I am getting myself prepared to start the BSD and need to sort out the food that I am going to eat during the 8 week period (I am a very fussy eater!).

One item that I do really like is the Alpro range of soya based yogurts, which I generally have for breakfast now. Are these okay to eat instead of full fat yogurts?

Hi, the research is pretty limited from what I can see.

With more moderate exercise your body will adjust over time to make more use of fats as an energy source but with higher intensity bouts of training, carbs will undoubtedly be beneficial.

It’s worth remembering that the 8 weeks is a temporary measure, to reset your system. After that, while still on a lower carb regime, you will be fuelling your system very differently than when on the 800 cals. You will then have different energy levels and be less likely to hit the wall as soon.

Competitive sports are a very different beast to the moderate exercise most people will undertake. You may benefit from sensible carb loading with low GI, healthy carbs – I wouldn’t use the energy gels! They’re so disgusting anyway so hopefully this shouldn’t be a great hardship!

You are welcome, the chocolate one is especially nice at bed time and will ensure that you do not wake in the middle of the night with hunger pangs.

Good luck and stick with it.

Good chef-ing Bill!
Roast pork! Yummy.
I applaud your dark chocolate. I keep having to remind myself this isn’t a diet of puritanical self denial, it’s an 8 week kick up the bum while eating real, good, food, just not much of it.
After the 8 weeks I think I’ll still have some weight to lose, but will be going onto one of the other versions Michael has put out there.

I’ll still be eating real good food, just more of it sometimes!
Goodbye white crap. Goodbye processed gubbins.
Hello the food we were born to eat.
More strength to all our arms.

That’s really interesting Lolo, thanks. The olive oil thougt is good too after seeing Dr. M’s Trust Me programme about a spoonful of uncooked olive oil a day is so good for your heart. Thanks 🙂

Day 8. Weigh day. I’ve dropped 8.5 pounds! And shrunk 2 inches from round the equator! Very happy man.

Hi Mooster likewise nice to know there are others out there. I am hoping this will work as all other attempts at dieting with this blooming thyroid problem have not worked that well…..well possibly thyroid.. but cannot take all the blame as I seem to suffer from an inability to say no to chocolate when presented with it ! Not anymore !! Will watch out for your posts. Good luck !

Just ordered the Jenny Ruhl book. Thanks a mill for the tip!

I feel like this way of life has been a real epiphany to me… not that ignorance was truly bliss as I felt god awful most of the time but Im feeling almost evangelical about this diet. Im annoying my sister with soundbites from the book on a daily basis… I hope many pre & diabetic folk get to this diet as a resource for taking back their lives. :0)

I am now starting week 2 and also don’t have much appetite. I seldom finish the recommended portions. I knew I wasn’t drinking enough so I’ve rectified that and the headaches have gone but I have a really strong sugar craving today for the first time. Any advice to get me through week 2?

17lb down after two weeks. Only another 35lb’s to go. Feeling really chuffed. Enjoying the diet, lovely meals. No hunger between.
Clothes fitting better.
Well done to everyone. Onward and downwards.

Hi LH
I take 100mg Levothyroxine I think I am only going to lose 1lb every 3 to 4 days from now on due to metabolism but that’s better than when I have tried to diet before so I will continue, just made the pumpkin seed and courgette muffins this morning to keep as a treat when I need something “nice” Sorry can’t help with the tongue thing, one thing I haven’t got LOLThanks for answering it’s nice to know not alone

Yes and on 125mg levo. After several months at the gym working like a woman possessed and having lost only 1 and a half stone and still feeling knackered and only to then be told following a routine blood test that I was pre-diabetic I decided I had to act fast. Started the BSD last Monday and have lost 8 lbs which is great but I seem to have stuck at that weight for three days. Need to exercise more but have just had surgery and so resitance training not a goer at the moment. Does anyone else have a horrible looking tongue which feels like the desert when they wake up in the morning?!

Today is the first day of week 2 for me with a reasonable start of 6lb weight loss in week 1. I’m not diabetic or pre-diabetic but I have such a sweet tooth that anything which reduces my sugar intake is a good thing. I followed the rules quite carefully except for Friday night when I had to go out for dinner (and also drank alcohol) so I got straight back on the plan the following morning. I feel quite lucky to have lost that weight after my ‘night off’. The food is tasty and I still have beetroot falafel and vegetable curry in the freezer for this week which will save time and effort. As a fan of real food I’m enjoying it and haven’t struggled with the low calorie count as much as I thought I would. Peppermint tea is a great way of consuming the water required.

Hi I’m SUE2000 just starting I had Warfin 5years but could not get levels to stay. Also suffered side effects now ((with consultants. Ok)) I have Rivaroxoban now no weekly blood tests feel better. Just thought I’d impart information

Thanks so much you saved me hours hard work. I’ve been using my 123 diet shakes left over from last diet. Wondered what shakes to have. Thanks for all your work.

Good advice! I too downloaded Jenny Ruhl’s book – very informative and reassuring – thanks for the tip.

I use pepper strips, celery, and carrot to dip in my humus although, this week, I’m going to try making the chickpea flour crackers from the recipe section.

Hi Natasha,
How are you feeling today? Hopefully your body has kicked in to it’s normal self again 🙂 One thing to maybe take a look at is whether you are eating enough fat – I felt really weird for a time, but I don’t think I was getting enough fat which I’ve changed to now around 40g a day – that definitely helped 🙂
Keep going! Everyone is doing fantastically xx

Hi Speedy – I have been working on around the same as pmshrink says, between 50-80g a day. I find anything below this makes me feel really funny! I have also kept my fat intake to around 40g-50g a day. Supplementing with olive oil here and there for energy. It’s worked really well so far & I don’t feel hungry at all xx

Fantastic results everyone! My week one was last week too & I lost 7lbs. Am really pleased – it’s great to see something working so quickly. Even more fab for those with blood sugar reductions too 🙂 x

Hi Pesco, I use hummus as a protein boost for a salad lunch, when I just put dollops on my salad as a dressing. I also use it with salad for dinner if I’m making falafel.
It is great to fill the grooves in celery too but if you can freeze it I would have the home made version every time. Never lasts long in my house though as my kids devour it when they come home from school if they see it in the fridge.

Thanks Bill,
Yes big well done to you Fi on your first week loss. Yes it is Bill, I am 55 and Pre diabetic I have tried all sorts of diets but I really think I can do this one and stick to it. I like you Fi, know I have to do this now before it gets worse and I need medication. All the best for next week everyone, can’t wait to see my next week weight loss.

Am still taking Metformin, but stopped Gliclazide as it is what is advised by Dr Taylor. At the Diabetic Clinic tomorrow, so will be discussing meds with Nurse Practitioner.
Was going to start diet next week, after the clinic, but was reminded by husband that we have been invited to a large Cancer Charity event at the beginning of April (Carb rich meal), that I have to attend, so the sooner I started the better.
I have been thinking about doing the diet for years, but I found it was hard to find the “right time”.
I gave up work in October, since then I have been dealing with “family issues”, I was going to start on 29/02/2016 to allow time before my overseas holiday in the middle of May. My husband was unsupportive at first, “you need to lose weight slowly to keep it off” but I finally convinced him last Friday and since then he has been very keen for me to get started.
I think sometimes you just need to stop thinking about it and just “start”.
The thing that makes my blood sugar go up the most is Stress, so eliminating that is what I am concentrating on as well as sticking to the diet.

While that’s true, if your liver has a hard time dealing with alcohol (and if you have a fatty liver, it will struggle) it can mean that water gathers in the legs causing puffy ankles.

Alcohol is a diuretic, ie it makes you get rid of more fluid than you take in.

Stressful weekend
my partner went down with Tonsilitis after telling the kids that we were doing a family Sunday lunch so I ended up making lunch for 12 all by myself (brownie points well earned)
It was a lot harder resisting the mash and yorkies after I had made them but I managed.
So, roast pork and veggies with gravy for lunch (if I have to have fat in my diet it is DEFINITELY going to come from something delicious). Fot dinner I had a home made wholemeal flour flatbread with 1 oz of extra mature cheddar sprinkled on it while still in the pan – very tasty.
Blood sugar yesterday and today was 5.8 🙂
Upwards and onwards.

Sue, you really don’t want to start reducing meds until you have been showing a fasting sugar reading of below 5 for a few days and, then, have a word with your doc beforehand.

Well done Fi and Sharon
Isn’t it great when something you read about starts happening for you.
Just another 2 success stories to add to the growing library.

Thanks Clare and please thank Micheal for writing such a fab book! I am only a week in but 3 of my friends/family have got the book too as I have convinced them on my enthusiasm and my amazing results. Conventional diets just don’t work for us PCOSers so I am so pleased and amazed with the results I’m getting. I’m spreading the word on Instagram ( @thegymlovingfoodie) to my cysters that the book can help us ladies with PCOS as well as those with diabetes so hopefully others can benefit from the book too!

Hi, I take 100mcg Eltroxin every day for an underactive thyroid – I am usually tired by the end of the day and the walk home is a struggle – my legs feel like jelly but once I am home and been on my exercise bike and eaten it is OK. I have been told that I will be on Eltroxin for the rest of my life but I am hoping that this diet and losing weight might give my thyroid a kick up the rear end!

Hi all, This is my first post on here, I have completed week one and have lost 8.5lb, feeling really good and looking forward to week two. I must say all the advice and encouragement on here has really motivated me. I have only felt hungry once but that was after exercising for 45 minutes. Haven’t had any other problems with doing the 800 Cal diet. My starting weight was 20 stone so still have a long way to go! Good luck to everyone this week.

I watched the part of the programme where they explored the pros and cons of different types of milk. I drink goats milk which wasn’t mentioned. What do the presenters think of this milk?

Hello ladies- I am on day 7 now and I have lost 6lbs so I am absolutely delighted!! I just never lose weight so I am thrilled. I have stuck to it absolutely to the letter and done loads of excercise ( 2×1 hour fast paced walking, 3 hitts, 3x10mins rowing sessions and 3weight sessions at 50 reps) and most drastically I haven’t had a drink over the whole week!! 😱 I am terrified to deviate in case it causes it to slow down – which it will at some point but it’s keeping me on track! We booked a holiday to Dubai yesterday in 6 weeks time so that is even more incentive. Loving the food and feeling great!. I have joined the Facebook page ‘the 8 week blood sugar diet’ and it is a great support- I am Victoria on there- defo worth joining if you are on Facebook- great support. I’m also on Instagram as @thegymlovingfoodie putting up lots of pics of the lovely food! Good luck with the forthcoming week X X

Hi everyone
End of week 2 and 9 lbs lost, finding sticking to the diet fairly easy but finding I rum out if energy by mid afternoon. Could This be my thyroid? Has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks

Yes, I need to do this – my mum is T2 and she was diagnosed in her 60s (I was early 50s) and seeing her journey, with more and more tablets being prescribed, and having a stroke at the beginning of last year and a heart attack just before Christmas, makes me think that could be me but at a much earlier age if I don’t do something about this now!

Hey Fi, that’s an awesome drop in your blood sugar levels!! What a great first week you’ve had, bet it’s really inspired you to get such good results.

Well done everyone! Such a great set of weight loss by all! I weighed in 7lbs down this morning & feel great!
Time4Change – I have been eating a lot of broccoli & cauliflower. Which I think has helped on the fibre front. I’ve also put some
Prunes & olive oil in my morning smoothie. The prunes take the carb content up a little – but not masses. I think this has helped keep things moving 🙂
Mrs S – are you eating really low fat as well as low carb too? not sure if it would help – but maybe adding a teaspoon. Of olive oil or eating some avocado might help with energy levels?
Keep going everyone! Well done xx

Day 1 was a mess – literally. Made up chocolate milkshake with hot water along with milk, had a tight grip of the lid as I walked and shook -however- heard a pop and chocolate shake ended up all over the living room ! The shaker is only for cold liquids – who knew.

Decided to dust the house as a form of gentle exercise and managed to break the ear off an ornament.

On the good side , my weight this morning is 11st 1lb (-1) & my blood sugar is 7.5 (-1.3)
I enjoyed my shakes yesterday and felt more positive. I had chicken & mixed vegetables and peppers cooked with mixed herbs as my main meal. Had to go to the loo more, because I drank more fluid.

Thank you to the people who are supporting me, this is the first forum thing I have done so I’m still learning.

ps I loved it by the way

First day and for breakfast made the blueberry and green tea shake. It states in the book 100 calories. However, when i weighed out the ingredients mine came out at 170. The tablespoon of almonds was 90 calories alone. I have modified it and managed to get it down to 128. Think my spoons are definitely bigger lol

Well done everyone, I’ve also just done my first week weigh in and I’ve lost 4 1/2lbs. Stuck rigidly to the diet so would have liked to see more but all in all pleased. I am having trouble with blurry vision though and sore eyes, anyone else having this? Also blood sugars been excellent this week 6.3 after eating and 5.3 fasting yippee!

Very pleased to report that I have lost 7lbs in Week 1 (and I went out on Saturday morning for a cooked breakfast – they gave me an extra rasher of bacon when I said I didn’t want the toast)! BS down from 9.2 to 5.7 (although I admit I didn’t have much for tea yesterday after my big lunch – pork loan chop with mushrooms and a dollop of sour cream with loads of veg – I was stuffed!). All geared up for Week 2 now and enjoying it so far – not hungry and no cravings! Do 20 mins on my exercise bike every day so that helps.

Well done catlady, my first week weigh in today and have lost 9lbs, my diet buddy lost 8lbs, so happy.

Hi Mill, I must say I wasn’t overly impressed by the brownies, they had an odd sort of texture. May lay off the sweeties completely lol, will still eat this lot however, I’m not wasting the ingredients!

That’s brilliant Catlady, what a start! I’m on day 6 of week 1, 5.2lb down. Excited to see if anything shifts by tomorrow. Despite drinking lots of water I’m still very sluggish of bowel. That’s my only gripe 😔

Well done guys, all going well. Just done my seven day weigh in, and I am delighted to have lost 8 lbs!!!So pleased!

ADMIN get rid of that post, it’s only backlink dropping.

My God
Didn’t take the spammers long to find the forums.
Go back where you came from and take your quack remedy with you

Thanks pmsrink, I didn’t know that.
I’m hoping I can devise a way through that is low fat and low refined carb enough, if that makes sense. x

Hi Jay
In the book Michael does say you can have coffee with a splash of milk as long as you count the milk in your daily calories
Don’t know about soya milk but I can’t see anything seriously bad with it.