53 yo male – At start of BSD: 178 cm, 109 kg, Fasting Blood Glucose 6.8, BP 147/83
End of week 7: 99.7 kg, FBG 5.2, BP 125/76

Haven’t been religious about calorie counting, ( sticking to the breakfast suggestions, lunch is tuna and salad and some ricotta or hummus, dinner is a little bit of protein chicken or salmon and steak once a week, with unlimited salad of veg,legumes, seeds and a matchbook sized serve of feta with dressing or unlimited steamed veg. Still enjoying a couple of glasses of wine each night and exercising 2 or 3 times a week on a stationary bike. Weight did plateau a few times but then there was a big drop the next week, so just believe in the science. You can’t help but lose weight on a calorie restricted diet with exercise. there have been times when I craved a biscuit or slice of cheese, but I’ve just drunk more water or had an apple or a carrot and been fine with controlling the evil urges. But they are few and far between.

So far, so good!

Hi,

that’s sounds interesting. Still no weight loss, not even today. I do suffer from water retention a lot.
I burn around 3000 calories a day(according to my Fitbit, which isn’t accurate but it gives me an idea) so my calorie deficit is roughly 2000 cal a day. It doesn’t make any sense. I am a terrible ‘apple shape’ as most Pcos ladies are and the fat around my middle just won’t shift. I almost underwent gastric bypass but then the surgeon said I wouldn’t lose more than 5-10 kg so it wasn’t worth the risk. I was even asked to sign up for a research as the doctors were puzzled why it is impossible for me to lose weight. My blood pressure is great, I am not on any medication, very rarely get sick. It is extremely tiring and energy draining to try and always ending up disappointed.
What Facebook group are you in?
Have a good week.

If you can search for the UK newspaper ‘Daily Mail’ – they ran a series of articles with some meal plans by Dr Mosley – here’s one –

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3407500/Eat-beat-diabetes-week-week-watch-weight-fall-Dr-Michael-Mosley-explains-changes-experience-follow-800-calorie-diet.html

which I expect you can cut and paste into your browser address box. I think were about three or four others you can look for. The meal plans have nice appetizing photographs. I googled Dr Michael Mosley Daily Mail and it came up. All the best to you – it will work.

This mirrors my experienced almost exactly. Two weeks in and 11 lb lost, 7 lb in week one and 4 lb in week 2.
So much more energy and not even hungry anymore. Good luck on week 3.

Shadow, you can buy a spiraliser from asda for about £5.00. I like cali rice but I like cauli mash even more. Just mash up cooked cauli with a masher or blender and add a knob of butter. Season with salt and pepper or a tiny pinch of ground nutmeg. Its amazing how creamy cauli is when it is mashed!

Don’t get discouraged Aly, as the others have said, this stage soon passes. Two roast potatoes out of a day’s healthy eating is not so bad. Just try again, don’t give up altogether. To be in the fat burning stage so soon is great news. Treat yourself kindly, rest when you need to and drink plenty of water to help you get through the funny feelings. Let us know how you get on.

Hello everyone:

I’ve just registered on the BSD site and am anxious to get started. However, I am in the U.S. and do not yet have access to the book. I have ordered it, but won’t have it in hand until 22 March. I wanted to ask if someone would mind posting a brief outline of the meal plan-what I mean is something like: Breakfast: X amount protein, X fruit, and so on. I just need a basic idea about this to get started while waiting on the book.

For now, best of luck to everyone and thanks in advance for any help.

Jeff (Boog23)

For years I used loads of weight watchers products never realising the amount of sugar in them. I can remember having 2 or 3 yoghurts a day because they were low in calories and I now am wondering how much all the weight watchers products have contributed to my present sugar situation. I find it hard to have full fat milk but have gone onto semi skimmed.
i have been to my daughters this weekend and she bought courgette spaghetti from tesco which was courgette cut by a spiraliser (not sure exactly what that is) and she cooked with bolognaise sauce and it was an excellent substitute for pasta and woud definitely get them again or just cut cortgette into very thin slices. I have yet to try the cauliflower rice but will try this week.

Keep going Aly, I also had terrible headache the other night and had to eat a bit more but feel ok now.

I had really bad calf cramp that woke me in the early hours the other night. Apparently it is caused by sodium deficiency. So I upped my salt use. and also slim line tonic water is good for cramps, it’s the quinine content!

Good point shrinky! Full fat yoghurt tastes soooo much better than low fat and full fat products are encouraged on this plan, win-win!

HR check the label on your “low fat” Greek yogurt. They normally have added sugar!
Could mess up what you are trying to achieve.
Best wishes.

By the way, it would be much better to go over your 800 than to risk any driving accidents – I’m sure you have already thought of that. 900 cals would still be a very low calorie diet and those extra hundred might make you feel better when you are on the road. Be safe!

It is indeed a strange day, I am really struggling. I have gone up to 900 calories but only on some extra roast chicken which I couldn’t resist this evening. I decided that at least it is still healthy and I was only at 750 yesterday so it will even out a bit. My daughter wafted a piece of wholemeal toast past me just now, it was all I could do not to gobble it up off the plate! Normally I would give in to a little treat and think I would get back on track tomorrow but it’s different this time as it is about my health rather than vanity. Sorry Tamznlaws, I have hijacked your thread. I am sure we will feel better tomorrow 🙂

Well done Tamz, you’re doing great. I guess it is all part of the body’s transition from burning carbs to burning fat. This is pretty much the change of a lifetime for most of us so its bound to feel major. I had pains in my legs that woke me up in the middle of the night and then I couldn’t get back to sleep but they did pass. It just makes me wonder what was I doing to myself all these years if this is how bad the withdrawal can be!

I feel for you Aly, lots of us have been through similar trials but if you can keep going now, it will get easier. And ketosis means fat burning so you should be on for a very nice weight loss which is why you are doing it! If you give in, you might have it all to do again so stick with it if you possibly can (and you can!)

Yes I did some investigation today and seems it is carb flu! Doesn’t really encourage me to continue as I feel really rough! It would seem I have gone very quickly into ketosis. I know in the long run that is good but am wavering right now. I had two small roast potatoes for dinner but will try to pull it in again tomorrow.

Thank-you so much for this, i will away now and see what kind it is i have.
and thanks for the sympathy re the egg – i almost cried!!!! dog was delighted!!!

Aly, your cold might not be a cold, it might be withdrawal symptoms so will probably pass quicker than a cold. I am totally with you on the weight watchers thing. I ‘invested’ a load of cash just after christmas with them on all their latest gadgets and now I wish I hadn’t!

Rose Elliot’s book ‘the vegetarian low carb diet’ says you can go down as low as 20g a day for two weeks for a ‘carb cleanse’ and then 40-60g is still low enough to lose weight. Bear in mind to keep your protein levels up as well though, to at least 60g a day.

What I’d give for a latte just now…

Aw Laura, I’m so sorry about your egg!
On the sweetener front, evidence is apparently emerging that some sweeteners can raise blood sugar levels, thus having a negative effect on weight loss, amongst other issues. Stevia is supposedly a natural plant-based sweetener which you can buy as tablets and apparently doesn’t have any side effects. Personally, I don’t like the after taste but its an individual thing. I use Splenda as it was recommended by Rose Elliot in her low carb vegetarian recipe book and I find the after taste with that is better. Rose says it is made from sucrulose so is better than most others but not as quite good as Stevia. Aspartame is said to be the one to avoid at the moment with the jury still out on xylitol and others.

I’m sure its not too good to be true Yael, I think you have every reason to be pleased with your results so far. Although you might not always find the weight comes off as fast. But again, that’s nothing to worry about. Keep going on your journey and you will achieve your goals. All the best

I believe it’s betweem 50-60 per day. Some of the recipes are well worth trying. Wishing you all the luck x

Hello – i really love my coffee. not excessively but a few cups a day. since reading the book i have stopped having sugar or agave syrup in it and started sweeter, but this morning i read that sweeter is rubbish for you too. Any suggestions? tried just not having anything sweet in it but it’s not the same!
p.s – dropped a perfectly poached egg on the kitchen floor this morning – :/

Thank you to everyone that has posted to me. I did eat some seeds I had with me. I will definitely make sure I keep nuts in my van. I think they’ll be a better snack option. I have made it home after packing my van. Took a lot longer than normal, plus driving home wasn’t great as I felt I had to concentrate extra hard. (very strange feeling). I too am having strange feelings in my muscles, but I have been trying to walk 10K most days. But the feelings today could be from lack of carbs. I will definitely but the book thank you Kev. Unfortunately Janet1973 I gave up coffee nearly two years ago, I only drink fizzy water, herbal tea or red wine! obviously the not the wine at the moment. Thank you to Celsa and Teej for you comments also. I now feel like I’m two people and can’t quite get one of me to work if that makes sense. Just hope by sticking to it tomorrow will improve.

Well done James, its so true that rapid weight loss is very motivating. All the best for week 3!

Well done Kev, for me too, one of the best things has been getting a better night’s sleep. Maybe its a side effect of eating so many carbs that we never really appreciated. Just watch out for those ready meals though – they can contain a lot of sugar and all sorts of other nasties and I’m not surprised it didn’t fill you for long!

I find a coffee around 3 o’clock really picks me up again. It doesn’t have to be a strong one, just a cup of instant is enough.

Well I’ve tried having a bedtime snack a couple of times and it hasn’t made much difference. Last night my levels were 6.8 at bedtime and I had half an avocado. This morning I was up to 8.6!

But I did find a really interesting weblink that indicates I shouldn’t be too concerned about it as it’s just a sign that I have more work to do to get rid of fat from my liver.

https://intensivedietarymanagement.com/dawn-phenomenon-t2d-8/

Unless it gets up to double figures I’m not going to worry about it for the time being.

Day 8 : weight 10st 11lbs (-5lbs)
Blood sugar 10.4

Had salmon and tinned asparagus today, never again. Fresh asparagus in future.

Going to have fish from the fish shop tomorrow – not part of the plan but it will get me through moving the oldie to the home tomorrow.

That has to be funniest thing I’ve read in years, M- not that I could read it very well as I was just crying with laughter!
Making it seems like a really major operation, even when it goes to plan, so will need some research and planning. I’d be aiming to do it with glucose, xylitol or stevia, since my objective is to cut out the fructose. It may just be too much of a hassle; perhaps just do without for the 8 weeks, and then go for the least unhealthy options- I like the taste of Fever Tree and the Bottle Green, so that’s not the problem. Keep us posted if you decide to give it a go!
MaryR

Hi, I’m so glad someone else is experiencing this !. I’m on day 4, and started the day with really bad cramping in my legs before I got out of bed this morning. I’m thinking this may be my sodium/potasium levels out of sync, so I had some salt with my lunch. I’m also feeling so tired, with muscle soreness, but that kind of soreness that comes after a long run etc ?, my joints feel rather strange.
Reading through the posts on here, this seems fairly standard, but it is also clear to me that we are all different in what symptoms we have on this journey ! The human body is so complex is’nt it, especially the digestion !. I’ve realised now that I have a very weak digestion and need to nourish it to get better, that’s fine, but physiologically, it’s obviously going to be a little harder than i imagined.
Stick with it, I started reading the book last night on my Kindle, ‘Low carb problems solved’, by Jenny Ruhl, I recommend it to anyone who is starting on this diet, or in the early stages like me. It explains the changes that are happening, it’s only £3.06 at the moment, and you will be able to read it in an hour.
Keep on going Tamzyn. it will be so worth it !

Kev

OK, will do- thanks!
Mary R

Hi
Does anyone know if polenta is classified as startchy carb. My fitness app says 2 slices is 70 cal with 15 g of carb. Low in sugar, fat and protien.
I have seen a few recipes stating low carb using polenta but I have been so strict on not eating potato, rice, pasta bread and refine sugary foods and do not want to de-rail
Thank you
Anita

obviously can’t put links in this forum. google Portland Food and Drink and then search site for Making tonic water from scratch.
M.

http://portlandfoodanddrink.com/making-tonic-water-my-decent-into-madness/
the recipe has sugar and looks like a lot of effort – but worth the read to amuse.

Hi Tamznlaws. Not much help really but thought I would let you know that I am on day 8 and feeling exactly the same. I have made sure I am drinking enough, watching my calories on myfitnesspal and keeping my fat up with cheese and nuts. I have punt had any issues with hunger at all so just putting it down to a tired day and hoping my energy will be back up tomorrow. As Celsa says, maybe some nuts or a small chunk of cheese? Keep going, you are doing a great job!

Have a snack – some nuts, fruit, something like that if you can. Even if it takes you over your calories a bit I don’t think it’ll matter, because it sounds like you’re being active enough that your body needs a bit of a boost, and you’ll burn them off. No need to suffer, the diet is pretty flexible 🙂

Noooo to Fentimans! (apart from the fact that I did not like the taste of it at all :-)) agave syrup is 90% fructose, so worse than ordinary sugar! I’ll check out their normal version next shopping trip.

The account of the tonic recipe you mention doesn’t appear in your post- is it my browser, or something else? A recipe for tonic would be great.
MaryR

Hi Penny, your ‘my foods’ list sounds a great idea. I’ll check out mycalorieking too.

I wonder if there’s a really good book that lists calories. I know you can find info on the Internet, but as you said it can be random and that’s no good.

I checked out mfp and found it highly confusing as I can’t seem to put specific measurements in – for example, half-a-tsp of butter.

I need to count every calorie and stick to the recipe instructions like glue to be sure that I’m doing the right thing in the right way. If I use guesstimates and improvise and substitute one ingredient for another, I won’t stick to it – especially if I don’t lose weight or my weight plateaus. I will lose faith and give up.

Also, as others have said, I have found quite a number of differing calories for the same food.

I think I’m going ok with the 8WBSD meals. I’ve now used most of the recipes and I’m losing weight fast. I’ve lost one stone (14lbs) in 19 days and feel (and look!) like a different person already.

I am on day 7 today. Got no energy, I’ve not been hungry since day 3. I’m actually at a Tractor show and had to put a stall up and unload my van. It was fine on Friday putting it all up. However, I’m dreading taking it down later today because the energy has vanished. Can’t really be bothered to write this post if I’m honest. But thought some of you may be able to give me some ideas of how to boost it. Thanks in advance

Goodluck Kev keep posting I’m enjoying the read.

came across this very funny account of someone making their own tonic water (complete with recipe!)
http://portlandfoodanddrink.com/making-tonic-water-my-decent-into-madness/
M.

instead of working (catching up on emails) I have spent the last half an hour searching for a good tonic water! obsessive or what!?!
Fentiman’s Light looks like it may be good but can’t find detailed info so have written to them.
Best so far: Q Tonic with following information:
“Hand-picked quinine from the Peruvian Andes
•Organic agave as the sweetener
•60% fewer calories than regular tonic water
•All natural ingredients
•No high fructose corn syrup
•85% lower glycemic rating than other tonic waters”
I will hunt for a bottle and try it and write to them to check detailed data………
M.

HI, I made these last night and I think they are really great.

I used large eggs, I have never heard of a table spoon of butter, before, next time I will use 75g. I didn’t have baking soda so I used 2 teaspoons of baking powder. I did let the mixture stand for a few minutes, and I needed to cook them for just over 20 minutes. They did spread out a little in the oven.

I will make again.

Hi Mary
Welcome to our thread! The more the merrier! Yes, I love this thread, its that auntylil. She’s quite naughty. Thank you for the clarification on the fizzy water. I have very sensitive teeth and could bore you to death now I know you are an ex dentist but I’m happier to know that the water is the lesser of two evils and I will be sure not to make with the swishing.

Now, what’s your story Mary?

thank you MaryR and Eureka – I will keep looking and post if I find anything more.

There are lots of reliable sites on the net that can help with that kind of information. There are other threads on here with more info on carbs. We are all picking it up as we go and learning from each other.
Choose a site with a recognisable source of research. I also use an app that I think might only be available in Australia that lists common foods, will scan barcodes so you can enter foods you usually use and store them in a list and you can type in recipes and it will work out cals, carbs, protein etc per serve for you. There must be something similar in the UK. Other people on the forum have mentioned ‘my fitness pal’ maybe that is an app as it sounds similar.
There is so much to learn and reeducate ourselves about food. I am treating this 8 weeks as a lesson in what and how much to eat so that I can be more independent at the end of it and still maintain good blood sugar levels.
I wish you success with this, and hope we’ll soon be hearing of the great things you’ve achieved.

Hey Kevin
I sympathise with the bit about the kid’s lunches! That’s my struggle too. But you can do this… and it will hopefully mean you are around and in good health to see the grandkids too.