I think one of the best things about the bsd is that there are no real deadly sins. Dr Mosley seems to be quite a kind guru in that I have often heard him say that the odd bit of something will not harm. So the odd bit of chocolate, the odd bit of bread, etc, so long as it really is quite a rare occurrence. The important thing is not to view that little stray as an excuse to have a pity party and pull all the wheels off the wagon.

I’m no expert but I’d suggest there’s a couple of things you could look at to decide whether to have it or not. Do you have a blood sugar tester? If so, test your blood two hours after eating your rye bread and see if it raises your sugar level beyond what is acceptable. If it does, then you know there are good health reasons to avoid it, if it doesn’t then you can enjoy some when you want to. You will want to check the calorie count and make sure that you can make room for it in your 800 calories.

Even if you can’t make room for it, you may decide to keep it as a real treat every once in a while. I have just finished reading an article on this website about mindfully eating cake and drinking coffee so maybe you could substitute the cake for bread and eat it in a mindful way.

I have been a vegetarian for 40 years & have struggled with my weight all my life . However I am determined to make this work & reverse my type 2 diabetes.

I would recommend that you take a look at Rose Elliots Low Carb for Vegetarians , there are 2 different books to keep your diet varied but within the 800 .

Hi Somerset Lass & Elvis Jones, welcome

The original Newcastle diet with Prof Taylor ( see Newcastle uni Magnetic Resonance Centre) low calorie diet prog. http://www.ncl.ac.uk/crp & http://www.ncl.ac.uk/mares , is essential reading I think

Print out the diet & recipes, reply from prof Taylor & info sheet for your dr. & give it to him/her!
No root veg like potatoes, sweet potato, turnip during That 8 week diet

Also read Michael’s blood sugar diet book again re his recommendations of 800 calories. Page 88 re good vs bad carbs & GI (glycemic index )& GL (glycemic load)
GI scores carbs according to how quickly they convert into blood sugar. Pure cane sugar scores 100. Baked potatoes, chips, white bread, white rice score between 70 – 100. I go below 50 GI

GL gives values according to the effect on blood sugar of a Normal Portion of the food.
Protein & fats slow down the digestion of carbs. High GL = 20 or more. Med GL= 11- 19. Low GL = 10 or less

I use Collins gem GI book, & Calorie counter book too. Apps as & when I need

BSD diet book – use it as a constant reference & mark all the bits salient to you.. It’s your bible at the moment

Potatoes bread rice & pasta really spike me. I’m steering clear until I know my individual toleration of those carbs

Eg: Sweet potatoe = 130g has carbs 27g & kcal 109. Med GI value
Parsnips boiled= 80g has carbs 10.3g & kcal 53. Med GI
Carrot grated = 40g has carbs 3.2g & kcal 15. MedGi

Carrots a no brainier for me. You really have to do some looking & learning as to what suits you. Beating Diabetes is so important that we all need an army of knowledge. And this ever growing group of BSD dieters is fighting with all we’ve got. Knowledge is power. Pass it on

I signed up in the first batch. I’m back off hols & started yesterday. 3lb lost in one day!

Keep going x

Eureka

I must say, it was very nice and even he’s said he was full, and then he asked for ice cream and tinned peaches lol.

I found coconut flour in my local Tesco, so I’m going to try the muffins tomorrow as I’ll be making liver treats for the dogs too.

Then as my partner is back to work tomorrow I can cook for myself 🙂

I’ve been doing a bit of surfing and I found a website which has low carb veggie recipes called http://www.allrecipes.co.uk. I’m sure there are other websites too.

Apart from Quorn, I’ve never liked the meat substitutes they laughingly call ham or chicken. But if you enjoy them, perhaps you could just have the meal you mentioned a couple of days in a row so that you use it up before it goes off. I often find that menu plans have too many different dishes in one week and so, as you say, you end up wasting some foods that you have only eaten half of. So I repeat the dishes once or twice in the week to use the food up and then change the menu for the next week and do the same.

Hi MandaK
Sounds like you’ve had quite a year and a fair few low points to contend with. Big congrats on your weight loss. This time around it will be a positive experience where you call the shots. Go on – give it some!

Lol playing with the recipe already. I had that dish last night but changed the lamb mince for diced lamb as the fat content was much lower. Have to say it was delicious! Today has been avocado and egg for breakfast, no carb ploughmans for lunch which I really enjoyed and tonight was the veg curry and cauliflower rice. Delicious. Very impressed so far. Just hope that remains when I weigh myself on Monday!

It’s always good to have some mini goals isn’t it. My goal after centre parcs will be the summer holiday that I have booked abroad and want to feel more ‘comfortable’ in swim wear around the pool!

Will be off to the shops tomorrow to get gloves. Thanks for the tip.

I felt like this until about day 5 of the diet, I knew it was withdrawal so resisted taking pain killers but it really got to me and in the end I took some anadin and went to bed really early! I woke up the next day headache free and it hasn’t come back thankfully. I had also drunk loads of water so it wasn’t dehydration, I just think it’s your body trying to adjust to a big change in your diet. I now feel so clear headed, like a fog has lifted which feels great!

People say that for two reasons: 1) they are jealous and wish they could do it. 2) it is part of the accepted folklore we have been told for the last 30 years or so that slow weight loss means we keep it off. Michael’s book talks about evidence that this theory isn’t true.

There is also mention of people in his book who have experienced feeling the cold more after losing weight. All I can say is congratulations on the weight loss and treat yourself to a pair of gloves!

Started 4 weeks ago at 17st. Have lost 22lb. Blood sugar gone from 6.9 to 5.2. Have introduced exersise and have the mind set to continue to my goal. People keep telling me I an loosing to much to quick. Only down side my hands feel cold late in the day. Any idea why??

Day two, eaten 814 cals and feel as eaten plenty. Sugar withdrawal…feeling dizzy and headaches! I’ve drunk loads of water and 2 black coffees today so not dehydrated, even carried a bottle of water out with me to drink out and about. Cancelled cinema trip as don’t fancy driving with spinning head! Going to bed 8pm, hope feel better tomorrow. I know it will be worth it once get past this stage. Not diabetic so nothing to do with that, doing diet as three diabetics in family and need to loss quite a lot of weight – 3 to 31/2 stone.

Arrgghhhhh, first meal and he’s already “played” with the recipe!

Roasted aubergine with lamb and pomegranate, oh he says, the mince will fall off, let’s scoop out the aubergine. .. then, this will taste better with a slice of cheese on top… This is why I wanted to cook the meal tonight by myself lol

Hi Sharon,

I started on Saturday, Sunday we were invited for lunch. I found it relatively easy and just ate the veg, but I had told everyone so I didn’t upset anyone by not eating much.

My Aunt (who recommended this diet for me) does 2 5. She doesn’t go mad at the weekend but isn’t as rigid. She lost 5kg on her first week. I think that you need to do what is best for you. What works for you may not work for someone else.

At least you have made the first step and started. Good luck.

Hi if I feel like the odd slice of rye bread – the dark variety – say once or twice a week – is that ok ?

sometimes when I feel like I a biscuit and I have had my share of fruit and veg – it keeps me going for a lot longer in the day..

As I understand it, it’s the inability to deal with the carbs that is genetic, causing fat to store in the liver and pancreas. If you don’t have the carbs and the fat comes out of those organs, the diabetes goes.
Penny

What shakes would be best or which did Michael use.?

I have taken the view that if I have understood the principles that Dr Mosley has outlined in either of the two books, I can adapt the method to suit myself. I found that restricting myself to <600 kcal/day on the 5:2 just a bit too much, but I have no problems in fasting for 23 hours which means I can go without breakfast, lunch, snacks and eat only a dinner which might be typically 700 – 900 kcal. To compensate for these extra calories consumed, I decided on doing a minimum of 3 fast days a week, although in practice it often is 4 or 5 days fasting. Early days so far as I have only been practicing this for 2 weeks, but have lost 3.5kg and reduced my fasting blood glucose result from 6.2 to 5.5 mmol/L in this period.

Hi Chloe, I’d love to be your diet buddy 🙂 my partner used to work at centre parcs 🙂 it’s nice to have a goal. Mine is my good friends 60th birthday on April 2nd, followed by my birthday on April 14th : D

Ddraig

Hi Bruce
I’m far from an expert but I do use Myfitnesspal. You can look up what ever it is you are eating and it will usually have a near idea. I’m not totally strict on it but it can record an average chicken breast or a cup of green beans or a tablespoon of something. It’s helpful to keep track of what you are eating and there is a free version of the app. You can also record weight loss.
It might be good to give it a go…it certainly isn’t difficult to use and you can weigh and measure as much as you like
Good luck

Hi Auntylil
Great to hear from you and thank you for giving me a couple of new ideas to try out.

About adding a new topic – the button is at the bottom of the shaded box for each type of forum. So I picked this one as it seemed to be for ‘new arrivals’. There are three or four threads listed and then it says how many comments there are and just below that is the option to click on to start a new topic.

Good luck!

Hello!

I started the 800 BSD yesterday, Monday. I was drinking cream soda and lemonade too often but now enjoy sparkling spring water or carbonated water just as much. Instead of lemon or lime I prefer a slice of orange, and I’m planning on trying a few pomegranate seeds next time the diet calls for one. I like the idea of your suggestion of adding a fruit tea bag, going to go and try that.

By the way – I can’t figure out how to start a topic on the forum – I am vegetarian too, have been for decades, but I do eat eggs, and could do with exploring veggie alternatives without compromising the diet. Today the lunch meal included 2 slices of ham but I cooked a veggie sausage yesterday and sliced that – if I bought veggie pretend ham it comes in lots of slices and I hate waste. Don’t think they can be frozen.

Jasmin tea is nice, cool, and in a cafetiere I sometimes steep cinnamon, lemon and sage. Not so good without the honey I used to have but I will get used to it hopefully. I think experimenting with cooled fruit tea bags might be one way to go.

Would someone tell me how to start a forum topic? I can usually figure things out but this has got me beat. Hopefully the brain fog will lift soon…

Hi Jai
That’s great!
Penny

Hi Squidgy
That’s amazing. Just shows how absolutely right the theory behind this diet is.
Penny

Hi Donna
There does seem to be a phenomenon of slightly raised BG immediately after getting up in the morning. Presumably to give you a bit of energy as someone with normalBG readings may be a bit low having not eaten for 12 hours. Then it sorts out after a short time. Lots of people have written about it on the forums. So maybe it’s not a problem? Only if it stays high. I’m no expert, I’ve just noticed it and vaguely remember reading about it.
Penny

Hi zebbie
That sounds really good.
Penny

Hello everyone,
I’m just about to start the 8 week programme; I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my blood sugar testing kit. I suspect that I may be around the prediabetic level and so I want to know where I am starting from and hopefully see some positive changes in my blood sugar and, of course, my weight over the next few weeks. To this end, I would welcome any advice/ideas for vegetarian meals. But also I would like to share a suggestion of my own.

One of the hardest things I find to give up is fizzy pop (I put it that way but I know you can guess which brands I mean). I have always justified it by only ever having the sugar-free versions but now I am hearing that even they are not that good for us because of the artificial sweeteners. I just don’t think I can bear a life of tap water and I really, really hate lemon juice. So I have started having fizzy water with a fruit tea bag. The flavour is very subtle but the fragrance helps to make up for that and they are surprisingly palatable and satisfying. I’d love to hear from anyone else who is managing to beat their pop-cravings in innovative ways.

I have just read the 8-week blood sugar diet and it’s been a revelation – but I might have already been on it quite by accident! I was told last February my blood glucose levels were higher than should be, as was my cholesterol although not by much – which I put down to the stress of divorce, house selling etc. Knowing I was also overweight at 11st 6lb, I started on the 5:2 diet. Unfortunately a few nasty falls left me unable to walk more than 100 yards and I needed a new knee 🙁 I kept up the 5:2 as I didn’t want to put more weight and my weight remained stable. Then in September I had the TRK surgery and after a shot of morphine (standard stuff) I started throwing up. It took weeks for my stomach to settle and in that time I ate very little of anything. After 6 weeks recuperation at my daughter’s I returned to my own home whereupon I immediately went down with a gastro-intestinal virus that hung around for most of the next 2 weeks. Oh joy! By this time my weight had gone down to 10st 6lb – which I have to admit I was pleased about, but expected to put it back on fairly quickly, however I returned to the 5:2. I see my doc at the end of this month for a review of my BS levels and hope they’ve come down, along with my cholesterol. I then intend to do the 8 weeks again, this time with my daughter. I’ve found that since my “accidental” 8-week BSD, my appetite is far less, and I hate that full feeling, so hope another go at it will not be particularly arduous. Being able to walk and exercise again has made a huge difference – I am now down to 10st 1lb, so here’s to dropping another few unwanted pounds around the tum!

Excellent Jacattack I’ve gone from 9.8 to 6.8
This diet works and I’ll argue the point with any so called health professional who says different.

Just wanted to post this in case anyone is looking at the forums trying to decide if this diet is worth trying.
In 6 days my fasting blood sugar has gone from 15.3 to 9.3 and I’ve lost 3.5 pounds, weight loss might have been more but I had a leaving night at the weekend which involved gin and a burger and chips.
The first two days were tough but can honestly say i’m not hungry and feel better than i have in months. Wee bit to go to get the blood sugar in normal zone but massively chuffed so far.

Katie I fully intend to have my pancakes tonight, made from wholemeal flour and skimmed milk and filled with blueberries and raspberries – yummy 🙂

hi all, very encouraging to hear the stories here. I have never used myfitnesspal or any other app for exercise or calorie monitoring, so do you need to measure the portions of everything you’re going to eat and log that in somehow? Not a total luddite but just no clue as to how they work and how much time it takes to give them enough information to tell me something useful. Would love to hear from some experts!

Hi Everyone,
I’m in my 3rd week now and have lost 10lbs and had a bs reading of 4.4 yesterday which is the first time it has been under 5 in a very long time!
My biggest problem isn’t hunger, it’s cravings. I have such a sweet tooth that I am literally dreaming about cake. I was hoping this would have improved by now but it just hasn’t. Although I feel really motivated, I’m worried I will slip back into old habits if I can’t get the craving under control.
Has anyone got any advice?
P.s. I have 4 children and it’s pancake day!!

This is something i have an in interest in also as we use sweet potato in our chilli, cottage pie and with steak !

Hi Paula,
Don’t despair! I agree with Bill, check blood sugar daily but get weighed a little less often. I’m 2 weeks in now and put on weight on Saturday for no good reason. I was so fed up! However, a few days on and I’ve lost it and a bit extra so it will happen.
Hopefully your mobility will be helped with a bit of weight loss so hang in there.

I am confused about root veg such as carrot, parsnip, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, swede and turnip. Should I be avoiding them at all costs? I though sweet potatoes have a low GI. Can’t find and guidelines in the book or on this website. Thanks :o)

Hi Chelsea that’s really helpful thanks. I don’t really want to eat that late in the evening unless I have to so I continue as I am ano just drink plenty of fluids when I get home

Thank you Bill for the encouragement. I’ve decided not to weigh myself again until the weekend. Your so right about everyone being different, I have been working on small activities I can do each day so hoping that will also help. At the end of the day I will still be healthier even if it’s a bit slow!

Hi Tracey, I’m assuming by your username that you’re female – on a recent episode of Trust Me I’m a Doctor they showed that women burn more fat if they eat (they consumed a carbohydrate beverage in the experiment) before working out, and then not eating for 90 mins afterward. Men were better off working out on an empty stomach and eating straight after.

Hi Paula
weight loss is an individual thing so don’t worry about being a slow starter.
I didn’t get weighed until the end of my first week but I did check my blood sugar readings every day, first day 9.8, second day 9.6, third day 12 !!! then it started to drop until this morning it was 6.8
Stick with the diet, if you need any encouragement look no further than these forums, we’re all in this together and happy to help.

Hi Everyone
I am starting today – had blueberry and green tea shake for breakfast. Have to go and do more shopping later to make sure I’ve got all the right food – its going to be hard cooking for the family every evening !
It does seem a bit daunting, but all your posts are really encouraging.
My WI day is Monday.

Hi,
I started on Saturday and weighed in at 84.9kg height 5ft 2 waist 42″. I have mobility problems so struggle with activity as it causes pain.

Despite religiously counting calories I have weighed myself and am now 84.8kg. I thought in the first week the weight was meant to fall off you?

Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone know if the effect will be a lot slower due to my mobility?

I am still sticking with it as its early days. I also believe that the less I weigh the lower my BM will be also my mobility will improve.

Hi jellyang
Are you on medication for your diabetes ? If so it may be a good idea to talk to your doc about reducing it to prevent these low readings. If not, try increasing the carbs a little.

First weigh in 3lb gone , I am a little disappointed it wasn’t more but at least it is in the right direction.
As a diabetic it has stabilised my bs but yesterday I struggled to keep it high enough & had to have sugary snacks twice to prevent a hypo. I am surprised I haven’t felt that hungry as I am normally a grazer. A have a couple of lunches out this week that could be a challenge for a diabetic, vegetarian on TBSD !

Morning, Just a week in and have lost 10 lb and 5 cm off my waist. Blood sugar is down from 6.8 fasting to 4.1. I feel fantastic and have upped my steps to 15000 a day. I am going on holiday at the end of march which coincides nicely with the end of 8 weeks so should look ok in the holiday snaps for the first time in 10 years 😀

Garden78 that’s excellent, I agree, health professionals really need to read not only this book, but the success stories taking place on this forum.
Another good morning for me, blood sugar down to 6.8.
This was tempered somewhat by a real kick in the tender bits yesterday. After almost a year without problems, I had a retinopathic bleed in my right eye yesterday, so ATM I have 1 working eye and, judging by past experience, it’s going to take 4 to 6 weeks for my right to clear, and then there will be increased hospital visits etc.
This is just another reason why this diet has to work for me, and let it serve as a lesson to others. If you don’t get diabetes under control, this is just one of the outcomes.
Keep plugging away folks.

Hello, I’m here to celebrate today because I’ve just finished my first two weeks. I’m 7.5lbs down. This is my third start of this diet, so I’ve lost a lot before. I know I will keep to it this time, to infinity and beyond, well… eight weeks.

Counting every calorie, mostly around 730. Keeping to low carb, high fat & fiber. I’m eating plain bio yogurt, whole milk, seeds, oily fish, avocados, eggs, green veg and spending a fortune on lovely lettuce leaves.

Walking more I average 6500 steps per day, I use a fitbit and myfitnesspal is good for calories, carbs, fat, fiber and protein.

Look at Jason Lonergan You Tube video Running A Marathon LCHF as a Diabetic & Coeliac to see how he “embraces” his t1 diabetes, very inspirational.

One change is I work very hard to drink over 2 liters. I find it hard to drink much water, so tea, coffee, redbush, oxo or hot water with milk. Keeping busy keeping my liquids up stops me being hungry. Low cal snacks for emergencies are celery, gherkins & pickled onions.

I was pushing 11st about 18 months ago, now I’m 9st 2lbs (5ft 4in female, age 58) Very Good Luck to everyone on the voyage – I’m sure this is a great plan and will serve us all well, with important lessons for the future too.

Can anyone advise whether you should eat after exercise? I go to an exercise class twice a week in the evening at 7pm. I get in from work at 5 but find if I have my evening meal then it’s too much before the class. If I don’t eat beforehand I struggle with the class as I find I’m lacking in energy. I’ve found the best thing so far is to have something light like a poached egg and half an avocado at 5pm. My husband says I should also have some protein after the class but I’m not very often hungry afterwards so I don’t bother. Should I or shouldn’t I be eating again after exercise?

My favourite breakfast at the moment is a portobello mushroom, grilled topped with a poached egg. I sometimes put a very thin slice of cheddar on the mushroom just before I take it out of the grill. Today I had mushroom, wilted spinach and a poached egg. It’s amazing how quick Ive become at whipping this up.

Weight losses are amazing keep up the good work.
I have been weighing daily and have lost a pound today. Body fat down too. Waist measurement is still the same but I think I am getting a waist higher up than I have been measuring! . I’m most impressed with my fbg 5.5 !! I have never had that result ever. I have to have my Hb1ac test done in a few weeks so hoping for an epic drop!