Hi everyone, glad to have a good group of people helping me to keep this going in the absence of Wendy who is currently sunning herself on the beautiful island of the United Kingdom 🙂

Come and join us in our weekly efforts to stay on track. Doesn’t matter which plan you are following or at what stage, we are here to give each other support and encouragement and an occasional virtual hug.

Dont forget, if you are in the Northern Hemisphere and feeling the heat drink plenty of water and try to keep cool. Lets all keep on keeping on…

Sunshine-Girl, Wendleg and SunnyB

Here is our gang – shout out if I have missed anyone out.
Wendleg/Wendy
Sunshine-girl
SunnyB
Florab85/Lauren
Tulip1/Clare
Verano
Elle-Mae
WindyJulz
Natalie
RubyG
Onestep
Slimmingruby
FlowersForever
Jess213
OriginalMurrayMint
Mrs H22/Laura
HopefulinOz
DaisyWalsh
Russianroulade
arcticfox
Californiagirl
sixturkeys

Hello …. just checking in for the new week.
We are away in Yorkshire for a few days but just wanted to join in early especially as, as a group, we seem to be dwindling by the day.
Ok…. this week will be one of keeping on keeping on ……… as usual! (Thank you s-g)
Flexible eating is ok as long as it’s the exception rather than the rule.
Let’s just try to remember the principles of low carbing and at the end of the day, not sure who said this last week, but whichever path you follow to better overall health … “IT HAS TO BE SUSTAINABLE!”
Yes, if it’s not sustainable, ie. a New Way of Living/Eating , it’s just a ‘diet’ , and as we all know they FAIL with a capital “F”.
Hope everyone has a good week, hope you reach your own goals, just for this week , whatever they may be.

Thanks Verano for your sensible advice. I’m not sure what is happening with my weight at the moment. It goes like this – Friday, 73.3, Saturday 72.8, Sunday 73.1. Monday 73,3, Tuesday 73.6. Honestly not had anything I shouldn’t and always stick to around 800/900 calories which is my normal diet. I also do TRE from 8pm to 10am. Only thing different is I have included a bottle of Alpro probiotic yoghurt but should only come in at 27 cals. I have to remember my own advice and keep on keeping on. If I am doing everything right it will come off. Also had 4 swims of 35 mins over 4 days.

Still waiting for blood results, a bit worrying as they usually take a couple of hours and it is now the day after. I think some of the things I was tested for need to go to Paris for analysis so I should hear soon.

Keep on keeping and stay safe in the heat if you are in the North.

Meeeee!! I’m in!!

sorry i have been AWOL (again)!!
Change of job….. flexibility, accountability and a lot to get control of….. flexible eating…..yes, i did some of that and it escalated and did not become the exception. Anyway, settled to new role and working out how to cope with the reactive varied nature of where i will be and how to control food choices…..and i think I’m back in the right headspace. This is day 2!!

Some how been lots on but nothing dramatic to report, usual horse management challenges, family well, I’m well (just a bit too fat) and we are just chavvin’ awa’ (as we say up here) I’ve missed more than i realized so will go catch up on posts. Noted some challenging times, life just aint easy it is…. hope everyone is working their way toward a good headspace…… finding contentment, acceptance and motivation is something we all need to some extent.

Fingers crossed for blood tests SG.
Have a most fabulous holiday Wendy
Oh and Verano, enjoy Yorkshire, it’ll be beautiful this time of year.

Finding the temperature up here a bit nuts…. we are hardy in Scotland and anything over 18 degrees has us floored so this 25 degrees thing is a bit of a shocker!! Much hydrating going on here!

Take care peeps

xx

Hello.
Weather here weird today very heavy clouds with a few spots of rain but very warm and muggy!
Welcome back Julz the beauty of these threads is that you can pop in and out as needed.
S-g I think what you are seeing are ‘normal’ fluctuations. I’m firmly of the opinion that are bodies just get used to the same old same old. We tend to find meals that fit in with our plans and stick to them. I’m sure that we need to throw in a curved ball now and again. S-g your calorie count is really low after all this time. I’m not suggesting that you start eating carbs but I do think it might be a good idea to throw in a few days with three meals and/or a couple higher calorie days just to give your body something to think about. Hope the blood test results are ok.
I forgot to mention that last week for the first time I had an issue with swapping out potatoes for a vegetable. We were in Dorset in a posh fish place and the vegetables were extras. I was told I could swap a carb, in this case potatoes, for another carb but not for a vegetable. I can only assume lots of people are low carbing and vegetables are more expensive than potatoes so no more swaps!!!

Just to put your mind at rest V. I always have 3 meals a day and usually a snack in the afternoon. I really only stick with the 800 when I am trying to lose weight as right now for the wedding. I think I am normally around 1000 but dont really count if I am not seriously dieting. However, I almost never eat carbs but that is for my BG levels. I am back down to 12 units of insulin after our trip away put me up to 18 units – taken 3 weeks to get back under control – so that is why I stay away from the carbs. However, because whatever I have wrong with me makes it difficult to breath, eating is such a chore and I am now leaving half a plate of food.

I read what you said about swapping for vegetables. When we were in the UK in April went for a pub lunch and was told they dont do salads in winter. I eat salad almost every day no matter what the season or weather. Where in Yorkshire are you, Im a Yorkshire lass.

WOW 12 units that’s wonderful! Not long till you reach the magic number to stop altogether. Wonder if there are any studies of insulin users and low carb? Would be interesting to know.
We’re in Wentbridge just outside of Pontefract. Lovely here. We found this country house hotel many years ago. It was the choice of our sons ex fiancé when we came to Pontefract races maybe 7 years ago. We’ve been back several times since usually when we go to a race meeting…… nothing better than Yorkshire for both horse racing and the Yorkshire crowd, so friendly!

Bonjour a tous, (hello everyone) – just slipped into French for a moment. I was worried that I hadn’t received my blood test results within a few short hours, now day 3 so I telephoned – hence having French in my head. Apparently the tests I have had take up to 7 days to see if something grows on the sample, particularly for toxoplasmosis. I have cats but I never allow them near my face – no kissing – so I don’t think I will have that. Anyway I should have all my results by Monday.

Back to the reason we are here – healthy eating. Glad I stuck to my own motto of KOKO because I have now lost a little bit and know it pays not to give up.

Verano, yes the magic number is 8 units and I am going to discuss with Dr at my September check up (although I will probably have to see him before then for other things). The reason is the wedding and nearly 3 weeks in the UK driving around visiting friends and family which will probably put my BG up a bit and I will need a few weeks to get back down.

BTW, I know Pontefract very well. My brother did his nurse training at the Infirmary there, we are from Leeds originally but in my last years in the UK we lived in Northallerton in North Yorkshire.

Well that’s all the chat for now. Stay safe in this heat, drink plenty of water and keep the house cool by shutting curtains and not letting the heat in. I have a little fan right at the side of the bed which blows near my face and I sleep very well, even in 25 degrees at bedtime last night.

Bonne fête nationale. Today is the 14th July and that is the national day of France. The English call it Bastille Day as it commemorates the storming of the prison in Paris during the French Revolution in 1789, but the French have no idea what you are talking about if you say Fete de Bastille as I found out some years ago when trying to book a restaurant table.

So for us it will be a quiet day although we did our shopping this morning and the supermarket was heaving. As yesterday was so hot I didnt have my swim until around 8.30 pm and will probably be the same today. Hope you are all keeping safe but enjoying the Mediterranean weather in the UK.

Good afternoon.
S-g I can assure you that the weather here is nothing like the Med! We even had some rain on Tuesday on our way to Beverley! Shouldn’t complain though. I know it’s due to get hotter but the heat is so much nicer when your on the coast.
Not much to report today except I’m having a spell of ‘flexible’ eating. I treated myself to some Montezuma’s Hippy Dippy chocolate which is only 74% but it’s so lovely that every now and again I treat myself. It reminds me of Fry’s Turkish delight but without the gooey texture and all that sugar.
S-g just look to the end of September as you goal to reach that magic number. Life without insulin ….. all good!

Hi All, just checking in 😚

Wendy- I am from Lichfield (continuing last week’s thread)- hope you are having a fab break.

I’ve come down with a horrible virus!!!! (seemingly not covid, judging by daily testing, needed for work- not allowed in until symptoms subside anyway) along with my whole family…except for hubby,who is working in India this week, sigh.

SG- Good luck with your results x

Lauren- hope you are doing ok.

Love to all xxxxx

Good afternoon everyone. Hi to WindyJulz, welcome back. As you can see we still have you on our list as we know you are lurking. It is hard when we have so much going on in our lives. I am lucky that I am now retired and doing my weekly shop makes for a busy day 🙂

Hi Tulip, sorry about your virus – any idea what it is. Do you think (everyone not just Tulip) that we have kept ourselves in isolation for so long and not caught anything that all those normal nasty bugs are now waiting around to get us. I personally haven’t had a cough or cold for around 10 years. Not really a miracle as I seem to have everything else to make up for it.

Now down to 11 units of insulin and weight is slowy, slowly going back down. Would still like to be under 72kgs before we go away. We will be having visitors before we go then a meal on the ferry going over so have to be ready for that. Might be okay as daughter has saved me 3 free passes to her gym and reckons we are going every day before the wedding. At least I will get to swim.

Have a nice weekend and stay safely out of the sun.

Just popping in to say ‘hello’!
Hope all is well with everyone.
Had a busy weekend being entertained and entertaining. Mainly carb friendly with just a little ‘flexible’ eating…. less than half a pitta and a minute sliver of lemon tart…. pleased to have found a dessert without sugar overload…. nice once in a blue moon.
Anyway, Tulip hope you’re recovering it can’t be much fun being ill in this heat.
Wendy hope you’re still having a great time here.
S-g fingers crossed for your results tomorrow.
And for everyone reading have a good evening/day. I’m off to listen to the next PM debate….. oh dear!

Hi everyone. I’m just quickly popping on also to say hi. We have taken the family away for a spontaneous little holiday, but will catchup properly on everybody’s posts when I get back. SG I hope that tomorrow goes well. Wendy and Verano – hope your trips way have been fabulous x

Thinking if you and your appointment S-G.
To all those in Europe and the UK, take care in this heatwave – we were away camping over the weekend and I’m pleased that the worst of the weather moved to today and tomorrow, but even so the weekend was very warm and hydration was critical. We kept ourselves covered in cool clothing while out in the sun, and for the next 2 days we are staying indoors as much as we can.
The weekend involved more food than the norm, but the only carbs was an ice-cream cone each – it had to be done 🙂
Keeping on keeping on as S-G would say.

Hi everyone, not sure if I will get my results today as it was a holiday in France on Thursday so that might put it back a day. Anyway, will be watching for the ping of the email.

Hope you are all keeping safe in the hot weather. We just dont go out in it. I have said sometimes it is too hot to go for a swim and people have said that was not possible as it was the best time to swim, when you are hot. Not if your pool is in the open and there is not shade. It can give a false sense of security in the cool water but the sun is still beating down and even worse, it is reflecting the sun to make it even hotter. Drink plenty of water and watch out for the elderly – they forget to drink and can quickly become disorientated.

I will be setting up a new thread later today and hope to see you all there.

Hubby are I are staying indoors and working form home today, I filled the bird bath and watered the plants this morning and now they will have to fend for themselves.
The front of the house gets the morning sun, so this morning we had the back curtains, windows and doors open, but now the heat is building and moving to the back of the house all the windows and curtains on that side are now closed – the “breeze” felt like a furnace.
My BP was 99/57 a short while ago – I was feeling very flat, which is why I took a reading, so I have upped my water intake – I would actually rather just have a nap, but work calls 🙁
Although I have lived in the UK for 20 years, I am originally from a much hotter part of the world, and we used to shelter indoors in the heat of the day, so I still find it odd to see people flocking to outdoor spaces in the sun.
Hubby has his repeat bloods early next month (his last HbA1c was really goo, but cholesterol was a bit high) and I’m hoping that now that his weight loss is more or less stable, and he is more active than he was mid-winter, his cholesterol will be down a bit too. We shall see.
Take care everyone!

I guess I spoke too soon and my results are in. The big positive is that I dont have some of the big markers they were looking for but I do have something wrong. I will wait for the doctor to get in touch and I will also nudge the receptionist to make me that appointment with the lung specialist (he was on holiday). I am not going to speculate on the exact nature of what is going on as that can spiral but I do know I will be well taken care of.

I have set up the new thread and will be around for another week before I head off to the UK to be at my daughters wedding.

S-g that sounds like good news and yes no point in speculation because as you say the mind can so easily run riot.
So pleased we had our friends around for lunch yesterday , it’s very, very warm here today and like you Ruby my blinds have been closed, and my windows, and we’ve stayed quite cool. Just opened a window now for a bit of fresh air. To be honest I’m not fond of the heat in a garden much prefer it by the coast but I would imagine that all the beaches are heaving today.
We are going away two weeks today so I’ll pop over to the new thread now but that might be it for a while.