Healthy New Me – Part 2

We have not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you are have any health related symptoms or concerns, you should contact your doctor who will be able to give you advice specific to your situation.

  • posted by Dreamscometrue
    on
    permalink

    Hi everyone

    This is a continuation of the 2023 – A Healthy New Me! thread and all are welcome to join. We are a friendly and understanding group that are trying to lose weight and improve our health despite everything else that life throws at us. Which it does! We have come to view these threads as bus journeys, with us all travelling together to a hopefully better destination.

    So if you have weight or health goals and you’d like some support do say hello and hop on board 😄

    The thread will run from Wednesday 1st March to Sunday 30th April, which gives you time to fit in a complete 8-week Fast 800 programme if you want to do that. Or just go at your own pace with whatever works for you.

    Good luck everyone!

  • posted by Yowzer49
    on
    permalink

    Ding ding! Here we go again! All aboard,welcome one and all,and best of luck! X thanks DCT! X
    🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰 Pinch punch and white rabbits 🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰

  • posted by Nokie
    on
    permalink

    👍👍👍👍here we go next bus 🚌
    Good luck everyone
    Lv nokie x💜

  • posted by ClarinetCathy
    on
    permalink

    Morning and I’m sitting in my seat! I go away on 23rd March but I am going to work hard before I go and also when I get back. I want to be slim for the summer. I’ve been for a brisk walk this morning after reading the BBC news saying just an 11 minutes brisk walk per day is good! I was out for 20 minutes and did a lap of the park. I’ve not eaten yet. I’ve been trying summer clothes on to see what fits and a lot of it doesn’t and is in the charity bag. I look awful- a combination of post viral and fat. I am unhappy that I’ve got myself into this situation and so thank you dreamscometrue for getting us motivated for part 2.
    To those who are struggling – I am too and I hope that we will see some better results this time round. I am feeling motivated and determined to make an impact on my health. It’s not only for vanity. It’s going to be water water water, fasting and low carb til my holiday and then when I get back I’m going to get right back to a combination of fast 800 and keto. I am going to prove to myself that I can do this AGAIN!!! It’s so much harder than it was initially but I will fit into my clothes by June. Here we go again!

  • posted by JGwen
    on
    permalink

    Hi Yowzer49 ,
    One question, I thought greek style just meant that the yogurt was made the same way as greek yogurt just not in greece?

    Saga re heart tests / results. – I really don’t know where I am at. Blood tests and x rays indicate no signs of disease, both issues found with machines can apparently develop naturally or be signs of heart disease. But I have twice been told now that its border line if I have to be admitted to hospital and not to worry they will put me on drugs to ensure that I don’t suffer heart failure. Apparently I am going to be called into the GP surgery and will be prescribed drugs and will also get called in to an appointment with a nurse who specialises within the cardiac department at the hospital who will also want to prescribe drugs.

    I am concerned that I am at risk of being prescribed drugs which have side effects so after a while you need drugs to deal with the side effects …… etc etc. – I am also concerned because as we all know weight loss and fasting are both good for blood pressure but the medical staff at the surgery or cardiac team may want to run regular blood tests and will then panic about cholesterol levels for a none carb based diet. Then there are going to be the lectures on a healthy diet includes carbs…..

    I am preparing for the next round of appointments by putting together a list of links to useful research papers, and podcasts on how beneficial autophagy is including two papers on the benefits at a cellular level within the heart. – Also papers on how to interoperate LDL readings for someone on a low carb or fasting lifestyle. and the investigative journalism on the scandal behind the over prescribing of statins.

    In the mean time, I am going to continue with a 4 day fast each week. because I know I feel a bit better after each fast.

  • posted by ClarinetCathy
    on
    permalink

    I’ve been out walking everyday this week- averaging 6000 steps a day – I’m feeling so much better in myself than the last few weeks and feel as though I’ve turned a corner. Since the diagnosis and decline of my friend I feel like I have been in limbo and not able to see the point of “dieting” but with spring around the corner and the reality of tight clothes and the scales showing a number I don’t like, I feel that it’s time to start my plan of action. Walking has been a good start for me this week and from tomorrow I am going to do 16:8 for a week and try and get myself into ketosis. I’ve started eating kefir and drinking Kombucha daily and also have been eating sourdough bread but there will be no more bread! What started as a healthy choice to eat sourdough bread has become a habit I’ve enjoyed rather too much. I’m feeling so much better in myself and with some hard discipline I know that I will achieve my goal of fitting back into my clothes. I’m sad I’ve left it too late for my forthcoming holiday but I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind and now that I feel better physically and mentally, I am going to do what I can to discard the 20lb I’ve put on over the last twelve months.
    Have a good week everyone. I hope I can inspire those who like me are struggling to join me by taking small steps on this incredibly difficult journey.

  • posted by ClarinetCathy
    on
    permalink

    Hello
    Just reporting in to say I’ve taken a leaf out of JGwen’s book and decided to fast on two days a week. On Monday and Wednesday I’ll do a 40 hour fast. I’ve started today. You can tell I’m feeling motivated. Didn’t even bother weighing this morning- I’ll know when my clothes fit me that I am where I want to be.

  • posted by Nokie
    on
    permalink

    Hello Cathy 😀
    Well done you I am doing the same but just trying to do 2 days 800 and the rest low carb Mediterranean it’s just got to work this time I have my seat 💺 on the bus 🚌 and I am not getting off till I get to where I want to be 🤣🤣
    Keep going
    Hope everyone else is getting on ok
    Lv nokie x😘

  • posted by ClarinetCathy
    on
    permalink

    Great that you’re back to it too Nokie. I’m feeling just the same as you ! It’s just got to be done this time and I am not getting off this bus until it is and also I am fed up of feeling a failure and I do so desperately want to post about some success! I know I will feel so much better about myself when I am sticking to basics and seeing results. Anyone else feeling positive like Nokie and me? Let’s do this!

  • posted by JGwen
    on
    permalink

    Hi guys,
    I am feeling positive as well, I started my weekly fast again Sunday evening. Going for another 4 day fast. Thats going to be my weekly protocol for a while. – I am specifically targeting both autophagy and rebuilding my immune system to help recover from covid so doing one longer fast each week rather than ADF.

    I have been reading about heart health and autophagy, ready for the discussion I can see coming with the cardiac department at the local hospital. Our bodies are such an interesting design, the heart is one of the organs of the body where the cells do not follow their normal reproduction process but instead rely on autophagy for renewal of the structure of the cell, while autophagy is the bodies natural process for clearing cholesterol our of our blood vessels.

  • posted by ClarinetCathy
    on
    permalink

    Hello JGwen
    I’m so impressed that you fast for four days a week. Do you fast on consecutive days or do you do alternate days? I’ve so far competed 26 hours and am off to bed to get another 10 hours done. I never sleep well when fasting but I find the first 24 hours the hardest. Tomorrow I plan to eat lunch and an evening meal before 8 pm and then am going to fast again until Thursday lunch time. I am hoping this can be incorporated into my weekly get healthy plan. Thank you for inspiring me. I watched an interesting talk on LDL cholesterol on YouTube today By Dr Paul Mason – with my cholesterol and LDL cholesterol on the rise I found it very interesting and encouraging! Good luck for your forthcoming appointment- it’s so good to be well informed. I recently asked my rheumatologist if I could come off my calcium tablets because I was concerned the risks outweighed the benefits and she agreed I could- I was so happy!

  • posted by JGwen
    on
    permalink

    Hi CC, I start my fast most weeks on Sunday evening and continue until Thursday, Then Friday, Saturday and Sunday are my “eating” days. – The Covid virus is able to hide from our immune system within the cells of the body, and does this by reducing the rate of autophagy. It also causes inflammation within the blood vessels. There is a growing body of research that indicates that long covid issues can be cleared by fasting. – A number of people are reporting a dramatic improvement after a fast of 15 to 25 days, but they tend to undertake these either in a clinic, or as part of a program where they have a fasting mentor.

    The cells of our hearts do not multiply as other cells do, but reply on autophagy for their maintenance and autophagy is also important in keeping blood vessels healthy and removing cholesterol plaques from them. Which will fit with the number of people reporting heart problems post Covid.

    As a result of visiting my GP for assistance with a constant cough from Covid that I couldn’t clear after months I was connected up to an ECG, that reported that there was an issue with the nerves within my heart not firing as they should. – While blood tests for heart disease and x rays have not shown any sign of heart disease the NHS system is apparently that GP’s will not prescribe medication for a cough until further tests have given a clean bill of heart health. That was in November, and I have only just got appointments for the next step from the cardio team at the hospital. So I turned to the internet and discovered a virologist who had suffered from long covid himself and was sharing papers as research into long covid was published. He is now within the university he works carrying out a research project on long covid and the health benefits of 1×60 hour fast a week.

    I have chosen a longer fast because for the same number of hours fasting as ADF you get more time in autophagy, you body only reaches the lowest baseline level of insulin at 50 hours so this length of fasting has benefits for reversing IR faster than ADF’s and also after 70 hours the body moves on to improvement to the immune system and stem cells.

    This is the 4th week of following this program, I start the fast after a late meal on the Sunday because the hard time of a fast is the period between 22 to 26 hours when the body is moving to fully being fuelled from fat, so I time the start of the fast so I sleep through that period. I do occasionally have a poor nights sleep when fasting, when it happens I don’t try to fight it, I get on with a bit of work, or read something and when I feel sleepy again I go back to sleep.

    There does seem to be an advantage I wasn’t aware of before. – I am much better at standing up for myself when dealing with a difficult person during a fast. – Try to bully me when I am fasting and you will find its a mistake. 🙂

    The talks by Dr Mason are very useful, I have put together a list of 3 of his talks, one of which is on the scandal of statin’s. and emailed them to my GP. – After the ECG he looked at my blood tests and saw that LDL was 5.3 so started to talk about prescribing statins. – So I thought it would be helpful if I provided him with more up to date knowledge before my next appointment. – See the advantage of fasting as above……. :-)))))) I expect there will be a few difficult meetings with doctors about fasting and keto now that I am caught up in the cardio departments sights. – But as weight control and reduction in blood pressure are both benefits of fasting everything they will want me to achieve is best achieved this way, and I am going to be so helpful, sending them links to research papers and articles if needed.

  • posted by ClarinetCathy
    on
    permalink

    Hello everyone
    Another 36 hour + fast for me today and I’m not finding it as easy as I did on Monday. Probably because I didn’t eat too much yesterday and I’m feeling hungry. It’s a mind game. Respect to you JGwen for doing four consecutive days. I am aware that the first 24 hours are the hardest for me so maybe next week I will try and do two consecutive days. I’ll see how this fast goes. I’m still feeling in a positive frame of mind and determined to be successful. Being successful seems to have become important to me. Not a bad thing I suppose.
    Yesterday I had frittata for lunch with salad and had ratatouille with halloumi for my evening meal. I’ve still got a portion left for my lunch tomorrow when I break my fast- it smells delicious! No wonder Im feeling hungry!
    So todays menu is liquorice and peppermint tea, red bush tea, lemon and ginger tea and black coffee and sparkling water. I did consider getting some cream for my coffee but with my cholesterol in the abnormal range decided it wasn’t the best idea.
    Snow is forecast in the northwest tomorrow so I’ll take myself out for a brisk walk later today as I won’t be venturing out tomorrow.
    Have a great day everyone. I’m keeping myself busy doing jobs around the house to stop me thinking of food! My size 12 clothes are going to feel comfortable – FACT!

  • posted by Yowzer49
    on
    permalink

    Sorry,wasnt getting notifications! Lots to read here,will have to come back,love to all and hold tight to yr seats XXXXXX

  • posted by ADD6605
    on
    permalink

    Hi everyone, sorry I haven’t posted this week.My f-i-l had a nasty fall on Monday and has been in intensive care as he has suffered bleeds in his brain.I will probably not post again this week but just wanted you all to know I’m still here and will be back on board at some time.Dawn x

  • posted by ClarinetCathy
    on
    permalink

    Hi Dawn
    Sorry to read about your FIL’s fall- what a worry for you and the family. Hope he makes a swift recovery. Your seat is reserved on the bus so jump on when the time is right. A few of us have been on and off the bus a few times so don’t worry about that. We will look forward to having you back on board when you’re ready . Take care.

  • posted by ClarinetCathy
    on
    permalink

    Was glad my fast finished this morning. Two 36 hour fasts on alternate days proved more difficult than I anticipated but I’ll be doing the same next Monday and Wednesday as I want to fit into my summer clothes at the end of March. I was awake early and was full of beans and was up and about early. I didn’t feel hungry which always happens at the end of a fast- but I had some Greek yoghurt & Kefir and warmed raspberries and enjoyed it. I’m going to stick to low carb now until Monday. I’m firmly in ketosis so hopefully my fat is melting away!
    I assume I will lose weight with this regime and half a stone would help make my clothes feel more comfortable.
    Hope you’re all keeping warm in the UK during this cold snap!

  • posted by ADD6605
    on
    permalink

    Thanks Cathy.Dawn x

  • posted by ClarinetCathy
    on
    permalink

    Dreamscometrue and Yowser, hope you’re both doing ok. It’s another 36 hour fast for me and I’m going to weigh myself on Wednesday to see where I am on the scales 😱 . My clothes don’t feel loose yet despite two 36 hour fasts and daily 16 hour fasts and low carb but I am a slow loser and so I’ll just keep going. I’ve left it too late to make a real difference before my holiday on 23rd but I wasn’t in the right frame of mind so I am doing what I can now.
    Have a good week everyone and respect to JGwen who no doubt will be embarking on her four day fast.

  • posted by Dreamscometrue
    on
    permalink

    Hi everyone

    Sorry for lack of posts recently. I’m in the process of moving my mother into a flat near me : she’s currently 300 miles away! So it’s been a very busy and stressful time, particularly regarding all the uncertainty. However, I pick up the keys today and will then get everything ready to move her in just before Easter. So the next 3 weeks will also be very busy but hopefully in a more positive way 🤞

    So, like many on this thread, I’ve not been able to give full attention to my diet and weight, but did weigh myself this morning and I’m a couple of pounds down from the street of this journey. So I hope that I can now focus a bit more and make some progress. I start my new job mid-April and it’s my birthday at the end of April, so lots of incentive to get cracking! I’m away next week but it’s more a workcation than a holiday, so hopefully not too much collateral damage!

    Good luck CATHY with your fast, and I hope you start feeling the benefits soon. And JGWEN thank you for all the information you give us from your research, it’s really helpful. Dawn, how is your FIL doing? Also, NOKIE and SUEBLUE, how are your father and MIL respectively? YOWZER hope you’re doing ok too? How is your daughter now?

    Hope everyone has a positive week in various ways. Will be thinking of you all X

  • posted by JGwen
    on
    permalink

    Hi Guys,

    I have had a bit of a shock over the last couple of weeks which has resulted in my having to take a bit of time to consider the future. – Because I could not clear the cough following covid I went through a few tests at my GP back in November which included an ECG that identified the nerves within my heart were not firing correctly, meaning that my heart was not working at optimum in circulating blood around my body and possibly it had been like that all my life. Blood tests at the time ruled out heart disease, but I was added to the waiting list for an echo cardiogram just in case.

    The echo cardiogram happened a couple of weeks ago, its like the process for scans for pregnant women, lots of gloop and images taken of how the heart is working. I got the result a couple of days ago. My heart is only 30 to 35% effective at pumping blood around my body which puts me in the category of severe heart failure.

    Apparently treatable with drugs, however, it will involve constant blood tests to monitor for the damage the drugs can cause to other organs. – Thats going to be fun with the NHS policies on LDL rather than keeping up to date with the science. Thankfully I checked on the drugs prescribed, one of which should not be prescribed for anyone on a ketogenic diet as its a drug for diabetics to reduce blood sugar, so now I have the fun of working out an email to the prescribing nurse that we need to talk about what she is trying to achieve with that drug as formal research indicates it can cause ketoacidosis if prescribed to someone who eats low carb or fasts. .

  • posted by ClarinetCathy
    on
    permalink

    Hi JGwen
    I am so sorry to read your post. What a shock the echo result must have been for you. I know you have always been such an active person and I wonder if this heart problem is covid related? I am sure when you go for your appointment you’ll have a long list of questions and I hope you get good answers. It’s concerning to someone like you who is so well read and researched on matters and I don’t think they treat us as individuals – it’s a one solution suits all. Keep us informed of your journey JGwen and I hope it can be easily resolved.

  • posted by ClarinetCathy
    on
    permalink

    Dreamscometrue
    Great to read your post- you’ve got a busy time ahead and it must be daunting for your mum to be moving home. I hope it goes smoothly for you both. Congratulations on your new job and once your mum is settled in and when you’re settled into your new job you can concentrate on getting back to your diet.
    I’m going back to boosters mid. April!! Can’t believe it! It was a three month position initially in 2021 and I’m still at it. It’s good fun and I work with a nice team so two or three days a week will be Ok and I’ll be glad to be earning again too!
    I’m fasting today 36 hours and I’m going to do 24 hours on Wednesday. I am interested to see what I weigh after some extended fasts and some 16:8 fasts so I will get on the scales tomorrow. I was about 160 lb when I last weighed myself which is not a number I wanted to see! I am aiming for 142 by my birthday in June. It will feel good to get back to feeling comfortable and being back in the 140s! Not been there for at least a year I am ashamed to say.

  • posted by ADD6605
    on
    permalink

    Hi everyone.DCT I’m pleased your mother is moving closer and hope that the move goes smoothly.My f-I-l wasn’t making any progress and seemed to be getting worse so emergency brain surgery was performed at the weekend and he has opened his eyes a couple of times since then.It was a big operation for someone in their 80s and they said they were only able to do the surgery because he’s a fit man which brings home to me again why I should try to get back to this woe!I’m not concentrating on it enough at the minute but wont give up.Hope everyone is having a good week.Dawn❤️

  • posted by JGwen
    on
    permalink

    I came across an interesting interview today of a doctor who experiments on himself with regard to fasting and diet. As a result I am going to change my plan going forward.

    I had made the assumption that as there are a lot of health benefits of longer fasts for autophagy, a program of one longer fast a week instead of Alternative Day Fasting would tick both the boxes, fat discarding and the benefits of autophagy. There was one topic covered in this talk that made me realise this was not the case. The doctor is in the position of being able to undertake whatever blood tests he wishes to gather evidence of how his body responds to different protocols and of course being in America has the greater flexibility in prescribing of not being in the NHS system.

    His blood test research on the impact of fasting on his thyroid hormones indicate that after 2 days of fasting his body starts to conserve energy. His body increases levels of reverse T3 . – Our bodies produce T4, which is then converted to the active hormone T3. Reverse T3 apparently takes over the signal receptors for T3 which reduces our metabolic rate. – Apparently within 2 weeks of the end of the fast levels are back to normal, so longer fasts do not cause long term damage. to our metabolic rates. – But it does mean that Dr Fungs recommendations for rolling 36 to 42 hour fasts if the aim is for weight loss is correct.

    I know how much harder it is to walk around the farm carrying a 15 or 20kg sack of animal feed than not carrying it, so logic says a rolling ADF program to reduce my weight with an occasional EF for deeper levels of autophagy would be a better protocol.

    In the interview the Doctor touched on the stage of research into autophagy and the use of drugs to increase it. – Most of the research into the effects of autophagy have been based on assumptions built on research work on rats. – They can operate on animals in a lab to create problems, then put a number of them through a number of weeks / months of diet protocols, and analyse the results at the end of the research project through dissection. Strangely, there are no plans to recruit humans to follow the same lifestyle.

    The link to the whole talk is here if anyone else is interested in the whole science including the issues on how difficult it is to research the benefit of autophagy for humans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EklA1iI2Iy8

  • posted by FuzzyJammies
    on
    permalink

    Oh, wow, JGwen, thank you for posting the youtube link – I was searching for this answer (how long to fast is enough/effective) a few days ago and hadn’t found any satisfying answers.

  • posted by SueBlue
    on
    permalink

    Hello all, I’m a bit late to the party but am here finally!
    I’ll have a read of everyone’s posts later today as am on way to work now – 1st day back in the office after 3 years WFH!
    I hadn’t weighed myself for a few weeks and got a shock this morning when I saw I weighed 92.5kg. That is 3.5kg heavier than I was at the start of 2023 and almost 6kg more than the lowest weight I got down to in 2022. Aside from that my jeans are getting harder to do up!
    Luckily my work pants fit, in fact they are too big as I was a lot heavier than I am now when last in the office (around 99kg I think).
    Anyway I’ve started the day off with some overnight oats and have brought a packed lunch of cheese, boiled egg, veggie sticks and hommus and some yoghurt with stewed apple so I won’t have an excuse to go out and buy an unhealthy lunch!
    Have a good day all, it’s going to be a hot one here (36 deg) so not a bad day to be in an air con office to be honest!

  • posted by Derma
    on
    permalink

    Hi I’m another person who has been following you all for years. I have had a lot of success with the fast 800 and now fasting BUT I have a problem. As every year I have to get my weight to a certain level in readiness for my yearly health check where I am weighed, as I have a non alcholic fatty liver, high cholesterol and a tendency to DVT’s all related of course. My problem is I get to the weight I have to be at and I always put it back on during the year. I don’t eat starchy carbs generally as they upset my stomach but as soon as I up my calories to maintain I put on weight. I love the fasting it works well for me but what next. Does anyone else have this problem. Norma

  • posted by Dreamscometrue
    on
    permalink

    Hi SueBlue, good to see you back snd your good sounds as wonderful as always. It’s so weird being here in the UK and hearing the high temperatures you’re having. We’re just coming out of a very cold snowy spell, so hoping that spring is finally on its way.

    Welcome FuzzieJammies and Derma. Always good to meet new friends 😊 Like you FuzzieJammies, I found JGwens post really helpful. Doing the 5:2 was the way I initially got into all this , and I see ADF a natural extension of that, and something I will definitely try once life calms down a bit (3 weeks and counting!!)

    Derma maybe 5:2 could be a way forward for you too? It sounds like you get to your target weight and then need to find a way to maintain that without necessarily losing any more. Perhaps 5:2 might work? But others on here could have other ideas too. Good luck! X

    Hope everyone else is ok? Do check in to let us know how you’re getting on X

  • posted by SueBlue
    on
    permalink

    Thanks DCT – just read your posts about your mum and your new job – hope all goes well for both x
    My MIL is ok, she’s had some difficulty settling into her new home but is now on a new medication and seems to be more settled – we’d had complaints from the staff and her doctor at the facility that she was aggressive and refusing to deal with them and the new meds seem to be helping with that, but the whole situation is very difficult to deal with to be honest We’re still busy clearing and cleaning up her house. In the meantime I’ve been neglecting my own health.
    I saw one of my specialists at the hospital today and was upset to find out that recent tests and X-rays I’ve had have shown joint erosion and deformity (Rheumatoid Arthritis) and now also possible Macular degeneration in my eyes (caused by the meds I’m on for RA). I’m still trying to get my head around it all!
    On the plus side though, on the way back from the hospital, where the specialist was running very late, I was really hungry and thought I’d treat myself to a coffee and cake, after the depressing news. But instead I ordered coffee and scrambled eggs with a piece of sourdough toast – so that’s a minor win in my book 🙂

  • posted by Derma
    on
    permalink

    Thank you dreamscometrue. I’ve got 4lbs to lose before mid April but once I’m there I will give the 5:2 a go as you have suggested and fingers crossed!
    xx

  • posted by ClarinetCathy
    on
    permalink

    Welcome to Norma- good luck with your weight loss journey. Nice to have you on board with us
    Nice to see you back on board with us SueBlue. Sorry to hear about your medical issues- I suffered with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (stills disease) aged 13 and it does bring a lot of other problems along with it. Glad your mother in law is settling into her new home.
    We all seem to be dealing with difficult issues and it’s amazing that we still keep doing our very best for our health and well-being despite being challenged.
    My fasting regime doesn’t seem to have had any affect on my weight which is very very disappointing. I go away next Thursday (hopefully- my husband has damaged his back lifting his bike up the train station steps and can’t sit down due to sciatic pain) I hoped that I would lose at least 7 lb but it looks like I’ve lost 1 lb! I did three 36 hour fasts, one 18 hour fast and one 24 hour fast over the course of a week and lost one measly pound! I’m going to fast again from tomorrow evening until Monday lunchtime and then I’m not doing any extended fasting until I come back from Sharm. My clothes are tight. My face does look thinner so I think I lost the pound from my face! I won’t give up- I need to know how to be able to lose weight again and I haven’t found the answer yet!
    I want to lose about one stone- not a huge ask but it seems to be a huge challenge!
    Hope you’re doing ok JGwen- I know you have a lot going on with your heart issue- thinking about you and hoping you’re getting some good advice and guidance.

  • posted by Mariet
    on
    permalink

    Hi everyone, I’m back! I had a great month camping around Victoria and South Australia, flew in a tiny plane over Lake Eyre and saw so many interesting places and things. It was hard to eat clean in any way, it’s not easy to get fresh food in the outback. But lots of physical activity and I’m happy to report that I have not gained anything while I was away.
    I haven’t read all the posts but I’ve seen that some are dealing with difficult circumstances at the moment. I hope things improve for you all.
    Keeping on keeping on 😁

  • posted by ClarinetCathy
    on
    permalink

    Hello everyone
    My last 36 hour fast before my holiday on Thursday. My husband thinks we might be able to go as his back is easing! I’m going to do a 24 hour fast Tuesday tea time to Wednesday and then will be sensible whilst on holiday and re-evaluate things on my return .
    Mariet- it’s impressive that you’ve stayed the same weight- what a great bonus that is.
    Keep strong everyone and keep trying!

  • posted by ADD6605
    on
    permalink

    Hi everyone and welcome FuzzyJammies and Norma.My f-i-l seems to be making a little bit of progress and I felt ready to ease myself into a healthy eating plan yesterday as I weighed myself in the morning and was the heaviest I’ve ever been (3lbs of that is gone today so I was obviously just very bloated which is a relief)I didn’t have anything to eat past 5pm and just drank a herbal tea and water and slept through the night for the first time in ages.I have a migraine today but that is probably just because of the lack of sugar my body has been used to over the last month.I will take one day at a time and see how I get on.
    Sueblue I’m sorry to hear you are going through a stressful time but pleased your M-i-l seems more settled on her new meds.Well done for resisting the cake! Cathy I’m pleased it sounds like you will be able to go on holiday, hope you have a lovely time.Mariet your camping trip sounds fab and brilliant that you didn’t gain.
    I will try to keep up to date daily with posts now and will try to post a couple of times a week.
    Dawn X

  • posted by Derma
    on
    permalink

    Hi Dawn and ClarinetCathy, You can never get enough help and encouragement on this journey and I’m grateful for any advice. And thank you JGwen for the link it’s very interesting and will hopefully help when I get to my target weight (fingers crossed) by the end of March for the GP. I’ll let you know how I get on once I’m in maintenance but will enjoy reading your stories in the meantime.
    Norma

  • posted by Yowzer49
    on
    permalink

    Hi all,sorry,not been online much.Also not low carbing much,in fact I am running behind the bus,trying in vain to jump on board. I need more than a wet lettuce as Im being a total procrastinator! Anyhoo just wanted to say hi to my buddies and send love and hugs
    DAWN im glad FIL is doing better now and SUE glad to hear MIL is settling in wellxx
    My sympathy to all going thru health probs,aches and pains…my osteoporosis is giving me probs with back and hips hurting,making it imposs to walk much. Ive got a corset hehe! It helps support my back.
    And love to all who have any family concerns at the moment xX
    Life throws so much at us but as the great Rumi said…
    “If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?”
    PS! CCATH hols start tomoz?! Enjoy! XX
    Hope all the Uk mums of two and fourlegged babies had a great Mothers Day!
    Take care my buddies! April is just around the corner woooohoooo!🥳🥳🥳🥳
    💕🌷🌻 Spring has sprung, the grass is riz,
    I wonder where the birdies is
    The bird is on the wing,
    But that’s absurd,
    From what I heard,
    The wing is on the bird! 💕🌻

  • posted by Nokie
    on
    permalink

    Hello all
    Sorry I have not been in lbw for a while so much happening at the moment with family etc Aldo my diet had gone off the window 🪟 I start off the day well then by lunch time I am at the chocolate 🍫 and biscuits 🍪 not sure what’s wrong with me I just cannot stay focused!!
    I hope everyone else is ok
    Will be in touch soon thanks to all those on the bus 🚌 keeping me going
    Nokie x💜

  • posted by Yowzer49
    on
    permalink

    Hi NOKIE just before i read your post I was sitting with the word FOCUS in my head,I coukd see it in big letters,and I was asking myself,why cant i stay focused
    Then i read yr post and you said you cant stay focused. I think we must be twins!
    I am going to look online for tips on how to focus and stay focused!
    How are yr parents at the moment NOKIE?
    And while Im here,i must ask our leader DCT how are you getting on settling yr mum near to yr home, i think it will mean so much to both of you to have her so much closer. My DD and her hubby lived down south for some years,theyve now moved back here and its less than two mins from my front doot to theirs..its very useful and very comforting to be within such easy distance of each other ! XX

  • posted by Dreamscometrue
    on
    permalink

    Hi everyone just checking in. I’m away this week, not a holiday as such, just a change of scenery as my hubby is working away this week. CATHY I hope you manage to get away and have a good break.
    Welcome back MARIET! Your travels sound amazing, and its great gig managed to maintain throughout. Good to hear from you too SUE and I hope MiL continues to settle and that you get some much-needed time to look after yourself. Same goes for DAWN and NOKIE too. Hope that both your family situations improve.

    YOWZER I felt flattered to be called a leader, when in fact I think I’m probably behind you running for the bus at this time! Thanks for asking re my mum. I now have the keys to her flat and have been doing a lot of admin stuff. Next week is going to be busy kitting it out with all kinds of bits and pieces, then the week after I drive up to bring her down. Everything is vaguely under control but I’m feeling very stressed and not sleeping well. Hopefully by Easter weekend that will all have passed, though I will then have her current flat to clear and sell at some point.

    JGWEN how are you getting on? Any more doctor’s appointments yet? And NORMA I hope you are closer to your goal for your next appointment?

    Apologies if I’ve missed anyone – brain fog at the moment!! Hello to everyone reading this and hope that you make good progress over the next few days whatever your current goal X

  • posted by ADD6605
    on
    permalink

    Hi everyone.I’ve had a bit of a hitty missy week but have had some healthy eating days so not all bad.I’m not weighing myself until I’ve had 7 healthy days in a row! F-I-L is making slow progress but at least it’s progress.Have a good week all.Dawn X

  • posted by Mariet
    on
    permalink

    Glad your FIL is improving Dawn and that you’ve had some good days. Every one is something to celebrate.

    I was down 2kg but then today had an unexpected bounce upward so 1.5 kg down for my first week back. Actually not that unexpected, I cheated and had Indian takeaway one night which was delicious but I’m paying for it now.

    My SIL has been admitted in a psych hospital for the past month which has been very tough on my daughter and their 2yo. So I have spent a lot of time with them and doing the housework etc so she can visit him. Hopefully he’ll be coming home soon though I don’t think he’s really well again.
    Spending so much time there on top of full time work has me quite exhausted and can’t be bothered to cook when I get home. Anyway, onward and downward’

  • posted by Dreamscometrue
    on
    permalink

    Hi everyone

    DAWN I’m glad there is some progress with your FIL, and hope that continues to improve. Well done for the good diet days that you’ve been having, and I hope that you see some reflection of that on the scales.

    MARIET sounds like you are back on track. I think the occasional treat (whatever that means for each of us) is good and we can balance it out with more disciplined eating the rest of the time. I’m sorry to hear about your SIL and I’m sure your daughter really appreciates your support. I hope that he is significantly better when he does come home. What a worry for you.

    YOWZER how are you doing? I hope that the corset is helping to alleviate your osteoporosis symptoms and that you are able to walk a little bit better. So sorry to hear how bad this is for you, and am even more in awe of your consistently positive and encouraging words.

    I had a bit of collateral damage from being away last week but have now balanced out. The next 10 days are going to be hectic with the final stages of my mother’s move down here, so hopefully even if I lapse on the eating front, I’ll burn it all off with frenzied activity!

    Hope everyone else on here is ok? Do post and let us know how you’re getting on X

  • posted by Yowzer49
    on
    permalink

    Hi fellow travellers,Ive just woke up and stretching and yawning,putting my head out of the bus window to get some fresh air!
    MARIET I am so sorry about yr SIL,hope he’ll be ok. Im glad youre there for DD and the little one..2 yo already! Thats gone quickly!
    Yes thanks DCT corset is supportive but havent worn it outdoors as its quite bulky under a coat or jacket. Good indoors tho. Hope yr mums moving plans go smoothly.
    Love and hugs to all,keep onwards and downwards. Ive had a few v good “under 800 cal/ under 50g carbs” days,hopefully keep up the good work. My CarbMonster’s whispering to me tho about easter eggs and hot cross buns! XXX

  • posted by ClarinetCathy
    on
    permalink

    Hello everyone- I’m back from my holiday. I’ll catch up with how you are all doing later. I want to get back to BSD asap! Sharm el Sheikh was a carb fest and not through choice! Little vegetarian choice- lots of steamed veg and salads but it was difficult to discern what was in the salads- meat and fish seemed to be everywhere so I had to eat rice and pasta and even the pasta had meat so I had to ask for no meat or fish in my pasta!!! Not had much protein at all. Anyway, I’m home now and can start to enjoy healthy choices.
    Am not going to entertain the scales for a month! I’ll be back on low carb and fasting from tomorrow when I go shopping and will weigh myself on 1st May. I will use April to undo any holiday damage and look forward to fitting into some lovely new summer clothes I bought from eBay before my holiday that were a tad tight!!!
    Hope to make a difference in the next 8 weeks.

  • posted by Nokie
    on
    permalink

    Hello everyone 🐣
    Sorry I haven’t posted for a while more family upsets! It’s nearly 5 am Thurs morning here in the U.K. I woke at 4 am and cannot get back to sleep 🛌 I had upset with my eldest son yesterday who had just got divorced I am so upset about everything and have now fallen off bus 🚌 I think I will have to run fast to catch up with you all🏃‍♀️
    I have eaten chocolate like ke it’s coming out of my ears I feel terrible and also put on 4 pds🫤I know it always makes me feel bad so why do I go it??????? I thought if I wrote it down and confessed it would give me the kick I need to catch up with bus 🚌 sorry to go on but I just needed my fellow passengers help 🫣 I hope everyone else is doing ok and I wish you all a happy Easter 🐣
    Thanks for listening Nokie x🙄

  • posted by Yowzer49
    on
    permalink

    Hiiiii NOKIE! Im awake too,havent slept tonight,the bus is bumpy! Im sorry more family trouble xx will write more in a minute,going to get up and make a cuppa.x

  • posted by Yowzer49
    on
    permalink

    Hi again NOKIE,
    I know how youre feeling,its such a struggle sticking with the good eating plans when things are going wrong around us and life gets stressful. We know its just a quick fix eating chocco etc but it helps in that moment and thats why we do it. Im sure most if not all the bus gang have done exactly the same,on my case many times. Others will turn to cigarettes or drink or drugs..whatever their particular crutch is, a trigger will happen and make us reach for the crutch.
    I think damage limitation is the best way to deal with it. Have some chocolate but before you eat it,decide how much youre gonna allow,then put the rest away. If you feel you want to eat the rest,take a few deep breaths,try to find something else to do to take your mind off it,and hopefully then congratulate yrself you only had half- you limited the damage.
    Ive been on a roll lately being very strict,average of 500 cals a day, 16 carbs,but not enough protein,its hard to get it perfect. Ive lost 10 lbs. Some will go back on no doubt coz Im deffo having easter egg,hot cross bun,nice meal,a few drinks over the holiday..lifes too short not to celebrate sometimes!
    Im hoping youve dropped off and will be reading this after a few hours at least of kip.XX ive got a lovely good morning pic i wish i could send you..i wish we could post pictures here!

  • posted by Yowzer49
    on
    permalink

    CCATHY welcome back from your hols!X
    MARIET any news on yr SIL? hope DD and toddler and yrself are ok X
    DCT corset helping a bit thanks. Also using a rub on gel that helps a bit too. Hope yr mum is settling into new pad. X
    DAWN how is the 7 days healthy eating going? Hows yr FIL?X
    Hello to JGWEN! ( thanks for info!) DERMA! NORMA!SUEBLUE! FUZZYJAMMIES! and all. X
    Where is our LINDA? Hope you and OH are ok X
    Hugs to all and have a happy Easter. The Easter bunny will be visiting our bus I’m sure!
    🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰

Please log in or register to post a reply.