morning – please may I join you all? I’m starting BSD again this morning after having great success with it two years ago. But the last 8-9months I’ve been really struggling with anxiety/comfort eating and I’ve put on a stone and done no exercise. Last week was particularly bad – I think probably 5 bottles of wine and a crazy amount of crisps, cakes, mince pies and biscuits. So, my weekly pledges – MORE water, NO alcohol, MORE veggies, NO sugar. And like Izzy, get back up to speed with the diet plan!

Hi Izzy and welcome. Sorry you’ve had a tough year and I hope that we can be a source of support and strength. Good luck with your BSD re-start and do keep posting so we know how you’re doing.The thing I love about BSD is that it is very forgiving: I have stalled and resumed many times and always find it’s still effective if I will only stick to the basics! There’s something in my psyche that makes me think once I have “failed” (for want of a better word and I can’t think of one right now) then that’s it, I will now put on tons of weight and be worse than when I started. But with BSD you can soon start to reverse any collateral damage and get back on track again. It’s all under your control.

Mindandmatter sounds like you are doing well. Stay positive and I hope the headaches pass soon.

So it’s only Tuesday – let’s all have a really good no-nonsense rest of the week! X

hi, just dropping in to say hello and join in 🙂
I did BSD a few years ago and did well, but I wandered off.
I’m now trying to reclaim my life and health as I’m going through a marriage breakup since early this year.
As I’m beginning to feel better I thought now was as good a time as any to start to move my weight along healthily.
I only re-started yesterday, so will see how things go.
Nice to meet you all 🙂

I’m in for the weekly pledge too – in my case, no wine, and as positive action, making use of my exercise bike, 2 short sessions a day. If I am not careful I will soon be back in a stone bracket I thought I had for ever left behind, as being silly is showing. So slippery slope terrain; need to get my crampons back on. I really would like to reach my original target by 1st BSD anniversary in Jan 2020 (that’s abt 8 kgs). Weekly pledge does not seem so scary, so an excellent idea! Elky, great that you and Kafin are teaming up, and Allie, good to see you on here!

Good day Lovely People. I would love if someone could recommend a great weight lost program for my lady. Some of you guys in here seems to be knowledgeble in this area. I am open to some suggestions. I have been doing some research myself but there is so much weight lost programs out there that it’s very hard to know where to start. As I said my Lovely People. I’m open for suggestions. Cheers!!

Hi I’m here for the week as well. I’m going to just do my best to get back in to BSD this week and relearn it all.
So my pledge for now till I re-read the book is simply to eat less carbs than I usually eat… keeping it simple!

Hi everyone
I’ve been a bit quiet – trying to keep in maintenance. So my pledge for the week is no alcohol. So far I have done one wine free week, and *will* keep going until the end of this week.
A big shout out to Birdy76. Missing your posts and hoping you are alright.
Merry

yes today was mostly good thanks 🙂

I did steal a bourbon biscuit at my art group…

Hi SBA – wow, I’m thrilled and genuinely moved by your post. You’ve completely captured what I felt like when I first did BSD. Recognising myself again after so many years was definitely a big one for me – I remember thinking, ‘Oh, there you are’ – but all the others are completely right too.
Sometimes I can forget these things in the day-to-day. I’m going to keep your post in my virtual back pocket and take it out when I need a bit of a boost. Thanks.
Jennie xx

Hi everyone, I’m in too. I like this idea, Wendy – baby steps in the right direction.

I’m going to do a tiny bit of meditation each day – only 10 minutes – and add back in my exercise bike HIIT (from MM’s book) just three times a week. I don’t expect either thing to have any impact on the scales or tape measure, but that’s not what this is about for me. Kafin is in it with me – we’re resurrecting our old “Kafin and Elky Get Fit” plan. And we’ll keep doing it until we get it right LOL

Good luck all, Elky

Hi Jennie, thanks. It’s all the other benefits I’m enjoying most, old clothes that I loved too much to get rid of, now actually fitting, recognising myself again, the energy, (euphoria in fact), less time preparing meals, reduction in menopausal symptoms, cleaner skin, cheek bones, not breathless when running upstairs anymore and just a sense of joie de vivre when everyone else is hunkering down for winter. I feel more alive than I have in 20 years. I have never dieted before as I thought it sounded miserable and I knew I would cheat, but this diet has truly changed my life. 😀

Goodness, you guys have so many great ideas. It’s also reassuring to read Dreamscometrue’s post.
I managed to come in under 800 cals and 70 carb on Sunday, and the annoying headache kicked in late in the afternoon. My second day I balanced things a bit better and have finished closer to 800 cals with 62 carbs. I’m using olive oil not butter at the mo and concerned that I might be undercutting fats, I’m finding it hard to break free of the “fat is bad for you” mentality. MyFitnesspal is really helpful for simple tracking and I’m feeling an awful lot more positive about this now!

Hi Busybee – we seem to be living parallel lives at the moment! I’m finding it really hard to stay on track and am putting up with far too much nonsense carb-wise. My weight is fluctuating and I feel bloated and sluggish. The next few days I’m visiting my mother but will also have some precious time to myself after a very busy few days. So I’m going to take the Fast 800 book to read again and get re-inspired. I am still hoping to get down to 140lb by the end of November but am now going to have to be v-e-r-y disciplined to achieve that.

It was interesting reading how others are feeling about too much information / too many diets / conflicting advice etc. It can all get too much. All I know is that the BSD has worked really well for me whenever I’ve stuck to it properly: the problem is I just get sloppy then start slipping into bad habits without realising it. So I need to yet again dust myself off and get on with it!! I find it really helps to record absolutely everything that I eat and drink because it’s so was to think you’re sticking to plan then realise you’re doing a bit of sabotage along the way without really thinking about it.

Anyway, have a great week everyone and here’s hoping for some discards by Friday!

Hi SBA
That’s smashing going over the last 10 weeks. You must be really pleased with the reduction in weight – brilliant reduction. It’s also great to hear that you’ve found a way that works for you. For me, in the end that’s the most important thing, finding a way that works for you, gets the results you want, and that you can sustain long-term – the last one is my challenge right now!

Best wishes for the next bit. It’ll be good to hear how you go.

Jennie xx
Edited: yes, I know what you mean about the shopping

Izzy
I just wanted to come on and wish you that good luck! Glad to hear today’s going well.
Jennie xx

Busybee – they reckon confession is good for the soul – well done you for stopping the breakout as quickly as you did. I bought a lovely green coat from a second-hand shop when I was down in London recently. It’s just a tiny bit tight – I know, I know – but it’s part of my incentive to stay on track for Christmas. Six weeks is a nice and do-able amount of time for us to keep focused.
Au secours – one of my favourite things about having lost a lot of weight on BSD is the real pleasure I now get in wearing a nice dress on Christmas Day – that’s a great vision and your motivation is infectious!
Crosie and SueBlue – Yes, soups are definitely one of my favourite lunches at this time of the year and I particularly like broccoli and stilton. Also, I must have absorbed some of the chat on here as when I was shopping on Saturday I picked up a head of celery. I actually can’t stand celery but I had a vague memory of having celery soup once and quite enjoying it so, in the spirit of my aim to extend my diet, Keith, I’m going to try your recipe too. No pressure.
SueBlue – hope the job change goes smoothly and everyone stays safe in NSW.
Crazyquilter – hope the last couple of days have been smoother for you. Are you in the UK? I didn’t see the TV programme but I like that sort of thing so I will try to find it. Btw, I love your name.
Daschiemad – I really empathise with you – when I was first diagnosed Type II I got all sorts of misinformation – mine was from the NHS (to be fair everything else was good just not the dietary advice). Doing the BSD including watching the carbs really does work. Hope things are beginning to work and if it’s not, please do shout out.
So, yesterday I went online and booked my sessions at the Leisure Centre – this morning I had an exercise class, Tues and Thurs I’ll be in the gym, and Sunday morning I’m going back to Pilates. I’ve missed a few weeks now so I’ll keep with this old routine up until Christmas and then think about what to do next in early January.
Hope everyone else is going well today.
Jennie xx

Hi sunshine girl ! Good to see you too ! That was a good loss for October. November still has a way to run, don’t get disheartened. Seems we all have our triggers …choc, cheese, nuts …alcohol. I think the weekly target is a good way to give us back a bit more control. I could see myself sliding into excessive choc chomping ! All the best for your exercise regime too !

Hi Allie ! Good to see you back on the thread ! You have been missed !
Hi Scottishgal….yep the choc. Put the Galaxy out of reach !! Don’t TRY to give up the choc, just do it !! Nuts too ? I am dealing with them one at a time but you go girl !!

Scottishgal likes to be nagged 😉 😉

Count me in too. I promised to lose 1 stone by Christmas and was successful on reaching my 5lb goal in October. In pledged a further 5lb in November but have lost absolutely zero. So it is back to zero alcohol at weekends and I want to get into some proper exercise since I can no longer swim (public baths are few and far between). Starting tomorrow I am doing my Beverly Callard CD (25 years old) as it seems to be a good all round exercise.

Reported

Count me in too. I’m going to try giving up the chocolate as well as the nuts. I hope if I mentally think that it’s for one week only then it might make it easier to achieve.
Good luck to everyone else with their pledges.

So relieved to know you and OH are okay, Allie – I was getting worried! Good to have you on board here and we’ll hopefully catch up properly soon.

May I hitch my wagon up with you all? So happy to see you V., and of course Sunny! 🙂 I know I have emails to respond to,
but in the past 10 days O/H has absconded with my computer while his is being worked on, the twit! See you soon, Sunny!
I’ve gotten very lazy with the water drinking, and some cheese has made it’s way into the house. I’d like to improve the
former and ditch the later, so I’m here with you guys! Thanks, Wendy!

Well, I have to confess that my November so far has been full of nonsense! After staying on course for four months and losing over a stone, I fell into the abyss of carbs, cabs and more carbs. Talk about “Pride comes before a fall)!
I finally pulled myself together on Saturday when I realised we go away to see our son and his family in six weeks and I have some nice new clothes to wear. Also my innards have been complaining and my gut bacteria have been demanding more and more, so this is it!,
The carbs are banished, the alcohol put to the back of the cupboard and the butter and cream are ready in the fridge.
The egg fast worked well for me so after a week back on the wagon, I intend to start another cycle next Monday.
New start yet again.
X B

I found one of african energy drinks that really fulfil my needs. See the KABISA its rich in vitamis and the sugar is from natural ingredients and also is gluten free!

Your determination is shining bright, Izzy! Have no doubt you’ll be reporting good progress soon. The new weekly thread has been kicked off by Wendleg, so do join us there and keep us posted on how things are going.

I’m in as well and I am ‘adding in’ rather than ‘cutting out’, so my pledge is to do ten minutes real exercise a day. My exercise regime has been zero for too long now, so I figure starting small is the way to go, working on the basis of something being better than nothing.

Anyway, like V, I have made a start today, set the kitchen timer this morning and did my ten minutes – nothing strenuous, a little pilate, some swats, a few reverse lunges and yoga warrior stance. Not much, but something to swap up and hopefully build on.

Think it’s important we stick around V, as we know if we still have work to do having this support and accountability is invaluable.

Yes I’m on board. Wendy I think you and I have similar weaknesses, dark chocolate and nuts! I’m also a cheese fanatic. I like strong cheeses and a good blue but I find with cheese it’s best just not to start!
Even though this thread doesn’t ‘officially ‘ start until tomorrow I’m starting today. Coffee also has me reaching for dark chocolate although it’s usually only after lunch. I’ve just finished lunch so today I’m going to have some tea instead of coffee! I don’t fancy chocolate with tea …… could the solution be really that easy? Will report later in the week.
I know I’ve been around here for ages and maybe should have ‘moved on’ but I do find being ‘accountable’ helps me to stay in control. Thanks Wendy for setting up this thread.

Right, so as you know I have had some success discarding the kilos since I began in September 2018. I eat differently now, and no longer have cravings for foods that harm me ..However… I have transitioned from Dairy Crunch and Maltesers to very dark chocolate and no kidding, I love 95 and even pieces of 100% cacao peppered with cacao nibs. A cup of coffee has me reaching for my cacao fix and it happens frequently.

So ….I don’t want to create other ‘addictions’ . I still have more kilos to discard and I am pledging quite simply to no longer chomp the cacao ! 7 days in the first instance so I can then , hopefully, respect it a bit more and see it as a treat rather than a constant.

If you want to join us you can pledge anything you like ….giving up a food which is still hindering progress , doing more exercise, drinking more ….anything at all.
Good luck evryone. Weekly changes lead to monthly successes and on we go !!!

It’ s really important, I am suppoused to take some medicine like vitamin B3, B12 but I have problem with taking pills. There’ s any chance that some of you know a drink rich in this commponents. That will be really helpful. But there’ s one problem I am diabetic so the suggar has to be form natural ingredients.

I have set up the new Weekly pledge thread and hope to see lots of people joining in !

Hi everyone ! As you know Verano set up the weekly thread and it has been very well supported by SunnyB, and lots of others.It is very dear to me too as it set me on the path to finally sorting myself out and discarding the weight. So I would love it to continue despite seeming less active recently.So I wondered if to ressurect the idea of a weekly pledge would be helpful ? Seven days would give us a manageable target to make a specific change. Hopefully the changes will turn into long term habits .

So let’s give it a go !
Wendy x

After 10 weeks on the BSD I’m now 40% of the way through a planned 30kg reduction in weight.

Initially I ate my BSD between lunchtime and early evening, but for the past ten days I’ve been having One BSD Meal A Day and clean fasting in between on black coffee and water. No stevia, broth, fruit tea or anything that risks causing an insulin spike. I’m not interested in extended fasting as I have seen decent progress with minimal effort this way.

I have found OMAD easy to plan and easy to do and the day passes quickly. The only issue I have is with shopping – I have discovered it is best to buy what is needed that day as both the BSD and OMAD lend themselves to food waste if I shop in my usual way.

Once I’m at 56kg, hopefully by the end of winter 2020 I’m planning to use OMAD with BSD intermittently as a means to stay there.

Thanks everyone, well the day is off to a good start.
Weirdly facebook is reminding me I got engaged today 8 years ago lol, so seems as good a time as any for a new start on my own. I’m feeling energised.

I’ve also begun another ‘old’ habit renewed today of writing morning pages (a process of writing 3 pages of whatever is in ones head before doing anything else in a day) it’s helped my creativity and anxiety in the past so a good thing to do. It’s an idea from a book by Julia Cameron called The Artists Way if anyone is interested.

I’ve weighed in at 180lbs. A lot of weight for a 5ft tall person, but at one point years ago my heaviest was 204lbs, so at least I’m not back up at that.

I couldn’t find my tape measure, but when I do I will measure all my measurements.

I’m going to try and go with the intermittent fasting thing as well and not eat till lunchtime, I tend not to eat until around 10 anyway so that shouldn’t be a big leap, and I’ve started the day with a big mug of herbal tea with a little stevia, rather than my usual mug of normal tea with milk and sugar.

Plan is to have a berry milkshake made with almond milk and some soup at lunchtime. Then for dinner later I have chicken cobbler made, I’ll skip the carby topping and have veg with mine.

I have a grocery shop arriving later so should have all I need for a successful week one, I already have everything for today without waiting for it 🙂

I’ll look out for the new weekly thread and jump on.

Happy Monday to all 🙂

Bit early for me to post positives, but wanted to drop in and offer a welcome to you Mariet. I’m sure with some focus, you will be able to get back to target weight.

There is a weekly thread that proves very useful in helping to keep one on track, so please do consider joining, I know you will be very welcome.

Have been tossing up between a ‘give up’ or an ‘add in’, as my pledge for the week. On balance I have decided to opt for an ‘add in’ this time round.
So my pledge is to do ten minutes of real exercise each day. At present, my exercise regime is zero, so definitely needs some attention.

Crosie – broccoli and Stilton soup is delicious 🙂 I was skeptical as although I love cheese I could never bring myself to eat blue cheese – but it tastes amazing in this soup, I would make it again now except we are experiencing catastrophic bushfire conditions here in NSW and the weather tomorrow is hot and windy and 36 degrees, so it will be salad for me!

Hi everyone, I haven’t posted for a long time but have been lurking for the past fortnight. I had great success on BSD in 2017, losing 23kg and successfully maintained for more than a year but after my two children’s weddings I stopped being so vigilant and I think I’ve put on about 5 kg in the past year. I’m going by hope my clothes fit because I don’t want to weigh myself 🥺

Anyway I’m back now and being very careful and hoping that second time around will be as smooth as the first time. I certainly don’t want to go back to where I was.

Positives- after having to evacuate with the Bush fires here in NSW my niece and her family have been able to go back home and hopefully their crisis is past.

The gardenia cuttings I took a year ago have just had their third re-potting and are still alive 😊

I’ve been looking after my granddaughter (9months) each Friday for the past month and last week she put her arms around my neck and cuddled into me, the first time ever. Awww. Made my heart melt.

All the positives I read on this page make my day! Thank you all.

Well done everyone on staying committed to No Nonsense November. We’ve still got 3 weeks so still time for discard. I’m staying steady and still keeping that victorious 1lb off. I’ve had some tough times this week and caved into the amazing banana bread eith dark chocolate and cinnamon my 12yr old made! Goal is to have discarded 2 more by end of the month! So have to focus on NO NONSENSE!
Thanks Keith for the celery soup recipe its getting made this week together with a broccoli and stilton ( not sure about the recipe I might have to make some adjustments and advice if it all goes pear shape).
Everyone’s posts are very motivational even though I dont post very often myself.
Best of luck to everyone for the rest of November
Crosie x

Crazy quilter I had a bit of a binge weekend too, but a better Monday. I’m in the middle of changing jobs, same company but different roles, and I think the stress and nerves finally hit me on the weekend! Today was better though – cheese and seeds with nuts for morning tea and then beef and lentil bolognaise with zucchini and cauliflower rice for dinner. I didn’t have breakfast as didn’t feel like eating, then skipped lunch but had an early dinner instead.
I’ve had so many off plan binges but I think the key is to get back on track again as soon as possible afterwards,
And not be put off by temporary gains.
Hope this week is better for both of us 🙂

Hi Verano, my pledge is not to have a rice cake after my lunch. Apart from green veg and a mandarin a day it is the only carb indulgence which I eat. I had a good discard last week and I want to continue to have discards. You must have amazing discipline to have only eaten two squares of chocolate in the past, because if I have a taste of chocolate I would finish the bar.!! Have a good day.

Every day has been a no nonsense day so there should be another discard on Friday. I can see myself on Christmas Day wearing a lovely dress without the usual bumps!! I hope everyone else is feeling as motivated and determined as I am to have a successful November, and then on to December. Have a great lc day.

Well as it’s Monday and the start of a new week I thought I might make my pledge today. I’ve got into the habit of having a couple, or even a few, squares of 90% Lindt every lunchtime with my coffee. Not this week! I have an open bar with just two squares gone but I’m going to put that on a high shelf in a cupboard!

Hi everyone. I’m here too and will pledge tomorrow – great idea!
Catch up later!
Kazzeexx

Hi Izzy and welcome back. This sounds like a challenging time for you, but a positive life changer too so I am wishing you all the very best. In my experience being in an unhappy relationship was the emptiest, most demoralizing time of my life and my self esteem was non-existent. Well done you for taking charge of your future and thinking of what you want for yourself and where you want to be. It can’t have been easy coming to a decision. Improving your health is a great start and it will give you confidence . Stay positive and motivated, Izzy.You are not alone .Stick with us and shout out when you need a boost xx Hope to see you on the weekly (or monthly ) thread xx

Hi Wendy

I too think a weekly pledge is a good idea, count me in.

In the spirit of positivity, I intend to make it something I *will* do, rather than something I *won’t* do. Is that a pledge, LOL

And SunnyB and Wendy, this time my Egg Fast is going really well, thank you. I think last time, when I crashed out of it feeling quite unwell, I may actually have been coming down with something separately and the poor old EF took the blame unfairly. This time I feel fine and am back to my old experience of enjoying eggs no matter how many times I confront them on the plate. But I’m only 2 days in, so not counting chickens yet … well I can’t, can I, not while I’m eating all the eggs … sorry that is a shocking pun and I will stop now.

Have a grand day, Elky

Hi Keith,
Thanks for thinking of me! Yes I started and am feeling well but I didn’t post anything. I think the emphasis on frenetic exercise and *eliminating* carbs put me off. I don’t feel hard exercise is good for my body, it responds better to yoga and pilates, I have fewer injuries and muscle aches. Also I don’t think the book I have advocates the *elimination* of carbs, it only says reduce or minimise so that’s what we’ve done.
So I’m doing it my way and would feel a bit odd commenting on a thread where people will be suggesting I’m doing it wrongly. I’m enjoying the food as is my family and I think it will be sustainable for us.
All the best on your journies, Keith and Sunshine.

Oh I am glad you think the weekly pledge is a good idea ! I didn’t realise it had been tried before but let’s give it another go !
Scottishgal ! Hi ! I have to wean myself off 90 and 95% cacao ! Let’s do it …Galaxy Free Zone !! I doubt if at the end of the Week I will never want to eat Lindt 90 % again but I have to make it an occasional treat not a daily occurrence !!

If you are reading thiis….Come and join us !

Yes SunnyB you’re right! We tried every which way to keep on track! Think it worked for some of us for some of the time and I, for one, am keen to try it again.

Izzy sounds like you have much ahead of you but as SunnyB says there are still a few of us ‘oldies’ still here to help you through the coming months. I’m sure that others will jump in and help too.
Best of luck with your new chapter. One step at a time and you will get to your new normality…….