With spring well and truly sprung, it’s an ideal time to get active on all fronts. By that I mean, with better weather not only we can get outside for some physical activity, but also to be active in revamping our eating.

Several of us have struggled since the festive season and subsequently seen disappointing results. That’s okay though, because we have the tools to make April count and get a step closer to our personal goals.

Have a think about your ‘why’ … why are you on the BSD path, what do you want or need from it? Hopefully that will help you find the motivation to push on with more determination.

Please join us here, we love to see ‘old faces’ and ‘new faces’ on these monthly threads, which help us remain accountable. It’s a safe place to come for encouragement, offload if things are not going to plan, as well as to share results and celebrate our wins both on and off the scales.

Let’s remain active and accountable in April.

Thank you very much for setting up this April thread SunnyB & the thought of actively advancing through April is challenging & appealing 👍😀
Best feet forward everyone 🍀🍀🤞
Margaret xx

With Tuesday being my weigh in day, I can report a further drop of 0.5lb this morning. This means March has seen 3.5lb ditched, leaving me a little more comfortably in the correct stone bracket. Happily, clothes are feeling more comfortable and more of my wardrobe is available to me again 🙂.

However, there’s no space for complacency, as I’m currently still 5.5lb above target, with only a week until we head off Turkiye bound. Hoping it’s possible to rid myself of another pound before then though 🤞🏻.

Looking forward to reading everyone’s updates so please let us know how things are going with you.

Hi all, I can report a total loss of 1lb for the month of March. Yes, disappointing but overall I have lost 7lbs since 2nd Jan and my goal was 9lbs to today. So a good loss but just not where I wanted to be. My body seems to have a set point of 71kgs but I can be grateful as it used to be 74kgs then 72, so some improvement. Still got 10 days before we go away so still hoping.

Hubby has gone away for a few days so I have plenty of time to myself and started off the a facemask followed by Vit C serum and then moisturiser. Feels very clean. Now to get on with some well organised packing – fingers crossed I don’t forget anything on my extensive list.

Have a great April and hope you didn’t get fooled – didn’t actually see any this morning.

Great to be actively advancing…
Thanks for the new thread. I haven’t posted much on the monthly threads since Christmas, but have been reading and mentally encouraging everyone as we all live the BSD life!
I am still maintaining 😄😇 and am happy to turn down potatoes (including chips), rice, pasta and bread (mostly..toast is still a temptation!🫣) but I still have a sweet tooth, so dessert is a major temptation.
To get over this, I have persuaded husband to have a pudding that I would like, and I have a teaspoonful!
I still haven’t had a follow up with the diabetes clinic and wonder if the nurse black listed me as a difficult patient. I saw her at the end of June last year!

As an April baby, this is my favourite month.
So I wish everyone health and success as we all advance!
Xx

Hello.

I’ve had a really rough few days. New week, new month but still my demons have been raging.

OH has now been passed as ‘fit to travel’ so now scrambling to wash, iron and pack!
Anyway just getting my head back into gear!

I’ve been really ‘down’ these last few weeks and it’s now time to just get myself back on track. So instead of dwelling on the odd pounds gained here and there I’m looking at the bigger picture. I started here in 2016 and I’m still 2st less than I was. Yes I lost more and regained but hey I’m still winning!

Maybe sometimes we are too hard on ourselves. We should look at our achievements and build on them rather than beat ourselves up over the odd pound or two gain. Positivity is the way forward!

Hi all.

Seems March has been a challenge for quite a few of us.
Hopefully April will be an easier and better one with less temptations and more lbs off!
I have lost another .6kg for a total weight loss of 8.6kg so far. Doesn’t sound so impressive until I googled “how many lbs is 8.6kg” and I was shocked to discover it was 18.9lb!!!!! I never realized its much better currency to weigh in lbs 🙂
So my first goal has been 9.2kg (which is 10% of my body weight which was 92kg when I was weighed by my consultant) and I am getting very close to that goal- hooray!!
But aware that I still have a long way to go from there but at least I am on the journey and it doesn’t seem like hard work at all- currently doing OMAD and occasionally longer fasts of 36 hours too. I like fasting and it really doesn’t seem like much effort. I don’t feel like i’m dieting…
Anyway thanks for being my safe space to share. Everyone else seems to think i’m going to fade away if I don’t eat immediately- honestly as if being 83kg that’s even a possibility!!

SG, hope you are making the most of your ‘me’ time whilst your Hubby is away.
Pootle, well done on your maintenance, you really seem to have it cracked.
V, you are right, we are too ready to bear ourselves up for transgressions and small gains, forgetting to look at the big picture and what we have achieved. So pleased your OH has a clean bill and you are able to take your trip … go back enjoy!
HappySnap, well done, your first target is so close and I’m sure your approach will see that achieved very soon. When I started fasting, my OH was very anti and convinced it would make me ill. Now he just says, ‘Are you eating tonight?’ Once your loved ones see fasting isn’t harming you, I’m sure they will ease up too.
I’m not reporting in at the moment, as I’m only weighing weekly on Tuesdsys at present. So for now, I’ll just say, keep on keeping on.

Hi everyone. Verano, I am so sorry you have been having such a hard time lately. You really should come on and ‘talk’ to us about it. It always helps to vent. Hopefully you can now go and enjoy your holiday.

Yes Sunny, I have enjoyed the peace and quiet but it is getting a bit boring now and I have to do everything rather than think about the shared jobs. Like feeding the cats, setting out the litter tray, didn’t know how to work the dishwasher but managed to work it out 🙂

Still around 71kgs but not giving up yet. Just want to lose another kilo if possible.

S-g yes you are so right I should have come here to ‘talk’. Sometimes I am so ‘lost’ that ‘talking’ just doesn’t help. Anyway, on the brighter side I now realise that my husband’s illness/surgery/recovery took a far greater mental toll on me than I’d anticipated.

So, the last few weeks, or so, are gone now and today I’m back to ‘mindful’ healthy eating. I guess I’m just not that good with ‘uncertainty’.

So just 6 days until you go away Sunny and maybe 8 or 9 S-g?, and we have 11 before we fly. I’m going to do my best for the short time I have before ‘holidays’ but I’m also going to do my best when we’re away. Spending all of our trip in the Med so it should be possible to eat healthily, even with a cruise in the middle!!!

Let’s try to ‘Advance through April’ the best we all can individually and maybe re-group in May…. which could become our ‘marvellous’ month! I’ll do my best to keep in touch.

Hi all, 6 days before we leave our home and 8 before we get on the ship. I think I have just about finished my packing and, thanks to packing cubes, everything is very organise and has all fit into one very large case with one overnight bag. I still have to pack makeup, toileries and medications but they will fit in the gaps. I have really pared back on things, so only taking 6 pairs of pants (knickers) – there are washing machines onboard. I have one pair of dressy shoes instead of a pair for every different outfit. Silver goes with anything and they are particularly comfortable. For shore I am just wearing trainers. That seems to be it.

As for my weight, I am still dithering around 71.2 as hubby came home with a gift of 6 bottles of white from one of his volunteers and he wanted to try one. Push the weight up to 71.6 but now back down. Not expecting much more but still not giving up.

Enjoy the lovely weather and the weekend.

This is my last pre-trip check-in and can report that the scales are reading exactly the same today, as they did on Tuesday last week. Would have been nice to see a dip, but I’m taking it as a win …. I’m in the right stone bracket and feeling good.

We leave home tomorrow morning, dropping in to see my parents, then travelling on to our eldest daughter’s. We’ll be there until Friday morning, when we start our road trip properly, crossing to France to drive through to Turkiye.

We’re away until July and in that period I’ll be reading posts, but contributing less. Wishing you all a fair wind and hope to be reading about some great results in the weeks ahead. Keep on keeling on everyone.

I hope you have a wonderful & relaxing trip SunnyB 🥂🌝
Margaret xx

Oh my goodness, driving all the way to Turkey – bon chance. We will be driving up to Ouistream on Friday, staying overnight then early morning ferry. Enjoy your break. BTW we are all winners here.

Well I bit the bullet & weighed & have lost 0.75 lb. I am rather in despair about my replacement knee surgery after an NHS fiasco on Thursday evening. I went to the hospital to be seen as I thought by another MSK specialist but my appointment had been changed to a phone call on my home phone from the Consultant Surgeon I had previously seen privately last October. I stayed at the hospital hoping he would call on my mobile for another hour but only got a voicemail saying he was trying to contact me but because his number was withheld & my phone didn’t ring. I then drove an hour back home to find another message on my house phone. A little hope was raised because he remembered seeing me previously & he may now be my surgeon & said he would take further action but no idea what that is & I was sent another appointment in January for May that will apparently be from him although it doesn’t say so! I complained to the NHS hub where apparently all new appointments are now made who said they had sent me a letter that I didn’t receive!! I have given up dieting with comfort eating nibbles with some wine & eating more carbs & not surprisingly because I am now more sedentary & can walk less weigh more than in last October 🤔😢
Sorry for the moan I know I am not a good advocate for eating wisely at the moment & my son & autistic grandson are coming for lunch today & I will be cooking pizzas plus salad.
Margaret

Good morning.

Sorry I’ve been ‘quiet’ lately. I just seem to have had a few minor mishaps which have got me down a bit. Husband seems to be recovering well. But I had a fall a week ago. Fortunately nothing major but a bit battered and bruised. Arnica is a wonderful thing!

I was due to have my hair coloured on Friday but got a message on Thursday to say my hairdresser was unwell but would see me Tuesday, the day we go away! Anyway, as he is mobile, he will come tomorrow instead. So things are looking up.

Weight wise I’ve lost the pounds I put on during my ‘madness’ so am feeling ok about that. I’ve not reached the goal I set in January but I’ve still lost this year which is a plus.

Margaret I sympathise with you. Don’t fret about healthy eating at the moment. Sometimes we can only deal with one issue at a time. I just wondered if you are on the ‘cancellation’ list. I know a few people who have got last minute surgical slots when others have cancelled. Worth.a thought if you’re not on the list.

Anyway, hope everyone is well and April is proving to be a healthy month.

Hi Verano, sending you good energy from California. Sorry you have been feeling down.
Hi Margaret, your journey with your knee surgery is so frustrating for me to read about. The NHS holds such promise but they have structural issues that have to be addressed!
I am going to encourage you to not give up on the diet right now — seriously, this is not the moment to “be kind to yourself” because in the long run it will be “anything BUT kind” to comfort eat. Surgery will be immensely easier if you lose some weight and the recovery will be faster and more successful. You will come through the anaesthesia better if you are metabolically healthy. You will grow more cartilage when you are eating low carb and high protein (and exercising as much as you are able with your restrictions.)
Bombard yourself and your days with support — watch Dr. Bikman videos, buy expensive teas, hire a personal trainer even if all you do is chair yoga), have wine in small quantities with meals (you mentioned you like wine) — do ANYTHING to stay on the straight and narrow — you will be SO grateful you did so after surgery — think ahead to how you will recover quickly and robustly. You have many good years ahead!

👋 hello all hope you don’t mind me jumping on to your April challenge. It’s been an absolute yonking time since I’ve been on here but was so nice to read some names from years past. I’ve moved home retired due to ill health and husband has rheumatoid arthritis and I’m now living with stage 4 breast cancer. My weight has fluctuated due to treatment & life but need to take control & start back to adopting fully the BSD as I know it will help both me & hubby to reduce all that nasty inflammation we are both dealing with in different ways – I’ve been lurking for a few days to try and get my head straight & motivation up so here I am – hope you can all help me keep on keeping on 😉 day one today x

Oh2beThin, sorry about your struggles, but welcome to the monthly thread. You are right, if nothing else this WoE should help with inflammation and make you feel better generally …. it has lots of positive knock-on effects. Feel free to vent and rant if necessary and be sure to share wins, no matter how small, so we celebrate with you.

In today’s Telegraph newspaper, there is a very interesting article about how the current BMI numbers are not appropriate for people over the age of 65, which many of us on this site are (I’m 69).
The former UK health secretary, Ms. Hewitt, says that older people, men and women, should aim for a BMI up to 30, and possibly even higher. Keeping a bit of padding protects from falls and loss of muscle mass and in the event of a serious illness, provides protection from frailty. This is apparently accepted wisdom in Australia (her comments).
Worth evaluating your weight goals with this in mind. I am not commenting regarding diabetes (so don’t jump on me) — that is another issue.

That is very interesting California Girl.

I am 65 and my BMI is now (having lost the weight via the BSD) at 25.1, calculated to be just into the overweight range. However, I feel if I go any lower, (to get into their “healthy” range) I would look and feel gaunt and frail!

Hello everyone & a Happy Easter 🐥🐥
Welcome Oh2bthin & with joining in with this BSD ongoing saga we are all on. I think it does help to air our ups & downs & to read the very helpful guidance we have on here 👍
Thank you Californiagirl for your post I know what you have said is sensible & correct & I suppose my “diet tantrum” is because I am very fed up at the moment. However I have not completely thrown my toys out of the pram because I have had a health MOT by pestering a female GP. It’s a minor problem that my sleep is disturbed by my having to spend lots of pennies through the night & it seems I have a sensitive bladder that I have now have some medication for. I have just had two ultrasounds investigating my bladder, ovaries & uterus to identify any growths or infections & they are normal. My BP & my heart ECG are also normal & my blood tests show raised B12 which is similar to earlier ones so normal for me but I have a slightly raised cholesterol level so I am now taking a low dose statin. I have had an indirect message relating to my knee surgery & thank goodness I have now been referred for surgery with the orthopaedic surgeon I saw last October but don’t know when. I find it very interesting that the BMI is now been questioned for over 65 year olds. Mine is currently 30 so too high, I am aged 78 & pear shaped so most of my flab is external & on my lower half & I wear UK size 14 trousers which is much better than size 18 that I previously wore. So some plus points 🤔
I am over this weekend going to sort out my thinking & review what I can do to most help myself get more ready for surgery. I know that I can resume doing exercises to my Jane Fonda dvd plus the ones my physio gave me & give myself a mental boot up my derrière to stop feeling sorry for myself!! I did fast yesterday & it was really easy so my body hasn’t forgotten how to do that.
Thank you & sorry for yet another moan. I will bite the bullet & weigh myself tomorrow 🙀🤔
I hope you all have a relaxing & enjoyable weekend & it is sunny today so my husband & I will go to a garden centre to buy some flowering plants in red white & blue to put in pots in the front garden to help celebrate VE Day. I have already put out a banner on our fence as has our neighbour.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧
Margaret xx

Hello. Thought I would just pop in to say ‘hello’ especially as we’re a bit thin on the ground on this thread at the moment.

Margaret glad to hear you are making headway with you op. Let’s hope it’s soon!

Julia hello. I also read that article and yes very interesting. Really when we think about it BMI is just one of those very rough guides.

Welcome Oh2bthin. So sorry to hear of your issues. Maybe at the moment you should concentrate on being ‘Oh2bashealthyasIcanbe!’. A Mediterranean diet is great for health and reduction of inflammation so you are definitely on the right track. Keep well.

Well arrived at our first destination on Tuesday. Outward journey was completely hassle free which in this day and age was a bit of a miracle! Here until Monday then pick our ship to sail to Lisbon where our son will pick us up and drive us to the coast. So wonderful to have sunshine but unlike the recent great weather in the UK we have heat as well! Even better is I no longer have to say each morning ‘What shall we have for dinner tonight!’. Lovely to be ‘waited’ on.

I’ll try and pop in again but in the meantime as s-g says ….. just keep on keeping on…….

Happy Easter all.
Sounds like you are really enjoying your break away Verano, isn’t it brilliant when you don’t have to think ‘Think, menu, shop, cook, serve’ just ‘menu, choose, eat’!! 😄😄

Wendy1947.
Good to hear that someone has listened to you and you have had an MOT! Hope the result is a quick turnaround for the op!

Now the weather here has broken, I am struggling not to give in to some comfort eating! Cold and VERY wet means I am sort of confined indoors!
I also had a minor car ‘prang’ yesterday, which has in-nerved me more that it should have!! Result…I was eating hot buttered toast and drinking tea at 1.00 this morning as I couldn’t sleep!
But tomorrow is another day… getting back to keeping on, keeping on!

I hope you have a wonderful & relaxing holiday Verano & I also hope you have recovered from your car prang Pootle. I’m reviewing what I am doing at the moment rereading MMs the fast 800 book to refresh my memory & have also adjusted my food shopping for next weeks delivery. My husband & I do have an Easter egg each to eat so by Tuesday temptation will be gone. I will also go back to drinking fruit teas instead of coffee that I really rely on to pep me up in the morning & will try to keep strictly to the fast 800 diet & I always follow TRE anyway not eating until lunch. I will review after two weeks & hope I have lost some pounds in weight. I know I must get prepared for my knee surgery & after reading about the recovery period I do feel quite anxious & daunted so do need to get back to taking control & looking after myself more!
Let’s keep on going everyone 🍀🤞🤞👍
Margaret xx