Hello all.

I have a very stressful few weeks where I not so much fell off the wagon as burnt the wagon to cinders and got a train to the other side of the country. But at the back of my mind I thought of you lot, plodding along despite what I am sure are equally stressful lives, and realised that blaming it on stress was a lazy response on my part. The truth is, I wanted to eat the equivalent weight in chocolate as a fully grown German Shepherd, and I used the fact I was stressed to justify doing so. It is a habit I have got into and would very much like to crack. I am tired of that mosquito drone at the back of my always whining on about food and when I am next getting food sweet food lovely food!

Even though I had answered yes to every single one of the “addicted to carbs” questions, I was still trying to kid myself that I didn’t really have a problem and could eat what I wanted. Clearly not so!

So I am back here again, at least I am still 2 kilos down from when I originally started. Time to work on changing that script!

Sounds like you’re doing amazingly well to me. Be patient with yourself and trust the process. 🙂

Hi everyone, haven’t been on for about a week – so thought I’d send a quick update. I had a REALLY indulgent weekend last weekend as I had a weekend away with the girls! Although I have to say I didn’t eat any processed carbs like crisps & bread at all, which is a minor miracle as they were all there! I stuck to the low carb plan – although did increase my calorie intake to around 12-1400 of food as I was also drinking alcohol. I put on 2lb over the weekend, which I recognise was down to pure indulgence. So Straight away on Monday I was back on the plan & the 2lb has come off really quickly, and I am now back to losing weight again. I think this is a real boost as it definitely shows that you can still go and have a great time – but get back on it. 2.5 weeks in and I’m 10b down now. Couldn’t be happier.
I have recognised that the more veggie you can go, coupled with medium/high good fats – the more effective I think it is. I found that last week I was eating a lot more protein than usual and my body really didn’t like it. So this week I have switched some of the meat protein for eggs & dairy, and I feel better.
Like everyone else I have added in flax and chia seeds to my morning smoothie to help keep things ‘moving’ 😉 seems to be working ok now! I’m also having some green and blacks dark chocolate – which is helping to stave off my craving for the odd sweet thing here and there.
It really sounds like everyone is doing an amazing job, don’t get disheartened when the weight loss slows down – re-evaluate and see if there are changes you can realistically make. If not, then be patient. I think everyone is achieving so much in such a short space of time it’s easy to let your expectations rise, when what you’re doing already is absolutely great. Have a fab day x

I won’t have scales in the house.
They cause disappointments to too many people and discourage them (I know what Michael says about getting weighed but that is a generalisation, some people just shouldn’t get weighed daily)
I go to the chemist at the same time every Saturday morning and use their scales – works for me

Hello Silver, The calorie counts given for each recipe are for a single serving – that’s on the page preceding the recipes themselves. However, for some of them, the total count hasn’t been subdivided so is way off. In addition, as you can see from this thread, many people have found the counts given on a number of the recipes to be inaccurate. It’s up to you whether to just use the counts as given and assume that because you are eating less than usual, and notably, less carbs, you will lose weight, or whether to calculate the calories yourself so you know what you are eating. The count for the hummus recipe is for a single portion, although the recipe makes 3 portions. The hummus recipes are some of the few that seem to be reasonably accurate! I drink fruit tea, but sometimes have a cup of Bovril – 10 calories, warm and savoury and good when a meal is a way off.

Keep going stingle
everyone loses weight at different rates, we are all individuals.
Given that the main aim of this lifestyle is to help or even reverse diabetes, albeit through weight loss, your sugar readings are excellent for just 10 days in and that is mainly caused by fat draining from your liver.
The weight loss will follow.

Hi bernie,
Glad you had a good time away, life needs to be enjoyed. When you jump on your new scales be aware that scales can differ by the odd pound or two. Saw a programme on wighing scales and they tested a wide range from £9.99 upwards and the best were the cheaped supermarket purchase. They were tested by Weights & Measures and they all differed, and the ones that did body fat etc were very inaccurate. We went away last night for our 32nd Wedding Anniversary to a lovely Spa Hotel and had a very relaxing tim. I had a glass of champagn and a coupl of things I wouldn’t at on th diet, I only had a couple of tea spoons of hubbys icecream. One night out of seven shouldn’t do too much damage, and it was a great time away. Fun is over now so back to being strict for a while. 24 days in now and 13 3/4 pound down, vey happy with this.

Havent done the 5:2 yet but I started at 16 stone 9 and others have started at much higher weights.
My advise would be to try the 800 calories for a few days to see how you go, you will be surprised at how little hunger you feel.
You will also have to get rid totally the WW low fat approach to things, this way of eating depends on putting fat back into your diet, both to encourage your body into fat burning mode and to give that full, satisfied feeling.

Hi Pete, trip to Aus shouldn’t be a problem for you. Many people here going low carb/ paleo for their health. Most restaurants and cafés will have suitable food and will be happy to accommodate your request for no potatoes, bread, rice or pasta with your meal. We are quite civilised here lol ;).
Stick with protein and salad or steamed veg and you can’t go wrong. Family and friends who visit from the UK love the quality and price of the meat and seafood here. Can’t comment myself as I’m vegetarian. I’m sure you’ll find food to suit.

One good thing about living in France is that low fat foods are almost non existent. I used to think this was a problem!

Ok so I’ve been on the BSD for 10 days – my fasting sugar has come down from 21.4 to 13.1 which is absolutely amazing ! I am exercising 3-4 times a week , have lost 2 inches of my waist am feeling so much better but have only lost a total of 4lbs. I assume this is because of the vast drop in blood sugar but could do with a bit of encouragement if anyone can add 🙂

A question on calories – In the book there is often recipes that says serves 2 – does this mean the calorie count quoted is for the 2 people and you half it or for one of the two portions? i.e. there is a tasty humous recipe and it states a 270 calorie count and that there are 3 serving in it – is this for all three or for one of the servings? Many thanks. Day 2 only – craving sugar but i hope it will pass – drinking mint tea!

Yes, Hashimoto. Eating full-fat yoghurt is such a wonderful experience. Better than any sugar hit. I have had spinal operations and, like you, was advised to keep my weight low (52-55 kg/8-8.5 stone). I am daring to think that 55kg might just be possible.
Husband poured me a glass of wine last night. Wasn’t trying to sabotage me, just forgot. I had a sip or two. Lo, and behold. It didn’t have the usual taste of pleasure. So I left it.

mrsmoog, please don’t get waylaid by worry about counting calories. It will just add to your stress. So many people here are losing weight successfully despite the calorie counts not being accurate. The low carb bit is the key to weight loss and blood sugar control.
Just look at the inspirational stories people have posted on Bill’s ‘this has to work for me’ thread. You’ll see for yourself the amazing results!

It will pass
What you are experiencing is your body adjusting to this new way of healthy eating, it usually only lasts 2 to 3 days. You can help by drinking lots of water but once you get into fat burning mode proper, the smptoms should go away.

Hi SOS,
Welcome. Yes your experience is normal and many people have reported feeling the same in the first days of the diet, even down to the tearfulness. You are nearly through the worst bits though.
Tips from the ones who’ve already ‘been there, done that’ :
Paracetamol for the headaches is a must!
Plenty of fluids, 2-3 litres every day
Make sure you eat full fat products. You will feel an improvement if you keep up your fat & protein intake.
Keep in touch and read/ join in on other threads for lots of advice and encouragement.

For those of us in the UK, Lancashire Farms natural yoghurt is creamy and mild. I wouldn’t actually want to add sugar to it. Sold in 1kg buckets in the orange supermarket!

Loukc, if you stick with us the forum members will definitely help you to stay motivated. Just join in any of the threads and you will be made welcome. Most people seem to post on the ‘this has to work for me’ thread. Lots of posts on there are really inspirational.
Great you’re going to chat to your GP, and that you’re reducing meds under advice. Be sure and tell your doctor of your concerns about tiredness, lack of energy, diabetes etc. a blood test will help sort it out and you’ll soon know if diabetes is a concern.
Once you get the ok from your GP and start the diet you will soon begin to feel more energetic and in control. Over eating a high carb diet saps all your energy.
Keep posting so we can follow your progress and help keep you on track 🙂

Due to start work in an hour but I have a banging headache, ache all over and feeling tearful. Oh, and constipated. Is this the “flu” they talk about on the keto diet? 2lbs down though so not all bad I guess. Please tell me this will pass. Yours miserably

Hey Kimgall, fantastic start!! You are not going to know yourself soon. Well done for resisting those evil little pastilles :). In my case temptation was a packet of chocolate digestives in the cupboard that definitely were calling my name. I even opened the door and looked at them a few times lol. I knew as long as they stayed unopened I was safe. I just love biscuits. When the kids came home I opened the packet and shared them out. Even though there are 5 of them it was still a fair few bikkies each. Think they thought it was Christmas again, but at least the temptation had gone.
Hope your sleep improves very soon. A good night’s sleep and you can face anything!

If any of you live in Australia & want a delicious full-fat yoghurt, Jalna natural is the very best. I hadn’t eaten it for ages because my cholesterol has been high, but I’ll be interested to see what it is the next time I test it. (Mind you, I couldn’t resist the full-fat yoghurt made with sheep’s milk, made by the owner of a little store in Thessaloniki where I was doing research for 2 months last year at the university there – and to think I felt guilty about eating it! It was superb stuff.)

Can any of you help explain a statement that Michael made on Australian TV? That even before you add sugar to a latte, there are already about 4 teaspoons’ sugar in the drink. I make home-style Italian latte for breakfast (hint: surname’s Formiatti) and it is very different to the stuff you get in cafes. About 2 thirds strong good coffee (made with ground beans); one third hot milk. It’s meant to be a breakfast drink, not an anytime snack.

Another real trap is chai. The cafe stuff is generally a processed product full of sugar, chemicals, and – I suspect – trans fats. You can make it in a saucepan. For two: 2-3 cardamon pods, 3 pepper corns, a few thin slices fresh ginger, one inch cinnamon stick, 1-2 teabags/equivalent in loose tea, water. Put all in a saucepan. Bring to boil. Simmer for a few minutes. Add some milk. We have to do without the sugar, but traditionally sugar is added. Adding freshly crushed ginger to coffee is a great taste, too.

I’m putting a net on my small fig trees in the back garden. No parrots or wattlebirds are going to get them! They’ll be ripe soon. You can use fig leaves to make yoghurt (as the ancient Greeks did).

I remember WW when there were no WW products. Think it must have been sold to some corporation which saw the marketing opportunities.

Love reading everyone’s posts!

Or, like me you can stick with the recipes for a couple of weeks and see how it goes.
I have lost 17 and a half pounds in 4 weeks using this method, it works for me and many others.
Calorie counting just isn’t my thing, I’ll consider it if the weight loss stops BUT the comment about your husband not reversing his T2D is totally wrong ! Stopping the simple carbs will achieve that, not counting calories.

Thanks Cherrrianne
Like Lynn, I intend to stay on the fast 800 until I get to my target weight, by which time the blood sugar should be permanently low.
I have seen warnings about staying on a low cal diet for too long, but weight loss surgery patients seem to manage ok, so can I, just without the scar 😉

Hi all. I’ve also been calculating the calories and have found them to be more than stated in the recipes. E.g.
Apple,mango and hazelnut with yoghurt (if using full fat which they tell you to do as it contains less sugar) – recipe states 180 cals but it is actually 383 cals plus of course it contains mango and on a previous page they tell you not to eat mango as it contains too much sugar!
Pea and spinach omelette states 180 cals but is actually 252 cals.
No carb bircher states 180 is actually 217
That is just the first section of recipes !!
Certainly not going to help me lose weight or my husband reverse his T2 diabetes 😕
I must admit i did think the meals were a generous size !! Guess we’ll just have to remember calculate all the recipes and adjust them accordingly ?

Great reading these posts, so inspiring that everyone is losing weight and getting better blood sugar and blood pressure results.
I have never joined a forum before this either Hashimoto. I don’t do FB but I will use email. I get a real buzz from the concern members show each other and the helpful, supportive community spirit on here. I get a sense that we are all genuinely interested and involved in other members experiences. There is so much common ground even though we live in different countries, time zones etc.
Hashimoto our local parrots ( actually, corellas, cockatoos, lorikeets and rosellas, but I didn’t think many people would know what they are) seem to have an awareness of seasons and when fruits are ripening! You might not see black cockatoos for a couple of months but the minute the pine comes start to open they are here in the 100’s. They rip the cones open to get to the pine nuts and the ground is littered with the remnants. You risk getting donged on the head by a pine cone if you are foolish enough to walk past. Same for the fruits. Most people here have to buy anti bird netting for the fruit trees or you’d never get any! I’ve made the choc cake with zucchini too, it stays really moist, but hubby and kids will have to eat it now. I’d not thought of trying fried courgetti before but your recipe does sound delish. Definitely going to try that as my spiralizer arrived this week. No vegetable is safe from the blade in our house at the moment ;).
Aly it really sounds so positive for you now, despite the chest infection. Once you are over that you won’t know yourself. 🙂
Bill you mustn’t be so hard on yourself! Your blood test must have been an HbA1c judging by what the nurse told you. That measures your average blood sugar over a period of about 12 weeks. So a one off high fasting level isn’t going to make much difference. This one will include your pre diet blood sugars too, so won’t accurately reflect your achievements since starting the diet. It will be better than your usual results though, and you will probably see an improvement in your cholesterol. The next one when you will have been on the healthy eating plan for more than 12 weeks will probably knock their socks off!!
Yael I hadn’t realised you were in Aus too. I had really been looking forward to the SBS segment. Ignorant naysayers will be eating their words soon enough. BTW did you see the post re low carb Herman Brot bread from Foodland & IGA? Only 2.3g carb per slice and is really yummy.
Kimgall agree wholeheartedly with your comments about Bill. Truly a pioneer and wise friend to many on here.

Its best to buy full fat natural yogurt, Greek is nicest because its not so acidic and then stew up some berries such as blackcurrents or blueberries to mix in. If its not sweet enough and not palatable you can sweeten the stewed fruit with some Erythritol, its the best I have found as Stevia for example leaves a horrible aftertaste. The Erythritol is safe for diabetics, goes straight through you and is recommended from my Peer Educator Tutor for Type II diabetes, and she has done all the research on this low carb diet for her PhD.

I understand there are a lot of trials now going on to demonstrate the benifits of a very low carb diet so hopefully that will start to provide the evidence and encourage clinitians to change their practice. My daughter is dietician and it is interesting to see how she been trained to resist ‘crank’ diets, understandably as some of her patients have really odd eating habits. However with overwealming evidence they will come round. If you think its hard for us to change habits and embrace fats, think how much harder it is for a professional who has to admit they were peddling myths over a lifetime in medicine. There is a really good interview with Dr Tim Noakes about low carb diets and how he has completly change his opinion, worth watching.

Me too. I forced down ww yogurts as they were good for me! I was a ww fan too and successfully lost 5 stone with them, then 2 st, then 3st, and when I moved here carried on online! Always regaining weight within a short time of getting to goal. I thought I had to be with ww for life!
Full fat yogurt is nothing like the diet stuff. Once I am able to get out again I will buy some full fat Greek yogurt and berries.
The other thing I am really enjoying is eating nuts. I have always loved them but never dared to eat them! This way of eating works with my bid to eat clean but also allows me to sort out my weight and get out of the pre diabetic risk I was running.
As has been said at some point the big guys will have to take notice of this. Ww profits are already down. Probably since I stopped buying their stuff!

Sue1234, don’t worry, I have had a couple of episodes in the 7 weeks so far where I seem to have put on a pound and then the next day 2 pounds comes off. Sometimes we just have more water retention than others. Hope your day goes well 🙂

Hi Janet1973 there is no comparison between the low fat junk and the real thing, is there? Ridiculous that one has to search for it. Thanks for the info on weightwatchers. Like you I am staying in this gang!! 🙂

Thank you for all of your kind words and encouragement. I feel quite low today, I got on the scales and I have put on 1lb. Not sure why?

Day 12 weight 10st 10lbs
Blood sugar 11.4

So much for having a quiet day to myself – my Mother has just phoned – she is very upset and wants me to get a taxi down to her house to look after her ! Aaaarrrrgggghhhh

Thanks for the link Pesco, I’ve just listened to the full interview and am sending it to a few diabetic people I know to listen to it. Thanks 🙂

Sounds good, Bill, look forward to hearing about it 🙂

The full fat yoghurt is currently hidden in a little corner of the fridge of the supermarket like the ugly duckling. But I wager that in five years time, you won’t be able to find any low fat products on the shelves. I have always disliked yoghurt, its just boring. Then I tasted full fat yoghurt…

Thank you theblackspot

Good advice not wait after the 8 weeks

Thanks
Anita

Weight watchers was founded by a woman called Jean Nidetch who, having put on a bit of weight, was shocked to find people thought she was pregnant! She asked her friends to get together to share low calories recipes over a coffee at her house and that’s how it all started. The weight watchers machine is absolutely massive and they will eventually catch up with this turnaround of approach; mainly because they can’t afford to go under. But it will still cost members a lot of money to be in their gang. I’d rather be in this gang 😉

I did weight watchers and got to my goal weight back in 2004 (started at 9st 11 down to 8st 7) kept it off for 4 years but ending up at 11st before I started bsd. !! I am completely sold on loosing visceral fat and cutting down on carbs/sugars, adopting the med diet but wow is it difficult to psychologically shift from low fat! I don’t particularly like plain yogurt and have been looking for full fat fruit yoghurt with low sugar.. No success so I am going to try as nidge64 suggested normal yoghurt with berries… Everything I ate up until this diet was low fat… Diets bread, diet lemonade, lots and lots of fruit, especially exotics.

When we have our moments of slippage, which I did this week and had a baguette we must remember this is a life style change for the better… Eat healthier and exercise, keeping the inches off our waistlines

Thank you all for all your advise.. And here’s to all us having a successful week no matter how big or small

Nothing wrong with adapting recipes to taste Judith.
I have this thing in my mind for this weekend about slicing some onions into rings and frying them in coconut oil until tender, then adding a chickpea flour batter and cooking one side until brown, flipping it, and sprinkling a little cheese on top of the onions and letting it melt.
I’ll let you know how it goes.

That is great news Niffer – I had a great week away, walked loads and ate healthy meals with the odd one or two glitches. Haven’t been able to weigh myself since I got back as my scales have stopped working but am getting some new ones tomorrow. Really pleased that I have been able to get back on the diet with no problems – in fact I was really looking forward to it 🙂

So if I did put anything on during my week away I am pretty hopeful that it will have gone once I get back on some scales.

Not just the drug companies but there is a huge low fat industry out there as well
Someone said in another thread that they were struggling to find full fat Greek yoghurt. I had the same problem with cottage cheese.
We are being inundated with low fat products that are doing us absolutely no good at all.
Even the biggest slimming club in the UK have their name attached to a range of low fat diet meals from one of the worlds biggest food producers.
Thanks for the email Judith, lots of useful info there.

Bill

Hi Garden
Thanks for the encouragement
As well over 50 I will look that up.
Penny

Hi Christina
Thanks for the support.
There seems to be different opinions about whether your metabolism slows on low cals. I think ? On trust me I’m a doctor they showed this not to be the case.
Anyway although my weight loss is very slow it’s very welcome! I have also thought people must be eating a lot less, whereas I was on 1200 cals anyway. Yesterday I went under 11 stone by half a pound so that’s a nice milestone.
Hope yr doing ok.
Penny

I haven’t tried the muffins but I know what you mean Bill. I decided to make a double batch of your coconut flatbreads yesterday. Made the ‘batter’ then realised I had run out of greaseproof paper, trotted as fast as I could to the shop round the corner and when I got back in the batter was as thick as playdough! Bit tricky spreading them on paper but were still delicious. 🙂
Bill, I didn’t put any salt in this time, I kept half of them plain and the other half had a sprinkling of parmesan before they went in the oven. We had the plain ones as a dessert last night – in a bowl, topped with big dollop of greek yoghurt and a spoonful of blackcurrants. Delicious. My son was most impressed! Thanks again for the recipe.
Now I may just have to go out and buy pumpkin seeds and try these muffins!

Michael Mosley was interviewed this morning on ABC RN Life Matters program. It was a near half hour interview and was very good; much better than the SBS Insight program.

You can listen to it here http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/can-type-2-diabetes-be-reversed/7216162

WOW Lynne, go girl go, that’s fantastic!!! Well done! 🙂

Did anyone watch this? It wasn’t as good as I was hoping, mainly due to the less than enthusiastic response from the two guests currently following the diet. What did others think?

I’m currently into my third week and all is going well.

Hi HR I really wouldn’t worry about the percentages of carbs etc just take recipe ideas from the book an this website, watch the weight fall off then no more worries 😉
Good luck, we are all rooting for you 🙂

Hi HR

Dunno where you are in the world, but I just read this online as like you I was curious about calculating carbs.

“However, in the UK and EU, fibre is actually shown separately so you don’t deduct it (or anything!) from the Carbohydrate total. So, for an example, if a label says:

Carbohydrates – 5g
Of which sugars – 2g
Fibre – 1g
Then you’d count a total of 5g carbohydrates for this food.”

Just wanted to give you a heads up. 🙂

Don’t worry SOS you will soon get your head round it. 🙂 and welcome to the forums 🙂

Yeh, I shop in Aldi too. way way cheaper. Their 5% mince is lovely and again, way cheaper.

Bill, that last post really made me chuckle 🙂