Hi all,
Water fast from lunch to lunch went fine, and then something I ate disagreed with me at lunch. I visited my mum (which was great to allay stress about her and she was thrilled to see me, I surprised her, she lives 2 hours drive away). Even though I weighed the same as six weeks ago when she last saw me, she said I definitely looked a lot slimmer – so there you go. Visible change in body composition. Hooray!
We went to a cafe for lunch and I ordered a dessert that I didn’t really need – it was pavlova in a jar, tasted horrendously sweet compared to the last time I had it six months ago. My tastes have definitely changed. Either the sugar or the egg content triggered massive GD (gastrointestinal distress, bloating). Plus I hadn’t really thought about the carbs making it harder to stay awake driving home again. Since this is the second time a carb binge has given me major GD, I am having thoughts about whether I want to do that ever again!
@jgwen, I ordered “The Complete Guide to Fasting” and it arrived today. I went straight to the FAQs about breaking a fast well!!! Will be keen to follow your journey. I’m mixing it up with fasting. I’ve done a few 24 hours now, a 40 hour, and one slightly longer 60 hour (not going to do that again, not necessary). I like 36 hours. I didn’t get dizzy or feel unwell. It feels good to not worry about food for a whole day.

Hi JGwen

I’m with LouiseKangaroo on this one, I would vote for option 1, increased fasting duration.

My experience with the nutritional ‘expertise’ of personal trainers is the same as LouiseK’s – they’re very keen on carbs. They’re very like dieticians, so that even if they personally follow a different eating plan (e.g. keto) they won’t recommend it to their clients. I expect because they’re worried that they’ll get sued if you have a heart attack from all the fat that they told you to eat 😊

If you wanted to see a trainer purely for exercise then I think that would be a different thing – like Verano said, working with a trainer is very motivating and a good one makes it fun.

But you say the person you’re thinking about works with you on diet, and that gives me pause. Honestly, you know more about this already than most people with degrees in nutritional science, I don’t think he’s going to be able to tell you anything you don’t know. And as I said above, I fear he may just tell you to eat things you know to be counterproductive for your body.

Given that, I’m worried that you’d end up paying £550 just to work out with him twice a week, which seems a lot…

Are you also looking for a third party to keep you accountable? I can see that might help, but I worry that he won’t support your low carb choices. You could always just ask Wendleg to nag you 😉 (That was a joke!! Wendleg, you know we love you.)

I don’t have LouiseK’s personal experience of maintaining—or not—with the addition of HIIT. Because I’m a long way from maintenance! But I do think that the literature strongly supports her experience, that diet not exercise is the “magic bullet”. And I second her point that Fung et al talk about extended fasting increasing metabolic rate, for good evolutionary reasons. Don’t get me wrong, I think exercise is fantastic for the body, it’s really important to do. But you seem to be keen to reduce fat, not just get fitter/stronger. And I’m worried that exercise may not help with that, or not as much as fasting.

My experience with extended fasting has been good. I struggle to discard with the 20g/800 cal regime—as I’ve often said, I feel like I’m sandpapering it off. And that’s with OMAD, which is my normal routine. With extended fasting thrown in I usually see progress. I won’t say it melts away, but it’s encouraging. Even when the scales don’t move, or move only a tiny bit (which frustrates me no end because I am obsessed with the scales), I am seeing continued shrinking in measurements, especially my waist. For example, I am already belting in trousers that I bought this season, even though the scales have shown very little movement.

I like the Fung/Ramos fasting routine, when I do it mine tend to be 48 hours but that’s just because I don’t eat breakfast or lunch. And mine are more likely to be two a week than three. I have been out of the fasting routine for a while, and it showed. I am now getting back into it.

Also, I seem to remember that you were keen on autophagy? (Aren’t we all…) If that’s true, then increased fasting duration is the only way to achieve that.

Sorry, I know you already know everything I’ve said in this post. Goodness, you explained most of it to me, or pointed me to the resources that covered it!

But, you did ask for people’s views. If it was me, I’d try serious fasting for a while, keep that £550 and put it towards new, smaller clothes. But that’s just me.

I will be really interested to hear whatever you decide!

Hugs, Elky

JGwen I just read Elky’s reply and I had missed that your personal trainer would be 550 pounds. I just paid a quarter of that for my HIIT training (only 8 weeks though) and that included body scans, personal training plan and nagging, and diet advices – which I didn’t follow as it was very carb loaded.
When I compare Australia cost of living to France, it is very high so I’d think it might be comparable to the UK.
Anyway, I’m with Elky, keep your money to buy other stuff, or find a personal trainer for only the exercising as you know everything there is to know about diet. Another alternative if you’d like specific 1:1 support is looking at the online IDM program? No idea of costs.
Cheers

Hi JGwen
I’ve also been considering fasting and have just posted about it to Wendy on the one week thread so won’t repeat it here.

My vote (oh no, did I really say vote – argh) would go for the fasting first for all the reasons everyone else has said. Unless this person is really up on LCHF etc I could imagine you getting really frustrated with the dietary/nutrition aspect of his advice. Like Louise says, I think you’re going to know far more than him about this. My experience with a personal trainer is limited but exactly as Elky says – the one I had was like the dietician I saw – focused on standard advice which I knew wasn’t right for me – in fact even his training advice wasn’t that tailored to my ‘condition’ which was disappointing as that was his specialism.
I guess if he really has a good reputation and you think he could really progress your fitness/strength etc, you could always go for that first meeting you mentioned with your food diary etc and decide from that if you want to take him on. But, personally, for shifting the internal fat I’d try the extended fasting first. It’s what I am going to do. If you go for it I’ll be very interested to hear your assessment of its impact.

MelBelle, LouiseK and Elky – thanks, your experiences were helpful to me, too.

Jennie xx

I had been wondering why this thread was quiet but have just realised I’m no longer getting email updates, this has happened before.
How is everyone going? I can’t believe we are in the last few days of November, this month has flown by.
I managed to discard 900g this week, almost a whole kilo. I’d like to be able to say it was due to no nonsense but it was mainly due to being busy and skipping meals rather than planned fasting.
I’m going to try and be more organised this week.
Good luck all for the last few days we have left 🙂

Another no nonsense week successfully completed, but disappointment when I stepped on scales this morning as it did not show a discard, but I won’t let it mean that I start eating more carbs. I will continue on my lc path to slimtown, whenever that will be. Good luck everyone.

Hello everyone and happy weekend.

Lovely to read all about everyone’s ups and downs, and I love that this forum is so friendly and supportive. I hope that everyone has found the answers to questions they have raised on here.

SO do we want to carry on? I know I do! At least for the first three weeks of December until Christmas hits (not that I intend to go mad over Christmas but will be away from home staying in a hotel, so a bit more difficult to plan meals and to post on here!).

I’m just getting back in my groove after tbh a rather disappointing November. I’m now back on OMAD (One Meal a Day) and managing that just fine, whereas earlier in the month I was carb-stuffing. So that’s got to be good! I do want to get back onto either 16:8 or three meals a day, because for medical reasons I need to be careful about nutrition, but this week I’ve felt the need to do longer periods of fasting to rebalance my system – I was getting very bloated and sluggish.

Anyway, if there are some of us who would like to continue, I’m happy to set up a December forum unless anyone else particularly wants to? Ideas for names would be very welcome: the best I’ve up with so far are Diligent December or Disciplined December.

Best wishes to all you lovely people – including those who read but do not post X

DCT- thank you for setting us all up for a December thread! I must admit that I got a surprise to realise that it’s the end of the month- where has November gone? I’ve let myself down yet again. To be honest I forget to get weighed this morning but I know I haven’t lost anything at all this month! I’ve tried to but seem to have lost the key to success. My body has got used to low carb I think. The hormone cream I’ve been given hasn’t helped and I do feel bloated. I’ve finished the loading dose now so hopefully my body will adjust.
I’ll definitely be joining the December thread. I have had a stressful and upsetting few weeks at work, have handed in my resignation and decided to apply for early retirement in March. I’ve got lots to look forward to and lots to be thankful for. I have a lovely husband, two lovely boys and a lovely daughter in law and I am in reasonably good health and still have a positive outlook. If I hadn’t followed BSD for a further year of low carb there is no doubt I’d be back to being three stone overweight. I am currently 10lbs over where I want to be and just need to find a way to get it off.

Well done to the losers, the plodders and well done to us all for continuing our mission to be as healthy as we can be.

See you on the December thread everyone- good title choices too DCT- thank you for getting us organised-

DCT/SueBlue- January will be our fourth anniversary of starting BSD!!! Well done Sue – you’re owning this- another kilo down this week!! Impressive work.

Au secour – so disappointing when the scales don’t move!! Well done on being so positive and continue on the journey to slimtown! We will all get there someday!

Hello and continued success to everyone on the No Nonsense November thread and see you all for diligent December!

Yes I’m in to join December’s post too
Ending week 4. Not being as strict but lost 5kg so very happy. Looking at it now as more a realistic lifestyle change but struggling with one question. I’m trying 6 days where I have a fairly big calorie deficit but for my sanity having one day off. Having wine, meals etc but doing exercise so my calories don’t go over. Tried this last week and the following day had put on slightly. Does anyone know why this happens if still in deficit?

Julie, I think it may be due to fluid retention. Our bodies hold into fluid when we eat carbs. To be perfectly honest I find the science of weight loss fascinating and it is a science it cannot fathom!

Thanks
It does come off again. Eventually! 😀

Hi Cathy and Julie – and anyone else interested. Just to say I have set up December’s forum (link below) and will start posting on there as of UK time tomorrow.

https://thebloodsugardiet.com/forums/topic/diligent-december/

Hope that everyone has a brilliant final No Nonsense November day!

Hi everyone
Julie – this happens to me every single time I eat carbs. Regardless of how much I am in calorie deficit, I will put on an almost guaranteed 2-3 lbs overnight and then it takes me 2-3 days to lose it again. Pisses me off massively but it is what it is. Maybe it will convince me to stop giving way to temptation

Am very pleased to say I hit my “target” of 13st on Thursday – I weighed in at 12st 13.5lbs

Had a big dinner party last night (full of nonsense) so I expect I’ve gone backwards today already!! Never mind. I have found it really useful to be on here and have now bought the almond flour and psyllium etc so I can make some bread at last. That might just do the trick to stop me wandering once a week ish. So thank you everyone for the support, hints and tips. I will keep going for December. HAGW all

Well done Keith! Must feel fantastic to hit your goal. Good that you’re joining December’s though as a real danger month 😀

Well done Keith, and glad you are sticking with us. Let us know how you get on with the bread making? I might just give it a try as well.

It’s reassuring (though annoying!) what you are saying about instant gain after carb intake as that happens to me too. As a result, my weight has been a bit all over the place in November. I’ve managed an overall loss of 2lb: not as much as I’d hoped but at least moving in the right direction again.

Cathy I just reread your post and want to say a big congratulations to you handing in your notice. I’m so sorry you’re having such a rough time at work, but delighted that you have so much else to look forward to. It’s really hard taking that step so well done, and let’s hope it’s all uphill from here!

Hello to everyone else on here and hope that you have a great weekend X

Keith – congratulations on reaching your goal – that’s great news.
If you have almond flour I’d also recommend the almond and parmesan crackers on the ‘Good Eats the Low Carb Way’ thread – page 4. (Just tried to post link but it didn’t work!)
They’re really nice, crunchy, and easy – although I managed to ruin mine yesterday – lesson for me – don’t put the tray on the bottom of the oven – looked lovely on top/black underneath! I’m not lying when I say I can’t cook.

Julie – I also had days like yours, but it’s a bit like plateaus, I never really worked out how to make it not happen. What Cathy is saying sounds right. Also, I quite often found I didn’t lose on the days I exercised and did on the days in between.

Cathy, I feel like you about November it seems to have gone by so quickly. Sorry to hear about the work stress. It’s such a big decision to leave a job so well done that woman! I did something similar a few years ago (took early retirement through redundancy). It was an up and down sort of period but I felt so much better afterwards. There’s so much else out there for you. You’re family sound great, btw.

Au Secours – you’re quickly becoming my hero, you just keep going. Also, I’ve just looked up your name – not sure you need any help – you’re doing great. Wishing you a weight loss very soon.

SueBlue – hope you’re joining the December thread – even when I wasn’t posting I always read and found your tips really helpful

DCT – Like you, November for me has been about getting back into the groove. It’s not always easy to get motivated or keep going so you deserve a great big pat on the back – have one from me. Also, thanks for setting up the December thread. See you over there.

Well, I had my first ‘festive’ event this week and got caught out when a plateful of pure carbs (not a Christmas meal) was put in front of me. It was a small charity event and the food was made by local volunteers. It’s very rare that this happens to me but when it does I just have to sit back and enjoy. Anyway, it was a great night.

See everyone in December. Have a great weekend.
Jennie xx

DCT – bread making went well. I followed this recipe and it worked well
https://www.ditchthecarbs.com/low-carb-almond-flour-bread/

Thanks Jennie for the crackers receipe – that will come in handy too.

Almond flour is quite expensive isn’t it. I got some on Amazon which was just over £10 for 1kg. Anywhere else I should try in the UK?

Hi Keith
I’ve only bought it once and that was around this time last year. (Pretty much only use it for the crackers I mentioned and recently for Fathead pizza bases – diet doctor recipe.)
At that time it was on special offer at Holland and Barratt – 2 bags for 1. They were about £8 or £9 each but only for a 500g bag. So with the offer it was still £8 or £9 for 1kg – same as yours.
But, on the forum on diabetes.co.uk I’ve read a few people say they buy ground almonds instead of the flour as it’s much cheaper and can be substituted for almond flour in most recipes – it’s just a bit coarser. (One or two say they blitz them in a food processor when they get home to get them a bit smoother).
I’ve never tried it so don’t really know but it might be worth a shot.
Cheers
Jennie xx

Hi Keith – just checked a couple of supermarket prices – not sure if they’re any cheaper ?!? Hope you have better luck.

Managed 1.5 kilos in November, 200g down on my lowest number so far so could be worse. December needs to be strict for me; as many 800 days as possible. I’ll join the new thread. Congratulations all

Well done Annach, I’m just behind you with a 1.3kg loss for November.
Cathy – sorry to hear you’ve been having a tough time at work. I had been too and am so much happier since I changed roles a few weeks ago and am working in a different team. I have read how stress raises cortisol levels which in turn affects weight loss, so that wouldn’t be helping you.
Thanks Jennie for your kind words.
I’ll jump over to the December thread now. For me it’s ‘Do or Die December’ as it’s my last chance to lose weight this year. I’m miles away from my goal but I’d like to at least get down to what I weighed last Xmas, then hopefully by XmAs 2020 I’ll reach my goal!