The 8-Week Blood Sugar Diet: How to Beat Diabetes Fast (and Stay Off Medication)

I loved Dr. Mosley's book, "The FastDiet". In that book he shares how to use intermittent fasting to lose weight. Instead of the drudgery of dieting seven days a week, you lower calories (500 for women, 600 for men) two days a week and eat normally the other days. I had some success initially and I love the concept but found it hard to stick with 500 calories on fast days because of blood sugar issues. I am convinced fasting works from the fasting Facebook groups I participate in (the before and afters are amazing) but because of blood sugar decided to try traditional diets again (which sucked :( ). Then I came across a video by Dr. Jason Fung on how to cure diabetes. In the video Fung, the author of The Obesity Code, shares how insulin resistance and diabetes can be cured with fasting. The video inspired me to revisit Intermittent Fasting and I came across Dr. Mosley's new book. "The 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet".Studies have shown that when people with type 2 diabetes have bariatric surgery which forces a reduction in calories, they not only lose weight but in many cases their blood sugar returns to normal.This indicates that diabetes and insulin resistance are reversible. However, not many people can or want to go to the expense or pain of weight loss surgery. But if you are motivated enough you may be able to achieve the same benefits with Dr. Mosley's blood sugar diet plan. In the plan you eat a very low calorie diet - 800 calories a day for eight weeks. Because you combine it with a Mediterranean diet keeping your insulin levels on an even keel you are more likely to stick to it and do it. However 800 cals a day - day after day, requires a lot of discipline.If you have difficulty sticking to such a low calorie count for eight weeks he has a variation of this (explained below) which is alot easier and very doable.Dr. Mosley's plan is a three-pronged approach; diet,exercise and mindfulness.The diet:In the book Mosley sites examples of people who have stuck to 800 and enjoyed astounding results. But as soon as I saw 800 calories a day for eight weeks, I knew it was a no-go for me. I am not that disciplined but fortunately Mosley has another option. You can also do 800 calories two days a week and eat the Mediterranean way the other days. BINGO! It just hit me as right way to do it for me. Before when I tried fasting I had difficulty sticking to 500 calories but 800 was very doable. In addition, I like the idea of the delicious Mediterranean way of eating the rest of the week for health and to keep blood sugars level. Naturally weight loss will be slower but the trade off is worth it for me. On his website he also says folks who can't tolerate fasting can do the Mediterranean diet 7 days a week.The second prong to the plan is a simple exercise program which includes walking (building up to 10k steps a day) and weight training (3x a week) and if you like you can add in high intensity training. I love the exercise program because like the eating plan it is very doable.And finally Mosley includes mindfulness to release stress and tension. He recommends an app and shares guided exercise for breathing and relaxation.The back of the book includes 50 recipes with calorie counts; Breakfasts and Brunches, Soups, Salads and Lunches, Suppers, Quick and Easy and Guilt Free Baking. Sample recipes included are Yogurt with Passion Fruit and Almonds, Ricotta, Pear and Walnut Salad, Cheesy Baked Beans, Spicy Chicken and Lentils. I really like the Simple Suppers section which includes five ways to jazz up a chicken breast, three ways with cauliflower rice, three quick soups etc.So I devoured the book and started with the 800 calories right away. 800 calories was just enough that I felt a little hungry but wasn't ready to chow down on dirt - very doable. I popped on the scale this morning and was down. I also feel less bloated and so motivated!So now I'm off to get in some of those 10K steps. I will keep you updated on my progress!UPDATE: Dr. Mosley's work on IF (intermittent fasting) has totally changed my approach to weight loss. I am a member of several IF groups and members have had phenomenal results. However, I have found that eating 800 calories two days a week is hard for me to stick with long term. So I am following a 16:8 intermittent fasting plan (fast for 16 hours, eat in an 8 hour time frame). I find 16:8 very easy to do. The best weight loss plan is the one you can stick with!

I decided to get this book when my doctor told me that I was about to "max out" my high blood pressure pills and on the edge of being pre-diabetic. I started this book at the beginning of May and have now done two 8-week rounds. The result: I no longer take the pills. My blood pressure is normal without them, and I have lost 60 pounds. I have a few more to lose to get in the healthy BMI range. But it has changed my life and my whole outlook. It is surprisingly easy to manage on 800 cals a day. And once you get the hang of it and apply the principles (avoid added sugar, and carbs like rice, bread, pasta etc) you will be a new person, sans meds. You will not hate seeing your picture anymore. Another great source to check out on this topic is the series of youtube videos posted by Dr. Jason Fung.

I really am excited about going on this plan! I thought the instruction section was clearly written which should make the plan easy to follow. I can NOT comment on doing the actual plan yet because I'm waiting on my Doctor's appointment to get direction on how to handle my insulin while following the diet. I did find the first phase of the book going over all of the Studies and Research about the negative effects of Sugar to be very BORING! I did NOT need convincing of the Negative effects of the typical American Diet...

Michael Mosley is the best authority on diet and health. I am not diabetic but I learned so much about nutrition.

I bought this book after seeing the author on the Dr. Oz Show. It just made so much sense to me and I've been fighting rising A1C and cholesterol numbers. Before things get out of control I decided to try this. I started the diet 4 weeks ago and have lost 10 pounds (I did cheat and have pizza and a beer one night!). I find that I don't feel hungry or deprived since the second day on the diet. I have a checkup and blood tests scheduled for 4 weeks from now so I'm excited and motivated to see if the blood sugar part proves to be tackled.

After my husband and I read this we embarked on a fabulous journey to get him diabetes free. I loved preparing the food for him and he's loved eating eat. I used the guidelines to create my own recipes for filling and delicious meals leaving out the higher carb parts. My non-vegetable loving husband is now a vegetable lover!! Not only did he lose the weight but his doctor and endocrinologist are amazed at his bs levels. He's feeling so good and so full of energy. Doing lots of exercise now because of that - golf (lots of walking) lots of outdoor activity in the yard and some work-outs in the gym too. He's just about to turn 70 and feeling sooo good! Thank you Dr Mosley! He's been in maintenance for a month or so now.

In our fast- paced lives so many things are going up in cost, but not our wages! This gives you opportunity to help yourself without expense and most of all a very effective, non-harmful way to improve your health and lose weight, possibly for good! I could not put these books down. I carry them around to refer to when needed, and when I need to encourage myself that my goal for better health and control on my weight is truly possible!

I am one of those people who tries every new diet that comes out. After seeing this diet advertised in a magazine at the grocery store, I bought the book. I don't even do the 800 calorie part - I just stick to "Mediterranean" foods as suggested, and have been steadily losing 1lb a week for four weeks. And I still have my two glasses of wine during the evening! Hopefully it keeps working, because it doesn't feel like a diet if you are not a big sweet/pasta/starchy carb eater, which are only allowed in very small amounts.

I hate diets, I get set up to lose with them, every time. But somehow, Dr Mosley’s recommended approach to dealing with blood sugar resonated with me. It never became painful or intolerable, I never attacked my refrigerator in a hunger binge. In about 10 weeks, I dropped 25 pounds, blood sugar went from 6.7 to 6.1 (and was continuing to drop), and my doctor took me off metformin. When I return from my current vacation of 2.5 months, I will have to get back on this diet because I have lost a bit of ground while staying in hotels, eating in restaurants, etc. I will have no hesitation in doing so, knowing what I am able to achieve.

Brilliant book! Heard so much about this book and an absolute guide to Scientific information to healthy eating , i have found a way to eat!!!!!

Clear & succinct. Easy to read. The science is there and the personal experiences, the method, the recipes. Realistic suggestions for combining alternative approaches also. Mediterranean, his 5:2 intermittent fasting etc. A life saver!

Great for life without carbs & sugar even if its just to keep healthy but you need to know American terminology on food & measures

Like this book lots of good recipes for family meals