I am not able to multi task on this diet and minding a 3 year old and looking after my 91 year old dad requires that . I left the engine on when I parked the car this morning . I am amazingly irritable ,close to tears that will not fall and frankly if I die of diabetes anytime soon that will be fine by me . Having started out so full of hope I am reluctant to give up before the 2 week mark – day 9 today . – but I doubt my family will be able to put up with me if this goes on much longer . Have been following the menu plan but will probably just use the quick and easy as the cost of the menu plan cost what we usually spend on two of us plus visiting family .
Did I mention no energy . ,

Feel slightly better for the vent

Hi – I am on Exforge and before starting the BSD I was typically 140/90 +/- 5 pts either way. Just over 2 weeks into this and this morning my BP was 127/73. I have a follow up with my doc next week and will see about coming off the drugs or at least reducing the dosage.

Hi Tofastblack
Im in with you. Makes a lot of sense and I just watched Insight in SBS tv in Australia with Dr Mosley being interviewed and decided to follow the guidlines.

End of Week 9 and now on modified 5:2.
Weight loss – 11.5 kg from 108.9 kg to 97.4
Waist circumference loss – 11.5 cm
Muscle mass has increased by 3% – percent fat mass decreased about the same according to my el cheapo scales – still 33.2 % fat mass
Blood sugar is high in mornings again ~7.3 – 8 mmol but normal 2 hrs post meals – 5.6 ~ 5.8 mmol
Haven’t checked BP since it went back to normal in about week 4 – Doing around 10000 steps 5 days per week
🙂

Please let me know the numbers before and after, to the best of your memory. And were you on blood pressure medication and were you able to stop using it?

Good luck Messyhen

I cook a lot of the daily meals for my wife and two small children – including all the breakfasts – so I’m surrounded by carbs! Just last night my wife baked delicious chocolate-dipped coconut and apricot jam cookies for the kids. Can’t have a single one!

But I’m motivated. And as I type I’m on the morning of day 4 (Monday). scales say 3.6 Kgs (just short of 8 pounds??) down from Friday AM. That’ll be mostly water I know, but it’s still weight I’m not carrying – and an indicator that the lack of carbs intake is driving a change in my body.

I have excellent blood sugar, cholesterol, etc. But I’m very overweight. So this is preemptive in terms of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes into the future.

HAHA funny video

thanks Mary…its such a huge time saver 🙂

thats great keep it going and you will get there

Day one tomorrow. I’ve removed any possible cheat food from the house and shopped and cooked all day. Prepared and raring to go. Too nervous to wonder and dream I may actually lose weight on this but I’m inspired by this forum and everyone’s had such great results that’s it’s got to work for me! Must have faith in this. Good luck all x

I started the BSD two weeks ago, not through diabetes, simply far too short for my weight! Bill I’ve been following your thread since I started and you have been an inspiration, for which you have my grateful thanks. I am incredibly sorry to learn of the bad results of your daughter’s scan, and I join everyone else who you have inspired, by sending my best wishes to you and your family. I do so hope the MRI gives more positive news. Stay strong – all our prayers are with you.

Loving this too! You asked yesterday if there was a good website for calorie calculations- I’m using Cronometer, apps on iphone and ipad, but a lot more functionality on the actual website on the PC. Tracks EVERYTHING and you can put in all the recipes. Others use My Fitness Pal, (MFP); I didn’t get on very well with that one. Oh and I just got a Fitbit- fabulous bit of kit!
In week 7 and 20lb down!
MaryR

Sorry to hear your news Bill. Thinking of you all.

Hi Chrissie,
The extra water can only help. Also add 100 mls of milk to your daily plan and keep it in a separate container in the fridge. Use this for your tea and coffee and you won’t go over your allowance. Milk is quite high in carbs and it’s so easy for your count to sneak up lol.
Hope to hear some great results soon 🙂

Hi Matrika – I read some info on a website that suggested doing exactly as you are. i.e. using your metre readings to decide when to eat. It suggested waiting till your reading drops below your average reading then eating. This will then reduce your average over time.

Hi Penny,
Hope you have a lovely trip to India. You should be able to get all those yummy chickpea dishes and lentil dahls and things there mmmm, Indian cuisine is vegetarian heaven!! 🙂 lots of low carb too.
I’m so glad you’re still posting after the very unwarranted troll attack. I really wanted to send you a message of support, but there’s no facility here to do it privately.
Those posts have been removed and you had quite a few people rush to your defence.
All the best…

Wow lachlan,
Your post makes so much sense! I think we are all so conditioned by the need to keep our blood sugars down that we got worried about what now seems a perfectly acceptable short term glitch.
I had already decided to ditch my late night snack to see if that helped, before I read your post. Now I really think I might benefit from a longer overnight fast.
Let’s keep posting our experiences and see how long it takes. It will certainly help everyone experiencing the same thing to feel reassured.
As a TOFI I’m never quite sure if the experience of those with a lot of weight to lose will be the same as mine. It’s very reassuring to have a fellow TOFI post similar results. Thank you 🙂

Hi SOS
I’ve been following the diet for four weeks and have lost 17lbs so very pleased with it. At the beginning my blood pressure went down and I was able to cut down my bpd meds. Last week both my blood pressure and my sugar readings went back up so had to increase the bp medication again. Very disappointing. Reading other posts the rise in blood sugar seems to be fairly common but I haven’t seen any comments about blood pressure rising. Maybe the bp is a similar effect -it would be interesting to know.
Well done with your weight loss.
Ali

I am new here too and happy to read this information.
I have a BGL of 7 in the morning an hour after getting up (I’m in Australia and our measures may be different) and my approach is just not to eat anything til it drops cause I figure I don’t need any extra blood glucose floating about…I know from tests that my insulin is really high in response to any sugar (carbs).

So frequently I don’t eat til about 1 or 2 in the afternoon. I have got off metformin this way cause it dropped my HbA1c into controlled levels. I don’t know if this is advisable, I just started to do it to control my numbers because I am pretty determined to take as few medications as possible.

I had thought the morning higher figures may be due to my insulin resistance…liver pushing out the glucose, muscles not picking updie to insulin resistance?

I’ve been keeping track of my BP and it seems to be rising. It was always within normal range but last couple of days higher although the pulse figure has gone down. Bit worrying. Anyone else experienced this? 9 lbs lost in 2 weeks.

Hi Monkeyescapade
Great name!
If you find yourself struggling or tempted add more fat to your diet. ( so then its are good) That’s what s lot of us have done and it really helps. Hard to do at first as we ve been taught fat is bad. But it stops you getting hungry.
Good luck on your trip to Thailand. I’m off to India on Wednesday. So Hopi GI can stick to the low carb there. No rice!
Best of luck
Penny

Welcome innermonologue, love the name.
Why not measure out 100 mls of milk and keep it in a separate jug in the fridge? Add it to your count, and see how many cuppas you can get from it? No need to deprive yourself of milk. Some of the herbal teas taste nice cold, like peppermint, and lemon & ginger, rosehip etc.
I agree with you about the plastic bottles, does anyone in your circle have a soda stream you could borrow? Fizzy fruit teas would make a nice change now and again.
Well done on the 10lb loss. Great result 🙂

So sorry to hear this news. Sending you positive thoughts

Sue

Hi GwendolinAnne
Welcome!
I m sure you ll do fine. Everyone on here thinks it’s the easiest diet ever. Occasional glitches but there’s ways to sort them out.
Lots of help available here.
Best of luck
Penny

Hi Bill
Really really sorry to hear that.
Thinking of you all.
Penny

Welcome Catgirl,
You’ve taken the first big step, pretty soon you are going to start feeling amazing. After the first few days as your body adjusts to your new way of eating, you will notice way more energy and a new sense of well being.
Keep reading, and posting, lots of threads on here will inspire and encourage you. There are so many on the forums who are wiling to support and advise if you need it.
I’m sure we’ll be reading of you and hubby’s achievements soon 🙂

Lucia you are amazing! No more to say x

Hi Busybee,
First of all welcome, and congratulations on your achievements so far. A 5lb loss is still a good result 🙂
There are a couple of members who have medical conditions that just might require steroids at times. Hopefully they’ll see your thread and advise you.
The prednisolone will make it a bit harder for you to manage your appetite at first. As you’ve discovered it certainly makes you feel hungry. You can still do this and lose weight. We will support you through it. After a surprisingly short time your appetite and carb cravings will be under control.
You might well end up being a pioneer and help other sufferers to manage their PMR through better diet.There is increasing evidence into the role that nutrition plays in managing these nasty inflammatory conditions.
Maybe for the first couple of weeks you could try counting your carb intake but not your calories. Ease your way into the fast 800.
Try and get the maximum amount of food for 50g carb or less per day. So lots of leafy green veg and salads, make sure you add fats and oils, cheese, oily fish ( oily fish is supposed to help inflammatory conditions too), to satisfy the hungry steroid monster. Keep your fluid intake up as this will help curb your appetite too.
Steroids can increase your blood sugar levels, so even more important that you get on top of this now. Every pound you lose will benefit your health; both your PMR, your general well being and your sense of self esteem 🙂
You can do it! Just have a quick browse through some of the other threads for inspiration, and you’ll see how many of us there are who are winning the battle. All the best…. Can’t wait for you to post your achievements over the coming weeks.

I’m so pleased to read this thread and the article. I had been getting lower morning figures down to 5 but for a couple of weeks they have been going back up. I had stopped taking glicazide as figures were so good but went back on it. I am coming off again after reading this. I had a 3.8 reading today after work which was a bit scary as I have never had a hypo before.

Bill
Just wanted to add my good wishes. Thinking of you all. x

Good luck with that me I have to move more,need to get some sort of pedometer I think. Anyone got any recommendations.

Hi bill1954,
Ah thank you so much, I feel better tonight, I feel warmer, and we walked into the village today, did some shopping and walked back, 45 minutes so hopefully I will have lost a bit more, now it’s getting lighter nights and (hopefully) warmer too I can get more walking in, hope alls going in the right direction for you too?

Bill

((hugs))

Yes it is! Into week 5 now and I’ve lost 7 and a half pounds. I had a stone and a half to lose so I’m happy with my progress. I never imagined I could live without carbs – I had no favourites, I loved them all equally. But its been surprisingly easy. And I’ve really enjoyed being involved in the forums. I’ve learnt a lot and the people are great and quite funny sometimes

FTR, Ive just completed 6 weeks and lost 17 lbs so far (having lost 12lbs in Jan on the 5:2). BS not an issue for me as far as I’m aware, but with the excess weight I was carrying it might just have been a matter of time.
Can only agree with all the previous posts which say that this is going to be so much easier to use as a way or life than I could ever have believed – it knocks all the other “diets” into a cocked hat (whatever that is).

Thanks for the encouragement Bill1954. I was very sorry to see the news about your daughter on another forum. Like many others, I wish there were more I could do other than offer long distance support to you and your family. Every day now becomes very precious for you all. I hope for better news once the MRI scan comes in. Take care, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

I have been lurking around here since January and am not having much success, though I must admit I am not putting my all into the BSD. I am taking Prednisolone for PMR and I wonder whether I am falling back on the excuse that the meds are stopping me tackling my huge weight problem. On my last visit to the doc told me that my blood sugars were raised but he thinks this, and my weight gain are due to the steroids! I told him I was startingthe BSD and, as expected, didn’t know anything about it. However he did say to give it a go but didnt think I would do well on the diet. He knows I am upset about my weight gain and I was determined to lose a lot of weight and show him the result on my next visit. Well, that is tomorrow and I will have to confess that I have only lost 5 lbs!

I would like to know if anybody has lost weight whilst taking Prednisolone as this may encourage me to try a bit harder and stp making excuses!

Bill,
Have been following this great thread but not posted to it yet.
Thanks for all the great posts.
Reason for posting now is to add to the good wishes, and as our local Fr. used to say, “I’ll send one up for you”. (And your family)
SB

Hi bill,
Nope, you are going to have to cope with day 4, 5, and 6 before then 🤓
I am enjoying this different path, it looks nice, there is lots to see and to do. Pity I missed the previous signposts for this path, along the way.
Chicken salad for lunch. Yippeee !
I am going to weigh myself tomorrow, I have been putting it off, as previously, (years ago) I could only manage 1/2 pound a week.
So bill, what happens on day 7? Don’t tell me that I change from a middle aged lady to a 20 something, slim stunner?
NOW, I am looking forward to day 7.
Love Lucia xxxx 😊

how are you doing yourself? hope its positive

That low number of carbs should be enough to get you results without cutting your calories any further. Fingers crossed for you.

Sounds sensible to me. I wish you every success 😉

thanks for that Janet
i do intend to go to 1200 to 1400 for 2 weeks on the same med foods
see the result of that after 2 weeks and take it from there

Well I have just finished my calculations for my last meal of the day – and hence totals for the day – and calories have topped out at 798.5 and carbs at just 15.23. Had originally planned to keep the cals lower today, but I have been hungry for some reason. Will see how I feel tomorrow and hopefully drop the calories down a bit then. Will be interesting to see how the carbs go tomorrow as well.

Thanks for all the info and support.

Ragingbull,
Well done on your progress so far, you are steaming ahead! I’m no expert but your plan sounds like a reasonable one on the face of it as you are giving your body a bit of breathing space in between bouts of concentrated effort. I think on your two weeks off you will still need to steer clear of the carbs, just be less strict with the calories. The lesson I am learning here is that we can never go back to our old carb laden ways. There are also lots of other low carb programmes you could look at that don’t involve such a low calorie count if you find the 800 is too low to use for a prolonged time, or maybe just simply raise it to something like 1000 calories by including more meat, veg and fats.

Hi all, my husband and I have started day 1 of the BSD today as we are both high risk pre type 2, unfit, overweight but up for it. I see this as a prescription for the rest of our lives and aim to get within a healthy BMI but have a longggggg way to go! Reading the forums gives us both hope and some good ideas, thanks all.

Bill, so sorry to hear about your daughter ournthoguht and prayers are with you and the family biggest hug x

Hi Sunnyvale
Watch the diet doctor videos. He says low carb means 20g per day but no more than 50g, no fruit for woman and 16:8 fasting. He doesn’t state how many calories per day but to incorporate natural fats into your diet and eat ONLY when you are hungry. Hope this helps.

Hi SunnyB
You can go as low as 20g if you want to but I have managed to get into ketosis at 50g and have been there since last Tuesday. On the website, there is an article with three plates which show you what 20, 50 and I think it was 100g looks like. The interesting thing is that meat, fish, eggs, butter and oils don’t contain any carbs so you are only looking to count from veg and pulses. So if you can manage on 30g go for it. I also lose weight very slowly. I lost three pound between Monday and Friday but nothing since. But it seems quite a common pattern from the other posts I have read. I am also using coconut oil as part of my experiment, I have been logging my progress in another thread called ‘ketostix’. I’d like to think that its helping with the weight loss but I need to continue a bit longer to be sure. There’s a recipe on the diet doctor site for something called oopsie bread which I thought I might try.

My book gives the calories as 100! Very confused now?

Congratulations Bob. Fantastic result. Look forward to seeing you the other side of 8 weeks.