Thanks for reporting Bill. More trash.

Fantastic news, Fatcat! What would happen on a week of 800 me wonders? 🙂

Hi marinecole, welcome, have you been following the 800 calories diet for long? My diet post 8 week 800 calories will be to continue with the diet until a bit more weight drops off and then follow it but on a higher calorie rate. I don’t intend to go back to starchy foods. The recipes are delicious as they are!! A totally doable eating plan!!

Hi Sue1234 the weight tends to come off in fits and starts, sometimes the weight is the same but the tape measure shows you have trimmed the waist! Keep at it and like you say you can see the overall trend is down! 🙂

Just completed 4 weeks. Very happy with a 12lb loss, as I’ve been nearer 1000 cals most days than 800. And the stone before took a whole year to lose! A year ago my BMI was just short of 30 (obese), and I’ve just crept down to the top end of normal. Magic!

Hi captainlynne, today I join you over the 8 week line!!!
Like you I will continue on the 800 calories for a while as I wish to lose another 9lbs – though more would be very welcome! I may stray towards 900 on some days and once a week perhaps a bit more to get me through a strenuous hill walk.

So far 2 stones lost
2 sizes down in my jeans
clothes are getting really baggy – I will buy new ones when I am about to set off to Oz

The 8 weeks have passed so quickly!!!

SOOOO happy 🙂

Ooh, I like the idea of that, Janet 1973, I will make myself one, I have no mint teabags but I do have some fresh mint growing in the greenhouse, thanks for the tip 🙂

hi Bill I hope that post at 15:17 ‘Reported for spam’ meant you have reported some spam??? otherwise it makes no sense?

Totally agree Sarah111 – as soon as a few of us have been on this longer term it will be so much easier to prove the point that it wasn’t an 8 week crash diet with temporary results. Scientists deal with facts and longer term studies so we will be banging the drum rather loudly given a bit of time and in the present spread the word and talk to our medical staff as much as possible!!
Good luck, there is lots of support on here, it’s full of positive people on the same journey 🙂

Hi Damson, this will work for you, I found it easier than the 5:2. When I have eaten out it has tended to be lunch time so I have opted for, wait for it…..a ham sandwich without the bread (caused bewilderment) or omelette or ploughman’s and asked them not to put bread or crackers on my plate – only slight bewilderment at that one. I’m sure you could manage most evening meals out by not having any of the carbs, curry with no rice but plenty of green veg, steak and veg etc. That 4 stones should come of in no time – I lost 2 stones in just over 7 weeks! The boosted energy levels are the most amazing thing!! 🙂

hello hashimoto

Delighted to read in your post that your asthma has improved. I’m asthmatic and have seen a gradual decline in my fitness over the last few years, (I refuse to except it is because I’m getting older!!). I’ll cross my fingers this diet helps mine too….. it is only day one so I need to be patient!
I also agree with your last comment, ‘The more of us who do this the faster the change will come.’ You will get more change, and quicker by the public making the noise than expecting it to happen the other way round. I often think scientist who work in research have to bang their heads off the wall to be heard!

Best of luck.

Hi Denise47 and welcome to the forums. I wish you good luck on this journey – not that you need luck – we are all here to support each other!

Hi Inka, you are thinking like the rest of us! Doctor’s are afraid to move without the say-so of consultants so they are the ones who need to change first. Sadly things move slowly in the medical world so we must all protect ourselves and others we know as best as we can following this diet. GPs and diabetic nurses will mark the changes first – even my asthma nurse has seen a change in me and is taking this on board! The more of us who do this the faster the change will come.
Good luck on your journey 😉

Denise47, hope your shift is going ok. It’s definitely seems to be about being very organised this eating plan!

Thanks kph. I must admit that I have a pretty horrible headache today despite having had two litres of sparking water and I’m now on the peppermint tea. The hunger pangs are manageable though. Sounds like you’ve had incredible results! I would love to loose two stone! I’m in awe!

Well done for taking the time to get yourself organized, I have been doing the diet for 4 weeks now and with amazing results. My doctor is fully supportive and am having extra bloods done and so far so good. Have lost just over 2 stone sleep undisturbed very night now and limitless amounts of energy. Days 2-5 suffered from withdrawals as I was a sugar and carb addict but all worth it now. Good luck on your journey.

kiwileigh75 my comment wasn’t aimed at you, it was for the troll who posted just above my comment
Sorry for the misunderstanding, I’m usually the first one to help folk but that was the second troll post in a short time and I was sort of bubbling at the time.

Reported for spam

Hi Inka,

You are absolutely right, as someone previously T2 but who has had the diagnosis removed I have still encountered issues with different Dr’s ….

Had pleurisy and saw a new GP, he said ‘oh and as you are diabetic we will need to be very careful with your medication’ . Me…..”um, that will be tough as I am not on any’. Dr ‘ well what about your Metformin and Amlodipine?’ Me ‘ hopefully if you check and see I haven’t had prescriptions for these for 7 years!’
Dr ‘ well I need to take your BP right away and send you for a GTT asap !’

Results….BP normal and all blood tests, he decided to run EVERYTHING to prove he was right…..cholesterol, sugars etc all ok. Funny he didn’t mention it next time I saw him??!!!

Anyway, I guess we all just keep eating this way and it will chip away at the resistance as the results here are proving it works. I’m back here because I got too slack and started eating badly, putting weight back and I want to get back to where I was, loving the food and feel this is food forever, not a diet.

Good to be here and get so much info and good news…….thanks to Bill for keeping an eye out on the ‘troll’ factor too !

Hi Loukc,

Great result! I am nearly at the end of week one and am happy to be down 5lbs right now, so many people here have stuck at it and proved the weight does just as Bill said above. Stick with it, enjoy the fab food and ideas and it will go! 😃

Hi Sue1234, like you I’m weighing myself every day and recording it. Sometimes, my reading has gone up a bit or stayed the same – but on those days I just turn back in my diary to a week earlier and pretty much every time my current weight is less than it was 7 days earlier. Weight & inches don’t come off at a uniform rate – sometimes it’s weight and then there is a period of acclimatisation when the waistline (or hips, etc) decide to catch up! If the overall trend is downward, that’s what you want! Don’t get negative about it.
Take care,
Rose

I am aiming for around or under 40g of carbs and between 60-70g protein, the rest of the calls I try and use as fat….isn’t is great to eat a full fat Greek yoghurt and be able to enjoy every mouthful without thinking you are breaking the low fat mantra!!!!

😀

It took me a couple of hours to compile a shopping list as I wanted to follow the 4 week plan . The biggest help was going thru and noting the page number of the recipes . Doing it seemed to help get it into my head that I was really going to do this and that it would be different from any other diet I had tried . Having my blood sugars start to normalise has made it all very worthwhile .

Great idea for a thread, already got some new ideas.

B – Coffee with cream
L – Hummus, celery and cucumber. 100g full fat Greek yoghurt
D – Chicken breast with pancetta, leeks and cheese, sprouts, courgetti (with my fab new Spiralizer! )

All in that is still under 800 so maybe a single piece of 80% chocolate as my evening treat…..really loving this way of eating and seem to be sleeping better the last couple of nights, think someone else mentioned this bonus 😀😀

We also have the Indian cookbook, and make a couple of the curries out of that. There is a great recipe for homemade baked beans on the Quirky Cooking website, but it does have a lot of sugar in it, so I’m not sure how that would fit into the diet. Next time I make it I might just half the amounts of brown sugar and dark treacle that goes in it.
Oh and I make a batch of harissa paste with it every now and then (and freeze it in individual packets) and use that as a marinade whenever we have chicken.

Hello Anita,
I’ve just made it to the 8 week stage – there have been times when the weight loss was slow but weeks 7/8 things seemed to pick up a bit. But currently I’m on a bit of a plateau – I’m hoping it’s just my body saying “give me time to readjust” and then I’ll see another drop. I’ve lost 11lbs so far – so you have done better than me already! I didn’t do 800 cals a day for the whole 8 weeks, rather I took a more relaxed approach to ease myself in so I could acclimatise gradually and accepted that my weight loss would be a bit slower. I will try and continue with the weight loss programme as I have more weight to lose to get into the “Healthy” part of the Body Mass Index scale.
You seem to be doing things right (your time fasting is similar to mine) so don’t worry, just persevere. I exercise when I can but I need to do more and maybe speed up my walking pace. Who knows, I may get the swimming cozzy out (when it’s warmer) and visit the swimming pool. The inspirational examples in the book are all well and good but not everyone is going to follow the same pattern. Spectacular losses get the headlines but I think some of us won’t necessarily achieve the same level. The important thing is that you are seeing some benefit. As for the fruits you are missing, well, I don’t think the odd one will hurt every now and then.
Good luck,
Rose

We’ve had a TM for a couple of years, and it gets loads of use! Some of our regular recipes that I think would fit in with the Med style diet are red lentil dhal, red pepper soup (I don’t know if they still do it, but it’s the one the demonstrator showed us when she did the demonstration), and we make pasta sauce with it a lot, which we use to make bolognese, or shakshuka on the hob.

Hi Loukc
nice start and don’t worry about next week, just take it as it comes.
Lots of folk have thought the same as you and then, one day, they jump on the scales and hey presto. weight has vaiiiinished.
Stick with the plan and you will get there.

Thank you healthenigma, this is very helpful!

Cherrianne
Thank you so much for the recipe! I am going to make it up this evening for breakfast tomorrow-it sounds delicious! Also, thanks to Cherrianne and hashimoto for the ‘Daily Mail’ suggestion-this will be a great help until the 22nd.

You are both so right about the forums, I’ve been reading them over the last couple of days and am so impressed with how helpful and supportive folks are-I am sure you all will be ‘seeing’ more of me!

until then,
thanks for your support and cheers from Louisiana, USA

Well done . That’s a lot of progress right there

I lost no weight after a week on optifast . But I am losing weight using the recipes from the book . As the guy in That Sugar Film (a must watch if you haven’t seen it ) found not all calories are equal . Very best of luck . I am sure you and your body can work it out . Don’t forget to feed your good microbes with things like chick peas zucchini and leeks . (Also from a programme with dr Mosley . )

Happy to report I am a week away from chocolate. I have cooked every night and loving the meals. Not cheated once. I think this is the longest I’ve ever stuck to a diet. I’ve lost 6.5lbs and although I’m over the moon about that, I did that in day 1 – 4 and it’s just stuck at that, not moved up or down. I cannot see me losing next week as it’s just stuck. Any ideas?

Not sure on blood sugar readings but I shall ask the doctor for a blood test. Excersise is still minimal, not even had my gym induction yet, but I work 12 hour days so they call me in last minute so keep having to cancel it, but I shall get on that.

Off shopping to get new stuff, coconut flour being one of them.

Happy Wednesday to ya’ll and keep it up. We our all doing amazing 🙂

Hi All, it’s great to read about your success! This is my first post on this Forum but my third week of 800. I’m 5ft tall and 51 years old. At the start I weighed 13st 5lbs, miraculously I’m not diabetic but I do have polycystic ovary syndrome. After just two weeks I have lost 1 stone! I have stuck strictly to 800 cals per day, higher protein and lower carb. I start my day off with a slice of Burgen toast with a laughing cow light triangle and a mug of tea, lunch is high protein I.e tuna or chicken, dinner again higher protein but I do have some carbs, for example I’m having two poached eggs, ham and microchips for dinner! I keep enough calories to have a 40 calorie Belgian hot chocolate in the evening, and a cup of tea at bedtime if I fancy it. I log it all on my fitness pal and usually have a few cals left over. Since starting I have been making sure I exercise regularly and I walk two very cheeky border collies 5 miles at least 3 times a week. I now fit comfortably into a pair of jeans I sadly put away a year ago. I weigh every day and, as advised by Dr M, have set myself a very unrealistic target in the hope of getting close to it!

Yesterday Day 17 weight 10st 9lbs & Blood sugar 10.8

Today Day 18 weight 10st 9lbs & Blood sugar 12

Disappointed that weight isn’t budging. Husband thinks Waist is getting less, as I’m constantly pulling my trousers up. Am making a conscious effort today to move more. I hope this helps. On a positive note I am still 1/2 stone lighter than when I started, which is approximately 3 bags of sugar. ☺

Hi fellow BSD’s
I won’t bore you about me, it’s on my profile.
Thought I would give you my view on blood sugar reduction and weight loss.
Couple of weeks ago discovered I was creeping into prediabetic range (6.2), also being overweight thought I would try this diet out for two weeks ( starting weight 15st 2lbs).
It has been a complete revalation to me, I am on day 10, been very strict and very active.
As a result I have a fasting blood sugar of 5.6 and lost 15lbs to date and I feel fine ( have had a couple of crappy days).
All my exercise is conducted at a fat burn heart rate, for me is from about 95 to 115 BPM.
I am sure there is a lot of water in this loss, but my calculations point toward a 10lb loss of fat.
Other than exercise and calorie control, I am lucky enough to be doing this with my wife, she has done 8lbs (not as active and lower weight)
We plan to follow that Mediterranean style diet after the weekend, with a ratio of 80% good and 20% not so good.
The reasons for this post is to help support and encourage readers of your thread. Hope you don’t mind my input (especially as a newby).
Finally I want add observations regarding post diet realities
Thanks

Hello Inka

I totally agree with your sentiments. I have no wish to class all clinician as the same but the issue you mention; ‘ it would be nice if doctors would be more willing to embrace innovation in medical science as long as it does not harm anyone, ‘ is true in so many departments. As someone mentioned in a previous message it would be good to hear if any Dr on here had some ideas, it is the same with regard to your message.
My next comment might get a reaction……. I feel there are a number of reasons for doubting this diet and here are a few of my thoughts.
1) Dr’s are trained in specific fields, there is so much to learn, to keep up with, it is difficult to give the time to something ‘new’.
2) Fear of taking someone off their medication and having something go wrong.
3) Drug companies pushing their wares…. do drug reps. still take clinicians etc. out to dinner etc???????

Ps, have you checked your weight measurements again?

As we often say in these forums, everyone’s experience is a little different. Stick with it, keep the carbs down and the fats up and you will have success. There are lots of us here who lose quite slowly compared to some but its better to lose slowly than not at all!

Yes it does, quite strongly. And yes, fresh mint should be even better

Hi Mosleyfan
that’s weird, just the fact that you are sticking to 800 cals should ensure you lose weight.
I’m wondering if you are one of those who will just jump on the scales one day and see a big loss
Stick with it, it has to work.

hiya all

newbie here. started BSD on Monday. I have been doing 5:2 diet since April 2015 and have lost 5st 3.5lb which I’m over the moon with but I was starting to struggle with motivation and needed to change it up a bit. I’m not diabetic but still have about 4 stone I want to lose, most of this is from my tummy lol. I will be sticking to 800 cals for the 8 weeks however I will be having 1 day a week that I go out for dinner so may not be strict on cals even though I do plan on sticking to Mediterranean diet. I’m not going to beat myself up if I have more than 800 cals but I do plan on sticking to this if I can. fingers crossed I still have good losses although I’m not sure how good they will be as have been dieting for almost a year.

fingers crossed!

Hello, I’m new too (on day 3). Just wondered if as well as calories you’ve been keeping tabs on carbs too as in my case (I’m type 2 diabetic) the least carbs the better for me. Good luck with it!

Good idea, does the mint really come out in cold fizzy water? I suppose fresh mint would work too.

Thanks Larpent, yes I can identify with a lot of what you are saying. I never get sick, I just get pain that makes me want to cut out my own stomach. And as you say, stress and depression start to make a vicious circle of the whole thing. Thanks for sharing, I wish you many pain-free days!

Meant 30 years with digestive problems, not 30 problems!

A mint tea bag in fizzy water with a dash of lime is quite a good ‘mohito’ too!

Hi Lynne
I have just switched my skimmed milk latte to a soya milk latte and found its actually really nice. I don’t even need to have my usual three sweeteners in it as it has a lovely creamy taste which is nicer than before.

The one thing I do miss these days is pepsi max (again, I am trying to cut out the artificial sweeteners rom my life) but I am just about ribbing along on fizzy water with a fruit teabag in it. You have to jiggle it a bit to get the flavour to release and it is very subtle, more of a fragrance than a taste.

The other thing I do is drink straight tap water in a tiny glass (I guess its a breakfast juice size glass). There are only three mouthfuls in each one so it stops me being over-faced by the thought of it. I try to have one every other time I pass through the kitchen. You should find that the more water your body gets, the more it will want to get, so building up in baby steps is easier than tackling a pint at a time.

Have stuck to 800 really easily…no slip ups…not diabetic etc and not even a slight movement of that scale indicator!!!
Fingers crossed…any ideas?? Have been drinking water and fibre foods too…

Hello. I’m not an expert but have lived for 30 problems with a lot of digestive problems, you do in the end just think well this is it and I have to live with it. I was told I had IBS at 20 and they just took out my gall bladder just for the sake of it. I continued with many problems after eating foods from severe pains and upset stomachs. Since finding out yes certain foods are related to IBS, like onions and garlic, major pain. Also saturated fats, at Xmas friends cooked lovely roast but all in duck fat, well we do live in France, they love duck products. Dire problems and very sick. With IBS they say fats cause you major problems, saturated ones that is. Look at Fodmap diet, very restrictive but some things really help if you cut them out. I have a gluten intolerance, again you could look into intolerances too, especially lactose if cream causes you pain, it might not be an allergy but intolerances are different, but are still very painful. I have never got to the exact cause of issues, but also stress and depression cause a lot of these pains too. Anyway I hope you get some answers soon, good luck.