CATHY that’s wonderful news! One of the best NSVs we’ve had on here 😀. I’m so pleased for you and, as others have said, it is particularly well-deserved as you have worked so hard at getting your levels down. Well done. I hope the remaining two foot treatments go well too so that you can begin to walk more again.

ARCTICFOX how worrying for you. I hope and pray that you and your home will be unaffected by the wildfires, and all your neighbours too. Please let us know how things are going when you get a chance. Be assured we’ll all be thinking of you and sending good vibes your way.

YOWZER it sounds as if you are really struggling with your sciatica.What kind of treatment are you having for it? I really hope that it improves soon and that you are able to be a bit more mobile again. And I’m sure you will not be disappointed when you get on the scales as you have done so very well losing weight recently. Sending you every good wish to get better soon X

NOKIE I agree with you, we do keep each other going through life’s ups and downs. I get email notifications of posts on the thread, and it always makes me smile when I see there’s a Blood Sugar Diet header in my inbox – much more interesting than all the other stuff that ends up in there!

Hello to everyone else reading this too. I hope that everyone is well and is making good progress towards your goals X

Hi CC!
I have had plantar fasciitis too — it took a long while to resolve and what really helped me was icing it, icing it icing it. I have a good hack that worked — buy a couple of small bags of cheap frozen peas and take one of them with you when you are driving and put it under your foot so you are icing while driving. They ultimate melt but can be easily refrozen when you get home and hit with your hand to loosen up again.
I know it sounds crazy but the peas conform to your foot and so they are more useful than a cold pack and they can even go under your foot that is on the accelerator because they are small and don’t interfere with driving.
I swear this hack was what finally got mine under control. Californians do a lot of driving to get around so this was a great way to keep it iced.
“Pea packs” work anytime — while on computer, while watching TV etc.

Hi Julia and thank you for your pea packs advice. I have been doing all the exercises I was advised to do by podiatry as well as icing my foot with a bottle. I can only walk if I wear my ASICS trainers and can’t put my foot down bare.. The pain is terrible. I’ve had a scan and have PF and Achilles tendinitis and when I went to podiatry on Monday for my shock wave therapy he advised to stop icing! My foot is no better this week but I think the shock wave therapy takes four months to do it’s thing! There is no harm in me continuing to ice and I am going to get some peas as I can see how they would mould to the foot better than rolling with an iced bottle. Everyone says it will go eventually but it takes time! I’ve been to the rheumatologist this week and she said that having hyper mobile joints which I do can cause PF. Everything seems to be going wrong for me this year. I’m now on the list to have a left cataract removed prior to a vitrectomy operation as I have an epiretinal membrane causing distortion in my vision. Luckily there had been a misinterpretation of my OCT scan by the ophthalmologist who referred me to the retinal specialist and I don’t have fibrovascular PED which means I don’t have to have injections in my eye! Thank goodness for that! I’ve had six hospital appointments this week! No lie!
I can’t wait to go on holiday and relax. This year has been a full on challenge.
Yowser- I hope you can get some relief for your sciatica. I know how incredibly painful it can be. My husband was advised to do “flossing” exercises and bought a sciatica belt when he had a bad case of sciatic that lasted 9 weeks.
Have a good weekend everyone. We have to try and keep our peckers up and just do our best.

Hi everyone,
It’s been a bit of a roller coaster ride over the last week. The main fire was starting to calm down when we had a severe storm roll through. I got to experience the full brunt as I was stuck in my horse’s shelter as it came over top of us. A new fire started as a result of a lightning strike less than 1km from my place, but luckily it was smoldering in a wet area and the neighbours spotted it quickly and the local fire department was able to get it out in a few hours. The wildfire crews conducted a successful back burn on the big fire over the weekend and they are confident that it will not pose a threat anymore. We have one more afternoon of thunderstorms to get through today and then hopefully that is it for the summer. The weather has cooled significantly, especially overnight, so I’m getting more and better quality sleep now too.
I’m now focusing on finishing up the food I have in the house and will be shopping for and starting the elimination portion of the elimination diet. Looks like I’ll mostly be eating veggies for the first couple of weeks. Luckily that is also BSD friendly!
Glad you are getting the treatment for you PF, Cathy. One thing to ask about long term is orthotics. It has been super helpful for me to have some extra support that I can slide into shoes, as someone who is also hypermobile. The orthotist who made my first pair said I had nice looking feet as long as I wasn’t standing on them! My arches just collapse with my body weight on top of them.

ArcticFox- what a week you’ve had. It all sounds very scary and thankfully things seem to be under control. Hopefully things will remain calm.
Thank you for your advice re orthotics. My podiatrist has made some insoles for my trainers. I don’t find them particularly comfortable but I’m getting desperate for some relief so will persevere. I don’t know how I am going to manage on the cruise. Day time will be fine wearing my trainers but cocktail dresses are going to look a bugger with trainers. I’ve bought some gorgeous low heel sparkly evening shoes but I honestly don’t think I’m going to be able to walk in them. I’m hoping in the next three weeks that the shock wave therapy might improve my symptoms. Last nights treatment was bordering on intolerable it was so painful. No pain- no gain!
I’ve had a stressful week trying to train Monty to use his new cat flaps. It’s like trying to teach a pig to whistle! Poor Monty. He is more of a house cat but does enjoy going into the garden. We always opened the doors for him and he trotted out. He can’t seem to join the dots that the cat flaps will let him out. I bought them soit would be easier for the cat sitter not worrying if he was in or out. He has three weeks to work out that he can come and go as he pleases. If I encourage him he will do it but if not he just stares!
I am still 149 and can’t seem to get lower but with a bit of luck and hard work I might make 146 before setting sail on 1st September.
Hope everyone is maintaining or losing. Let’s see what we can do before the end of August. Isn’t time flying by?

Arcticfox, you are amazing.

Hi everyone, can’t believe how time is racing by. Arcticfox and Cathy, I hope you’ve had a better week than your last posts? AF I’m so glad your fires have now passed! And CC, not long till your holiday now.

Sorry for lack of posts from me. I confess to have gone a bit off piste recently. I’m managing to maintain but not doing the right things to see off those extra pounds that I want gone. It’s my fault, just day to day choices that prioritise other things rather than the weight loss. I’m away for a long weekend from next Thursday until Monday 2nd September, so plan to start again in earnest after that. I hope I do! I know that when I put my mind to it and am careful about what I eat and drink – and particularly when I get the exercise in too – then the scales start to creep down. I’ve just not lined up all those ducks in a row since coming back from holiday a month ago.

But onwards we go!

For UK readers, I notice there is a new 3-part Michael Mosley series starting on Channel 5 tonight, 20:00. It’s called Wonders of the Human Body, so not specifically BSD or Fast800 but I’ll be watching anyway. It’ll be bittersweet. In many ways I’m sure it will be inspiring, but it will be sad seeing Michael. Even watching the trailer just now, his lovely personality and enthusiasm for life and health just hits you.

Hope everyone else is ok? Do post and let us know how you’re doing! X

Hello Dct And fellow 🚌 pals
Firstly sorry I have not posted for a while my dad has been in hospital and very poorly , my diet has gone to pot !!!
I am going to Switzerland 🇨🇭 sat for a week to see my sister so will try and get focused when I come back !!
I will watch mm this eve it will be strange to see his smiley face thanks for the reminder
Hope everyone is doing ok be in touch
Lv nokie xx 😘

Hi everyone,
Not much to report, but thought I would bump this thread back to the top as it was getting buried under all the spammer posts.
Fires are all under control now and we had a good amount of rain yesterday, so even the big one may be out soon. I’m busy getting ready for the local agricultural show, where I will be entering the floral and garlic categories. It’s a lot of work, but nice to catch up with other growers at the end of the season and see what they’ve been up to.
I am still eating down my fridge and cupboards prior to going on the elimination diet. It is amazing how much cheese and yogurt I had in the fridge. I think that going without dairy for a while will be the hardest thing, so perhaps it is what I will re-introduce first. I don’t feel like it is causing problems, but you never know. As I use things up, I am replacing them with vegetables, and trying to increase the amount and variety I purchase each week. I’m headed out now to a local farm to stock up. I only really have tomatoes and zucchini in my garden right now. Lots of squash to come though.
I found Dr. Fung’s Obesity Code Cookbook at the library yesterday. Lots of good veggie recipes in there.
Hope everyone is doing well.

I agree! SGIRL!
She is! X

Hi NOKIE enjoy Switz! Hope yr Dads health improves x
CCATHY i hope Monty understands his cat flap now 😀 we threw cat treats through the flap til our cat got the message to climb through to get them
Are you off on your cruise yet?x
Im doing well,have lost two stone in 11 weeks. Seeing chiropractor this coming week re sciatica,hope they can help me 🙏b
Have a good week everyone!

Hi all, just a quick post as dashing around today . . .

YOWZER well done on your loss! That’s amazing 👏. And I hope the chiropractor can really help with your sciatica.

ARCTIC FOX you sound very determined and I know will see good results from all your efforts, not just on the scales but also in your general health and wellbeing.

NOKIE hope that you see some improvement in your dad very soon X

I’ve had some thoughts about our next thread and will post again in a day or two. Meanwhile have a good day everyone – Bank Holiday Monday for those of us in the UK, and the sun is going to shine, Enjoy!! X

DCT thanks for your posts – your words sum up absolutely perfectly what has been going on with me:
“It’s my fault, just day to day choices that prioritise other things rather than the weight loss.”
I have put on about 5 kilos since the start of the year 🙁
Annoyingly a 2nd scan 2 weeks ago showed my ankle is still healing, and has been causing some pain and discomfort, but I’m seeing a physiotherapist now and doing my exercises so hopefully it’s fully mended soon!
Have also had a stressful time trying to sell MILs house, but we have another buyer now and fingers crossed the sale will go through, we are just waiting for the cool off period to end.
I’ve also been having treatment in hospital for my auto immune illness, but that should be finished this week and I should be good soon for a few months.
These all sound like excuses! But it’s more with all this going on I haven’t been prioritising healthy diet and exercise, but wine and unhealthy foods instead!
Anyway, I’m now going to prioritise healthy choices!
Nokie – sorry to hear about your dad, I hope he improves soon.
And Cathy, Nokie, Yowzer and all, I will catch up on your posts over the next few days, take care all and enjoy the sunshine 🙂

Hi SUE, lovely to hear from you! And I hear you ❤️ Sometimes life events get in the way of our good intentions and we just have to be kind to ourselves (as we would to anyone else) and get back on board when we’re ready. In my view that’s not excuses, it’s reality! I’m sure you can get rid of those 5k once you are able to get back into meal planning and exercising again. You’ve done so well over the time I’ve known you and you can do it again!

I’ve cut myself some slack recently as have had lots going on – still ploughing through “sadmin” – and also getting out and about a lot enjoying the summer. On the one hand yes, this is a WoE for life and I’m always mindful of what I’m consuming, but I’ve had some more relaxed days when I’ve not been as strict as I need to be if I want to lose weight. Basically I’m ending this journey the same weight as I started. So I’m maintaining well, but at around 10lb more than I want to be!

Which leads me on to the next thread. I think many of us are of the mind to achieve a realistic target weight by the end of the year then keep in touch on an ongoing maintenance thread rather than keep doing different journeys. I really want to do a massive reboot in September and work hard to finally get to target by the end of the year. A last hoorah kind of thing. SUE

I’d wondered about setting up a thread to cover the rest of the year. Perhaps a 100 day one like we did once before, which would nicely cover early Sept to mid Dec. Or, if preferred we could do two threads for Sept/Oct then Nov/Dec.

So if you’re reading this let me know who’s in for another thread, and which of the above options you’d prefer?

I’m away for a few days from Thursday but happy to set up the next thread on Monday.

Meanwhile, go well, and look forward to hearing how you’re getting on X

Oh DCT you are fab! Wd love you to set up another bus trip! Personally I wd prefer the 100:days taking us thru to NY but happy to go with whatever suits everyone X enjoy your few days away,hope its more for fun than for workX
SUEBLUE good to see you,was thinking about you so its good to get an update! X
MARIET! DAWN! and all bus trippers,hope youre doing ok XX

Hi DCT
I am in Switzerland 🇨🇭 seeing my sister back on Saturday I would like to join you all again but would prefer the 100 days like yowzer if everyone else wants something else that’s fine but I am the same weight as beginning of lady bus journey!! So i have not done very well😊
I think maybe if i concentrate and know it’s until the end of the year I will want to succeed more !! Hope everyone else is ok I will log in when I get home to see what you have all decided
Have a good week everyone
Lv nokie x🧡🇨🇭

Hello everyone

Good to catch up on how everyone is doing. We are all still here supporting each other and doing what we can.
SueBlue – be kind to yourself. You’ve had a very difficult year with various medical issues as well as caring for your mother in law. You’ve not gone off piste too far and when things settle down you’ll be right back in the driving seat. This is where this way of eating is helpful. Once we get on track we see the results. Life keeps trying to scupper us all but we have the knowledge and resilience to keep on going.
Nokie- I hope you’re enjoying time with your sister. I hope your dad is feeling better.
Yowser- you’ve definitely been our star passenger! What an incredible weight loss over the last few weeks! You’ve definitely been in the zone. I hope your sciatica is improving.
ArcticFox- things seem to have calmed down at home re fires. What a worry. It’s good to know you’re safe and so is your land. The agricultural show sounds exciting. Good luck with your floral and garlic entries.

Monty has learned how to use his cat flap, we go away on Saturday and I have a cat sitter coming to feed him and sit with him for a while every day. He is mainly a house cat but does like to walk around the garden and sit on the bench so now he can come and go as he pleases. He is going to miss me as he is a big baby but Alice will be his mum whilst I am away and he will be well cared for. I am hovering between 148 and 150. I am pleased with that. When I get back from my holiday I will embrace the last three months of the year to consolidate whatever weight loss I can achieve and then look forward to maintenance next year.
DCT- I think the 100 day challenge sounds perfect for us all coming to the end of what hasn’t been an easy year for most of us. You’ve done really well to maintain this year. Like you, I am 10lbs away from where I would love to be. I think one thing we have all learnt this year is acceptance. We have to live our lives and we have to work around the curved balls that are thrown at us. Everyone of us has given this our best all year and for many years. My achievement this year has been to reverse my pre diabetes! Let’s see what we can do in the next 100 days before we join the maintenance thread. Im off to a cataract pre op clinic this morning. Have to have a cataract removed before I have the retina surgery Hoping to schedule in the cataract op when I get back from Lytham at the end of September. It’s our 40th wedding anniversary at the end of September. I’m off on my 14 night Mediterranean cruise on Saturday. Dread to think what the scales will show on my return but I’ll deal with that when I get back in the time we have to the end of December. I’ve found some comfortable plantar fasciitis friendly sandals I can wear called oofos so I won’t be living in my ASICS trainers! I’ve also got some sparkly evening sandals which I hope I can wear. I’ll sign off now until I get back mid September.
I’ll join the next thread on my return. Keep going everyone. Let’s see what we can do.

C CATHY I’m just popping back to say Ive had cataract surgery on both eyes and it was quick and painless and had great results for my long distance vision. I no longer try to stop lorries thinking they are buses,much to the merriment of the bus queue
I always remember an old lady telling me she was having the catamarans removed from her eyes!
Hope you have a fabulous cruise and im so glad youve found some suitable footwear. XX

My inlaw told me she had an eye transplant when she mean’t a cornea transplant. :):)

As a medical secretary for 40 years I have heard a lot of medical word mix ups! One that springs to mind was when I was working for an Oesophago-Gastric Surgeon. One of his patients called me frantic because she was having a lot of problems with her sarcophagus!
Looking forward to having my left catamaran removed! Hilarious!!

Cathy as an ex nurse I too have heard lots of bloopers. However, one I remember came from me. I had a burst appendix when I was 10 years old. After the op I was desperate to go home as we were going on holiday but I was not allowed to until I had opened my bowels. Hearing the nurses talking to various patients I picked up on some words. I couldn’t do it in the bedpan so went to the toilets and did a pooh. I went running onto the ward shouting nurse nurse I’ve just passed my bowels. Much laughter BUT someone flushed it and I still couldn’t go home – then they said there was a pooh in the toilet. Phew.

Hi everyone! Lovely to read all your posts and the medical blooper names made me smile 😀 Just a quick post to say I will set up a new 100 day thread on Monday when I’m back from my long weekend. So will catch up with you all then. CATHY have a great time on your cruise!

Speak soon X

Thanks DCT – a 100 day challenge is just what I need 🙂 have a great long weekend!

I was at the hospital all day yesterday for treatment but that should be it for 6 months, so now I’m fully focussed on getting back into healthy habits!

Cathy – enjoy your cruise! An old school friend of mine just came back from a Mediterranean cruise and I loved reading her daily updates on FB – the scenery was gorgeous and she really raved about how amazing the cruise was! So Bon Voyage 🛳️

Arctic Fox – I’m glad the fire situation has eased where you are. Our official bush fire season starts at the beginning of October, and although it’s still winter here it’s been very warm with hot dry winds which has set off grass fires in my area.

Hi everyone! Just to say I have set up the Hundred Day Challenge just now. I’m suggesting we run it to Christmas Eve, which gives us all flexibility about when we start and finish. I’ll be getting going tomorrow and this time am determined to reach my long term weight of 133lb. See you all on the new thread xx