Hey Allie, it sounds like it is time to take gaining some weight as seriously and with the same care and cleverness as you applied to weight loss. Maybe you are burning more calories in the cold weather, so maybe eat iver your TDEE for a bit? Mind you a trip to the doctor is probably a sound idea.

Theo, Flick, LTC, and Julia (californiagirl), I almost missed your thoughtful
and kind words because it is the start of a new page. I’m very humbled
by your concern, and plan to take your advice to heart. I scheduled a
check up for the end of the month, and have begun to weigh and measure
everything, as well as step up my weigh-ins to more than 1 x wk. I really
thought I was coming in daily at close to my TDEE of 1429, but there is
no way to be sure of that unless I keep close track of it. I had been
holding steady at 138lbs. for 4 weeks, so I thought this was all behind me,
but apparantly not. It’s an unusual problem to have on a diet forum, and
not easy for me to talk about. I knew Theo would understand my stress
about it, but I’m a bit overwhelmed by the compassion from everyone
else. What an outstanding, powerful gang of friends you are 🙂
Theo, there is much that resonates in your post about the possibility of
a “new normal”, and it IS possible that’s unconsciously what’s been
going on with me. I kind of “lost it” yesterday, and thus my “Whine-Out”
to you!
You all are the best!!!

XOXO
Allie

Allie – this is definitely the best place to come to ‘whine’, although that word seems very negative to me – I think ‘vent’ is a more powerful, positive term for what you did. Continued unwanted weight loss is concerning and you shouldn’t feel bad for bring that to the forum. Hope you will soon be able to resolve your excessive loss. With luck it will prove to be a deficit on TDEE intake and easily rectified, but I think you are wise to have a general health check anyway. Daily weighing might help you, so that you can see where fluctuations are happening. Best wishes to you, Allie – hope to be reading more positive posts from you soon.

I’m still on my quest to push down to a flat 8st and have been making fair progress toward that aim. Weekly weigh in tomorrow and hoping that there won’t be any unwanted blip upwards at that point. Enjoying the feeling of being in control again – find weighing, measuring and recording makes me so much more aware of what’s being consumed.

Thank you, Sunny! It IS time for a new strategy…I always enjoy reading
your posts, and like you, I try to circulate around to our new members.
I seldom have to add any thoughts, because you cover the main issues
expertly and very articulately at that! I hope you see 8st very soon 🙂
At that weight, though, I’d have to be hospitalized 🙂 🙂 🙂

Allie, how can it possibly surprise you, that we all care? Particularly as you are one of the most caring, helpful and encouraging people on this forum. We are friends, caring is what we do.

Now, as far as a “new normal” is concerned, please don’t go there because, despite what Wallis Simpson once said, there IS such a thing as too thin (though not quite so convinced about being too rich 😜 though I’d quite like the opportunity to find out😋) Your normal must be where you WANT to be, and obviously you are below that at the moment. So was I and all my family and friends, most of whom had been really supportive, started telling me that I was looking too thin, scrawny in fact and, in hindsight, I was. Hopefully those days are behind me, as I have managed to regain half a stone and, at the moment anyway, am holding steady. You may find that you are eating up to your estimated TDEE but, as you have been experiencing such extreme cold in Connecticut recently, you are burning more calories just to keep warm? Example, both Essie and I had cravings for fat last week, listened to our bodies and ate more, and even so we both recorded a slight loss in weight. It had been extremely cold (though nowhere near as cold here as it is over there) and we were obviously burning more. Hopefully this is what is happening to you, so try upping your fat intake for a few days and see what happens – I used full fat yoghurt (one day I ate almost 0.5kg!!), nuts and cheese.

Sunny, 8st is exactly where I am at and very happy to be there, and I’m sure you will have a very successful weigh in tomorrow. This time next week will be my first BSD birthday, so hoping to weigh in at exactly 8st on that day,

I’m ‘vertically challenged’, Allie, so 8st on me is fine and a 21.1 BMI which is in the middle of the healthy band for my height (or short!).

Huge, ginormous hugs, Theo! Across the pond they come 🙂 I’m heading
straight to the refrig. for 1/2 an avocado now, to add to my lunch of
hard boiled egg and kimchi. It has been extremely cold in the apartment,
and the heating system is working too hard to get above 64F.

XOXO

Crikey, Allie – 64 degrees? No wonder you are burning more calories, I feel far less concerned now, as I am sure that’s what the problem probably is. Mind you, in the extremes of temp you have been experiencing, your heating system is probably doing well getting your home up to 64! On the plus side, Hartford (no idea if that is where you are actually located, but the only place I actually knew in Connecticut) is now on my favourite list on the weather app on my phone and it tells me that the temp is set to get steadily higher this week, possibly even out of the minuses altogether. Here’s hoping anyway, and it may just solve your problem (heating and weight loss)😊

Thanks for the hugs, duly received and very much appreciated, my friend, and obviously returned with interest. 🙅🏼

Hi guys, blood test results back.

HBA1C – 29 (normal) yay!

Cholesterol- 9 (boo) apparently. Comprises of 1.74 HDL (I think that is a yay?) and 7.3 ‘non-HDL’ which I think is a big boo?

Seeing Dr next week, going to say I will correct it with diet. Have no idea what is was before I started BSD. I do know I relied a lot of cheese, ham and processed meat to get the weight off, but now have shifted to seeds and green veg way more. So this may well be a downward trend.

Specific questions: how long does it take to lower cholesterol through diet? And how is it done to be compatible with this WoE (I will google and use the search engine too but I know a lot of you have been here, done that, so top tips appreciated)

Heartfelt congratulations, Jackie on getting your HBA1C into the normal
range! That must be such a relief 🙂 Both o/h and I had very high chlor-
esterol readings when we began our quest for weight loss and wellness.
In addition to a completely occluded (blocked) rt. coronary artery and 2
others chocked with plaque, he was facing 2 complicated stenting pro-
cedures. Our course of action can only be described as extreme, and
I realize animal fats are allowed on the BSD. Thus, what I share here is
completely anecdotal. Within 6 months not only had our readings
changed to “optimal”, but that was true of every other parameter for
complete blood studies. We eliminate all cheese, processed meat,
and included wild fish on the menu 2-3 wk. All animal proteins became
free range and pasture raised, always on the lean side. Things like
sausages and ham were absent from the menu. I’m adamant about
consuming healthy fats however, and they now come from plant based
sources like nuts, avocado, seeds, organic eggs, etc. O/h has a diagnosis
of stage 3 heart failure, so fluid retention from processed meat and anything
else high in sodium had to be eliminated as well. We used to be “over the
top” consumers of things like bread, cheese and salami, and we never met a
cheese we didn’t like or had any concept of eating in moderation 🙂 Now we
will eat pastured beef 1xmo. if it is grass finished. I dare not temp fate and
possibly put o/h at risk for further plaque build up, so we steer this course
like his life depends on it, and I’ve been able to adapt effortlessly to his
needs. I can’t really compare chlor. readings with yours because they
aren’t calculated the same in the US. So, just one couples story….I’m
sure that you will arrive at one that is manageable and yields results for
you too! Best of luck,

Allie

Allie and JackieM: I completely agree that it is ideal to get the vast majority of your fat from the most healthy fat sources. But to add to anecdotal evidence….my choleterol is also in the excellent range subsequent to adopting a low carb lifestyle even with adding animal fats (am a bacon lover and my favorite steak cut is rib eye, the fattiest of the lot). Note the same result for M Mosely when he dropped his weight. He continued to eat a diet that included meat yet his cholesterol numbers improved with the intermittant fasting (the ultimate in low carb eating…no carbs no food).

Allie, your husband’s situation is a completely different matter…..of course you must exercise every caution. While he might safely eat some other types of fats, you absolutely are doing the right thing is serving him only the safest of the safe.

Each person if of course different with different genes and your own cholesterol / blood tests will dictate that path you take and how restrictive you need to be. That said…no more healthy oil that the olive oils (MUFAs) and avocados. How nice that they also taste so good.

JackieM: I think your 1.74 HDL is really quite good. Mine is 1.24 and still in the okay range (higher is better). It supposedly doesn’t take much time to lower your total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol if you eat the right things. Check out this BBC Horizon episode that does a little experiment on a plant-based diet:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/humanbody/truthaboutfood/healthy/

LTC – Just a quick question for you…I use avocado oil for high temp searing.
Do you?

Thankyou ArticFox! Will get reading x

Oh, just seen Allie and Luvtcook replied as well. Thankyou folks, food for thought (maybe not eating!)

My husband eats all the bad stuff and his cholesterol is just fine. It’s my damn Irish peasant genes I expect. Ho hum, will let you know what the Dr says. Am still planning on asking for 3 month retest and diet change before statins. After all, if I can sort out my blood sugar levels …. 😁

I tell you what is annoying, I only eat organic/free range stuff and have for a while. I’ve been pondering whether I eat too much of it and I’m not sure I do, given (as someone said on another thread) I don’t have bread and butter/potato and butter etc etc. I do fry my veg in butter, and I might sprinkle some grated cheese on that, (as well as linseed) and I do eat red meat (organic) but also salmon, avocado etc. I don’t eat lumps of cheese out of the fridge or anything – I’m still slightly losing weight for goodness sake!

Ho hum, if I can fix the insulin issues I can sort this out. Here comes another massive learning curve! The obvious thing I will cut back on is my beloved double cream in my coffee. It’s been less tempting recently anyway. I stopped liking cured meat about a month ago.

Hi JackieM,
Can I strongly suggest you get Dr Malcom Kendrick’s (UK doctor) ‘The Cholesterol Con’ and read it before seeing the doctor and definitely before you even consider statins.

I’ve now been doing strict low carb/Keto for nearly 2 years after losing 30kgs on the BSD. My total cholesterol is currently 7.4, my triglycerides are 0.4, my LDL is 3.9 and my HDL is 3.3. I’m not all all worried about my total or LDL numbers because they are just not that important. More important are your triglycerides/HDL ratio (0.12) and your Total/HDL ratio (2.2).

I know you guys in the UK don’t seem to measure your triglycerides, but that along with your HDL are really the most important numbers. Your insulin levels are also good to know as fasting glucose x fasting insulin divided by 22.5 = your HOMA IR score. (The calculation is a bit different for those outside Australia – just google HOMA IR). This is a great health risk indicator.

See http://www.thefatemperor.com/blog/2017/11/8/fat-emperor-live-and-unhinged-on-ketogeeks-podcast-lchf-keto-cac-longevity

Ivor Cummins also from the UK is brilliant on this stuff.

After my doctor saw my cholesterol numbers, she freaked out and suggested statins (which I politely told her where she could shove them!) and I suggested she send me for a Coronary Calcium Score which she duly did.

I’m sure she thought that my arteries would be blocked based on my numbers but the score came back a big fat ZERO!

The science just doesn’t back up the high cholesterol = heart attack theory any more. The science also shows that woman over 60 have a lower all cause mortality rate if their cholesterol is higher than those of women on statins who have lower cholesterol.

https://www.dietdoctor.com/cholesterol-cause-heart-disease

My husband had a heart attack 7 years ago (100% blockage in the right coronary artery) and had a stent put in – he was 52. I now have him on a low carb, moderate protein, high fat (mainly saturated fat) diet and he’s never been better.

I will qualify this post by saying I am not a doctor nor am I offering medical advice. I’m simple the wife of a heart attack victim that has read widely to ensue it won’t happen again!

Cheers
Linda

LindaA thankyou so much for this. I will read on! Interesting how different countries tackle it. If need be I will go private to get more detailed readings (though I had fervently hoped never to have another fasting glucose test that was VILE).

I was just coming back on here to post this link:

https://heartuk.org.uk/health-and-high-cholesterol/cholesterol-tests—know-your-number

Which indicated I am (just) below the Total Cholesterol/HDL ratio which is considered high risk (6). They talk about triglycerides here too, so your post is timely as no mention of those yet. To be fair, I only spoke to the receptionist so far and she was just reading from screen and I think she’s new as she didn’t know what the blood sugar test was called.

JackieM. My husband was put on statins at the age of 44. I queried it at the time as his Cholesterol was only 6. Doctors told me it was because he had high blood pressure. Again in my opinion not very high. He was never overweight, and 20 years of never having a reading above 5 and after taking the statins, had to have a Endarterectomy (his carotid was blocked with cholesterol). They had to open the vein and clear it out, whilst he was awake!. Two years later he had a heart attack and had to have stents fitted. Again it was cholesterol build up.

Cholesterol is made in the Liver. It has been proved time and time again, that what we eat does not affect it. However, what we eat can affect the Liver. I have refused Statins for 10 years now and 8 years ago a Doctor told me I would have a stroke or be dead in 5 years if I didn’t take them. Guess she got that wrong.

Again, I am not a medical expert and can only give you anecdotal information.

If I were you, I would read up on as much information as you can. If I am recommended a medication I google the name and add forums. People will give you real information about side effects etc than the pharmacies do. I would also see what the results are in 3 months. I was told tonight that my levels are 5.6 and UK guidelines like them to be less than 5. I again refused statins.

Good luck.

Best wishes
Nonna Mary
xxxx

LindaA – Our life looks very similar to yours, and without the input of the
AMA we worked out a dietary plan for us for stage 3 heart failure. If you
have any specific studies on consumption of sat. fats in patients with
heart attack, coronary occlusion and multiple stenting procedures plus
implanted defribrilator, I’d be very grateful for that information. Thank you
in advance,
Allie

Allie: to your question, no do not use avocado oil Use either light (color) olive oil (not the fine dark green EVOO) or peanut oil (if Asian dish).

Hi JackieM
The fasting glucose test I had done was not the horrible 2 hour one where you have to drink the glucose, it was just a blood draw to test glucose levels after I had fasted for 12-14 hours. My doctor wanted to give me the other one but I refused as there was no way I was deliberately putting glucose into my body!

My sister lives in the UK and she just sent me her results and they didn’t report on the triglycerides at all, just the non HDL reading which includes both LDL and triglycerides which is useless. You may have to go private for those.
Cheers
Linda

Hi alliecat
Have you looked through pubmed to see what studies are out there?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/?term=saturated%20fat%20heart%20attack&page=2

I assume you also know about the science studies that dietdoctor.com publishes on their website?

https://www.dietdoctor.com/dietary-guidelines-dont-reflect-science

Cheers
Linda

Linda I have that 2 hour glucose tolerance test every year (because I had gestational diabetes 11 years ago) and not only do I have to drink that disgusting sugar but I have to “carb load” for three days beforehand to get accurate results. Apparently a lot of clinics don’t do carb loading any more, but mine does. Someone asked why I have the GTT and not a HbAC1 or whatever it’s called and I have no idea. I will discuss it with my new doctor when it comes around this year. My fasting bloods are always fine, it’s only the bottle of sugar that makes me spike and feel very ill.

Thank you, LindA for the links that you have posted. Since o/h has done
so well on our plan, I haven’t thought about doing additional research
on sat. fat. However, I’m always interested in keeping well informed
on anything and everything that could have an impact on my husband’s
long term prospects, so I appreciate having access to more information.

Best wishes,

Allie

Thankyou NonnaMary, learning fast here! Informed anectodate very useful. What a terrrobel experience for your husband. Illuminating thought about the liver, thankyou.

Linda and Natalie – I did the drink once. Never again. Although it led to diagnosis of insulin resistance, it really does seem bizarre to load an ill person up with what ails them. You don’t get offered that on the NHS, just a blood test. Which is infinitely less disgusting. Presumably the drink is a more sensitive test, or at least a more expensive one? 😳😉

Hi alliecat
I also have another resource which is the science page on the 2ketodudes forum which presents a lot of really good information. (It’s also a really friendly bunch of people like the BSD forum!)

https://www.ketogenicforums.com/t/study-shows-replacing-saturated-fat-with-unsaturated-extends-life/7181

http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2530902

http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/486365?resultClick=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbpX41oCi1M

https://profgrant.com/2017/03/10/what-really-happens-to-saturated-fat-on-a-low-carb-diet/

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/offbeat/controversial-claims-that-saturated-fats-do-not-cause-heart-disease-condemned-by-specialists-1-8514558

I could go on forever (but I won’t!)

Cheers
Linda

Hi alliecat
Last one I promise!

Dr Malcom Kendrick in the UK is an expert on cardiac health and cholesterol.

Here’s his latest blog:

https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/2018/01/12/what-causes-heart-disease-part-44/

As an aside, it was my 58th birthday this week and we celebrated last night with some friends with a BBQ dinner. I only ever serve BSD friendly foods to guests as I don’t want to be the cause of ill health in my friends.

I served up a lovely salad with macadamia nut oil as the dressing (which everyone loved) and BBQ scotch fillet steak and Atlantic salmon and I finished off with this fabulous Keto friendly cheesecake for dessert served in individual drinking glasses.

http://www.gnom-gnom.com/no-bake-keto-cheesecake-the-classic/

Im not a big substitute sugar person but I make exceptions for Christmas and birthdays, but I only ever use Erythritol – here’s a conversation chart I found if anyone needs it – https://www.wholesomeyum.com/natural-low-carb-sweeteners-guide-conversion-chart/

Anyway, plenty of of food for everyone! Funny thing was, when dinner was served one of the guests said “where’s the bread?” My husband just turned around and said “you won’t find bread in this house!”

Everyone just laughed and kept eating, no one cared!

I will say that I had 2 glasses of Moët & Chandon (first alcohol I’d consumed since July). I honestly could have taken it or left it, I just don’t seem to have to craving for alcohol anymore. It’s nice to know that I don’t feel the desire anymore.

Have a lovely weekend everyone! It’s going to be another hot one here today, time to get in the pool for a swim!
Cheers
Linda

Linda, thanks for all these, I love the bottom line ‘don’t blame the butter for what the bread did’. Still learning, still reading, still trying to work out what will work for me.

In the UK the Kendrick book is on kindle for 99p. It’s very readable!

It’s so hard to know at the outset what is good science and what is formed by self interest/financial gain. You have to believe that on balance the NHS would want people to be healthy, there’s plenty of stuff to spend money on other than obesity and statins, but I guess their advice has to be sufficiently tested before they will chance it and with a long term view. Which leaves us trying it out for ourselves.

The more I read the more I wonder if I just have high cholesterol – it’s so high, and I don’t drink/smoke/am not overweight (now!) and do exercise regularly and did even when fat. It’s been a couple of months since I was eating a lot of processed meat etc. My only saturated fat vices are cream, cheese, butter and the fats in in unprocessed food like avocado, and (organic/free range) meat or fish. And seeds/nuts.

So, my current plan is to keep the (organic) butter and the (organic) cream, but mindfully, for now bin the cheese (I’d quite like to reduce by a couple more Llbs so this is not a drama) and up the natural nut/seed/veg for fibre and for fat. I just found out I like almond milk (used to hate it) so I may have that instead of cream for a bit.

Also, I’m going to try and extend my fasts a few times a week. Currently I go 15 or so hours, but if I keep busy I reckon I could do 17 in time as standard on non exercise days.

Hey Alliecat, hows the weight gain going? What a weird thing to write on a weight loss forum!

Jackie, I wonder if you watched Trust Me this week? They did an experiment on which fats improved cholesterol most – olive oil, butter or coconut oil. Over the month of the experiment, olive oil and butter came out very similar, but coconut oil came out way ahead, both in reducing the bad and (LDL) and increasing the good (HDL). So may be worth trying? The subjects took 3tbs a day in any way they wanted, (including cooking with it)

And yes, how’s the weight going now, Allie? I hear you are having positively balmy temps there atm? 😉

Hi Theodora, I didn’t see it but had read a transcript and coincidentally had just rediscovered our jar of coconut oil, so I have fried my veg with it a couple of times. I am still getting used to the slight sense of coconut it gives (not strong enough to use the word ‘taste’). After your post I will definitely aim to increase the amount I eat, I had not realised it was that much (tendencies to skim read and just take the big idea, not the detail).

I wondered about that test, as it did seem to show butter made things a bit worse, whilst olive oil was neutral. Which does seem to go counter to some of BSD/Kendrick eat al thinking. Did you read it like that too? Or is that my skim reading again?

Thank you LindaA, for taking the time to type out all of these links.
I’m very much in your debt. I’ve bookmarked them all to be printed
out so that I can study the material in depth and be prepared to discuss
the findings with o/h’s cardiologist at his next appt. I wish there were
preventitive cardiologists in our area, but they all seem to run their
own clinics, mostly in other parts of the country (USA). I’m happy for
your husband that he hasn’t had another cardiac incident.
Happy Birthday 🙂

Much appreciation,

allie

Excellent thread, following the principles, using the basic ingredients but allowing occasional I’m eating out/it’s christmas day type exceptions is working for me. A protein and vegetable based diet without spuds/rice and pasta which were the mainstays of my previous long term habitual diet is easy and I genuinely prefer it now, 4 months in.
A real life-changer for me, at 51 my HbA1c levels categorised me a s a type 2 diabetic, 8 weeks later low normal levels.

It IS weird, Jackie, and also probably inappropriate for a weight loss
forum, also. I think all of us are here to gain control over our eating
habits and health, so it’s very disconcerting to realize that I have some
way to go in feeling confident that I know what to expect on the scale
each week. I think my anxiety was further exacerbated by the fact that
o/h underwent surgery for colon cancer in 2017. In my moment of
“panic” early in the week, I completely forgot that I had had a major
g.i. upset that must have thoroughly dehydrated me also. I’m happy
to report that the 3 lbs. have subsequently been regained. Lovely
of you ask Jackie, and I sincerely appreciate your concern. 🙂

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Allie

Allie, that is SUCH good news. Really pleased to hear that you have a solid reason for the extra weight loss and now have it back under control.

I cannot imagine how stressful your husband’s illness must have been, and so pleased to hear you are both in much better health now. My o/h is robustly healthy (or so we think) but I still worry about his eating/drinking choices, as he seems to assume he is invulnerable, and banks everything on the fact that his parents both lived well into their 90sm (his father is, in fact, still going strong, at 97).

As far as extra weight loss is concerned, I really feel you are my sister-in-arms, as we seem to be the only 2 on this forum (happy to be proved wrong) who struggle to maintain our weight from dropping too much, not from increasing. Indeed, last evening, not only did I participate in wine whilst out for dinner, I also consumed more than my fair share of vegetable crisps, plus a 3 course meal (no refined carbs obviously) only to have the scales record a half pound drop this morning! If you weren’t on this forum, struggling with the same issues, I would feel very isolated. But, I have never eaten a healthier diet, and never ever felt as well and as energetic – at least not since I was a BYT, which was many, many years ago!

Hi there – Allie pleased there was a reason. I don’t think inappropriate – we are all in different places and it’s always helpful to hear other people’s ups and downs and realise one size doesn’t fit all xx

Jackie, I have exciting news. I can now officially declare myself capable of doing a reverse situp! I wasn’t even consciously aware I’d finally gotten the hang of it until I did a set today with my trusty resistance band looped around the arches of my feet and it went fine. It’s a small thing, but a huge NSV from my perspective ’cause those buggers are hard.

Escnecca 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

That is not a small thing! Those buggers ARE hard!

I’ll ask Pete the personal trainer what to do after that’s been sorted, I’m sure there’s a fresh hell awaiting. Though he has flu at the moment so I haven’t been this week. Watch this space.

Theodora and Allie, how are you getting on? Have you both stabilised your weight now?

It’s been a while since I posted on this thread, but thought I would pop in with an update. Have successfully seen off the couple of pounds gained over the festive season and made in roads into shifting the additional pounds I decided I wanted to be rid of, to get me down to a flat 8st.

Had expected that things would move in the right direction once back on the 800/20 regime, but have been surprised that the weight started to fall quite readily. Very hopeful of being a flat 8st (or possibly a pound or two lighter) in the next week to ten days and then I’ll be back to maintenance – with luck, successfully.

Hope everyone who has reached target is managing well in maintenance – long may it continue.

I’m good, thank you for asking, Sunny.

Really pleased to hear that those last few pounds are melting away quite easily, you’ll be 8st, or just below, before you know it. That is exactly where I am at, and holding pretty steady +/- a pound. Not really counting calories these days, and allow myself wine every weekend, but staying fairly low carb – def no refined carbs. Almost 9 months into maintenance now and cannot see me ever going back, very happy with this WOE.

Essie, well done on the reverse sit-ups. Not even going to ask what they are, because they sound like some mediaeval form of torture – but each to his own.😝

Hi SunnyB
Well done getting the Christmas lbs off. You’ll get to 8 stone before long. I am struggling to lose the 2lb i put on over Christmas, a combination of feeling hungry and feeling cold. I am determined to get back to133 (currently 134) and hope to achieve 130 lb during February. I have increased my water this week, I love water but being so cold have not drank the usual quantity. Prior to Christmas I was doing 16:8 and since returning to work in January have been eating yoghurt and raspberries before setting off. Shall be going back to missing breakfast again and hoping that 16:8 as well as one or two extended fasts next month will get me where it want to be. It’s scary how quickly weight can return if you don’t keep a watch on the scales, I have vowed never to go 3lb above my goal weight. I weigh myself every morning and that keeps me on the straight and narrow.

Keep maintaining everyone. We’ve proved how resilient we are by achieving our target. As Esnecca says- Not one step back (think that’s what she says!).

Glad things have settled for you Theo and you are happy with how your weight is now. Hope the family issues are resolving themselves as well. Really pleased to read on the other thread, that your Mum’s results at hospital were all good. I’ll think of you when I have my glass of wine at dinner this evening.

Thanks for the kind words CC – I tend to eat using a 16:8 format and it definitely makes a difference for me losing. I’m convinced it’s that, good hydration and keeping the carbs sub 20g, that gives me results. Hope you’ll soon be where you want to be, I’m sure you’ll do it no problem – will look forward to hearing you’ve got there.

Like you, CC, I weigh daily, as I also find it keeps me from doing anything stupid – always a bit uncomfortable when in situations that mean I can’t weight myself. I’m so happy with how I look and feel now, I’m determined never to go back and I definitely don’t want to ever have to buy large baggy clothes again! So for me it’s essential to know what’s going on with the scales on a regular basis. The really great thing though, is we all have the tools to control and maintain and if there are any slips or blips, we know we can deal with any fall out quickly and effectively before things get out of hand.

Keep going everyone, we’re doing great!

Congratulations to all of you glorious, petite ladies in the 8 stone bracket! At 5’7″, I feel like an Amazon in your
midst!

CC, I’m having difficulty drinking my usual 3 liters of water, too. This is a particularly cold winter here in New
England, and picking up that cold glass gives me a chill 🙂 Really need to do it however, because I feel better when
I do, and it also plays havoc with the scales when I slack off!

Thank you Sunny, everything remains stable at the present time. You are so incredibly close to where you’d
like to be, you can only be days away…..We all know that you will do it! When you are ready, come out to play
with us on the “Phoenixes..” thread. Esnecca always keeps us guessing, we never know what she’ll turn up
with next 🙂 🙂 🙂

Have a marvelous weekend, everyone!

Allie

Allie, nowhere is it written that the water has to be cold! I often pour boiling water onto several lemon slices and let it brew for a few minutes when the weather is cold, then Ive got a nice warm drink. And when weather is really cold I can never bring myself to drink water straight front tap – brrrrr – so once I drink one glass, I refill and let it stand so that it gets to room temp before next glass is due.

Pleased to hear you have stopped that worrying decline and are holding steady. And nothing wrong with Amazons – have always wanted a few extra inches in height 😉

Hi Alliecat, if you feel Amazonian at 5ft 7 what does the make me at 5ft 11? I won’t sensibly get below 11st 7lbs, and probably 12st. Worrying about my height, and thinking I had to hide it, is what started all these problems so many years ago. This time I’m going to enjoy being slim and tall.

Victoria, how absolutely wonderful to be 5’11”. Stand tall and proud😊

My lovely daughter-in-law is the same fantastic height as you – she jokes that she only married my son because he was the only guy she ever dated whom she knew she could marry wearing stilletoes and still look small and dainty, which she did, though she towered above her dad – but to get back to the point, height is a gift, so enjoy!!!😀 Wish someone had granted me that gift but, at 68, I guess my growing days are over and I’ll have to settle for the paltry 5’4″ I measure these days (used to be 5’5″ so I’m known as the
incredible shrinking woman – in more ways than one 😱)

I repeat – stand tall and proud 😊

Hi Victoria, it’s wonderful to meet another “rangey” lady! Congratulations on being half way to your target. We so
often speak in “stones” on this forum, but those figures can be a little misleading with discrepancies in height.
I always find that “current BMI” is a much better indicator of where we are on our journey. When I was a child, being
taller than average made me self conscious, but all that changed at about the age of 14. By my late teens into
my early 20’s I was even able to make extra spending money doing some modeling, nothing that would ever be
considered a “career path”, but much appreciated at the time:) We get dealt the genetic hand that we are dealt,
so wear it with pride. A goal of 12 stone sounds very sensible to me for your height. I’m at 137-138lbs, which
is exactly in the middle of the healthy range for me, and at that, my o/h still thinks I’ve gone too far. I look thin
to slender, so I’m stopping here. The most marvelous part of it all is that I feel 40 years younger. What’s a bit
of loose skin, after all??

Hey, Theo, good to catch up with you today! Your Mother sounds a lot like mine. I guess this shouldn’t
really surprise us though, we are alike in too many ways to count 🙂 I’m definitely going to try the lemon
steeping suggestion. Using the coffee mug to keep my hands warm is not working out all that well…after
3 cups, my stomach starts to rebel! I’m glad everything has steadied for you too. I really can appreciate the
lovely long walks you take with your o/h and the boys, after the wonderful picture you posted. Enjoy your
weekend..If I know you, it will be filled with friends and laughter, and a glass or two 🙂 Wish we could barge
in on your social life, it sounds just about perfect to me 🙂 🙂 🙂 Oh, glad you liked my lace flats! It seems that
we have the same hair style, too. Surprise, surprise!!!!

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Allie

Thanks ladies, I do try very hard to be tall and proud, but after a childhood of being told by my parents to hide it and not stick out and teenage of being bullied for it at school (I was 5 ft 11in at the age of 13) sometimes it just catches me unawares. If I see a picture of myself with friends maybe and am head and shoulders above them, or when I see lovely jackets like the YSL one posted on another thread that I could never wear because my body is too long. It always used to annoy me that the models that wear these clothes are my height but the ones sold in the shops seem to be for people who are about 5ft 6in.

Never mind, just have to make one myself, that’s why I learnt to sew in the first place, I just stopped when I was working because I didn’t have the time. Now retired so should have the time, although it doesn’t always seem to work like that!