Definitely serious stuff, September is here and let’s make it count as a reset point . Renewed motivation with no regrets about holiday indulgences .What counts is what you do NOW .

Regulars will know what to do but if you are starting out you are very welcome to join us .We will talk of our experiences and give you a few tips .We don’t get it right all the time ( talking about myself here 😉 ) but we are committed to low carb eating with info on intermittent fasting if needed .

So onwards we go in September !

I will wait a while before I post the list of our merry band until I see who is joining us .
Have a good week everyone xx

Jumping right in here, Wendy, thanks for the new thread. It’s been wonderful seeing how many people are keen to climb onboard and get ‘serious in September’.

It has certainly been the fresh start I needed and I’ve been able to really get my head in the right space again at long last. Like Wendy, I’m throwing in some fasts, but this is by no means something everyone should be doing, it’s totally a personal choice. Getting back to the basics is all that’s needed and it’s a great way to reset mind and body and to start seeing results again.

Whatever your approach to getting serious again, we’re here to offer encouragement and support, so please join in.

I’m away ATM and have a wedding to go to on Wednesday but once back at the weekend it will be back to basics 800 calories and some 24 hr IF’s.

I’m back for the coming week and I really will get serious this week even though we have a very ‘social’ week coming up. When I first started eating this way ‘socialising’ was never a problem but now, unfortunately, it’s not so easy to say ‘no’.
I just have to sit down and be honest about what my ‘real’ aims and ambitions are. I know what to do. I just have to work out how much I want to exchange ‘pain for gain’!

I’m back, I’ve been back on plan since Saturday and being sensible but trying not to be obsessive

Busy busy at work this week but trying my best!

L x

I’m back, I’ve been back on plan since Saturday and being sensible but trying not to be obsessive

Busy busy at work this week but trying my best!

L x

Wow, another week is here already! I’m still in long weekend mode but on the verge of getting serious for September. My online gym membership automatically renewed and there is a new intake of newbies starting this week, so seems like a good opportunity to get back into it. I think my hips and back will thank me as they have been getting rather tight lately.
Now that the days are getting slightly cooler (still incredibly warm for Sept here!), I’m eager to get back into a better routine with cooking healthy meals. It’s been far too hot to even think of having the oven or the cook top on, so I’ve mainly been existing on salads for the last 2 months, and getting fed up with them and then not knowing what I could eat instead.
I’ve been popping on every now and then to see how everyone is doing, but struggling with energy at the end of the day, so haven’t been posting.
S-g – so glad to see that you have been getting some answers and are starting to feel a bit better.
Lauren – I’m so sorry about what the doctor said to you. Saying you should lose the weight and then not offering much in the way of support is really unhelpful. Two things, one – have you looked at the resources and blog posts on The Fasting Method website? They have helped a lot of people with PCOS and fertility issues. I think their actual program with the coaching is pretty expensive, but there are some inspiring stories at least. Two – when I get stalled out on the weight loss, it is usually my iron status that is to blame. This last time I started supplementing 6 weeks before I went for bloodwork and my serum ferritin was only 19 ug/L, so I’m pretty sure I was well into the anemic range before I started supplementing. It seems to be really quite individual about the sweet spot for serum ferritin, but for me, I need to be over 30 ug/L before I get my energy back and then I start to lose the weight without changing anything else.
It’s good to see everyone so motivated. Let’s make it a great September!

Great to see so many people popping onto the forum. My ‘Serious in September’ is going quite well and I am staying fairly disciplined. We went to a big city fair (a once a year event) yesterday, and I took food with us. My only indulgence was one hot jam doughnut (it is tradition – the only time of the year I have it), and other than that I stuck entirely to the plan so I feel pretty good about that given that usually I would have probably had a ‘bag of 3’ to myself (enter ‘grimace’ emoji!). We have also had some social occasions, but I have been shunning the carbage. My calories might be temporarily higher on those few occasions, but I am sticking to meats, veg, and healthy fats, so all in all a successful start.
I hope everyone is doing well. xx

Hi All,

Wendy- (answer to last thread comment)- my long weekend indulgence was merely the icing on the cake (figuratively and literally) 🤪

So, I start off well with breakfast and lunch and probably mid afternoon it starts to go tits up…searching for and finding carbage/ not getting dinner until quite late etc…

there are lots of factors/ challenges that influence this, but excuses won’t get me into shape

Ideas for tonight’s dinner welcome, I’m a bit knackered and lacking inspiration….I have an egg-cess…..so egg-based might be a go-er….?

Lauren- massive hug, it’s so much to deal with- I think basics are brilliant- and I need to get back on them too….I believe in you!

Lovely to see so many familiar names on the thread 😁😁

Predictably no weight shifted so far….am now a firm 1 stone overweight

SG, glad u are starting to feel better!

Wendy…good luck to your hubby with his knees

Lots of love,
Tulip xxx

I’m in! Serious is the word….. I need to take this seriously and no half-ass it! I need to accommodate a social Friday evening but thats ok, if i can be 100% apart from that then all should be well. Consistency is important, but thats not 100% consistency, its being 85+% for a long period of time…..so here we go.
Its been a challenging couple of months, new job (great but massive change in routine, now sussed it out); my mega little horse has had a long running respiratory issue which has meant we’ve not had the competitive summer we wanted (significant bit of motivation lost but I’ve tried hard not to let it bring me down), running stalled a little as i got into the new job, back at it now though. Various challenges with an elderly father and his dwindling circle of friends which is hard, and i have a few rather unwell friends as well. But I’m here, i certainly totally recognise how much happier my mind and body is when i eat well. I’d almost say I’m a little gluten and sugar intolerant as my system gets fairly uncomfortable if i eat it and i loose all energy…… just need to keep that in mind when decision making. Easy eh?!?! haha! If only, right.

Love reading and catching up with whats been going on, thank you to everyone for posting. What a good bunch of folk there are here.

Julz

Oh Tullip dinner suggestions,.,….. my fav eggy ones

1. Crustless quiche – 4 eggs beaten with a splash of cream and seasoned. Any veggies you have (i like onion / broccoli / spinach / tomatoes) a teaspoon of pesto and some grated cheese. Mix it it together, pop it in a tin (I have a fab silicon one which works great for this) and pop it in the oven for 30 mins. Service with a side of mixed leaves.

2. egg pizza – basically make a 3 egg omelette , cook on both sides in a pan like a pancake, top with some tomato paste, veggies of choice and some cheese then pop it under the grill.

🙂

Hi everyone, had a bit of a blow out last night, wine wise, so ready to start getting serious again. Meal last night was scrambled egg with peppers and tomatoes with some parma ham, main course was rolled chicken (not real chicken) tandoori with saffron rice. I had a taste of the rice and realised why I no longer eat or crave it. Even with the yellow colouring it was bland bland bland and claggy in the mouth.

I am an all or nothing person so kidding myself I can have a glass of wine on a Saturday wasn’t going to work for me so I am back on it with a vengeance. New starting weight makes me one kilo down from returning from holiday so not quite a disaster but seems like I have wasted a week.

A recipe I saw recently was using a very thin omelette as a wrap and making chicken fajitas.

Wendy, hope hubby is doing okay. My s-i-l is waiting for a hip replacement and he is only 41.

Well, here we go, another week off to a good start. Dont forget to keep on keeping on…

thanks eggy peeps…..

mmmm….today was 1) a biscuity disaster on the eating front (for reasons that I am quite at peace with)….doesn’t mean I won’t be straight back on it for the sensible evening meal
2) Great on the exercise front…….I did a run!! For the 1st time since April….woohooo. Slow and short….but still 😁

love to all
xxxxxxxxx

Well last week I remained static which is better than a gain I guess. But, today I decided to weigh and count. I ate more or less what I’ve eaten on an average day lately. Well! What can I say I’m eating around 800 calories more than I should each day so no wonder I’m ‘static’ in reality I should be gaining!
Anyway, today has been an eye-opener.
S-g know what you mean about rice it really is bland I much prefer to use green vegetables instead of rice if I make a curry. In fact last week I was questioning why we weren’t having a green vegetable with dinner …. who would have ever thought! I had a similar experience with pasta the sauce was wonderful but the pasta was pasta ….. bland.
Tomorrow is a new day and I realise I can no longer rely on guesstimating I need to control portions, weigh and count.

Hi everyone. I will post longer comments when I have a bit more time but just to say hubby `s knee replacement op went very well so relief all round. Now it’s recovery.time,likely to.be longer than for my.hip.
Today was a non fasting day but I had some more toilet issues 🙄. I wonder if it had anything to do with the magnesium supplement I took ? I must experiment. Anyway.I enjoyed my.salad,halloumi.and fermented veg followed by Greek yoghurt and a home made low carb granola which gives a nice crunch.
Off to.bed now more tomorrow xxx

RubyG and hubby still lurking 🙂
I haven’t weighed in a couple of weeks but my clothes feel OK, and we’ve enjoyed the last long weekend away for the year, the camping gear is stowed for the winter now. I made marrow soup on Monday, so that’s lunch for the first few days of the week, livened up with a drizzle of good olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice and topped with crumbled feta and chilli flakes.
For some reason I am craving roast chicken! It could be worse, I guess.

I’ve been weighing and counting again today although not following any particular plan. I’ve been surprised by some foods actually being lower carb/calorie than I’d anticipated but I’m going to carry on with this exercise for the next few days. We have a busy social time from now until the end of the week so on Monday I’m going to sit down and have a good look at my log to see exactly which foods I need to ditch. Some of them are pretty obvious but hopefully I can make a proper plan next week. One thing I am certain of is that I’m no good with the type of keto etc. plans that don’t quantify foods. I definitely need something more regulated.
The experiment continues for the moment!

Back on things properly and lost half a kilo in the last 3 days. Might still slacken off on Saturday as last week turned out to be 2.5 days of being flexible and that was a bit too much. Yesterday was so much cooler at around 27 degrees but also a bit overcast so I could enjoy a swim without the full sun burning down on me. Although I did have to share the pool with some swooping swifts who came to have a drink. So glad I did as today it looks like we are in for rain all day and the temp is down to around 22. My feet were cold in bed last night but it is too soon to put the winter duvet back on as we are expecting mid 30s for the weekend. At least it is keeping our gas bill down.

Take care everyone.

Very sad day following the death of Queen Elizabeth. I am not a royalist but she has been serving the union since before I was born. Onward to a new era with a king.

Just heard. Very sad day. Wonderful lady. Nor am I a royalist but I wonder where we go now ???

Indeed, sad news about the Queen

Hi all, blood results are in and they are so so. BG up to 6.3 was 5.9 and cholesterol down from 4.7 to 4.4. I am not surprised having spent 3 weeks on holiday and not always being able to get the food I prefer. Even had sandwiches on a few occasions while travelling and stopping at service areas. Also wondering if I should go back on statins considering I have floating either fat or plaque in my eye but suppose I will be sent to the cardio for that problem. Statins are not to be feared as they give protection against lots of things but I stopped because of pains in my chest which I put down to cramp. Pretty sure now that the pain was coming from my lungs. Anyway, seeing doctor on Tuesday. Just noticed on my BG results a number under the percentage of 6.3. It is 45 mmol/mol which is what other people talk about in their test results. Only just realised that it is there.

Looking forward to a new era in the UK with a new PM and a new King. Lets hope they can sort things out.

Weather change here and at 19 degrees I am finding it quite cold. Still in a T-shirt so not freezing. Forecast for tomorrow is 34 so quite up and down now until it settles into Autumn.

Have a good weekend.

Thank you to SunshineGirl for pointing me to this thread from the one I started. I’m back on the fast 800. I dropped from 15st to about 12.9 last time, stopped st the end of April. I weighed in on Monday at 13st 7 and my target weight is 11st 7.

I’ve found the first week very very easy although today is a bit tougher.

My best meals are generally:

Mushroom omelette, which is only about 150 cals.

Prawns, cottage cheese and tomatoes – 200 cls.

And a dinner I really fell in love with: a bed of rocket, drizzled in oil, with cold chicken, Cottage cheese, tomatoes, and some mushrooms blitzed and sprinkled over the top. Works equally well with smoked salmon instead of chicken.

Looking forward to hearing everyone’s progress and tips!

Thank you for the call out Simon36. Although I have given you advice on your thread I think it was SunnyB who recommended this thread to you.

Yesterday I was drooling over the recipes from the Mary Berry new TV series Cook and Share. She did a starter of a stack of beetroot mixed with balsamic glaze, followed by avocado with mayo then prawns with horseradish sauce. It looked great and, besides the balsamic glaze would have been low carb friendly. Great idea for a dinner party. Then she did a spicy chicken one tray dish followed by a brandy chocolate pot – very dark chocolate so not a problem. She did do a chocolate mousse cake but I had to close my eyes for that one 🙂

After several cooler days and the pool dropping down to 22 degrees brrrrrrrrr. Today we have 32 to be bettered by 37 tomorrow. A bit unsettling as you cant get used to it but I does mean I can continue to swim. Particularly as I am feeling so much better with my inhaler daily treatment. I even managed to do some weeding, hang out some washing and go for a swim. I will be dancing in the kitchen again soon.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend. KOKO (keep on keeping on…)

Hi. Thanks for starting this thread. Just concluded reading Dr Mosleys 8-week BSD book and willing to kick it off. I see that one variant is a 5/2 setup with two days on 800kcal. Does anyone have experience with the opposite: 2/5 – meaning five days on 800kcal and weekends more flexible?

Simon, good to see you decided to join our merry band. Hope your week 2 has settled down and got easier.
SG, that does sound like a good starter. I like beetroot dressed with lemon juice and a twist of salt … might work instead of balsamic glaze?
SwissCheese, personally in the early days of doing 800 cals, I found it hard to have ‘days off’, as going back to 800 cals felt like a complete new start every time. Of course, it’s a personal choice, but if your body is going to properly adjust to low carbs, it’s better to commit fully at least for the first few weeks.

I started a new fast this evening at 19.00 and will run that through to lunchtime on Tuesday. This weekend has been a bit indulgent, with wine yesterday and a gin the say before, so some discipline is needed!

Watch out for the new weekly thread, which will kick off tomorrow … see you all there🙂

Hi all, we decided to put the summer cover on the pool to try to keep the water warm for a bit longer. We havent needed it on all season. We went to lift it from the grass to the pool edge and I was immediately attacked by a swarm of wasps. Luckily I only got stung a couple of times. Bicarb poultice for half an hour then pad soaked in vinegar. Now I can see how botox works – the swelling smoothed out the wrinkles on my hand. 🙂 Managed to get the cover on whilst wearing an overcoat, gloves and a scarf tied around my head. Now worried about taking the cover off as they are in the winding mechanism. Nothing to do with the diet but means I cant swim. Also it is 37 degrees so too hot to venture out.

S-g ….OW that sounds sore! I went to hospital with a sting once and the doctor said to me “ w(v)inegar for wasps and bicarbonate for bees” ! Fortunately I’ve not needed either since. Hope you are ok.
So …. “Serious” …. well not me this week. We’ve had a really busy social time this week so I’m now just putting it behind me and looking forward to next week.
Weighing and logging some days has been a real eye opener so I’m more than ready to knuckle down from tomorrow.

Well I was serious all weekend and was 73.5 on Saturday so why am I 74.1 today. Still down overall since we got back 3 weeks ago but really only lost 0.2kg in the last 2 weeks. Got to be grateful and will KOKO

As Wendy has had a busy day, she asked me to set up the next weekly thread, which is now already for use. Wendy will post as soon as she can, but I hope meanwhile, everyone will hop over there and share an update with us.