I’m a 53 yr old 5ft 7 ½ 221lb female who has slowly been putting on weight for years. I’ve had bouts of intermittent weight loss with WW, Dukan diet, Easyslim and this time I’m wanting to make a serious life changes in my eating habits, and exercise in preparation for the coming years.

I started the 800 calorie way of eating last Monday, November 5th. I weighed in at 221lb’s and this morning I weighed in at 216. To me, I think a lot of what I have lost is fluid, but I have also incorporated some exercise in there too. I’d like to get down to 160 lbs, so that is a 61 pound weight loss goal and ideally I would like to reach that by June of 2019. I’m using MyFitnessPal and FitBit to track.

I just purchased a gym membership and hope to do 2 structured aqua classes per week, with 2 other visits for walking, biking, stretching and weight machines. Ideally I’d like to do more, but I have an incredibly busy job, a 7 yr old and an art practice which keeps me busy. If anyone wants to buddy up that started on Monday, I’d be open to check in once and a while. Thanks!

Welcome to the forum, photo336, there is a weekly (with refocus in the title)and monthly (with zoom in the title) challenge thread. On each of these two threads you will find a mixture of newcomers and old hands on the BSD way of eating who will be happy to offer you a helping hand on your journey.

JGwen,
Thanks so much for the information! This is very much appreciated. I look forward to connecting with folks especially for the challenging times and for some good habits that work and stick! Have a great weekend!

Hello photo336, I’ve just signed up and completed my first day today

We are weirdly alike: I am 54, 5.7″ tall and currently weigh 233lbs. I gained a horrifying 89lbs when I was put on a medication I’ve now come off. However, that leaves me with 89lbs to lose!

I did work in secondary education, in Learning Support specialising in English – however, an injury to my jaw joint (hence the medication) means I can no longer sustain the continual talking required so I’m moving out of that role. Into what, I’m not quite sure yet.

My three children are all, luckily, thriving adults now.

It sounds as if we’ll both be here for a while, so fancy checking in with each other along the way?

Cassandria
Yes! That sounds like a plan. I want to encourage you as it’s a little harder the first week as you are getting used to the amount of food you can have, but eat lots of vegetables ( spinach, greens etc.) and that will allow you to feel fuller. It doesn’t sound like there’s a limit to eggs and I’ve beennenjoying the full fat milk and yogurt.
I am down from 222-(I originally said I was 221) to 214 in one week. I’m feeling better in that my joints don’t ache as much which is great, and my body is feeling better with less sugar and with more exercise. I want to reach my goal and stay there. I’m so sick of being overweight and I’ll be glad to be your BSD buddy online!
You can do it!

P336,

Laughing. I’d rather be you than me right now. I know this first week will be the hardest for me, so I’ll be glad when it’s behind me. All encouragement welcome! And yes, vegetables, vegetables, vegetables …

Look forward to mutual support on the (sometimes no doubt rocky) path ahead, which unless I lose some weight my joints will grumble about walking.

Day 2 tomorrow. *mutters* I can do this, I can do this, I will do this

And Cassandria, you can! It took me a couple of weeks to get my head into it and then I’m doing it.i have to say in the 6th day I was in a bad mood, ( a bit unusual for me) and I believe it was just a hard day. I do have a busy job, so that helps with not thinking about it.
I too am in Secondary Ed. Are you in the States?

Hi Both

I started on the 5th November also. I lost 10lb in first week, but this morning had put on…but I’m not going to give up like I have in the past. Today I have felt hungry…not somethig I felt earlier on…but I am gong to burn through it and stick to plan. I am sure once a fortnight has past that these feelings will pass.

I am Head of Year in Secondary Education and there are a bunch of us trying to do this together. 🙂

I’m in the UK, p335. How about you?

So you’re in education, I’m in education and now you too Bex (and your colleagues)! Is a pattern emerging here?

Bex, when you say you’d put on this morning – is that because you slipped off-diet last week, or were you perfectly behaved but still gained?

I have to admit, I woke early to difficult news and so by lunchtime I was forcefeeding myself chocolate for energy (it is absolutely astonishing how much chocolate I can actually eat before I have to stop. Quite frightening, actually. How on earth does my body cope with all that sugar? What damage is it doing? My family is riddled with Type 2 Diabetes by the way, so I’ve always kept myself away from sugar and very slim, until this medication kicked me into the obese part of the chart. But now I’m already fat, there’s a part of me that goes ‘Oh b*gger it, I’m already fat, might as well have some fun”. I find it so much easier not to eat chocolate etc when I’m slim, because then I get the pleasure of slipping into slinky clothes. But now, I don’t get to slip into the slinky clothes OR eat the chocolate.
But miserable, that. Familiar to you two?). However, tomorrow is another day, and will be Day 1, Mark 2!

How did you get on today, P?

Cass and Bex,
Firstly I need to clear something up. I think I’ve led you on…I’m in higher education, not secondary. But Education just the same! @ Cassandria; bummer about the news but tomorrow is another start. Aint that great? tomorrow is a good day to start the day again. Also, I’m intrigued by your sugar question. I’m not sure how my body handled it, as its was bombarded with sugar too at times. Maybe we begin to see that as being ‘normal’? Also, being overweight is not a normal state either. My joints ached, I felt like 100 some days, feeling tired and my immune system was pretty weak. Since being on this, just a little over a week, my body has felt better due to the exercise and trying to drink more water. Before this and some months ago, my Dr put it simply, when she said : there has to be more energy going out than going in to the body, to lose weight. Its an equation. 800 doesn’t seem like a lot of calories, but you can have lovely food, drink a ton of water, and enjoy the win of losing! I was at the Dr’s talking about bariatric surgery as a colleague had it done, and lost 150lbs over a year and feels awesome and looks wonderful. I thought this might be the way to go as I was getting to my wits end with things not working. Then, I had a aha moment. I decided I was going to treat this like a 12 step program in terms of doing this in small chunks if I have to. One day at a time. And sometimes one hour at a time. I know this sounds rather odd, but if you can handle it for the next hour, then you might just be able to handle it more than that.

Anyhow, this is only to encourage you to hang in there. I’m hungry right now, and I’m thinking that my body will feel happier in the morning. i did overindulge with my portion size tonight and probably ate a little over but there have been days when I’ve been a little under so it all works out in the wash. I’m tracking it all, and that helps!

good luck y’all!

Hello, photo366. A great big WELCOME to the forum! Nothing you say sounds remotely “odd” to me. One
meal at a time is a very positive way to approach the BSD. Bariatric surgery makes me shudder! By way
of an introduction, I’m American, and I’ve been living this lifestyle for more than 2 years, the last 18 months
of which have been in maintenance. Anything is possible with this way of eating. It truly changes lives!
There is a special place in my heart for those with “lots to lose”, because I once walked that road, too…
It took me 17 years to gain 140lbs., and 10 months of strict 800cal/20g carbs to get rid of it all. I know
it can be done 🙂 Do it one hour or one meal at a time, but DO IT! You’ll never regret it, I promise. Best to
you,

Allie

Wow Bex, that is a huge weightloss. congratulations! its also good that you are not feeling hungry. I’m still feeling hungry at times but I’m just trusting that my stomach is indeed, shrinking!

Alliecat (great name btw!), thank you so much for your post. I’m so glad to hear your story and know it can be done! 140 pounds. WOW! Good for you and thanks so much for sharing your story. AND that you are maintaining and doing well! I believe you’re now in a ‘way of life’ and so have incorporated BSD as a conscious guide to maintain your winning loss! Can I ask one question? I am 52 (about to be 53) and my skin isn’t as elastic as it used to be. I’m also carrying weight in my trouble spots (upper arms, rear end and middle…apple shaped) and wondered with a large weight loss (for me I hope it to be about 60-70 lbs) does it make your skin bounce back or droopy? I am wondering if just the steady exercise and weight loss would contribute/be imperative to the toning of my body rather than just the weight loss (as I’ve seen with images of bariatric surgery patients) without the toning. I guess my questions is, did your body ‘remember’ itself after and during your weight loss? Thanks!

Hi photo366,
I know you asked Allie about loose skin, I am sure she will be along to tell you her experience, but I thought it might be helpful to share my experience.
I am in my 50’s have always been overweight from childhood and watching the calories but my weight really got out of hand about 10 years ago when a broken ankle meant I was laid up for 6 months, (not allowed to put weight on the foot because the bone fragments were in the right place to knit back together without operations providing they had the time to heal) Unfortunately I remained in constant pain from the ankle for a number of years afterwards so my weight continued to rise.
I started this way of eating just over a year ago, I am down over 90lbs. My initial target was to get back to the weight I had been at most of my adult life. – Although I was overweight at that weight, I was able to be physically active. I have passed that target so now I working on getting to my ideal dress size. I have gone through stages of my skin looking severely dimpled – looking like there are lots of invisible thumbs pressing into my skin, however each time it passes and then tape measure shows a new low. – So far no loose skin. My plan is to continue working on fat loss until I get down to my target size if at that point I have any loose skin I will start to focus on autophagy.
I get a great deal of pleasure in searching for information. – Maybe I should have set up my user name to be Johnny5 given my frequent searches for More Input 🙂 – In 2016 one of the Nobel prizes was awarded to a scientist who discovered autophagy, the process by which the body recycles cells at the end of their lifespan/usefulness. There are links to articles on autophagy on the take a look at this thread, and lots of discussions on other sites across the web because this is an area of research that has benefits in treating cancer and dementia as well as being catching the imagination of the general public as the solution to the risk of loose skin when loosing weight. It might put your mind at rest if you read up about it.

JGwen,
Thank you so much for your informative response! I did not know about autophagy, but it sounds incredible! Our bodies are amazing! I shall do some research too, as when I saw my Dr about the possibility of bariatric surgery, she said that while the weight loss was fast, it left many women and men with loose skin, that was really only dealt with through another surgery. She discouraged me from it. Having opted to go down this road instead of the bariatric one, I really wanted to know about how my body was going to deal with the loose skin. I don’t have too much, but I think enough, but now my fear is dispelled knowing that it may be absolutely fine. Your post has encouraged me, not only with this, but knowing that you’re on this road now for 1 year and still losing, it is what I need to hear. have a great day!

Hi, photo366! It seems that JGwen has preceded me here, and has ably commented on the benefits of
extended fasting, and the concept of autophagy, which is an exciting, relatively new area of research. I’ll
simply add some general information, then share my own anecdotal experience. As we age, our ability
to produce collagen decreases dramatically, the production of which allows our skin to “bounce back”.
Genetics have a role to play as well, as does the production of HGH (human growth hormone). The length
of time that our skin has been stretched is a variable in there, too! You mentioned that you are in your
early 50’s, and would like to be rid of @ 60lbs.? Anecdotally, I lost 60lbs in 5 months at the age of 50,
bringing me back to an “ideal” weight for my height. I had no loose skin at all. I contracted an illness
known as “Lyme” disease at that time, and over the next 17 years I piled on 140lbs. At the age of 67 I
set about trying to rid myself of all of it over the course of 10 months, following the parameters of
the BSD. This represented a % loss of 50% of myself, too much to avoid some loose skin in the areas
where I had stored the most fat. You are young enough and only have 60 or so pounds to shed, so I
don’t think that you have much to be concerned about. I don’t know what % of that represents your total
body weight, but it can’t be up there in the stratisphere of 50%. You can most definitely hedge your
bets with fasting and some weight training at the gym if that fits into your lifestyle. I didn’t see any
really awful loose skin until I was about 100lbs. down, but other members of the community seem to
confirm my experience, and tell us all that it can take up to 2 years to reach maximum “bounce back”.
I’m hoping to see that too, but at the age of 70, I’m prepared to cover up my upper arms and lower
abdomen, and just enjoy the freedom of feeling healthy and energetic again 🙂 If that pesky loose skin
is a constant reminder of where I came from, I can only see it as a badge of honor and success. It’s a
journey of personal discovery, photo336, so relax into it and enjoy it. I think that you’ll do great!!!

Allie

Allie,
Thank you for your post. You are so sweet. 🙂 That’s an amazing story and I’m sorry you have had Lymes. That’s rough, I hear. Has the BSD helped with the Lymes? Thank you for the encouragement and you have made me curious to see what is ‘bounce back’. I do have to keep feeling encouraged, especially at night, so thanks again for the post!

Hi all, lovely to hear your inspiring stories! I am also a teacher, soon to be retired – hurrah! I was told by the doc that I had a choice with my high BP, either diet, or go on tablets for life. He recommended this diet to me.

I had lost three stone when I was 50, then gradually put it all back on again in the succeeding 13 years… Not clever. I have had occasional forays into new diets, but have been enjoying life and cooking with my new husband too much to want to do anything major about it.

Now, however, I have been given a wake-up call. I was somewhat daunted by the idea of only eating 800 calories a day, but I have just completed my first week and the scales tell me I have lost five and a half pounds, woohoo!

I can’t say it has been easy, there have been times when I have been peckish, but overall not so bad that I can’t cope. I have also just made the cracker recipe from the book, which satisfies my need for something biscuit-like to eat for lunch, to make up for the bread I love so much!

Morning all!
Kas, I, too, have been told to lose weight by next Doc visit to help decrease BP, or else I will be on blood pressure meds. I am 62 and retired. So here I am with you all. I worked at a university, does that count for education related?

Hi Violinist, sounds like a perfect match! Have you been doing this diet for long, or are you new as well? I am aiming for a two stone loss in the first instance, how about you?

Hi Kas,
I have not been fully BSD, but have been experimenting since July 1 with different food, calories, and fasting.

My doc wants me to go from 174 to 154. I am trying to unleash myself from an ingrained happy hour routine that my parents, and now my hubby and I have been doing for years. I am replacing with tea. Some days it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I did cut back the last 6 months and was rewarded with my first ever a1c at 5.4 and lower triglycerides this month.
So, 10 weeks until next blood work so am concentrating on changing happyhour for good, every day. I also have increased my steps to 6,000 plus daily
I am 62
172.4 this morning after coffee and fully clothed
5’4”
retired and live in Florida

It sounds like you’re doing well! I’m a bit heavier than you, started at 192 lbs, but I am aiming to lose about 30lbs. I know that won’t make me slim, exactly, but I know it’s a weight that suits my shape, as I am quite big framed and don’t want to look old and gaunt!!

I am going for my first ecg tomorrow, and some blood tests, just to check there is nothing sinister going on, otherwise it’s a case of keep dieting and see the doc again in three months, unless there are any problems.

You mentioned how many steps you do, have you a fit bit tracker, or something? Does it work, as in make you do more activity? I only walk, I’m afraid, have never been a gym bunny, which is probably why I am the weight I am…

Morning All,
I’ve just come across this thread, so glad to find a newbies area!
I sort of started on Saturday 17th, more prep, clearing the cupboards, shopping and cutting right down on portions. I officially did my first day Monday 19th Nov, so this is my first few days and so far so good. It’s quite tough but I am so determined.
I will be 50 in January and I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my hip 5 years ago. I’ve since had a hip replacement and further diagnosis in my shoulder, hands, knees and feet and I am now waiting for a knee replacement. I was always pretty fit and active (ex dancer and fitness instructor) but being in such a lot of pain has slowed me right down and as much as I try to keep fit it’s very tough and I have put on soooo much weight! I am 5’8″ and naturally curvy but currently weigh 2221bs! Aghhhhh. I’ve tried most diets out there all to no avail and mostly the low fat kind like slimming world. This approach is so refreshing and I am loving the food. So with my 50th looming and the new knee I wanted to regain my figure and hopefully help me recover from my operation a little easier if I am a lot lighter. I’m so tempted to get on the scales but I’m holding back till Friday. I’d like to get down to about 180lbs to start of with and see how I feel after that…… a bit like you Kas0103 I don’t want to look old and gaunt!
I’ve just bought a pedometer….I’m hoping that will help motive me to move a bit more (if i can figure out how to set it up!)
Great to read everyone’s storeys and find out about the journey’s you guys will be taking x

Dear Frog Princess,
Welcome! Sounds like you’ve made a great start. I didn’t buy the main book, I just bought the recipe book, and we are both enjoying my adventures with it so far. My husband is a skinny malink, so he doesn’t need to do the diet, I just add the potato/pasta/rice bits for him that are banned for me at present… I was surprised at how full you can feel – until the late evening, which is when it’s so easy to succumb to the galloping munchies… So far, I have not snacked, except for three cashew nuts, which sounds like a reasonable staver off of hunger pangs to me!

Am seriously considering whether a fit bit style counter would be a good idea or not… Guessing it would, so perhaps Santa could find me one…

A very warm welcome to the community, FrogPrincess! I’m so happy that you are enjoying the food 🙂 This is a
fantastic lifestyle, and it changes things forever. I’m at the other end of the newbie spectrum, and have been
maintaining my losses (140lbs) for 19 months now. I can relate to your story, because I had many physical
disabilities that prevented me from exercising throughout 10 months of the Fast800. Don’t be at all discouraged if
you aren’t fit at the start… I lost a stone a month without it. This regimen is different, and isn’t based on the old
theory of calories in/calories out, but the type of calories that you are eating. Newbie threads are fun and reassuring,
but there is a great deal of experience and knowledge on the forum, and we’re all committed to sharing it. We have
a weekly thread entitled “ReFocus” and you will find it be a very active thread with people at all stages of the journey.
Hope you will join us, and I’ll be looking for you 🙂 🙂 🙂

Allie

Dear Allie,
Thank you for the tip in your post to Frog Princess about the ‘refocus’ section on the forums, that’s very helpful. It can be a bit daunting trying to find your way around when you’ve just started, so any pointers along the way are very welcome…

Looking forward to hearing more tips!

Kas

Kas0103, anytime! It IS daunting for new members navigating the forum for the first time 🙂 All of us were newbies
once, and everyone must accomplish a steep learning to embrace all of the new information out there that refutes
the old that we are replacing. There are so many experienced people here with a true generosity of spirit and the
purest of intentions, to share what we have learned. Tips and tricks to push past a plateau, or make a few tweaks
to our macros, etc.! Support is our motivation always, but there are so many new threads this time of year
that it’s difficult to follow them all. You will receive a heartfelt welcome if you include the weekly challenges in your
list of favorite threads. We manage to do the serious work of improving our health, and have a good bit of fun along
the way. Please join us 🙂 For others new to the forum, Gary Taubes book “Why We Get Fat..and What To Do About It”
is something that I found indispensible to my understanding of the low carb lifestyle, and it is very compatible with
MMosley’s work. If I had the power to gift each new member with a copy, I would surely do so. The clouds of con-
fusion regarding weight loss part, the sun comes out, and the road ahead is suddenly clear. I wish you every success
in attaining your personal goals, and look forward to seeing you out and about 🙂

Allie