Pootle- trust the process (and well done)- you may already know this, but if they are using the Hba1c test with you, this test, as I understand it, tests your blood for glucose levels in your blood over the last 2-3 months, as that is how long red blood cells live for- so you want to have been steadily on your diet for a while so your results will reflect all your hard work (I’m not diabetic, but I was pre-diabetic in 2020 and went on the blood sugar diet to reverse that- which has been successful to this day) x

Well, I’m sticking to the diet most days (except for the occasional celebration day with guests, or Friday night, and have switched most days to TMAD, during which I find it much easier to stick to (approx) 800 cals….I’m not a breakfast-skipper, I’m an early eater- I feel I need food before work/ before I start my day, but if I eat well then at lunch, and sometimes a coffee mid-late afternoon, I’m pretty content to not have an evening meal……on the days where I have a proper main meal at lunch time (usually what I’ve cooked for the rest of the family the night before) I find it really easy, but yesterday I had salad for lunch (with plenty of protein and good fat and I hit my cals), and boy did I struggle to not eat the yummy dinner I prepared for the fam- but I held onto the fact that I have some of that to look forward to at lunch time today!! 12.5 lbs down, so it is worth it to see the results, and I feel good in terms of energy, and can see my resting HR reducing- I use fitbit and the fitbit app and she is very happy with me 🙂 ……I’m also finding an exercise routine that works for me (had to stop the running again due to aches and pains, but I’ve restarted in-person zumba classes (I love dancing), I am doing sone resustance work amd walking.
Love to all xxxxx

Hi
Today , instead of rushing to the scales I thought ‘sod it’ !
They don’t love me this week so I will play hard to get .
I have read all your comments , thank you so much for hanging in there with me. Previously as I haven’t lost the ‘ perfect pound’ each week I was overlooked or dismissed by others . This IS the time I NEED support and help. As I have said before , this is the time I gave up. This time , here, right now I AM battling with giving in. I am saying if only I can get past this part, I pray that it’s plain sailing after that.
I loved the suggestions for the meals, I am off to the shops to get eggs. Scrambled, omelette , fried, boiled etc. and it’s a controlled portion. Eg when you just shake a few more out of the bag ( it won’t matter that much attitude)
It’s the 10th today… I am within sight of the 14th. This is my first huge goal to get there. I Soooo look forward afterwards to share tips on tweaking my food to be healthier and to lose blubber like a pro.
So I am walking to the shops , chatting with a friend, drinking water, adding eggs to the salad. Maybe tomorrow I will look at the scales .
Keep going everyone, don’t give up. I haven’t lost weight but I am walking more, keeping busy and have slowly changed what I eat for healthier options. Most importantly I am winning the fight with the demons in my head who want me to lay down and give up. If you can’t do one day at a time, just do one hour at a time.
Love Lucia xx

Hi all, finally some good news. Just back from the cardio and he doesn’t want to see either of us for 2 years now.

I am glad Pootle and Lucy have met up. It is easier for someone who is on the same path at the same time to help each other. Pootle telling Lucy it is not easy is better than be being a bit more gentle about carbs. I just don’t want to put anyone off about exactly how hard it is but if they can go through it together. Lucia, although not diabetic is still in the learning phase so I hope you can all support each other.

I don’t really have a choice about being strict. I know that even a slice of bread will put my BG up and as someone said recently carbs drag you back in and make it even harder to give them up when you keep giving in to them. They are addictive, they drive hunger and they increase craving for more. I think the only carb I do have might be a small bread roll once every 5 or 6 weeks when we go out for a meal. I would never ever think about eating a chocolate eclair or something like that even though hubby buys 2 every week. I didn’t even have a taste of daughters wedding cake 2 years ago.

Have a good rest of the week.

Hi Lucia,
I hear you. It does feel like demons, trying to get control of our eating. It is SO frustrating, because we are competent people, and it seems just plain dumb that we are weak in the face of food.
I was there too, gaining weight every week and not able to slow or control it (I was 59 years old when I started — post menopausal, not on medication and very athletic/active).
I can offer a couple of suggestions which worked for me, but probably you will have to try on several ideas and pick and choose for yourself as you go forward. Getting food-control is individually accomplished — all advice is just a starting point. Work through ideas for what works for you personally.
So, my most useful change was, number one, CUTTING OUT ALL SUGAR. No real sugar, no fake sugar (aspartame, saccharine etc), no alternative sugar (dates, malts, agave, maple syrup etc..), no refined flour, no bread, no crackers, no potatoes, no sweet potatoes, no rice, no wheat, no corn, no milk, no fruit, no beer.
I know it is a big ask. It was like entering a new food world for me. I was grossed out by the amount of fat and protein at first — it went against EVERYTHING I had been taught for forty years! Where was my “healthy fruit” and whole grains, and milk? OMG I am eating so much FAT!!
Turns out, you can live very healthfully without all those. It took about a year, seriously, a YEAR, and then one day, in some weird way, I no longer craved sugar. It was a life-changer. I could finally control my appetite. I have come to the point where I believe that sugar really IS addictive — something that I would have argued against until I was blue in the face before.
Start by controlling ALL sugar. Do not worry about your fat and protein intake. My blood work is perfect despite heavy cream in my coffee and meat and fat at all meals. Start there — you can work your way into adding back some fruit (tiny quantities) and some beans, grains (tiny qualities) and evaluate how you go from there. This is YOUR diet for YOUR body.
Start with the sugar!!!! In my mind, it is the key.
If all you do is “just” control sugar for the next 12 months, I think you will get control.
I know it’s a crazy “ask”. But try it. It is the answer I believe in, from personal experience. Control sugar, and it will free you.
So keep going, get strict, good to see you back here.
Julia

Evening all…
Just popping in briefly.
I do get to read the posts via email but then forget to log on here lol
Good to see new / returning folk and where ever you are in your journey, it has begun!
I am delighted to say I am presently losing and will wait til weekend to state numbers but yesterday I had got rid of 0.7kg after being really good for 1 day. I have also bought MM Keto recipes book and am enjoying trying out these new recipes. Tonight we had ribeye with this rodesco? sauce and broccoli…so simple and quick.
Breakfasts have been eggs, bacon and now I will do the eggs different ways to keep it interesting. I do want to make the granola so shall see for weekend.
This way is suiting me better and am enjoying it more. Actually, hubby decided to join me and I think that is what I needed, his ok and so we have already reduced numerous cups of tea to drinking water and a couple of cups a day!!

Hey Julia, sorry I missed your post which you probably posted same time as me!
I LOVE your revelations about sugar etc and I have been researching and come across a lot of info on high protein , animal fats, and we have been adopting eating a lot more meats and less veg / salad and so far enjoying it. I need to reduce my milk intake but its not a race!

Hi
Thank you so much for all your support.
I NEED it, especially as I am in the period were I usually give up as things stall.
This morning I didn’t run to the scales as I got out of bed. I tend to do this task first thing without fail. So today I am reaching for eggs for breakfast instead of the weigh in.
I am so grateful to California girl for taking the time for a wonderful message which made me stop and think. Some messages you read some messages hit the mark. This one did .
I AM a sugar addict.
So instead of wasting time in weighing this, and trimming that, and fussing about – her message was clear , her explanation, I understood . I see it as “KNOCK OFF the sugar Lucia “!!!!
and be aware it comes camouflaged , has so many faces, names, wrappings etc you know what I mean.
Bless you ! Message received loud and clear.
So today, hour by hour I will avoid the Sugar.
Love Lucia xx

LUCIA! i just came by to say hello as I noticed your name on the sidepanel of “recent posts!”
I remember you from years ago – you were always so positive and full of little ideas,breaking big tasks down into smaller do able things – you were a real inspiration to me,so thanks for that.
You can do this Lucia! Just remember all the yummy stuff…creamy greek yog and juicy berries,nuts,seeds,avocado. I love buttery scrambled eggs 😋 and I ve grown to love masses of green veg with plenty of garlic and a little drizzle of butter through eating low carb…even better,MM eventually said,dont nother counting the cals/ carbs in green veg. Winner winner chicken dinner!
Great to “ see “ you! I LOVE seeing names from circa 2016 🥰 Xx

Hi yowzer49
It’s nice of you to remember me..I had the support of my family back then. I was younger in body and mind.
This time, After illnesses and self neglect it hit me that I must do something about my health .
I am seeing the nurse and doctor then the nurse soon who want to give me a leaflet. No support , nor medical stuff nor encouragement especially when I said I am on my own with this.
So I am hanging on with my fingernails to get it all turned around (again)
Grateful for any guidance
Love Lucia xx

Hi Lucia,
Your response to my posting almost had me in tears — I am humbled that it was useful — as you know we sort of send out our posts into the internet “ether” and never know if they are helpful or reach anyone at all.
So you’ve absolutely got it! Start with the zero-sugar adventure and I will work on thinking about what my second most important experience was with this way of eating. I’ll post it soon. (and hey Sunshine Girl, Wendleg, Verano.. all long term posters… what finally clicked for you? What finally made it all work?)
And remember, it’s OK TO MESS UP. If I had a dollar (or British pound) for all the times I messed up, I would be investing in Bitcoin (maybe we should anyway ha ha). Seriously, if things going south, and you eat stuff you know isn’t good, start IMMEDIATELY back on path.
The very next meal.
Don’t delay.
I found that restarting immediately kept my failure moments from having any impact.
Your body is your best friend. Treat it the same as a best friend. If you mess up with a friend, you apologise! (that’s starting again).
Best wishes,
Julia

Hi
I haven’t weighed myself today, I have been for a walk and started pottering around keeping myself busy.
I loved the suggestion of eggs, they are a measured portion and you can cook them several ways. I have fish for today, I have found a fish shop (very expensive but when you think how much you spend on takeaways and chocolate it’s worth it).

The daily mail newspaper is doing an item on Micheal mosley today… just one thing.
So I will walk to the shops and get it. I think that’s my mantra… just one thing. As I can’t cope with changing everything at once , I am trying to / not rely on the scales / eat salads for a week for a rest or change from all the other foods / walking more / acknowledging my mind is fragile and taking it one thing at a time / finding substitutes to the junk food. / realising how much sugar is hidden in food. / eating food that looks like food and not processed / small goals just getting to 14th and not giving up.
Tiny baby steps as Micheal said.
Finally California girl and all others reading, I ask you all to hold my hand and walk beside me as I do this change for me. It will be your greatest gift.
Love Lucia xxx

Hi Julia wise words as always.

I’m not sure what ‘finally clicked ‘ for me and in fact I’m not sure it ever did. Yes I came here to lose weight but that wasn’t really my most motivating issue. As I said to Pootle above my journey began because I was T2 on the highest dose of metformin, threatened with more medication and with a friend, with uncontrolled T2, who had just had a toe amputated.

I assumed that weight loss was key to controlling my diabetes but with time, research and plenty of hindsight I realise that my enemy is carbs and not weight loss per se. I guess I was one of the lucky/unlucky ones in that I was never ‘addicted’ to sugar and never suffered from ‘carb flu’. I say ‘unlucky’ because when I lapse, which I do more often these days, I don’t have to go through ‘carb flu’ again which I’m sure must act as a deterrent for many people.

I guess I’m in a ‘maintenance’ program of sorts. I ‘know’ when I’ve eaten too many carbs and finger pricking confirms this and sends me quickly back down the straight and narrow path. I’ve controlled my diabetes, medication free, for nearly 8 years now which is a win for me but I’m not really qualified to offer advice about weight loss apart from the fact that we all really know the answer it’s just putting it into practice!

Lucia. I assumed you were the same Lucia but now I know that you are! Welcome back! One of the most difficult things is ‘returning’ but you’ve taken that huge step and now it’s just one baby step at a time as you say, and moving forward slowly. You seem to have your head in the right spot and I think that’s probably the most important way to succeed. Yes there will always be somebody here to listen, give advice when wanted and the odd kick up the *** when needed!

I love fish too! Not that many of us here do. I agree fish has become very much more expensive lately but, as you say, takeaways are also expensive and it’s very easy to ‘add’ the odd naan or slice of garlic bread etc. to the order. I have really simple way to oven cook/airfry fish if you’d like it.

You talk about ‘food that looks like food’. I have been shocked recently by some ‘foods’ that I thought were ‘real’ , like ice cream, so I guess my one piece of advice is always read the list of ingredients. My OH, bless him, bought me some 85% chocolate the other day. We are in Portugal at the moment so he didn’t read the ingredients. It contained an artificial sweetener which acts as a laxative if eaten to excess! Not chocolate at all as I know it!

One day at a time and as s-g says, keep on keeping on ………

S-g great news! Must be a weight lifted from your shoulders. Just enjoy the summer now without too many thoughts…. ‘gay abandon’ maybe!

Here is my lesson in life. Yesterday I went shopping on an (almost) empty stomach. I could feel myself getting hot, sweating, weak and knew I had to eat something quick and not wish to face making lunch when I got home I grabbed a small baguette. Number one – do not go food shopping hungry and if you are diabetic, don’t go anywhere without eating first.

When I got home I made myself a ‘healthy’ tuna salad baguette and had that for lunch. As I was worried about feeling ill I took a blood reading and it was 230!!!!!! Anyway, lesson 2, it would have been just as quick to make a tuna salad as I had to have something to put in the baguette and would have been healthier and still done the trick without the sky high BG.

Later I still felt ill and went for a lie down. I didn’t feel any better but had to cook dinner which was cubed chicken with onions, red pepper, mushrooms and a tomato sauce. Quite healthy but I still didn’t feel good. So I had another piece of the baguette.

Just as I was brushing my teeth before bed I felt the usual sweats, weakness etc so did another BG test and it was down to 48. I had some cheese then a Werthers Original and got it back up to 78.

Lesson, bread doesn’t help when BG is low, it just give you a massive high which will drop quickly and leave you feeling just as bad. It is better, if you can to have a proper meal without the bread. A tuna salad would have been perfect because the bread set me up for a big drop later in the day. We all make mistakes but we should try to learn from them. Next time I am shopping and feeling hungry walk past the bread aisle.

Pleased to hear you are feeling better now S-G👍
I’m still on holiday but have been reading all the advice with interest because it’s always helpful!
I can’t remember who advised this but thank you & one thing I will return to doing when I get home is practicing food order which is easy to do & makes a lot of sense to me. It’s eating vegetables first or salad first when starting a meal to prime the digestive system & keep insulin levels stable. I usually serve a small green salad before lunch & supper now to eat first which is easy for me because I eat two meals a day & follow TRE. There is a reason restaurants offer bread first thing because eating it raises blood sugar/insulin levels increasing hunger so by the time the main meal arrives & is eaten guess what you find you have room for dessert! Very clever & profitable catering no doubt acquired by observing customers.
I also have a couple of easy favourite recipes from MMs fast 800 Keto book & often make soups for lunch which are filling , low calorie & sustaining.
Recipe 1. Chunky courgette & dill soup with prawns. 162 cals per serving 17g protein 5g carbs. Serves 2.
1 leek, 2 medium courgettes, 1/4 tsp chilli flakes, 600 ml stock ( I use Marigold Boullion powder) 150 g cooked prawns ( I always use frozen ones & keep a pack in the freezer)
Sauté sliced leek in one tbs olive oil until soft, add cubed courgettes & chilli & stock & simmer for 5 mins. Take half the soup & blend until smooth ( I hava a hand blender but could be mashed) return to pan with the prawns & gently heat through.
Recipe 2
Black bean chilli. Serves 4. 172 cals, 8 G protein, 16g carbs
1 medium onion , 1 red pepper finely chopped, 150g mushrooms finely chopped, 1 tsp cumin, 2 garlic cloves or garlic purée, 1 tsp chilli flakes, 1 400g can black beans, 1 400g can chopped tomatoes , stock powder or cube, 4 tbsp full fat Greek yoghurt.
Sauté onion pepper & mushrooms until soft. Add cumin garlic & chilli flakes. Mash half the black beans & add them with whole beans to the pan with the tinned tomatoes & stock cube or powder then simmer for fifteen minutes.
Serve with a spoon of yoghurt on the top.
Can be served with a little wholewheat couscous or brown rice. I usually double the spices because we prefer this & tinned mushrooms can be used so it’s a store cupboard staple for us.
I hope these recipes will be enjoyed.
There are tributes to Michael Mosley being shown all day today on the BBC. I certainly miss his wise words, humour & advice!
Margaret xx

Hi all, I am feeling better today and have got over my bread attack 🙂 Still losing weight but will wait until Monday to give full update.

I said I was going to try to live life to the full and on that not we have booked to go to a fete at a nearby chateau where there will be winetasting and a creole food truck. I might eat before we go in case there is nothing suitable as there is no way I am going out and eating rubbish. I have tried looking for them on line but can’t find a menu – what do French Creoles eat – he is from the French island of Reunion which is in the Indian Ocean (I think). I imagine rice will be a staple.

Hi Margaret it sounds as though you have been watching the Glucose Goddess, makes a lot of sense. I tend to eat a few bits while I am cooking like carrot sticks but usually having veg. In a restaurant recently I ordered a pate starter and didn’t realise it came with a green salad so ordered one and ended up with a mountain of lettuce leaves – very refreshing 🙂

We are getting our covid boosters on Tuesday, which is a good thing as sil has just come down with covid and there are 4 children yet to catch it. Hubby is having a fit right now but I have told him to wear a mask if he is worried. Hopefully they can all catch it together and be over it by the time they come out. I don’t think you have to declare it any more.

Well, I didn’t win the Euro Lottery AGAIN, but I will still enjoy my weekend – hope you do too.

Hi
It’s 14th … IT IS THE 14TH. !!!!!🕺🕺🪩. This is my happy dance
I have lasted to 14th … a huge target . I am soooo delighted.
So a huge thank you to all of you who have coped or hung on there with me.

I know I am not a full 800 fasting diet person yet. I have done it my way, gradually, quietly, without fuss, accepting my failures BUT picking myself up the next minute and CARRYING on.

Now the next step is focusing on sharpening up my fasting. I did it gradually over the last 14 days. ( did I tell you I am sooooo happy I’m getting to 14th yippppeeee!!!!!!!).
So I want to have a general daily rule of eating in a window of 8 hours , would love to hit a target of two hours in every 24 though.
I want to stomp all over those carbs an especially those sneeky sugars that come with so many aliases. My general rule is to , well, basically , have zero. I know I can’t actually achieve zero carbs ( being human and all ) but it’s just a target to aim for.
To eat the right stuff eg having a sexy salad instead of a greasy takeaway. There are so many flavours in salads, so many colours, textures. Compare it to the brown gloop of a takeaway, beige or beige?
Another general rule is to get out of the house now daily even if it’s around the block
Finally for my mind, just to sit back for a moment and realise I have got over one big mountain today.

I ask you all to join me today in a happy dance. It can be a full John travolta in the living room, or a little wiggle in the kitchen whilst washing the dishes. Please, just for me, just once.

We have got here. 🎉🎉🎈🥳
Thank you
Love Lucia xxxx

Hi all, glad to see so many of you posting and our new recruits and returners sticking with us. I have had a successful weekend despite all the crap on TV and being pretty bored. The weather is stil up and down, hot one day then cold and raining like today – although cold for me is 22 degrees. We are due our real summer starting tomorrow (how many Sundays have I said that).

Not much to report but will log in tomorrow with my weekly weigh in. Enjoy what is left of the weeked and for those watching the Euros Bon chance.

Also, in France it is independence day. The French call it Le Fete Nationale or quatorze juillet (14th of July), no such thing as Bastille Day, that is an English invention. So bon fete a tous.

Hi Lucia, now I know what you mean’t by the 14th, I am joining you in a happy dance and hope to be dancing again tomorrow when I get weighed.

Hi Tulip,
Yes, they have said they will retest in September when the red blood cells have all been replaced! So I am definitely going to be very strict with myself until then and 🤞I will test under 48!
Well done for reversing the pre-diabetes. I was told in 2016 that I was ‘pre’ and immediately went on a diet…my own devising, eating lots of salads and home made vegetable soup with a Roast once a week. Also lots of fruit salad with low fat yoghurts. I didn’t count calories and certainly didn’t know enough about carbs to cut them out…in fact I probably increased my bread intake! Over 2 years I lost 4 stone and then kept it off for another 2 but my Hba1c test figures increased and they kept telling me I should change my diet to eat less fat and more carbs!! Then 2020 hit and my resolve faltered! Over the next 2 years I replaced the 4 stone and then this year (due to a mis-diagnosis and wrong meds) I became incapable of any activity…unable even to climb 2 steps! So I piled on another stone +, comfort eating! Now I am determined to get all the weight off again, and keep it off, and if possible reverse the diabetes!

I admire your resolve in not eating an evening meal, despite serving one up for they family! I am going out for a meal on Wednesday and know I will struggle not to eat totally the wrong things! But I will try!

Hi
Did everyone go a party dance with me yesterday? I know it’s silly but by now I would have given up and reached for a family size bag of chocolates.
I have changed in the last two weeks. My habit is now broken – I don’t automatically weigh myself 1st thing. That use to set a sad tone for the day.
I don’t eat automatically at breakfast lunch and dinner times . I eat when I am hungry and also have a drink of water or decaf tea first – to see if that sorts me out for another hour.

I don’t have tea and buttered toast followed by a sandwich, crisps, slice of cake then sausages mashed potato gravy and cake. Finally tea and toast before bed. Can we say CARBs?

I have felt hungry and survived!!!! This is a wonderful feeling ( I know weird isn’t it) I don’t want to know the scientific reasons for it. To me I think my engine has burnt up all the coal and can burn a bit of blubber.

I feel as if I have a little more energy . A little more life in the old bird!!!
And also my mental state says I can carry on.
So what’s next? They say 28 days makes a new habit , well I have 31st as my next target.
I have set a goal to follow the rules of 800 fast diet, but if I fall off the wagon I immediately shout for one of you to pull me back on before the wagon is out of sight.
Planning my meal/meals is a huge help. I can remember putting my head in the fridge to graze and see what’s there to eat, putting anything in my mouth , cake, chocolate biscuits, cake, sweets etc and still come away hungry.
I have started taking an A-Z multi vitamin , it’s so huge it looks like a horse tablet . There are about 24 things in it selenium ( I am thinking shampoo from the evolution movie) . Iron copper and zinc , who knew I needed metal in my diet. A D3 E K C B1 B2 B3 B6 B12 B5 I feel like saying can I have a P please Bob( a line from a game show) and that’s just some of them. I will finish the bottle and before I get replacements I will ask our group for recommended vitamin tablets.
When I look back in day one when I begged for help, and today. I think , with baby steps you can do it.
My target is 31st then I should have a good toe hold on the WOD.
Anyone just reading the articles and not actually participating as you don’t know how/you don’t have the right shoes/ the right foods in/ the right day …. I say try and change just one small thing . Just one for yourself and share it here.
Many many thanks
Love Lucia xxx

Hi All.

Pootle- I originally lost 3 and a half stone on the BSD, and kept it off with MM style med diet for at least a couple of years- I then regained back 2 and a half stone slowly over time (although my blood sugars stayed below pre-d as I still retained quite a bit of the healthy habits nonetheless e.g. not having carby breakfasts and lunches and generally much less carbs overall), hence being back on the fast 800…..I’ve had quite a lot of false re-starts to get to this point tho! I hope this works well for you too and helps with glucose levels as well as weight 🤞🤞

Lucia- that was something that I found really powerful to learn too- being hungry is ok! 🤩

Well done everyone….we’re doing great collectively.

xxx

Firstly well done Lucia 👏👏👏
I am back from my holiday in Devon & unsurprisingly have gained some weight so I weighed this morning & I am back on this WOE trying to keep to 800 calories today by recording what I eat, back to my usual not eating until lunchtime & eating loads of veg & low carb. No more glasses of wine, bread, puddings or convenience foods even though they were M & S 😂
I need to return to my I can do this mindset because I only have two weeks until my Golden Wedding Anniversary long weekend trip to Gibraltar & have just bought a new dress that will look better with me being slimmer 😀
Keep on going everyone we can do this 👍🍀🍀
Margaret xx

Morning!
Happy to report another 1.4kg down ( does a hippy dance ) am focusing more on MM keto style diet, the recipes are lovely and am finding it easier. Must up my water more as so far am at 1 litre a day…

Well done to those who lose and keep on keeping on to those of us not so.

O Margaret 50 years!! wowzers, that is awesome! Congratulations. A trip to GIB sounds amazing, so you will do it and that dress will fit you beautifully!!

Weather here in my part of UK is sunny and warm , always makes one feel better. I have planned food at the ready and am sure we shall all have a good one today!!

Hi all, I guess I am doing my happy dance today as I have lost 1kg this week. Not a big loss but not bad as I am on this diet day in day out for 8 years and still able to lose when I need to. Just 11 days to family arriving so hoping for another kilo.

Thank you 1960smp & very well done on your & S-Gs brilliant weight losses 👏👏
So far so good today with not eating until 1-30pm & chunky courgette with prawns soup & an apple for lunch. I’m keeping up my water intake plus two coffees & a ginger & lemon tea. Supper will be pork stir fry with mushrooms & mixed veg & a small portion of lentil noodles. Pud will be strawberries. All under 800 calories but I know for me the downside with losing stored carb fluid is spending lots more pennies & through the night interrupting my sleep until my body settles back into routine. I will weigh on Saturday & will then have a competitive short mat bowls match to play as well as the usual club session on Wednesday so some exercise. With all the holiday washing I’m plowing through & with ironing it will be easy to reach my usual daily goal of 5000 steps. My knees certainly know that I have gained some weight 🙀🙁!
Keep on going everyone 👍🍀🍀
Margaret xx

Hi
I love the idea of being half way through the month and have drastically changed things on my life.
It isn’t easy at all do do something like this when you don’t have support. This is why I couldn’t change everything at once, I did it bit by bit . It is hard not to grab a Kitkat as it’s there ready for you to eat rather than faff round with preparing a salad, dicing, chopping, peeling this that and the other.
I try and reach for water first to see if it answers the craving/hunger need.
Then ,I have found that an egg is fantastic, it comes in one portion size, it can be done in the microwave, If you have problems making i perfect omelette and it goes weird, I then scramble it up and pretend that was my intention all along. You can have a boiled egg waiting for you in the fridge.
So…… my question is… what do you have in the fridge or cupboard that you can grab and eat without any preparation but will keep you on track?
Love Lucia xx

Hi Lucia
I like freshly cut up carrot & sweet red pepper sticks to nibble particularly before a meal (keeps in the fridge in a bag for ages) & otherwise I drink water or allow myself three coffees a day with Barista Oatly but de-caf after 2-0pm to not affect me sleeping. I try not to eat anything between meals & I eat two meals a day to make the most of my 800 calories & then eat or drink nothing after 7-0pm trying to keep to an eating window between 1-0pm to 7-0pm. I tell myself that any tummy rumbles means my body is working in a positive way with me to lose my excess weight & drink some water. I’m usually headachy going back to low carb in the first couple of days so will take a paracetamol but that also can indicate I am not drinking enough water so I’m just going to do so now 😂 I keep lots of tinned tomatoes, low sugar baked beans, black beans & chick peas in my cupboard to quickly make ratatouille & bean chillies.
Good luck for your next week & I’m keeping you company planning meals & with lots of chopping veg! Lunch today is a mixed salad with sliced boiled eggs & ham & supper cod baked on a ratatouille base of veg. Plus strawberries & a nectarine to eat. I’m just putting it in my meal planner to record the quantities & find out the calorie count. I try to record what I’m planning to eat before I eat it to help keep on track. I hope so of these things will be helpful.
Margaret xx

Well done Lucia! You have done exactly what works!
Bit by bit, changing one thing at a time, you have achieved drastic change — and now MORE than halfway through the month. Well done you!
I love the idea of breaking this all down into little chunks — so many lovely folk start out full-blown and then when it gets difficult, as it does, or they eat the “wrong” thing, they give up completely. This entire way of eating is a learning process. I had to keep thinking about it and trying new things and failing at one thing and succeeding at another until I finally cracked it. You body is unique — your diet will be unique to you.
I think many here have had the same experience. Sunshine girl, Wendleg, Wendy and Verano are all names that come to mind who have done the same.
Best thing as you have discovered is not to let black-and-white thinking get in your way. It is not all or nothing. You can have a bad meal, bad day, bad week and start again.
I found listening to podcasts by Dr. Jason Fang and Dr. Ben Bikman (my very favourite — find online, just google his name) were incredibly helpful in keeping my head in the right space. The podcasts remind me how healthful this way of eating is, and how it protects us from many diseases and even brain disease such as Alzheimers and dementia.
I also like Dr. Perlman’s book “Grain Brain” and his recipe book. And Dr. Ben Bikman’s book “Why We Get Sick”.
Anyway, fantastic news from everyone —
Julia

As an additional note, I just searched Ben Bikman podcasts and he has a new one out called “Saturated Fat with Dr. Ben Bikman”. It is only about 28 minutes long and it is fascinating discussion about digestion with new information about saturated fats. Saturated fats are not inflammatory and do not lead to insulin resistance as long as you keep your refined carbohydrate (sugars in all its forms) intake LOW.
Worth listening to!

Hi all and well done Lucia, taking things at your own pace. Looking foeward tp 31.

Trying to think what I do and I hardly have to think about it as it is so ingrained my daily routine can be boring. First thing is a pee and get weighed then I wash my hands and do a blood reading. I always have a glass of water and apple cider vinegar with my meds and a mug of green tea that my hubby has ready for me as I like it cold. Breakfast is again routine, scrambled eggs with chilli flakes, the 2 boiled eggs, then Wednesday I cant have eggs because we have an omelette for dinner to use up all the veggie type scraps before our shop so it is usually yoghurt and some sort of fruit. Dinners vary between bolognaise sauce with aubergine layers, or plain old mince and onion (but always some more veg), omelette, grilled fish on Friday although I hate it – it is supposed to be good for me, a roast on Sunday but it might be served with a salad or maybe grilled steak. I hate Thursdays because that is one day I have no routine and I am always struggling to know what to cook. Tuesday and Saturday hubby does the cooking so I just have to take my chances although it is never carbs but might be sausages or corned beef – cant complain or I would end up having to cook. I have my evening meal around 7.30 so eat nothing else after 8.00 until breakfast at around 10.30am, if my BG is particularly high I might go until lunchtime but find it catches up with me and I need to snack later in the day. I cant let my BG go too low so if I am exercising I might need a snack before or after – never carbs but might take me over my calorie allowance. The things I have in my fridge for snacks is often cold meat, olives, carrot stick and homemade hummus. I drink 2 coffees after lunch and the rest of the time just water, getting through a total of about 6 to 8 water plus the green tea and coffees.

Pretty boring really.

aaah, not boring Sunshinegirl, just MUNDANE. I have come to think that healthy eating and exercise is mundane — it is just “what we do”, nothing special about it. It’s become part and parcel of our everyday lives, not worthy of too much thought.
And I love being here!
I don’t hate myself, my body is my friend — I feel tough, resilient and competent.

Hi

What does apple cider vinegar do?
Is it like the vinegar you put on chips ?
Do you put it on food to disguise the taste?
(Look at me with a professional question )
Love Lucia xx

California, I wouldn’t be on any other diet, even as a non diabetic and non dieter most people have a routine. Roast on Sunday, leftover meat on Monday, fish on Friday etc etc. Not much imagination goes into our daily food. People who go on new diets at least take a look at other choices. Tonight I went out of my mundane. Hubby had been so busy in the garden he asked my to take over the cooking and had taken chicken breast out of the freezer. I grabbed a slimming magazine, searched for chicken and I came up with bashed chicken marinated in oil and paprika served with couscous (with red onion, tomatoes and cucumber). Okay I wouldn’t normally eat couscous as it is a carb but I really let my hair down and thought what the hell 🙂 Anyway it was only about 8g carbs because of the size of the portion. They chicken was lovely.

Lucia, you asked about apple cider vinegar. I put about a tablespoon in a glass of water or you could use it to make a salad dressing. It is not the same as fish and chip vinegar, it is much milder but you can still taste it but you get used to it. It is high in antioxidants which fight off free radicals, kills off bad bacteria in the gut and help boost immunity. Helps stabilise blood glucose by improving insulin sensitivity. Can increase metabolism, encourage fluid elimination so reduce bloating. May reduce cholesterol and promote heart health and lower blood pressure. Can balance te Ph of the skin and help with things like acne but that is when it is used on the skin. A lot of the benefits should say MAY because I cannot vouch for the scientific side of it. There are also side effects in some people so you should look it up, one being tooth enamel erosion if held in the mouth too long – no worse that lemon in your tea.

Hi, Just popping in briefly at the end of my week 2. Week 1 loss 2.3 kilos. Week 2 loss 0.7 kilos. So pretty much half a stone.
I am still struggling with a nasty bout of Covid, and not eating as healthily as I would like. But I am over the worst, and some sunshine is due,, so looking forward to a better week.

Well done SG on the 1kg reduction, and to Lucia for getting to the 14th. You’ve got this. x

Hi
Apple cider vinegar – my goodness, I must get some, if it helps with all of that !

I don’t feel as tense this week , maybe it’s because I don’t feel isolated with all of you helping me- so thank you Xx

Previously I would just keep eating and eating, boredom, loneliness, bad habit etc but then I would run to the scales every morning and be disappointed I had put weight on. Seems I was not seeing the big picture.
I found that baby steps were the way for me to change the pattern and break the habit.

Now I ignore the scales,
I drink water through out the day.i might have one decaf tea.
I don’t eat until I am hungry .
Sometimes I have lunch , 1 pm, eggs done in various ways, bacon, ham chicken, sardines, various fish, crab, seafood mix, prawns , corned beef. Veg and salad . I don’t do dressings , nor sauces , nor gravy.
If I am hungry at dinner 6pm I eat ( see lunch for details)

Snacks – i haven’t needed them. I have redskin peanuts and pistachio nuts on the cupboard out of sight if I am in grazing mood

Fasting seems to be 6pm to 1pm or6pm to 6pm, I don’t force it. I am letting my body decide.
I wanted to count calories and mark it all down and be exact but I either forgot or didn’t have the will power to do it. Maybe that comes next. I would like to do it for a month so I get the portion sizes right. And make sure I am having enough of the right things

Exercise has come in various ways, walking ( in the supermarket I walk up every aisle several times, quickly as If i am looking for something , so I can get more steps in.) I walk rather than use the bus. I potter in the garden. I hoover more and dust, this disguises the stretching and twisting 🤫. Pretending I have forgotten something upstairs and go up again and down just 12 steps but it is up hill.

When shopping before I get to the check out, I look and group the shopping into meals , is there anything in there that I shouldn’t have? Can I put anything back?

Mentally it was a fight and still is. Talking out loud to myself helps. “ come on girl, you can do it”. “Stop”!!!! Etc

I sound like a right nutter don’t I ? But at least I am not killing my self with food anymore
Love Lucia xx

Amazing Lucia & very well done 👏👏⭐️
You can & are doing all the right things 👍💐
Margaret xx

Hi all, I am making good headway to my goal of 72kgs, but this is when it often goes wrong. Hope you lot can help keep me on track. We do have an evening out on Friday which includes wine tasting and there is a food truck which I have had a look at and I know I can get a proper plated meal of rouget saucisse which is a pork sausage casserole plus one other that they decide on the night.

Just thinking about my boring meals. They are not so bad. My mince meal on Monday can be anything from straight forward bolognaise with courgetti, or lasagne made with aubergine or courgette strips, sometimes aubergine parmiagano with a cheese sauce, so quite a variety. It is always full of red peppers, garlic, onions, mushrooms, herbs and sometimes carrots and sweetcorn or peas. Today my yoghurt breakfast was with a kiwi fruit and strawberries from my garden plus pumpkin and chia seeds. Another day it might be with frozen raspberries and a passionfruit. And eggs vary from scrambled with cheese, boiled, omelette or poached with grilled mushrooms. Most people have the same thing every day for breakfast, at least I have have 3 or 4 different things, even overnight oats with fruit and yoghurt. Just had to get that off my chest.

We have been out today to get me some new glasses. First the young lady said there was something on the prescrition she didn’t understand (+5.45 which is okay but then it said 921 which I have never seen before). She couldn’t get to speak to anyone at the hospital so we have to go back. Then I went to sell some old bits of gold, the girl said she has to pass it to her colleague in Bergerac. One of the items is my engagement ring (very old) which has 2 very tiny diamonds missing and I had been quoted over €200 to repair, so she said why don’t I get cubic zirconiums to replace the diamonds, so I am waiting for a quote for that. Then we went to Decathalon to buy a badminton set with net, checked out the price and decided to wait until I had checked Amazon Prime day prices. I am not good at looking at stuff on my phone so waited until we got home and it was more expensive than Dec. So much for Prime Day. Then we went to the supermarket to see if we could find Weetabix (hard to find in France) for when the kids come out. Low and behold we found the Weetabix. So spent half a day and only bought a box of Weetabix :):) Oh my do I have an exciting life.

Hope you are all well.

Day 4 for me back on this WOE & I have already lost 3.2 lbs in carb fluid & fasting today until supper which I must honestly reveal will be an M & S fish pie plus steamed courgettes & carrots & strawberries with creme fraiche. So far so good but I’m so tempted to sit in the garden in the sunshine with a glass of chilled white wine🙀I’m trying to stay strong until supper time 🤔I have already done some pruning in the garden & I am looking at an enormous pile of ironing to do🙁 or do I sit with my iPad with DuoLingo learning more French?
Margaret xx

Just done a long post but when I pressed submit it disappeared, I wasn’t logged in. So to keep it short I have had a very bad bout of diarrhea and vomitting this lunchtime after not feeling too well after shopping. I even passed out on the toilet and hubby came running through when he heard the bang. I have spent the afternoon on the bed and managed to sleep and feeling better. Large glass of water and a coffee to warm me up even though it is 37 degrees outside. Don’t think I will be having a swim just in case I am not fully recovered.

Good news is I have lost another kilo since Monday – nothing to do with the sickness, was weighed this morning. Maybe I will have lost some more as I am now empty.

Have a good day and Margaret, keep up with the French.

Oh good heavens S-G I hope you are feeling better now🤞🤞
Take care!
Margaret xx

I hope you are feeling better SG!

Just echoing that- hope you are ok now SG!

Sooooo…..I’ve lost 13.5 lbs (I’m calling it a stone) and my shorts fot again which was goal no.1 for before our hol in 1.5 weeks….

😀

Not enough to get back in my swimwear, so I went off to Bravissimo in Bath to get some yesterday….love it there, so helpful in getting things that really fit well 🙂

Onwards……1 stone 6.5 lbs (I’m calling that a stone and a half) to go to get back to top of normal BMI (what I achieved last time I did the BSD/ fast 800)….I will aim to lose a bit more before my hol, but I expect to relax whilst there so may regain a bit, then back on it once home.

Love to all xxx

Hi
Just a quick hello to everyone. I am full of cold, headache and ache. I welcome it if it is carb flu, it is a withdrawal symptom of not eating carb, isn’t that wonderful? Although it’s not making me feel well it’s making me feel GREAT as I mustn’t of eaten any carbs at all, whatsoever on the last couple of days. Yippeee I am doing it right.
So this makes me even more determined to carry on with running the opposite way from sugar and carbs. This is great , I can do it
😀
Love Lucia xx
Ps if it’s an ordinary summer cold please don’t tell me and burst my bubble …..

Hi all,

Strange, yesterday morning I had lost 1kg BEFORE i was ill. Then I spent the afternoon being ill at both ends, ended up empty and didn’t have any dinner – gained half a kilo. Weird. Anyway, we have cancelled our night out as I cannot face wine and creole food. We will go some other time as the place sounds amazing and the lady said they could do private tasting if I make an appointment. Might see if the family want to go, SiL is a wine snob so it will be right up his street.

Well done Tulip1. Good losses.

Not feeling up to swimming as above but also it is so hot. I would have gone in this morning if I was feeling better but not today. Have a good weekend everyone.

I’m here on day one. Very optimistic and have everything crossed. Failed Slimming World three times (not sure they want you to lose weight, just hand over the cash).
What I’ve read so far is great it’s telling me what to eat (as well as what not to eat).
Let’s hope I make it to week two.
Tony

Hello. Back in the land of laundry and ironing! Oh! and BSD of course. Put on just 3.4lbs in two weeks which was amazing because I was on a carb fest. I have to say I really did not enjoy all the bread and potatoes. How can you have sardine pate without bread! Maybe one portion of potatoes that were sort of roasted were good but the rest were maaa! So it’s back to the drawing board for me. Goodness knows I’ve done it often enough!

Sunshine-girl glad you’re feeling better today. Forget the scales. You know they go up and down willy nilly often without reason. Just get yourself back to 100%.

I haven’t read through all the posts but well done to everyone and especially you Lucia for breaking that 14 day barrier. You CAN & WILL make it to the 31st.

Margaret we work hard at our usual BSD diet then we work hard at our ‘holiday diet’ ! Important thing is that we always get straight back on track.

Tony, welcome. You are in the right place. My T2 has been in remission/reversed for the past, nearly 8 years. Sunshine-girl who uses insulin has reduced her dose massively. Slimming World isn’t really a T2 friendly way of eating. Weight loss is good but the real crux of the matter is reducing carbs. It’s carbs rather than weight loss per se that is the secret to keeping T2 under control and reversing it.

Lots of people here ready to jump in and help so ask away. And YES you WILL make it to week 2.

Sunshine-girl, so sorry to read you have been really unwell, but pleased it seems you are a little better! Isn’t it amazing how our weight performs? When you think it must have fallen, it rises and vice-versa.

I met someone from the forum in person on Wednesday, great to hear a success story ‘live’. It came out when we were talking about food and diet. I said I had just started the BSD and she said she had been on it for a while. I don’t know what name she goes under on here, but Ann, if you are reading this, I really enjoyed Wednesday!

I was delighted with my weigh in this morning, having plateaued for about 4 days, the scales say I have now gone down another 4lb> Yaay!!

Lucia, I am delighted to read all your positivity…encouraging to all.

Tony, I am a month in with the diet, whilst it isn’t easy (what diet is?), it is satisfying and the weight loss is great! I still won’t know if it has had any effect on my BS until September, when they can retest…but I am very hopeful! Watch this space!

Good morning everyone
I have just weighed five days after restarting this way of eating being back from my holiday & am pleased to report a loss of 4.25lbs. Of course I still have a further 24 lbs to lose to get to my goal weight but I will keep on going with my usual ups & downs in weight the moment I go back to eating more carbs & calories.
Pleased you are feeling better S-G & welcome back to holiday returners & newcomers joining us👍👋
I’m off to play in a competitive club short mat bowls match this morning after a rather disrupted sticky sleep last night despite having a fan on.
I hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend & I will try to keep on track & resist food & drink temptations over the weekend with my anniversary trip to Gibraltar on 2nd August being less than two weeks away now.🤔😀
Keep on going everyone we can do this!
Margaret xx