Latest forum posts

  • posted by  hashimoto on How Will My GP React?
    on in 5:2 BSD
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    Hi Clare, do you think Michael could do some similar research into hypothyroidism? This is the first diet which has worked for me in terms of shifting fat and I would love to know if going permanently low carb will benefit all those of us with hypothyroidism. Thankyou for your posts

  • posted by  Ami on BM not dropping
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi. I have lost 1 stone in one month. Ecstatic with that but my BM levels have been 4.9 5.7 5.3 over the last 3 weeks after fasting overnight. I have not strayed from the diet. Should I be concerned? x

  • posted by  hashimoto on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Great news on Monday, as my jeans were starting to slip down I decided to find my old walking trousers that I haven’t been able to wear for a couple of years. Went on easily. I was so happy. Then the unexpected happened – they started slipping down too! I can’t believe the impact this diet is having on my belly fat. Big thanks to Bill and everyone on these forums for the help and encouragement – and to Michael M, of course!

  • posted by  Cherrianne on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Wow Bill, huge achievements since you started this thread just three weeks ago. Blood sugars in a range you could only have dreamed about back then. Weight and inches lost. One medication gone. Congratulations. You have become so knowledgeable about the diet and lifestyle to keep you healthy. Looks like you’re in charge of the diabetes now, not the other way round.

  • posted by  hashimoto on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi Bill, I too wish this info had been out there years ago as this is the first diet that is having an impact on my weight ( I have hypothyroidism) and have been worried about developing diabetes. I love your posts, they are so inspiring. Good luck with your retinopathy. I have a diabetic friend who has recently developed retinopathy but won’t change to this diet as he has always been told to eat lots of carbs. grrrrrr

  • posted by  hashimoto on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi Bill, thankyou for the info on the chickpea flour (gram flour) I have the confidence to make some onion bhajis again after reading your post. I’m impressed with your blood sugar results! Your GP must be delighted with you

  • posted by  Rainybow on Day 3
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Lots and lots and lots of water , it helps with the headache and also keeps hunger at bay . Stick with it once you get through the tough first few days / week it gets easier . You can do it ! Good luck

  • posted by  Bill1954 on This has to work for me
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Well, after a chat with a nurse last week I decided as an experiment to drop my Exanatide (Byetta) injections this week.
    Pleased to report that the blood sugar readings are still (Fasting) between 5.6 and 6.2 and in the 4’s before dinner.
    Feeling a little more hungry at night but nothing I can’t cope with.
    So it looks like that’s 1 of my meds gone, just need to work on the Metformin.
    Wow wouldn’t it be good to have a life that didn’t include those horrible Metformin “moments”

  • posted by  malkay on Not losing belly fat
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Morning Penny. I’m not eating much fruit, just a handful of blueberries on my morning omelette, with some Greek yogurt. I do have a very good breakfast! My other carbs come from veg, chickpeas, and occasionally a small portion of lentils. For lunch, I’m generally having a small salad with chicken, prawns,feta or falafels. Evening is a small portion of whatever the family is having, minus the carbs. I made a similar stew to yours at the weekend, tonight is salmon and stir fried veg. My evening treat is a small cup of cocoa made with half almond milk, half full fat milk – I don’t think too many calories. So apart from the treat, think its ok. I suspect I’m not exercising enough, although my job in a busy shop means I am on my feet all day. Not in today, so just off for a walk! Thanks for the encouragement, and hope it is going well for you.

  • posted by  tamznlaws on Day 3
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Hi Day 3 I’ve woken up hungry and tired. I decided to jump on the scales. They reckon I’ve put 1/2 a kilo on. So taking control I’m not getting on the anymore. I’ll judge my weightless on my clothing instead. (just incase they’re lying). Any ideas of how to get rid of the headaches without drugs ?

  • posted by  Bill1954 on So excited
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    He He, Jahooly did I not say last week that you would be excited about your results
    Keep it up, you’re well on the way.

  • posted by  Che_Knight on Not losing belly fat
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    I think I’ve found another problem, I’m not eating enough fat. Old habits die hard! I’m still trying to make my meals as big as I can for the allowable calories but I seem to be making low carb and low fat meals.
    What sort of parallel universe have I entered where I actively look to add fat to my food??!! Haha. Time to redo my meal plans!

  • posted by  Notsosweet on Useful links
    on in Fast 800
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    I found the UK diabetes website quite informative. Lots of recipes which have calories, fat, protein measured out and they seem quite big on the low carb way to managing diabetes. There is a 10 week low carb program you can join and you don’t have to live in the UK to do so (I’m outside the UK).

    http://www.diabetes.co.uk

  • posted by  pmshrink on Not losing belly fat
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Malkay
    Sorry- I’ve recommended it to all and sundry so couldn’t remember. It’s so great having the facts, really helpful probably you would do better being more accurate for a while.
    Where are you getting your carbs?
    Mine are just non tropocal fruit plus veg, so I just check on the ‘Nutrition’ bit of Myfitness pal to see how they’re working out. Today it was 29 grams. That was one small Apple , one orange, kale, lettuce, carrot, beetroot. Plus tiny bits in just about everything.
    Penny

  • posted by  Natasha_ENFP on CrabCakes Recipe – am I doing something wrong?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    I have had the blueberry and green tea shake, chicken with butter beans and walnut salad a d crab cakes for 3 days in a row (tomorrow is my last day!!).

    This would present a problem if I didn’t love crab lol

    I’m completely intent on sticking to the menu plan too, so I totally understand where you’re coming from lol xx

    Ps, omg I love the Bircher too, so delicious.

  • posted by  malkay on Not losing belly fat
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Penny.
    I did read the book you recommended. It’s really helpful, particularly the bit about going above the ‘ketogenic boundary’. That may be my problem, as I’m not measuring my carbs very accurately, but I’m not eating any starchy carbs at all. In the book, Michael doesn’t actually talk about ketosis, so I wasn’t sure whether we need to worry about it. I was trying to avoid having to weigh everything and be too strict, but maybe it’s just time to up my game and get a bit more serious!

  • posted by  Jahooly on CrabCakes Recipe – am I doing something wrong?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Think I’ll leave the crab cakes Natasha, Not a huge lover of crab ….. Lol. But so Intent on trying to stick to the menu plan…..must learn to lighten up 😍😍. Ha
    Good luck all, tomorrow is another day on this journey ……
    Ummmm dreaming of no carb bicher tonight ..😊

  • posted by  Jahooly on Week 1 complete, anyone need a 'diet buddy'?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi, yes a buddy would be good , on day 8 and 12 lbs lighter , feels good and most imif time not hungry but when it hits find it hard to resist but so far other than a few olives and squid I e kept to it and. It does it work ……. Have another 5 stone to lose which seems like a mountain to climb but help and support from buddies would be good ……..

    Catch you soon And good luck this week

  • posted by  pmshrink on Not losing belly fat
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Che
    Great isn’t it. Very empowering to know facts. Once I d read the book I could see people on the forums struggling because they don’t know this stuff. ( so of course I tell them about the book !)
    Penny

  • posted by  pmshrink on Not losing belly fat
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Aliba
    Us and millions of others!
    Now we know- but most people still don’t, and the low fat message is so engrained…
    Penny

  • posted by  Aliba on Not losing belly fat
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Thanks Penny, really interesting, especially the bit about fat being needed to regulate blood sugar. I’m totally convinced of it after eating low fat for decades, ended up nearly 5 stone overweight and diabetic!

  • posted by  pmshrink on Getting Geard up for the Start – 1st March
    on in Fast 800
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    Aliba- I love your list! Mine would be similar but soya instead of dairy. Also some red meat to cook delicious stews in the slow cooker. And pears and occasionally a bit of watermelon, and oranges.
    We re so Lucky to live in such a well- provided society!
    Penny

  • posted by  Natasha_ENFP on Calorie miscalculations on some recipes 🤔
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi FatCat,

    Thanks for your response.

    I have measuring spoons and level off portions with a knife by dragging it over the top of the spoon.

    I think they should state that in the book, that regular cutlery tablespoons are totally different to a tablespoon size a measuring spoon gives.

    I am losing weight pretty fast since I started 2 weeks ago and have had the Bircher several times, so I **think** the calories are correct. I hope so anyway!!!!

  • posted by  pmshrink on Not losing belly fat
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi Malkay
    Did you have a look at this book?
    ‘Low carbs problems solved’ by Jenny Ruhl.
    (£3 on kindle)
    If you haven’t it might help you.
    Penny

  • posted by  FatCat on Calorie miscalculations on some recipes 🤔
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi, I said my no carb Bircher came out at nearer 300 cals (not 180), but it’s a recipe that’s given in tablespoonfuls – so the size of the spoon (tablespoons vary, I don’t have a measure), whether they’re heaped or level, makes a big difference. So in my case, I think it’s my measurement error – I need one of the ‘official’ spoon measures I think.

  • posted by  Natasha_ENFP on Calorie miscalculations on some recipes 🤔
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hey there,

    I just saw in a thread that some people on the 8 Week BSD have complained that the calories in some of the recipes in the book have been incorrectly stated.

    Does anyone know if this is definitely true?

    I’m really worried as I am being absolutely precise with my weighing and measuring and would hate to think the calories are not accurate.

    Would anyone happen to know and be kind enough to specify which recipes have the incorrect calories so that they can be avoided?

    I know there will be many who would be absolutely gutted going to all this effort and expense for it to be wrong

  • posted by  Natasha_ENFP on Question about the No Carbs Ploughmans
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hey Cherrianne,

    Thanks for asking, my weight is going down. I need to lose 35lbs and have lost 11bs in the first two weeks

    I am not diabetic – I tested my blood sugar when I started the diet and my levels were in the normal range. However, with the diet I had been consuming for the past couple of years, I was on a fast track to getting T2D.

    What worried me the most was my stomach; with no exaggeration I looked at least 7 months pregnant. I also felt constantly tired with very low energy (often sleeping until 4pm and not wanting to get up), very irritable and depressed and my sugar and carbs cravings were off the scale uncontrollable. knew these were serious danger signs, and that is what motivated me to change.

    I had watched all micheal mosley’s TV programmes and am a huge fan. I also really trust his research.I thought the 8-Wk BSD sounded absolutely amazing, so here I am!

    I am not as organised as your sister, and cook my meals 3 times a day. I will, however, always make sure I have my next day’s ingredients the day before so I am not caught out. This also helps plant the seed in my mind that next day is bsd day, and so on.

    I also like to follow the daily meal plans and recipes to the letter. I’m pretty obsessive about it and won’t substitute meals or ingredients or do my own thing and use guesswork. I don’t trust my judgment lol. I need to know this is going to work by following everything exactly what it says in the book. So far so good with the results.

    I’m so jealous you get to grow your own veg AND you’ve had gorgeously hot days! Your homegrown zucchini and tomato recipes sound delicious.

    Yes, I loved the Aussie lifestyle and you are a friendly lot! I’m hoping io visit Melbourne again in the not too distant future.

    How are you getting along?

  • posted by  FatCat on Extended exercise on 800 kcal
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    I meant to post my reply too – along similar lines:

    I would recommend taking it easy initially while your body adapts to the lower carb intake.

    Your body can use fat as an energy source during exercise, instead of carbs, but it takes time for your body to adjust. Indeed, if you are type 2 diabetic, it can take even longer for your body to adjust to the different energy source.

    The catch 22 is that you need to do exercise with low carb intake to help your body adjust to a different energy source.

    You will know your body better than anyone and you should listen to it and how you feel. If you feel able to undertake the exercise then you should be fine but don’t overdo it if you’re not sure you’re ready.

  • posted by  malkay on Not losing belly fat
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Thanks for the encouragement, Aliba! These last 2 days I have been working, and although I have taken lunch, I have snacked a bit in the afternoon. However, I am at home tomorrow, so I shall be gentle on myself. I’ll get up in the morning with a renewed sense of positivity, and make sure I keep to 800 cals. I’ll report back at the weekend!!

  • posted by  Nic2385 on Has anyone else felt faint?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Thanks Cherrianne, that makes sense and is reassuring. I’ve given blood and had it taken a lot without a problem. Will definitely drink more water to avoid my embarrassed apologies to the surgery nurse next time. It’s the first time I’ve felt woozy since giving up wine for this diet 😀🍷.

  • posted by  Natasha_ENFP on Question about the No Carbs Ploughmans
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi GinDibs,
    That all sounds delicious, I’ve yet to try them. Can’t wait!
    I have my calculator at the ready to work out for the bigger dishes what I would need when making 1 portion.
    It would probably make life much easier and be far more time-efficient to cook as in the book and divide the dish into portions and freeze them as you are doing.