Yes, looks yummy and hubby will like them too. Have managed to order the flour from Holland and Barratt who deliver here.

I google thyroid and calorie restriction and came up with the info below. My doc told me that with 800 calories for 8 weeks, my thyroid would likely go down and it did. He said that once I am on the 5/2 plan it should re-establish itself.

http://cathe.com/how-low-calorie-diets-affect-thyroid-function

Your thyroid gland actually produces much more T4 than it does T3, but T3 is the most active form of thyroid hormone. Once your thyroid makes T4, it’s converted to active T3 when it reaches tissues in your body. It’s T3 that binds to receptors on cells to regulate your metabolism.

So, how does dieting and calorie restriction throw things off? When you drop your calorie intake too low or place your body under stress in other ways, through injury or illness, less T4 is converted to T3. Instead more is made into something called reverse T3.

The problem with reverse T3 is it isn’t active. What it does do is bind to the same receptors that T3 does and makes it difficult for T3 to bind. With reverse T3 keeping active T3 out of the picture, you burn less fat and carbohydrates and your metabolism, along with everything else, slows down. If you’re trying to lose body fat, this makes it quite a bit harder to achieve your objective. This type of thyroid dysfunction can be challenging to pick up on standard thyroid function blood tests unless your doctor measures reverse T3 levels.

Thyroid Hormones 101 – from Holtorfmed

Thyroid hormone plays an important role in metabolic function. While many patients are familiar with the thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH, most are not aware that there are a number of thyroid hormones. TSH, created by the pituitary gland, tells the thyroid to make thyroxine. Thyroxine, or T4, is an inactive thyroid hormone that must be converted before it has an effect on the body. T4 can be converted to triiodothyronine (T3), the active hormone that has a metabolic effect on the body, or it can be converted to reverse T3, an inactive form of T3 that actually blocks the cell receptors for thyroid hormones, thus blocking the effect of T3. If a patient has too much RT3 in comparison to T3, that patient will be hypothyroid at the cellular level, with a reduced metabolic rate. Or, explained more simply, that patient will have difficulty losing weight and keeping weight off.

Studies Find Dieting Reduces Metabolism by as much as 25%

A study published in the American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism found that a mere 25 days of calorie restriction resulted in a significant reduction in T4 to T3 conversion, with a 50 percent reduction in T3. And, as importantly, this study found that patients who experienced reduced T3 as a result of this calorie restriction actually saw a decrease in TSH, indicating an increase in thyroid hormone levels, when the opposite was actually true. The period of calorie restriction caused a clinically significant reduction of T3, which could potentially cause a person to be unable to lose weight or to regain weight already lost.

In a second study, published in the journal Metabolism, patients who had lost weight in the past had a significantly lower metabolism than other patients who were the same weight and had not gained or lost significant weight in the past year. The weight-loss patients had a metabolism that was 25 percent less that the comparable equal-weight person, with a metabolic rate that was more appropriate for someone who weighed 60 percent less than the weight-loss patient. Additionally, this reduction in metabolic rate was still present years later

A 25 percent reduction in metabolism is equivalent to an approximate deficit of 500 to 600 calories per day. Imagine reducing your caloric intake by 500 to 600 calories each day and not losing any weight. This is the effect that acute or chronic dieting can have on a person’s metabolism. And, looking at the effect from a different angle, a person who is experiencing a 25 percent reduction in metabolism not only would have difficulty losing weight, but actually would have to reduce their calorie intake even further just to keep from gaining a pound of weight each week.

The last time i lost a lot of weight my thyroid went into a burn mode and my thyroxine levels had to be reduced. Reading your post I am wondering if it was coincidental. I have an appointment on the 18th to discuss this with my gp. I only had my annual blood test 4 months ago but I definitely want it rechecking. 🙂

That sounds gorgeous. I have to give it a trial.
Thank you

Awwww that’s good let me know what you think?

This morning I made a shake of cup of spinach, blueberries, almonds, Greek yoghurt and water and put it in the blender. I managed to drink it all and it was kinda weird tasting, not bad but just weird lol, after drinking it I was unsure if I was going to keep it down, but managed it. Lunch I had portebello mushrooms and beans sprinkled with mozzarella and of course Cayenne pepper, love that stuff.

Hello everyone, I’m also a newbie. Just about to start the 8 week diet. Been Type 2 diabetic for 5 years. Hoping to reverse or at least cut down my meds. Lots of tips on here for me. Must admit thst I find any diet really hard!!

Hi loukc you have inspired me to try that brocolli bacon stir fry 🙂

Muscle does not weigh more than fat. A pound of anything is still a pound. The difference is that muscle takes up less space than fat so you look more lean but might weigh the same.

Stingle that drop in your blood sugar readings is staggeringly amazing!! Well done! 4 lbs off is 4lbs lighter than you were 10 days ago. You are moving in the right direction, so please don’t be discouraged. 🙂

Oh that is wonderful news. Bloody well done – your joy and pride is palpable and so it should be.

Thanks CH

Hey – I have just looked at your topic and it seems we are quite similar, and it has made me smile – a lot !

Hi Stingle

I have been on this diet now for 10 days today and I have lost 6.2 lbs and 2″ off my waist. I lost 5.2 lbs in the first week but so far this week have only lost 1 lb. I have been doing more walking than I would normally do and I feel a lot better for it. I hope that by next Monday, as that is 2 weeks, I will have lost a couple more pounds. I haven’t been checking my blood sugar but I can feel the difference in myself, so as you say let’s show the non believers that it can be done and then some …

Good luck

I don’t really have a problem with weekends, In fact I quite look forward to them
A treat of a brunch on Saturday, usually a sausage, bacon, poached egg, mushroom and tomato followed by a tasty tea.
Sunday I have a normal Sunday lunch but without the potatoes or yorkies and usually a salad with eggs or mackerel for tea.

Please provide meal plan options ( easy) that have worked for you. What does a typical day of eating look like?

Kimgall and everyone Hello again – I am a 54 year old ex (hopefully) chocaholic lady – I do seem to have shrunk and I am without doubt fitter with the exercise which I love – I was just annoyed that my weight hadn’t dropped more – I have 2 stone to loose and have lost 4lbs in 10 days and as I looked on this forum noticed massive weight losses and wondered why I have had such a small one. Thanks everyone for the encouragement much appreciated and I intend to carry on in the hope that I am totally insulin free and can show the non believers ( and there are many of my friends and colleagues !) that they are too narrow minded for their own good!!!

Day three and I am still feeling surprisingly good. Its almost unbelievable I am only eating 800 calories a day, I feel so full all the time. My body seems to be having a good clear out as I am unusually thirsty and peeing for England. Energy levels are up and I am easily exceeding my daily step target.

I have meditated before so I quite enjoyed getting back into a mindfulness session too yesterday. Really helped me unwind.

Weigh in day is Saturday for me. Fingers crossed. The weekend is nearly here. How does everyone cope with that?

Oh, Sue … with all that you have got going on, the last thing you need to worry about is the extra 1lb, when you have still lost 6 in 12 days. Life does tend to hit us in fits and starts … hopefully your mum will feel better soon and won’t need you there all the time! x

Hello there, Im a newcomer here. Hoping to start the 800 kcal diet asap. At the stage where I’m clearing the crap from the cupboards! Had the 8 week blood sugar book delivered today and have already finished it!!. Hope to pick up some tips from fellow members to help me along the next 8 weeks.

Shrinky, you are quite r … r … rig … sorry can’t say that … Shrinky, I understand where you are coming from and I apologise profusely for the misinterpretation of muscle being more dense than fat … therefore although Stingle feels he/she hasn’t lost as much as they would have liked, it could well be that they are not the same physical size as what they were when they started. Do I now have the correct understanding? In future I will try to think before I put my fingers to the keyboard!! 🙂 I knew what I was trying to say!! 🙂

Thanks for trying Bill, I seem to be causing a lot of headaches for people on this forum with my lack of tech skills! I have just posted a courgette bhaji recipe ( and pic of todays lunch lol!!). If your Mrs likes spicy food she might go for this veggie meal! 🙂
I wish there was a place to give the average cost of a meal when you upload recipes. 2 aldi courgettes worked out at 60p, I get kg bags of gram flour from the corner shop 69p a kg so only 6p worth of flour in the recipe. I listed powdered spices as that is easier for people who are not spice heads like me but I generally use fresh ginger root and individual spices and a few seeds.

There is at least 1 regular poster who has went over the 8 weeks – captainlynne. I have every intention of carrying on until I hit my target weight.
Great results by the way

Hello there
My husband and I are both on the diet. After 3 weeks I’ve lost 16 pounds and he has lost 12 pounds after two weeks. We both have significant amounts to lose ( 5-6 stone), I was wondering if it’s okay to just just carry on . Has anyone done that? Any ideas please..much joy

Kimgall.
Muscle does not weigh more than fat, any more than lead weighs more than feathers. A pound is a pound is a pound. Where the misunderstanding often comes in is that muscle is much more dense than fat, so that, by volume, it seems to weigh more. That is, a pound of muscle occupies less space than a pound of fat.

Stingle. Don’t give up. If you follow the book right you will lose those pounds. Half way through week four myself and have dropped from 17st 4 to 15st 10. And I haven’t done anything extra in the way of exercise!
Just keep trying the different recipe’s in the book or make up your own. It’s important to feel good about what you are eating as well as feeling well and losing pounds.
Best wishes Shrinky.

Wow captain Lynn.
That’s incredible and you are giving encouragement to all the guys who have just started the BSD.
Well done
We salute you.
Nidge

Great advice from Bill.
I just drink loads of carbonated water until the hunger passes or a few nuts does the trick.
I crave a cold beer but look at the intentions of the guys on these forums and get inspiration from that.
Hope you all keep going and well done to the guys who have made it and sorted out their blood sugar.
Nidge

You’re doing great Bill. Keep it up 😃

Manufacturers normally give out test meters free of charge if you ting them. As Bill says, it’s the cost of strips that matters. I checked online to see which strips were cheapest and went from there.

LMAO
I knew you would have an answer to that.
Ditto on the trousers though, I had to tighten my belt another notch today, that’s 5 notches so 5 inches gone 😀

Bill 😱 LOL. That would seriously frighten the neighbours LOL.

Mind you, if I keep wearing these trousers outside the house, they will be on view. Note to self: these trousers are for the charity shop.

Hi Stingle.
Keep going and you will see weight coming off soon as 800 calories is 800 calories so sometime soon you will see the benefits of BSD.
As others have said don’t give up.
Nidge

Hi Kevin

Welcome. It seems like there’s a good trade in this book going from England across the pond. I sent a copy to my friend in Texas.

Hope it really takes off in US. Please let us know your progress, and how the plan is received in US.

Thank you so much for all your replies and Kimgall – I felt quite miserable too on days 4 & 5 but it passes – My body has taken a beating with extremely high readings for the past 18 months and for the first time I have got below 14 so I must be doing something right!!! Its about time 🙂

Make a flatbread by mixing 1/2 a cup of chickpea (Gram) flour with enough cold water to make a thin batter, you can add herbs and spices if you like. Chickpea flour is packed with dietary fibre and complex carbs
Pour the batter into a frying pan and cook on a medium heat for 3 -4 minutes or until golden brown, flip over and repeat
Great for those cheesey beans!

They all do the same sort of thing really.
The thing to look out for is not the cost of the meter, it’s the cost of the replacement test strips.
Just go for the best value.

Although I’m not diabetic my readings are in the high end of normal so I’d like to keep an eye on them and reduce them. I’ve been looking at some of the kits online but don’t know which ones are best – any suggestions?

Peanutbutty
I admire your tenacity immensely. That little voice never may never go away but you can make a new habit of ignoring it with time. Like you said, maybe you have been lazy, we all have, but you are big enough to acknowledge it and that’s the point where new habits can begin.

Bill’s suggestion is a great one and I will happily be one of the people who will respond to your next call for support whenever you need it.

Just keep fighting one craving at a time, one meal at a time, one day at a time. You already know it works!

Thanks chaps! I really am feeling much happier these days. So much better than the depression that comes with the underactive thyroid. That was how mine was discovered because I realised I was slowly becoming suicidal. But that’s in the past now.

I am persevering with the fizzy water so thanks for standing to that round auntylil! But clothes shopping will have to wait until I get another job!

And yes, even my shoe size changes when I lose weight to a stupid 3 and a half! Nightmare!

That’s great to hear merseychic,
5 weeks to go ???
That goal is looking more than very attainable. Well done.

Ok Ok
I wasn’t going to say it but I can’t help myself.
Kevin, when you take exercise, do you go WALKING IN MEMPHIS 😉

Hi Kevin
Welcome to our forums. We have everything you need here so when the bsd does hit your shores you will be able to say you already know all about it!

Use whatever measurements you feel comfortable with, we will get the gist!

Looking forward to reading about your progress. Btw, memphis/nashville/new orleans are the first places I plan to visit when I eventually get to go on foreign holidays again – its all about the music for me!

HI well end of week three I had lost a total of 7.6 pounds an average of 2.5 a week I am only 7 lb off my goal weight and my total weight loss since Christmas is 16.6lbs. Still no carbs still only 800 per day and still got 5 weeks to go.

Hi Yael,
Milk contains its own sugar – lactose – which has so far been considered an acceptable sugar for human bodies to metabolise.

Ww was sold to Heinz in 1978, hence the large range of food products with the ww name on them. But Heinz of course is not that interested in weight loss just selling their brand and they have been incredibly successful. I bet they have a whole pile of scientists locked away doing tests now though!

It didn’t, that’s supposed to be the emojie for thumbs up 🙁

If this works, it’s for you Judith, if it doesn’t, I’m a fool (Y)

Hi Yael, he he. My son came round for dinner last night and brought me a large, rather scrumptious easter egg. I don’t. Know which one of us was most mortified. He had forgotten i was on this diet and no way could this past chocoholic even fancy it!!!! 🙂

Go for it Kevin
we are all in this together and we are all available for help and advice.
It would be interesting to find out how the book is received in the States if you wouldn’t mind.
See you next week when there is less of you to go round 🙂

Try this peanutbutty
next time you have a sugar craving, post it on here, use a big bold thread title such as SUGAR ALERT URGENT HELP NEEDED.
Write down exactly how you feel and promise yourself that you won’t indulge until you have had at least 8 positive replies to your post.
Then, read your post again and think to yourself what advice you would be giving me if I had made that post.
Hope it helps.

Hello,

I just found out about this and after reading a quick summary it immediately ‘clicked’ with me.

About 10 years ago I went from 32 stone to 18 stone following a very low calorie program using lower carb meal replacement shakes. I wanted to get down to 13 stone but never made it. I am 188cm male.

(I’m native to the USA but am going to try to use UK measurements since this program seems to be more popular in the UK!)

Alas now I have gained back and am 20 stone. So have been trying to find the perfect program and tried a whole lot of diets. I can’t go back to the original one because the company that ran it has lost their way a little bit, so I want to do something similar on my own. But other diets failed me, nothing quite controlled hunger like before.

When I heard about this on Reddit it sounded perfect!

The book isn’t available in the USA yet, so I had a friend in the UK get a copy for me. Hopefully it will be a huge hit here when it comes (March 22) out and I will have a big head start on everyone!

I’m going to read the book today and start the program tomorrow!

Cherrianne is right, Loukc … keep reading the posts and see how others are doing. The initial decision (which is yours alone … and a big step) is probably the one that is going to take you to the healthy and happy person you want to be. You can do it! Your medication may well make a difference to your weight initially … I know insulin does mine. But if I want to get off insulin, then I have to do something to change my current situation!!
It’s a vicious circle … we have a health condition, so we have medication … that may make some of the symptoms better, but it may cause weight gain … we overeat and get bigger … that causes other health conditions, so we have more medication … then we feel down cos we are on all these medications … so we overeat and get bigger …
Overeating can make us all very lethargic, and then we don’t have faith in ourselves. By sticking with this you can change your life. I believe this purely from the motivation I have received from reading Michael’s book, and the guys on this forum. I don’t have a success story yet … but I will … and you, and the others here, will all be part of my success!! Good luck creating your own success story, no matter what meds may get in your way x