Thanks so much for this, shall try it when out this coming week. Will report back.

Cheese? We met a 70 year old man who was a very keen cyclist and his advice was just carry cheese and apples as they give you enough nutrition for cycling and take up little space. He would cycle all day and have a meal in the evening. Cheese gives the calorific value without the carbs.

There are some really good Vegan cookbooks an Amazon – some free for Kindle. I suppose all you can do is work out the calorific value of your protein which will be on any packaging.

Just wanted to flag up an issue I think I’ve spotted with one of the recipes in the book – the apple wedges with homemade almond butter. The recipe uses 300g of almonds and says it makes 4 portions, but says that the calories (with apple and seeds) is 110.

300g of almonds contains 1776 calories according to the packs I bought today, which tallies with calorie counts on my fitness pal. Just wanted to flag it up as if you used this recipe you’d end up eating >500 calories in one go.

Thank you! I’m sure you’ll make excellent progress too 🙂

Good luck with the plan- I found a cup of hot milky tea helped keep the hunger pangs at bay in the first few days (ps the hunger pangs mostly go away after the first couple of days- I guess that must be when the burning fat kicks in!)

Mashed chick peas are also remarkably like mashed potatoes. What an adventure making all these discoveries !

Hi Cazzowary,
Thanks for the response.
Fabulous weight loss, congratulations!
and great to hear you are managing without giving up milk in tea.
I am on day one today and have counted milk but glad to hear it won’t affect losses if counted.

Hi Swan

In the FAQs on this site it says:

“You can drink anything that has no calories/low calories. This includes coffee and tea. Adding milk is fine as it is rich in protein and relatively low in carbohydrates. But it also contains calories.”

The book says to use just a splash of milk so maybe there’s been a bit of a mind-change. In any case I’m drinking milk in my tea (about 150 ml a day) and counting the calories as part of the 800. So far I’ve lost 4.2 kilos in 14 days so will keep doing so unless the weight-loss stalls.

I am not diabetic but have a waist measurement of 45inches. Other diets just aren’t workink mainly because soon after eating a large low fat meal I am hungry.

It occurred to me that some of my every day recipes such as fish stew will fit into the m diet by substituting barley and butter beans for potatoes. Worked well tonight

In the book, it was recommended as an option to start on meal replacement shakes and then to move onto real food. What shakes are recommended that have the required nutrients?

If you can’t get out I can recommend Leslie Sansome or Jessica smith walks. Jess smith is on you tube for free.

I’m going to make an effort tomorrow and go for a brisk walk 20 mins possibly 30mins – surely its got to be better than nothing! x

That makes sense… I think that i’m going to start of with the meal replacement shakes for a couple of weeks (hopefully!) and then take it from there… Wish me luck day one tomorrow x

Is it okay to use milk in tea if I count the calories?

Good question Steve and Ei. Also want to know if & when to stop medication if your GP not on board with you?
Should HbA1c tests be done to keep an eye on things. And very importantly too is will you still be considered type 2 diabetic ( diet controlled) by the insurance companies?

Be grateful for your help & advice please Michael

Hi captainlynne you are holidaying with FRIENDS in their homes. Tell them what you are doing & why. They can look at the web site too. Offer to cook them some meals , as your repertoire expands it will be fine. Go food shopping with them or for them. Bulk up on lots of veg.
I went to Hawaii & it was poi & spam! Rice & potatoes was their idea of 2 veg on a plate. A whole cob lettuce sprinkled with cheese was considered a salad. I was very surprised & disappointed.
The USA has a huge problem with diabetes & portions. They may be very grateful & impressed with your efforts to change your life. It could rub off – go girl & enjoy

I would love to get a cross trainer, but after the treadmill I wanted gathered dust for ten years before we finally got rid of it, I don’t think my husband would allow it!

My only problem with the diet, and ongoing maintenance, is knowing when I have finished the 8 week cure part. How do I know if I am “fixed”, i.e reversed out of T2 diabetes, or just getting low BG readings because I am avoiding carbs. I suppose a home-made glucose intolerance test at some point?

I am really excited – 7 days in to this challenge and I have already lost 5 kilos- drinking more water has been a challenge. I am trying to make the 8 weeks easier by counting down days instead eg. Day 56 – day 55 etc.. This has helped with my head knowing that there will be an end – by this time I am hoping I have formed a habit and will continue to clean eat and revert to 5:2. At this time I am happy to keep lunch simple and the same for a couple of weeks as I have already got results. I am also trying to remind myself that food is a source of energy and I should not depend on it as a source if happiness. I am so grateful for this challenge and the support of science – thanks Michael. P.S. I have had one indulgent day so far but I have been kind to myself – all is forgiven and I have moved on 🙂

I vaguely remember watching the piece on smoothies. I think the problem with lots of commercially available smoothies is that they contains fruits that are really high in sugar but they are promoted as being healthy. Have you noticed that innocent have started putting veg in their smoothies?

I don’t think the recepies or the menu in the book are that exotic for a Mediterranean style low carb diet. The lamb in the aubergine dish is minced you could maybe change it into a lasagne style dish using the aubergine like lasagne sheets?

I still have milk I think the broblem with skimmed or semi skimmed milk when you are on a low sugar diet is that lactose the sugar found in milk is actually higher in low fat versions.

I don’t think Michael intended us to follow the meal plan slavishly its just a suggestion for me it includes some of my favourite foods. Its completely understandable that people would want to adapt it to suit themselves just as long as we stick to the principles it should work.

I don’t think I will be buying coconut water either but its essentially the liguid in the middle of a coconut its quite nutrient dense.

Hi, what are the recommended portion sizes for the permitted grains (rye,oats,quinoa)?

Eureka you mention skimmed/semi-skimmed milk but I’m pretty sure Michael promotes full fat dairy. And a splash in your tea/coffee isn’t many calories.

Like many things “low fat” milk is more processed – they try to give the creamy texture that taking the cream out loses, by adding other stuff.

I’m prediabetic but very close to a diagnosis of diabetes (and I’d had gestational diabetes) so I went along to the diabetes information sessions. They were still promoting up to 60 grams (4 serves) of carbohydrate per meal! I would have felt like an idiot saying “but I read on the internet…” I mean the information is so contradictory you can find “evidence” for any advice you prefer, so I didn’t argue with them except to say even 45 grams (3 serves) made my blood sugar spike. We were taught about slow release low GI, which is important, but not to dramatically reduce carbs. I started testing myself regularly to find out what works for me, and low carb/low processed is definitely to way to go for me.

Is it possible to undertake the 8 weeks as a vegan?
I’ve read the book but the recipes are vague about the portion sizes/weight of the protein for me to modify at home.

Hi all. I don’t drink tea or coffee but just read book again ” essential you drink at least 2 – 3 litres calorie-free fluid a day or you get constipated & headaches. I love fizzy water with lots of ice & lemon. Or plenty of fruit tea & occasional coffee ( but only a splash of milk) “. Pages 135 – 136.

Buy the book, check the book & mark the book where it’s important info for you. This book is a tool, don’t be afraid to highlight, turn pages down or write in the margins! Make notes in the margins to help you, I do.

250ml glass skimmed milk = 83 calories. Or 115 calories in semi- skimmed. You can see where the splash comes from. So remember to do the maths & count the calories in your daily 800 allowance if you go there. Maybe be a duck for two weeks!

I’m going to try very hard with the diet this week, but I’m on hols for 11days after. (Husband’s big birthday). No excuse for blowing it all though as it’s buffet half board. So I can control a lot with my choices. And he’s on board with life changes too. Intend to walk lots & swim. Watch this space!

When I return all systems go. I’ll post recipes. We’ve had big parties with coeliac & dairy intolerances to cater for too.

I’m already in awe of the drive & commitment this group has shown. Keep it up & shine that light at the end of this tunnel

Zellieh, I know, right!? Just saw Michael Mosley debunking smoothies on Trust me I’m a Doctor so funny to see them popping up in the book! Some of the recipes look really tasty but not what I’d consider every-day eating. If you come up with any inspiring tasty but simple dishes do share them!

Smoked mackerel is a lot oiler than smoked haddock so more calorific–it’s a type of fat that’s really good for you so would be great if you’re doing the Med diet but probably best avoided on the 8-week plan unless you cut down the amount a lot.

Thanks Eureka, that’s really helpful! My kids are pretty small and I don’t think I’m going to win them round to lamb-stuffed aubergines so I’ll be cooking separately for them for the initial 8 weeks. After that I should be able to adapt the Med-style diet into things we can all eat. Quick question: is milk supposed to be off-limits? I don’t really get that if you can have cheese. I don’t mind black coffee but black tea will be hard!

Katie- read the book. The “After the Diet” is covered. Michael suggests maintaining your new found slim line appearance / low BG with a low carb Mediterrean style diet and explodes the myths of putting the weight straight back on as 70s myths.

I’ve just finished reading the book, and I like the science. I want to try it because several of my close relatives have developed diabetes and I don’t want to. I think the 800 calorie diet will be the best way to get over the sugar cravings and lose weight fast, and once I’ve lost weight and stopped craving sugar, I’m going to drop down to the maintenance diet.

I’ve started keeping a food diary on MyFitnessPal, and exercising using Darebee’s Foundation 30-day challenge. I’m starting the 800 calorie diet on Monday, once I’ve looked at the recipes (there really aren’t enough in the book or on this website!) and found some plain and simple ones that aren’t so weird and expensive. What the fck is coconut water anyway?

(I think if I gave this chef my budget, my kitchen equipment, and my corner shop, they’d either faint or starve! LOL)

Since being diagnosed type 2 diabetic 2013 I’ve tried to really educate myself on the subject. Yes, a lot too late I agree! Sadly the NHS & my GP practice are, I’ve found, still as ignorant as I was. I’ve read books & looked at many World Wide Web sites to gain info that I think appertains to me. Promoting the taking of copious amounts of carbs to me was wrong & just made me worse. I knew bread & potatoes gave me gastric reflux & I chewed Rennies every night hoping I could lay down & sleep without the pain & choking. When I cut down or eliminated them from my diet, I slept & NO reflux. Simples! But it took a long time to put diabetes, carbs , cause & effect together! So, get to really know your body & listen to it. It knows what’s wrong even if you are ignoring it.
Find out as much as you can about what you are doing & going to do. READ & understand what your body SHOULD be doing & what it IS doing. Books: Jenny Ruhl Blood Sugar 101 & Diet 101. Dr Michael Mosley & Mimi Spencer The Fast Diet & The 8- week blood sugar diet. (Daily Mail today & nxt week). This is just a sample but The Sample as far as I’m concerned. Get informed & think laterally. You like me got yourself into this mess BUT we now stand a chance of getting OUT of it. There was no hope before Prof Roy Taylor & his findings at Newcastle Uni.
Millions of us are already Diabetics! Get the Knowledge. Do the Knowledge & Pass it on x

I often holiday with friends, staying in their homes in Italy or USA. In both homes they eat lots of carbs. Italy is the slightly easier destination, despite the pasta etc, they still serve protein, salad etc. What is the best way round this please?

Can Michael perhaps explain – I can see why this diet can lower blood sugar levels to acceptable ones, whilst you are on the diet. But, does this actually CURE diabetes, or just maintain the levels IF you stay off carbs and sugar? At the end of 8 weeks, what then?

I keep embarking on a low/no carb approach, then I will read something that says you shouldn’t do low carb, just slow release carbs, so then I eat slow carbs. I get really confused about what I should be eating, but think I do feel better avoiding carbs. Thanks for the support, I guess there is no ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, just what works for us as individuals.

Type 2 diagnosed 26 October 2015. Floundered around trying to make sense of conflicting advice from doc, practice nurse and dietician.

All advice was on the lines of- you’re diabetic, get used to it. Take your Metfortin and prepare for the inevitable misery.
Discovered Prof Roy Taylor’s work while trawling about to find the wonders I had to look forward to. It sounded no different to any of the other idiot diets I had heard about since the 70s, until I read deeper.

I read Dr David Cavan’s “Reverse Your Diabetes” in November 2015 and it then hit me that Roy Taylor’s research made more sense than that which the NHS currently have us believe. I started 800 cals per day on 3 January.

I was given Micheal’s “8 week blood sugar diet” yesterday 15 January and read it from cover to cover before bedtime!

Fetched up here 16 January 2016.

I’m diet controlled diabetic, age 65. I started this on 19th December. Since then I’ve lost 16 pounds and 7 inches from my waist. Fasting Bg was 10.9, now consistently in 5s. Bg at bedtime now in 4s or 5s.Diabetes nurse thrilled and following plan herself. I’ve even sent a copy of this book to friends in USA who want to follow this plan. Many thanks to Dr Michael and Prof Taylor for their work.

It is heartening to hear from other people’s success and the drop on sugar levels

I’m 65 with diet controlled T2 diabetes. After a visit to the diabetes nurse for an HbA1c which I knew would not be great (for me) I was in the bookshop when this book launched itself at me. I read it, and then read it again. Following a phone call from the nurse with my test result, where Metformin was mentioned, I politely told her, no thanks. Then told her about this book. She was impressed as she know someone who has been doing 5:2 and doing well. I said I would start if on 1/1/16, but then decided to begin immediately. I tested my Bg that night, then fasting the following morning 19/12/15. Fasting Bg that morning was 10.9. Now, after 4 weeks on the plan, my fasting Bg is consistently in the 5s. At bedtime my Bg is in the 4s or 5s. I have lost 16 pounds in weight and 7 inches from my waist. My blood pressure has also dropped. The diabetes nurse is now following the plan herself, although she is not diabetic herself. She is delighted with my results so far, is monitoring my blood pressure and is repeating the HbA1c in March to see how much it has improved. I feel so much better and am delighted I started the plan when I did.

Bought the book off Amazon, couldn’t put it down – read it in a day! It was like a revalaton now to put it into action…

Hi all, I just started this diet 6 days ago. Diagnosed diabetic 3 months ago and yes, the Desmond course is quite depressing! So far, have not been hungry at all even when it’s been 7 hours between lunch and dinner! The recipes I’ve tried so far are really tasty. I’ve even managed to avoid all the leftover chocolates and cakes brought into the office by my colleagues. That is a miracle in itself! I have a long way to go but so far, this is working! Thanks to Michael for writing the book.

Ok cool…. Thank you for the info x

Needs to be a leafy green veg, steamed or boiled.

Its just there to provide a bit of dietary fibre to keep things on the move, as it were!

Nice to have something hot as well. I put a dollop of English mustard on the sprouts and cover it all with freshly ground black pepper to liven up what is otherwise a rather bland meal.

Aged 66 I am neither diabetic nor pre diabetic but have struggled with yo yo dieting most of my life. I’m now 3 stone overweight and want to lose as I’m only 4:11 in height.

Keen cyclists, my Type 1 diabetic husband and I hit our target of cycling 2015 miles last year and have set 3000 miles this year. Despite all the cycling I’m not losing weight so this way of eating looks like it may help. I don’t overindulge, very aware of portion size but do eat lot of carbs.

Any advice from fellow cyclists on how to continue with the 40 mile day rides with few carbs, would be welcome.

Well done with the wait loss…. I suppose it could be any veg?

Oh yeah, went with the shakes because it is convenient and takes the thinking out of it. I have better things to do with my brain than faff about obsessing about calories.

Open sachet, dump in pint glass add 250ml of skimmed milk and stir.

Behold- 206cals of quite tasty glop.

Repeat four hours later.

Any meal replacement shakes providing around 200cals are fine. Don’t get hung up over the brands, its the cals that matter

I have 250mgs of sprouts for evening meal.

I started this diet just after Christmas and I’ve been using Tesco Ultraslim – £4 for a pack of 10 sachets or £10 for three packs at the moment.

3 Jan 2016 – 12 stone 4 lbs

16 Jan 2016- 11 stone 10 lbs

Just do it.

Hello everyone!

I’ve just started this too and have already lost a few pounds in the first week. I know that this will be mostly water, but it’s very encouraging! I’m going for a homemade vegetable soup for lunch ost days, which is very filling and is always well under 200 cals. I have recently bought a fitbit charge HR too, and although I thought it a bit of a gimmick, the app is really useful at keeping track of food (can link in with myfitnesspal if you want) and exercise.

I am not diabetic, or even pre-diabetic, but I’m very keen on keeping it that way!

Thanks Michael and good luck everyone – we can do it!!

If I decided to go down the Meal Replacement Shake route – would SlimFast shakes be appropriate? or is there any other choices? and can you make it with milk or water?…. maybe I should have changed the title to this topic to multiple questions?!?!? x