So day 10 and for the most part I feel good, but today feeling tired and bit grumpy, maybe it is an accumulative effect of low carbs/cals. Anyone else suffering from this?

I have been going over my 800 cals the last few days but offsetting it with exercise so hopefully it will balance out. I think I am in a bit of unique situation as I see it is mostly ladies here in this group so maybe given my different physiology I will be able to get away with a few more calories, That is what I am telling myself anyway. 🙂

Just a clarification on the ketosis side of things, by going into the state your body is actually using fat to make Ketones and it is this that you smell on the breath. The body becomes ketone adaptive as a fuel source for the brain, which normally prefers glucose(carbtastic) and uses fat to make these.

If you really want to obsess over being in this state, you can buy ketone testing strips which you pee on to test for their presence in your system, The only real advantage of knowing you are in ketosis is that you know your body is using fat, but honestly the scales should reflect this right?

Anyway, well done everyone on their progress thus far, lets keep it up collectively and roll on the weekend weigh in were we all be posting positive results again fingers crossed.:-)

Fallen off the wagon and had a drink as had the worst day ever

Miranda, sorry you’ve had a bad day. One glass of wine is really 👌 ok but if you had a bottle that would be a whole different story. Just get back to your diet asap. 😉

Ziggy

Hi HealthyH,

There is an interesting study on the correlation between high carb intake and prevalence of diabetes in Japan. They looked at the amount of white rice eaten and identified a clear correlation in women but in men the correlation was only “suggested”. If you look at the statistics in the paper there is a clear gender difference. So physiology certainly plays some part.

Hi everyone
I am down 3 kilos.
Yippee!!!
One small step for man etc etc
Delighted, over the moon, thrilled. Could go on forever.
It’s been hard work over the past 12 days.
Tomorrow I have to go away to an adventure centre for 2 days with my students where we will be eating what we are given due to the nature of the trip.
Packing a salad for 2 days doesn’t cut it.
I’m also being discreet about my diet. I just don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to my actions. My colleagues are great but I don’t want to share what I am doing just yet. Maybe I don’t want to jinx it.
So, I will do the best I can for the next 2 days.
Life goes on. The way I look at it is- I’m having time out.
Hope all goes well.
Good luck to everyone
Cheers

Hello again,
Nickix- if you are having problems going to the loo, try eating
kiwi
When I was pregnant and couldn’t go, my gynie told me to eat 2 a day.
It worked!!!

Day 9 & my husband & I seem to have managed to stay around 800 calories although with different suppers because he was out & had to have a take away because we have just about run out of suitable food!
So he had a small cod & mushy peas from the fish & chip shop & I made half of the courgetti carbonara recipe using the lower calorie full fat yoghurt instead of double cream because that is what I had in the fridge. I highly recommend this because it was delicious & I didn’t miss pasta because the courgetti tasted so good coated in the sauce.
Tomorrow is grocery shopping day & so far we have loved eating more avocados, prawns, salads, houmous & have found favourite recipes in the recipe book. Last week I overshopped on broccoli with the 3 for 2 offer & had so much left over I have made two litres of broccoli soup🤔😂 however the cauliflower rice was a great success with the steak stir fry so I will buy more cauliflower.
All of you are doing so well! We still feel as though we are part of an ongoing experiment but both of us have been recruiting people to change to this from seeing our own example & so far one each👍👍👍😎😎

Finally had my week 1 weigh in and was nervous. Had a few days when I dawdled over my limit with little extras and there was that one night (that I will refer to as wine-gate#1, There’s gonna be more…) But despite my slip-ups I was happy to see I had lost 2.8kg (6lbs in the old money) and my body fat percentage was down by almost 2% since earlier this month!
Deliriously Happy!! Congrats too, to @happygirl for your awesome day 12 loss. I bet that made up for all the earlier frustrations. I get the whole being discreet about doing BSD. Science has shown that telling too many people about a goal makes it less likely that it will be achieved because talking about it stimulates satisfied chemicals that interrupt your motivation for action. I’m glad I have this forum, though so I can celebrate ups and seek support for downs with someone.
So @Miranda- don’t worry about your wine incident, just make a u-turn straight away and you’ll still be fine. I’m living proof.
@wendy1947 – that zucchini carbonara with yoghurt instead of cream sounds awesome, I’m making a note of that!
@carb_addict – New business, big move, brave love life decisions, THAT’S A LOT OF CHANGE! I’m amazed you even remember your own name, much less have the energy and resolve for BSD. I’m so impressed and inspired.
@healthyh – hope you feel happier soon, tired and grumpy isn’t fun. My cure for that is to listen to good New Orleans funk, or if the sun is shining I pull weeds out of my garden. I bet if you think about it you’ll know your own fix.
@fairyface – I’m impressed with your forethought and careful planning. I’m going away for a big work road trip at the beginning of week 3. I’m going to eagerly follow your progress. Any tips will be helpful. I will have some access to cooking facilities but not always. But I have an awesome car powered fridge that I intend to take advantage of.
@missziggy – Yay for more energy and enthusiasm for other areas of life! Enjoy that glass of wine on fri night, but get someone to hide the bottle when you are done 😉 I might have one too!

Good morning all. Your posts continue to inspire me.

My scales tell me that I’m ‘up’ 300g overnight. A bit frustrating seeing as this is the same 300g I keep losing and gaining over the last few days since Springrollgate, but am not demotivated. I did go a tiny bit over the calories and carb count yesterday (800 kcal seemed fine at the beginning and but has gotten harder not easier) so I have today mentally recommitted to three days of super SUPER strict plan adherence in the hope/expectation it will kickstart the downwards trend again. I also know that I have been over my recommended sodium count in the last few days so it’s possible some of this is water retention too. I need to move a lot more too.

The weight was coming off when I stuck firmly to the plan and is now not since I have not been. I can ‘do the math’ 🙂 And I am definitely decreasing around the tummy which is fabulous. For a mostly non-drinking female I had one helluva beer gut!!

Have a good day everyone: I will be on the road in the desert for much of it. (I suppose it will be keep me away from the fridge, lol)

Oh thanks happy girl I’ll give that a try as yes still nothing! 😳My stomach is starting to look very swollen but I’m always on loo cause of extra water. Including at night. Hubby says if I was a bloke he’d start worrying about my prostate! Lol. I couldn’t get any physillium husks as needed to order on line so hopefully get them today. Epsom salts haven’t worked either! So I’ll stop off for some kiwi on way out today. More the merrier! Lol then hopefully the weight will start falling. Have a great day guys

Wow ButterflyMoves what a marvellous weight loss!!
I’m re-reading the BSD book & noticed the section on why fructose that is included in fruit, corn syrup & table sugar is so bad for us! Unlike glucose which can be taken up by any cell, fructose has to be processed by the liver! In larger quantities it leads to liver overload & excess is turned to fat leading to fatty liver!!! I feel as though another piece of the digestive puzzle has been highlighted for me. Unfortunately so many foods now have corn syrup added to them because the manufacturers buy it because it is cheaper than sugar!
I was also amused to watch the Great British Bake Off highlighting Tudor food when sugar & marchpane or marzipan became popular & of course that affected Tudor teeth & tooth rot causing many more fans to be used so ladies could smile with their eyes 👀 & hide their teeth😀

Good Morning everyone,

Well done Happygirl on your great loss, have a good trip away. Much respect to the teachers and leaders who take care of the kids. The hardest (but most rewarding) job of all.
Thank you everybody for the tips & the science bits, I am learning so much here. I’m half way through week 2 and going steady. I’m not as hyper as I was last week with all the extra energy but calmer and focused on the job in hand. I’ve decided to wait ’till Sunday to weigh myself but I feel the changes. Wish I had found this diet 6 years ago when I lost control of my weight. I’ve been trying ever since to get back on track but failing miserably. A combination of menopause, bit of laziness & deciding that elastic waist trousers were an acceptable fashion item led me here to a 3stone overload that I need to be GONE! (Only toddlers & the over nineties should be allowed wear those trousers and leggings, a pair of jeans will never lie to you like they do. I’m looking forward to throwing them on a bonfire when this is done) On a more serious note, my two kids grew up at the same time and moved out & left me lonely and pining so I comforted myself with food to fill the void. This diet has made me examine these things and I think this is what he means about getting your head right. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life avoiding people & occasions because I’m embarrassed about my weight, I want to go to the beach, I want the joy of buying clothes that look good instead of just covering the evidence, I want to be in family photos, I want to live a long and useful happy life, I want to show my doctor that I’ve done it because he’s the one that nudged me into action. My family & friends are all way too polite to say a word to me and I love them for it. I don’t think anyone needs to be told, we already know.
Thanks to this forum for letting me indulge like this and unload what’s been on my mind for last few days, I’m in this for the long haul and I’m here with you all, who better understands than each other what this means to us?
Just so not to be all me, me, me on this post I have some good tips to share,
Put some kitchen paper in the salad and spinach leaf bags to stop them going soggy
Boiling some Coca Cola in the scrambled egg pot is great for cleaning it
Pour wash up liquid on the non bsd people’s leftovers straightaway to stop you being tempted
Brush your teeth if you feel like chocolate, turn you right off.

Best wishes and a huge thank you to you all, let’s be warriors together,

NeNe xxxxxx

Good morning fellow “October 1st losers”. Not losing much this week so I can’t wait to measure. I do have more energy and my joints feel great so there’s that. Plus I believe I read that weigh loss may stall the 2nd week.

You are all doing so well and are an inspiration. I just eat the same things all the time so I don’t have to think about what I’m going to eat–that’s always dangerous. I should get the book for more inspiration. I’m so proud of myself for passing on all the goodies in the break room and leaving the store without buying all those empty calories.

Thanks everyone!

Well i wish to confess! I’ve just had a small slice of toast! I hadn’t eaten today as still having problems not going to loo! Up’d my water to 3 bottles plus herbal tea and coffee. Tried sweetcorn 4 days ago which I’m still waiting to see! Lol the physillium husk’s but nothing’s worked and my stomachs so distended! I haven’t been hungry! Anyway I’ve been told by Dr I need to eat melon – galia is in recipes. Kiwi fruit which are ok but got to try prunes now? Are they ok?? Got so down I’ve just had some bacon beans a poached egg and half a slice of toast!!! 😞😞 I so want to do this but having sjorgens syndrome I don’t produce secretion through my body. I may need to have linseed and chia daily plus prunes. Anyone know if I can still do it but include them in my diet? Sorry to unburden myself on you all. Good luck folks 👍 X

NICKIX Those beans might do the trick!
I take a flaxseed capsule most days and dont add it to cal/ carb count..i choose to believe nice lady in Holland and Barrett years ago who told me that the cals in them dont count! Whether thats true or not I dont know but it does help to keep thinks moving and i think in general is a healthy addition.. Sometimes i buy starflwoer oil or evening primrose instead. I imagine linseed wd be the same or better than all those,and i doubt a sprinkle of chia seeds will do any harm to yr diet. Hope you get a result soon !X

I have about 10g of chia and 10g of flaxseed with my breakfast yogurt and berries. However, they do contain just over 2g of carb but add up to nigh on 100 calories so not bad as long you factor that in!

Thanks julesmaigret that’s a great help and reassurance 👍

Thanks yowza49! That’s great help too 😄 I did see those on the shelf today. I’ve got cod liver oil tablets already. The woman in holland and barrett (there great aren’t they!) advised to soak the linseed and chia seeds over night then add to a smoothie or porridge or whatever as it goes slimmy so may try that too! Especially for the future. Hopefully something will happen soon Especially after the tin of prunes! Lol 😂 I may go over my calories today but onwards and downwards everyone 🙃 Good luck

Hi NeNe love your post it was as if you was writing what is in my mind that is exactly how I feel. We can do this I have just come back from my daughters graduation ceremony she is now a qualified community nurse very proud of her, made sure I had the cooked breakfast before I went sat and had a coffee while the rest ate lunch. We all went for dinner the only healthy option for me was a Caesar salad. The dress I had in my mind (the only one that fitted me 2 weeks ago) was too big hurrah. Managed with ease to get into a dress I brought in the summer but never fitted I am very pear shaped. Weighed myself this morning 9lbs down since 1.10.16 never ever been able to lose the weight like this before. I am definitely in this for the long haul currently as of today 15 stone 7lbs lightest I have been this year would like to get to 11 stone if it suits my age and figure. Onwards and downwards everyone big hugs.

Nick is have found linseed in my book 1tbs 2 carbs 55 calls sorry cannot find chia seeds xx

Dear Nickix
I don’t know if you have already considered using Senna or it’s also called Senakot it’s a longstanding herbal remedy sold in chemists & is gentle or glycerine suppositories? both help to move things along in the morning when used/taken before going to bed. Plus drinking lots of water.
Hope that helps.

Back on the wagon after winegate. Love the diet and all the posts. Was in Sw but couldn’t handle the ‘horse shoe of love’ think it must be me but I cringed through this. In this forum I can fail, whinge and get up again. Had the one blip this week but struggling to lose this week. Someone mentioned it was harder to lose weight in the second week, was there any reason for it?
Thanks for all the positive comments when I had a mini meltdown

Just had a mini meltdown myself. HUGS

Don’t know if it is harder to loose in the 2nd week … think it is harder to loose as much .. simply because a lot of water weight is usually lost in the 1st week.
Maybe 2nd week is harder because we are so focused and gung ho in the 1st week it may be less possible to sustain that level of focus … sort of like running out of steam????

Kind of like when i was working … when i had lots to do … almost too much before a big deadline i just worked flat out … but when you’re just doing regular work you just slow down. It’s just not possible to work flat out 24/7 … you need a mental and physical break.

Crikey. Holy moly. Jeepers creepers. I want to use some stronger words than that actually because…

I appear to have dropped 1.5kgs (3.4lbs) overnight!! Since yesterday morning, since I recommitted seriously to the BSD. If that’s not enough to keep me on the straight and narrow (and away from spring rolls) then I don’t know what is. Yes I know some of it will be water release but I don’t frigging care. I lost 3.4lbs overnight!! Biggest single overnight loss to date by 300%!! Hopefully I’m over that plateau which I have been sitting on for four days.

That means I have hit 10% of my intended weight loss to date (7lbs down, 63 to go)and that I’m officially now at my lightest weight since I can’t remember when. To say I am delighted is an understatement. I also picked myself up and got back on the wagon which I’m equally proud of – this is not something I have historically been able to do. Making myself accountable to you all daily is a big key factor of that I am sure.

Thank you Diet God. And thank you fellow BSD-ers in this forum. You are proving invaluable source of support and I am so so grateful for it. It’s the weekend here in the Middle East so I am off to the beach to reward myself with a few hours on a sun lounger! <big victory dance around the living room currently> Now just go to keep it up….. Have a strong day everyone!

Morning all x Not a very good first week compared to you amazing losers! Realised I have been eating too many calories abet good ones .. nuts etc. Yesterday I gave myself a good talking to .. no more picking between meals only drinks but when you work shifts in the NHS it’s hard to have regular meal times. We all have our problems but I feel so great …so much energy … so positive .. it keeps me motivated. SW certainly didn’t do that for me! For me the secret is meal planning – a bit of a ballache but it works for me. Happy days.

Well done carb addict! That’s amazing!! I love it when it happens overnight! It’s the fat fairies coming to the rescue! 😉 I couldn’t manage SW either but it was the diet as well! Never lost anything! Most was 1lb but it was always up and down unlike this one! Well an update on my problem! Lol. Something seems to have helped not quite sure which? They excess water or the tin of prunes or the beans 😜 But things are moving now! Thankfully. Just had my breakfast which I’m slightly concerned about as it’s small amount of oats cooked with soaked linseed chia seeds ground flax seeds with raspberries and diced pear! I so hope not too many carbs 😔 Gyllb I also work for NHS so know your pain! I use my slow cooker a load and make stew/soups and take. They can always be put into a mug and eaten on the go! Was a life saver in beginning. Keep with it. Have a good day folks the weekend is apon us 🙃

Glad things worked Nickix!
Well this second week is rather different I am still hopping to the loo all through the night but don’t seem to be losing much weight. It’s our interim weigh day tomorrow because we have always weighed ourselves at the beginning of the weekend but the BSDiet weigh in on Monday which will be day 14 for us. I’m just hoping something will move🙁 I still can’t wear my new trousers that I can do up ok but still tight over my stomach isn’t that where the inches are supposed to go from?
On the plus side my husbands bloods are looking good!

Postscript: my shorts (which I wear pretty much every day at home) have fallen down to my ankles twice today. Thankfully not in public. I believe this is what they call a ‘milestone moment’.

Well done Carb Addict fantastic news long way to go before I get there but enjoy your milestone 😃

Hope I can join I started on the 3rd. Some very useful posts and inspirational getting back on the wagon and loss stories. I weighed in today with a 9lb loss and 2 inches off my waist. Very happy with that. Only 3lb off the next stone down so that’s my next mini goal! I went shopping today for BSD friendly ingredients and am looking forward to trying some new dishes over the weekend. Does anyone know if smoked salmon is ok to eat? Xxx

The 9lb is total loss 6lb last week and 3lb this week 😀

Smoked salmon is fine – added to scrambled eggs yum.

Look out for ‘trimmings’ packs which are cheaper than the nice slices

Hi everyone, started today and have been reading all your posts. I’ve been cutting down on the sugar and carbs already but have joined here to get and give support. You all seem to be doing well despite a few ups and downs. 🙂

Hi All

I think I deserve a pat on the back. MY husband had 3 friends stay overnight. They went to an Indian restaurant 😰,they had beer and wine when they came in😰,for breakfast bacon sandwiches and danish pastries😡And for lunch French bread cheese and pickle, ham and mustard sandwiches😭😭😭😭During all of this I stuck to the diet👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Tonight my husband is cooking me a steak and he has made a salad to go with it😘.
Keep on keeping on!!!!!!
ZIggy

Well done Ziggy💐💐💐💐💐⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Can anyone help? I have five egg whites & wonder if there is anything I can do with them that will fit in with the BSDiet?

Hi Getting my life back,

I love your name. It says it all. Congrats to your daughter on her graduation and congrats to you for getting into that dress. It’s the best feeling when clothes start to fit.
Carb Addict, so glad you’re back on track and seeing the results, so jealous of you at the beach. Hope you’re not wearing those shorts.
Miss Ziggy, you ARE a superstar, enjoy your steak & salad. I have ‘keep on keeping on’ engraved on the back of my IPad, has a whole new meaning for me now.
I’ve been at work all day, going home now to make fish pie with celeriac mash instead of the usual Friday night pizza. So happy,
so energetic. Bought myself a book today, it contained no carbs, no cals, no fat, Bliss.

Hang in there everyone, bring on the weekend and week 3! ‘Proceed as if success is inevitable’ (I saw that on a mug today)

Love NeNe xxxxxx

Hi Wendy1947 just looked on the eat yourself skinny website they have a 3 egg white and spinach omelette with onion and tomatoes I think it said 70 cals and just over 3carbs if that is any help. Sounds nice I might try it myself 🙂 X

Thank you Getting my life back I will try that as a breakfast recipe👍😀

Hi all. I started on September 29, and have been lurking here ever since. It has been so encouraging reading your posts, I thought it was time I joined you. I have lost 11 pounds over the last 2 weeks, with 30 more to go. I did experience the second week slow down in weight loss that so many have mentioned. I did have a very stressful week at work, so I;m not sure if that was a contributing factor. Also, last weekend was Canadian Thanksgiving, so I did eat a little more than I should have. Thanks so much for all of your posts. You’re keeping me motivated!

Hi A New Me ….. the first week is usually the biggest weight loss anyway. Loosing something every week is wonderful!! 🙂

200g down overnight. Hurrah.

However, after yesterday’s weight loss milestones, and mild accompanying euphoria for a few hours, I hit the biggest emotional low so far last night. I was overtaken by a sense of ‘I have so far to go and I’m not sure I can do this’, followed by a lot of self-chastising about how on earth I had left myself get so big in the first place. None of them were positive thoughts and none of them celebrated the day’s achievements, only an inner voice telling me that I’m going to fail at this. ‘As I always do.’ ‘You have no willpower or real desire to change; you like pasta too much. So you’re destined to be fat’. And so on. I was supposed to be going on a blind date today with a lovely-sounding man and I cancelled it yesterday because the old feelings of ‘I’m fat and going to be automatically rejected’ kicked in. I don’t see my good points and what I have to offer in these moments.

The good news is that, for once, I didn’t order a pizza (or two). I stuck rigidly to the plan. Taking every day – every hour if necessary – as it comes. Starting to realise how much of this journey will be about winning an emotional battle (believing in myself and being patient) as opposed to a physical one (i.e. true hunger). I think another danger is about expectation: all dieters want major results now and the BSD gives you such momentum at the beginning that when the weight loss slows down it’s pretty gutting! 200g off overnight is an achievement but part of me today is like ‘I ate 700 cals and 35g carbs yesterday, it should be more dammit!’ – completely ignoring the fact that a) the body is not a machine and can be inconsistent b) weight loss always slows down after the first week and c) a loss is a loss. However I have sense of mild panic already setting in as my head has immediately reacted with “if this 200g daily loss continues then that’s only a kilo loss every five days and that’s going to take you at least another 27 weeks of eating like this to get to where you want to be’. The other side of my brain rationally knows that a kilo every five days would be AMAZING and more than I ever lost with WW or SW. It’s also a healthy rate. But I want it faster. I need it now. I’m already stressing about getting saggy skin, even though I am months away from probably anything like that kicking in and a slower weight loss will mitigate against it somewhat. And I’m still viewing this as a temporary diet not a forever lifestyle change – another danger area….

A LOT of overthinking going on in this brain as you can see…

I see the theme of weight loss slow-down is starting to pop up on this thread. If our heads are not in the right space it is easy to think ‘I’m starving myself and for what?’ and then give up. The long view is going to be critical. For me anyway. I am so desperate to be slim – something I have never really known in my adult life – but heading into week 3 I am swinging between ‘why aren’t I thin yet’ and not believing that I can do it this time.

So today I plough on. A bit emotionally shaky and reflective but dealing with it. And sticking to the programme. Long view, long view, long view but have also decided to only focus on mini-goals of 7lbs loss at a time to take my focus off the overwhelming amount of weight I want to lose. It’s hard not to be so tough on yourself when it’s all you have ever known. You have to actually consciously challenge your thought patterns. I keep reminding myself that this strategy of self-criticism hasn’t exactly worked for me so far – in fact it’s sent me into the biscuit tin – so it’s time to change the record.

Journal entry over – thank you for listening!

I’ve had all those same thoughts! Not this time, yet, I’m only in week one, but on every other diet. So much work and deprivation for so little, or so it seems sometimes. One of the pillars of this diet is supposed to be mindfulness, maybe you could try one of the recommended meditation apps?

Hi everyone, its a lovely afternoon in Sydney, I hope you are all well, I have been very busy with looking after my grandchildren (two two year olds) every day this week and although I have read all of your posts and commiserated and put flags out for the differing problems I haven’t found a moment to post on the forum myself.

Last week the weigh in was good for me 4.9 lbs and 1 in off my waist, I knew I find it difficult to lose weight (thyroid problems) and my age of course, but a loss was a loss, I didn’t expect much this week after reading the forum for this second week, and naughty though it is I weighed myself everyday. (I don’t care I needed to do it and it was interesting watching it go up and down when I had been really sticking to the diet), I have watched my water intake and increased it. Constipation a little but I read what was said on the forum and thanks for that.

So the weigh in results for this week (Second week),1.5 lbs (I know I know but it went DOWN so happy with that), inches overall -1 off bust, 2and a half of waist (it doesn’t feel that different, my shorts haven’t fallen down yet but here’s hoping – but not in public!), and nothing off my hips at all.

So, I think its a good result – its down – thats all that counts and I am my lowest weight for about eight – ten years – still look like a bit of a barrel in my shorts and top but its a going down barrel!

Good luck to everyone with your weigh ins, love x

Dear Carb-Addict,
I hope you don’t mind me butting in; I used to post quite a bit but am on ‘maintenance’ now, so don’t pop in that often but I read you post and it sounded familiar, so I thought I would offer my two pennies worth.
I think you have completely hit the nail on the head. I too, over think things (!) and tend to listen to that small voice telling me ‘ well, you never manage to stick to it, just one little extra won’t hurt, see you’ve blown it now, I knew you would’. Sound familiar? But do you know what? I HAVE stuck to it, I’ve NOT had that little extra and I HAVENT blown it.
Why? That’s the key question. I’ve always known I can lose weight. I just always put it back on again. Because I have always gone back to my old ways of eating. But with this plan, it’s so obvious to me what I shouldn’t eat, that I haven’t, if that makes sense. And at the risk of parodying Kate Moss ( we get confused for each other all the time 😀) no carbs taste as good as feeling healthy and looking good feels. I’m so proud of myself that I really don’t want to go back to where I was. And the longing for carbs fades, it really does!
I read in a rather strident cookbook a phrase that stuck in my mind too. ‘ there is more to life than just eating’. And I’ve found that helps me too. I’ve started daily exercises (me! Who would have thought it!) walking in all weathers, joining groups, singing, getting new clothes (charity shops are great for jackets!) even dating again (best glossed over, that bit) And although all aspects of food, planning meals, shopping, cooking and eating remain important, life IS about more than food.
I hope this rambling helps a bit. Stick with it, and be aware that the restricted calories bit is time limited, but the healthy way of living is forever.
Best of luck.

Morrning everyone. Well I am very pleased to report that I have lost half a stone in two weeks! Thrilled does not cut it. I have not stuck rigidly to 800 calories but have been under 1,000. What I have found is that I am not that hungry half the time unlike before, I have so much more energy and interest in doing things eg got up yesterday at 6.30am and for some reason, felt the need to reorganise a food cupboard!!! Sleeping better. My friend says that my shape has changed and I can see that myself. So FAT is melting as I keep chanting to myself in quiet moments. Went into wardrobe for a try on which normally leads to sulking and bad language. I can report that a skirt I just managed to fasten three weeks ago but that left that lovely red line around what should be a waist, I can now get my hand down the front! A pair of trousers – ok they are a 14 so a bit ambitious – literally flew up thighs and rear end and granted there is no way on earth I can fasten let alone zip them up, I can see that if I stick to this, they will be wearable in the not too distant future. On the knicker side, I found two pairs of ‘firm’ in the drawer that must have been bought years ago and obviously never fitted into. Thought ‘what the hell’ and dragged a pair on -they worked!!! Chucked all ‘thousand wash grey’ variety out as I have a nice bunch of new ones champing at the bit to be worn. A favourite pair of comfy black ones worn yesterday now appear to like sitting above the waist so might be joining the others in the bin. The book arrived after a blip with dozy delivery driver and am slowly reading through it although it may well be that it will not be that useful for me living in Portugal with some of the ingredients and if that proves the case, I will sell it on to another worthy person. Weather turned so going to dig out my slow cooker and do a lentil curry for tonight. Loving the posts and the encouragement of everyone. Keep on ‘melting’ everyone. Onwards and downwards from a bit of a damp Colares in Portugal.

Good morning everyone end of week two down to 15stone 7lbs lowest I have been this year hurrah 😃 That is a weight lose of 9.5 lbs never in my history of dieting have I been able to achieve that.
Carb Addict I fully understand where you are but as Bissell said we can do this, like you been to ww and Sw strangely enough when it was weight day that was my treat day don’t even think like that on this one. I am in for the long haul just come back from walking my dog, my mind wanders freely when walking him. I was saying to myself I would love to be 10 stone so another 5.5 stones to go sounds a lot but this time know I am going to get there. From reading other blogs I am working on the theory of eating this way for the next 6 months that will soon pass, my birthday is the end of February what a lovely present I am giving to myself I am going to start saving the £5 I use to pay Sw or ww each week for a lovely treat to myself at the end. I am not beating myself up for where I am now I am what I am but more importantly is where I go from now we can do it slow some weeks and a gallop on others have a good day everyone big hugs to us all 😃👍👍👍👍

Hi Dona Rosa love your blog with you on the clothes front already a dress size down managed to get a pair of tights on last time I tried could only get them up to my thighs I only ever wear tights in winter before, I told my husband it is because they are thick tights nothing to do with my weight. As for the knickers front pleased to say mine are not rolling down every time I move hurrah haven’t thrown any away but looking forward to that in the very near future I need to have so many pairs in different sizes 🙂🙂

There is a point where it is important to think about why how and what we are doing on the BSD so I do believe that it is important to step back and examine the process or how else are we going to make changes. I describe it as needing the headspace to plan to think and to adjust to what works and what doesn’t. That doesn’t mean we will have all the answers immediately and it doesn’t mean we won’t fall off the proverbial wagon. But if when we do we look at why how it happened I think it helps for the next time as there is inevitably a next time. But yes know when to stop thinking and just ‘do’ for a bit things often resolve themselves.

I’m sure there is psychological stuff around repeating actions frequent enough so they become established patterns and therefore less difficult. I’m on week 20 now and feel a lot calmer about the process still losing weight at a decent amount 2-3 lbs a week with the odd plateau but don’t have to count the hours til my next meal etc my body has adjusted as has my mind. I’m officially halfway through 61 down and 61 to go. I have changed I no longer rage against the devil that is salad! I like vegetables I too preferred white carbs and sugar but don’t miss them now. Ha my main complaint is the price of blueberries!

I think there are stages in the 8 weeks particularly if you repeat and they range from enthusiasm to boredom to rage to ‘hurry the ***up’ and then eventually a calmness does arrive. Interspersed by little gems like yesterday I’d been a little forward in ordering some size 18 trousers which I thought would be ready for a few weeks time but they slipped right on and fitted like a dream! I had to laugh though the company enclosed a gift yes you guessed it a box of chocolates! They went straight in the cupboard not tempted at all. That my friends is how far I’ve come! Astonishing.

Day 12
Morning everyone & well done to those of you still losing good amounts of weight!
It’s most interesting reading everyone’s posts highlighting both good & bad experiences. I think I’m emotionally where Carb_Addict is feeling rather hard done by & Whats the point? We had an interim weigh in & I have lost one pound & my husband has lost three! So far since starting I have lost six pounds & he has lost nine!
I wasn’t expecting such a low weight loss for me in week two particularly since because I plan & cook our meals I know that we haven’t deviated from the diet. I suppose my expectations have not been realistic but good enough for my husband who is already in a healthy BMI range & now heading for a lower one. I have three stone to lose to get to the top end of my healthy range at the moment being 32.6! My head says we are coping well & eating this way is doing us good but my emotions are encroaching on that sensible viewpoint🤔🙁

Hi everyone. Amazed at how well everyone is doing. I’m 2 weeks in and just wondering if anyone else is having any side-effects- I have “bobbly” upper arms which feels like a rash but I can only see slightly raised lumps no spots. Sometimes this is itchy and if I rub my arms the itch goes away. I’ve googled this and apparently can happen with a low carb diet – if you up your carbs it goes away, otherwise goes away after 6-8 weeks. Anyone else had this? It is a bit annoying but I can put up with it.