Thanks Time4Change. Where are you going in the US? I usually stay with friends in Texas, but we have done lots of trips together. I love NYC. When I was there late 2001 nobody could believe how far I walked – fuelled in those days with hot dogs!!!!!!

Probably one of the hardest things for me to do this last week was to either leave food on the plate (the bread & dumplings that came with the duck and cabbage) or to throw it away (the bread from Subway and on the sandwich at the station). All those years of being told not to waste food – and I’ve paid for it. But I had to think of how far I’ve come on this, and not want to undo any of it.

Hopefully you’ll be staying somewhere that provides some protein for breakfast, rather than wall to wall carbs like many places I’ve stayed over there. I found other meals easier most of the time (except one town where just about everything came deep-fried 😱).

Sounds like you have a good plan. Enjoy your trip and I look forward to reading about it when you get back.

In some of the recipes it says you can have a salad with them, and then in others it doesn’t stipulate. But I was dreaming of having the steak and I can see in the photo in the book it is with a green salad is to okay to add do you think anyone? Many thanks

It’s good to read about other people’s journeys on this plan – keep em coming!

Well I plucked up courage this morning and after my shower I tried on (for the first time) my mother-of-the-bride dress. I’d tried on the larger size in store and bought the size 12. So I’m happy to report that it fits!!

Still going to continue to lose even more though…

Thinking of you and your family Bill, hope you are ok.x

Aww sorry to hear the holiday had some bumps but brilliant that you didn’t have a gain (only temporary one by the looks of it) I’m off to the U.S. for 4 days from Wednesday and I’m a bit concerned about how I’ll manage. My plan would be to pretty much do as you did. I’m quite used to no bread/potatoes/pasta or rice now that it would be really hard to eat them now. My only failing would be the desire for an American pizza…oh boy, I’m going to have to be on my guard aren’t I😬 I’m bring my gym gear/swim suit and plan to keep super active, charge up the Fitbit and walk walk walk. Won’t weigh in for a couple of days after I return, I always find travelling mucks up my body so no point upsetting myself too unnecessarily. Thanks for sharing, gives me great hope that a holiday doesn’t have to screw up the success of the last 4 weeks – that’ll be a change for me, I was the same as you, taking months to undo damage caused by food/drink. Not this time!

Now that’s what I call a diet!

Think you have done really well – I have a trip coming up over Easter and so will take your lead.

Flump you have done so well. On Wednesday I will de into it 2 weeks and I share that excitement of making the food and enjoying the food – I feel I am truly appreciating food again. Its great. I have noticed a bit of a slower rate of weight loss in the 2nd week – has anyone else noticed this. In total since I started I have lost albs, which I am happy about but it has slowed a wee bit. Normal you think? I want to keep my motivation up and losing really helps 🙂

going into week 7 and 1 and a 1/2 stone down. As both my parents have type 2 diabetes I was concerned as I am heavy by 4 if not 5 stone. This diet has been the best I have tried and it has made me much more experimental in my cooking and I really enjoy the food that I am eating. I feel healthier,sleep better and have heaps more energy feeling very positive. It is so great to hear so many people doing so well you are all inspirational. When I get to my target wait I am going to learn ballet something I have wanted to do 🙂

Anita, good news pears are fine, and you can have some of your other fruits. Page 114 – “Avoid too many sweet fruits: apples, pears and berries are fine…”. So I think that you could have a pear every day if you wanted and the odd bit of the others would be fine too, providing you included the calories in your 800.

Hi all,

Tomorrow will be the start of week 6 for me so just 2 more to go – so far have lost 1st 11 lbs – my aim was to lost 2 stone in the 8 weeks. I think I will surely be able to achieve that…………..I can’t tell you how excited I feel – yes I was far too overweight which some of you won’t be, my blood sugars now are in the healthy range which they weren’t before I started even though I was on medication. I feel energised, more confident and I have been busy throwing away my ‘fat’ clothes which I never ever want to see again!

Yesterday I saw my grown up kids for the first time in weeks and my son was incredulous and said he hadn’t realised who I was to start with – joy upon joy!!!!

I still will have another stone and a half to lose after my 8 weeks is up BUT I really feel for the first time I have found a diet which works for my body and which I actually really enjoy. My favourite meal which my husband and I (he’s lost 1 stone by half doing it with me!) is the aubergine receipe for week 1 dinner – we have this every Monday as we just love it.

Haven’t been tempted with anything carb at all – have been staying away in hotels most weeks and still manage to eat carb free but have consumed more wine than I should have. Only exercise has been walking the dog.

Have plateaued for 1 week and got passed that…………last week lost 3 lbs and heading that way for this week – roll on tomorrow’s weigh in – for me (experienced dieter) I can tell you that 6 weeks in and still losing 2-3lbs per week is frankly astounding, normal diet would now be about 1/2 lb a week if you’re lucky so am delighted! Yes the weight loss has massively dropped but I rarely step on the scale and don’t see a drop of some kind – I weigh every morning at the same time.

Keep going everyone and enjoy the results!!

Ps bought a spiraliser which my husband enjoys using – courgettes so pretty

Just printed off your suggestions to take away. thanks again for all your wonderful help.

Good for you Bob fox…well done…its hard to go against ‘ medical advice’ but this works.

I’m a bit concerned about Bill too, if it was good news he’d surely have let everyone know by now.
Sending love and good wishes to you and your family Bill.

Wonderful to hear your impressive transformation Bob. What a huge achievement! I agree it’s sad that so many people are not getting access to the advice and information that allows them to do what you have done. Thanks to lots of people like you on the forum, we hope the messages people get from their professionals will change…all the best

SunnyB – the extra 3 pounds has disappeared 😃 . Never gone so quickly before! So now I weigh same as last Saturday. Total loss 30 pounds since starting on BSD. Only about another 50 – 56 to go 😱

Just reporting that the excess baggage (3 pounds) has disappeared and my weight has returned to what it was last Saturday before my holiday. 😃 Never disappeared so quickly before!

Well done Bob. Hopefully the positive examples on this site will help to change opinions.

Someone (carommartin?) asked about calorie apps. A nutritionist friend recommended Easy Diet Diary free for iPhones and iPads which I have downloaded yesterday and started using. Makes calorie counting and keeping a record of food eaten very easy. See http://easydietdiary.com/
There is a huge range of brands for each food you select! Great detail. You can send your data to your nutritionist too https://connect.easydietdiary.com/ I think there is a similar one for Android.
Warning: It can become addictive calorie counting down to the last quarter gram! LOL

Hi everyone, it was interesting to read of other people’s problems with constipation. It’s always been a bit of an issue with me, but after a few days on this diet, it was a huge problem. I thought it was just me. I thought I might have to go back to more cereals and larger amounts of beans, lentils etc. They always worked for my digestive system, but left me hungry a couple of hours later.
I started taking psyllium husks mixed into low calorie drinks, and eating as many high fibre/low calorie vegetables as I can fit into my 800 cals. Cauliflower, broccoli, sprouts and broad beans provide quite a bit of fibre. Also processed wheat bran, not wheat bran cereal, the raw stuff, can be mixed into yogurt.
I lost over 2 kilos in the first week, but had a few hiccups at the beginning of my second week. I’ve got them sorted now, and the scales have begun moving downwards again. I don’t mind if my weightloss isn’t as fast as others’, as long as I’m losing.

Hi. Congratulations on losing 14 pounds.

I asked the team that question when I was coming to the end of the 8 weeks. They said it was ok to continue on 800 calories for another few weeks as long as I felt OK and had no problems. But then to transfer to 5:2.

Like you I had more weight to lose so continued on 800 for a weeks. Just had a week on holiday eating low carb and now back on 800. Lots of folk on here seem to be staying on 800 if they have more weight to lose, others going on 5:2 or a variation of it.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck Toofastblack

I have just completed my first week and have lost 5lbs! Very thrilled.

I was diagnosed as pre diabetic six weeks ago, the doctor and myself decided I would try the eight week 800 calorie diet, the first few days were awful and I didn’t think I could carry on, however I persisted, I am sugar addicted. I am at the end of my fifth week and have lost just over 14 lb I am now only losing about 4 oz a day and I am always cold and hungry, I drink a lot of water as I can’t drink hot drinks with no sugar in, my worry is what do I do when I finish the eight weeks? I want to lose at least 28lb I can’t see me losing another 14lb so the question is do I carry on with the 800 calories after the eight weeks?

Hia everyone. I’m on day six. Lost 8 lbs so far. Not expecting much of next few weeks. Anything off is amazing. I have quite a bit to go. Not diabetic, but have been a carb and sugar addict since being pregnant in 2014… Gained weight and was at 17. 2 giving birth… Before starting bsd I was 14 st1 2. I’m currently 14. 4. I’ve had the most amazing headaches and dizziness along with catching a cold and being generally run down…. Must have been a terrible addict. I will say today that I had some iceberg lettuce. It was so sweet. I’m no longer craving sugar and my hunger pangs have reduced somewhat. Great… Weigh in next Sat… Will start more exercise after cold has gone. Currently walking pram approx 3 miles a day… 😄

Thanks all –
good luck Leanne!

Thanks for that TimeForChange,
I had a suspicion that this was happening at a similar point in time on the BSD for all of us.
It’s reassuring, and as Lachlan says, if our pancreas can do it once it can do it again 🙂

Hi All,
I’m staying away from the weight loss and exercise debate because I haven’t seen any research about that.
What I do want to say is that exercise is essential in helping to control blood sugars. It should be one of the tools that every diabetic uses, to keep their blood sugar in a healthy range.

Lucia reading your posts just makes my day!! I feel so happy reading of your achievements and your positivity just shines through.
You are a breath of fresh air. Can’t wait to hear of you and your hubby’s achievements over time 🙂

Lucia you are a legend. Well done on your journey so far. Love reading your posts. You are so honest. We are all on a journey no matter our starting or intended finish line. Whether we get there or not is I think less important than our intent. Hey! We are all heading in the right direction.

Yes – I’ve seen a reduction. I measured at the end of 6 weeks and was on the low side of normal.

Hi Jandz,
Amazing isn’t it? You’ve broken the hold that carbs and sugar had over you 🙂
Just goes to show, as someone else posted, that it really is an addiction.
You’ve also had some impressive weight and inches lost too.
Keep up the good work

Hang in there Hetty, I’m sure you’ll start seeing weight loss again soon. You’ve probably found the problem already in the cashews! I love nuts too but cashews are pretty high. I try and stick to 6 walnut halves or some almonds and I put them in a little ziplock bag with some sunflower seeds ( hulled). The sunflower seeds are low carb, high protein and taste pretty good. That’s my allowance of nuts/ seeds for the day to snack on.
I really hope you get the gynae appt. and treatment underway soon. The hormone changes around menopause are bad enough without your very excessive blood loss.
As OP says, you are doing really well! Stay positive, things have to get better soon 🙂

I too saw a rise in levels in week 5. Week 7 was the best I’d seen, then back up in week 8. Work was v stressful in week 8. I didn’t change what I ate and was proud that I hadn’t resorted to chocolate but blood readings were up and no weight lost. I wondered if the stress could be a factor or whether it was just a normal variation. Going to keep going and see what happens.

How fantastic Bob. Thanks for sharing your story. So inspiring to read of the great changes you have made.

OP

Hi Hetty

I think you are doing so well juggling all that you are AND still having your numbers move in the right direction (albeit slower than you’d hoped) . I hope you get some answers to the medical issues – sounds awful to be dealing with all of that. My 10 year old boy said – ‘Mum, women have all the hard stuff- having babies and pains and periods! ‘ (training him early 😉) – and he doesn’t even know about the crappy menopause stuff.

Sounds like you’ve already found some ways to begin to tweak things. I agree with Cherrianne, keep posting and keep up with the positive changes you are making.

OP

ok so Saturday has always been my ‘treat’ day when trying to lose weight, silly I know but it worked ok when I lost 4 stone in 2014.

Today I had to do my food shop, went to aldi, dropped lots of nice veg, fish, prawns etc into the trolley and then walked down the sweet aisle…..and kept walking, didn’t even feel tempted 😇 !!!!!

Saturday tea would normally be carb loaded along the lines of pizza, fish & chips, pie and chips…you get the idea right? Tonight it was baked fish & asparagus cooked in a foil parcel with butter, chilli flakes and lemon juice served with a side of broccoli!

If I’m hungry later I still have calories left over for some nuts…

What has happened to me?? 🤗

Hi Lucia et al. Sorry for the late welcome but I’m just back from holiday in an Internet free zone.

Congratulations Lucia, you are doing really well. I have enjoyed reading your posts and look forward to following your progress.

Hi gillmap.

I wear a uniform for work and back in December my skirt was cutting me in half and I’d moved the jacket buttons as far as I could but it didn’t look good. Started this on 19th December. My skirt started to swivel round my waist and I’ve dropped two sizes. The jacket looks better and I can even fasten the bottom button! Must start moving the buttons back to where they started soon.

I don’t drink alcohol so that’s a problem I don’t have. But I do sometimes go for training days etc where food is provided. Sometimes I take my own I case their is nothing suitable, but often there is chicken or cooked meat, and salad. I do have a hotel stay coming up but have a good idea what food will be provided so have prepared an action plan (or should that be risk assessment?)

I’ve just come back from holiday and made the best choices I could from what was available. Hotel buffet breakfasts often include some protein – except in the USA (at least where I have stayed).

At home I do try to keep my fridge and freezer stocked with foods I know I can eat on this plan: cooked meats, fish, cheese etc. No preparation needed. And eggs. I usually boil six at a time and keep them in the fridge (just being careful not to mix up the cooked and uncooked eggs! LOL). Having food like that available almost instantly has kep me from many disasters.

I don’t follow the meal plans in the book, but prepare my own, just keeping to the calorie count. And I write everything down.

Hope this helps, and look forward to seeing your progress. You’ll soon be in those clothes 😃

Hi,
Just went for a wander on this website.
Filled in the quiz. I had to work out and find out the answers first.
I now know that last week my bmi was 33.9 and today it is 32.7. I am in the obese category. It should be 25.
My waist is 38 inches. I am five foot five inches tall or 66 inches so my wAist should be 33 inches or less.
I only had a metal tape measure and by jingo was it cold. Should have put it by the fire for a little while or measured outside my teeshirt. 🤔

Looks as though I have started just in the nick of time.
So another aim is to move my bmi from red, through orange, through yellow to that nice green colour band.

And shave Five inches from my belly. Another reason to count the calories. I am just working them out now, so I know how to plan tomorrow.

Big learning curve. HUGE, in fact.
Now, how many calories in a stick of celery, off to google the list.
Love Lucia xxxx

hi all, reading your posts has encouraged me as i too am only losing around 1 lb a week but it is certainly better than nothing and cravings for the wrong things do seem to have stopped

hi cherrianne, thanks for support. have had a bit of a rethink today and i think you were right about not having enough fat. i have also realised that i have been snacking on too many nuts especially cashew which i hadnt realised were so high in carbs so its back to the drawing board. at the moment i feel as though me and my body are at loggerheads with each other!

Hi,
Just have fish and veg.
Feel totally full. Previously I have never felt full. It’s wonderful!
So only having water until tomorrow.
I think day one went well.
Day one of 56.
Hope you all have had a great day.
Love Lucia xxx

Hello Rubbu,

I’m not diabetic or prediabetic either. I am almost at the end of week 5, I too lost 8lb in week 1 and then stalled for the following 2 weeks. I also had a problem with constipation. I adjusted what I ate – like seriously dropped the cals to 300 ish a day for a few days, in fact I still do have the odd very low cal day. It just kick starts it for me if things have been slowing down a bit.

I did Dr Mosely’s original 5,2 diet in 2013 and a few lbs had crept on. I just need to get back to what I was in 2014. Well the top half is, I’ve written elsewhere here, but I had a breast reduction in August so the top half is a size 12. I’m just working on the pear shaped bottom half!

I’d been doing the Davina fit in 7 about every other day, I also swim 2-3 times a week. I’ve also started walking at lunchtimes – it’s actually nice to get away from the desk for half an hour and get some fresh air. Then about 10 days ago I bought a vibrations plate machine. It’s a bit like sitting on the washing machine when it’s spinning! i have to say that it is toning up the muscles since there is not so much wobbling when i stand on it now! It’s also something I can do if it’s raining lunchtime and I can’t go out.

I’ve lost 1st 1lb so far. The scales – and the mirror have not always been my friend! Have you noticed too that they don’t make mirrors like they used to 😉

After week 1 I went and bought my ‘mother of the bride’ dress in the size below. I’ve not tried it on yet. The wedding is in the US and we fly out on 6 May so i have until then.

I will do it, I am determined to.

Hi,
To those the thumbs up symbol. It isn’t an emoji. You change the font or style of your lettering , I think it is called dingbats. Then each of the keyboard letters is for a different symbol.
When I had a go, it was trial and error. I just pressed each of the keyboard letters until I hit the thumbs up. Also there is a really nice tick, for filling in forms.
Love Lucia xxxx

Thanks everyone. Feeling a bit down today because I’m tired and the start of the holiday was a disaster so I was stressed out until it got sorted. I decided the best thing to do was to control what I could, and that was what I ate. Ok, portion control was out but it could have been so much worse. And would have been in the old pre-BSD days.

Janet 1973. The advantage of the residential is that we go to the same hotel every year, so I have a good idea what the food will be. Don’t usually get much exercise there, so will have to make an effort on that.

Breakfast is a serve yourself, so I’ll just head straight for the cooked breakfast and avoid the cereals, juice and toast. Lunch is again serve yourself, with lots of choice of cooked meats and salads. Also a cooked option, but rarely have that anyway. Again, avoid bread roll and desserts.

Dinner – have to select from the menu at breakfast (on arrival first day). Three courses. Starter often melon or pâté or similar. Main often fish or chicken with various veg (will avoid potatoes). Dessert will need to be avoided. Even the cheese board is huge, with lots of crackers and grapes. It would be my best option if I thought nobody would notice me slipping cheese into my serviette for later LOL.

Seriously, just make best choices I can. Again, I need to watch portion sizes!!!

Hope the weather is fine so I can get some walking in, at either end of the day or in the free afternoon (last year it snowed!)

Well, here goes – posting on forums is something I have never done before, but I am hoping that it will help with the task ahead.

Losing weight and being more active has been on the agenda for ages but push has finally come to good shove as a blood test result shows prediabetes. I also have a work function to attend in seven weeks and I can’t get into any of my clothes suitable for the occasion, not to mention about 90% of the rest of my wardrobe! And, I am going to stay with friends living near Chicago in May and there’s not a spare ounce on either of them! I have signed up for the Cotswold Plod in June, there’sthere’s nothing like a bit of pressure!

My downfall is staying in hotels (for work) too often and feeling too tired to eat properly when I get home from work, not to mention wine!

Weighing and measuring lined up for tomorrow morning then I will know the full size of the challenge! For now, I am off to buy some veg!

Thanks SunnyB. I’ll be interested to see how long it takes to lose the excess baggage! Then back to getting the rest of the excess moving. Seems a long way to go – about 56 pounds – but I’ll get there.

Hi Cherrianne

Good plan. I’ve actually started doing some series meditation to calm me down. Not sure if my stress is causing my blood sugar levels to rise but it’s really helping me deal with the disappointment of these high readings I’ve been getting and I have to say I’m feeling much more relaxed. Im sure all our levels will come down again. I figure if my pancreas has done it before it will do it again. Just have to give it time.

Hi Sue

Sorry to contradict you but weight going on isn’t necessarily about calories in versus calories out. Its fashionable these days to say that its as simple as that. Its really not and that’s why we are all here doing the bsd. There are many other factors involved, some of which are beyond our control. And I know I run the risk of really upsetting you now but there is also growing evidence that exercise of any form does not contribute to weight loss. Its great for general well being but does nothing to reduce the waistline. I hope that you can see the upsides here as I do, firstly, just carry on with your eating the way you have been as long as you are within the plan and secondly, sod the housework and get out for a nice walk instead.

Hi All – After a great start in the first week, I too had a plateau in week 2 and have been assures on other forums on this site, that this is normal and often happens week2/3 – and indeed for some, in later weeks too. It was disheartening not to see movement on the scales for a few days, but then I dropped a pound at the end of the week. Again this week – my third – has seen nothing in pounds lost so far, but some how, when I last measured I was missing 1.5 inches from my waist.

Think the secret is to accept that as your body adjusts, there will be time when the pounds don’t drop as readily as you’d expect, but you have to stay positive and committed to the process. Remember that success is partly in the head, don’t allow yourself to self-sabotage because progress is not what you expect and you feel discouraged – there’s plenty of support on the forums when you feel like this, so use it. As for goals, there’s no reason you can’t adjust those to something more attainable – if you think 16lb is realistic, set that as your new target and if you hit it before the end of the eight weeks, you can set a new goal.

I’m almost at the end of my week three and right now, I have no idea what I am going to do at the end of the 8wks on the 800 diet. Thought it made sense not to try to plan that far ahead, but to concentrate of the here and now. Once I get into week eight and have a better picture of how much I have lost, I’ll be better equipped to make the decision, but I do know that I would be prepared to stay on the 800 if I decided it would help.

Remember, be kind to yourself, don’t beat yourself up because things are not happening as fast as you would like – at 800 cals a day, the weight loss WILL happen.

Good luck everyone.