I wear an airplane eye mask! Seriously, it works a treat. If I get up, which is seldom, I pull it up to my forehead and pull it back down as soon as I get back to bed. I usually drop off ok.

I also love the blueberry green tea shake and like you I ring the changes. Sometimes I make it with red bush tea and strawberries. I’ve not tried psyllium might hunt for that when I next do the shopping.

Hi Lucia
I’m a big fan of the no carb Bircher in the book. You could weigh out the nuts and flax the night before when you are soaking the raisins then just add the yogurt in the morning.

Hi Lucia,
You could also make your shake the night before and just add the flaxseed meal before you drink it. The green tea and blueberry one is delicious and very filling. I substitute strawberries or blackberries sometimes too as blueberries are a bit more expensive. I also add psyllium to it as it helps the digestion and makes the shake a bit thicker. You can’t save any of the shake for later though as the psyllium sets it like jelly after 15 mins or so. I also have fruit and yoghurt, again sprinkle the psyllium and flaxseed on that.
Microwave scrambled eggs take a couple of minutes, quick and easy. You could beat them up the night before and leave them in the fridge. Add a bit of grated cheese after cooking and you’ve got a big protein and fat boost to fill you up till lunch.
The mushrooms and baked beans are filling too. Cook the mushrooms the night before and put the beans on top ready to microwave in the morning. I only use 100 g of beans so that it’s a breakfast not a brunch size serve. Looks like a small serve but keeps me happy from 7 till about 1 pm.
You are making fantastic changes, hoping to hear of all your successes very soon 🙂

Hi Lucia I usually have a tub of fage yoghurt with a few berries. Only work is to pull the top of the yoghurt pot lol. I find the full fat version quite satisfying. If you make a frittata on the evening it could be your breakfast for 2 consecutive days. x

Hi Hashimoto,
So glad you’re staying, many forum members have interests and ideas and humour that match mine and I know we would probably get on really well if we met. Beyond the shared goals of sticking with the diet and regaining good health. You’re one of the people I look for when I read the posts.
Glad I warned you about the bread, it is so nice to find one that smells, tastes and looks like the real deal yet low carb. I remember years ago, my grandmother having these low carb bread rolls that looked and tasted just like cotton wool. Back then a diabetic diet did severely restrict carbs and sugars. She had so many points to spend on food each day. 10 grapes were an enormous number of points so were an occasional treat. Butter, cheese, eggs and some meats were ‘free’, and I think some veg might have been. All fruits had points of varying amounts. Then in the eighties it all changed and she was encouraged to eat completely differently, ended up on insulin and died relatively young at 72. No other health issues apart from diabetes.
When it gets a bit cooler, and less humid here (80% today),I will experiment with the lupin flour and see if I can get a decent loaf. Will let you know how that goes. I think if we can find ways of substituting foods we miss for a decent low carb alternative, we have much less chance of straying from the diet. It makes social occasions and shared meals much easier too.
I have no desire for sweet stuff except fruit but I miss crisps and crackers. I’ve found a recipe that uses flaxseed meal and cheese to make crackers but again need to wait for cooler weather. If your relatives in WA are getting 40C then we will too! Our weather pattern follows theirs a day or so later. At least it will have cooled by the time you get there.

Sure this is high protein and low carb but it advocates good healthy food.You could live on sausage and bacon on the Atkins. (I tried it back in the day). I feel really good on this diet and my fasting blood sugar is dropping everyday.

I have been on the diet for 2 weeks now and i actually sleep better. Not sure why. But its possibly because I don’t crash out on the sofa after work any more. In fact I have loads of energy.

So the first thing I need is simple , easy to make breakfasts please.
I am up at 6:20 am and I am not at my best, I need to sort it the night before.
Any suggestions please?
I think I need to get away from cornflakes and weetabix. Did I hear someone has salad for breakfast?
Love Lucia xxxxx

Well done stingle for stickihg to it and you now reaping the rewards. Good luck.

Bernie .. I have exactly the same problem as you and also had same problem on 5.2 when i was fasting. I also have tinnitus and it was always worse around 3am or 4am more so when I was fasting so have always thought that it was connected to my blood sugars which gp always said wasnt so. I am on a 5.2 low carb meditteranean diet which has been successful in bringing down blood sugars. I have also upped the steps to 10,000 and over the last few nights that has really helped with my sleep. I have covered up my clock and am finding getting back to sleep much easier and have also slept for 4 hours at beginning of the night which is Hopefully this will continue, will keep you posted! I also try to drink less after 8.30.

Hi Hashimoto
There is a bit of a knack to making the pancake – perfected after lots of trial and error! It works best in a non-stick pan lightly greased. Whisk the eggs with a dessertspoon of yogurt and about the same of flaxseed. Put into a hot pan, swirl it round, and when it starts to rise a bit (a couple of minutes), slide it out onto a plate, then flip it over back into the pan for a few seconds. Then spread with whatever topping you fancy – yogurt and blueberries is great. Delicious, and very satisfying.

Snap. I’m just finishing day 2 also. I find my hunger pangs strike at about 7pm so in the last 2 hours I’ve finished my water off – to make it easier for me it’s in a plastic lidded jug in the fridge. Off to bed soon and have just had a coffee with a tiny bit of double cream in……it was very, very nice and I feel full!!

Hi,
I’ve just completed day 2 on 800 calories. Although I went to bed very early last night! I must say I have found a new appreciation for food I never realised how few calories vegetables do have when you add it all up! I’ve been drinking a large amount of water and taking a few extra trips to the bathroom haha! However, I’ve been feeling a bit light headed any tips to overcoming this? On to day 3 tomorrow!
Day 2;
Breakfast; Scrambled egg and bacon
Lunch: salad with ham
Dinner: Chicken with feta cheese, spinach and spicy mixed beans
Lets hope tomorrow is easier any tips greatly appreciated 🙂

Today:

Greek yogurt with blueberries and cinnamon

Salad – romaine lettuce, rocket, tomatoes, gherkins, jalapenos, roasted yellow pepper, black and green olives, celery, chicken, chorizo, blue cheese, sour cream dressing with black pepper and lemon juice

Spiced lean mince and onion, (cumin, coriander, garlic, chilli, nutmeg and ginger, with a little tomato puree) on aubergine and green pepper roasted with smoked paprika and a little olive oil, topped with rocket, creamy garlic and chilli sauce, with lime juice and soy – (this sauce was amazing, although not for the faint hearted!), small dollop of mint and broad bean hummus, with some extra mint for good measure! That description has gone on a bit, but wow, it was so good, it deserves a full description!

Two coffees with milk, water

Half an apple in a minute

Hi Joanne, oooh your starting tomorrow too! Good luck! We will have to compare notes as we go along!

And thanks everyone for all the advice. I’m slightly apprehensive as I tried the standard 5:2 diet (500 calories on fast days not 800) and I found it really tough so hoping the extra 300 calories make a difference. Plus I wasn’t really thinking about what made up those 500 calories so hopefully the good days and protein will sort it out.

The only other worry is that it sounds like the Atkins diet of high fat and protein which turned out to be very unhealthy and actually dangerous! Any thoughts on that comparison?

Hi Bernie, I try and drink most or all of my day’s liquids before 8 – 8.30pm.This has helped a lot, although I still get up twice most nights. Don’t put the lights on – I use a dull torch or an electric night light – either plug the night light in somewhere on the way to the bathroom, or plug it in near the bed, so you can put it on as you get out of bed. Less light means I can stay half asleep, and therefore find it easier to get back to sleep again. Apparently it is to do with your melatonin levels – more light affects them and tells your body/brain it is time to wake up. I’m not sure how scientifically accurate that is, but it works for me!

Not sure how long you have been on the BSD, but I found that after the first 4 or 5 days, I have been sleeping much more deeply anyway.

Hi Onamission
I started yesterday having read the book on Sunday. Just diagnosed pre diabetic plus got raised cholesterol and up and down blood pressure. I’m finding it good so far, drinking lots of water and binned the diet Pepsi! Not sure if it’s OK but I’m eating lunch then dinner as can’t eat first thing but making sure I get my 800 cal in. Try the no carb ploughman’s for lunch – tasty and surprisingly filling. Keep motivated from what people say it works and I’ve been scared into action so fingers crossed.

Great results stingle, well done for hanging in, your post will help me to keep going when I have a day like it……and I know it will happen!! Thanks for posting it and look forward to seeing your next results 😀

Thanks everyone GREAT to have support from the like minded😁

Hi Onamission,

I am on day 5 am delighted to have lost 5lbs so far and apart from a tough day 3 have found it much easier than I thought….my tips would be much as above, with the exception of Boyjon, I find mint tea really good, full fat Greek yoghurt is amazingly filling and along with courgette noodles and eggs seem to really help me get through the days without feeling deprived or hungry. Hot water is also good but my greatest help is starting the day with fresh coffee and a tbs of double cream, the fats in the cream keep me going till lunchtime when I tend to have the yoghurt and then there are plenty of the 800 calories left for my danger time….evening!
Think of this as the beginning of a new way of eating rather than a diet, 8 weeks to settle in and really lower blood sugars and weight and then move into 5:2 or one of the other options.

Great people here and all offering support and help, enjoy your first day and keep us posted !

Hi Julia
I dont think it’s 17 g of carbs a day. 50 maybe. Very low carb diets are 20.
Penny

Hi. Joanne, my tip is don’t drink too much before bedtime. I went to bed early the first few days and told myself I would not feel hunger once I was asleep. I never wake up hungry!
Bill’s tip, especially if you are diabetic is est a full fat yoghurt or piece of cheese an hour before bed. 🙂
Good luck

Hi Penny, you’re right, it’s weird. What is more weird is having folks round for a meal and them eating your ‘diet’ meals and not being aware it’s diet food, ok i might provide them with more calories than me but the meals are otherwise the same. Crazy!
Judith

I,ve never been on a diet which DIDN,T stall after a few weeks. It’s always the same.
Just carry on doing what you know is the right thing and it WILL come good in the end.
BUT…… it is SOOO frustrating!”!!

WOW Lucia, then what you ate today is a MASSIVE change! Amazing, well done! That must have been pretty tough. You are going to see big changes in your weight and well being quickly. Looking forward to your posts x

I am starting tomorrow! My main worry is hunger disturbing my sleep. Any tried and tested tips to combat this would be welcome 🙂

Hi Lucia
You have already taken a massive step by deciding to do something about your weight.
If you need to ease yourself into it that’s ok.
You may get the odd side effect but the forum is full of advice on dealing with them.
Any problems just shout, there’s always someone around to help.
Hope to see a very happy post from you in a weeks time.

Hi, Hashimoto,
Thank you for your welcome!
Seeing that in one evening I would eat a Chinese takeaway, and two family sized bags of chocolate and a family sized bar and bags of crisps. And still want to rummage around for something else…..
So me changing to just three meals, no junk and trying to control myself. That is enough for me to deal with this week.
I don’t drink coffee or tea. I only drink hot water. Probably 2 to 2.5 pints a day. I may have a Pepsi once a week. A glass of cider maybe six times a year. Weird isn’t it? Great on the liquids, rubbish on the solids?
I, like so many others, have read the posts here. I think I was building up the courage, or getting into the right mind set, or just realising the damage I am doing to myself. Or was it that my waistbands are so tight I am being cut in two?
I am moving more this week. I am walking to the bus stop instead of hubby dropping me off. I am getting of the bus one stop away from work. So I can walk a bit.
Yes, I am now readings the book, (if you are reading this Dr Mosely, a big thank you for this wake up call xxxx)
Love Lucia. Xxxx

Hi Hashimoto
It’s absolutely fab- but a bit weird. If we re on a diet we should be suffering! But after the beginning we re not!
There’s no sense of ‘doing without’.
Penny

Hi Malkay, loving the sound of your ‘pancake’. It’s now on my list to try this week. Thanks

Hi Onamission, I unfortunately am diabetic and am on day 2 of the diet. This diet covers everything that a type 2 diabetic needs in terms of lowering sugar levels. I’ve had a few hunger pangs which I expected but apart from that it’s quite easy to follow the plan, especially if you’re determined to succeed. I’ve tried many diets but this specific one suits my aims. I only wish I’d have been given the chance to be a diet controlled diabetic rather than medication 5 years ago!!

Hi Hippo – Try Aldi – they’re ready milled 🙂

Hi Julia, Aldi sell flax seed already milled – some plain and some with dried raspberry, blueberry or goji seed added. I think it was £1.99 for 225g. Could be wrong about the price – it may be cheaper – but it would save you the job of grinding and then cleaning your machine.
Good to hear your symptoms are better on this diet. 🙂

I love this thread – great to see other people’s ideas, and get some inspiration.
Breakfast – ‘pancake’ made with 2 eggs, a spoonful of yogurt and flaxseed, topped with yogurt and blueberries. Really substantial and keeps me going till late lunch!
Lunch – small ham salad
Dinner – chickpea curry with a chickpea flatbread (thanks for the recipe, Bill – I love these!).

Thanks for all the tips and advice. Mick, I know what you’re thinking, the diet always starts tomorrow but it really does 😀. Takes time to set up and my time is limited but I’m determined. Yes I’m overweight for various reasons (three babies in three years and basically being greedy!) so this is to loose weight and curb my sweet tooth developed after the birth of my twins. I feel like I’ve tried other things and not stuck to them so this needs to work. Perhaps extreme is what I need rather than diets giving you a tasteless version of a ‘normal’ eating plan.

Thanks again for all the tips! Actually looking forward to getting started now!

Hi Aly you have been so unfortunate to get that infection just as you were starting this diet. Hat off to you that you have managed at all. I hope that residual cough clears up fast for you – I know how tiring and draining all the coughing can be x

My OH sprinkles it into some of his glasses of water for the same reason. Every little helps I suppose!

Hi Susansilver I was a bit off it for first 3 days just a bit light headed and shaky. Don’t give in. Try going to bed earlier than normal because once you are asleep you won’t feel hunger!! I found I woke up not feeling hungry doing that!

Hi Missay, I was thinking of the idea that cinnamon is supposed to help with blood sugars, if it does you are creating an extra health boost!! Well done. I might try it in the morning!

Boyjon try this diet first before deciding it does not work. Modern science shows type 2 diabetes CAN be reversed and you may find you are no longer prediabetic yourself. This is working well for so many of us.
Like Bill I’m pleased for you if the diet advised by your GP worked for you but it is not for everyone – with or without diabetes. Cold (resistant starch) wholewheat pasta salads for coeliacs and gluten intolerants????

Welcome to the forums Lucia. You should be proud of yourself it sounds as if you have taken a huge step in the right direction! 🙂 There are lots of tips on here. Have you read the book ‘8 week blood sugar diet’? You will have to ditch the carbs, I’m afraid, but there are lots of delicious recipes in the book and on this website. There are tips for packed lunches – dips and veg, frittata, chickpea flour flatbreads (very low carb) which you can use for wraps and salads with egg/tuna fish/chicken etc.
You will see the extra weight just melt away if you stick to this.
Remember it is really important to drink 2 to 3 litres of water a day.
If you feel a bit headachy in the first couple of days just drink plenty of fluids and perhaps take a paracetamol.
Good luck 🙂

Can not be beneficial not will not, not too sure are you ?
You got a diet from your doc that worked for you – good
There are many people both on and off these forums for whom the diet is working and working well.
May I ask what your medical qualifications are to make such statements.
Nice backlink by the way.

Hi, I’m the wrong side of 200pounds. Feeling my age and fed up sitting at work then sitting at home.
I am ready.
This week I have weighed myself and changed plates. I eat from a side plate and not a dinner plate.
I am not counting the calories this week, that’s next week.
I gave stopped eating chocolate, crisps, biscuits cake etc.
So for example, yesterday I had a small bowl of cornflakes. A home made wholewheat wrap with turkey and lettuce, an apple, and in the evening chicken, cauliflower, broccoli and carrots.
I am proud of myself.
I couldn’t convert straight onto 800 calories from what I was eating. So here I come. I will be 8 hundred-ing next week.
This is my 1st ever post. Hope to hear from you all with tips etc.
Love Lucia. Xxxx

Thanks Sabrina – anything that can help – going to try and cut down what I am drinking in the evening to see if that helps.

Many thanks hashimoto, I am feeling quite inspired! Will look at the flatbread recipes and will post how I get on.

Hi Mosleyfan,

Thank you for your message, Good to hear from you, i need all the support I can get!! No pain so must be ok but weight loss slow only lost 3lb ??
Hope you still doing ok?? 😀

I haven’t made these since I’ve been on the BSD. A quick look and it seems okay, slightly too much apple juice maybe. The recipe is based on a 500g bag of dried beans and makes too much for a normal pan. I am also missing one or two details (how long to bake!). I’ll see what I can do.

I’m not an expert Susansilver, but the beans/veg salad seems very low in fat, unless you had a dressing with it. As I understand it, the fat helps to keep you more satisfied and so less hungry. Maybe have a look at the thread on ‘What are you eating today?’ for some ideas to help with the next few days. Good luck – I firmly believe the results are worth working it out so it works for you.

Hi Bernie, I had the same problem. I was drinking 300ml of warm milk before bed & ended up getting up in the middle of the night. I reduced down to 200ml & have not had to get up. Hope that helps.