Wow Flick FANTASTIC! I’m really loving being here and reading great results and great tips from you and everyone else.
I’ve been quiet about my weight this week as it felt like I’d lost more but the no’s on the scale went the wrong way. So I continued and counted my blessings with the lower bsl and insulin . Finally today day 17 I can report that I’m 102.1kg. I started at 106.8 so 4.5kg, some fluid obviously at first but I’m thrilled! Next time I’ll take a waist measurement when the scales don’t show it! Thanks everyone for your great tips too and support. My first obvious weight loss goal is double digits … under 100. Then at about 98 I’ll be under bmi 35. That ones important for my surgery. After that is a longer stretch to 89 that’s one figure I’ve got stuck at before and bounced back up. With your help I plan to smash through it! The next ‘boundary’ weight is the lowest I’ve got to in my adult life and that’s 82. A long way away at this point BUT I really want to go all the way this time to have the best chance at my new life. There will be plenty of obstacles along the way but I’ve been gearing up mentally for months to start . I know already the support here has given me an edge I haven’t had before. Love to you all and so much gratitude that I’ve found you here.
Flick the weekend sounds wonderful. You are so happy with your achievements, you won’t muck it up. You have a plan. Even a little extra it’s one day with the girls. Have fun and a fantastic time diving! I’ll be living vicariously through you as I can’t swim again until after the next surgery when my peritoneal carheter will be removed aling with one of my giant bad boy kidneys! Love the ocean, any water actually. I’ve never dived but I’ve snorkelled lots of fantastic places like South Pacific, Tahiti, Carribean etc just think of all those calories burnt when you are in the water having fun and you don’t even notice how active you are. All that water resistance. ENJOY, relax and live it all. X

That loss was 4.7 actually

And I meant to say love it all😍

Iknow Ensecca – so exciting I was sure I was somehow measuring different spots, do checked and doubke checked! You are right about how unforgiving I would be if I took a step backwa ds. I shoukd be fibe with my friends, they are darlings and will be nothing but supportive. It’s my own hedonistic tendancies I’ll need to keep in check.

As for the dive trip, one NSV I hadn’t thought of is how much less compensatory weight I’ll have to add to my BCD. On top of everything else, this bloody fat is buoyant so I’m not only exhausting myself trying to get into a wetsuit,
I then have to lug about an extra 8kg or more to make sure I can descend!

Alibalibee thankyou for the warm welcome. You and others have made me instantly very welcome. I’m am gaining so much from all of you and I know it’s giving me the edge I’ve never had before to achieve this. Best wishes, especially at this time of year. I’m pretty ok re Christmas food and drink as I eat lots of seafood and salads. I’m not drinking because of my medical issues and my biggest Christmas temptation is the nuts. Lots of tradition in cracking them from the shells, actually any excuse . So that’s my one to watch. We are all going out this year so there won’t be any leftovers to pick at Home which is good and should make the diet easier. I’m basically taking it easy Christmas Day but I know I won’t go crazy. I’ve just found out I’ll be dialysing at the hospital all the way up until my operations 25.1.18 so I’m already in a routine with that and my food pattern on those days. So for me Christmas won’t be too bad diet wise.

Morning all,

Just to report in, yesterday evening Christmas drinks gathering with girlfriends went brilliantly. Not drinking the beautiful champagnes was just not an issue for anyone and while I had a few pangs when an exceptional Tasmanian sparkling white was opened, I thought if swatting gnats, and was fine. Definitely enjoyed some extra cheese but otherwise I happily topped up glasses, passed around crackers etc. I feel confident my resolve will hold over the weekend dive trip coming up.

In other news, after one glorious day in the 71 kilos (71.9 😂) my weight has bounced up to 72.1 the last two days. So, excluding the 71.9 day, that’s a week at 72.2 or 72.1. So, good to know I am totally normal!

Drum roll … 71.2 on the scales this morning. That’s a drop of 0.9 kg(1.9lb) overnight. 🎉🌟🌟. I couldn’t quite believe it. I’ve read so many forum threads reporting just this woosh effect but still found it totally discombobulating, stepping on and off the scales, checking I was remembering yesterday’s weight correctly. So surprised I didn’t even whoop whoop, happy dance. I think I still can’t quite believe it. I had my emotions prepped for a very long ‘stable. Suddenly, week 4.5 and I’ve lost just over 7kg! What tha?

What a great extra motivator to help me remain focussed over this weekend dive trip. This weekend is the last of my challenging, silly season challenges. Staying on track at the formal sit down dinner (total minefield) and hosting Christmas drinks with my special group of friends, quite happily, is triggering a big change in how I think about social activites, in a good self care kind of way. I feel as though something in my core is shifting. I can see that sounds a bit dramatic. i feel quite strange.

Happy weekend everyone, hope it is filled with love and happiness.

It doesn’t sound dramatic to me. I had much the same experience, a sense that the world was tilting around me or the magnetic poles flipping or something. Sometimes it was pure euphoria, a sense of empowerment and understanding that for years I thought were simply foreign to me. Other times I was so deeply suspicious. It just seemed impossible. I told my OH I couldn’t help but feel that gnomes with breaking into the house at night and recalibrating the scale either up or down just to mess with my head, that none of this was real. Fortunately he was used to me sounding crazy by then, so he never felt the need to call in the men in white lab coats. 😀

Hi Esnecca, You have hit the nail on the head.

The confusing part of these feelings is suspicion, quite unexpected. Suspicion about the incredible results these simple changes to eating habits (not necessarily simple to adopt but definitely a simple framework, no junk, no processed carbs, minimal other carbs, moderate protein, high fat) produce but also suspicion that I am doing it so … consistently and, really apart from theoretical ponderings about the joys of risotto and beetroot etc., or the occasional stress related knee jerk thought about salty crackers or sweet pick me up, pretty painlessly.

The only thing to do is breath deeply, stick to the plan, be patient during the stalls, celebrate the results and trust that between them, the gnomes and whoosh fairies will work it out. I think I’d better get a walk in the sun in before I’m collected for the trip to the beach.

Morning,

I can hardly believe it is the end of week 5 and begining of week 6. Where has the time gone?

As reported earlier, the 7 day stall finally broke last Saturday and while I’ve now been at that weight for 4 days, the whoosh means I have a good weight loss to report for this week. Here’s the run down –

Starting weight 78.3
End Week 4 – 72.2
End Week 5 – 71.2
Week 5 loss = 1.1kg
Total loss over 5 weeks = a whopping 7.2kg.

BMI starting point = 28.7 now 26.1

Now that is pretty thrilling but wait, there is more –

Starting waist measurement =90cm
End week 5 = 84cm 🌟🌟🌟🌟🎉🎉🎉🎉🤩🤩🤩 6 whole centimetres (2 and a bit inches!)
Starting Hip = 109cm
End week 5 = 104cm 🌟🌟🌟🌟🎉🎉🎉🎉🤪🤪🤪 5 lovely centimetres (a smidgenunder 2 inches)

I am starting to be able to see the difference.

In other news it is going to be 39o C here today, so I have no excuse but tomstay in doors and wrap presents.

Hello all,

After another 5 days relaxing at the same weight, pondering the enormity of the situation, my dear old bod just gave up another 0.7kg, bringing me tantalisingly close to my December challenge target of getting of 70kg (this morning I’m 70.4). I’m very happy with that. I’m trying very hard not to think about how close I am to the 60s.

I have painters unexpectantly coming in today to paint the stairwell and hallway – they are opportunistically taking advantage of a couple of cooler days predicted and a few available days before they break over Christmas. Very pleased to have it done, but it is going to disrupt my Christmas preps and makes me regret not priotising sprucing up the downstairs loo which I will need to use, frequently, over the next two days! I even caught myself pondering cutting back my water intake. Serves me right really.

PS. CORRECTION end of week 5 was 71.1

Well who would have thought six weeks could go by so quickly. Here’s my weekly update

Starting Weight 78.3
Week 5 71.1
Week 6 70.1 -1kg
Total loss over 6 weeks – 8.2kg Yahoo!

No change to waist or hip measurements but still feeling in great shape.

Stayed on track over Christmas, no alcohol and all BSD friendly. Over my usual 800 calories but all delicious low carb goodies. I was hosting so my fridge and cupboards are still full of carby, sugary traditional Christmas foods. Clearing it all out is tomorrow’s job.

On another happy note, dinner out with friends last night, and they were the ones telling the wait staff – ‘no rice for our friend’, ‘ no, only three wine glasses’, and ‘can we have one of the duck pancakes without the pancake or sauce’. It was hilarious, I loved every minute.

Wow, Flick, that is momentous news. Congratulations on your fantastic results so far, most of all in the fearlessness of your resolve, your even perspective on the numbers doing their own thing and the sheer joy you exude for having made such a thorough committment that has paid off in spades already.

Your friends becoming your WoE advocates is truly a great and beautiful thing. My OH’s parents (who hosted us for Christmas) were so conscientious about my dietary needs that I didn’t have to worry about a thing even though of course I couldn’t weigh or measure or calorie count. It was so kind and really made a huge difference in my enjoyment of the holidays not to have to explain and justify for politeness’ sake. Your friends have proved themselves to be true friends who care about your well-being and are 100% behind your choices. You can’t put a price on that kind of support.

Hi Ensecca, yes this group of friends is precious. And how wonderful for you to have supportive and respectful in laws.

Woohoo first day of Week 8!

I am completely thrilled to have managed to stay true to my course and meet the challenge of health commitments made purely for my own benefit (although probably quite good for my family to have a happy, healthy Flick).

Here are week 7 results – I’m so relieved it finished well as my weight movement was not the usual pattern of steady state for a number of days, followed by a drop. This last week I had a couple of days of consecutive drops, two steady weight days, another large drop, slight gain and then a drop. Go figure. Only a minor panic over the slight gain as I haven’t seen many of these, long stalls yes but not gains. I was able to distract myself with a lovely long walk with the dog during which I reminded myself our bodies are fascinatingly complex, beautiful things.To be honest though I was quite anxious the next morning worrying that I might see another inexplicable gain. Thankfully there was a small loss so all is right with world.

So results –

Starting weight – 78.3
Week 6 – 70.1
Week 7 – 68.8 = -1.3kg 😀🌟💥🤸‍♀️
Total Loss – 9.5kg (Oh sooo close to 10kg!) Hopefully next week

BMI starting 28.7 – Week 7 25.7. Unless I drop 2kg this week, I don’t think I’ll make a healthy BMI this first round. So will look forward to that as an early win in Round 2.

But, here is the really, really unbelievable news –

Starting waist size = 90cm
Week 7 – 81cm. Bloody hell – that is 9cm reduction 👏 and brings me very close to under 80cm which many of the Australian websites (Heart Foundation, Health direct.gov.au) identify as increasing risks of serious ill health. Noting that at 90cm these same sites put me in a ‘serious risk’ category.

The same lovely thing is suddenly happening to my hips –

Starting hips – 109cm
Week 7 – 102cm

Waist to hip ration is down to just under 79.5.

I’m using a computer on which I can’t find emojis so just insert shooting stars, popping crackers and very very big smiles.

Off now to search the threads for advice on Round 2.

Oh a bit of sad news, those lovely size 14 trousers I was soo thrilled to be able to wear some weeks back, are now quite baggy! I will miss them.

Hi Flick

That’s brilliant news. It’s always lovely reading your posts – they’re so full of energy and enthusiasm. No wonder – you’re doing so well. Fantastic reductions in waist and hip measurements (No jealousy here – just colour me green!)

Have a great New Year

Marie

Congratulations Flick, those are wonderful results! Well done you.

Hi Marie,

What I fail to mention as I try not to look at it too often, is my still very podgy tummy. 😂

You are so close to a healthy BMI! Can’t wait to celebrate that one with you!

Thanks Natalie, i must admit I did feel a bit of a weirdo, plodding along here over Christmas/New Year. Still, better that than disappearing in a puff of sugar and carbs for months, or until my next annual GP lecture. And those lovely maintainers always keep me motivated.

Speaking of speedy and stylish, you must be really chuffed with your start to the year. Well done starting back early and so well. Seems to me its going to be a terrific, if occasionally bumpy, year all round. Lucky us!

Hi Flick – very podgy tummy – yep, me too. Still, all to play for in 2018!

Well done, Flick!

I’m on my 2nd day and have found reading about your results really encouraging.

Well done, Flick. You slayed the holiday dragon like St George on meth. Pretty soon you’ll find that everyone else looks like the weirdo when they gorge on sickly sweet, tongue-numbing, bland and banal cakes and such. I saw someone at a restaurant the other night eat a mac and cheese pizza and had to physically fight the urge to heave. It was nauseating. Then I felt instantly better when I recognized that my natural reaction was revulsion now instead of attraction. That is such a great feeling.

Keep on rocking this hard in the New Year and you’re going to see all your goals achieved within weeks. Congratulations!

Hi Squidge, Thanks for the nod. The time goes very very quickly! We’ll all the clapping and cheering your results before you know it. I found if I kept the carbs consistently low, it’s wasn’t long before the cravings find a more accommodating host and left me alone. I occasionally found myself wistful for a dish or an ingredient but these feelings are not hard to manage. “Hmm, do I want that enough to accept a layer of disgusting, ugly, dangerous, visceral fat in exchange?”. No contest.

From then on it’s just a matter of plodding on. Oh and navigating the usual social and holiday complications but hey, who doesn’t want lovely complications like that! And really, I didn’t find it that hard. I ate delicious, festive food throughout the season, attended excellent parties and meals out, cooked a mountain of delicious traditional foods and meals for my family and collapsed in a happy heap on 2 January, roughly 2kg lighter.

Mind you just the other day I caught myself swooning about, arm across forehead gasping “Oh no, I may never eat thick slabs of delicious sourdough toast with peanut butter again …. soooob”. Enjoyed the drama for a bit and then made a lovely cup of tea.

Hey Esnecca, It is so lovely having a cheer squad! Thank you.

I am really looking forward to the time when I’ve been eating this way for long enough that my palate has actually changed. Mind you Mac and cheese pizza sounds totally disgusting even to a carb tragic like me. I am stunned that the 8 weeks is nearly up. I’m walking around today repeating Week 8, Day 2. Bloody hell! I plan to just launch straight into a second round. I will still have around 8-10kg to go, depending on the finish point (60 or 58 for wriggle room).

Lol Esnecca I admit to still liking both Mac n cheese (haven’t had it for a long time tho) and pizza, but together? Urg. Are you sure this was a ‘restaurant’?

Flick eight weeks seems a long time a the start but nothing once it’s past!

It’s actually really good. Local produce, meats, cheeses, craft beers, a small but varied menu that most people ignore in favor of their well-known thin crust pizzas. I chose not to ignore — baked lemon cod served on a bed of green beans with a blue cheese field green side salad — and it was perfect. Lightly spiced and golden outside, soft moist interior, lemon brightness mingled with the luscious richness of the brown butter in the green beans. The cheese and salumi appetizer I ordered for dessert when everyone else shared a couple of a slices of carrot cake was delicious too. The fat rind was even peeled off the prosciutto, a small detail but one that pleases me deeply.

Everyone else at the table had pizzas and all reported that it was great. One of them was clearly way overcooked/charred to a blackened husk and I would have sent it back in instant, but the person who ordered it insisted it was fine and perfect. They were all your normal range of pizzas (wild mushroom, supreme, roasted mixed veg). Nothing gross like mac and cheese on them.

Some other table had that monstrosity on the table. They also fed their youngest child (maybe 5 years old at most) a massive slice of triple layer chocolate cake for dinner. It must have been 6 inches high and 4 inches wide on the back end, I swear. Huge. He insisted that was all he wanted so they shrugged, ordered, tapped away on their cellphone while he ate a literal giant pile of sugar for dinner. Then he ran around the restaurant screaming, turning around in circles so fast he got dizzy and collapsed, getting in the way of servers and the bartender. It was like a really bad 80s public service announcement: THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON SUGAR. I find eating out in the US is often like that.

Hi Flick! I try to keep up with newcomers on the forums, but I think I’ve become
a bit overwhelmed by so many new members to our community! I’m ashamed
to see that I haven’t yet told you how IMPRESSED I am with all of your success
to date, but most of all your fearless, positive, take no prisoners approach
to this WOE, and life in general. esnecca and I are often referred to as the “BSD
twins” because our extreme weight loss and our stories in general eerily
mimic each other. Now we can almost complete each other’s sentences.
Together we’ve lost @ 350lbs! She’s not the only cheerleader that you’ve
got, I say a very loud “YES!” when I read your posts also. In attitude alone,
you may be our long lost triplet who also “gets it” with gusto 🙂 I sincerely
hope that you will continue to post when you’ve reached your goal, because
you’re a fantastic addition to the BSD community. Looking forward with
much anticipation to celebrating your success with you when you reach
your target. It won’t be long now 🙂 🙂 🙂 2018 is going to be your year,
no question about it!!!

Allie

Esnecca – you and LTC should collaborate and write a cookery book or something! Between you, I’m always drooling! 🙂

Allie and gang – I finally tracked down a farm shop that sells grass fed meat! It’s their own farm. So I will probably take a tootle out to see them at the weekend. Now, just need to find somewhere to buy fish from, the equivalent of grass fed, what would that be, line caught? All suggestions welcome! 🙂

2018 here we come! 🙂

Kazzxxx

Flick, totally echoing everything Allie has just said. You are an inspiration to so many newbies, well done. You will soon be another maintainer to join our growing band and, as Allie says, you really MUST stick around, as your positive attitude and growing experience is an invaluable asset to our little community.

The lovely thing about this forum is that we all have cheerleaders – newbies, old hands and maintainers alike. Everyone is so thrilled for our successes, and full of commiserations and encouragement when things go slightly awry. But it is sometimes difficult to keep up with everyone’s news, but that certainly doesn’t mean we don’t care.

Yay, Essie, what an excellent description of what cake represents to our bodies!
I can just picture this “wired” kid bouncing in the aisles of your restaurant,
and parents finding nothing at all unacceptable about it. Macaroni and cheese
in pizza form makes me nauseous, as does macaroni and cheese in general.

Kazzi, great idea to start sourcing your own food! I can’t wait for the summer
months when we can return to locally grown vegetables. Nothing compares
with locally grown heirloom tomatoes, which is probably the only time I
indulge in tomatoes much. August/Sept. is the height of the season here,
but next up will be the locally grown seasonal asparagus in March, which
we generally OD on, but only for a limited period of time… I hope that you
can locate a local fish monger that sells “wild caught” fish, preferrably from
cold water. Anything “farmed” is rubbish, and has probably been fed grains
and the cleanliness of the farm can vary wildly from place to place besides.
Making friends with the fishmonger helps a lot, they can be full of great
preparation ideas if they are passionate about what they do. We are very
fortunate to have a great fish market about 30 min. from home, so we don’t
have to rely on prepackaged stuff from the grocery store where you can’t
even smell it to determine how fresh it is. There are always little sneaky
marketing tools besides. I’ve seen “wild faroe island salmon” on offer here,
and faroe island is actually a farm! Deception in advertising, to say the least.
I know that cold water fish isn’t available to everyone, but includes some
of the following: halibut, grouper, salmon to name a few. Happy sourcing!

Hi, Theo! I’m very happy to see you out and about sharing your good cheer,
after your recent holiday hotel duties. I’m very happy that you were able to
spend time with your Mother, too. I lost mine at the age of 94 following
a massive stroke 2 years ago. I always dreaded the arrival of such an
event, but we can never be truly prepared for it. Treasure your moments
together, as I’m sure that you do! I was thinking of you NYE as you were
trudging your way home under moonlight and torch. It painted a romantic
picture in my mind. You and I will hit that magic year in maintenance in
about 3 1/2 months, my sister, separated at birth. Did you wear that splendid
gold sequined retro jacket to your dinner party? I spent the evening in a
bathrobe in front of the fire, where I quickly nodded off. I much prefer
your way of celebrating 🙂 🙂 🙂 My sequins will have to wait for next year!

Great start everyone!

Allie

Hey, Allie, yes 10 days with my mother was something to be treasured, although she gets very frustrated with herself at having to be taken out and about whilst staying with us. She lives in a big city, with easy public transport links so goes out and about by herself every day. My lovely coastal retreat, on the other hand, doesn’t even know the meaning of public transport! She used to come and stay and walk everywhere, but it is rather hilly and she can’t manage it these days. Plus the weather was appalling, gale force winds and torrential rain virtually non-stop, so a lot of scrabble was played! (She can still beat me as often as I can beat her) and we did a couple of 1,000 piece jigsaws as a family, which was fun.

No I didn’t wear the sequins on New Year’s Eve (though, despite what it looked like in the photo, they are not gold, more of a steely platinum colour, which goes with my grey hair far better than gold) I actually wore the same thing for both Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinner (we always dress for Christmas Dinner, black tie/dinner jacket – guess you’d call it a tux?) and, sorry to disappoint Essie, because I know she likes colour, but I was in black – a lovely outfit I bought way back in May to celebrate reaching maintenance and which my 17 year old granddaughter describes as “business at the front, party at the back” which is a very apt description, from the front it does appear all sleek and elegant, but the back………..!!!!!😛. I was saving it for something special, and Christmas and New Year seemed to fit the bill. Sadly the walk home was not at all romantic – we had to change into full wet weather gear and wellies (could have done with thigh length galoshes) as the weather was so atrocious! But, hey, we’d had a lovely evening with good friends, fantastic home cooked food and, if I’m honest, far too much wine /champagne, so getting soaked on the way home was totally worth it.

Maybe next year we can wear sequins together?😀

PS Sorry to usurp the “2 week in” thread chatting to my BSD twin.😜

Quite right. You should be posting it in the phoenixes thread. 😀

Allie, excellent advice on fish buying, thank you. I only buy sustainably line-caught wild fish, either fresh or smoked. I didn’t know about the sneaky Faroe Island trick. Forewarned is forearmed.

Theo, I’m completely charmed by your grandaughter’s description of that
little black number for Christmas and New Years. Better keep an eye on your
closet before you find her foraging there. Your dress sounds like an ideal
choice for me with my depleted frontal assets! I like your mini dress, and
yes, I do recognize those telltale pelvic bones. Who’d have ever thought
that we’d be so comfortable in this new and happy place 🙂 🙂 🙂 Essie
could certainly have been a guest at your table of formal attire with her
coat and tails, not to mention the felt fedora! I can’t keep apologizing for
our constant chatter, though, because we seem powerless to ever run out
of things to say to each other, my friend. Never possible to read your posts
without a ludicrous, over sized grin on my face..long may it continue! Who
can predict what we’ll get up to in the year ahead??? Sky’s the limit, I say!

Happy New Year!

xoxo
Allie

p.s. My Mother was a scrabble genius too, and usually put me under the
table with her extensive vocabulary, even at 94 🙂

Not at all, I love you all being here!

Allie, you need not worry that you are missing newies. You are such a stalwart here and I always feel your support, strong and true.

Just a word of caution re fish, some not so reliable sources will list catch from huge, destructive (evil in my view) factory ships as ‘wild caught’. Getting to know your fish monger, local fishing fleets, etc. is one of the few reliable ways ro ensure fish consumption isn’t contributing to the destruction of precious fish stocks and our beautiful oceans.

Theodora, your Christmas sounds like something beautiful on the BBC. We are so casual here in Australia, but I love an opportunity to frock up! Just doesn’t happen often enough.

And while I have so cleverly put the focus on me – this morning I passed the 10kg lossed marker!! 67.9.

Allie, I am appropriating the term ‘depleted frontal assets’. You are hilarious.

Oh well done, Flick – quite a milestone, and a very well deserved one.

However, I think your idea of our Christmas, and possibly even my lifestyle, may be a little romanticised 😉 Yes, it is a family tradition to “dress for dinner” but only on high days and holidays, Christmas and NYE being two of those occasions. But otherwise, living by the sea, trust me, I spend most of my life in scruffy salty sailing or muddy walking gear, invariably in wellies either of the blue sailing or green walking variety. Even the “fine dining” establishments around here don’t expect anything other than jeans /open neck shirt etc – though they probably draw the line at wellies 😉 Which is probably why we have decided, as a family, to carry on the traditions of our rather over the top “occasions”. As you say, it’s lovely to dig out our posh frocks occasionally 😊 We always dig out the silver candelabras too. Really 😊

But one of the huge advantages of living a coastal life is the fresh fish, which we either catch ourselves or buy from local fishermen. And, as far as things like salmon and trout are concerned, my nephew is a ghillie and runs his own fly fishing school about 90 mins drive from us, so we have a regular supply whenever we want (which is often😉)

I love Allie’s term “depleted frontal assets” too, although it’s not something I suffer from. I was always rather over-endowed in that department so losing weight has brought me down to a very respectable 32D.

Allie, so pleased you like my granddaughter’s turn of phrase. I thought it may appeal because her choice of words often remind me of you. She often comes up with a succinct comment, and I think “that’s just the type of thing Allie would say”. And yes indeed, Essie would slot right into one of our formal occasions, a perfect fit. BTW I always have a smile on my face when I read your posts too. Nothing quite like a bit of banter between friends, so indeed why should we apologise? 😄

Well it’s day five of week 8 for meand I’ve been the same weight for 3 days. Back to my usual pattern. I guess it’s safe to say I have cracked the 10kg mark (10.4, I’m counting). A stall so close to the end of Round 1 seems fitting for me, so here are some non scale victories I’ve noticed lately.

1. I can cross my legs properly 🤪
2. The sleeves on my lululemon walking t-shirts are no longer tight
3. I’m finding the heat no so unbearable – even managed some weeding this morning and it’s tipped to reach 37 C here
4. Still sleeping like a champion, even on some warmer nights, and
5. With all this consistent nergy, my house is looking the best it has for years. I’ve just about run out of cupboards to organise!

🎉🎉🌟🌟🌟

Are you available for short-term leasing? Because my apartment could keep you as busy as you’d like for the next, oh, 6 months or so? I’d pay you in BSD-friendly food and all the giant tumbleweeds of cat fur you can carry. 😀

Flick I was out trimming lawn edges this morning and felt dizzy from the heat!

Natalie, I thought of you early and your lovely new pool earlier. Apparently it is going to be even hotter tomorrow.

Esnecca, I woukd love to come over and tidy cupboards in exchange for your delcious and interesting food, especially if there is an actual cat attached to those fur balls. I would though need some time off to go play in the snow!

‘Afternoon, Flick! (3:00am here). Isn’t it remarkable how fast 8 weeks can
go by when it’s accompanied by a positive attitude and the joy of making
new friends!? Recognizing the NSV is such a boost, and I love reading
yours, because I can relate to every one of them 🙂 Okay, maybe not the
tidy house bit!! When it’s a toss up between “chatting” and the vacuum
cleaner, I routinely come down on the side of sociability. There are many
other NSV on the horizon for you, but I’m going to let you discover them
for yourself! Soar like an eagle, “not one step backward” is ringing in the
air….What are your plans at completion of the 8 weeks?
I was thinking about your heat wave as I was scraping 12″ of snow off
the car this morning, at a balmy temp. of -19C degrees! Still want to
join us in Connecticut to play in the snow? 🙂 🙂 🙂

Thanks for the encouragement, Flick.

I like the NSVs! I must keep reminding myself that although I want to lose weight, that’s not the only reason I’m doing this. There are lots of other reasons to try really hard to stay on track.

Goodness Alliecat, awake at 3am! I think I’m an early bird waking at 5.30 most days. 9.30pm here and just dipping under 30c outside.

12 inches of snow sounds delightful and beautiful, assuming of course top notch cold weather gear, excellent heating, a crackling fire, lots of tea and no pressing need other than pleasure to be outside. Oh sunshine would also be required.

The non scale victories are a terrific bonus. I hadn’t even thought about the leg crossing thing until I noticed suggenly that my top leg was sitting flush and falling straight!

I plan to press on with BSD. Mid point for my healthy weight range is 58-60kg depending on which table you are reading. That another 8-10 to go and will likely to take another Round with my “stable, stable, stable, drop” pattern. I have an appointment with my GP Monday and will discuss pros and cons. My only concern is potential impact on bone density but I’m pretty confident I’m getting plenty of calcium and vit D.

Did you or any other super maintainers experience any difficulties with subsequent rounds?

Flick, personally I don’t think there is any problem whatsoever in doing rounds one after the other. I only had to do 2 rounds, but I did them back to back (lost 50lbs) but there are lots of people on the forum who have completed several rounds.

As far as bone density is concerned, now that I am out of that awful low fat mindset, I am eating far more dairy produce than ever, particularly as I have yoghurt for breakfast every day and it is also my go-to snack if and when I get the munchies.

We all have to find what is right for us, we are all different with varying lifestyles, and this way of eating has to fit in with that, otherwise it is unsustainable long-term.

Good luck to you on your continuing journey, you have done so well so far, I just know you will become one of the BSD forum stalwarts.

Hey, Flick – I just caught your question about subsequent rounds…There
are sometimes opinions that surface on the forums suggesting that this
WOL shouldn’t be continue for more than 3 months at a time. I did 10
months without a break, principally because I didn’t even know that these
forums existed until I was thru to maintenance, and find myself, as of
today, 15 lbs. under target. I had absolutely no medical problems going
straight thru, but I kept a careful eye on my protein macros, and I’m feeling
relatively confident that I have no muscle wasting as a result. You cannot
expect to have no loose skin with a loss of 150lbs., and I do have some of
that, but it’s a small price to pay for feeling fantastic and getting my life
back. I’d be inclined to say “go for it” unless you are experiencing any
physical symptoms that you’re concerned about. Keep us posted 🙂

Allie

Thanks so much for the responses Theodora and Alliecat, I feel very lucky to be able to draw and n your experiences.

I am nursing a back injury. A shelf I was stupidly standing on to reach up to a very high shelf collapsed and sent me crashing, spine first, into a wooden bed frame. It has been excruciating, especially after lifting or carrying or after periods of static load – eg standing at the kitchen bench prepping food or sitting etc. Anyway, off to discuss x-ray results with my excellent GP today. The radiologist report says there is no evidence of wedge fractures, thank the lord!, but there is moderate loss of disc height at two lumbar joints. The x-ray also shows small osteophytes (thoracic and lumbar) This has given me pause for thought about bone health. I am however very confident my diet is bone friendly – I also eat yoghurt everyday, cheese, loads of leafy greens, nuts and seeds and sunshine is certainly not lacking! I’ll be pleased to see the GP. I’ve also made a preemptory appointment with my physio later today.

Anyway, mostly though I just hate medical stuff. I have a great doctor and we have an excellent health system here, but I like to keep a good safe distance from it all.

My plan is to continue in. I’m in a good rhythm, still enjoying all the good food and have great energy levels. I’ve been IF 16/8 but have saved more serious intermittent fasting patterns and more serious exercise big guns to roll out if the weight loss slows down to despressing rates.

Speaking of which, with just today to go to complete the first 8 weeks, my dear old body has been hanging grimly on to 67.9kg for FIVE DAYS! Enough already

Ouch Flick! That sounds painful. I hope you heal up soon.

Oh dear, Flick, that sounds really painful. I do hope it is resolved soon.

Stalls happen (falls too for that matter😉) and all you can do is ride them out – you have done so very well, and I’m sure that the scales will start plummeting down again soon, you are due a visit from the Whoosh Fairy, I think. x

Thanks Natalie, I am now the proud owner of two step ladders, one for downstairs, one for upstairs, so no excuses.

Dear Whoosh Fairy,

Tomorrow is a big day. It will mark the successful completion of 8 week BSD. You are warmly invited to join the celebration.

Cheers, Flick

Well here’s the short back story – no permanent damage and nothing that time, physio and exercising won’t sort out. 😁😁🎉🎉🌟🌟

And, while my spine shows signs of wear and tear consistent with my age, and sadly some otherwise unknown arthritis, no sign of osteoporosis. In fact, my GP, who is very thorough, didn’t think there was any real point in a bone density scan.

Yipee, because this also means she, and I, see no reason not to continue on with another round of Fast 800 to shoot for my healthy weight! The fat around my middle was a much bigger concern. And of course, the enormous challenge of keeping it off.

So i’ve just finished my last meal of Round 1 and tomorrow marks the final weigh-in and Day 1 of Round 2. I wonder what it will bring. 🤪