Lovely to hear all the weight loss successes, health bonuses and especially all the positivity from this thread. My OH and I started the diet yesterday (well we started on something, not sure yet if it will turn into the full BSD or the 5:2 Med style). Breaking ourselves in gently as it’s scary to come down from a high carb intake (plus alcohol) to 800. Wasn’t going to weigh this morning after only one day but I haven’t set the scales up properly yet so had another go this morning and lost 2lb yesterday on a fast day of 500 calories. Not had the courage to take any tests to see if either of us is in the diabetic/prediabetic zone but we’ve certainly got a lot of the indicators and both of us have big bellies. I’ve also got hypothyroidism and take 150mg of levothryroxine.

Well done to everyone who’s already done so well and here’s hoping we’ll be joining you on the BSD journey to new bodies and better life.

Bre123 – Thanks for the tip about the yoghurt and seeds. Do you leave them all whole???
Just eating them now, but I seem to remember hearing you only get the nutritional value if you chop the linseeds up. But I guess we are eating them for a different purpose here!

Wow Damson that is incredible weight loss well done you, I have a similar amount to lose but couldn’t get on with the 5:2. Time to change that I think, day three and seems fine so far. Good luck to you 🙂

Very pleased to be of service 😉

Lunch 2 egg Omelette with ham, peppers and a sprinkle of cheese
Dinner home made chicken stew
Late snack as usual will be Greek yoghurt with berries or pear

Hi janet, just drinking my mocktail! Delicious! My son loves mint teas so I’m passing on your idea to him 🙂

Brunch: malkay’s ‘pancake’ – thanks malkay, i had mine with strawberries

Dinner: gram flatbread and the last of the beef curry (didn’t have enough space in freezer)

Hi janet1973, thanks. Bill is amazing, we are so lucky to have him. He was right when be said we will get a lot more of that as the site has more of us posting. Im having your minty drink in a mo 🙂

Same here – no hunger, enjoying food more if anything, and the tiredness and constant aches and pains in my muscles stopped on the first day! I feel happier too, not related to success or weightloss because I am only at the start – it must just be the change in my blood sugars. I find it completely bizarre! And when I tell people about it, they think I’ve gone a bit nuts and I’m fooling myself, kind of a placebo effect.

Hi natasha the number of calories needed for weight maintenance is likely to be different for individuals so I think it will be trial and error once we have reached our goals. I intend to increase calorie intake until i have reached my optimum level. 🙂

Maybe check how much fat he is eating? If he can give up some carb calories to increase the fat calories, and drink plenty, it may help.

Not my type hun 😉

Wow Hashimoto that’s great news!

I had a brainwave yesterday – lol it’s actually not that brainwavey but it occured to me after a lot of stressing about falling back into old patterns when I’ve completed the 8 weeks.

At the end of the 8 weeks I was thinking of continuing on 800 calories for a few weeks and then progressing onto the 5:2. At least then I will have some direction and it will be a good way to ensure I acheive either more weight-loss or steady weight and blood sugar maintenance.

I also think following a plan for at least 6 months to a year will ensure this new lifestyle will be a permanent fixture in my life.

Be good to know what others think about this and what has worked well for others.

By the way, does anyone know what the recommended daily calorie intake should be at the end of the 8WeekBSD (for weight maintenance)?

The not being hungry is pretty weird isn’t it? How can I be eating about 35-40% (probably) of what I was eating before and not feel anywhere near as hungry as I did before? I sleep better I ache less and I can move much more freely too. It is a wonderful thing. I hope you continue to do well.

Baggy knickers!
Yesterday, while I was out walking, I noticed flappy fabric around my upper thighs and wondered what was going on.
Loose knicker elastic perhaps? Today’s underwear also felt rather roomy.
So consolation that into Week 6 and it seems to be harder to lose the pounds quickly.
Weightloss has stalled but I must be shrinking.:-)

Happy to hear the news it is ok to continue with BSD longer as I don’t think oh and I can shift what we have to lose in 8 weeks! We are into week 4 and oh has lost 19lbs and myself 17lbs . Still a long way to go to our completely outrageous targets and the loss has slowed but like so many people on here the other welcome side effect of not feeling like death warmed up most of the time, plus enjoying our food immensely helps. This community of fellow dieters is very motivating especially all the honesty, kindness and great recipes!

Thanks for that, I’ll give it a try.

mmm the flatbreads do sound good – and less bruising than snickers. I’ll give it a go…

I’m sure its all those nasty sugars getting flushed through your system. Sadly, our partners don’t always like the sound of change but I’m sure yours will get more positive as the results come. Maybe if you make some flatbreads you could throw them at each other with less risk and fewer carbs?

Judith:
So great to hear! Thank you! Yup, commitment is key and the support of others so important to keeping it! I hope in a few weeks to be as helpful to new folks as you all have been. Jeff 🙂

Yep, I quite agree. I like the way he summed up what to eat and what not to eat. I’ll be keeping an eye on him (he’s quite easy on the eye, I don’t suppose you noticed)

Agog! What a great word! I need to use that somewhere soon. It was just a link to a ‘miracle cure’ for hypothyroid. If only! …Bill had it removed, god bless him!

Is anyone finding that the BSD is dramatically affecting their mood?
I’m finding it all ok – but my husband is like a walking snickers ad. Sadly I cannot throw a snickers at his head and wait for him to cheer up (this was actually the solution to at least 50% of our arguments in the past!)
We are on week three…
Tips? sympathy?

Hi Jeff, thankyou so much, we intend sticking around!! Over the 8 week line is a whole new ball game and we still need to support each other. I think I speak for all of us when I say we feel a commitment to this – we have been helped along the way and want to continue to support others on this journey! 🙂 Judith

Hey Janet
the more health professionals that get on board the better and ASAP too please.
We need to get the message out and those are the best people to do it.

Hi Natasha, captainlynne contacted the team who told her it is ok to continue the 800 for a while if you are well. A few of us are planning on that. I crossed the 8 week line yesterday and am going to stick reasonably closely to the 800 calories as I still want to lose more weight 🙂

to Cherrianne, hashimoto, Bill1954, Judith et al:

I just started reading through this particular thread and I want to say: Please, please, please stick around! Newbies like me need you-I have really gotten a leg up on the BSB from your posts. I realize I’m maybe being a bit selfish, but I appreciate you all!
Jeff

Hi Janet1973, what trash have I missed?? I’m agog!

Brilliant Fatcat!
Before the BSD I was eating over 3000 calories a day and was obese and in the danger zone, and I thought there was no way I could survive on 800 calories a day. However, I’ve been doing the BSD for 4 weeks now and 800 calories is actually more than enough – I’m never hungry or have cravings. I have lost 18lbs in total. Micheal Mosley says you can do the BSD for up to 8 weeks but I’m now tempted to stick to 800 calories a day!

Good advice there from Bill, I also use frittata as a quick easy on the go meal. Like Bill I have frozen many of the meals I have made in calorie controlled portions. 🙂

Hi Marinecole
why would we object to you posting those fantastic results, your input is more than welcome.
It all goes to encourage and motivate all the newbies. You may only write a post once but God only knows how many times it gets read and by how many people.
Your post may be the final thing that pushes another sufferer into a life saving way of eating.
Congtatulations BTW, Look forward to seeing how you do on The med diet, don’t be a stranger.

Hi Bruno, I find making a frittata on an evening is a big help. You could make it with four eggs and veg of your choice, cut it in two and hey presto 2 days lunches which are easy to handle and eat in the car if you have to. Same is true of the courgette bhajis I posted on this site.
Fantastic results by the way!!!

Hi Hashimoto, yes its a good one to have in the evening if you are craving a cocktail!

Thanks for reporting Bill. More trash.

Fantastic news, Fatcat! What would happen on a week of 800 me wonders? 🙂

Hi marinecole, welcome, have you been following the 800 calories diet for long? My diet post 8 week 800 calories will be to continue with the diet until a bit more weight drops off and then follow it but on a higher calorie rate. I don’t intend to go back to starchy foods. The recipes are delicious as they are!! A totally doable eating plan!!

Hi Sue1234 the weight tends to come off in fits and starts, sometimes the weight is the same but the tape measure shows you have trimmed the waist! Keep at it and like you say you can see the overall trend is down! 🙂

Just completed 4 weeks. Very happy with a 12lb loss, as I’ve been nearer 1000 cals most days than 800. And the stone before took a whole year to lose! A year ago my BMI was just short of 30 (obese), and I’ve just crept down to the top end of normal. Magic!

Hi captainlynne, today I join you over the 8 week line!!!
Like you I will continue on the 800 calories for a while as I wish to lose another 9lbs – though more would be very welcome! I may stray towards 900 on some days and once a week perhaps a bit more to get me through a strenuous hill walk.

So far 2 stones lost
2 sizes down in my jeans
clothes are getting really baggy – I will buy new ones when I am about to set off to Oz

The 8 weeks have passed so quickly!!!

SOOOO happy 🙂

Ooh, I like the idea of that, Janet 1973, I will make myself one, I have no mint teabags but I do have some fresh mint growing in the greenhouse, thanks for the tip 🙂

hi Bill I hope that post at 15:17 ‘Reported for spam’ meant you have reported some spam??? otherwise it makes no sense?

Totally agree Sarah111 – as soon as a few of us have been on this longer term it will be so much easier to prove the point that it wasn’t an 8 week crash diet with temporary results. Scientists deal with facts and longer term studies so we will be banging the drum rather loudly given a bit of time and in the present spread the word and talk to our medical staff as much as possible!!
Good luck, there is lots of support on here, it’s full of positive people on the same journey 🙂

Hi Damson, this will work for you, I found it easier than the 5:2. When I have eaten out it has tended to be lunch time so I have opted for, wait for it…..a ham sandwich without the bread (caused bewilderment) or omelette or ploughman’s and asked them not to put bread or crackers on my plate – only slight bewilderment at that one. I’m sure you could manage most evening meals out by not having any of the carbs, curry with no rice but plenty of green veg, steak and veg etc. That 4 stones should come of in no time – I lost 2 stones in just over 7 weeks! The boosted energy levels are the most amazing thing!! 🙂

hello hashimoto

Delighted to read in your post that your asthma has improved. I’m asthmatic and have seen a gradual decline in my fitness over the last few years, (I refuse to except it is because I’m getting older!!). I’ll cross my fingers this diet helps mine too….. it is only day one so I need to be patient!
I also agree with your last comment, ‘The more of us who do this the faster the change will come.’ You will get more change, and quicker by the public making the noise than expecting it to happen the other way round. I often think scientist who work in research have to bang their heads off the wall to be heard!

Best of luck.

Hi Denise47 and welcome to the forums. I wish you good luck on this journey – not that you need luck – we are all here to support each other!

Hi Inka, you are thinking like the rest of us! Doctor’s are afraid to move without the say-so of consultants so they are the ones who need to change first. Sadly things move slowly in the medical world so we must all protect ourselves and others we know as best as we can following this diet. GPs and diabetic nurses will mark the changes first – even my asthma nurse has seen a change in me and is taking this on board! The more of us who do this the faster the change will come.
Good luck on your journey 😉

Denise47, hope your shift is going ok. It’s definitely seems to be about being very organised this eating plan!

Thanks kph. I must admit that I have a pretty horrible headache today despite having had two litres of sparking water and I’m now on the peppermint tea. The hunger pangs are manageable though. Sounds like you’ve had incredible results! I would love to loose two stone! I’m in awe!

Well done for taking the time to get yourself organized, I have been doing the diet for 4 weeks now and with amazing results. My doctor is fully supportive and am having extra bloods done and so far so good. Have lost just over 2 stone sleep undisturbed very night now and limitless amounts of energy. Days 2-5 suffered from withdrawals as I was a sugar and carb addict but all worth it now. Good luck on your journey.

kiwileigh75 my comment wasn’t aimed at you, it was for the troll who posted just above my comment
Sorry for the misunderstanding, I’m usually the first one to help folk but that was the second troll post in a short time and I was sort of bubbling at the time.