If you’re not sure about calories, a good place to find accurate counts is the USDA nutritional database (American)

http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search

It’s what I use when MFP has too many variants.

Will look for you there – I also find it a great tool! Keep up the good work!

How very wonderful for you Nessie! I’m delighted.
There’s some research out there that does indicate that eating foods we are not tolerant of affects us negatively. Thank you for reminding me of that. Most dairy i do not tolerate. I haven’t had dairy in two days other than a pat of butter – i’ll try cutting that out too. We’ll see what happens.. I’ll be more mindful from now on. Thanks!

I am pleased to say, my weightloss has begun again. I took dairy out of my diet (I have never been very tolerant of dairy, always makes me bloated), and it started to drop off again.
I hope everyone else begins to see some changes soon.
Thank you all for the words of encouragement and solidarity.
I would like it is Micheal came in here to offer a more medical perspective on it all too.

I do two other things. I weigh EVERYTHING – including lettuce with a sensitive food scale i found on sale. I look up EVERYTHING at calorieking.com. We are lucky that our food labeling in the U.S. is easy to apply to this diet. I try to stay with foods i make at home because it is easier to control the calories and nutrients.
Yes, I have no doubt that you will figure it out! !! My doctor had me slightly tweak this diet a teeny bit by emphasizing fats more; having a high fat, moderate protein and low carb breakfast everyday. He showed me some research that he is pulling together on how to turn the body into a fat burning machine, lol, rather than a carb and protein burning one. He suggested that i increase my healthy fats (nuts, olive oil, cold pressed coconut oil, and grass fed butter) after looking at my food diary. I balked at first given their high calories. But what a difference that made! So in the morning i make my 2 eggs with 1tsp olive oil. I add a very few walnuts to the next meal (weighed very carefully). The last meal is often hummus because it is easy and i buy the regular fatted one. Or, a big salad with olive oil based salad dressing or some other green. Or i have a nice cup of full fat (see Dr. Mosley’s information on full fat milk now on the website) goat’s milk kefir for 140 calories and some greens. About 140 of my calories now come from fat. I feel better. Less desire for food except when we have to increase the prednisone i’m on and then i have to use steely determination because i could then eat the refrigerator door, forget the food!
It has taken me a lot of time to get the information together that i needed to do a good job. And also a good bit of the doctor’s time, for which I am blessed (we are dealing with complex medical issues). But bit by bit, i am beginning to be able to coast on my current knowledge. And sometimes, the end of the 8 weeks can’t come soon enough….. lol

What time is it in Australia now? It is just shy of midnight here.

Thanks gateofheaven 🙂 I’ve been worried about this for a couple of days so am quite relieved to know others are having the same issues. I will try tracking carbs and your other suggestions. There’s a lot of “converting” to metric here in Australia as nutritional panels etc aren’t in calories and report carbs/sugars/fats a bit differently on packaging but I’ll figure it out!

My doc told me to concentrate on fats to keep from being hypo. That as my body shifted over to fat burning from carb and protein the lows would ease. In the beginning I ate only according to the bloodsugar diet. After I added healthy fats, the blood sugars evened out and I felt better. My doc said that it would take a while for my body to become fat burning. He said breakfast was particularly important that i keep it high fat, moderate protein and low carb. Dr. Mosley’s ‘eggs for breakfast’ works wonders.

Hang in there kissmytiara! That kind of blood sugar difference is huge and only 24 days! You are less than half way there! The only thing i wondered was whether it might help to track your carbs as well as calories? Then double check whether the carbs are solid low glycemic ones?? I’ve pretty much cut out all grains except for two times when i had a small piece of bread and then in the beginning i had steel cut oats for the first 2 days. My carbs (about 50 grams/ day) mostly come from beans and one or two carefully chosen fruits and greens now. I also am following the advice of my doctor who told me to only eat carbs after I had eaten fat and protein in the meal so that the carbs wouldn’t spike the blood sugars. He also told me to eat 3 discreet meals with no snacking, with 2 tablespoons of hummus later at night in order to take pills hard on the stomach. I don’t know if any of these suggestions that I have received would be good for you or not. Best of everything.

I have 100 pounds to lose and wish it could go faster, but am amazed that i’ve done so well at this point, even with the plateau. I’ve always had quite a lot of trouble dieting. I think i’ve tried almost every diet out there! I did the 5/2 plan and my blood sugars came down to 75 US (don’t know how that measures to UK standard probably low 4’s), but it very good. However, no weight loss! I just overate the other days!

Yeah, I seem to have stalled and the weight loss hasn’t been that rapid from the start- 6lbs first week, 3lbs second week and 2lbs the third. I’m in the the middle of the 4th week now and its down about 0.5lb. It’s a bit discouraging but I’ll keep going. I have about 100lbs to lose so every little bit helps- I just wish there was a big whoosh coming as I want my belly to shrink immediately!

At the end of the day though the weight loss is tracking relatively close to the 3500 calories deficit per lb of weightloss so at least I know I can lose it (and have a reasonable idea of what my maintenance calories are at the moment for this weight.

I use calorieking,com and they say 48 grams is 313 calories, which is what i have been going by. After the posts I checked google for other sources and found 3 that agreed with 313 per ounce or 48 grams. I find that if i don’t add them to my smoothies I’m hungry within a short time. With them, content for many hours. One could always go with the highest estimate to be safe. Consternation!

Thanks Sandy.

I found the same thing so I left the walnuts out 🙂

I’m at the same point as Nessie – dropped 2 kilos in first week and nothing since (on day 24 now). Hoping for a change next week. I’m trying to focus on the positive effect on my fasting blood sugars – down from over 8 every morning to low 6 (and a couple of high 5). Cant seem to keep it sustainably under 6 though and I’m yet to see my doctor again to review my Metformin dosage (same level as pre diet – so diet is working for blood sugar levels, I’m just not getting the weight loss) – I’m unsure how I could ever get off medication at this stage (which is a goal for me). I’m not finding the diet particularly difficult and I’m not hungry, so in all other respects I could say its going well, except for the weight loss (or lack thereof)!

Just added the carbs up – 48 grams today. that’s about what i eat every day. Sometimes less.

Thank you for the encouragement. Week 1 i lost 9.2 pounds, week 2 – 5.2 pounds and nothing for 4 days. 2″ off around the waist. I am very careful with the calories and weigh everything. If it keeps up, i’ll look at the carbs. But they are minimal; 1/2 cup blueberries, 1 small mandarin orange max a day and always at the end of the meal or in a protein/fat smoothie. A rare piece of bread 3″ X 2″ with butter. Good fat and protein mostly. Anything i might be missing? We had to increase my prednisone and hydrocortisone to accommodate the stress of the diet (adrenal insufficiency – so don’t produce stress and anti- inflammatory hormones) and I wonder if that is just holding water or the cause. Some days i’m hungry as a goat, lol – but still stay on course. Encouragement?!

A warm welcome to the Forums.

Sandy

Hello to the lovely land of Scotland!

Thanks!

Thanks for that pmshrink. I have downloaded MyFitnessPal, but think I may be missing something, as I’m finding it very difficult to use. It seems very time consuming putting everything in manually. I don’t think I’ve got the hang of it properly, as I know everyone else seems to think it’s easy. I’ll have another look at it tomorrow. As for the snacking, I am finding that I can eat less than I used to, but not sure I will ever get down to 800 cals. For the time being, I’m just doing my best, keeping the carbs down, and generally cutting down. However, although my weight has stabilised, it isn’t shifting very well. About a pound (half a kilo) every few days if I’m very strict. Just hoping that as my sugar stabilises, I will be able to cut down more, and shift some more weight! Good luck when you start.

Thanks Bill , all the best with your diet

Hi Malkay
I absolutely understand. I think people couldn’t possibly imagine what it’s like. Basically your brain stops working properly. It’s so horrible. And takes ages to go if it’s bad. I look at other people and think how can you not eat for hours? I’m sure they’re wondering why I snack all the time. Are you on My Fitness Pal or one of the other apps? I find it easy to track my carbs on that. Also there’s a BloodSugarDiet support group on there. Basically if you put in 100 grams of rice it will tell you the calories. I’m definitely starting g the diet soon but need to have everything in place so I won’t get a hypo and fail straight away. I ll keep you updated.
Penny

Hi pmshrink. I am keeping to the very low carb, but not always managing 800 cals. I’m not very good at counting the calories, so just keeping the carbs very low. Today I have definitely had more than 800, as I have had a lot of protein. I definitely feel better when I don’t eat carbs, but I haven’t reached the stage of not having reactive hypo. I think I probably eat when I don’t need to, as I’m scared of getting hypo, particularly when I’m out. Good luck if you start the diet, and let us know how you get on. Hope it eventually cures us!!

Hi from Scotland !
Good luck! This really works

Scan the packet into your app. or input the information manually

As a scot I was brought up on proper porrige as well as haggis that can have a lot of oats and barley. Unfortunately they spike my blood sugar. The only way to really see if a food suits you is to get a blood glucose meter. When I reach a more “normal” level I will try again as oatmeal is a very healthy option – normally

I was diagnosed in October as T2 and just given Metformin – no discussion or anything. I read as much as I could and in answer to the question no-one is too old. I was most heartened by some of the stories and mainly from older people. They are the ones with life experience. Some of their stories were heartrending such as the 70 year old who , after not being able to leave the house for 5 years due to the side effects of Metformin, had decided to give up on life. A friend who visited daily had coincidentally heard about the low carb diet and persauded this lady to follow the diet on the basis that it couldn’t do her any harm as she had given up anyway. Within 6 months she found her life again as she had been at 65 and was fit and off all medication. So I am following the BSD blood sugars are reducing and so is weight. You are never too old. If you want to read more about the alternatives google Metformin, side effects , low carb diet

Michael could we have some recipes for home made meal replacement shakes using real food please? Many of us dislike the chemical after taste and high amounts of sugar and artificial sweeteners in the commercial diet shakes. 8 weeks is quite a long time to be using 2/3 shakes a day if they do not deliver balanced nutrients; it’s easy to knock up a tasty shake or smoothie within a calorie limit but quite another matter to make sure all macro and micronutrients are included in the correct balance.
Vegan and vegetarian options gratefully received please!
Thankyou.

Michael do you know of a monitor which would genuinely record a wide range of movement? I cannot walk much owing to a foot problem, but am constantly trying to add NEAT into my life. I would be very motivated by a monitor which does not rely on steps taken. I researched the GRUVE which seems to be what I want but not really available with any support here in UK.
Thankyou.

The book indicates that they are OK, but to see if they are right for you, it would be best to check your blood sugar readings two hours after eating porridge. I find that it causes a huge spike for me, even the really coarse old fashioned oats, so sadly I give them a miss. I usually eat fruit and yoghurt for breakfast.

I’ve found several errors in the book’s calorie counts, including another nut related one which was miles off.

Gosh that’s a big difference for a 800 cal day! Lol. I found that the myfitness pal has a range of options as they are imputed by numerous people. One says 6 walnut halves = 112 calories and another says 28g =190. I think You can input the numbers from the packet into myfitnesspal yourself so you are getting an accurate reading for your particular brand/packet.
Good luck x

Walnuts are very high in calories. About 13 calories for 1/2 walnut. However, they are a good fat and help me feel satisfied longer. I weigh them out to be sure of the calories! 10 grams are 65 calories.

Hi, I am 67 years old, my weight was 15stone 7 pounds. I was diagnosed as a T2 Diabetic in September 2015. I have been following a low carb diet and have reduced my blood sugar readings, and now weigh 13 stone 7 pounds. I am not content! I really like the sound of Dr Michael Mosley’s 8 week diet plan. My husband and I have both just started and are looking forward to slimmer and healthier bodies!

Hi there,
My 73 year old mum put the book in my hand. My dad is type 2, she’s already fed him so well that his GP is in awe of the change in his numbers. He has come off statins which is great for many other reasons… Mum is also starting this week to loose some weight gained in the last year or so. I hope you give it a go and are reassured by some of the success stories on this forum. Good luck! X

These results are really encouraging to read. Well done to you all!

I’m just getting lunch ready for tomorrow and was weighing out to see if the book is close to my estimates. But, when I am preparing for this lunch on day 2 it says the whole thing is 290 calories. However, myfitnesspal has said that 48g (Small handful) of walnuts is 340 calories!!!! VERY confused 😁. What has everybody else done? Thanks. I don’t want to mess up by a few walnuts!!

Hey well done. I only hope I can do as well as you. Starting Monday

I asked my doctor about this. He said to watch the blood sugar and if it gets too low or I start having hypos, to reduce the dose

The book says you can do any 2 days, either consecutive or split them up.

I’m vegetarian & have been eating 100g of mixed pulses every day. I’m on day 12 today & have lost 5.5kg (12lbs) so it certainly does not slow down weigh loss!

Flora, I am in my 60’s too and will be starting on Monday.

First of all, may I say get a new doctor! I start on Monday so can’t really share my experience yet, but from everything I’ve read, eating lower carb and/or following a low glycemic load diet is the way to go for our blood sugar issues, and I believe Dr. Mosley is right on the mark with that. Adding in the 8 week thing and/or 5:2 is like icing on the cake. I am so confident that will really help me. The best to you!

Congrats to all who are losing on the plan. I’m finding it a bit hard to navigate here, and didn’t realize there were over 50 posts, so a big congrats to all who are using this plan and making it work for them. I start on Monday.

Oh way to go !!!

Still at the 6lb loss.. no change to waist yet !

Congratulations! I receive my book tomorrow and start on Monday.

Fabulous Marjorie! Congratulations. I haven’t started yet. I receive my book tomorrow and will start Monday. Probably starting with 5:2 to ease myself into it. Did you find the first week very hard?

I should have posted here first before jumping into the 5:2 forum.

I am obese and pre-diabetic. I KNOW that this approach will help me. I ordered my book from the U.K, because we won’t be getting it in the States until March. I’ll probably be doing it backward – I’m interested in starting the 5:2 approach, and if need be will ease myself in the 8 week thing.

Glad to meet you all!

End of my first week and I’ve lost 8 and a half pounds and 2 and a half inches from my waist 😀

Hello ,
I am 67 years old, weigh 14stone 9lbs and have been type 2 Diabetic for 6 years, am also on statins.
I started the diet last week and was 14stn 11 lbs, so I have lost 2lbs in a week, haven’t been able to do that in 6 years!!!
Also go for 1/2 hour walks at least once a day. My blood sugar levels have gone down, so not using as much insulin which will also help with losing weight.
Give the diet a go, you have nothing to lose apart from weight and see your diabetic nurse if you have any queries, and don’t let anyone tell you you are too old to do anything you want to do!!

Hi, I’m into my third day and have lost 3lbs, I’m happy with this for starters! I woke with severe migraine today so, as usual, this will mean a day in bed! I was expecting it at some point as when trying to understand my migraines some time ago, I bought a blood sugar monitor. I found that if I woke with a migraine my bloods sugars were below 4 mmls, so I’m guessing this is what has happened today. I can’t test as I haven’t any test strips and they are a bit expensive to buy! I’m wondering if there is anything I can do about this? Or will my blood sugars just sort themselves out?

Hello everyone!
I read the book over the weekend. Could not put it down. I made a start on he 8week programme yesterday and I have a headache today but I believe de-hydration has a lot to do with it so have bottle of water in hand.

I’m not diabetic but Type2 is on both sides of my family (father and maternal grandmother). I’ve become more and more addicted to refined/sugary/carby foods over the years, my weight has varied but never been as low as I’d wish. I’m now at a stage in my life where I need change. As a Mum to 2 busy boys, having little to no energy and mood swings is not conducive to the lifestyle I’m trying to achieve for them. I’m trudging through and I don’t want to be this reliant on sugar any more. I want to do what I can to change my mind & body so I don’t head straight headlong into the docs office one day to be told “I told you so” .

May the force be with you all. I’m so pleased to see this forum and hope to read lots of success stories in the near future. What’s 56 days in the long run aye!?

Oh ok – so its really a no oats bircher! Well that makes a bit more sense.