Yes… sugar is a drug because it’s addictive? Feels like it is. Decades worth of detoxing to wade through, but we’re all winners because we’ve faced up to it. We’re aware, we know what to do. We don’t always manage it – I had some oven chips, I had some honey, I’ve eaten some Bournville chocolate because having ordered some cacao caved in when it hadn’t arrived, I could go on. But I’m no longer kidding myself, what the psychologists would call ‘cognitive dissonance’; but – as I’m a vegetarian I can’t do cold turkey, I need to do cold something else – any ideas?

Such are the meanderings of the mind of a woman with not a lot else to do but contemplate – but 99% of the time I’m not doing sugar or processed food which I think is a result. Carbs in the form of wholefood ingredients is proving to be another matter. Feel better for describing that.

May the water retention flow swiftly before you next step on those scales Janet, it must have been a bit of a shock. I suppose an 8 week regime does imply an 8 week miracle but I’m taking a longer view, my body is older and slower to respond.

You’ll only feel bad about it though and then we’ll have to talk you out of feeling guilty
Tell hubby to throw them in the bin 😉

Hi Janet – well done for not caving in. It’s probably water retention. At times the tape measure is a better guide than scales. Keep on being so strong willed 🙂

Hi captainlynne the about face is astonishing! Perhaps the rest of us need to be prepared for a supportive nurse to ‘be got at’ by other health ‘professionals’. In the end they WILL have to take notice because this IS going to be sustainable and our improved health will speak loud and clear for us.

Like you, this is my path until the day I die. No going back. No retreat. Onward!!!!! Onward!!!!

He certainly is Bill!

Hubby will have to make our evening cuppa, I can’t be trusted to get the milk from the fridge!

I have read somewhere that too much dairy can affect the skin but it might be a hump you will get past . Also, are you getting a variety of food? If not, perhaps you need a multi vit and multi mineral to redress balances.

The carb monster is sitting on your shoulder Janet.
You don’t want those mints, after all, why would you want to put poison in your mouth ?
It’s just a craving hun, it will pass.

So today hasn’t been a great day. My usual morning weigh-in showed a gain of a pound and a half. I’m calling it a ‘phantom gain’ as there is no chance of it being fat, it can only be water so it will disappear again and I’m fine with that. But then later, I was so very sorely tempted to get the buttered toast along with my coffee – the first time in three weeks I have almost caved in to bread!

But I didn’t.

I’ve stayed on track all day but I’ve just forced down the most awful evening meal I’ve made in ages (I’m not much of a chef). And now I can’t stop thinking about the after 8 mints happily chilling in my fridge…..

Hi Eureka

Thanks. Calmed down now. 😃 I’m used to negativity, it was the about-face that got to me.

As you say, I know what suits my body. And it is this, so this us what I will be doing and if they don’t like it ………!

Even if they can’t trust respected professionals, I do. This gelled with me instantly.

I have a few challenges coming up, but have now had a long time to get used to this way of eating. It’s a habit now and I can’t believe how much I used to eat. Especially carbs 😱 No place in my house for them now.

I want to be healthy, and around to see my twin granddaughters grow up (and they are only 8). This is the way forward for me 😃

So, line drawn.

Onward!!!!!!!!

Hi jellytum, i did the same about peanut butter and i love the stuff! That peanut butter dip recipe is so easy for a. Packed lunch as well 🙂

Thank you all for your advice and words of encouragement. I genuinely think that the reason I am continuing doing this is the fantastic support from you all! It’s so reassuring to know that others are going through the same thing. The weight losses and inches lost have been so impressive! I have been feeling a bit better today (mainly due to your lovely kind supportive words) and know we will get there! 🙂 Honestly, thank you all who have commented, you really have made me feel like I can keep going now!
Please keep me updated with how well you are all doing, it’s so lovely to read and also so encouraging!

That’s fine, thanks. I’m not that hung up on it, just wondered where I’d got an extra 300 calories of allowance from. I just didn’t want to get caught out, but that shouldn’t happen now I know what it does.

Well I’ve had all my calorie allowance for the day, just a tad left for a cup of tea, so it’s water water water for the rest of the evening. I’ll have to do some experimenting with the times of my shakes, I did an exercise class this morning and was hungry so didn’t do too well in spacing them out! Even when eating my normal, dreadful diet, this time of the day was when I sat down and rewarded myself all night with food until bedtime as I felt I deserved it. I also link food to a form of relaxation in that it helped me ‘come down’ from the day rather like some people use a glass or two of wine. That’s one habit that is going to be tackled head on now. I can’t say I’m hungry, just more time on my hands not cooking an evening meal. I’ve had my 250g of brocolli which was delicious, I think I’d better have an early night and in the morning, not have my first shake until around ten. I think i might be able to stick to this!!

Hi captainlynne

You are allowed to blow a fuse – but watch your BP!
Had my visit with the nurse this am. Best BP I’ve ever had! She listened, will look up BSD etc & seemed interested. All to my surprise. I also gave her the printed GP notes , as per book, from Prof Roy Taylor. My instructions to read & file the notes, & my diet history (4 weeks)’ so far were written on the back. I also wrote WHY are T2 ‘s given instructions to eat HIGH carb diets when our insulin production/ performance is so compromised? I will want to know why, if this is not in my notes when I visit again.

At this point in time , I am the one that knows the most about my Diabetes. I have researched , read & listened to everything I can on the subject. I have a library of books by eminent dr’s. The people that resonate with me the most, & the ones I trust by instinct & reason are Pro Roy Taylor & Dr Michael Mosley. They echo what I KNOW about ME

So, with or without nhs blessing, this is my path now & I’ll tread it til I die. I hope that can now be a long healthy time away. And I want to be here to see the sea change in treatment for Type 2 Diabetics

Keep the faith, as you have been doing
Eureka

Hi all,

I really hope my post doesn’t come across as being vain..

I’m almost 4 weeks into the BSD so half way through, and feeling a bit down about things.

After 2 weeks of being on the BSD my skin looked great. My complexion was glowing and my problem skin (acne) was improving. However, when I woke up this morning I was gutted to see that my complexion looks terrible – I look absolutely knackered, my skin feels really dry and has flared up and is really patchy and uneven – like I have been under a sunbed with no protection. I also have very noticeable dark circles. My skin looks the same – if not worse – as when I was eating a huge amount of sugar and carbs before I went on the BSD.

I certainly don’t look at all healthy even though I haven’t veered from the diet, am drinking water, and I’m following it to the letter. I’ve also noticed my energy levels are lower and my weight loss has stopped for around one week.

Does anyone know if this is to be expected and one’s skin will get worse before it gets better etc?

Any help would be very gratefully received.

Yeah the low fat industry has a lot to answer for TBH
I can see the day coming when they are all going to have to evaluate and then we may see low carb WW meals that will actually help people to lose weight.

Will post them on here when I get them Bill. When I was diagnosed, my GP said start taking Metformin and Alvorstatin and try to lose some weight. I would have been faffing about with a low fat diet if I hadn’t read about this diet in the Mail.

Thanks Bill. I knew I could rely on you to talk some sense into me.

In a very different context this afternoon I was reminded of revolutionaries. And that is what we are, low-carb revolutionaries turning against a specific status quo.

I wasn’t doing it for them anyway, but for me. If they don’t want to go with the flow, that’s fine. I’ll just carry on without them, except for routine checks. Won’t be the first time I’ve done something despite someone, rather than with them!

Wonder who is going to re-write the book, with all our evidence?

Thanks again.

You can show calories in the report section (as well as net calories) if that is any use.

Thanks Hashimoto. You’re right about carbs and low fat on the 5:2, that’s cheered me up and galvanised my determination! But I might keep my name as a deterrent to fall back into bad habits :/
For nearly three decades, since ending student days, I have ignored peanut butter as a possible foodstuff. It might be lunch for a few more days before I get bored of it!

Thanks FoFi for the techie tip. I’d be like hashimoto and just note it on paper if I could read my own handwriting.

Wow bob that is a great weight loss and you have massive motivation re your mother in law
Heres hoping that, since you’re newly diagnosed you can get this thing reversed and get off the meds ASAP
I’ll watch for yourHb1AC results with interst.

When reaching for the biscuits, I think to myself that if I have just a little one, I will want another one and another one and then I think of my T2 diagnosed mother-in-law who had her leg amputated because a scratch turned ulcerous and then gangrenous (the smell). I tend not to want to eat sweet stuff after that. On week 6 now and have lost 25lbs and 4″ off my waist. Not testing but had 2nd Hb1AC test yesterday and get results next week. Diagnosed T2 with a result of 51 on 5 JAN 2016.

Hi all

Just wondering if there are any other TOFIs (thin outside fat inside) pu there on this diet. I am a 5.7 man and only weighed 10 stone 5 lbs when I started the diet. I’ve been on it for five weeks tomorrow and lost weight consistently and now I’m down to 9 stone 1 lbs. I beginning to look very thin and wondering how much more I can lose before things start to get dangerous for my health. My blood sugar levels are varying between 5.5 and 8.3 but that’s not my overnight fasting levels as I’ve been getting higher readings then due to the dawn phenomenon (see the thread about rising blood sugar levels if that is a new term to you).

If there is anyone else out there in a similar situation I’d love to hear from you.

Oooo Bill1954, I blooming hope that’s the case! Ummmm, I’m sorry about this but I’ve just pressed the report sign on your post as I thought I could reply that way!! I. Not all that great with technology! I’m really hoping my groaning stomachedwill quieten soon, the noises and moaning are terrible! Im guzzling water like a good’n at the mo!
FoFi, I’m glad you told me you don’t ‘eat back’ your exercise calories, I just wasn’t sure about it. I’m going to not and see how I get on. It’s better for me to have hard and fast rules especially at the start. If I have a roughly or an approximate, I take it to the extreme as I can’t self regulate anything to do with food…..yet, I’m hoping this will change as I try to regulate my appetite and choices around food and gain a better relationship with it. I don’t half feel daft typing that and think of my husband who isn’t overweight, that only thinks about food at the correct times and eats til comfortable. I used to think I want to eat until I felt like popping, that WAS my norm!

Jellitum – to stop it subtracting your exercise you need to pay £40 per year for the premium or pro version. You could divide by 10 (or some other constant) so that it doesn’t have much impact but you would still have a log of what you have done.

Fin1965, the book doesn’t suggest eating more if you have been exercising. Perhaps if you are exercising for many hours in a day (such as a cycling or hiking holiday) but otherwise no. I try not to eat more when I exercise. I didn’t do any exercise in the first week of this diet and started in the second week. I haven’t been perfect with 800 kcal, (often 900+) but the weight is still coming off reasonably quickly. (I do have much more than you to lose!)

Hi Fin1965
with that amount of exercise and sticking to 800 cals, the weight should fall off you!
I too really feel the cold mind, it’s thermals all the way for me.
Most people have found that, after the first 2 or 3 days, their appetites diminish rapidly as the easy to digest carbs are flushed from their systems and the complex carbs and fat make your body work hard to process.
I’m confident that, if you stick to the plan, we’ll be seeing a really happy post from you a week from now.

Hi jellytum, you know that tum will disappear on this diet! I did 5:2 a few years back and found it much mlre difficult than this. Like me i bet you were eating carbs and low fat on 5 days. This is different and so easy.
I’m old fashioned so i just write what I eat each day in a notebook so can’t help you with the techy stuff. Looking forward to your posts about that tum disappearing – you will have to change your name 😉
Good luck, you’ll love the changes 🙂

Hi hashimoto and Bill 1954 thank you both for the welcome and I’m glad I’m okay to post here, it certainly seems a wonderful forum, plenty of encouragement and hints! Bill1954, I’m trying to drink all the water I can, occasionally I’ll have a Diet Coke, but that’s only once in a blue moon. I am a tea addict though but use a fraction of no sugar soy milk. I have not long started at the gym, well three weeks really. I do spinning on mon and fri for an hour, box fit class on Tuesday and body tone on a Saturday morning for an hour. The man who runs our spinning class said I should drink another shake because he said I would’ve burned off 200 cals easily. I haven’t drank it yet, but am worried I won’t see any weight loss. I have had my thyroid checked and all the figures come back normal, it’s strange because I do feel the cold more than anyone I know and have a sluggish digestion system. If I stick to the 800 cals religiously, by the law of physics, I’ve got to lose something right?! I think my problem in the past has been portion control, I have a HUGE appetite and feel I can eat double what my husband eats. There have been times where this has really embarrassed me and started to eat in secret. That starts a really bad relationship with food I know. The recipes in the book look great don’t they, but I’ll stick to shakes for a couple of weeks and I hope to be one of those who can put a weight loss on this forum, that’ll be a first for me! Thank you very much for your welcome. I think I’m going to be on this forum a lot as I really do get inspiration and motivation from all the posts.

Of course you are welcome here both to give and receive support, that’s what we do!
I see nothing in your post about fluid intake, in order for this eating plan to work well you should be trying to drink at least 2 – 3 litres of non sugary fluids per day.
Your past experiences as well as your present ones will only add to the information available to everyone on the forums so please don’t be shy to post
I, for one will be very interested to see your progression into this new lifestyle.

Hi Fin, it’s not a silly question, we are all on a learning curve on here and you are in the right place for support. I’m sure you won’t be the only person on the forums who has decided to use 600 calories of shakes and 200 of green veg as a starting point. Professor Taylor used that system with diabetic patients during the trial. I haven’t heard of anyone on these forums saying they have not lost any weight though many, like me, have had fails on other diets. I have lost 2 stones in 7 weeks. People have been losing weight at different rates – but the emphasis is they are losing weight!!! Good luck and welcome 🙂

Hello everyone. Just started Day 1 this morning having procrastinated long enough with a week or two of just enjoying reading this forum and drooling at your flat bread recipes! I enjoyed (sort of) the 5:2 2 years ago now, slowly lost 8kg, felt great but gradually fell off the wagon until now I’m back where I started! I’m not quite prediabetic, but on the margin now. On the 5:2 I lost an inch or two in most measurements but nothing at all from my tum. Hoping to change that this time as I’ve always known that carbs (toast!) is my enemy. Aiming to lose 15kg of the apple-liest bit of my shape!
By the way, does anyone know how to stop myfitnesspal subtracting calories used in exercise from those eaten which makes it difficult to track the 800 – perhaps I just shouldn’t bother putting exercise in?

This might seem an even sillier question, a bit about me,….. I’m fifty years old, female and am a stone and a half over weight. Like many I’ve tried all the diets, I did low carb high fat for three weeks but no weight loss at all, also I was very concerned about having high cholesterol figures. It might not be the biggest amount of weight to lose, but it may aswell be, I’ve been trying to lose weight for about a year. I decided to use food replacement drinks and veg in the evenings. This is why I think my question might be silly, am I in the right place to get support and hopefully give support if I can? I’ve been doing this diet for two days, feel ok, just a little hungry. I’m doing the shakes rather than the fantastic recipes just for a bit. I really need to see the scales move downwards, even four pounds will do and then that will motivate me enough to change over to the meals in the book. I don’t suffer from diabetes, so not sure if I’m treading on anyone’s toes by being here. Thank you for reading this!👍🏻

Hi Nutella
I am not diabetic – need to lose weight and be fitter.
Been on the BSD for 5 weeks now and lost 6.8 kgs, just over 1 stone.
I have 2 more stone to lose ideally, and have found this plan a dream to follow. As I am pescatarian, I plan meals myself following the guidelines in the book.

Losing this weight has really given me the confidence to start exercising with real commitment and I feel so much more energised.

Don’t be too hard on yourself, enjoy the new flavours, trying new recipes and feeling healthier. Good luck, let us know how you get on.

Hi Nigel, I have been having porridge for breakfast but with water, and measuring it the night before so there are fewer decisions to make when I am rushing in the morning! I have got the one from The Food Doctor with some seeds in, which adds some protein, and it’s still 186cal for 50g. To be honest, having some carbs like that keeps my head and my digestion happy, so it’s worth it for me but I’m not diabetic so can’t speak about that. I have started actually having it cold as I make it up the night before with fruit and cinnamon in it, so it’s more like bircher muesli I guess. I’d recommend it, I’m still losing weight – try it and see if it works for you!

Hi, I’m in the same boat as you Nutella. Not diabetic but with weight to lose, carb addicted. I started this on Sunday and have lost 5lbs. I’m finding it really easy and it is hard reaching 800 cals as the meals really do leave me full.

I think it’s important to have variety so make the most of the recipes provided. I also did this to help with migraines as I get about 3 a week. My last one was on Monday evening so fingers and toes crossed I can say goodbye to them.

The support and information on here is tremendous.

Good luck x

Thanks for your comments, this does seem a very supportive & friendly group, which is good! I have about 2 and a half stone to lose, and need to get my sugar/carb cravings under control to do that. I do think that having support in this way helps and look forward to getting slimmer and healthier!

29 degrees !!!!! positively tropical
We are expecting 2 – 3 degrees with snow and ice !
So you are 10 and a half hours ahead of the UK if it’s Friday night there.
My week 5 weigh day is tomorrow and after the dodgy sugar readings this week, I don’t know what to expect, but I did tighten the belt another notch this week.
Sleep well and enjoy the market 🙂

I’m afraid at the moment Lynne we just have to go with the flow as far as the medical profession is concerned.
There are doctors and nurses out there who are supportive of this plan, mine among them, but there are many who will always go by the book and unfortunately, the current issue is wrong!
It must be so frustrating to have a doctor or nurse who tries to talk you out of a lifestyle that you have proven to make you healthier.
As I said, the book is wrong, it needs rewritten, and we are providing the data for that, if anyone cares to take notice.

Hi Cherrianne, thanks for the words of encouragement. I think I need to celebrate the successes more, after all a small victory is still a victory. I think you’re right on the carbs as , looking back on myfitnesspal, my carbs have been about 65-75 g a day as I’ve been trying to stick to my porridge for breakfast (a hang over from dietician advice, when first diagnosed, to stabilise blood sugar during the day) – may just have to move to scrambled eggs and smoked salmon!!

Visited diabetes nurse this morning, and have just about calmed down.

She’s always been really supportive about BSD and is impressed with my results – evidence!!!

Today she had a nurse with her who is joining the practice so I explained this plan to the newbie. Of course, I got excited! Then she took my BP, which was slightly up on last time – hardly surprising!!!

Then it started. The newbie put a bit of a damper on things. Well, quite a big damper. And they started saying that they didn’t know if thus was sustainable long-term!!! Aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh 😱😱😱😱😱

When I mentioned this site and the FB group, all the evidence we’re gathering, eyes started to glaze over.

Ok I was enuthiastic. But we are proof it works.

All I can hope is that nice supportive nurse is back next time I go. Thought my HbA1c due March, but it’s April, so that and next visit to diabetes nurse mid-April. Should have calmed down properly by then!!!!!

With more evidence collated. 😃 We’ll show them this plan is sustainable!!!!’

Sorry for the rant but it got to me this morning.

No slaps or kicks Bill, value the advice you give on here too much lol! It is disappointing though that we can get such good control over everything else except the dawn phenomenon!
I’ve had fasting readings under 5 for over a week now because I’ve been really on top of the night time snack. In fact I’ve just had it because it’s 10.40 at night here and I have to be up fairly early, no Saturday lie in for me this week. My sister and I sell our handmade soaps and candles at a market on the first Saturday of the month. It’s forecast to be 29 degrees so hopefully our soy melts won’t, at least not until they’re sold 🙂

Hi susieq, that’s an impressive reduction in your insulin in just a few weeks. What an achievement. Definitely not a failed diet is it? Be proud of yourself, you will get the weight loss too.
Nearly everyone seems to reach a plateau after a few weeks but then the weight loss starts again. Stick with it, don’t be discouraged. If you read the other posts you’ll see you’re definitely not alone in this. Might pay you to do a quick check on your carb intake too. The consensus here seems to be 50 g a day will achieve good blood sugar control and weight loss. Hope to hear soon that the kgs are dropping 🙂

You are right of course cherrianne ***RUBS SLAPPED HAND***
I won’t make that mistake again, I do struggle to force food down when I’m not hungry but I’ll persevere with it.
Thanks for the kick in the butt 😀

Hi Buffy, the stuffed red peppers are delicious. Ive made them twice and they look so impressive! Ive just posted a very easy, speedy meal of spicy baked beans. Like cherrieanne if i know what food you like I can post more recipes. I was a veggie for years so have a few ideas up my sleeves 🙂

Hi, ME TOO! After 3 weeks of great weight loss I have stopped losing weight and, despite being really strict and using myfitnesspal, was beginning to think that this was just another diet I’d failed at! Having read the posts on here, I’m determined to carry on for the next five weeks as I have massively reduced my insulin (66 units a day at start – now down to 16) and have lost 5kgs so far (need to lose another 10 – so may need longer). I’m enjoying the food and haven’t yet felt any real hunger pangs. Keeping my head straight was ok whilst I was losing but it’s difficult to get through this barrier – just trying to stick with it. Joined the forums today, so hoping a bit of ‘sharing’ will help!

Not a coincidence Bill! You know that by now :). It doesn’t seem to matter how good my carb intake has been through the day. It still happens to me if I miss my snack, it’s disappointing but something we obviously have to learn to live with. So if I’m tired and likely to fall asleep before snack time I have to make sure I’ve at least had a drink of milk.

Hi Buffy, I’m vego too and just about to start week 4. I was also reliant on rice and carbs to fill me up. Do you like cooking and are you keen to experiment with new meal ideas? Some people have just lost their way and their cooking mojo, others have never cooked a meal from scratch. If you give me an idea of what kind of cook you are, and what kind of foods you enjoy I can post more recipes. I love to cook and experiment so have found a few ways to replicate fave meals that are low carb.
Some recipes on the forum are vegetarian too, the courgette bhajis that Hashimoto posted sound nice. There is also a stuffed capsicum recipe on about page 5.
Keep in touch and hopefully I’ll be able to help 🙂

Hi, I track everything I eat on Myfitnesspal so i know just how many carbs, fat and protein i’m eating, I aim to be well below 50 every day. Most days I’m under that. Blueberries are surprisingly higher in carbs than I thought, so I have to watch out for those.

Hi Nuttella, I’m not diabetic but am hypothyroid. This diet will suit anyone trying to shed some weight or just get plain healthy!! In a weeks time you will be posting about how great you feel! Great to have you on board! 🙂