S-g you really are ‘Moving’ forward in May! I guess it’s all a bit scary at the moment but I’m sure once you’ve taken the step and moved back you will feel more at ease. Anyway, best of luck with your house sale.

So we are almost at the end of May and apart from my time away May really hasn’t been ‘Marvellous’ for me. In saying that it’s my own doing. I really got back into my healthy diet when we first arrived home but the last 10 days or so have been ‘mehhh’. Anyway, another Tuesday, another week and another fresh start.

I have to be honest I’m finding it increasingly difficult to restart again and again after all these years. I know I have to control my carbs but losing weight feels very much like a losing battle. Maybe even a ‘lost’ cause!

Nonetheless, June is just around the corner so I suppose we will need a new thread with a new name……

ARCTICFOX you are inspirational! I’m so glad that the initial upheaval of your recent counselling is calming down and that you are beginning to work through not just that but also the earlier trauma it unearthed. I really hope that the support group is helpful and/or that you find other in-person support to help. And, as you say, we are here for you – albeit remotely – to support in any way we can. I genuinely admire the way that you have ploughed on despite whatever has happened in this past and have developed so many other skills – professional, practical and creative. And you can even grow vegetables!! Well done you, and keep going X

STARGAZER lovely to see you again and it sounds like you are on a really good plan at the moment. Though, like MARIET and me, it’s the belly that is the last to go! Actually this morning I just remembered a 7 minute belly workout that I used to do religiously every. morning during lockdown, and I do believe it helped. I’ll try to dig out the details and share on here if anyone’s interested. I certainly plan to start that again, and in fact am setting myself a personal 30 day challenge starting tomorrow to try and shed a few pounds and tone up a bit before my holiday at the end of June. Wish me luck! As regulars will know, I’m great at making plans and setting targets . . . . just not so good at the actual execution of them 🙀

Hope that everyone has a good week, and let us know how you’re getting on X

Hello all, it’s been encouraging to read everyone’s posts. It is good to share the ups and downs with weight loss, and of course life generally. I’ve got into a routine of taking a shake (strawberry is my favourite) for lunch on the days I go to the office, which is 3 to 4 days a week, and other days have some eggs or a small salad. I am batch cooking bolognaise and chicken casserole type food, and have a sensible low carb meal for dinner. No treats and alcohol only one or two at the weekend. I’m waiting for it to come off my biggest part, around my hips, bum and belly, but instead it is going from everywhere else! My waist and midriff are shrinking, and I’ve also noticed it going off my back, arms and face, while only a bit off my belly. The body does what it does, I suppose, and it will catch up if I just keep going. Hope everyone has a great week.

Hi everyone, just another quick check-in. My nervous system has calmed down significantly. I’m still a bit shaken and confused, but my counsellor assures me we’ll work through it.
Cathy, thanks for the idea about reiki. I have heard about it being used for trauma as well as stress, so could be something to look into. I do get massages covered through work and I found a massage therapist who does trauma-informed massage, so I might give that a try. I’ve still been feeling lots of tightness through my shoulders and neck following all of that shaking.
Yowzer, the interferential current (ICT) has really been helping. Last week the physio used some acupuncture, and even though it helped, it wasn’t as good as the ICT.
One good thing about being shaken up as I was is that I had some flashbacks to a much earlier trauma than what I had been discussing previously with my counsellor. That in itself was pretty awful, but really started to provide some clarity on the way I’ve been interacting with the rest of the world since, and the nature of the trauma means that there may be funding available to me so I can have more frequent and longer counselling sessions, and my counsellor has offered to fill out the forms for me at our next session, so I don’t chicken out sending them in.
I found a local in-person support group, so I am going to try that out this week. We have been talking in my sessions about developing a robust support network that I can rely on. In the past I’ve always joined groups for sports or hobbies, but I’ve found that the people I meet that way are not usually interested in connections outside those activities, and I’m feeling the need for something deeper at the moment. As always, everyone on this forum is super and I count you among my best supporters at the moment. It is just a pity that everyone is so far away and I really need in-person support just now.
My diet has been pretty garbage over the last little while, but I have to keep reminding myself that I’m doing my best under challenging circumstances. I have veggies growing in the garden now, so I just need to remember to harvest them and make healthy meals from them. In a couple of weeks I should have some mange tout peas and carrots which I can just eat raw.

Stuck to the diet with the exception of a scoop of vanilla and one of pistachio ice cream after dinner yesterday. My weight has stayed the same and I am still 1kg down from my holiday. Still on track for 1kg a month but a week to go before the end of May. Hoping for another half a kilo if possible.

Still just working hard in the garden and getting the house really tidy after all the washing and suitcases strewn everywhere in the 2 spare bedrooms.

As we are moving back into a 4 bed house we will be able to take most things with us but there is a job to do on the garage. Why does he have 3 toolboxes!!! Plus half a dozen half used tins of paint – going to the tip or the charity shop if they are still in good condition.

Another week with nothing in our diaries – except the estate agent is coming tomorrow to put the house on the market. I have to remember why we are doing this. We are at an age when we need family and half an acre of land with a pool is just too much work.

Have a good week and enjoy the day off if you are having a bank holiday.

Thanks Verano, just a ballpark number was all I needed to give me some idea. I am only 5 years younger and have many medical problems so would be in the same area. Don’t think it will be worth it. Yes the French system is better but I still pay €240 a month for both of us.

Diet is going well so just trying to be strong over the weekend.

Planted our 12 tomatoes, 6 courgettes, 2 aubergines and 10 marigolds among them to keep the bugs away. Will probably ache something rotten tomorrow. Have a good night and for those in the UK, a good long weekend.

Hi everyone, just catching up!

MARIET well done on your loss, and I can really identify with your clothing issues! Even when I was at my lowest weight since starting the BSD I still had a bit of a belly. And now I’ve let things slide I have the spare tyre to prove it. Let me know if you find ways to reduce it? I seem to remember when I was doing my running I could definitely see a difference. I did try to get back to that recently but ended up with achy hips and knees. Tbh I’m frustrated with myself at the moment as I keep setting goals and targets but then not really trying very hard to reach them. My next short term goal is a holiday at the end of June, before which I’d like to shed some of the pounds I’ve put on recently, but my heart isn’t in it somehow.

So YOWZER I am in urgent need of wet lettuces or I’ll be heading for the lifeboat! How are you feeling now? Any improvement on the sciatica? And I hope that the virus has finally cleared off? Hope you’re ok X

DAWN I’m glad you had a nice birthday and hope that you did manage to get back on plan. We’ll all be cheering you when you get into the 11s!

NOKIE it was lovely to hear from you and I’m so sorry things have been tough. I hope your dad improves soon. And you will be able to lose your weight when you feel ready. What I hope to do next week is to go back to the same eating pattern and meals I had right at the very beginning, and just try and follow that again for a while to see what results I can achieve. Maybe that’s something you could consider too, when you feel able? Do keep in touch on here and we’ll help you when you’re ready.

ARCTICFOX how are you doing now? I hope that things are settling down for you, and that you are feeling some positive benefits from the release of the trauma. Let us know how you’re getting on x

CATHY your positivity is inspirational! I really hope that you see some equally positive results soon. I really like your philosophy of accepting that life is not fair and of seeing setbacks as a kick up the bum rather than a reason to give up. Keep going and I look forward to continuing our BSD journey together. And don’t worry about age either. I’m on a mailing list from another health website and something there inspired me too this week. It was related to a health/fitness challenge and a summary of what the writer said is that
age is not a reason or excuse for why you can’t reach your goals. It doesn’t get any easier as we age, but at the same time, the truth is, if you think you’re old, then you’re old. Your mindset and your beliefs are every bit as important as your nutrition and training – argue for your limitations and they’re yours. He went on to say that we need to look for role models and seek out successful people who have already done it,. If they did it, and they’re a lot like you – including the same age bracket – then you can do it too.

Hopefully we can be that inspiration to each other over the coming months! X

S-g you’re almost asking me “how long is a piece of string?”! There are so many variables such as age, previous medical history , current issues etc etc. I use a broker so my monthly charges have remained much the same for the last five years or so because they move me each year to the cheapest/best option. It certainly isn’t cheap. I pay roughly £180 a month and am with Aviva at the moment but that doesn’t cover ‘previous issues’, it’s called a ‘moratorium’. But then I’m old at 77!!!

It really is an ‘insurance’ should treatment be needed quickly. I think of Margaret and her knee. When I needed hip surgery I chose my surgeon, hospital and time. I certainly didn’t have to wait for month after month becoming less able and in more pain. But as I say it comes at a cost.

I have an issue at the moment, just waiting for CT results, and I’m sincerely hoping I don’t have to call on my insurance. However, if the worst comes to the worst at least I know I can get almost immediate treatment and not have to rely on the NHS ‘guidelines’.

The system in France sounds so much superior to ours here. If you can be added to your daughter’s plan that would be great. In the past I was on my husband’s company plan but it only covered spouse and children. Certainly something to think about but definitely not a deal breaker. In an emergency the NHS are really good it’s just ‘elective’ surgery like knees and hips that can take many, many months. Although how they classify new hips and knees as ‘elective’ I’ll never know. Who ‘elects’ to be in increasing pain waiting for a replacement???

Ok. Off my high horse. Isn’t it lovely when the garden starts to re-appear from its winter snooze and is helped towards its summer splendour!

Have a good weekend.

Verano, you say you have private medical insurance. Would you mind saying with who and how much. Daughter has BUPA but it is through her job so Im not sure if we can tag on.

Gardener has dug over the 2 potagers. Today we have put down new gravel paths between the rows and I have managed to plant 6 tomatoes. Enough for one day as the gravel weighed a ton and we need more.. Starting to look nice again after the Winter overgrowth and the Spring mad growth spurt.

Hi Nokie
Good to hear from you. So sorry that you’ve been struggling since the move. I hope that you soon feel inspired to get back on track. Stay on the cruise with us. I’m feeling a lot more positive this morning and using my abnormal blood results as a kick up the bum! So today I’m back on skimmed milk. I’m going to go back to low fat for a few months and see what tweaks and changes I can make to improve my blood results . I don’t want to take statins. I’m hoping that the tweaks I make will help me to lose some fat and so I’m going back to square one and rethinking my meals. I’ve just had half an avocado. Some cottage cheese, a tomato a mini cucumber and a few seeded crackers. I’m off to the hospital shortly for my scan. Yes, I do feel fed up with my blood results and I am fed up of juggling a variety of health issues BUT I am still in the fight and I know life isn’t fair. I am lucky to have strong willpower and strength of mind and so I will dig deep and am determined to get my blood work back to normal!

Hello Cathy and all fellow friends
Firstly I am so sorry I have not written for ages I am really struggling after our move from last December and have been so low I just have not felt like writing I have read all your messages but every time I went to answer I just couldn’t I really am sorry Also my dad had been in and out of hospital so my eating plan had gone out of the window!!I have fallen off the 🚢 ship!!
What I want to say Cathy is try not to be despondent with your results I too have to go for my blood test in July and I don’t think it will be good I was supposed to go in April but my eating is terrible and I now weigh more than I have ever done ! Not sure how to pull myself out of this one but I didn’t want you all to think I forgotten you all I will try and keep in touch
Take care everyone
Lv nokie x💐

Hello everyone
My annual blood tests have come back and it’s not good news. HbA1c back in pre pre diabetic range at 43! Comment was satisfactory repeat in a year!! Cholesterol raised at 6.7! Not heard anything from GP yet! All other lipids were normal. So it looks like I’ve really got to work a lot harder. It has upset me to be honest because I don’t feel I’ve gone off track! Tomorrow is my repeat abdominal MRI scan at Christie – I have a review in June.
So my plan is to work extra hard on my diet, lower carbs and fat and try to increase my steps ! Feeling quite down to be honest as it feels like a blow! I’m 64 next month- I’m a size 12/14 and have eaten a vegetarian diet for 35 years. I’ve been following this healthy way of eating since 2017! It’s not fair!

Pootle not sure what you’re sorry for, but whatever no problem!!!

S-g … falls … the most dangerous thing as we age.

Sometimes it’s so very difficult to ‘give up’ things in life because of ‘age’. We gave up long haul travel in early 2024 and it shook me. Took me a good few months to accept that life moves on and I had to accept that not all things were possible anymore. It made me feel that we’d moved on to the ‘next stage’ and I felt sad and slightly bereft. Nonetheless, time does move on, we do age (and aren’t we lucky to be able to!) but you can never take away memories. I have such wonderful memories of all the places we have travelled to, and now if I see somewhere that we’ve been to, on TV or wherever, I think ‘how wonderful’ to have had that experience.

You will leave France with a heart full of memories of a wonderful house and pool, and your lovely life there. Those memories can never be taken away and you will have the security of having your family close if needs be.

Unless France comes out with many many more positives than the UK on your list I think your mind is probably made up!

Whatever your decision make it ‘yours’ !

Sorry Verano!

Hi all, diet back on track and BG down to 95 or 5.0 but still at 24 units of insulin.

Yes Verano, there was more emphasis on lifestyle which I know is something I try to tell newly diagnosed. Once you are diabetic it is with you for life. It is possible to keep it in remission but you have to follow this strict diet. It puts some people off even trying as they think they might as well just take the medication. However, medication doesn’t cure the problem it just hides it somewhere else and the glucose is stored in the organs like eyes, kidneys, liver, heart etc. This then causes the things that lead to damage, amputation, heart attacks and even death to be blunt about it.

Back to my moving dilemma. Im not sure if I mentioned but hubby had a small tumble the other day trying to put a heavy pump into the pool housing. He said he lay there for about 20 minutes and I didn’t even know about it. It only takes one fall for everything to be turned on its head. I love the house and the pool but it is just things and we will have a house (and a gym with pool down the road) but the advantage of having family around us. No choice really. I have started a for and against and the UK is coming out as a clear choice.

We have builders in putting a ceiling in the garage which will make it look better (instead of being able to see up to the rafters) and make it warmer. Then we are going to call the estate agent. Done more planting out and making the outside look nice. Want hubby to re-paint the bathroom as builders left a patch when they moved a light fitting – and then that it is.

Hi all, another reason to cut the carbs right down is because they are addictive. The more you have the more you want – think a slice of bread and then you want another. Especially highly processed carbs like bread or pasty, they are so moreish. Once you get used to doing without these carbs your body wont even think about them and it gets easier to say no. My treat would be allowing a bread roll with a meal out maybe once a month. Unfortunately, I have not been practicing what I preach and struggling to lose the holiday weight but that is mainly due to alcohol. Got used to having a few glasses of wine each night and now cut it down to weekends – next step is to cut it down to once a month on that meal out.

Just keep on keeping on…

Thanks Pootle, I managed to read it by doing a 7 day free subscription. Very interesting but preaching to the the whatever it is – converted. Yes, we already know most of that but those who are pre- wont listen until the get a diagnosis so it is almost as if it cannot be prevented until it is too late.

I too am a pen and paper person, the hard part is trying to get my husband to talk to me about it.

Thanks Pootle! All that faff for nothing!

Pootle thanks for the link. I subscribed for a free trial then cancelled after I’d read the article! All a bit of a faff. S-g not much that we don’t already know! Except there is more emphasis on this being a ‘lifestyle change’ and that weight per se isn’t the key to not being T2.

S-g. I see how you have a real dilemma There really is no easy answer. We have a similar situation in as much as both of our children live away from us. We do have the occasional problem as my husband can no longer get on step ladders so if a bulb goes we have to get somebody else to change it. We are fortunate in that we have life long friends nearby and very good neighbours. Just minor inconveniences really.

You are right to be concerned about health provision here especially as your French system sounds far superior to ours. We are in a mess here. In saying that we have an excellent GP practice but we both have private health care too ‘just in case’. So there are ways to mitigate the ‘mess’ if you can.

You will obviously miss your house and pool and the weather but maybe having the peace of mind that you have family close by, especially in an emergency, will override the losses. I guess only you can decide at the end of the day.

Maybe we should have gone for ‘May Madness’ after all. My last few days have been pretty awful weight wise even though I’ve been eating really well. I just don’t understand it. In saying that I’ve been eating just two meals a day and I actually think my body prefers the odd breakfast thrown in here and there. Time for a bit of a switch around I think!

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/f9b095916d6bddeb

Sorry S-G Try this link…it says I can gift this article free.. 🤞

I am sorry your head is going contra to your heart.. it really is a very difficult position to be in. I hope you can resolve the doubts, I have found that drawing 2 columns on a sheet of paper (Old fashioned I know, but more meaningful than typing on a computer), writing the pros in one and cons in the other helps to get a balanced view and make the right decision for me.

Good luck.
xx

Unfortunately, I cant read the article as I have to subscribe to the Telegraph.

Hi all, Pootle, look foward to reading the article.

I am a total disaster and letting everyone down. Weight is back up to end of holiday level and started over again yesterday.

I am having a bit of a stressful time with all the thoughts of moving back to the UK. My heart wants to stay here but my head says we should go back. I love everything about our lives here with a few exceptions like: not much entertainment like theatre etc, no good clothing shops and department stores (unless you go to a big city like Bordeaux). The language at times but we manage mostly. It is not just the big house with a garden and swimming pool that I love, it is the general feel of the place – tranquility. We will have to pay more income tax. We are really worried about the healthcare situation in England, here in France I can get a doctors appointment within a couple of days, tests like ECGs, scans etc in a couple of weeks and appt with a consultant in a month. I have a great dentist but she is due to retire next year. So many things going through our minds, not sleeping. Everytime I think of putting the house on the market I just want to cry. Then I have to think of the things we will gain. Number one, family will be 10 minutes away so will have support if something happened to one of us (or both). No worries about French inheritence rules which are so complicated like hubby not inheriting my share of things as half of my share goes to my daughter – she wouldn’t throw him out or make him sell up, just another complication. Going into care and losing our home to pay for fees. In the UK we won’t own a house (we will be living in daughters 2nd home) so nothing for the government to take except our cash. Sorry to go on but this is all on my mind. I think I need to write a for and against list and hope this time it comes down on the side of leaving France whereas last time we had nothing on the FOR side of the list.

Sorry for droneing on, just so much going on. Today we have builders putting a false ceiling in the garage with insulation and if they finish today I will be contacting an estate agent to put the house on the market.

Back to the diet, yes I will read the article – Prof Taylor is our hero.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/conditions/diabetes/diabetes-danger-zone/

Excellent article by Prof Roy Taylor in today’s telegraph!

Hi everyone, I hope you are enjoying May! It’s cold, rainy and miserable here but I see we are supposed to be gifted some sunshine next week which will raise our spirits 🙂
Arctic Fox, I hope your pain has settled down and you are all systems go now. It sounds like you had a horrific time there for a while.
CC, how are you going? I know how determined and focused you are so hopefully you have got some good results.
I am hoping to be on the maintenance cruise as well! Today I weighed myself I’m down to 68.6 or 151lb, my lowest since well before Covid so I am happy about that. I have noticed however that although the weight is going down, sadly my waist seems in no hurry to come back. My jeans are swimming on me as far as legs and hips go but I can’t go down a size because the waist of my size 12s is uncomfortably tight. maybe planks or other tummy exercises to remind those muscles they’re supposed to be working?
I have a wedding to attend in November (in Essex! I suppose it was less expensive than in warmer weather but I presume it will be freezing) and the dress I want to wear actually has a waistline instead of a shift style, my usual go to. So it would be nice to have a waist 🙂
Good luck to all and hope to hear from you soon.

Yes a good thought Verano & I have started again after managing to lose one pound in weight last week. I know that I have let my low carb eating slip away & I am trying again. Next weekend I will enjoy with my family & my granddaughters tenth birthday & my youngest sons 45th birthday at a BBQ hosted by my eldest son & his wife.
Keep on going everyone as best you can 👍
Margaret xx

Hello.
Thought I should report as we’re three quarters of the way through the month. Although for me it’s just 10 days in and trying to lose my ‘holiday’ gain. We had a really busy weekend which I enjoyed immensely. So the pound gain has been accepted quite happily. If I gain after really enjoyable food that’s fine, it’s called ‘living’. If I gain after mindless eating it’s called ‘stupid’ because my body isn’t ‘happy’ and I don’t even enjoy it!

So another Monday, another new start. In fact everyday can be Day 1 if we want it to be we don’t have to wait until our ‘end of week’ to start again.

Have a good week.

Hi All,
Every now and then I stop by to see what everyone is talking about and thought I would just add my thoughts!
There are really excellent reasons to limit your carbohydrate intake for the rest of your life — please go read Dr. Ben Bikman’s research (he has wonderful free podcasts if you google his name) and Dr. David Perlmutter’s “The Grain Brain” — there are many more out there but those two are the most clear and interesting to me.
The ongoing research says that the public’s current high carbohydrate intake is likely causing, or exacerbating, cancers, dementia, Alzheimers and many, many more diseases that are caused by inflammation. Carbohydrates drive your insulin levels. High levels of insulin damage our body in numerous ways.
I know I have posted over and over that the best reason for this diet is your BRAIN! This diet is the best way we know to protect your brain and as we age that is so crucially important!

Hi Lucy,
I always knew that I was going to have to avoid sugary things and keep carbs lower..still avoiding the bread, potatoes, pasta and rice, but had thought that I could have a very small portion (25g) of jumbo oat porridge in the mornings, and the occasional treat when out… I was wrong. BUT I am looking through the recipe books to find low carb higher cal meals.. and weighing and counting carbs again daily. At least I was in pre not back into full blown! and I am now more aware!
I know how difficult it can be, when under stress to control things…Please don’t despair…your test will be fine I am sure, I had got very complacent.. not so any more!
I think I have to just get on with it, and keep below the 50g carb most days! (yesterday 31.15…day before 36.5… Thursday 44.13..Wed 59!) but not do prick tests…this morning I did three readings with blood from the same prick…1.5, 7.1 and 1.2..So I might as well just guess it until the next Hb1AC in 3 months time.
As Verano says, we are all individual…and, whilst I am sad that I slipped up, I am still determined to conquer diabetes and keep it ‘in the closet’! I know you can do it too!!
xxx

Lucy I thought I should maybe tell you a little of my story. I was diagnosed with T2 in 2011. I started taking metformin. By 2016 I was on the highest dose of metformin and the ‘nurse’ was talking about adding another medication. At the same time I had a friend with uncontrolled T2 who had a toe amputated. I found Michael Moseley who saved my life!

I stared the BSD in mid 2016 , at a time when it was really quite new, so I was guided by my doctor. I came off metformin slowly and by mid 2017 I was drug free and my blood sugar was ‘normal’. I have stayed ‘normal’ for the last 8 years almost.

I lost weight, put some back on but not all, and am still overweight but my blood sugars are still normal because I stay relatively low carb. My story in a nutshell but it may not be the same for everyone. As I say we are all individuals.

Hi Lucy I eat an average of 50g a day over a week. So some days more and some around 40g. If you compare 40g to an ‘average’, ‘average’ day for an ‘average’ person it’s very low.
I think, and these are only my thoughts, with no medical or scientific background, that if you eat maybe between 40 to 70 g of carbs everyday it’s better for your blood sugars than eating 40g for 3 days, for instance, and then having a ‘blow out’ and eating 140g. I really don’t know I think it’s something you have to test out for yourself with finger prick testing to see how your body reacts. We’re all different.

My gut feeling is that the more even a keel you keep your eating at the better, but that’s just a guess. Hope that helps.

Thanks Verano. I think I have misunderstood somewhat. Like you say thats not we have been told
Can I ask something….so you eat a low carb diet below 50g pee day as I usually do.
Between 30 and 50…then I have a blow out day and consume a lot of what I’m not supposed to but then next day I go back to it…how does rhat effect pre diabetes etc.

I’m very confused by it all now , I thought losing weight was key.

Lucy sorry to hear about your dad.

Also sorry that you got the wrong impression about diabetes and weight loss per se. I think we all assumed, at first, that if we lost weight we would go into remission and that would be that. That’s what the medics told us! Research has moved on in leaps and bounds over the last 8 years, actually nearly 9! , since I discovered BSD. Yes weight is important but it takes second place to carbs. Have you heard of TOFI’s, thin on the outside fat on the inside? Many people with T2 aren’t overweight but they store fat around their organs and that leads to diabetes.

So in a nutshell you need to control your carbs. BUT don’t lose heart it’s not all doom and gloom. Once your blood sugar is stabilised for a while. I don’t know but guessing six months or so you can start to experiment with carbs. No, you can’t go back to eating carbs willy-nilly as you did before but you will probably be able to have the odd ‘treat’, whatever your ‘poison’ is. If I never saw rice or pizza again it would be no hardship but I do love a baked or roast potato. You just have to pick and choose rather than eat it all.

We are all individual and each of use will have different reactions to different foods. I bet if you sat down and worked out how many carbs you were having on an average day , before you started low carb eating, you would get a huge shock. When you think something ‘healthy’ like an apple has around 19g of carbs, a small packet of crisps around 13g, half an average Margarita pizza around 50ish so there’s 82g and we’ve not really eaten anything! I’ve never totalled mine but I guess with cereal in the morning, sandwiches for lunch with maybe crisps, dinner with potatoes or rice and possibly a curry with naan I must have been eating an average of at least 200+++.

The most important thing to remember is that we are all “individuals”. What raises my blood sugars may not raise yours. It’s very much a case of trial and error. Another point to remember is that finger pricking, at best, is only a very rough guide and really has very little bearing on your HbA1c.

Don’t despair life can be good without loads of sugar, carbs and additives and in fact if you look back you probably feel healthier now than before BSD. It really isn’t a ‘prison sentence’ you can have almost anything in moderation but not all on the same day!

Oh Pootle that’s really annoying for you. I’m worried now as I keep falling off rhe wagon and thinking it doesn’t matter. Really struggling mentally to stay focused. Haven’t really put anything on but I just can’t get stuck into it.
I’m so annoyed with myself all the time.
My Dad is very poorly having lost 3 stone in 6 or so weeks.
Poitle you can up the fat and bot the carbs I guess but I must be barking up the wrong tree as I thought losing weight took you out of pre diabetic etc and that would most likely stay that way. If you don’t put weight on , that’s why they say losing weight will help so much. I was not under rhe impression that we woukd have to live that way forever eating no sugar and carbs. I thought weight was the issue mostly. I didn’t think having treats but eating mainly that way would cause such a difference.
You must feel deflated. I will be having same test inabout a month so bit worried now.
You’ve done amazing so increase rhe fat intake I guess. I am like you I didn’t think occasional treats would have such an impact. Xx

1. Unexpected visit from our ‘best man’ bearing Vale of Evesham asparagus! A fantastic surprise! 🎉🎉
2. The sun continues to shine, (but…whisper quietly…we could do with a little rain overnight keeping the sunshine during the day! 🤔🙄🤣)
3. Alliums, Roses, Valerian, Sweet Williams, Spirea, Viburnum etc all flowering now… and the slugs haven’t found my Hostas yet! 🤞🙏

Hi all, still working in the garden but also going to make a big batch of Spanish chorizo and chickpea soup.

Pootle you are in the envious position of being able to enjoy plenty of good fats. Add olive oil to salads, have a big chunk of cheese, a handful of nuts, enjoy an avocado – there are lots of things you can boost the calories without going back to carbs. Just enjoy it all.

I think that just having a prick test kit they assume you must be diabetic and the range they give you is okay for diabetics. You need to aim for the non-diabetic range of 3.9 and 5.6. I like to be around 4.5 which is 85 on the other scale but my low numbers are because I am on medication and insulin. If they were that low without meds I would not be classed as diabetic. Hope that helps. I am guessing you are not on any meds right now.

Marvellous May flowers are appearing everywhere, a major boost when I really need one!
Having been badly misled by the info sheet that came with my Sinocare prick test machine.. I am back to weighing, calculating and recording carb content of all I am eating! I found it much easier first time round last year, as I was wanting to lose weight as well as control the diabetes. Now I don’t really want to lose any more weight… so I am revisiting the recipe books to find higher calorie but still very low carb… 🤞🤞🤞🙏🙏🙏 frustrating!

Hi Lucy.
I hope your week has been better than mine! 😥😩
My blood test showed I was back into pre diabetes! (HbA1c 44) So I now have a problem deciding how to go forward from here! I don’t want to lose any more weight, but must get back into remission of the diabetes!
I had been misled by the info sheet that came with the prick test machine, which said up to 6.9 mmol/l was ‘normal for a healthy person’! So I had been relaxing a little, eating little ‘treats’ thinking that the prick test readings were showing I was fine! But no!!
So I am back to weighing everything I eat and calculating the carb content.. to keep under 50g. I am again writing everything down and resorting to sparkling water when I am hungry! Even so, despite a record of 41.5g carb yesterday, this morning the reading was 6.6 mmol/l. 😥
Last December, when I reached my target weight, I was also into remission with an Hb1Ac of 40.
Finding it all VERY depressing!
I hope you are coping ok with your situation.
Xxx

S-g I love white flowers too. I’ve planted double begonias in the past but not this year.

Well after a week home I have just 2lb left of my ‘holiday’ weight to lose so I’m pleased with my progress. The problem is we have a heavy social weekend ahead! I’ll do my best to stay on track but I know it won’t be easy. Anyway, life has to be lived and if it means a small gain so be it.

Have a good weekend.

I have just washed and got all my bedding out on the line. It is hot here today so it will dry in no time. Thank you for your input collagelaundry.
Planted out 16 white geraniums.
Friends helped get cover off the pool so it is cleaning time which will take 3 or 4 days – it only had dust from the cover and a couple of dead toads but it needs to circulate and filter for a while.

Hi Arctic, I was on Facebook with Lauren but she has unfriended me or taken herself off the site. I also had some conversations on whatsapp but cant find her. Wendy (Wendleg) might have contact details. Glad her input led you to you resolving your problems. We are all learning from each other.

2 friends came round this afternoon and helped us get the pool cover off. It is nice and clean, a bit of dirt fell in from the cover and a couple of dead toads but all good. Will take 3 or 4 days to get it sparkling but the water is way too cold to get in just yet.

I am in the front of the house planting out white geraniums. Think a one-colour scheme looks more classy and especially white. So many more to plant but taking my time. 16 in and another 40 or so to go. It is very hot here today (27 degrees) so I have to keep coming in and getting some water.

Hope you are all doing well. Keep on keeping on…

Hello everyone!

Just wanted to share a little positivity from the world of laundry. We know that laundry can sometimes feel like a never-ending task, but it’s also an opportunity to take a moment for self-care and mindfulness. Whether it’s the fresh scent of clean clothes or the satisfaction of folding a neat pile, these small moments can bring a sense of accomplishment and calm.

So, here’s to embracing the simple joys in our daily routines and finding positivity in the little things. Keep up the great work, everyone!

Thank you for opening a thoughtful conversation on heart health and the BSD. From a Conscious Medicine perspective, it’s encouraging to see people becoming active participants in their health journey. Conscious Medicine promotes a holistic view—one that integrates conventional treatments with personalized, preventative care, mindfulness, and emotional balance.

Supporting heart health goes beyond diet alone. When paired with intentional stress management, emotional resilience, and spiritual wellness, approaches like the BSD can be even more transformative. True healing begins when we treat not just symptoms, but the whole person.

Hi FOXY,I’m so sorry youve been having such a rough time recently. I’m glad the therapy helped your back and hip,and thanks for the heads up,I’ll look into it,I’m forever trying to find things that help! X
CCATHY dont worry I have a huge stock of wet lettuces waiting in my cabin! 😄 You sound positive and focused as always,and I feel sure you will slink into those cruise dresses! X
I love the thought of us all on a maintenance cruiser next year!⭐️💜🩷⭐️
Love to all,the weekend is nearly here – yippee!xx

Hello everyone
Foxy- it sounds like you’ve had a very difficult couple of weeks. I hope things soon improve. It’s interesting that you mention the body storing stress. I don’t always know if i am storing stress but ive had it released on a couple of occasions with reiki when i didnt even know i was storing it. The relief afterwards was immense! Yowser, i hope you are soon feeling better and strolling the decks. Please will you bring a wet lettuce with you? I need a swipe with one. I am back to it again but had a weekend off plan so once again i’m playing catchup to get off any weight in May. Am back to being good now and really do have to knuckle down as I do not want my lovely cruise dresses to be like sausage skins in August. Nothing on the horizon to scupper me now so all systems go! Haven’t dared to get on the scales since my weekend away but I’ll work hard this week and jump on next weekend. I keep making excuses and i am running out of time. My wedding outfit for next month will be ok but any extra weight wont help! I really do want to be at goal weight when we disembark at the end of December. I want to catch the maintenace cruise ship when it sets sail in January! Need to get at least 7lb off before August.
Keep doing your best everyone. Almost half way through the cruise and plenty of time left to set your goals and make this trip count. Slow and steady wins the race 🐢

Hi everyone,
Still no time to do more than just skim everyone’s posts. I’ve had a horrible last 2 weeks, but starting to come out of it now and feeling more optimistic. My counsellor accidentally (at least I think it was an accident – I’m going to ask her to confirm at our next session) shook my marbles really hard in a session and it has been a brutal ride ever since. One good thing is that I know I’ve lost a bit of weight from not being able to stomach solid food for the first few days, and also from my muscles shaking non-stop for nearly 8 days. Once my muscles stopped shaking though, I found I was able to move much more freely. They do say that trauma gets stored in the body, so perhaps I was letting a lot of it go. I think I’ve been carrying a lot of stress around with raised cortisol levels. My heart rate is still elevated. I’m hoping that once I’m able to get my nervous system re-regulated that will bring those levels down a bit. I’ve definitely been feeling like there has been something stopping me from losing the extra pounds. Hopefully I’m on my way to figuring it all out.
Yowzer, sorry to hear you are still suffering with your sciatica. I had a new treatment today at physio called interferential current therapy on my back and hip. Feeling pretty good at the moment. I’ll let you know if it sticks!
Keep on keeping on everyone!

Hi everyone, just popping on this thread quickly to ask if anyone has been in touch with Lauren (florob85)? I see she hasn’t posted since 2023, but I was hoping to be able to thank her. It was because she mentioned she has c-ptsd that I looked up what it was, and although I originally thought that it didn’t apply to my situation, the search was enough to start videos popping up on my various feeds and after watching a few, I realized that I was resonating with the symptoms. And then early in 2024, I realized that I likely had ptsd from a nasty incident I attended as a first aider. So I found a trauma counsellor and have been working really hard over the last year, and finally had a huge breakthrough this week. Still a long way to go in my healing journey, but I just wanted to let Lauren know that it is down to her that I was even able to get started. I don’t know if she still checks in and reads the posts or if anyone was ever in contact with her via email?

S-g sounds like you’re going to be very busy!

☀️☀️☀️Weather still lovely here !

👩🏻🚿✂️ Hair cut and coloured so definitely a positive. Always feels good to have hair done!

🥗🍓🥑 Day 5 of ‘healthy eating’ and feeling much better than when I was eating ‘carbage’ willy-nilly! Feeling really positive in the realisation that low carb eating is definitely my ‘set way’ now.

Hope everyone has at least one positive today.

Hi all, not much to report except being extremely busy starting the big clear out. Cleared out an old desk hubby seemed to be so attached to, replaced with a fairly new chest of drawers, done some shrub cutting and now absolutely whacked.

More work tomorrow.

DAWN Glad you had a lovely day and cake! And well done for getting straight back on the horse tomorrow clippety clop! 👍🥰🦋⭐️ xx

Thanks Yowzer, I’ve had a lovely birthday thank you and it did involve cake😄 I’m back to my food plan tomorrow though so still hoping to lose that next 1 and a half by next Tuesday🤞 Dawn XX