of lemon and a few herbs, and broccoli.
(Listen to me! I wouldn’t recognise myself!!)
Thanks to everyone for getting this far.
My next questions will be how many calories are in ……
Love Lucia xxx

Hey woofmum, welcome to the forums.
It’s so good to see that you have a supportive GP.
A lot of folk have experienced the opposite reaction from their GP’s so it’s nice that you have one with a more modern outlook on things.
I would give the fast 800 a try first. You may have a couple of early side effects but they go within a few days and after that you shouldn’t feel hungry as your body gets used to a new way of eating.

Hi Bella, eat as many green, leafy veg as you want! Veg like cucumber and celery is also very low calorie so add some of that to your meals where appropriate 🙂

Hi Cherrieanne, it’s a comfort that Bill had feed back from the team on this, it must lessen the worry. It does seem to be a pattern so far in doesn’t it? This is such new territory for all of us, even the non-diabetics with other health problem. I think you will be right about the body readjusting. 🙂

Hi Bella I think the book says you can have unlimited streamed green veg.
I drizzle mine in olive oil and cracked Black pepper. Tastes delicious.

Hi Linda, I have just seen your post, I have hypothyroidism and for the first time I have found a diet which has helped me lose weight – in fact it has just fallen off!
I have a GP appointment next week as I will need to have a new blood test to check my thyroxine levels as I have lost over 2 stones.
Cherrieanne is right about keeping in touch with your GP, I am reducing asthma meds under supervision. The less weight we have usually the lower doses of meds we need – but that is not true of every med. Only tests will decide that.
It must be so hard having the combination of bipolar and hypothyroidism. Keep with the diet and shout if you want support, we will all be rooting for you 🙂

WOW – recommended by your GP – that is VERY good news, it means others in your practice will get the same great help.
Personally I found the 5:2 difficult, not because I didn’t control what I ate the other 5 days but because it was like starting the diet all over again on the other 2 days. On the fast 800 the first 3 or 4 days I felt a bit ‘woolly’ but after that the hanger pangs go, the amount of food in 800 calories feels normal and the weight drops off. If you’re diabetic you should see improved blood sugar readings. However, we are all different and you must choose the option which suits you best.
Last but not least, welcome to the forums Woofmum – they are full of lovely, kind people who will offer help and support.
Good luck on your new journey and download the daily mail articles (8 week blood sugar diet) recommended by Cherrieanne. 🙂 I still use mine even though I have the book!

Hi I’m not vegetarian but usually have veer towards . I’ve found all the meat suggestions too much so incorporated tofu in either scrambled with mushrooms for breakfast, roasted veg and tofu bake but you need to add some fat to it. I’ve also used chickpeas but all legumes also have carbs so you need to balance that out with your daily target. There’s a mushroom and quinoa soup on this site which is lovely and the stuffed peppers with moong dal lentils are good( I would replace some of onions with mushrooms). I usually have some soya milk and yoghurt for the calcium but your choices would be ok in small quantities . I think a lot of meat replacements may have carbs in but if you use fitness pal or other sites you can work out your carb content . Hope that helps

Thoughts are with you and your family Bill xx

Good news there, Mrs crimbo! 🙂

Thinking of the three of you today and hope all goes well x

Good morning Bill, hope you and your wife are travelling better today.
Praying that your daughter gets the all clear very quickly so you aren’t waiting on tenterhooks for long. xxx

Thank you Janet. We have a vitamin tonic in the medicine box so I will take some of that I think. I really do need to get some coconut flour and try those flatbreads when I feel well enough 🙂

I love full fat greek style yoghurt. “Tim’s Farm’ is my favourite brand, or M&S. Squidgy, I did like the Easiyo one but I had a few failures and gave up. Maybe I should try again as we eat so much of it now.

It is wonderful! OH and I are in week 4 and he has lost 20lbs . I, quite unfairly, have lost 18lbs. As he is a bit of a bear the protein keeps him happy and satisfied. Thank goodness for that as we both have so much to lose. (not as much as we had to lose though) Hope the diet is working well for you too!

Hi woofmum,
Welcome and great that you’re ready to take the first steps to better health.
Have you looked at the quiz on the home page of this site? That might help you decide which diet is right for you.
It would depend on how much weight you need to lose and whether you are diabetic. If you have a lot to lose and have blood sugars that are very high I would suggest the fast 800. It also depends on how much self control you have. If you need more structure, then again I’d recommend the fast 800. There have been members who’ve commented that they fasted ok on the two days and then couldn’t control their eating on the other 5, with the 5:2 diet.
You could try downloading the 8 week blood sugar diet series of articles from the Daily Mail UK website. I read those and started the diet before my book arrived.
All the best…

Hi Linda

I just started this week too – and also on day 5… and also 2kg 🙂 !

OP

Hi Linda,
2 kg in only 5 days, way to go 🙂 !!! That’s a great result. Even better is that you’ve had no symptoms this week. Looks like you’re on the way to good health in body and mind.
Also great news your doctor is on board, it always helps to have a supportive GP.
Can’t wait to follow your journey to success.

No worries Bella, I use the recipe section all the time when I want to make something so I can get the totals. Then I either adjust the serving size or add/ substitute ingredients until I get the desired amount.
You can see at a glance how much you have left to ‘spend’ on a meal or snack.
It’s been invaluable to me and has helped me to be much more mindful of the ‘carb cost’ of certain foods.
Hope it helps you as much as it does me 🙂

Hi All,
It must be catching lol. I’ve had several weeks now of fasting levels below 5. Since Wed it had been above 5 and this morning it was a pretty outrageous 7.9. Same carb and calorie levels as usual and no sneaky treats.
Maybe it’s a phase you go through at a certain stage in your body’s readjustment. I’m starting week 5, I wonder what week others found this to be a problem? I’m happy to wait now that Bill has heard from the team. I won’t start worrying until the 8 weeks are up.

I’m in Australia and we use the Jalna Greek Yohurt…..full fat of course.

Today I had
Breakfast
Boiled egg
25 g strawberries, 25 g blueberries with 10 ml oatly cream, 30 ml almond milk, 10 g flax seed
Lunch
25 g ham
Boiled egg
Salad leaves
4 cherry tomatoes
French dressing 1/2 teaspoonful.
100 g home made soya yogurt
20g blueberries
5g hazel nuts
Dinner
130 g cod fried in 2 tsp olive oil
Kale
50 g peas
80 g home made soya yogurt
40 g strawberries
29 g raspberries
5 g almonds.

But next week I’m going to india!! For a wedding!
We ll see how that works out. 🤔
Penny

Hi Caro
You could put butter or cream on the porridge.
Penny

Hi Susieq
Eventually I got used to the 10 drinks, now it’s not hard.
Penny

Bill- you have your breakfast 10 hours early!!😆
Penny

Hi Mrscrimbo
It’s sort of weird but also makes sense in terms of the science. The carbs making our sugar go up then down was making us hungry. Now it isn’t.
But it’s still weird to live with! Especially after we ve all been addicted and suffering while not knowing it, just wondering why we had to eat too much. Now we know and we aren’t.
Great isn’t it b
Penny

Hi
Probably another silly question from me but I am concerned that on the 800 cal diet I might not get enough vegetables. I am trying to follow the 4 week meal plan from Dr Mosley’s book and wondered if I am supposed to add green salads or non starchy vegetables to the basic recipes. Some of the daily menus seem very low on veggies. Can anyone clarify this for me please?

Hi Lucia:

I like what you said above about slowly changing old habits . That speaks to me as I tend to be the type that wants to go from 0 to 100 instantly. That tack, frankly, has never worked so well for me as I inevitably become overwhelmed. One of my mantras is ‘progress not perfection’. It helps me to keep in mind to be gentle with myself to counter my other tendencies. I was glad to read that you are proud of yourself for starting, you should be. You are neither ‘slob’ or ‘dope’. I get that though, as I tend to be very hard on myself. As a matter of fact, I would never talk to a friend the way I sometimes talk to myself.

We should all be gentle and patient with ourselves.

stay great
jeff

I am a big Fan of Easiyo Greek Yogurt – the kind you make at home from powder and water. I bought a kit a few years ago in Lakeland when it was on offer, and it is one gadget I use every week without fail. If you don’t fancy making your own, Rachel’s organic and Total Greek are pretty good too.

Hi Cherrianne
I’m an aussie too living in Australia. I found the app you suggested and it looks excellent- just what I was looking for. Thanks again for your help and support.

Hi

I’m just about to start, does it make any difference if you space the 800 calories over the day (say 200, 200, 400) or fast until late afternoon then have the 800 calories?

thanks

Hi again
Thanks for positive comments
To add my pennyworth re meals, has anyone tried cook in the bag recipes. I had Mediterranean chicken, total of 350 cals including sweet potatoe wedges.
Found when time is short, it is really handy.
Made the hummus ( pea and mint) wasn’t to keen.
Fish recipes are working really well.
I do not know where my appetite has gone, has anyone else found that their desire to eat has lessened.
Finally, the mention of Rye bread, I have eaten a couple of slices (organic) when brunching and found it really filling ( still kept within 800)
Regular BS fasting checks have confirmed a slow continual fall
All in all everything good, from Saturday changing to “Good food 14 day healthy diet” which basically Mediterranean just more calories.
Total weight loss 15lbs to date, probably 1 more by Saturday.
Will update next week how things go.
This a good thread and very informative
Cheers and we’ll done all, support is vital
M

Hi lachlanh & Bill – It’s good to know it’s not just me.

I’m in week 7 now and the weightloss is still going well – 16.5lb, the lightest I have been for about 20 years and around 7lb off my target weight, but I’m seeing the same rise in blood sugar levels and not only in the morning now.

On Sunday as it was Mother’s day I thought I’d go for the brunch and dinner, as suggested in the book. I measured my blood glucose when I woke up and it was 6.9, the lowest I’d seen for some time. However around 3 hours later, just before brunch, it had gone up to 8.7! I’ve also had a few readings above 7 before dinner this week.

So I’m still a bit puzzled, but I’ve seen higher readings when I was on more medication, so I am trying not to worry too much.

Thank you Cherrianne for you reply.
It’s day five and i’m feeling pretty good and 2 kilos down.
I spoke to my Doctor and she cleared me, she feels it could only be a positive step in regards to my Bipolar, so if there is anyone else out there suffering from mental health ask your Doctor and give it a go.
I have had no symptoms this week which is fantastic, fingers crossed.

was recommended this BSD by my GP today, have looked online and ordered books from Amazon, which should be here on monday….is there anything i can do until then to start myself off or is it best to wait until i have read the books, its a bit of a do or die situation so i dare not screw up…also which is the best way to start…..fasting or med style? thanks in advance……

Hi Janet

Thanks for the reply, good advice I will give your suggestion a try.

To answer your question I did 30 minutes on a windtrainer at 32km/hr and then rode for about hour at 30km/hr to and from work.

I will be ramping on those times over the next few weeks and doing some long runs as well so it will be interesting to see what the tipping point is

Can I ask which Yoghurts everyone is using?

Thank you 🌺