4 week challenge supporting each other towards their own goal on our BSD WOL i.e. Way Of Life

Good morning. Great I’m in, Marsie. Thanks. Am not feeling as buoyant as I was before Xmas, possibly time of year or that I felt deflated due to weeks of weight loss stall. My get up and go seems to have gone! Good luck to all.

Well, dearie me. I’ve not made such a good start on this new challenge. But unrepentant!

Elder son took OH and me out for a special dinner last night. He doesn’t buy Christmas or birthday gifts for us on the grounds that we either have everything we want or will buy it ourselves when we need or want. (We had one amusing Christmas when we gave each other a pile of books which we each already had….).
For various reasons, this was our belated Christmas.

The Wildflower restaurant is newish, in the most beautifully restored and re-imagined old State Treasury Buildings in Perth, WA. Definitely a celebration destination unless you’re a zillionaire, it raises foraging and Bush tucker to extraordinary heights. Did refuse the 5 course tasting menu BUT 3 courses and glass of beautiful Frankland River red wine. Oh, and half a heavy bread roll with delicious macadamia butter………….half a kg heavier this morning.
As I said, unrepentant, and I will recover.

Good you’re here LinD49.
It’s harder to restart than start I think. What was it that got you going in the first place? Can you rework your goals into smaller steps?
In any case, stay with us….

I’m in. So glad you started. Just when I thought I could be another Lynne or Krysia I have fallen off the bike after 4 months. The diet gremlins have invaded. This will help me big time. Thanks.

Oooh, Jenni from the Block, we all have them don’t we, those rotten gremlins. I figure, at 72, they’ve had a looong time to dig there hooks in and my current task to unhook one talon at a time.
I have faith that you will be back on that bike in no time.

Keeping on keeping on……

I’m in Marsie. My journey started Aug 2016 lost 21lbs in eight weeks. Faffed around, welcomed the carb monster into my home for Christmas, 9 3/4 lbs on, lost 7 3/4lbs 1st week January, put 8lbs on 2nd week January. Signed up for 1,000 mile walk challenge at the end of December. As always put too much pressure on myself exercise and diet wise. So have restarted again, allowing myself to follow the BSD as I did last year which includes dairy everyday, and enjoying the walking now, doing about 3 miles day. Even went to aerobics/zumba class this week. Just taking it easy as I am fortunate and have no real health worries. So I am hoping to lose 7lbs on this 4 week challenge and hopefully shift some inches off my middle section! I don’t seem to be losing inches from my waist like most people, but I can see the difference even though no one else has mentioned my loss!! After my ups and downs I have lost another 5lbs. Will carry on weighing on a Fridsy ‘cos that suits me. Looking forward to the next few weeks, and reading of our progress. Have a good low carb day everyone.

Good morning, may I join in please? I have an underactive thyroid and put on 4 stone before diagnosis – I have lost almost 3 stone of that but need to lose another stone to get back into the ‘normal’ range. Also got an HBA1c in March following a prediabetic result at the end of last year. I have recently had two short holidays with loads of food so for this four weeks I would like to get back to stickling closely to the diet and to try and get as far as possible into the 10 stones rather than the 11 stone 1lb I am now!

Can I join in too? I’m starting another eight-week stint. I couldn’t do Verano’s last challenge for assorted reasons (hope you’re doing OK, Verano, by the way). I’ve put 1.2 kg on since I last weighed in on the site, so I’m starting at 79.2 kg.
Good luck everyone.

All welcome, the more the merrier💓
My hypothesis is that in supporting our peers we’re helping ourselves stay in the moment.

Hi Guys – count me in – I am officially a maintainer but…am also human and can appreciate the challenges of this way of life!

Good luck to everyone!

Morning all,

Always up for a quick challenge. My focus for this one is to up the activity level and try to develop a bit more organised exercise regime. My ambition at the start last Summer was to be Healthier and fitter – the health bit is on track, just need to work on the “fitter” bit.

My initial goal would be to lose 2lb – not overly ambitious but it would mean my weight would begin with a 17 for the first time for what seems forever.

A stretch goal would be to lose 6lbs and get to 17st9lb, which would mean a total loss of 25% of my starting weight.

Once more unto the breach.

I’m in! Like JM I need to properly sort regular exercise this month (and forever!)

43lbs down since October 10th, 16 to go and t2d so blood sugar stability is another key goal. It’s a bit wobbly just now, not sure why. Setting modest target of 5lbs, hoping for 7 and to hit target on 31st March.

I’ve invested in an adult micro scooter (thanks Laska!) and am scooting everywhere round the village. Really cheery activity and it makes people smile – recommended! MKx

Count me in too. The last challenge taught me a lot about myself and I did lose a few pounds, though gained them again on holiday last week. Net result is 1.5 stone off since October which is not that good, but now I know what I need to do and am determined to do it!
My next goal is to lose the gained pounds and hopefully another 7 lbs – I hope that is not too optimistic as I am on a mission to lose 2 .5 stones for a wedding in May!
Onwards and downwards.
X B

Just to add a bit of spice, I’ve just signed up to do the Six Dales walk in the Autumn. Twenty-six miles in 10 hours in the UK Peak District, so getting some training in advance of that has become a bit of a priority.

You’ll walk it JM – pun intended

I might sign up for that too!

Such a beautiful part of the world JulesMaigret, last visited in 2000 but would love to re-visit. Couple of our friends spent one of their visits walking for several days in the general area. You’ll do it in a canter, I’m guessing.

Reading through these posts, also on our previous challenge and other conversations on these forums, I think it is wonderful what we learn about ourselves by participating and sharing our thoughts with others. Making me feel quite sentimental. I think you’re all extraordinary people.

Hi there, still hanging in there and setting new goals. If this is 4 weeks then I want to lose 3.5 lbs, not lots but hopefully continual. I have my birthday on 7th Feb so there might be a bit of alcohol partaken of.

While I am thinking of goals I have to remember I have my HbA1c first week in March which is 7 weeks away, want it to be 5.5. By then I want to be 11 stone which means losing 6.5 lbs. But for now the 3.5 lbs is well in my sights.

Jules, I used to live in North Yorkshire slap bang between the Dales and the Moors. In my younger days I did the 3 peaks, now I get out of breath going up the stairs although not so much now I have lost some of the weight.

Hi there. I would love to join you. Have been on the BSD since 9 Ja and have lost 4kgs so far and 5cm on waist..seem to be be on a plateau for a moment but realise this is the beginning of something great…good luck everyone..

Hi SSG

If you mean the Yorkshire Three Peaks – I too did them when I was younger (I was born and brought up in Cumbria).

Whilst a slightly longer overall distance, the ascents and descents in the Peak District are fortunately nothing like Whernside on a wet Wednesday. I think the combination of training for the endurance and short bursts of intense exercise has got to be BSD friendly and will force me to stick to a more structured exercise regime.

Well done Julesmaigret, shall watch your progress with great interest.

Hello Marsie – thanks for taking the helm of this new challenge. Please count me in.
My target is to lose 6lbs and increase my exercise (start exercising).
Wishing everyone a successful 4 weeks. We can do it!

Just gone really low, 3.1 which is hypo. But I didn’t feel like I was having a hypo, I only tested because I do it at 7 pm every day as well as morning. So I had a slice of ham and retested was 3.4, still too low so I had a couple of prunes, retested back down to 3.1 so my husband has been force feeding me Cadburys Roses and standing by with a liquid glucose tube. Dinner will be ready in 20 mins so I should be okay.

I think I haven’t eaten enough, had scrambled egg and cheese for breakfast but then went swimming for 40 mins which means I was in negative calories, had pho chicken soup with spinach for lunch (around 80 calories) and I no longer get afternoon munchies but I did have a handful of pistachio and almonds. I am hoping it is a sign I should be reducing my insulin. I know KrysiaD has talked about this before but it is strange that a BG so low gave me no symptoms i.e. blurred vision, numb lips, shaking, pins and needles in the hands etc. That is what makes it worrying.

I’m okay folks, always take care.

Does anyone have any news of Verano? I hope she’s OK.

Apologies for above post, I checked in here before the other challenge thread. Too late to edit/delete.

Sunshine-girl, glad your husband is keeping an eye on you. Time to go back to see the doctor?

Can I join too please. Hoping for a 3 kilo loss. I’m doing great on the the exercise front, not so strong on the losing weight front. Mainly down to portion size of BSD friendly stuff, not carbs. Working on reducing that now. Power to us all!

Julia

I would love to join this challenge. I’m setting myself a goal of losing 10lbs in that time. I’ve been getting on well with my 18 hour fasts and avoiding carbs this week. If I can keep that up and do more exercise I should be able to do it. Trying to be positive.

Thanks Marsie. Possibly discouraged by the stall in weight loss but I haven’t fallen off the wagon even over Xmas. I felt quite miserable after each unsuccessful weigh-in. I have lost one pound this week but have paused again. I think losing regularly before gave me encouragement and the lovely whoosh highs of success that now I feel flat. Ah well
I will not give in as this is the best method for me plus it is for health with the benefit of weight loss. I read the book a year ago but didn’t pursue it, then my prediabetic diagnosis coincided with the daily Mail BSD article in September and that pushed my to start bsd there and then. I am now in the overweight grade of mi but still have three stones to lose. Over the past couple of years my dr was pushing me towards knee and hip replacement which I postponed whilst I attempted to lose weight (Atkins). Due to circumstances I came off then regained plus extra weight. So that’s why I am determined to carry on with the help of all you.
Good luck to all.
Thanks again Marsie.

MK. sounds like you are having fun. Watch on for the pot holes!

My kids love their scooters, I can’t imagine getting on one myself! I suppose it’s not very high off the ground…

I’ll be hanging around here for the company although I’m not getting serious until next Tuesday. Before then I have Australia Day, my daughter’s 13th birthday and Chinese New Year (my sister-in-law is Chinese and her parents are also here so I expect a very traditional meal/feast. I don’t usually have any “food pusher” issues but it’s likely that it would be rude to turn down lucky food or long noodles for longevity or whatever and I’m just going to go with it.)

My biggest problem food at the moment is ice cream which is weird for me. I quite like ice cream but it’s not a passion like it is for my husband, he adores the stuff. I can take it or leave it, usually, and it’s too sweet. But it’s been so hot here that I am turning to it to cool down, as often as every second day. Definitely a habit to break!

Thanks Snoop but it is time to take my own advice and eat a bit more when I exercise. I have the permission of my doctor to reduce my insulin so there is really nothing he can say or do. I only had about 320 calories all day so it was my own fault. I am being looked after and I am absolutely fine having had a nice dinner of savoury mince with turnip and carrot topping.

Lind49 the whooshes will come again, stick with it.

I’d like to join this 4 week challenge. I’ve been reading all the amazing posts since last year from the strictly sleigh challenge to the recently completed Verano led 4 week challenge into the new year. I’m doing the med style rather than the 800 as I want to try to take it slow and steady. I’ve had tendencies in the past to lose weight quite quickly but haven’t kept it off. This time it’s for real so I want to have the time to prepare me and my life for this way of eating long term. Since starting at the end of November I’m 11 lbs down. Now 11st 5lbs. So I’d like to be down to 11st 1lb at the end of the 4 weeks. Thank you all for the inspirational posts and also those of you who struggle every now and then and are honest enough to share. Good luck all.

I would love to join too, another 12 or so pounds to go, just have to get through Australia Day today and will be pushing hard! Good luck everyone and thanks Marsie for setting up this thread, it is such a help to be with a group!

Hello,

Well I failed last time, still onwards and upwards. I know what needs to be done, it is just the discipline that is lacking! I will log in more, and record more, that way I may feel more accountable – if that makes sense.

Best of luck everyone. I will try and get my Sister and Mum to join me too.

Hey, count me in too, please. Always up for a challenge.

If this challenge had been set a few days ago I would have been really ambitious and said my goal was to lose 7kg as I lost 3.6kg my first week (last week). But, despite being really really good, I seem to have stalled completely this week with no more weight loss so far, let alone any reduction in waist measurement since I started, so I will reluctantly reduce my goal to a more realistic level – no point in setting myself up to fail.

So my goal is to keep on keeping on and hopefully lose at least another 3.6k in the next 4 weeks, which should be achievable, although I will be away for an entire week during that time and surrounded by temptation. Will just have to do my best.

Thanks Marsie for challenging us all, and good luck to all who have picked up the gauntlet.

Hope you’re feeling ok now Sunshine-girl. The only “lows” I’ve seen have been with my T1D son (adult when diagnosed) and they were rather scary. For what it’s worth, given T1 v T2, he does do extra monitoring around exercise.
How great to see so many of the familiar names, along with new posters, and our “different but same” challenges/goals.
This morning the 1/2kg I’d shown yesterday (after my overly indulgent fine dining Tues night) has gone. I’m still finding it a struggle not to snack. From the pantry it is likely to be something gluten free brought in for my coeliac OH, and, at this time of the year our stone fruits are too morish. I tried buying less but, weakling that I am, ended up at the greengrocer more often.
As others have noted, it’s Australia Day today. We spend the evening with a dozen or so friends, marinated lamb on the bbq, lots of salads, watch the fireworks over the river, then sweets which I will staunchly ignore. Going to be 39°c here today, so a lovely evening for sitting out and socialising.
Keep on keeping on….

Sunshine girl I had my very first hypo experience last week, very scary as I work from home and was alone. No other symptoms than feeling weak and a bit dizzy -as I went downstairs. Thought I’d got up from my desk too quickly.. tested myself at 2.9, a shock as I had no reason I could see.for such a low reading so now keep a couple of cans of ‘full fat’ Coke in kitchen and office. Not ideal for bsd but the doc recommended this for safety. Hope you’re feeling better, I felt a bit odd for the rest of the day. MK x

Hi Sunshine-girl
Just a thought on your very low glucose levels without the symptoms of a hypo. I’m wondering if your body has gone into nutritional ketosis and is burning fat rather than sugar? That could explain the lack of symptoms. I could be wrong, but it’s worth looking into.
Check out this link:
https://nutritionalketosisforhealth.com/what-is-nutritional-ketosis/
Cheers
Linda

Good morning everyone, very pleased this morning as the scale has moved a little and I am now only .2 of a pound from my pre holiday weight, not bad as we haven’t even been back a week yet. That also means that I am now only 2.2lb from my mini goal of 152lb by the end of January, so it is just possible that I will still make that, and it is almost certain that I will shortly be in the 10 stone bracket rather than the 11 stone bracket as there is only .3 of a lb to go to get there! Morning blood sugars are getting lower but still a bit elevated at 5.7 this morning, not outrageous but still prediabetic. Average blood sugar over 90 days is 6 but there are a lot of post eating readings in that data set so the maths says an hba1c of about 35 which would be good, just want to get the morning fasting ones down a bit more!

Hi Linda– thanks for posting that article. Makes sense, and reading it I wonder if I need to look at herring a bigger proportion of calories from fat. Thanks again, will get some ketosticks to measure. In the meantime, meet to test more regularly. But weirdly, fasting bloods are 7 today – higher than normal, no reason. Mkx

It’s great to see how busy this thread is. Have just caught up on all the posts after a really hectic day yesterday.

Sunshine-girl – a couple of thoughts about your low numbers. I went to a really interesting patients meeting at the hospital yesterday. There was a really knowledgeable Specialist Diabetes Nurse there and she said that if we know that our b.s. go low on days we exercise we need to cut our insulin down for those days then up for the days that we are not exercising. We don’t have to keep our insulin the same for every day. It might be something that would be helpful for you. That might be a better way forward than dropping it down for all days.

The patient meeting was really interesting. I had several questions that I needed to ask and having both the specialist nurse and dietician there to answer them was brilliant.

The nurse directed me to the diabetes.co.UK site as she said it would have a lot of info on it that would be of interest to me on it.

It was well worth the 1 hour bus ride in a freezing bus with no heating

Nothing is worth that surely Krysia lol

Morning folks – I do hope Verano is alright??

I am working from home today which in my terms basically means trying to avoid regular trips to the fridge…..

Am going to get a couple of hours under my belt then when the lure becomes too much I’m going to the gym!!

Have a good day all xxx

Thanks Marsie, count me in too, please! I’m nearing the end of 16 weeks on BSD and still about 12kgs to go. Weigh in this Tuesday was 67.9kgs, which is just over 19kgs down from my starting weight 15 weeks ago. I was so excited to break through the 70kg mark! Hoping to loose another 3-4kgs in this challenge period, maintain my step count, start yoga (again 🙂 ) and get my next Hba1c below 6.0.

Wow these threads really do help. After putting on 3kgs and succumbing to the carb gremlin and doubts about ‘not again’, due to previous diet experiences I have sailed through an Australia Day BBQ today. No alcohol, virtually nothing eaten (despite people pushing me to) having eaten before going to ensure I wasn’t hungry. Yesterday went very low carb and wow 2kgs of what I imagine is fluid disappeared. Would have seemed weird had I not read so many posts explaining the phenomenon. Thanks heaps.

Hi, count me in too. I’ve been doing low carb for a while but not very good at counting the cals . I know it’s possible as I did it the first week back in June sometime . I’ve lost about 1st 8 lb so far and I’m just trying to get rid of the 12lb I put on over Christmas (a lb and a quarter to go). I’d like to lose another 4 stone before August as my sons getting married . I hope this is possible to do.
Everyone on her is inspirational , I love reading your posts

bonjour a tous, hope you are all well.

Thank you Marsie and others, I am fine. The only real hypo I had was about 4 years ago when I actually lost consciousness and vomited, my husband had no idea what to do even though I had ‘taught’ him, typically he had not listened but he knows now. Although I bet he would struggle to find the liquid glucose even though there is some in my handbag, my exercise fleece, in the bathroom, in the bedside table, you get my drift. That hypo was for no reason as my FBS was 6.5 and then I had eaten my breakfast (which I brought back).

KrysiaD I do adjust my insulin but find that the best thing is to eat a bit more (still within BSD) so I had scrambled egg and cheese for breakfast. My fault was that I had a weak miso soup with some chicken and spinach for lunch which meant I hadn’t really had enough to eat.

MK 2.9 is low, as is my 3.1 but we don’t live like that all the time. Some of my diabetic friends think I live of the edge of hypo as I am normally around 4.5 to 5.0.

Snoop, I hope you didn’t think I was being flippant regarding you advise to see my doctor. When I had my last, see above, hypo that was when the doctor sent me to see THAT nutritionist and ruined my weight and my BG. Last time I saw him I decided to put him in charge (or he thinks he is) and specifically asked what was the best thing to do if I went too low and he said reduce the insulin, but I know if my hypo is in the afternoon/evening I really should reduce my glycizide, will work it out.

Thanks LyndaA I will check that site.

Anyone seen Verano yet.

Off shopping with long list from the recipe book. Looks like all the family will be on the diet!

Sunshine-girl, I didn’t think you were being at all flippant. I knew you probably had everything under control, just wanted to express my concern for your well-being. Bit worried about Verano, to be honest.

Hi Snoop 🙂 yes agree on Verano, I have just told my hubby that if I have to go away unexpected to log on here as me and let you all know, we do care about each other. There is a story about my daughter not seeing me on FB but that is for another day.

Topcac – I think you might be right about the freezing bus.

Sunshine-girl – you sound as though you have got everything under control.

Topcac – I do a lot of work at home also – the fridge is a temptation. But in the hall I teach in they have a fair trade table with lots of non BSD foods on it – which I have to walk past several times a day. At least my fridge is BSD friendly.

Lara – great news that you have broken through the 70K Mark.