I’m now in week 4 of the 8 week blood sugar diet. The first 3 weeks went by fine. No hunger and cheap and easy to follow. Lost roughly 2lbs a week. So I was thrilled the weight had started moving.

Now in week 4 I am not at all a happy chappie. I woke up Monday to an horrendous bout of IBS and spent the morning running to the loo. IBS a couple of times a month for a morning is not unusual for me, so I put it down to the over eating of broccoli on the Sunday.

Tuesday I spent another morning barely able to go a few steps away from the loo. A second day in a row is unusual for me but I wasn’t overly concerned, thinking that I must cut down a bit on vegetable fibre, and this day I also starved myself to give my stomach a rest.

Then yesterday, the third day, not only was I running to the loo all morning but it also flared up late afternoon as well. Another day I was scared of eating, so another day of starving myself.

I am lucky with the way IBS affects me, in as much as I am not in pain, I just simply have to stay close to a toilet for a morning. But then last night just before bed I started to get the most amazing pains in my stomach. I spent the whole night alternately walking the floor and laying down with a hot water bottle on my stomach desperately trying to get some relief.

I have never, ever, suffered with IBS like this.

This morning as I sit here I am still in agony and now constipated. I can barely stand up straight with the pain.

I am now worried that I have done my insides up like a kipper with this very strict diet. I don’t mean the 800 calories as that wouldn’t affect me, but the fact that all the fruit, berries and vegetable fibre I have been eating, to compensate for the processed fibre that I no longer eat, has really messed my system up.

Is, or has, anyone else had problems like this?

How are you feeling today Auntylil?

I’ve only lost another 1lb so 5lbs in ten days but the thing is that 5lbs appears to be staying off. Most diets I’ve been on, I weigh myself and get all excited that I’ve lost 5lbs and the next day 2 of those are back on. I also have done NO EXERCISE WHATSOEVER. I have bad arthritis in my knees so walking (a little bit) is about as energetic as I get and with the diabolical wind and rain we’ve had for the last few days I haven’t done any. Today we’re going to Bayeux, which is flatter than where I live, and the sun in shining, so I shall try and walk about a bit. Most importantly my BS has been in single figures since day 2 of this diet, which is fantastic. It sounds as though everyone here are long-term dieters like me and for once this diet seems to be giving people the incentive to carry on. Let’s hope we’ll all be stones lighter (if need be) by the summer.

I run a B&B and we have regular guests who come every May so my aim is to astound them because they won’t have seen me since last year. Although I’ve only lost 5lbs since the beginning of the month I have lost a total of 15lbs since November with the low carb diet, so it should start to show soon. In the past this is where I have lost the impetus (?) because a stone doesn’t even show but now I understand things better I just keep thinking of all that fat that must have disappeared from around my heart and liver!!!

Home tomorrow! We came to collect a special car hubby bought and are going back via the tunnel in the morning. The plan is to never get on another ferry after that awful crossing Monday evening!
Just went to Amazon Uk, found jumbo oats but they wanted £100 to deliver! Looked on Amazon Fr and found the same thing delivers for €9.99. Still a bit steep but am happy with that so have ordered Jumbo organic oats. Will have that for breakfast from the time I get home.
I will not count calories either just try to stick with healthy choices. I have Rose Elliots’ book on order for low carb vegetarian cooking which I hope will help.
I can get lentil, red kidney beans and chick peas in France but will need to hunt for more variety. We have a shop called Bio Co Op that may well have what I want.
Gradually I will make the changes. I did it with moving to clean food so am sure I can do this.

Thanks Penny, yes I need to buy something for that. Hopefully with better weather I’ll be able to walk further without getting soaked to the skin! I spend a lot of time in the garden, 1 acre) so I must burn up some calories doing that too.

PS I nearly always cook scrambled eggs in the microwave!

Hi Aly (when are you home, btw?)

I’m not much of a breakfast eater really…..often go without. I do quite like porridge, I make it with water and add a splash of milk when it’s cooked, however, it doesn’t keep me going and I will feel hungry a couple of hours later. If I eat eggs though (scrambled, poached or an omelette with bacon), that fills me up and keeps me going for several hours. I sometimes have Greek yogurt with berries – nice, but that doesn’t really fill me up or keep me going either. A slice of homemade rye toast is another thing that fills me up.

I guess it depends how strict you want to be…..we’re following the principles of this diet but aren’t being strict about sticking to the 800 cals, in fact I just don’t bother counting them because I know we are definitely eating less calories with our food choices. And we are still losing weight! I don’t see a problem with you eating oats for breakfast (maybe don’t follow it with toast though!), so long as you eat very few carbs the rest of the day. Well, that’s my view anyhow.

Sue

Two other complications….I live in France, I can get a box of Quaker Oats here and although in the UK for a few days and planning a trip to Tesco need a regular supply. Once home will investigate Amazon. My other problem is I have a wood burning oven! It takes a while to crank it up in the morning. Porridge done in the microwave is acceptable, eggs are not! I have a fledgling smallholding with lots to do first thing ( chickens, ducks and geese and bees arriving soon). This is all a learning curve and I will gradually work it out. It has to fit with my lifestyle to work. I am also on a clean food campaign!

I think it will be handy to see how we’re doing and not necessarily focus on weight (I have ishoos!)

I’m pre-diabetic and only testing on a morning:

Day 1 – 6.7
Day 2 – 5.8
Day 3 – 7.0
Day 4 – 5.7
Day 5 – 6.1
Day 6 – 6.1
Day 7 – 5.7
Day 8 – 5.7
Day 9 – 6.8 (I fell off the wagon yesterday and it’s not exactly called the 1 week diet is it!)

Be good when updating to copy and paste the whole list then add the new day at the bottom so people can easily read how things are going on the thread.

I’m only pre-diabetic, but it took 7 days to reach two lower readings (5.7 from a usual of 6.8), and I actually had a spike higher than I’ve ever had on day 3.

Good morning and we have the same dilemma at our breakfast table too.
I think uncut oats are okay, but instead of toast and trimmings, how about bulking out the scrambled eggs? Maybe turn into an omelette with peas and sweet corn, or peppers?

*Janet* Thanks! I don’t tend to take enough credit for myself but I must admit when I started I wondered if I would last a day so this is pretty good.

After yesterday, which when I added up the calories weren’t even as high as my whatever that thing is that is your basic calorie requirements, I’ve a renewed enthusiasm and am back on it. Especially as after two days of morning blood glucose being 5.7 it went back up to the usual 6.8 this morning (I’m pre-diabetic).

I’m actually doing this as part of a 100 day challenge to change my life. The food side of things isn’t actually too hard for me as i eat the majority of whats above anyway, its just about removing the carbs, the wine and the junk food.

I had already dropped beer/cider and had seen my HBA1C drop 12 points.

During my 100 days i hope to get my HBA1C down to a normal level, no doubt reverse my type 2 and regain my fitness. In 2013 i ran 5 marathons in 5 days but at the moment i struggle to run 5k. My 100 days finish on May 17 and I plan to run a personal best half marathon time.

I’m also bi-polar so going to work on getting my head in shape as well.

I have 3 young kids the middle being a girl, if i don’t don’t reverse the type two i run the higher risk of a heart attack, stroke, 10 years off my life and might miss the chance to walk her down the aisle when she’s grown up.

I started my 8 weeks ar 103.8kg so lets see where i end up at the end of my 8 weeks and then at the end of 13 weeks.

My plan is to move to 5:2 after the 8 weeks and at the end of the 100 days move to a med style diet.

I love my red wine so i’ll take in that, sweet potato, quinoa, bulgar wheat etc ( all of which i love ). But need to drop my crisp intake, my ketchup intake and late night eating.

Its all about retaining my body and brain.

Roll on April 4 and then May 17.

Thanks a lot, will give it a try. Elvis Jones, pls share your recipe as well if you can 🙂 I do have a slow cooker and use it frequently. It’s great!

Hi Penny, how long have you been doing the diet?

I was pleasantly surprised to get on the scales this morning and see 181 🙂

Chloe, any tips on the cauliflower rice? Did you do in mwave or oven?

I must use the corgettti I bought in tesco tonight lol, one of my daughters was here for dinner so I changed my plan and we had a mountain of stir fry veg with the coconut milk, lime juice and thai fish sauce. It was lovely, left out the chili as both my daughter and I have sensitive stomachs, she doesn’t need to lose weight but it’s kinda what she eats anyway, she told me it was the best stir fry she’d ever had 😀

Hi is there anyone who’s had type 2 for 8 yrs plus. My husband has and we’ve been on the diet for nearly 2 weeks. His sugars have been under 10 – in the 9s actually since starting & he’s stopped taking his metformin after suffering terrible stomach pains – they’ve not been under 10 even on the meds. Weight loss is amazing over 7lbs in 1st week. I suppose the question is how long will it be before his sugars start to show some steady reduction. Feeling like he needs a boost to carry on! Thanks

I always have porridge with milk and a little honey for breakfast. Usually toast, butter and marmalade too. I can cope with scrambled egg sometimes but know it will be hard to stop my porridge. Added to the complication is I am vegetarian. Porridge keeps me going until around 2pm when eaten at 7am so does not spike my blood sugar. It will be very hard to find something else I can enjoy! I would appreciate some help with this. I know breakfast is not needed for all but I do need it. Without it I will struggle to avoid a mini binge mid morning. I am ditching the carbs slowly as it is the only way I can do this.

I’m 2 weeks into the diet and feel really good. I don’t feel tired at all and no headaches At all now. So keep going it’s really worth it. I drank fizzy water in the evening with a slice of lemon which really helped.

That’s really great to hear! I’m afraid I cheated a bit this evening by having a few cream crackers with my hummous but I didn’t have any sugar or anything else I shouldn’t have and I still have a headache! I am definitely going to persevere with the diet because not only do I want to lose my diabetes, I can’t wait to be thin again! And it’s my birthday next Thursday, so I’m really hoping the headaches will have stopped by then. Going out Friday to celebrate so am hoping and praying I don’t have any migraines or headaches that day! Thanks to everyone for your messages of support 🤗 X

I’m struggling , I’m a T2 on insuline twice a day . 12 units in the morning and 7 units in the evening . Been on the BS diet for two days and my reading are high . Morning was 11.0 and evening before bed is 12.8 . I have stopped taking my insuline whilst on this diet . Will it take a few days for my BS to drop to a normal range . Any help or advice would be appreciated ?

I’m struggling , I’m a T2 on insuline twice a day . 12 units in the morning and 7 units in the evening . Been on the BS diet for two days and my reading are high . Morning was 11.0 and evening before bed is 12.8 . I have stopped taking my insuline whilst on this diet . Will it take a few days for my BS to drop to a normal range . Any help would be appreciated ?

I’m struggling , I’m a T2 on insuline twice a day . 12 units in the morning and 7 units in the evening . Been on the BS diet for two days and my reading are high . Morning was 11.0 and evening before bed is 12.8 . I have stopped taking my insuline whilst on this diet . Will it take a few days for my BS to drop to a normal range . Any help would be appreciated ?

The one thing that i’ve noticed is that i really Taste everything and that’s delightful. The other thing is that i no longer feel guilty enjoying full milk in my coffee. Full fat yogurt. Hummus. These are wonderful comfort foods for me! NO guilt, eating with pleasure, fulfillment and happiness. And losing weight! It doesn’t get any better than this!

I use an app called Australian diet diary, it has an icon that looks like a spiral bound notebook with a pear on it. It is very easy to use. You can scan bar codes to enter new foods using your smartphone or iPad. Also you can enter your recipes and it will work out cals, carbs, fats etc. It keeps track of your weight, exercise, intake etc. and you can copy from previous meals if you have the same foods often, to save re-entering them each time.

Yea Eureka!
I found the first couple of weeks rough until i figured what was best for me to eat. Every one’s body is different.
Now in the middle of week 4, i’m doing well and it’s EASY. Never thought it would be easy!
It’s my understanding that if we continue the diet the way Dr. Mosley has set it out, the liver and pancreas will rid themselves of unnecessary fat in due process.

My doc has me eating high healthy fat, moderate protein (50 grams – just like Dr. M!) and low glycemic carbs (just like Dr. M). I just switched out a few carbs for fat and hunger went away. The results were/are amazing. Of course, on 800 calories, we are not talking about a lot of fat, lol. breakfast 1 tsp olive oil, lunch 1 cup full fat kefir, dinner chicken with skin.

Thanks for the suggestions. I am now a week into the diet. I have got my protein from cheese, eggs, nuts and pulses. I used quorn mince on a couple of occasions and it did curb my appetite. I have lost 7lb and not felt hurry so it is working.

Sounds like you’ve got a plan Elvis. What are your goals for these 8 weeks? I read on another list you are already quite sporty.

Sugar – otherwise known as simple carbs – screws with our bodies and makes us think we are hungry when actually we are not. Cutting the sugar/carbs means our bodies can return to their proper state and protein is more satisfying while fat helps us to absorb nutrients better.

Useful info, thanks Penny!

Paula. That was swimming and water aerobics!

Hi gateofheaven

Sounds like you are on the ball. You take more meds than me ( only metformin ) but I don’t have a supportive GP so will have to wing it & the surgery closing so got to find new dr anyway!

I started properly Monday & am keeping a diary of how I feel, what I eat & my intentions. Finding it helpful & it will be a good reference to take to SHOW my dr how it’s working for me. It will remind me of the ups & downs I encounter & may be helpful to others on hearing I’ve done it, I hope.

I’m going very low carbs – I know they affect me, & will reintroduce them cautiously , testing bloods as I go.
I have a BP monitor so good idea of yours to monitor me. No BP problems at present but a good call

Yes we do need good fats even though we are trying to rid our liver & pancreas of it. We don’t want to be chewing on our muscle protein for energy!

Thanks for reminders

Eureka

Hi Paula
Would swimming or estero ices work for you? I know there are sitting excercises on the Nhs website.
Good luck with the diet.
Penny

Hi Chloe
Good luck with the diet. I’m sure you ll have lost even more than that by May.
Penny

Hi again Helen
I’d like to friend you on MFP – great you’re interested in those sort of details!
Penny

Hi Helen
I’ve set mine st 30% carbs and 35% for each of fat and protein.
Can’t remember now how I came to this conclusion!
Penny

Many thanks. I will continue on more confidently.

Oh well done on resisting the g and t, that shows real determination!

My kit didn’t come today, I’m disappointed. I had hoped to start tomorrow so that by the time my husband and I go out for a rare night out with friends in Saturday, their jaws would have dropped when they saw how much weight I had lost in just three days. Complete fantasy on many levels, I know but it gets me through the days!

I wouldn’t say I’m organised, just a bit addicted to spending modest amounts of money! What kind of dogs do you have? We have a mini long haired daxy called milo whom I adore but is completely useless from a power walking point of view.

I really wouldn’t recommend the raw mushrooms. I think you are right that planning is a big part of this, otherwise it will be too easy to fall off due to not having the right things in the house so I am going to start tomorrow to plan a few days menus which I can shop for. Food shopping isnt nearly as interesting as gadget shopping! I’m starting to get threads mixed up in my head – are you in quite a rural location?

Hi Joycey
Hope you’re feeling a bit better.
I’m sure it’s a detox type headache from coming off sugar and carbs. It seems common.
I record my drinks by drawing 5 glasses of water and 5 cups of tea ( some with H for herb) in my notebook then crossing them off one by one.
Good luck.
Penny

Those recipes are just for the sauce you are adding to the chicken, lamb, salmon etc. The calories would be much higher if they included the meat/fish as well.

Hi Jessia
I think the answer is yes you can!
Michael is keen for us to eat lots of green veg, in fact he said on here don’t weigh it. And actually the cals in green salad are minimal. I think just count the cheese, aco and any dressing. The only really really important thing is carb control. A few green veggies will just be good for you.
Good luck!
Penny

Hi Nuthatch
I think having something to record your steps really helps. My phone does it. Other people use Fitbit and similar things. I’ve just been walking everywhere I need to go locally. One day I recorded 13,000 steps!
Staying motivated for the diet doesn’t seem to be a problem for people. It makes you feel so much better!
Penny

Hi again Jessica, how has today been?

I was thinking about why so many people get hooked on drinking fizzy pop, I was a bit like that, and I think for me it was that those kind of drinks satisfied my thirst because I’ve never liked drinking water, and the fizziness seemed to aid my bloated tummy, and… the sugar was a quick fix. Carbonated water has been a substitute for me like Dr Mosley writes and for others here too. Want to add that the headaches pass in a few days according to other people on the forums because I have had some too, its usual apparently.

Im sure Dr Moseley would say it’s better to have good blood sugar figures that you both are getting and not to worry about the speed of weight loss or being told you are getting skinny.

Well done

The simplest replacement for meat in a vegetarian diet are beans/lentils, then you do not have to resort to quorn etc. Also a book I have used in the past is Rose Elliots Low-GI Vegetarian Cookery. You can modify the amount of olive oil and dairy depending on where you are in the diet. Good for using with the 5+2 … for the 5 day part!

One thing that I noticed after a longish plateau was that some of my medications had either artificial sweeteners or sugars in them. Not much. But when I found substitutes for those, the weight starting coming off again. Also, i cut out my beloved steel cut oats, just for this 8 week period. Less carbs – 50 grams total per day made a huge difference. The added fat instead of carbs boosted everything; not something i expected.

I also cook in batches and freeze. Take hummus to doctor’s and physical therapy appointments if I’m going to be running into a meal time. Because of meds, I must stay on schedule.

I noticed that I was more fatigued yesterday and today. Suddenly I realized my blood pressure was too low. I don’t retain salt, so I boosted salt and took extra meds to raise my blood pressure and now feel perky again. So, if someone is fatigued or light headed, do check your blood pressure. Dr. Mosley does suggest that we not only drink more water, but also get in some salt.

What a bummer for you – hope it arrives in time for you to start tomorrow. You sound like you’re being far more organised about it than I am, but I have a useful app on my mobile about steps, calories burned etc and that’s enough for me – I have two dogs that require a lot of exercise and like monitoring how far I’ve walked. Otherwise very little else achieved today other than cooking. I’m finding the meal planning, making shopping lists and the actual cooking more intensive than I’m used to. Very nearly had a vodka and tonic tonight but talked myself out of it. I am going to a Tesco tomorrow, a large one – unlike you I don’t like shopping much, but tahini, different flours, cummin seeds beckon and they’re hard to find locally. Eating raw mushroom sounds like an endurance test!

Evening all, wow what an inspiring bunch of people! I have just finished the book and have started the med low carb diet. I’m not diabetic but have a strong family history of it and I’m about a stone overweight . I had my blood sugar checked recently and it was slightly above normal so I’m anxious to get it down and loose some weight and be healthier and more active. I’m not doing the 800 diet but am trying just to cut out all sugar and sweet things and reduce my carbs. I have a terrible sweet tooth and really want to get rid of this addiction. I started on Monday and have lost a pound in three days so I am pleased with that,.
I am basically lazy so I need to try and get motivated to take more exercise, I walk my dogs twice a day for half an hour but I think my body’s used to this so I need to up my exercise. Any tips on staying motivated would be welcome. 😀

I suffer from similar snacking danger times to you but also don’t feel the need on this diet. I think for me its down to eating more fat? Previously everything was high carb and low fat.
If you’d told me a week ok i’d be happy on 800 (sometimes less) cals per day, I’d have laughed!

Thank you for your replies.
Great, will definitely want to carry on if these feelings are okay. For just a few days of discomfort and I guess learning a whole new approach and new understanding of diabetes and diet – is really really a small thing. It’s good to know that there is lovely support for all our journeys. Thanks all.

Try this……Google Bruno Loubet’s bean and vegetable chilli. I saw Raymond Blanc make this on the telly then found the recipe. It’s THE best vegetable chilli recipe EVER! you wouldn’t guess there’s no meat in it, to reduce the sugar content maybe omit the brown and Worcester sauce. But the little bit of chocolate is essential. I don’t do the rice with it . it’s packed with veg, it seems like a lot of ingredients but it’s not really but so easy. I do the veg in a small food chopper to make them really finely chopped so the texture is similar to mince. Trust me, give it a try!