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.

Michael suggests that if you finish the 8 weeks and you still have more to lose that you move on to the 5:2 BSD (p. 147).

Thankyou Gateofheaven. It looks to me as if you have it all covered.
At the weekend I will put that lot into MyFitness Pal and then I wll be able to cover anything missing with an extra small meal.

I am concerned about this too. I am just going to be sensible and use moderately. The book is very specific and only uses very small amounts. It is so good being able to use dairy products and olive oil instead of them being banned never to use again. Will see how it goes.

Can you continue on the BSD past 8 weeks if you have a lots of weight to lose?

That is comforting to know, thank you. If this change in lifestyle leads also to a drop in bad cholesterol readings also, I will be thrilled.

Hi to all,

Im in Melbourne Aus and am starting on 01/02/16…. gotta empty the bad stuff out of the house 🙂

Great to hear how you are all going!
Keep up the good work….

Anyone in Australia looking for the book – I got my copy at Kmart for around $20.

My mum is doing it with me and she’s 76- day 24 and counting. She’s generally healthy except for recently diagnosed pre-diabetic fasting glucose readings and isn’t having any problems (we live in the same house and I’m doing the cooking). I think there are a few people around your age who have posted here so they’ll probably be able to help. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I am 68 years old and 14st 9lbs. Have been type 2 diabetic for 5years. I was resigned to the fact that this was my all until l read the book. My GP was less than enthusiastic and said l was too old for the low cal diet and suggested a slimming club and a low fat diet. I am worried that without being monitored l could have a few problems. I do have high blood pressure and take statins. I really would like to hear from anyone around my age who has tried this diet.

I also combine the kale with the blueberries for heck of it sometimes. 🙂

I am on day 3 as well. I still feel hunger pangs.Waiting for it to get better. I suppose it takes a bit of time for the stomach to shrink…

I’m having more fat and less carbs than mentioned above generally 30-45 grams fat and 50ish carbs. But it varies day to day and I don’t think we need to get bogged down by numbers as long as we stick to the rules. I don’t eat beans or lentils so that could be keeping my carb count so low, I only have vegetables and around one serve of fruit per day as carb sources. It’s working, so I’m not worrying!

2 tbs flax seed meal (14 gr) – 80 cal (4.5 gr fat, 3g protein, 5 gram carb)
12 oz almond milk (360 ml) 45 cal
1/2 cup blueberries (71 gr) 41 cal
1/4 C. Plain egg white protein powder i get from Amazon. 20 gr. – 80 calories (16 grams of protein) I sometimes add more if my protein count is low.
3.5 walnuts 47 cal. 4.6 fat, 1.1 protein, 1 carb.
Now that i know that specific fats are “good” occasionally I’ll add a few walnuts. They are about 13 calories each. This helps with satiation.
I sometimes add cinnamon, which i understand is an appetite suppressant. Also, i like cardamon.
Total calories of recipe above: 293 calories.

I sometimes substitute kale and nutmeg for the blueberries for a savory taste and fewer calories. I add the amount that tastes good to me – about 1/2 cup which is 17 calories. Sometimes I skip the berries altogether.

1/4 cup cooked Steel cut oats (59 gr) 42 calories – i rarely put these in. Only if I feel the need of carbs. But i try to avoid carbs to some extent in the morning because then I’m less hungry the rest of the day.

I don’t tolerate milk well, but since it sounds like you do – that would increase your calcium, protein, and fat. it’s a good fat too if you use whole milk and the fat satiates. Perhaps see if a cup is enough, if not, add more. You can always add a little water or ice! if you don’t want to add more milk. The ice gives it a milkshake experience, which is fun and i enjoy. Or, frozen berries would do the same.

I’m in the States and goat’s milk kefir as well as cow’s milk kefir are in many grocery stores, health food stores and co-ops. Since kefir has more probiotics, my doc prefers that i use it.

I only use this for one meal in the day. Oftentimes alternating it with eggs, peppers, onions, olive oil and Daiya cheese (vegan)in the morning. The rest of the time i eat regularly.

I would ask Dr. Mosley what he thinks of how well the nutritional needs are met with this.

Good luck!!!