Hi Jeff,

You’re absolutely right – this is a very supportive forum. Well done on your first day, Just one thing – no need to have the fat free yogurt – full fat dairy is recommended in the book, and the fat helps to fill you up too. A lot of fat free stuff has sugar and/or thickeners added to make up for the loss of volume by taking the fat out. This quite probably isn’t the case if it is just natural plain yogurt you are having, and to be honest I have semi skimmed milk by choice instead of full fat in my tea and coffee, because I find full fat ruins the taste of the drink for me. I have been enjoying full fat greek yogurt though! I thought I’d just mention it, in case you think you ‘should’ have fat free yogurt.

Best of luck.

Hi all – I am a newbie on the diet & the site. I have just bought some buckwheat flour, it has carbs as does chick-pea flour so I am confused about some points raised in this posting. Chick peas also have carbs, but much less, so am assuming it’s the concentration/sheer volume of chick peas in the flour that boosts the carb level. Buckwheat is mentioned in the book as a suitable foodstuff, so am now all over the place! What would be.

A good idea might be for this diet to have a traffic light system (oops, I know…) of green, amber & red foods, perhaps buckwheat is amber?

I just know that hubby ( has similar weight/mid-life fat issues to me) especially will falter unless I can. Find something that is a bit like bread, I will try tamznlaws recipe above though, the one for a ‘heavy bread’ sounds a great idea.

M&S do a good line in beetroot crisps, could find nothing negative on the pack & I make kale crisps, I alternate the flavours with chilli flakes & Parmesan – very tasty & nutritious.

Yes, I know I could make my own, but I have just had the most delicious salted caramel ice cream. Low calorie , less than 40 per scoop, low carb, 5g. Available in a high street store. Not sure if I can name brands on here, but it was on Dragons Den a few weeks ago. They also do vanilla and mint chocolate.

Hello lovely people, this forum has restored my faith in human kindness, what an amazing bunch of people you all are! I have lost 1st on the Sirt diet but have had it up to my eyeballs with green slime, the smell is what does for me, not the taste. It took me longer than anyone on the forum I was on, to lose 1st, 6 weeks, but hey it’s a good start & I have bought down my blood pressure to normal levels for the 1st time in an age. However I know I absolutely MUST shift my gut-bucket as must my husband, we both like more than a drop of the laughing juice & are carrying far too much around our middles. This forum has been very enlightening and I need to find the recipe (as opposed to the method) for the chick-pea flat breads, perhaps I have missed it in the book, found the scones & have found a buckwheat pancake recipe online, as if we can have an egg on something that resembles toast at weekends I think this will help us stick with it. I wanted to start the 8 weeks properly on Tuesday, but the fates have conspired against me, but despite having to travel I have kept the calories to under 1,000 and relinquished refined carbs (have more or less given them up since mid Jan). We are not into much sweet stuff or pasta, but am fast learning that this is only the tip of the iceberg and will be swapping spuds & gnocchi for alternatives, guess buckwheat will become a staple, along with celeriac in small portions. Am fascinated at all the butter bean options – yummy, works for me and will investigate flour alternatives. Will post again when I have started properly. Good luck & big hugs to you all.

Thank you Peter. I love the welcoming and supportive nature of the forums!

cheers,
jeff

Welcome to the forums Jeff. Good luck
Regards Peter.

I too have had the plateau effect. The last three mornings I have stayed at exactly the same weight (15.8.2) down from 17.4.0 four and a half weeks ago. So I am very pleased with weight loss so far as well as all the other positive benefits of weighing over one and a half stone lighter!
Still a way to go to target but I am enjoying this new way of eating.
My plateau’s seem to happen if I try out new things. Yesterday I made Coconut flour pancakes (drop scones)
They were very nice and I probably ate more than I should. But they were so good!
Also I have been off work the last few days taking care of my wife post Carpal tunnel surgery. So have had more time to indulge!
But I am determined to stick with it, and have many projects around the house planned once the milder weather gets here. Just ordered a lean to greenhouse for the back patio, so I can grow our own salad and vegetables.
On the subject of cravings, I did hanker after one of those chocolate covered ginger cookie’s I so used to enjoy with my coffee. But it soon passed after a small handful of Almonds.
Kind regards Shrinky.

I’very been struggling working this out as I’m worried about having too much protein as this can muck things up. However today i found a UK site that gives the percentages of all foods searched. It’s called http://www.fatsecret.Co. uk Can highly recommend diet doctors.com too, lots of info, videos, success stories of those on high fat diets.

11 days in and 9lbs down. Not hungry at all so using cals up with a soya milk shake which is delish.

I thought they were disgusting, a complete waste of 6 eggs.

Excellent! Well done!

Wahay Judith
thanks for being the guinea pig on that.
Hope you enjoy it, Mmmm raviolo this weekend 😀

Great – yes, I will, thanks. Another pound today so it’s a steady lb every day so far…

No worries. Just on the last point there about being in ketosis. I am having 50 ish grams a day and I test positive for ketosis. All the best, let us know how you get on.

Ah – brilliant, thank you! 🙂

My first day of BSD has arrived! This morning I had 2 sauteed portobello mushrooms, with a poached egg on each. It was so simple and quite tasty. I meant to have a Bircher from a recipe given me by Cherrianne, but forgot to put it together last night. Will do so this evening. A really nice thing was, that while making my breakfast this morning, I was thinking about all the folks on this forum. How all of you are committing yourselves to the BSD, a new lifestyle, and health and how many helpful words of encouragement and experience I have heard.
I want to say to anyone new like me, that if you are hesitating, plunge in! (and post on the forum to get support, it really helps)

For lunch I am having FF yogurt and berries. For dinner, chickpea chili (BSD website recipe)

best wishes for a great day to all.
jeff

I’ve cut and pasted this from the ‘how many carbs’ thread:

100-150 grams per day: This is a decent maintenance range, and is good for people who exercise a lot.
50-100 grams per day: This should lead to automatic weight loss, and is a good maintenance range for people who don’t exercise that much.
20-50 grams per day: With a carb intake this low, you should lose weight quickly without experiencing much hunger. This carb range should put you into ketosis.

Oh that’s reassuring. Bill 🙂

Hurrah folks, I’ve just made the chickpea flour pasta, see Bill’s post. I had 9oz of flour left in one of my bags so I used that and added 3 medium eggs rather than water.
The author was right – it really sticks!
I tried kneading it – dreadful. So i poured a little olive oil onto my hands and rubbed it in. Also rubbed a little on my rolling pin. Success!
The knife wasn’t successful but a pizza wheel works brilliantly.

When cooked it is so much more like pasta than the gluten free pasta i once bought ( and binned ).

Next step . . .portions …I. Divided the ‘pasta’ into 6 portions of 105 calories each. Some for the freezer for future use 🙂

Thanks Janet
Yes – I’ve spotted more discussions about this now, but no definitive answers. Like many others, I’m using MyFitnessPal and wanted to enter the goal percentages of fat, protein & carbs. As Dr Mosley recommends using an app like this, it would be hugely helpful to have a steer as to ideal percentages, even if it doesn’t need to be strictly adhered to. Actually, the one I’d like to know most is maximum recommended carbs per day, if anyone knows…

I’ve just completed 4 weeks of the Fast 800 diet and have noticed that the weight loss has slowed down after 3 spectacular weeks – I lost none at all in the fourth week, which is disappointing, but then I did have to negotiate a full-on Mothers Day dinner cooked by my kids! However, I’m feeling better, not getting much in the way of hunger pangs, and getting more energetic. So I decided today that I should do something about getting moving. I downloaded a Couch to 5K running app for my phone and spent half of my lunch hour doing a brisk walk/jog to the instructions given to me by this disembodied American voice from my phone. It was surprisingly easy, although I was definitely out of breath at the end of it. Listening to fast disco music certainly helped with the pace and motivation. Anyone else doing the same?

Thanks hashimoto! I have written that phrase down on an index card and put it on my fridge.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone – have noticed that it does also depend what I eat as to whether I am having to get up earlier or later. If I eat meals with loads of salad and veg than I have to get up earlier, I guess due to the water content.

Am trying to drink more in the day than night and touch wood it seems to have made a difference.

Hi Mosleyfan
As I understand it, you can test any time of day but you are more likely to find the ketones in your urine first thing in the morning. I have been aiming for 50 ish grams of carbs with a good dollop of fat and have had ketosis yesterday and today.

Sort of Mosleyfan, it gives you an idea of whats going on
I read somewhere the other day that 30 – 50 grams of carb a day will put you in to ketosis.

lachlanh I messaged the team about this, their reply is,
Chances are it is nothing to worry about. Your body is still adjusting and it’s not unusual to see a little fluctuation.

Also, if it’s first thing in the morning, your levels will naturally rise slightly during the night.

Keep an eye on it and I’m sure it’ll get on track again. If you’re at all unsure, consult with your doctor.

Best of luck, keep up the good work.

Thanks Bill i will do.

OK I messaged the team about this both for me and another user and the reply is :-
Chances are it is nothing to worry about. Your body is still adjusting and it’s not unusual to see a little fluctuation.

Also, if it’s first thing in the morning, your levels will naturally rise slightly during the night.

Keep an eye on it and I’m sure it’ll get on track again. If you’re at all unsure, consult with your doctor.

Best of luck, keep up the good work.

2 hours after lunch and the reading is now 7.5
Doesn’t sound like a food thing, just a 1.4 point rise there.
***Pulls on the Sherlock hat***

It will get cheaper as you get more used to buying what you need…try fresh herbs on window sill too?? haha I live in Australia so growing is easy used to live in Manchester so parsley, tomatoes , mint ( its hard here because it loves cold and wet feet) You can buy dried lentils, chick peas etc soak what you need and cook rather than use tins…better for you and cheaper but wait to do that until you are used to it all.

me too..loved them straight out of oven..froze rest individually bagged so can grab one for work, emergency etc. see my photo already uploaded

Glad you are losing weight…day 5 for me no weight loss!!! Strict 800 cals never happened before so postmenopause is a drag

Hi guys joining the chat late…so do i gather that it is good to use the ketostix once daily and you should be in ketosis every day? Im not diabetic just no weight loss day 5 strict 800 !!!

Does Dr Mosley recommend a maximum carb figure please?

Thanks Janet will check that out 🙂

Tezryu
the general idea is to get your body into burning fat instead of carbs. Thats why full fat is recommended, it keeps your digestive system busy and keeps you feeling fuller, and it works, ask anyone on the forum
Give it a try, you could be amazed at the results.

Hi mosleyfan
I have been visiting a website called Diet Doctor which was set up by a Swedish doctor. His plan is almost the same as Saint Dr Mosley’s and he refers to it as low carb high fat. He said that some people may be able to tolerate the sugar in berries but others might not and that dairy products still contain some sugar so if a person is still not losing, it may be because of that. I have really taken on board the low carb high fat mantra and have had a couple of better days of weight loss this week.

Hey Auntylil, how are you doing? Are you too busy for us now you have joined the bowling elite? Or are you wooing?

Well, I hope you are doing both. I haven’t any weight loss to report just now – I gained two and have now lost two so I’m no further forward than last week in that sense. But I’m having fun with my ketostix (less said the better).

I want to tell you about a website I found called Diet Doctor with a very nice Swedish doctor on it – might be worth a look. And I wanted to ask if you have read any of Mary Shomon’s work on underactive thyroid weight loss? I have her book coming as I wondered if there was anything in particular I can do differently from ‘normal’ people.

Going home now to either make some flatbreads or plant some lettuce seeds. Or watch telly.

Try ‘Fat secret’ it is a free App to load in your food drink and exercise etc. I was shown it today by the dentist! We moved on from teeth to talk food.

Look forward to hearing how you go with it…I am just finding my way around it…looks very easy and a great motivator and record keeper.

I downloaded it and went to add a coffee i was having at the shops…up popped the various types of coffee…flat white, cappucino etc..just click on whichever and it adds it to your tally for the day.

Thank you Mosleyfan but I’m now a little confused. I’ve just posted a new message with a link from Prof Taylor; Anyone interested in – Meal replacement info from Prof Taylor

Has the info been updated since this article was published do you know?

Hi there,
I don’t know about testing for glycogen but I am now testing for ketosis which is proving fascinating. I have found that I have needed to really keep the carbs low and the fat a lot higher than I would have thought necessary before. I had a big blip last week where I put two pounds on without any effort at all and four days of 800 did nothing to change it. But since I have gone low carb high fat, I have lost those two pounds again. I like the ketosis test as it seems to give an insight into my body that I am eating the right things.
Its got me thinking though. In all my years with WW, ketosis was never ever mentioned. I think that’s because it would be virtually impossible to achieve ketosis on their carb rich low fat plan. So how exactly did people lose weight with WW? How exactly did I lose weight? I know it was incredibly slow and unsustainable and I would never try it that way again.
I’ve been reading up on a website called diet doctor who is very similar in his views to Saint Dr Mosley.

This is the link to the replies by Prof Taylor to the questions he was asked regarding the diet. http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes/documents/Diabetes-Reversaloftype2studyJune15.pdf

I have also included an exert regarding milk & sugar in replacement meals.

Optifast
Although Optifast was used in the study, this is not readily available in the UK unless on prescription.
An alternative liquid food supplement of similar calorific content is equally suitable. These are
available from most local supermarkets; you should try several brands to find one most suited to your
taste. Do not be concerned by the high sugar content as after the first day of very low calorie diet your
body is able to handle this reasonably well. Ideally, the low calorie meal replacement would be made
up with water; should this be completely unpalatable, then using skimmed milk is reasonable, although
the period required to achieve weight loss will be slightly longer.

HI, love this thread. I am in week 4 and a stone lighter already. I love to see my fridge full of delicious looking veg and healthy food. I don’t have any health problems at the moment, but have had an incredibly stressful two years and just getting back on top of my wellbeing. I feel so much more well since I started eating like this.
Yesterday
B – scrambled eggs with a bit of smoked salmon
L – leek and lemon soup and an apple with a bit of natural yoghurt
D – baked salmon fillet with sesame pak choi

Today
B – green shake (celery, kale, carrot, apple and ginger)
L – courgette, feta and raspberry salad from the book ( I was sceptical but it was delicious)
D – baked aubergine with tomato sauce and a bit of mozzarella

yes go to full fat, old advice to use low fat

Hi Janet…interesting you mention people not tolerating dairy and berries…maybe that is me…chinese herbalist always tell me to cut right back on yogurt and cheese. Berries I hadn’t thought of as being an issue, can you point me to your info source?
I am not diabetic just want to shift weight post menopause and its not even moving on 800 a day for last five days 🙁

HI Zendi, welcome on board! I’m so pleased you have seen positive results so soon. Good luck with your new doctor and keep posting!

Hi Bill sorry to hear about your daughter..fingers crossed all is going to be fine.
I have only been on here a week and you are such a regular poster you already seem like family…I do have 4 semi adult ‘kids’ of my own so it is a worrying time for you and your wife.

Hmm, it only takes 30 seconds and is fairly unobtrusive.
It just sounded like a hypo so better to know if your sugar is too low especially if taking sugar fixes things.
If it is too low you could moderate the diet to make up for it.

Hi Katrina and Zendo,
Yours is a question people often ask here. Have a look for a thread called ‘how many carbs’. The info isn’t in the book as Dr Mosley is not that prescriptive about it. Proteins can be around 80g and fats as much as you can get into your allowance. Fat really does make a difference.

Thanks, I’ll take a look and try that.

Hello Hashimoto thanks for your reply i do in fact have the book but was looking to follow the 800 calorie diet as used by Newcastle university, one of the options was to use a mixture of shakes and vegetables which would be more convenient for myself , i have read in the book of drinking full fat milk and yoghurt’s etc but was intending to follow this advise once i had completed the initial eight week weight loss phase in which i would be trying to bring my blood sugars down to normal or as near as possible my aim if possible is to try and come off my medication after my diabetes nurse and doctor have told me i am now on the maximum dosage of metformin and have now prescribed another medication in addition , does anybody know if i would be able to use full fat milk for my shakes as i would still find this more convenient ?