Welcome to the new monthly thread. I am not the best influence for you all at the moment, having just spent 2 weeks on a cruise with a total glut of food. What you can be sure of is I am totally on board to make a big difference in May.

So, whether you are one of our regulars, a newbie to the diet or just lurking, come and join us on our adventure into weight loss and health.

Sunshine-girl, SunnyB and Wendleg.

Thanks for setting this up s-g. Just checking in so I can get all the posts. Although I’m not home until May 9th I will definitely be back on board on the 10th!

Have a Marvellous May everyone.

Thanks for the new monthly thread. Marvellous May sounds…well…marvellous!

Tbh I am struggling at the moment, weight seems to be yo-yoing for no apparent reason. I am not counting carb and cal now, but think I am following the principle and keeping low carb with a few more than 1000 calories. Since Easter, when I know I slipped quite badly with chocolate 🍫 (85%, but a fair portion of it!) and the midnight feast of granary bread 🍞 toast after my prang 🚙, I have been careful about what I am eating. However, my weight is fluctuating wildly from 10st 5lb and 10st 10lb from day to day!! 🫤🤔🙄.
Feeling pretty down and finding motivation very hard… so no posts on the positives thread recently… but I am going to try harder and 🤞 hopefully get back on track!!
Hope we all have a marvellous May!

Thank you S-G for setting up Marvellous May😀
I have also consumed chocolate over Easter & particularly liked my husbands Toblerone one🙀
I am continuing TRE & trying to eat more protein whilst lowering carbs but am on some new medication for my sensitive bladder & have felt hungrier since taking it but perhaps I am imagining that & making excuses for any increased eating.
I am loving the sunshine & I had an NHS hearing test at Specsavers this morning & am now the proud? owner/user of two hearing aids that I have a fortnight to get used to before a further hearing check. They do feel a little odd particularly in my left ear & I don’t think that I am hearing very differently but perhaps watching some tv without subtitles might show that.
I have heard my knee replacement surgery may be within the next five to six months with the surgeon I saw privately last October!
Oh well I need to use this time to start exercising more & to try to become slimmer & fitter. I am now awaiting my Ocado grocery delivery.
Keep on going everyone & Happy May Day💐💐
Margaret xx

Good evening!

Well we are now on our last leg of our trip. I feel like I’ve been away forever although in fact it’s just over two weeks. Anyway, we have had two really good ‘legs’ and are now with son and family in Portugal so another wonderful time ahead.

Food wise, well I’m being anything but ‘wise’ at the moment but such is life and I’m enjoying going off piste!

Margaret sorry your surgery is still way off in the future but as you say you can use the time to become as healthy as possible before your surgery. Just don’t expect miracles given your reduced mobility.

Pootle, first time around is always the easiest! We have all struggled when it comes to maintenance or second/third etc, time around. I think a five pound cushion sounds quite reasonable. Don’t beat yourself up just keep on keeping an eye on your upper limit and don’t let it get out of hand.

Promise to post on the positive thread soon. I’ve certainly had more than my fair share of positives over the last few weeks but just not had the time, or internet connection, to share them. Will be back soon..

Enjoy Marvellous May!

Hi to all of you. Sorry I wasnt here to greet you yesterday. I too am still on holiday staying with family in the UK until 6th May but I will keep dropping in. Lovely weather at the moment, we are having the same in France but due to cool down for our return.

Like you Verano, I am not following any form of plan, either diabetic, low carb or even anywhere near a diet. However, daughter took us on a 2 mile walk then yesterday dragged me to the gym where I did 20 mins on the treadmill. some leg weights and had half an hour swim. Low and behold lost half a kilo this morning. I wont be doing anything serious about diet so not a great leader at the moment.

Dont worry too much Pootle, just look at how far you have come and accept that life isnt always perfect for sticking with our goals but you will soon get your mojo back. Maybe you should weigh yourself a bit less then you wont notice the peaks and lows. Having said that, I am the worst for daily weighing but know that a small gain will make me more motivated and a small loss will do the same. The bad times are when you go out for one meal, avoid carbs and puds but have a few glasses of wine and you show a 2kg gain the next day and wonder how the heck that happened.

Margaret, your surgery is getting closer and you have 6 months to get yourself into the best shape ever. You sound determined.

Verano, we are in exactly the same situation i.e. cruise then family. Daughter likes taking us for long walks or trips to stately homes but there is always a pub at the end of it. No point counting but I have just lost a smidge of weight in the last 2 days and my BG is back into the normal but high range. I think we get home around the same time so just enjoy the time you have with family and I will be doing the same.

We have a lot of news and will probably be putting our French home up for sale in the next month, making plans to return to the UK and be with our family.

I will try to pop by in the next few days but if not will see you on Tuesday 6th May when I will be up to my neck in unpacking. That is when I will do an official weigh in and get seriously back on plan. So looking forward to it.

S-g good to hear your b-g is back in the normal range. Mine has been higher than normal but nothing really serious which is a miracle really!

So, looks like you’ve made a decision! Nothing like getting things straight in your own mind. Family is very important so good to be close to them if you can be. Enjoy your planning.

Official weigh in after the holiday is not so big a shock after 3 weeks of pure greed and not following any sort of plan. Up 6.5lbs.

Now to get serious again and follow my well worn path of BSD, low carb and TRE. Hope to see many more of you on here even if you have strayed. We all do it from time to time. Also looking forward to getting Verano back.

The only downside is our housesitter obviously had no idea about our sit on mower and has taken chunks out of the grass, missed big patched and run into a tree stump. We think she has seriously damaged the mower but waiting for the rain to stop so hubby can get it outside and on a ramp to inspect it. It will be a massive bill if it is as damaged as we think judging by the way the grass has been ripped out rather than mowed. We will see.

Keep on keeping on…

Hi s-g glad you made it home safely. We are due home on Friday so I have the weekend to organise washing and shopping before I jump back on the wagon on Monday.

I have a delivery organised for Saturday morning with lots of fresh stuff and to be honest after over three weeks away I’ll be happy to have some healthy balanced meals again! I have a feeling I’m going to be ‘hungry’ after having three meals a day, and sometimes eating because ‘it’s that time I’d day’, rather than because I’m ‘hungry’.

Anyway looking forward to making the rest of May a marvellous month!

Hi and thanks for starting a Marvellous May thread!

Sounds like quite a few of us are enjoying holidays at the moment- hope the weather is cooperating for those of you and if you’re not focusing on your diet then hope you’re enjoying the food you’re splurging on!!
I’m really pleased my weight has dropped by another 2.5kg, so total weight loss so far is 12kg!
I’ve never managed to lose this much so I’m really pleased with my progress and I bet my consultant will be delighted when I see him on the 9th June… I just googled 12kg and turns out its 26.4lb- sounds better in that currency doesn’t it?
I’m finding the TRE/IF way of life so easy to stick to and I’m so pleased to have discovered this WOE!

Marvellous May is progressing well… sunshine and a very little rain has done wonders for the garden.

Welcome home to all the holidayers, great to hear you have enjoyed a really good break.
My earlier dilemma with see-sawing weight seems to have settled a little. Now only about 2lb difference! I do have to weigh every day because I know my weakness is to think ‘one won’t matter’ then ‘I had one yesterday, so could have another today’! If I can keep track daily it gives me as much motivation as I can get!
I am having an my first ‘annual’ blood test tomorrow, (a little early) so 🤞🙏 that I have remained in diabetic remission and all else is still in order! I don’t expect to get the results until next week so I am keeping on keeping on!
Congratulations Happysnap… doesn’t it feel good!!!
S-G hope you enjoy the planning for the move back to the UK, it can be important to be within easy reach of family… also hope the mower isn’t too damaged!!
Verano, good to hear that your holiday indulgences haven’t had a drastic effect… Hope you have an easy climb back onto the wagon!

Margaret, I hope the hearing aids are working out… tv no longer needing subtitles! And that the op happens soon!

That’s all for now folks… wishing you all health and happiness in Marvell May!

Hi all, well the mower seems to be okay and hubby has given half the grass a good going over. Such a relieft it looks so much better, it was such a mess I could have cried. I have also contacted our gardener to come and clear my potagers so I can think about planting tomatoes in the next week. Then I will be planting about 100 geraniums in pots to go all around the house and the poolside. To make the house sellable. Will put it on the market by the end of the month.

Seeing the garden in such a mess and also looking at opening the pool has given hubby new resolve for going back to the UK. The reaslisation at we are getting a bit old for such a big property and how much hard work it is to maintain it all.

Glad you are back on track Pootle. I decided to weigh every other day then couldnt resist jumping on the scales this morning to find a one pound loss already and I haven’t even started properly.

More good weather on the way, enjoy.

Welcome back S-G & it’s good to hear that your lawn mower has not been broken. Getting ready to sell one’s house is always stressful & hard work so I hope all your prep goes well.
Thank you Verano for your kind words & I am getting used to my hearing aids although they still feel itchy in my left ear. I have now reconciled myself to my delayed surgery & my husband & I have booked a week away at a Warners holiday hotel on Hayling Island next month. We come from Portsmouth so it will be fun visiting the area & getting to know it again.
Well done Pootle getting back on track & HappySnap for losing weight 👏👏. I hope your blood test results are good Verano 🤞🤞. Sorry if I have missed anyone out 🤔
Margaret xx

Taking a couple of days to get back into the eating routine plus I needed to do a shop. Verano said she might feel hungry when she gets back on plan and I can assure her she will. I even had a slice of toast before bed.

Breakfast today was 2 boiled eggs and one Ryvita then hallumi and bacon salad. For dinner I am having an aubergine mousakka and hope that will be it for the evening.

Should also have said I have set myself a goal of 7.5kgs in 7 months. So nice and steady.

Still lost 1lb so no further progress. Weighing every other day. Cutting down each day, still had a slice of toast last night. Today started with 2 boiled eggs but minus the Ryvita, then a lunch of tuna salad. Friday is fish and chips and I am not keen on fish but I will have a small piece with a salad.

News about house move is that daughter and sil want us to move into the house they were gifted by his father (and mother). They say they are happy to gift it to us. No money will change hands so we will not be handing over our life savings but maybe paying amounts to update the house. They will sign documents to say we cannot be asked to leave in case of divorce or some other unforseen event.

I can see my husband becoming more and more frail and I too find I have to sit down every 15 or so minutes to have a rest when doing housework. Things can turn on a sixpence and go terribly wrong and then we would be trying to sell up when we are more infirm. Better to get it done now while we have some fitness left.

Will keep you updated but try not to bore you.

Just a quick ‘hello’ to say home safe and sound, great flight, bags unpacked but washing still to do!

Well done to those losing, those with T2 staying in ‘remission’ and everyone who is still ‘trying’!

Tomorrow I will weigh and assess the ‘damage’ of over three weeks of, not gay abandon, just mindless earring that wasn’t always that enjoyable!

Really looking forward to getting back to my ‘healthy’ eating plan tomorrow.

Hope everyone is doing ‘Marvellously’ in ‘May’!

Great to have you back Verano. Don’t rush to get back on plan, take it easy, it is b—–dy hard work. Just about managing after 5 days and kept carbs and cals down yesterday. Must start recording on myfitnesspal just to be sure.

Not much to report, gardener came this morning to look at the mess that is my potager. He will send me a quote later today.

Good to be back s-g!

I have to admit to throwing myself back into ‘healthy eating’ from this morning. It was wonderful not to have to eat breakfast just because it was ‘included’! I know that if I don’t jump back on the treadmill straight away that I’ll be totally lost. I enjoyed my time away but not necessarily the ‘mindless’ eating. There were lots of ‘nonBSD’ meals that I really enjoyed but the majority, especially desserts, weren’t that great.

So back to the ‘healthy me’ starting with the first step today….

One week weigh in today shows just over 2lb loss, so I am well on track for 1kg a month. Taking it slowly but really concentrating on getting BG down and insulin. I have had 2 readings in the 80s which I am well pleased with but insulin is 24units and last night reduced to 22. Slowly slowly.

Verano, I know what you mean about throwing yourself back in. Funny how the choices I make here at home are automatically the right ones. Only downfall was a couple of vodkas on Sunday evening – just getting out of bad habits a bit at a time 🙂 I am sure next week I will do better.

Feeling frustrated and sad!
Having had an Hb1Ac reading of 40 last December… huge celebration as I was now in remission, my latest reading is 44…pre-diabetic again!!! 😥
I suppose it could be worse, I could have gone back into diabetes, but this has knocked me for 6!
I admit I haven’t been counting calories or carbs, as I have been maintaining the weight… I am the same weight I was in December. However, I have been avoiding potatoes, bread, pasta and rice, as well as all the sugary or sweet foods that once would have been a staple part of my diet! So where have I gone wrong? Maybe the 1/2 beetroot brownie I have been treating myself to? Or the few berries?
Or could it be the asthma medication I am taking daily?

I am going to have to start counting carbs again… 🫣😩

S-g good to hear your numbers are moving down. I’m also losing my holiday gain and am pleased with my progress so far. Hopefully by next Tuesday it will be gone and I’ll be back to losing!

Pootle so sorry your results weren’t as good as you’d hoped for. I think one of the biggest misconceptions with this WOE and diabetes is that weight is the most important factor, but weight per se isn’t the secret. It’s the carbs! It’s amazing how the odd piece of fruit, an apple, kiwi or satsuma can push your carbs up quite substantially. The berries are fine but take a look at the carbs in beetroots! In fact anything that grows under the ground is really a no-no.

You have the right idea. Go back to counting carbs and do the odd finger prick test. This is a life long change in our way of eating. In saying that once your BS is back into the normal range you will be able to assess if the odd apple or pasta dish etc throws your BS out. We all work out what suits us best it just takes time!

Hi Pootle, you posted after me so I missed your news but read Veranos.

She is absolutely right about the carbs. Unfortunately, it is a hard lesson to learn. You are prone to diabetes and you will be for the rest of your life. If that upsets you (as it does me) then you have to find the positives in this way of eating. All the lovely things you can have like avocados, olive oil, strawberries, blueberries lots of lovely fresh salads and veg. You have slipped back into pre-diabetes so not full blown diabetes, you have chance to correct things before your next HbA1c (when is that going to be) to put things right again.

I know this is not the news you expected or wanted but you can turn it around again, Good luck. And, yes, cut out the carbs – they are not too much of a sacrifice compared to your health.

Thanks Verano,
I find it interesting that I have been doing a morning finger prick test 3 times a week… the results of which were always around the 6mmol/L mark (ranging between 5.2 and 6.8) so I thought I was doing ok!! Obviously not! 😥
So back to it…. Cutting out everything ‘higher’ carb and counting carbs again! I am determined to conquer this!

Thanks S-G.
Onwards… I will keep on keeping on!
Xx

Pootle, on the finger test a 6.0 is diabetic so the 5.2’s probably kept you in pre-diabetes. Try to be under or around 5.

Thanks S-G.
I was going by the chart that came with the machine…
1.1 – 3.9 = low
4.0 – 7.0 = normal
7.1 – 10.0 = pre
10.1 – 13.8 = diabetic
13.9 – 33.3 = dangerous.
Obviously incorrect… if I had known, I would have been stricter!
You and Verano have been so encouraging and supportive… thank you both!
Xx

Here is the guidance for diabetes
‘For people with diabetes, blood sugar level targets are as follows:
before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/L for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes’.

This is obviously assuming you are diabetic. My readings are also classed as good at between 5 and 6 but I am diabetic.

So you are right BUT it is normal for people with diabetes. For a non-diabetic which you were hoping you were the range is 4 to 5.9.

It can be so confusing but I hope that has sorted it out for you.

Pootle.

The figures are such a problem. I think you need to find your own ‘personal’ figures. I only test in the morning before eating. I do this maybe 3 times a week. For me, if I’m less than 6.7 that’s ok for ME, but maybe not for you!

I would suggest you finger prick before breakfast maybe every other day for a couple of weeks. It would be really useful if you keep a diary of what you eat each day so you can see how your BS is the next morning.

In saying all that the measures are really not accurate. I would guess that within 1 to 0.5 difference in readings is ‘normal’. Finger pricking really is just a ‘guide’.

Hi all, not much to report except being extremely busy starting the big clear out. Cleared out an old desk hubby seemed to be so attached to, replaced with a fairly new chest of drawers, done some shrub cutting and now absolutely whacked.

More work tomorrow.

Hi everyone, just popping on this thread quickly to ask if anyone has been in touch with Lauren (florob85)? I see she hasn’t posted since 2023, but I was hoping to be able to thank her. It was because she mentioned she has c-ptsd that I looked up what it was, and although I originally thought that it didn’t apply to my situation, the search was enough to start videos popping up on my various feeds and after watching a few, I realized that I was resonating with the symptoms. And then early in 2024, I realized that I likely had ptsd from a nasty incident I attended as a first aider. So I found a trauma counsellor and have been working really hard over the last year, and finally had a huge breakthrough this week. Still a long way to go in my healing journey, but I just wanted to let Lauren know that it is down to her that I was even able to get started. I don’t know if she still checks in and reads the posts or if anyone was ever in contact with her via email?