Starving on the Blood Sugar Diet

[sailawaywithme]

This is Day One of the BSD for me, after a couple of "false starts." I'm three stone overweight and really need to get the weight off, for my health if nothing else.

I'm starving! I had a protein bar for breakfast then lunch was spinach, walnut and blue cheese salad. I'm at 800 calories and it's barely 5 o'clock!

Is it normal to be so, so hungry? Will I get used to it eventually? I really need this to work but I just don't think I can do it ☹️

I would caution against going without breakfast. Also remember all those snacks are coming out of your 800 calorie total - once it's gone it's gone.

The first week is a killer. But when you convince your body that it isn't dying and that feeling hungry isn't the worst thing that can possibly happen to it, it does get better.

I used to be eating my lunch by 11.30 I was so hungry - and I'd probably eaten biscuits before then too. Now 12:30 will come round and I will have barely noticed and I haven't had any snacks since breakfast - some greek yoghurt with berries and linseeds.

You do have to break out of the 'I need a snack' thing which is your insulin/hormones talking.

I eat breakfast. Have to eat for medication.
I have no added sugar muesli with almond milk and berries (200cal estimate)
Something like soup for lunch (200cal)
Meat/fish and veg for dinner (300cal)
Nut or dark chocolate snack (100cal)

I had a couple of nasty headaches in the first couple of days but water and aspirin worked fine. I also felt light headed at times, but the upside was I lost weight at an astonishing rate this is bizarre. Can you not see from your own comment that it is not a healthy way to lose weight

Empire - have you read the blood sugar diet book? It is a specific diet meant to be followed for up to 8 weeks which results in fast weight loss and have help or reverse type 2 diabetes. It is based on 800 calories a day of low carb Mediterranean food.

In the actual book the author suggests 800 calories a day as following a very successful trial and ongoing research of low calorie diets they are found to be particularly beneficial in reversing t2 diabetes. Initial research had people on 300 cals a day in hospital. It works. But is obviously not for everyone and shouldn't be followed except under medical supervision.

The author of the BSD book worked with Newcastle University who are doing ongoing research into low calorie and fasting diets.

It's not a fad and is based on science. It works. And is supposed to be for 8 weeks only. If you have lots to lose you can take a break whilst still following the healthy eating aspect and then start again.

The book actually gives a few ways of achieving the weight loss. Fast - 800 cals a day or more slowly at 800 cals a day for tow or three days a week. Most people want to lose weight quickly. And if someone is at risk of diabetes losing quickly can be very motivating as well as obv healing their health.

Maybe, but being three stone overweight is also not a healthy way of living. I am pretty sure I have a problem with sugar though recent tests suggest I am not diabetic. I suspect that is because I am a lot more careful with sugar/high gi carbs than a decade ago. I have high blood pressure and quite scarey peripheral neuropathy in my hands and feet. Exactly the sort of profile that the blood sugar diet is designed for.

The fact the first couple of days were tough is neither here nor there. It was a response to OP who is finding the first day tough. I feel fine now, not hungry and with plenty of energy. Indeed less sluggish than I normally feel. If I can lose 20 lbs in 8 weeks I will be half way to my target. So maybe not a healthy way to lose weight. But my aim is to be a healthy weight. A different thing altogether.

Oh and a decade ago I was diagnosed with pre diabetes which is when, I suspect, the damage was done.

It gets easier I promise.

Four stone lighter here. Was size 20 now size 12.

After a couple of weeks you'll be full much quicker.

Good luck

I am pretty sure I have a problem with sugar though recent tests suggest I am not diabetic.

This is where eating the right food in small amounts frequently can help turn that around. (Protein is essential for this, so is a lot of fibre from vegetables and some fruits.)

The book specifically was not tested on people with eating disorders (i am not saying you are one of them) . Some people are in a trap of often eating a lot of sugar/carbohydrates and high fat in a short period followed by compensatory starving, followed with more cravings.

Many people who are over weight can be prone to this. These people might be thinking about trying this diet. It is good and will help turn things around, but do not skip meals. Eat the right food with adequate protein and fats and vegetables (do not just count calories and eat 800 calories of anything). If eating the right amount to avoid ravenousness and sugar cravings means a few more calories and going a little more slowly with the diet (say 1200), there is nothing wrong in that.

The book suggests a slightly slower approach works too.

Hunger should be avoided

Actually, following this diet for me has meant that I have learnt what it feels like to be hungry, and not be frightened of it. I have found in the past that I eat even when I'm not very hungry, I haven't learned to listen to my own body. Being, on occasion, hungry is helping to re-educate my body to listen to the signals telling me when it's time to eat.

I would caution against going without breakfast Current thinking seems to show that the idea that you must have breakfast is a myth. Intermittent fasting has been shown to be a successful way to lose weight, and can also give health benefits. I find it much easier to stick to two meals a day, a brunch at about 11.30 - 12.00, and dinner at about 6pm. If I eat breakfast, it seems to trigger my body to want to eat more. But I appreciate this isn't true for everyone - my sister, for example, always have breakfast as she just doesn't seem to be able to function without it, and can even get the shakes if she misses it.

Intermittent fasting is the last thing that anyone who is over weight from an eating disorder (or possible one) should be doing.

I have never had it suggested that I have an eating disorder. Unless the disorder is eating too much!

Indeed I am finding such internet diagnosis a bit . As if I don't have enough intelligence to work out where my problems lie. (Stress, eating late because DH works long hours, chocolate and bread.)

I presumably am not alone in never having been a breakfast person. I don't think that is a problem. I like the 5:2 and blood sugar diet approaches which allow for individual preferences. I also like the idea that it is fine, even natural, to be hungry every so often. I also like the idea that you dont need to eat if you are not hungry. Eating regular meals and finishing what was on my plate got me where I am now.

You are right and I apologise if it comes across that this is a diagnosis for you personally.

It is just that I know from experience that Slimming World and Weight Watchers for example do have people following their programmes who do have an eating disorder. Of course they sign the form to say they do not. They often get even worse as a result.

Many overweight people who go on to have diabetes, have also suffered from one for years.

People experiencing this distressing difficulty might want to try this new diet which has been successful for a lot of people. But the book warns anyone with an eating disorder not to do it.

Incase anyone wanted to disregard that warning, (just as they do at SW and WW) I know the number one rule to help against these difficulties is to eat frequent small meals of the sort of food MM mentions helps, because leaving eating for too long can lead to reaching for the very thing that they would rather avoid, and then having too much.

Eating this sort of food over 3 small meals and some snacks can also help when someone suffers from mood swings and ups and downs of blood sugar which can make them very hungry for sugar/carbohydrate, cigarettes, alcohol.

Dogs tail, I have never been on a diet other than some Paul McKenna (great at training new habits) and 5:2 which was effective till I fell off the wagon but still useful if reeducating me in what I ate. However what you suggest sounds much more Slimming World than Michael Mosley. Its not that its wrong, but people are different. I prefer to get on top of my sugar/carb addiction by cutting it out altogether, at least initially. It really helps sort out those highs and lows. You prefer to eat small amounts regularly. I am trying to learn to eat because I am hungry and not just because I feel like it.

Whatever. I think it is important that no one suggests there is a right or wrong way. After all even well qualified dietitians disagree on basic things like low fat vs low carb.

Yes, thats fine Alteredimage of course. As I said I apologise for anything not relevant to you.

For me though this discussion began by responding to Sailaway's post Starving on a Blood Sugar Diet .

I suggested how she could eat more and how she might feel less hungry without necessarily having more calories.

I also suggested that it helps against hunger not to skip meals, especially breakfast.

What I then went on to discuss was that for some people, who might have been affected by an eating disorder which was at the heart of their original weight gain, fasting, or too little, could back-fire.

MM warns anome with an eating disorder should not follow the diet. But some might try anyway. In my opinion it could work well but be a mistake if meals are missed or, for some people, if just too few calories are eaten.

What I suggested was not anything like SW or WW though as far as the food concerend.

Again, thanks for all the messages. Today has been much better although of course it's only mid afternoon here! I skipped breakfast and had yogurt with flaxseed, and a tin of beef and veg soup for lunch. I still have 400 calories left for dinner.

I almost feel as though when I start eating in the morning it triggers my "need" to eat - although it's a desire rather than a need, I think. So if I can hold off until lunch I think it'll be easier.

I do so hope I can hang in there and see some results. I recently turned 40 and had a long-overdue tummy tuck, which although not cutting much weight, did wonders for my ruined stomach. Now I just need to work on the rest!

Again, thanks for the pep talk!

I almost feel as though when I start eating in the morning it triggers my "need" to eat - although it's a desire rather than a need, I think. So if I can hold off until lunch I think it'll be easier

I find this as well, do I try to hang in until lunchtime. Lots of herbal/fruit tea in the morning, plus a long walk with the dog to take my mind off food seems to help.

Good luck with it sail, I'm glad things have been a bit better today. I'm sure you'll see results if you stick with it

That sounds as though you felt better today sailaway, Good luck with it all.

With the 'blood sugar diet' sort of food some people might possibly find it triggers the feeling of the need to eat less than previous typical breakfast food of things like a large glass of orange juice (sugar) and refined cereals, toast, croissant, muffin (carbohydrates/sugar) and caffeine (a bit like a sugar shot).

I can't link easily but there is an interesting thread in Chat called 'Breakfast is a dangerous meal' that is worth a read.

Here

I've never been a breakfast person or indeed a morning person. The hormone arguments in favour of IF are interesting. When doing 5:2 I found that not eating till noon, when hunger started kicking in, gave me more energy not less.

Hope you don't mind if I jump on your thread sailawaywithme but I wanted to ask a question of those who have lost a few stone on this diet. I did it roughly, combined with 5:2 and lost 21lb in a few weeks, even keeping it off when I later fell off the wagon, so I know it works and am back on it as of this week.

I wanted to see though if others found that their bodies went kind of "baggy" like the fat melted away leaving the skin loose, but then tightened up? Mine has done this a couple of times, looking worse initially, but I just wanted reassurance that it would shrink back to a certain extent. I was not massively overweight, about 3 1/2 stone, and have the usual post child stretchmarks which have faded as much as they ever will. Am I the only one this happens to?

I take marine collagen and haven't been left with any loose skin so far. (2.5 stone/35lbs lost in round 1 and nearing 40 at a scary rate!)

Will have a look into that TittyGolightly thank you.

I'll have a look at that too as I'm worried about loose skin. And I have five stone to lose. Poss a bit more.

I think I've read somewhere that your skin does tighten up a bit once your weight stays static for a bit.

I'll have a look at that too as I'm worried about loose skin. the best way to try and avoid it is to lose your weight slowly.

Not true!

Empire, perhaps you should stick to things you know about rather than posting shite.