hi all, very encouraging to hear the stories here. I have never used myfitnesspal or any other app for exercise or calorie monitoring, so do you need to measure the portions of everything you’re going to eat and log that in somehow? Not a total luddite but just no clue as to how they work and how much time it takes to give them enough information to tell me something useful. Would love to hear from some experts!

Hi Everyone,
I’m in my 3rd week now and have lost 10lbs and had a bs reading of 4.4 yesterday which is the first time it has been under 5 in a very long time!
My biggest problem isn’t hunger, it’s cravings. I have such a sweet tooth that I am literally dreaming about cake. I was hoping this would have improved by now but it just hasn’t. Although I feel really motivated, I’m worried I will slip back into old habits if I can’t get the craving under control.
Has anyone got any advice?
P.s. I have 4 children and it’s pancake day!!

This is something i have an in interest in also as we use sweet potato in our chilli, cottage pie and with steak !

Hi Paula,
Don’t despair! I agree with Bill, check blood sugar daily but get weighed a little less often. I’m 2 weeks in now and put on weight on Saturday for no good reason. I was so fed up! However, a few days on and I’ve lost it and a bit extra so it will happen.
Hopefully your mobility will be helped with a bit of weight loss so hang in there.

I am confused about root veg such as carrot, parsnip, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, swede and turnip. Should I be avoiding them at all costs? I though sweet potatoes have a low GI. Can’t find and guidelines in the book or on this website. Thanks :o)

Hi Chelsea that’s really helpful thanks. I don’t really want to eat that late in the evening unless I have to so I continue as I am ano just drink plenty of fluids when I get home

Thank you Bill for the encouragement. I’ve decided not to weigh myself again until the weekend. Your so right about everyone being different, I have been working on small activities I can do each day so hoping that will also help. At the end of the day I will still be healthier even if it’s a bit slow!

Hi Tracey, I’m assuming by your username that you’re female – on a recent episode of Trust Me I’m a Doctor they showed that women burn more fat if they eat (they consumed a carbohydrate beverage in the experiment) before working out, and then not eating for 90 mins afterward. Men were better off working out on an empty stomach and eating straight after.

Hi Paula
weight loss is an individual thing so don’t worry about being a slow starter.
I didn’t get weighed until the end of my first week but I did check my blood sugar readings every day, first day 9.8, second day 9.6, third day 12 !!! then it started to drop until this morning it was 6.8
Stick with the diet, if you need any encouragement look no further than these forums, we’re all in this together and happy to help.

Hi Everyone
I am starting today – had blueberry and green tea shake for breakfast. Have to go and do more shopping later to make sure I’ve got all the right food – its going to be hard cooking for the family every evening !
It does seem a bit daunting, but all your posts are really encouraging.
My WI day is Monday.

Hi,
I started on Saturday and weighed in at 84.9kg height 5ft 2 waist 42″. I have mobility problems so struggle with activity as it causes pain.

Despite religiously counting calories I have weighed myself and am now 84.8kg. I thought in the first week the weight was meant to fall off you?

Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone know if the effect will be a lot slower due to my mobility?

I am still sticking with it as its early days. I also believe that the less I weigh the lower my BM will be also my mobility will improve.

Hi jellyang
Are you on medication for your diabetes ? If so it may be a good idea to talk to your doc about reducing it to prevent these low readings. If not, try increasing the carbs a little.

First weigh in 3lb gone , I am a little disappointed it wasn’t more but at least it is in the right direction.
As a diabetic it has stabilised my bs but yesterday I struggled to keep it high enough & had to have sugary snacks twice to prevent a hypo. I am surprised I haven’t felt that hungry as I am normally a grazer. A have a couple of lunches out this week that could be a challenge for a diabetic, vegetarian on TBSD !

Morning, Just a week in and have lost 10 lb and 5 cm off my waist. Blood sugar is down from 6.8 fasting to 4.1. I feel fantastic and have upped my steps to 15000 a day. I am going on holiday at the end of march which coincides nicely with the end of 8 weeks so should look ok in the holiday snaps for the first time in 10 years 😀

Garden78 that’s excellent, I agree, health professionals really need to read not only this book, but the success stories taking place on this forum.
Another good morning for me, blood sugar down to 6.8.
This was tempered somewhat by a real kick in the tender bits yesterday. After almost a year without problems, I had a retinopathic bleed in my right eye yesterday, so ATM I have 1 working eye and, judging by past experience, it’s going to take 4 to 6 weeks for my right to clear, and then there will be increased hospital visits etc.
This is just another reason why this diet has to work for me, and let it serve as a lesson to others. If you don’t get diabetes under control, this is just one of the outcomes.
Keep plugging away folks.

Hello, I’m here to celebrate today because I’ve just finished my first two weeks. I’m 7.5lbs down. This is my third start of this diet, so I’ve lost a lot before. I know I will keep to it this time, to infinity and beyond, well… eight weeks.

Counting every calorie, mostly around 730. Keeping to low carb, high fat & fiber. I’m eating plain bio yogurt, whole milk, seeds, oily fish, avocados, eggs, green veg and spending a fortune on lovely lettuce leaves.

Walking more I average 6500 steps per day, I use a fitbit and myfitnesspal is good for calories, carbs, fat, fiber and protein.

Look at Jason Lonergan You Tube video Running A Marathon LCHF as a Diabetic & Coeliac to see how he “embraces” his t1 diabetes, very inspirational.

One change is I work very hard to drink over 2 liters. I find it hard to drink much water, so tea, coffee, redbush, oxo or hot water with milk. Keeping busy keeping my liquids up stops me being hungry. Low cal snacks for emergencies are celery, gherkins & pickled onions.

I was pushing 11st about 18 months ago, now I’m 9st 2lbs (5ft 4in female, age 58) Very Good Luck to everyone on the voyage – I’m sure this is a great plan and will serve us all well, with important lessons for the future too.

Can anyone advise whether you should eat after exercise? I go to an exercise class twice a week in the evening at 7pm. I get in from work at 5 but find if I have my evening meal then it’s too much before the class. If I don’t eat beforehand I struggle with the class as I find I’m lacking in energy. I’ve found the best thing so far is to have something light like a poached egg and half an avocado at 5pm. My husband says I should also have some protein after the class but I’m not very often hungry afterwards so I don’t bother. Should I or shouldn’t I be eating again after exercise?

My favourite breakfast at the moment is a portobello mushroom, grilled topped with a poached egg. I sometimes put a very thin slice of cheddar on the mushroom just before I take it out of the grill. Today I had mushroom, wilted spinach and a poached egg. It’s amazing how quick Ive become at whipping this up.

Weight losses are amazing keep up the good work.
I have been weighing daily and have lost a pound today. Body fat down too. Waist measurement is still the same but I think I am getting a waist higher up than I have been measuring! . I’m most impressed with my fbg 5.5 !! I have never had that result ever. I have to have my Hb1ac test done in a few weeks so hoping for an epic drop!

Hi I’ve been substituting some of the meat with other products as I usually eat several meat free meals a week. I’ve found a cheap low carb vegan cookbook on Amazon which has some ideas and I’ve prepared spiced scrambled tofu to have with the portobello mushrooms. The beetroot falafel from the diet book was good and I’ve had a tofu topped roasted vegetable bake ( tofu, garlic , soya milk and herbs blitzed and put on top). You need to use protein Mazzyp or it won’t be a balanced diet. Quorn could be an option for you, soups with beans or chickpeas. Good luck

I feel the same. I have always been around 5.8-6.2 for my FBS and it is more or less the same after 4 weeks, although rarely seeing a 6 now. I am fighting a Cold but even so I was hoping for a more dramatic drop, seeing 4’s instead of 5’s. Weight is at a BMI of 22.7 and have dropped 9lbs but really doing this for blood sugar levels and like you say, it feels like I’m stuck. First test showed 6.8 this morning! I thought that can’t be right and a retest showed 5.7, phew.

Hi all there are some impressive and motivating weight losses – well done everyone. I’ve lost 5lbs after 3 weeks and 2″ off my waist. Although my weight loss is slower than a lot of you it’s still weight loss and I’m happy with that. I’m not diabetic but carry all my fat around my middle and that’s what is most noticeable how much flatter my stomach is. My aim is to get my waist down another 4″ to 30″ if I can and I’m aiming for around 10st 4lbs so another 11 to go. My next goal is so get the scales showing under 11st.

I think some of the recepies are not correct, I have checked them on several apps and they often come out higher than the book, I work everything out myself.

It’s really good to hear how everyone’s getting on. I’m in my second week and fasting blood sugar has gone from 10.3 down to 6.8. I’m diet controlled and now feeling good and surprisingly don’t need all the carbs I have been eating previously. IVe tried quite a few receipes out of the book such as mushrooms for breakfast , eggs and advocado and the Spanish soup. I’ve lost 2 inch of my waist already and 6.6 lbs. It’s really working ! I have my diabetic review next week so I’m hoping for a positive response but when I tried to raise a low carb diet last year it was poo hooed. Medical and nursing staff need more info themselves .

If you are diabetic or pre diabetic you may find porridge spikes your blood sugar, it does mine, otherwise it should be fine

Hello everyone,
I’m just starting my second week. Went slightly astray over the weekend, (not too much) but lost 1.5kg the first week. My partner who is doing it with me lost 3kg!
It’s great reading about everyones losses.

Michael posted on this site to say that we can use milk so long as you include them in the 800 calories, thank heavens! I’m not a fan of herbal teas either so a few cups of tea with milk help get me through the day. Good luck 🙂

Hi – If you like cinnamon – try the Pukka Cinnamon teabags – they are fantastic and 0 calories. Helps me through the afternoon!

Hi Chloee – yes I found the same thing when logging on nutracheck, that some of the calories in the recipes were significantly higher when I entered them. As I’m using nutracheck for everything else I decided to stick with that.

Hi Smith368 – no I think the idea is to stick to the 800 calories intake regardless of exercise. The exercise will just help you lose weight quicker (as well as making you feel better of course!). Good luck

Week 2 finished, weight loss slowed quite a bit but still lost 8.5 lb since I started on 26 January. Finding it easy to stick to and this week’s goal is to to make sure I keep enough variety so I don’t get bored.

Hi Penelope – yes I plan in 200ml semi skimmed milk each day – approx 100 calories which I use for tea & coffee through the day (I make a big pot of filter coffee in the morning and have a cup before work and take the rest in a flask!) I really think it helps stave off the hunger. Once I’ve finished my milk allowance I go on to peppermint/ cinnamon or ginger tea (I love the Pukka teas – they are so full of flavour)

Good luck

Can anyone advise which replacement meal shakes are ok? I’ve had a look at Slimfast but it does seem to be quite high in carbs.

Many thanks

Graemesmith – I’ve been diabetic for 8 years and was on very similar medication (though 80g gliclazide) I started on 26 January, so just completed week 2 and have lost 8.5lb to date. But best of all I halved the gliclazide the first week with no adverse effect, and then stopped it on week 2 as my results were so good (agreed with GP)

I’ve only been above 7.5 twice since I started (8.1 this morning – no idea why) , and so if still stable over the next week or two I plan to stop the sitagliptin next and then gradually reduce the metformin.

It really is astonishing how quickly I can see my blood glucose levels improving.

Roll on week 3.

Good luck with the plan

Hi, just wondering when I put my food diary and exercise diary into my fitness-pal I have eaten 808 calories and the exercise has taken off 258 calories leaving a balance of 600 calories. Should I eat another 250 calories?

Thanks for that, it makes it a bit more do-able!

I had two flat whites from Costa last week and still lost weight!

The key seems to be to stick to 800 calories so as long as the nuts are counted As part of the calorie allowance, they would be fine. sprouts are a good green veg so why not. I’ve eaten a lot of things not mentioned in the book and just kept within the calorie allowance

I don’t see why not, after all the point is to get your calories from fats instead of easy to digest carbs.
I still use milk and I’m losing weight.

Hello

I have just joined the forum tonight(only 2cnd day of the 8 weeks) and I totally identify with what you say about meat replacements, so far I have used paneer, eggs and cottage cheese as my proteins and I have just bought some black beans to use in recipes-
I think that my vegetarian diet had made me become over reliant( and over fond of) carbs so I am hoping to acquire some better eating habits !

I think eggs are pretty good for keeping you going till lunchtime. Boiled or poached egg and some sliced avocado- I’m going to try this later in the week. Sounds like you have a nice day planned – work for me I’m afraid. I have Wednesdays off so it’ll be interesting to see how I manage without work to distract me!

Hi,
I started the BSD on Saturday and apart from a bit of wavering this morning I am finding it ok. It’s early days so I think it can only get better!

I have reduced mobility so will struggle with the exercise bit. Does anyone know if this will work slower for me? I have been trying the standing up every 30 mins as well as fidgeting whilst sitting down!! I use crutches around the house but a wheelchair when out. I have a problem with my cervical spine which can cause a lot of pain. I firmly believe that if I lose weight it will also increase my fitness generally therefore helping my mobility.

Does anyone have any simple low impact exercises I could do sitting?

Thank you in advance

Hi HelenD
Sounds a good first day, great you have cals left for chocolate! Just planning tomorrows meals but out for the day with friends, we will be in Dobbies Garden Centre for lunch…ahhhh! Plan to have a decent breakfast again so if nothing suitable to eat out I will manage until later. Any suggestions?

Hi there,

I noticed that Brussels Sprouts and Brazil nuts are not mentioned in the book. Are they allowed?

I have a problem with meat replacements as it’s the texture of meat I don’t like ( and haven’t eaten meat, soya or tofu etc for over30 years) . will it be ok to substitute vegetables for meat?

Hi Mazzyp, I’m vegan and I’ve been following the BSD for 2 weeks now. So far I’ve lost 7lbs.
I have used some of the recipes in the book and have adapted some of the meaty ones. For example I used soya mince in the skinny chilli. I think it can be done as a veggie, and so far I’m feeling great.

Louise

i’m vegetarian . will this work for me?
never followed diets before as don’t eat meat or fish or kidney/cannelloni beans.
any help please

I’ve just read the book and am really eager to get going, but can anyone tell me the rules regarding milk? I’ve never really been a fruit/peppermint tea type person and will really miss my morning coffee. If I include it within my 800 cals is it allowed? I’ve only really found one mention of it in the book which mentions an occasional coffee with a “splash” of milk.

Hi Niffer. 1st day has gone well thanks. Great to hear about yours too. I had natural yoghurt with blueberries for breakfast, a turkey salad for lunch and a homemade turkey and veg soup for tea (leftover turkey from Sunday roast). Just realised that I chopped up some potato to go in the soup but it would only be about a third of a potato per portion so not too bad a mistake. I can pick the potato out of the remaining two portions. I just went on automatic pilot chopping it up and adding it. I have enough calories left for a mini bar of dark chocolate later as a treat if I need it later. 9000 steps today which is a bit under my usual 10k target. Had lots of water and have had decaf tea/coffee with splash of milk. Managed to get myself off sugar or sweetener in drinks a few weeks ago. Just wish I could clear my nasty chesty cough virus that’s been hanging around. Looking forward to day 2.

Thank you Aliba. Day at a time but feeling positive this time.