Hi Janet
Hmm but it is true for volume. Though I don’t think many of us are now so bulging with muscle that we won’t lose weight!
Penny

Hi Sparkle
I agree with you. Those carbs spike blood sugar and lead to fat. I’m not eating any of them in the 8 weeks. Only carbs is in veg, beans, a bit of non tropical fruit.
Never the less I have only lost 5 lb in 14 days. My sister, who has a lot more to lose, hadn’t lost anything at all. We ve both reduced our waists though by a few inches.
I’m happy to be feeling better and sleeping better and it’s easy.
Penny

Hi Kitty
Well that’s a lot of potent stuff you’ve given up. I suppose you’re reacting to loss of those –
Penny

Sorry Sandy- keep hitting the D!!

Hi Dandy
Yes maybe it was the chicken. At least now you’re recovering.
Penny

Hi I have an under active thyroid been on 150 of thyroxine for 32 years . Been on this diet for 9 days and lost 9lb .I’m sure as my weight goes down I will have to reduce my dose .

Thanks Shrinky… Watching it now 🙂

Hi you are doing so well . I’m 9 days today and 9lb down . I go to weight Warchers on Monday eve got so fed up losing just 1/2 lb per week . I’m so happy I have found this way to lose weight . Not sure how I’m going to explain this weeks weight loss.
I’m also very happy to be your diet buddy .im 63 been dieting for ever had diabeties for 30 years . 10 years ago I was 19 st today I’m 13.7 hoping to get to 11

I have a bag of un waxed lemons, I’ll give that a try, thank you Hashimoto. I normally freeze wedges of lemon so slices shouldn’t be too difficult 🙂

I’ve sliced one and put it into a jug of water in the fridge and sliced another and put on a plate in freezer which I’ll then transfer to a bag so they do t freeze stuck together.

I bought a weekly meal planner and it’s really helped to plan, then buy the bits I need and not have to dither over what to eat each meal.

Really feeling positive going into my second week.

HI, I’m type 2 diabetic, two and half weeks into it, I had already started to cut sugar from my diet just before christmas, so have not experienced to many sugar withdrawal systoms. I have lost about 8lbs and my bloods have been a lot lower, also my hba1c. This is the best diet I have tried (and there have been many). I would like to thank everyone who have posted their thoughts, advice, receipes etc, I now spend a lot of the day reading them all, (still beats stuffing my face!!!!!!!!). Keep up the good work and together we will make a difference

I found I had lost just over 10lb in 6 days! I feel fantastic and really motivated to continue.
I am becoming a bit of a bore to people talking about it. Wife not interested even though she would have more to benefit than me.
But bumped into a friend yesterday that I hadn’t seen for ages and he was doing the diet too. So now I have my “diet buddy” happy happy happy.

Hi, I’m day 6 and have had exact same problems fr past 3 days. Don’t want to give up as I can feel I’m loosing weight already. Pretty sure I don’t have a tummy bug but I do have urgent, lose bowel action… I feel tired and headachy but I have also given up caffeine…I’m hoping these annoying side affect are withdrawal of carbs,sugar,caffeine & alcohol !, any thoughts?

i was 133 kg at the start of diet (feb 1) to date ive lost 9 kg and really happy the way the diet is going was drinking too much water wich slowed my weight loss down but adjusted that and it worked

Well, end of week 2 for me and another 4lbs loss which = 12lbs loss in 2 weeks. So pleased with this, have stuck to the recipes in the book religiously. Another week for me and then on holiday for 5 days of no calorie counting but going to choose low carb and sugar meals where I can. Back on it on the 28th Feb.

How do these compare to potatoes? Are they good as an alternative?
I have always used a jazzed up cabbage soup diet in the past with good results as far as weight loss goes but I am concerned about diabetes as my score on the questionare in the book is poor. I hope to use the 5:2 and blood sugar diet together starting with cabbage soup twice a day on fast days until I can find recipes I like in the blood sugar book at 800 Cals. My wife is the cook and she does not need to loose weight and needs convincing.
I am 71 5ft 6 inches 38 waist retired so it’s not looking good at nearly 13 stone and a liking for real ale. Sweets and fizzy drinks are just distant memories, bread no problem but pasta, pizzas and potatoes will be a problem. What about home made bread any ideas on that?

Well done Graeme, that’s brilliant. I’m so eager to continue losing that I decided not to go for the St Valentine’s meal – don’t want to risk putting a couple of pounds back on for the sake of one meal!

Hiya

I started with an overactive thyroid 25 years ago after my last pregnancy and after 2 lots of radio active iodine it’s been underactive and I’ve been on Levo for several years now. Been on the 800 diet since last Monday and until I read your post I hadn’t given this aspect of it a thought. All I can say is that the thyroid is a strange beast, and my gp didn’t say anything about it when she had a little go at suggesting I lose weight. I’m thinking that everything will be better for losing weight, reducing cholesterol, reversing diabetes and all the other benefits of eating this way. I’m less achy, tired, bloated, puffy, miserable etc already. Doubt people like us could come off Levo though – don’t think I could because most of my thyroid was annihilated! I shall watch this space with interest, so thank you for raising it.

Hello again Joycey

‘Course I don’t mind x 2 🙂 Just popped in again before I go for my lunch – decided not to do two meals only at the weekend, prefer to stick with what’s worked for me all week. Nice to be sharing our start date. Going to look into krill oil, thank you. I talked to my med centre nurse about cholesterol on Friday as I was worried about starting to use olive oil again and she reassured me that it was fine.

Your results are impressive. It feels a little suspect to feel excited about a diet doesn’t it – but like you already I’m getting a buzz out of having control. Watched a programme from last year on bbc iplayer by Fiona Phillips on sugar earlier today, yet another endorsement of this kind of eating plan. I don’t think there is any doubt that cutting out sugars/carbs is a healthy option, so it’s not just a diet but a lifestyle.

btw, you don’t sound tough – you sound STRONG!

Brilliant Graeme , well done! Amazing if it’s made such drastic changes already. I’m weighing tmrw as well, I feel as if I’ve lost weight already after a week, seem to be ‘pooing’ a lot though? Maybe all the veg and beans?

Official weigh day tomorrow – week 1 review

Lost 10lbs as of this morning
No insulin since I started the diet
Loving new foods
Feel healthier
Blood sugars at normal levels for a week now

Negative points – I only started last week …wish I had done ages ago .. Lol.

Just been told I am pre-diabetic. I also have hypothyroidism (an under active thyroid). Wondered if anyone with underactive thyroid and taking levothryoxin has tried this diet? Interested to hear how it is going/went? many thanks

Hope you don’t mind auntylil but just read your profile and am similar age. Re cholesterol I take super strength krill oil 1,200mg from healthspan and my cholesterol levels dropped from 6 to around 3.9 (can’t quite remember the figure). I saw an article so started on the Krill. Have a look see, it may help. All the best.

Is there no way to edit posts?????!

I have always found exercise difficult, I like to walk (have two dogs) will swim on holiday.
But one thing I have always love to do is dance. When I say dance I really mean throwing myself around the floor at live music events.
So I thought why don’t I do that at home? But not with a pint of beer in my hand!
Soxi started slipping CDs into the hi fi until I found some music “that moved me”
There is one track that is guaranteed to get me running on the spot and doing star jumps like demented loon! ☺
“Life During Wartime” by Talking Heads, preference being the live version from “Stop Making Sense”
What music gets you guys up and moving?💿🎧🎵🎶🎼🎸🎹🎷🎺🎤

Thank you for your reply. We both started Monday very best of luck for your journey too.

Every now and again I get excited at the thought of being meds free and perhaps good diabetic levels but I can’t quite believe it will happen. I have a very lot of weight to lose as in 2000/2001 lost 8 stone but sadly put all plus some back on. The science behind losing this method of weight sounds fascinating and I certainly want to be one of the people to confirm its truth and help others win over this disease. I DO NOT WANT DIABETES TO RULE ME I WANT TO RULE IT. Gosh don’t I sound tough.

Love your ideas of treats. Shall borrow that idea if you don’t mind.

Let’s keep up the good work for the week ahead. The menu looks exciting.

I am another disappointed( so far) dieter. I have several stone to lose but have still lost a kilo in my first week. I am finding the going tough at the moment and was hoping to experience the motivational effect of a really significant weight loss, even it was mainly water. I have kept to the diet, with the exception of 1 boiled sweet when a sugar craving became just too much for me !!

I have been reading this site for support and encouragement so thank you to all of you who post

Thanks for the reminder, Shrinkydinkyman. I knew I was on dodgy ground, but wanted to join in with the rest of the family. I didn’t know about the sugar, though. I’ll steer clear next time!

Hi. Hate to think of you beating yourself up. You’ve done very well with the diet from what you say in earlier posts.

I started last Monday so this is my sixth day too, or is it seventh… Marks for coming clean on here about a lapse as well, if you can be honest in a forum you’re being honest to yourself. I say that because I think until these last few days I was kidding myself about what I ate and pretending to be mystified about why I put on so much weight. I suppose most people play some games until it catches up with them? Sadly not everyone can embark on a diet like this one, and a lapse here and there doesn’t mean you’re not still on the diet.

Telling myself that too – as I had some of those gorgeous choc covered coffee beans from Hotel Chocolat, but you know what? They didn’t taste anywhere near as nice as they used to. I’ve started treating myself to things rather than confectionery, like a book Peace & Parsnips someone on this forum recommended, and some old cds I never got round to buying years ago (I’m talking in the 70s!). Working for me as I realised I needed to indulge myself, or should I say reward, but not by eating. Getting some sweetness from blueberries in a breakfast drink and flavouring carbonated water – a new one will be with a few berries, mint and lemon.

Malkay I don’t know what you chose to eat for your Indian takeaway, but it is well know that food served in English Indian restaurants is not what most Indian people would regard as a true represention of their diet. English Indian restaurants cater mainly for English people with a sweet palette.
So they add losts of sugar to the sauce’s to make them taste good!
I personally will be staying away from all takeaways untill I have achieved my goals.
And if that takes longer than eight weeks, then so be it!
But even after I have reached my goals and proved I can maintain them, takeaway meals will be few and far between! I do not won’t to undo all this good work. I’m fact I will start cooking my own Indian meals using a book called “The Curry Secret” which was bought as a present to me years ago but never tried.
And I trained as a chef ffs! I guess we just have got lazy in this world of plenty!
Keep up the good work chaps it is very inspiring to read of other’s success.

Well….. WOW!! Just tucked in to 2 slices of this delicious loaf with humous for lunch. It is lovely. Thank you very much, I know this is a recipe I will make again and again. It was very easy, but I did have to adjust the cooking time (down) quite significantly for my oven. My only concern at the moment is that I have no idea how many calories per slice it is, and I suspect quite a lot as it is so nutrient dense. But low in carbs! Thanks again for sharing.

Thank you Clare. I think we all need to be a little more patient. We know that it takes a long time for new ideas to be accepted. We have always been advised to alter our diets for good health. Unfortunately too many people, myself included, have wanted an easy way out, in the form of a Tablet. We happily handed over responsibility for our health in order to gain an easy solution.

Thanks to Michael and Prof Taylor and his staff of Newcastle University, we have the necessary information to take back the power we gave away. I for one shall not wait for further evidence and approval by the powers that be. Because I have a Nursing background and enough home tech to keep a check on my results, I dont think I am risking my health. Some may not be able to manage without regular professional help. I think that all GPs should be instructed to make provision for appropriate monitoring of patients who are following this regime. Who will tell them?

You ARE the brave pioneers! The NHS is like a tanker in full steam and takes time to change direction. I couldn’t agree more with your sentiments and sincerely believe we CAN make the diabetic part a lot better. And it is people like you that will make that difference.

Hi, I’m pre diabetic. Gearing up to start next week after seeing my practice nurse. I hate oily fish and that won’t change. Will taking omega 3 tablets be sufficient? I can force myself into eating yoghurt but sardines and salmon will not pass these lips 😬 . That aside I’m excited by the chance to change.

Good luck to all starting 👍

mersehchic, there is nothing wrong with your level of weight loss. If you only have 13lb to lose you can’t possibly lose it at the rate of a lot of the examples here and in the book. I, for example, need to lose at least 50lb just to have a BMI of under 30, which still makes me heavily overweight, just not technically obese. I think you need to be realistic about expectations so that you’re not disappointed.

Enzo, I know what you’re trying to say: muscle mass is more dense than fat, so 1lb muscle takes up much less space on your body than 1lb of fat. However, after just a week no-one – not even professional body-builders – gain huge volumes of muscle. In fact, on 800 calories a day it’s impossible to gain any at all, although you might be able to tone up a bit. To really gain muscle you need to eat MORE food, not less. It takes a lot of work to gain muscle, but is a very satisfying thing to do as a long term goal.

And yes, I agree with all those who appreciate that eating too many starchy carbs is going to sabotage this particular plan completely. I’m planning to stick to green veg, salad, berries and apples for my carbs.

Hi all. Bought the 8 week BSD book on Wednesday on a whim. I’ve always been concerned about low calorie diets and the ‘starvation mode’ effect. That said, I’m Type 2 and although my last HbA1c wasn’t terrible (7.9) it’s the worst it’s ever been and I was close to my heaviest ever weight.

Started the diet yesterday and hope to see great improvements over the next 8 weeks, at which point it will be time for a diabetic review. I know damn well I can lead a healthy lifestyle – including exercise – because I’ve done it often enough – it’s maintaining that kills me! For now, though, I’d just like to get things medically under control and feel better about myself.

I have just finished reading the book and I think that you need to follow the plan for meals, which excludes bread/pasta/ potatoes/white rice because they are ‘easily digestible’ – ? so maybe that’s not helped. Also the activity needs to be going on at the same time and building muscle through High Intensity Training – and that helps to raise metabolism….?? starting soon, just doing shopping list and clearing out!

Hi Clare

Thanks for your post, we know there are GP’s & practice nurses that get it & are on our side; but not enough yet! We can’t wait 5 years ( at least I can’t ) for the Newcastle uni trial & results to appear. I know my body is better on this diet & it’s my way to go now. I choose to do this being aware of all the pitfalls & with no guarantee at the end

We are the brave pioneers, who have MINDFULLY chosen to help ourselves via this BSD diet with or without medical help. We hope it works. We know we have to work at it., probably for the rest of our (much healthier) lives
Thank goodness for Michael Mosley & Prof Roy Taylor!

I was a cadet nurse in 1967. I’ve known the nhs a long time. Right now it is the sickest patient we have. We’re going to make the DIABETIC part a lot BETTER!!

Everyone , you have made an exceptionally brave & astute decision to join us all on this journey, well done. Keep going
Eureka

Mine too seems very slow. I had lost about 6lbs in nearly 3 weeks, and was really pleased. However, Last night we had an Indian takeaway. I thought I had chosen wisely, had a small portion, and had no carbs with it. This morning, I seem to have put 4lb back on. Also, I have lost nothing, not 1 millimetre from my waist, which is the whole point isn’t it? I only have about 1.5 stones to lose, but it is all around my waist. However, I do feel better, not as many sugar crashes, so will get back on the wagon today, and persevere. Good luck, and stay positive.

Agree with Shrinkydinkyman about the pound for pound thing, its why inch loss is as important as weight loss. Muscle weighs more than fat is another one of those urban myths that makes no sense when you take it apart.

Now that sounds really nice! I should have heeded your warning on quinoa but I had already bought it by then! I did three blood tests over Thursday and friday morning and they were all normal so I think its safe to conclude I am not prediabetic. My lowest reading was 4.7, that was two hours after eating toast and butter (pre-diet obvs!) so I’m happy that its one less thing to worry about.

Day three today and feeling pretty good. I did think a vlcd would be more torturous but actually I haven’t gone to bed hungry yet, which funnily enough, I did do frequently on much higher cal diets.

Anutylil, tomorrow is the end of your first week I think? Do you have any plans for weighing/measuring?

This is such a relief to me. I have struggled with my weight for over 20 years and have had very little helpful advice from my GP.I have read and read, as I am sure many people have, about to lose weight effectively. I have for the last 6 years or so felt that my difficultes were insulin resistance related.I haven’t been able to get my GP interested except when I developed gestational diabetes with my second child. I had 5 miscarriages between my children and am fairly sure that this relates to polycistic ovary syndrome. My GP wouldn’t really engage with that either but after I insisted more assertively, she referred me to a nutritionist – except she didn’t really know enough about eating to balance blood sugar. So finally some guidance that really makes total sense to me – I’m not mad after all , phew! I am not currently diabetic but am about 4 stone overweight, 46, menopausal, undertall and if my quiz results are accurate moderately addicted to carbs. I really want to prevent onset of diabetes and now I really believe I can successfully get to a healthy weight. I am now passing the book to my husband, he needs to face up to his health too!

I am beginning the preparations today am excited and positive!

I,m really happy so far. I’ve had to tighten my belt 2 notches since starting.
I’m loving the way this support community is developing. There is so much friendly advice here now. I suppose as sort of pioneers on the forum, we are building a library of tips and success stories.
My little theory about the sugar readings is that it’s similar to the dawn effect.
You don’t give your bodues enough fat to burn so the liver releases stored sugars to boost the calories.

Welcome to the forums ::)
Just have a browse and read all the success stories happening with this diet.
You’ll be gagging at the bit to get started.

Thats a brilliant result and a real inspiration to others just embarking on this journey.
Well done, let us know how you get on with the maintenance plan.

Am I missing something? Have I mis-read the book? I thought bread, rice and cereal (and pasta) were big no-no’s for the 8 week plan? If you’re still eating that, surely weight-loss will be slower?

I also have had a small weight loss in comparison to others but bernie is correct in that the more weight we have to lose, the bigger the weight loss will be. I only have 1.5 stone to lose so I’m not expecting big losses, I’ll be pleased with anything really.

First two I looked at, the grain free flat bread and the coconut flour biscuits have no sugar penny

Hi Penny. That’s not ridiculous at all as I did wonder myself at one point if that’s what it was. However, it’s lasted 7 days now, although I have to say that it also seems to be getting less agressive and not every time I eat but only in the mornings. Now it’s just uncomfortable. I haven’t felt sick with it which made me think it wasn’t/isn’t a bug. I did starve myself for about 30 hours at one point over Thursday and Friday which helped.

I’ve been sitting here this morning thinking what I ate last Sunday to wake up with this on the Monday. Because my Granddaughter wanted to treat everyone to a kebab on Sunday I had their chicken and salad. Now I’m wondering if there was something wrong with the chicken and this has been a mild form of food poisoning. I’ve had food poisoning once before and I was very ill then for nearly a fortnight before it was totally out of my system.

But I do feel as if I am now coming out the other side as I’m feeling a lot better.

Very frustrating and disappointing that some of you are not getting the support from your GP. We are trying to educate clinicians about the principles and the science behind it, but it is early days and takes time to filter through. We hope they will listen.

Wonderful to see how well people are doing and also how well informed you are. Lots of brilliant advice being shared.
Hope you get to where you want to be
Clare (Michael’s wife & a GP)

Hi Ddraig, I have switched to Michael’s suggestion of ice cold sparkling water with a slice of lemon when I feel like something other than plain water. I actually slice my lemons up and freeze them then just add a frozen slice to my water. I’m going to try those Moroccan meatballs after reading your comment! Good work losing 6lbs in a week!! Well done!

Hi Bill, I do the same, I just follow the recipes and have lost 19lbs in 25 days. It’s so encouraging to see such fast results.