Hi, all! Home now from Arizona trip, which was nice, lots of lovely scenery (and also lots of flat boring dessert.. ha ha).

As these first three months of the year draw to a close, I find myself right where I was the first week of January. It’s not that I didn’t lose any weight… I did… I just didn’t stay consistent enough to keep it off. For a person of my extreme weight, 800 calories is just very hard to sustain, and it resulted in a lot of up-and-down on the scale.

As we begin a new month and spring is blossoming all around, I am ready for a fresh start. My aim will be to lose 5 pounds a month. If I can do that consistently, it will add up quickly. After inputting my height, age, weight, and activity level (less than sedentary) into a seemingly reliable calculator, I’ve worked out the calories required to lose 5 pounds each month, with calorie allowance moving downward as I lose weight. At present, it looks like I’ll be able to lose 5 pounds in April on 1350 calories, so that’s where I’ll begin.

Because regular calorie counting is NOT what this forum is for, I will not be posting much or at all, but will still be popping in to read and may say hello, applaud your successes, and support your efforts and frustrations along the way. You are all such lovely people, and I do want to stay in touch!

Happy Spring, everyone, and all the best to all of you.

Becca

A postscript to my post above: I’m considering using these calorie allowances I’ve calculated on 5 days of the week, and then doing 2 very low calorie lunch-only days– basically a 5:2 plan, but not really 5:2, since I’d also be counting and tracking on the 5 days instead of free eating as the book suggests. I want the health benefits of partial fasting two days a week.

Have any of you tried or heard of a more controlled version of 5:2?

Becca personally I think that 800 calories is unattainable for most people. You say you have a lot of weight to lose and you have great motivation with your granddaughter. You don’t mention if you have diabetes or not. You are aiming for 5lbs a month which is achievable.

Can I make a couple of suggestions? Firstly, it doesn’t matter which method you use to shed unwanted weight we are all here to support each other so keep posting. I’m not certain that your reliance on calorie counting is necessarily the best way to move forward. I don’t know if you have actually read the Fast 800 diet book but the diet was designed really to help reverse pre diabetes and T2 but the offshoot was weight loss. For those of us who have/had T2 the diet works well to reduce blood sugar. The secret is ‘low carb’ not low calorie per se. When you become low carb you almost always automatically reduce calories without having to count. There is a very good website called Diet Doctor which is basically low carb/keto. No calorie counting just restricting certain kinds of foods.

In essence if you cut out, for want of a better word, the ‘bad’ carbs, like bread, rice, pasta ( of all colours), potatoes root vegetables and breakfast cereals, you are automatically restricting your calories. Sodas, even with artificial sweeteners, fruit juices, some fruits like mango, banana, pineapple even apples which are high in carbs, should be restricted. Be careful with mayonnaise but have good fats like olive oil. So I guess this sounds really restrictive because you also need to cut out the obvious cakes, biscuits, crackers, crisps etc. but you can have berries and dark chocolate, 70%, and drink plenty of water.

Michael Mosley first published the Fast 800 diet in 2016, although I think the 5:2 came before that. So 10 years on and research had moved forward in leaps and bounds. I like Ben Bikman’s work but there are so many others like Jason Fung but it’s very easy to become bogged down. YouTube has some good podcasts which may be of help although I find some a bit too scientific.

Let’s be honest here we all know when we have the odd ‘cheat’ but still think we can get away with it! I know I certainly do. I guess we just have to be really honest with ourselves. In fact I think losing the weight initially is the easiest part it’s keeping it off that’s difficult! Certain I’ve not be able to maintain my initial loss. But I do think that I’d be much worse off if I hadn’t kept posting on these threads.

Just never give in or give up and you will reach your goal. I’m very sorry if I’ve spoken out of turn here please just ignore me if I have. But as sunshine-girl always says … you just have to keep on keeping on………….

Newbie2026 you’re losing weight…. great that’s what it’s all about, as well as being healthier!

As I’ve just said above 800 calories is really restrictive and I think unattainable for most. I think we each have to work out what feels most comfortable.

Cauliflower, the low carb saviour! There is an old thread somewhere that lots of us posted our favourite cauliflower recipes on. I have cauliflower most day usually steamed and mashed sometimes with some broccoli added. Add seasoning like horseradish, garlic,, steamed with the cauliflower for example. I usually mash mine with a little butter but mainly I use Greek yogurt which gives a creamy consistency like mashed potatoes without the calories of butter. Now that the winter is drawing to a close I’ll probably move more towards salads although I do love my green vegetables!

Anyway whatever you’re doing it’s obviously working so just keep going!

I can’t get the cauliflower thread back up but just search in the box above for
“101 ways with cauliflower’ and it should come up.

Good morning on the last day of this thread!
I have posted on the 101 ways with cauliflower thread, so it now appears in the recents.

S-G and Verano might remember that I had a major battle with the practice diabetes nurse at my first appointment with her after my diagnosis in the summer of 2024. I have not been recalled for a check up since, until this week, when I received a letter asking me to make an appointment with her for a review!
I swear that my BS goes up when I am stressed… the finger prick reading after receiving this letter was the highest I have had in over 6 months..🫣!
Looking forward to reading the new thread tomorrow ( my birthday… yes I am an April Fool! 😂). Sorry I am not posting much, but I do still find these threads inspirational!

I just hope that I am able to hold my temper at the appointment! 🤞🤞🤞🤞
My HbA1c was 42 in December, compared with 40 the previous December, but then I had been very strictly low carb for 6 months. I have had ‘treats’ over the last 18 months, but have treated myself less in the last couple of weeks!

For the new thread what about:
One month at a time: 2026 April Appetite Assuaged??
Sorry, not brilliant..
k x

Pootle I’ve just posted the new April thread “Astounding April: One Month at a Time”, sorry I’ve only just seen your post!

🎉🥂🎈HAPPY BIRTHDAY🎊🪅🎉 for tomorrow Pootle🎈🎈

So do we just add ourselves to the new thread?

Happy birthday Pootle – have a great day and good luck with your appointment.

I shall have a look at the cauliflower thread and hopefully get some inspiration for some variations on the veg, its low calorie and a good filler but a bit samey so new ideas will be great 👍

Thanks V and Newbie!
N if you look at ‘recent topics’, you will find the new monthly topic.. open it, post something and click on ‘notify me’ at the bottom! See you there!
K xx

Becca- I’ve posted a reply to your 5:2 questions, but I’ve put it on the new April thread 🙂