Hi Lucy, I know it’s hard but don’t despair 2lbs in a week is really good, especially as you have been at this for a while now. Just think, if you hadn’t got yourself back in hand so quickly, that 4lb+ more would have been the result, instead you got back on track and are going in the right direction. Please remember bodies aren’t robotic machines – deprive of power and they slow or stop – no our bodies are alive and can be contrary (to our minds), sometimes they let the fat go and sometimes they don’t. You are doing brilliantly but as you know weight loss is not linear and can be a very surprising journey.

Your situation isn’t made easier with having to cope with familial dementia. As you say it is a long, hard road. My father-in-law has been on that journey for a few years and luckily, up to now at least, does not have the aggression or fear traits (by pure luck he is in a very good dementia specialising home) but it is hard to see “him” disappear both mentally and physically.

You have come so far and done so well.

Lucy, losing that 2lb is a success.
As has been said before, be kind to yourself. We have all slipped and had to face the consequential gains. But the important thing is that you have ‘climbed back on’ and gone on to lose that weight!

I admire you enormously, thinking back to the time we were looking after MIL with dementia, I doubt whether I could have been as strong as you are and kept to a strict dietary regime! Give yourself a pat on the back.
Onward and upward!
Xx

Things are just so stressful. This dementia road is long and hard thats for sure.
Anyway lost 2lbs this week. Confession was couple weeks ago I stayed rhe same then went a bit crazy for a day or 2. Put on 4lbs!! But it had gone again by last Friday and today I have lost 2lbs.
So I am now the lowest I’ve been. In honesty slightly disappointed as I’ve been 100 percent and 2 lbs doesn’t seem much. But I’m determined to stay on the path. Hope everyone is doing well x

Hi everyone,
Thanks DCT I’ve had no kidney stone pain since last week so 🤞
Weighed today for the first time in a few weeks and I’ve maintained. I feel it’s been a wasted few weeks as if I had continued sticking to my food plan 100% I would have a fair bit more off by now but the good thing about this woe is that as soon as I’m back on it the weight (usually🤞) continues to come off steadily so that’s my plan for the coming weeks. I know it’s totally carbs/sugar which drive cravings so aiming to keep my carbs under 50g which usually works for me. Will aim for between 20g and 50g per day.
I am weighing again next Friday no matter what sort of week I’ve had as I think it keeps me focussed. Hope everyone has a nice weekend.
Dawn XX

Pootle, you’ll soon be surrounded by little froglets🙂🐸.
V, glad you’re feeling better and if wasn’t anything really concerning.
My positive for today was having lunch with GS and then he came back with me, to help me set up our rowing machine again. No excuse for not exercising now!
From tomorrow we’re away for the weekend, so I might not post everyday, but will read any posts made, so please remember to share your positives.

Pootle sounds wonderful!

Good to read all your posts.

Just one positive for me … shoulder has healed with paracetamol and rest. Can’t ask for anything more!

Have a positive week.

DCT thanks. All seems to have settled now with just a few paracetamol and rest. Hopefully it was either a pinched nerve or, at worst, arthritis!

Hope everyone with a health issue is coming through on the other side and feeling better. Hope everyone has managed February without too many mishaps. Only 8 days of the worst month of the year, for me, left now. Hopefully we can all start to look forward to spring and rebirth. Great time to reset goals and make new plans

Thank you all for your concern. Touch wood all seems to be well today. S-g I didn’t have any other symptoms otherwise I would have called the doctor. To be honest the thought of spending anytime in a hospital, especially in a corridor, at the moment, doesn’t fill me with any confidence of getting decent treatment. I think I have probably done too much over the last week and just put too much stress on my shoulder. Resting it seems to have done the trick.

Anyway, hope everyone is ‘doing their best’ which is all we can do. Saw lovely saying a few days ago … “practice doesn’t make perfection, it makes progression”. Think maybe we all probably need to be a little more realistic with both our goals and our methods of getting there. Sometimes we are far too hard on ourselves with goals that are probably unrealistic. Can only carry on carrying on or keep on keeping on!

Spring must be on the way…
Frogs 🐸 are wooing in the pond! Great to hear the chorus of croaks!!

Snowdrops, crocus, iris reticulata, primroses and daffodils all flowering despite the grey, cold, damp weather!

Great to have positives to share!

Hi DCT,

I am still here, pootling along! Weighing every day and keeping my weight between 10st 5lb and 10st 7lb 😁. Checking bloods every few days 4.9 – 5.4 mmol/l 😄
Still trying to keep to this way of life. Avoiding all bread, pasta, potatoes and rice, but enjoying the challenge of finding new recipes and getting used to my changing tastes! Life has become more hectic recently, sorry I haven’t been very active on the threads!
I am regularly reading all the posts via emails…
Keeping it all going… despite the temptations of Sunday lunch out with crunchy roast potatoes 🫣(not eaten) and sticky toffee pudding (also not eaten!)…
Not weighing every ingredient and calculating cals and carbs anymore, but I am still keeping a diary of what I am eating and what exercise I am doing.
Onwards…
Love and care to all! 😁

That is very worrying Verano, what do they say F.A.S.E. Face, arms, speech etc. It could have been a trapped nerve with the use of your crutch but you shouldn’t ignore these things. Saying that, how many times have I thought the chest pain I had could have been a heart attack and did I call an ambulance – no. I know I just felt stupid and didn’t want to bother anyone. We are getting on a bit and we should bother people when we are worried.

Funny old day, shopping and loading up the car when my phone rang. It went off before I could get to my handbag but it left a number saying Marc (a friend) so I called him straight back. Then I received a call from the vet saying we had to go in this afternoon, something about medication of 20g etc. A bit garbled and very quick French. So, just been to vet and they never called us – even though I let her listen to the message – it was by error. Then I got a call from Marc wanting to know what I wanted. I told him he rang me and he said he hasn’t rung me, but I had the proof on my phone or I would think I was going mad. One other message today saying the coursier (yes, not courier) couldn’t get my parcel in the letter box and I had to follow a link – no way jose a common scam except I was expecting a parcel but tomorrow. You can tell a scam when they cant even spell courier.

Hoping to get on the wiifit and do some exercise this afternoon, unless someone else disrupts my day. Have a good one.

Hello again. And whooooshhh, is the sound of another week flying past!

I’m on half term this week and had intended to get so much done but have been feeling very tired, so have generally just taken things easy. However, I had a trip to Stonehenge on Monday (after the tree surgeons had been!) and am out with a friend today for brunch and the new Bridget Jones film. I can’t believe it’s now only 6 weeks till I leave my school job completely, so hopefully there will be lots of lovely days to look forward to, and more time to get my diet and fitness in order too. This week has been better in terms of diet, but the carb monster is still clinging on for dear life!

How is everyone else doing? VERANO I just noticed on another thread that you’ve had problems with your arm, and really hope that clears up soon. Definitely worth getting checked out if you can. NOKIE how are your shingles and nerve pain? And DAWN, I hope that your kidney stone issues are now well and truly behind you? There are a lot of nasty illnesses around this group right now and I hope to hear good news from you all soon. On which point, ARCTICFOX any update on your MRI results?

CATHY I hope that you are recovering well after your cataract op, and MARIET that your dental work is now complete? MARIET and SUE BLUE are your temperatures more comfortable now? There are headlines in the UK that it’s going to be warmer here than Greece by the end of the week, but as I look out of the window now it’s grey and damp. I think we have strong winds on the way this weekend too. So not quite sunbathing weather yet 😀

YOWZER I hope that you are making progress on your 6 months of progress? I’ve been making slow but steady progress on a lot of house clearing and sadmin stuff, and I’m hoping it will all be completely wrapped up in 6 months, as well as various other domestic projects too. And I really want to be at my target weight before then : it’s been a long time coming, but I’m being kind to myself. I’ve come to realise that for years now I’ve been in rushing around mode, trying to do too many things at the same time, and never just taking time for me. And I’m hoping that with retirement looming, I will get into better habits, kinder to myself, with time to relax and reflect, rather than always feeling I have to be doing something.

How is everyone else on here? HEIDI, my birthday is in April too, and I’m hoping to shed half a stone by then. MIXnMATCH and POOTLE, how are you doing? And anyone else who has either posted or is reading this – do drop in to say hello when you can.

Take care everyone X

Look after yourself Verano & if it persists get a medical opinion?
I like the idea of I will do my best because this week is not going well diet wise but hosting friends for lunch went well & I did win a competitive shortmat bowls match last Friday. I didn’t dare stand on my scales until Tuesday instead of my usual Saturday knowing that I would have gained weight. My clothes definitely feel tighter now!
SG I’m glad your cat has been diagnosed & wrapping her in a towel does work & the way I got medicine into my cats with my husband holding her & throwing the tablet to the back of her mouth so she had to swallow it. Good luck 🍀🍀
Keep on going everyone 👍🤞🤞
Margaret xx

Verano, that sounds very serious, take care and look after yourself.

Quick pop in with some positives …
💜💜 saw a big patch of wild violets on a grass verges this morning
🧳🧳 packing for a visit to my parents this weekend half done
🍽🍽 having a late lunch with GS tomorrow …. Good to have something nice to look forward to.

Will you post a positive today?

Verano, that sounds really scary! Take care.

Hello just popping in to say hope your cat is doing ok s-g. Never good when pets are ill.

Sunny yes ‘I will do my best’ is definitely the way to go … we can’t do anymore than our best.

Yesterday I had a really ‘odd’ day. Suddenly out of the blue I couldn’t lift my left arm and it had a really ‘achey’ pain. Today I’m about 90% recovered. But shocking anyway and especially as I use a crutch on my left side to enable me to walk!

Life is full of curved balls!

So just ‘carrying on carrying on … ‘ here. Hope the new (Tuesday) week will be a good for us all and of course also for those to who start on other days.

Glad your cat doesn’t have anything serious SG. I don’t envy you having to get tablets in to her.

When we were in that situation, we’d wrap her up in a towel, almost like a swaddled baby. Then while one of us held on tight, the other tackled getting them into her mouth and stroking her throat to make her swallow. Yes, traumatic for all concerned, but the only way we could get them into her.

Anyway, hope you find a good way to persuade your kitty to take her meds and she’ll soon be fit and well again.

Thanks Sunny, cat has a urinary tract infection and needs antibiotics. Have you ever tried to get tablets down a cat. We have bought her some soft food to hide them in (them – 1 antibiotic, 1 antistress and another I cant remember what for), she licks around them and just leaves them.

Diet is bouncing between 71.5 and 71.7 – today 71.7 – not reason. Except I roasted some chickpeas and keep dipping into them, only about 10 or so a day. The rest of the chickpeas have been made into hummus with lots of garlic and tahini. Yum.

Another successful step

Thank you SunnyB, I definitely feel better already so thats enough to spur me on, long may it last!

So…. I woke up this morning after day 1 and I didn’t have a headache, I wouldn’t say I jumped out of bed like I’d won the lottery but I got up pretty easy and didn’t straight away think of carbs. I’m in the office today and have prepared breakfast and lunch to take with me. Hopefully I can keep this up.
Thank you all so much for your support xx

Pootle, good to see you back … and with an excellent positive too.
Annie, always pleased to see someone different posting here. Well done on finding the silver linings … not always easy.

My positives for today …..
📝📝 for the first time in a long time, I actually tracked my food intake properly today … feels like a real fresh start and positive step forward
🛏🌙 fresh sheets on the bed for tonight
🎁🎁 some gifts and cards sorted out for upcoming birthdays this month
Overall it’s been an okay day 🙂 hope yours had hern okay too

SG, really hope your cat will be okay. Well done on your progress, I’m sure you’ll be reporting more discards before the end of Feb.
V, think the mindset needs to be more ‘I will do my best’ rather than ‘I have to be perfect’, but I recognise that’s sometimes easier said than done. I know there have been times I’ve definitely fallen in to the trap of giving up on eating right, just because I’ve made one small mistake. Anyway, I’m working on fostering the ‘I will do my best’ mindset at present, although like you, last week wasn’t my best.
So, nothing lost in the past week, but on the plus side no gain either. Today I’ve started track my intake properly, which proved interesting. Was surprised that whilst cals were pretty much on point, carbs were a little over. My intension is to keep on tracking for the next few weeks … and hopefully seeing some progress!
Over the past week, I have been making an effort to move more and am incorporating a little exercise on most days, which has to be a plus point as motivation doesn’t come easily for me.

Suzy, lots of us have been struggling with getting back to basics recently (myself included), so you are not alone. As others have said, the forum is all about providing support and encouragement, so feel free to join in on any of the threads and you’ll be sure of a warm welcome.

You’ve taken the first step, now you just need to keep going, each day it should be easier, but there will be ups and downs, so be sure to shout out if you’re struggling. Oh and please keep us posted on progress … we love to have an excuse to celebrate 🙂

Not often I post here but here goes:

My husband caught one of the winter viruses and has been ill since a couple of days after Christmas. Each time he’s appeared to improve there has been a set back (bonus? I’ve had the bed to myself for quite a few nights since then as he’s decamped to the spare). Yesterday we managed to get out for a walk together, round the village, and have done it again this afternoon – two days in a row – in the sunshine. Fingers crossed he is now almost completely recovered.

I really like to get my washing drying outside. I’ve been able to put it out a few times this year but today it actually dried – and it was towels, so I am ecstatic😀.

Didn’t see any squirrels on today’s walk (we usually see at least a couple) but the birds were singing and the snowdrops and primroses were showing themselves off. The sunshine makes everything feel better, even when your walking boots are covered in mud from the trail. These two days in a row have really lifted my spirits. I don’t get SAD but have had a glimpse of what it must be like this last couple of long, grey, dark and miserable months; my heart goes out to those that do.

Pootle congratulations on your weight loss, that’s really inspiring and more so that your diabetes is in remission. That’s amazing. It’s shocking how quickly you can spiral with the good old “Just one won’t hurt” and ”I had that so I might as well have this” 

Sunshine-girl roll on tomorrow’s clear head. I can’t wait to lose the rough headache mornings.

I’ve been listening to Dr Ben Bikman on YouTube, he makes a lot of sense. Especially the Ceo interview which I’ve not finished yet. It’s very long

Hi everyone, reporting in for my weekly weigh in. I have lost just 1lb so far this month. A combination of losing 1lb then gaining 2lbs for my birthday and spending the next week and half getting rid of it. Will we ever learn but, as Verano say, this is life. Anyway, I am not downhearted as my goal was 3lbs per month and already lost 6lbs for Jan and Feb so far. Hoping for another 2lbs before end of Feb.

Verano, I am not looking for my perfect self and I am not miserable as I am. What would make me miserable would be if I put the weight back on and ended up at square one. Which for me was just over 13 stone and I am now just over 11 stone. I am still motivated to lose around 6 or 7 more pounds before the cruise, but mainly to give me some leeway on the eating and drinking that is sure to go on. I will do my best but don’t want to spend a miserable holiday denying myself or a miserable return with an extra half a stone and BG out of control. Yes it is difficult but I just keep on.

We have a problem with cat number 2 at the moment. She has started peeing everywhere but not doing much so we spend nearly 3 hours at the vet yesterday, mainly waiting for results, oh and an emergency came in and knocked our appt back by nearly and hour. We had to get a urine sample overnight – ever tried that – and dropped that at the vet this morning, so waiting for the results as all her scan was okay – liver, kidneys, heart etc. I suspect she has an infection and needs antibiotics but I am not a vet so we are just waiting.

Have a good week.

Suzy, kindness costs nothing but you will find more than that here. You will find empathy because we have all been there and we are there for you. Keep on keeping on…

BTW you wont wake up feeling rough tomorrow or maybe the next day – clean eating clears the mind and body.

Hi Lucy,

I hope that your tummy troubles have eased….I think you are right about the stress, it certainly doesn’t help with any health conditions! I also hope that your son’s wedding preparations are going well, how wonderful to have 2 weddings…but even more stress I suppose.

You are in my thoughts.

K.xxx

Hi,
I really feel for you. I think many of us find that we relax our guard and then ‘give up’! BUT, I have found a huge amount of support on these forums and cannot better the advice already given.
I lost 4 stone in weight in 2016/17 and kept it off until 2020 when I started the downward spiral of “Just one won’t hurt”…”I had that so I might as well have this” and so on until I put all that weight back on and put even more on in the first 6 months of 2024. I had not heard of the BSD until I was desperate to reverse the Diabetes diagnosis in June last year. Since then I have been committed to this way of life…losing 5 stone in the last 6 months of 2024 and now maintaining my ‘ideal’ weight (10st 7lb) & keeping my diabetes in remission since Christmas!

I know if I slip, I will find friendship, advice and encouragement on this site. (Not judgement!! )

Good luck… xxxx

Sorry to have been absent again….I have been reading all the threads but only on email notifications… Now getting so busy with work and home!

A Positive that is sustaining me going forwards;
I could not have done any of the things that I am currently doing at this time last year. I was so incapacitated, it was a struggle just to walk around. Now I am rejuvenated..and happy to be busy and able! 😅

Thank you all.

Clarinetcathy, I had a rummage around the forum last night and can see I’m not alone. Life tends to throw me lots of curve balls as well but it’s reassuring to know there are lovely people out there who can spur us on.

Sunshine-girl I woke this morning tired and with my usual headache and a sleepy thought of I feel rough I need a costa then remembered I wasn’t doing that as ‘today is the day’ so I reached for the water I took to be bed in preparation and had that then my cuppa tea to make me semi human!

Californiagirl I cleared out my cupboards last night and feel ready to climb the mountain again you are totally right I can fix this is. I’m going to try your suggestion of protien and NO CARBS to slay the carb monster. I’m going to look up Dr Ben Bikman right now and start my day listening to him.

Thank you all so much, your advice and kind words mean alot.
I guess all we can do is try our best and keep trying even when the bumps come along.

V, I’ll be starting afresh with you tomorrow. It’s been an odd week on the food front, but I’m going to start tracking properly again this week. My SAD lamp certainly helps, although even with that I still struggle when a winter is as gloomy as this one.

Anyway, my positives for today …..
🚮📦 had a sort out of some things disturbing while the new door was being installed. A few things binned, a couple boxed for charity and the rest tidied
🌷💛 noticed one little tulip beginning to open in the front garden and lots of mini daffs preparing to put on a display soon

Two will do for today …. what about you?

Hello from one sunshine to another. Are you prepared to start. If you have done it before you know to clear the cupboards as much as possible, buy in loads of godd stuff and be mentally ready.

Don’t say tomorrow. Wake up in the morning and say ‘todays the day’. Then get on with it. You will have no lack of support and you will probably find it harder the second time around as the initial endorphin flush of something new will be a little less, but don’t let that put you off. Head towards that woman you have left behind 3 stone lighter, she is still in there somewhere.

Good luck.

Hey Suze, OUCH!! I feel for you and I can only imagine how frustrated you are right now.
Ok, deep breath…this is fixable. It is a mountain but you can climb it — and the minute you start you are going to start feeling better. Trust the process. Trust your body. Trust yourself.
So first off, you had admirable success with your program last year. And you did it in a way that worked for you — that is key. Why not start there?
If today you walked into the kitchen and threw out all your non-BSD foods and then went to the grocery store and laid in all BSD friendly foods, that would kick start your plan.
You can start again at your very next meal.
As a person who had to start over and over and over again before I finally got my brain and body to understand, I KNOW that “just starting again” can work.
You know the first couple of days are going to be a struggle. That’s normal!! If you are totally starving eat a bit but eat some protein and NO CARBS. Chicken breast, eggs, steak, ham, cheese or anything protein — your only goal at first is to slay the carb monster.
You have gut bacteria that want carbohydrate — your goal is to starve those little creeps and feed the bacteria that want protein and vegetables. You are changing your gut biome and they are not going without a fight.
My best advice is to look up Dr Ben Bikman — he has the podcasts that changed my life. He is a researcher at BYU in Utah and his research dovetails the BSD but he tells you WHY it works. He is a very low carb advocate. I used his suggestions and the combination of BSD plus Bikman was my formula for success.
Please go listen to his podcasts — they are wonderful motivators — just Google his name.
Hope to hear back from you soon!

Hi Suzysunshine and welcome to the forum. There are many of us here who can relate to your story. I for one lost 42lb back in 2017 following the BSD and gradually over the years my weight he crept up. I’ve never put it all back on but I am heavier than I want to be and hence I am here and trying hard to get my weight back down to where I feel comfortable. Many starts and stops along the way as life has a habit of knocking me down. You will definitely get support, tips, advice and encouragement from the lovely people who frequent the forum. I am still here despite ups and downs and have made many friends on the forum.
Good luck to you as you start your journey. . Like you, I lost weight last year and in September when on a cruise where I put on a few pounds and I’ve never got them off so I am working hard to get my weight back to where I want it to be. Have a good look around the forum and you will see that you are in great company. Tomorrow is the start of your new journey. .

Hi everyone, I’m new on the site but not new to BSD. Feb’24 I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, my GP asked how I felt about going on medication. I said no thanks. She suggest I read the BSD diet by Michael M. Hubby and I had a week off work so we ate out a few times, too many times 😁. My mentality was one less binge!
I read the book over this time so I was ready for lift off after my annual leave. I didn’t do 800 as it felt too restrictive for me. I didn’t calorie or carb count as after years of failed diets I didn’t want to track, count, point, syn or weigh food ever again. I wanted something easy (for me) to sustain. I cut out white and sweet potatoes, rice, pasta, cous cous, quinoa, bread, crisps, cake, biscuits, chocolate etc etc. Also fruit other than berries. I was mindful to only eat low carb foods. I ditched all low fat and half fat food. Bought full fat greek yoghurt, Feta, Hallumi 😍. Extra Virgin olive oil.

From Feb’24 to Sept’24 I lost 3 stone, it was actually really easy and I loved it. My blood pressure became normal and my GP was thrilled.
But then…… we went on holiday for 5 days in Sept and I ate CRAP then beat myself up. Sunk into a deep deep hole and from then to now have put the 3 stone back on.

To say I hate myself doesn’t come close to how I feel. I had managed to get clothes on I hadn’t worn in years, my relationship with Hubby was so much better as I was becoming happier and more confident which I’ve never been.
I was sleeping really well and physically felt better than I had in years.
I have a good 100lbs to lose and am hesitantly saying I’m going to start again tomorrow. I really really want to but I’ve spent 4 months saying I’ll start tomorrow.
Im hoping this forum and you guys might help keep me on track if you’ll have me 🤗

Good evening.

Thought I’d pop in just to say ‘hello’.

This last week hasn’t been my finest and no way will I make my target for the month. I really do have a ‘have to be perfect or failed ’ problem. I just have to tell myself ‘this is life as it is’. Enjoy, as you are, or be miserable because you aren’t your ‘ideal image of you’. Yes we can all strive to achieve our ‘goals, wishes, fantasies’, and there is no problem with that. BUT …. how much of life ‘now’ is passing us by ? Are we missing out on life because our eyes are so focused on the ‘future’ ‘perfect self’? What’s perfect???

Sorry! I think all this meditation is finally changing my ‘mind’. Hope the new week, for those of us who start on Tuesday, is a good one and for those who start on other days equally as good.

Thought I should pop in with some positives.

It’s so easy to zone in on the things in life that are going wrong and then that makes it so difficult to find the positives. Over the last six weeks or so we’ve had our share of sadness, which I guess is expected as we age. Today we’ve had little flashes of sunshine and I did notice yesterday afternoon, that despite it being a dark miserable day, it was still light after 5pm.

So …….
🌤️☀️🌤️ Days are lengthening which is always a bonus. Just over five weeks now until the clocks ‘spring forward’. Definitely on the last lap of winter now.

🥗🫐🫒 Friends here for lunch tomorrow so my ‘shout’! I do make a dessert, or should I say I buy a really nice one, but I don’t get tempted. Amazing how a sweet tooth disappears with time.

💡💡💡 And then there was light…. my new ‘daylight’ bulbs really are having a great effect on my mood. I can now understand how a SAD lamp could work really well in the winter.

The end of yet another week for me tomorrow. So great because that means another new start! Still ‘at sea’ but improving so that’s positive! Have a good week.

Hi all, and here we go for another week!

I need to get fully back on board! January just felt like hibernation season for me : all I wanted to do was cosy up and keep warm. But the last few days have started to seem a little bit lighter and brighter, and coincided with lots of outings and events at which I indulged the carb monster far too much. So as a result have put back on the two pounds I’d lost, and am also feeling bloated and sluggish.

But this week is another new start. And I’m in a much more positive frame of mind. I also want to redo the Couch25K running programme that I did during the pandemic, to start getting a bit fitter again. So hopefully can do that this week too.

Hello to everyone one here. This was going to be a longer post, responding to everyone’s recent news, but I\m having some tree surgery done today and they’ve just turned up very early so I need to go and sort things out. So will catch up properly later!

Have a good week everyone X

Reporting in with some weekend positives…..
🥂🍾💝 Friday we had a lovely evening valentines celebration
🚪🛠👍🏻 today, OH successfully replaced our back door, despite a couple of unexpected setbacks

Hope there we’re plenty of positives in your weekend.

Yes V, agree about the soups, it was just the time taken and the cost (around €4) but one of the ready soups we buy in france is Knorr packet and they are usually very good with the ingredients.

No weight movement today but BG is still down in the 70’s at 14 units. I am still very proud of myself as we had some very bad news yesterday and I was so tempted for a drink. Our sitter has been diagnosed with cancer and they have cancelled the whole trip. I really feel for them as it was a special trip to Maldives, Dhubi, Europe for 3 months total, a retirement present from her husband. I can only wish them the very best. Re-opened site for applications and we already have 3 possibles.

Today I am going to have a bit of retail therapy. I don’t really like shopping for clothes but I am looking for some snazzy trainers and some jewellery for the cruise and all the walking about. Just want to get out of the house and spend some money.

Enjoy your weekend.

S-g I don’t think you can ever compare canned soup to homemade but if you do use a can I’m sure Baxter’s is the best. Apart from anything else, you control what you put in the pan and it always tastes fresher and better!

Strangely enough I only ever had two covid jabs and that was because we were going on a cruise and it was ‘compulsory’. I’m not a great fan of vaccinations as I have an autoimmune disease. As it so happens when I saw my consultant last December and we spoke about flu jabs etc and I said I was dubious, he said the fewer jabs I had the better. But that just for me as I don’t need to rev up my immune system anymore than it’s revved up now. I do agree s-g cruising brings its own hazards. I think one of the worst hazards comes in the form of ‘excursions on coaches. Anyway, fingers crossed we can all avoid any such issues.

I’ve had a really ‘lazy’ day today. Caught up with some TV I missed last night and have generally been pottering around. Sometimes it’s good o have a day with ‘no purpose’. Hope the weekend brings calmness and happiness to all.

Hi, no more weight loss today but trying to stick with between 20 and 30g carbs. Today I made my own pea and ham soup and when I worked out the cost per portion it would have been cheaper to buy a tin or packet so I did a comparison between the lowest calorie tinned which was Baxters at 130 cals and 22g carbs. Mine came in at 170 cals and 6g carbs but loads of ham. So that’s the difference of making your own.

Total carbs today 27g which was mainly the peas and I felt the need for a Ryvita or the soup would have been a nothing sort of meal. Calories are 640 for the day but will make that up with some more ham and maybe a cube of cheese later.

Had another covid jab today. Wasn’t sure if it was necessary until we found out a friend of our hairdressers’ husband died last week from covid. Plus we are going on the cruise and that is always a big risk for health. Confined and breathing the same circulating air, bit like being on a plane but at least we can get outside.

Thanks for the advice CaliforiaGirl. Yes, I’ve had a daylight lamp for many years and for this winter, started using it in September, before being lucky enough to have 3mths in Turkiye. It does help, but it’s not a complete fix as I’m something of a hothouse flower …. definitely should have been born somewhere warm and sunny and not the middle of January in Scotland!!

Thanks Mariet, the pain has gone now. It wasn’t half as bad as it sometimes has been in the past, years ago I ended up in the A & E dept a couple of times with it. In the end my GP prescribed morphine so that I always had it at hand but I haven’t needed that for a very long time. I know I need to drink more water to prevent stones from forming in the first place but I find water gives me heartburn at the minute, it’s a vicious circle as if I was a couple of stone lighter I wouldn’t get heartburn so the answer is in my own hands!
Your dental work sounds really painful 😬I hope it’s finished soon🤞
I hope everyone has a nice weekend.
Dawn X

Dawn, I hope the kidney stone pain has gone now, such awful pain. It’s hard to concentrate on anything else.
CC, how is the second eye going?
I’m in the middle of a whole lot of dental work 😩 two separate teeth need root canal therapy as well as a separate extensive filling. I wish teeth could just stay healthy. I’ve been on fluids only for the past week because my toothache has been bad, it’s so good to be pain free today.
Weigh day today and I am 400g down. I had hoped for more considering I’ve been existing on coffee and a protein drink but better than gaining 😁

Hey Verano, thank you! Love to see your posts.
Hey SunnyB, sorry that February is a bad month — I certainly know the weather there in February as I was living in Bristol last February and in 2024 it was a very cold and wet month. I had a lot of short wet walks, always ending where I could get a flat white — I figured the freezing walk burned off the flat white. I did a lot of pilates and a local weights class so at least it was a warm happy place to go. I read a stoic book that was a day by day stoic training and that was super helpful. I bird watched in the Avon Gorge every afternoon at 3ish so it filled that last bit of daylight with outdoor activity. I took a lot of naps. Also I found an on-line voice lesson from a voice coach (live time). I get it!
Do you use a SAD light in the mornings? My sister who lived in Portland Oregon for thirty years swore by hers.

I’d like to be reporting a daily discard SG, but sadly nothing worth mentioning. As for the constipation, it’s a constant issue for me, so I’m especially envious of the result you had today!
V, well done on 13 consecutive days of meditation, I’m sure you must feel better for it. I’ve allowed mine to lapse and I’m thinking it would be a good idea to get it rolling again.

My positives for today ….
🙂👍🏻 found some really interesting recipes in the Tesco mag to try out
📿😍 made a bracelet for OH as a little valentine gift
🌱🌿 today I bought a honeysuckle plant, planted some sunflower seeds and transplanted a little cactus …. roll on the warmer weather so I can get gardening in earnest again.
Oh, and one extra one … so far this week I’ve included some exercise each day. Not loads, but some, which must be better than none.

Whatever you are doing tomorrow, whether you’re celebrating or not, be sure to find a positive or two.

Glad you have found what works for you, CaliforiaGirl, it’s what we all need to do.

Sorry you found the festive posts of regretting off-piste indulgence depressing, however we have always been a safe space for people to make themselves accountable and to seek support when things get away from them. No one is expected to take on being anyone’s food police, just to offer a little empathy and encouragement if possible.

I’m afraid as someone for whom SAD is an issue, Jan (despite it bring my birthday month) and Feb are the very worst months for me and here in the UK it feels like it has been grey since early Dec, with no sign it might change anytime soon. That said, little signs of spring are offering hope, there are primroses and snowdrops on the grass verges and new shoots appearing on trees and shrubs.

SG, really pleased you’re still making good progress, you must be thrilled. Unfortunately, I’ve nothing to report of interest on the weigh front right now. The struggle goes on to get things moving in the right direction, so I will just keep on keeping on.