My regular exercise in resisting temptation is a visit to Fenwicks Food Hall. Their cakes are truly spectacular. I have ended up buying them for family birthdays, which happen for me five times a year. On other days I settle for a strong, strong cappuccino and a drool.

Theo, all the credit for that goes to years of watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 😀

On a lass mass-murderous note, lookie lookie at what I scored from a vintage shop:

https://s13.postimg.org/4h45ijg4n/0283.1_L.jpg

Valentino, y’all. From his prime in the late 1970s, no less. I almost wept when I saw it.

I would recommend a regular stroll through the shoe shelves in tkmaxx. You won’t always be lucky, but they have some gems. I got some wedge ankle boots the other day, and they often have Guess or similar. In fact, when I look at my clothes I realise most of them come from there. I just love a bargain.

Mmmm cake! I haven’t had any all year (I started the BSD on 1st Jan). Once I’m on maintenance I hope to be able to have the occasional slice without coming seriously unstuck. Luckily for me I’m not diabetic, so I might get away with it.

Hi Ange, Natalie is absolutely right, everyone seems to settle into their own pattern. I’m 60 and pretty much post menopausal and like you carrying weight around the middle. I’m not having any trouble but at an average of about 1kg a week, am in the moderate rate group.

Also it doesn’t come off in a lovely gentle even kind of way. I tend to stay at the same weight for a while and then drop down some. The key is to keep at it, try not to reintroduce carbs to a level that will tip you back out of fat burning. Oh and drink buckets and buckets of water!

All the best …

I don’t know anything about the shakes, Ron – but good luck with your diet.

Will you be having just shakes, or some real food too?

The weight I’m aiming for 9 st 2. (I’m short). I used to be that weight and it’s comfortably within the healthy range for my (lack of) height. I could weigh quite a lot less and still be considered healthy, but I don’t actually want to be thin.

Like you, Sandy when I get a bit closer I’ll asess how I look and, more importantly, how I feel.

Ooh just loving the flats Allie, and wondering if they may be available on this side of the pond? Will Google them.

You will look fab in all your purchases now that I can see them😉 Thanks Essie 😊

Allie, we all have our own talents so,as Essie says, it matters not a jot that computers are not among yours 😉

I mentioned my infinite imagination but have now realised mine is most definitely finite and it’s Essie’s whose is infinite – who else could have thought up such possible transgressions😱

Well done Flick! Healthy weight range!

Hi Angiepix, I am in peri-menopause (I am 47) and I do find I lose weight slower than some other people, which of course can be frustrating. But I do still lose weight! I just have to remind myself that everyone is different. You might not have this problem at all.

Pshaw, it matters not one whit. After what you’ve accomplished in the past year, you should never ever castigate yourself again. Unless you wind up committing some kind of accidental atrocity that burned down a hospital or raised a demon ogre who devoured like 10,000 orphans, that is. 😉

Thank you, Essie. I won’t torture you any longer with my
incompetence, and I’ll truly practice your technique to see if
I can get it right! Right now, ,my idiotic red head’s complexion
is blushing in shame…Failing at ANYTHING is anathema to me;
I want to put a brown paper bag over my head 🙂 I’ve managed
to trick J. into believing I’m an extremely bright woman, and
he has absolutely no patience with this blindspot that I seem
to have. I really should enroll in a senior center somewhere,
(ughh) and get serious about a tutorial of some kind. Maybe
your Dad and I can partner up? Enough castigation for 1 day!
🙂 🙂 🙂

Hi all, well after that very disappointing weight spike I’ve now had two drops bringing me back into the healthy weight range and this morning to 66.3kg, exactly 12kg from my starting point. I’m not sure what to attribute it to – probably just a normal whoosh effect but I have walked a little more although on restricted activity also sat around more 😃. Dinner out one day so I fasted for about 22 hours in the lead up but still managed to eat 750 cals. So who’s to know.

Anyway, very hot weather spell on its way here so stay cool fellow east coast Australians and HYDRATE 😃.

I love a d’orsay shoe, flat or heeled, by the way. They’re unfailingly elegant and make the biggest, hairiest hobbit feet look dainty. I love those polka dotted slim pants too. I would wear them every day. No tunics or long camis for me on account my own hobbitiest features (short legs), but you look smashing in them, I’m sure.

Girl, you need a copy & paste seminar in the worst way. 😆

Okay, here’s what to do. When you land on the page you want to link to, click in the address bar at the top of your browser where the URL is. You’ll see the URL become highlighted in blue. That means it’s selected. If it’s not blue, hold down the Control (CTRL) key on the lower left of your keyboard and then press the letter A. When you see the address turn blue, release the A key and, still holding the Ctrl key, press the letter C. Come over here, click in the reply box, hold down Ctrl and press the letter V. You should see the URL you selected appear in the reply box. If it’s not the same URL or is some random text, it’s probably an issue with Ctrl not having stayed down when you clicked either of the letters. Try it again and just be very particular about holding firmly until you release the letters.

http://www.jjill.com/jjillonline/product/product.aspx?item=Z2053F&rPFID=0&sk=N&h=N

http://www.jjill.com/jjillonline/product/product.aspx?item=Z2100M&rPFID=0&sk=N&h=N

http://www.jjill.com/jjillonline/product/product.aspx?item=Z2099H&rPFID=0&sk=N&h=N

http://www.jjill.com/jjillonline/product/product.aspx?item=Z2098P&rPFID=0&sk=N&h=N

I couldn’t find the Cambridge coat, I’m afraid, but hey, it’ll give you a reason to try out your new copy & paste skills. 😀

Thanks Esnecca, I’ll experiment

Thanks, Joannesusan – Like you I followed the BSD, lost weight (still got more to lose though) and my blood glucose levels are back in the normal range. I really hope the Hba1c results are positive for you – but if not, remember, you’ve done it once and you can do it again.

Do let us know how you get on. Take Care

I’ve finished the Science of Nutrition course, didn’t find it at all inspiring I’m afraid, so rushed through it. It was either that or just give up on it, and I don’t like to think of myself as a quitter😱

Sorry, Al – still not working. They all say “oops, the page you’re looking for isn’t available”

I’ll just have to use my infinite imagination 😉

I’m so sorry, my friends, for wasting your time. Obviously I’m
not cut out to be a data entry clerk or a secretary either, for that
matter. Probably best to stay in the creative lane, where I feel
the most at home…I shall try again, begging your indulgence 🙂

1. ponte knit slim-leg pants – Color: black/stone
http://www.jjill.com/jjillonline/product.aspx?item=Z2053F&rPFID=14&sk=
M&h=M

2. pure jill refined comfort jacquard cardi – Color: Rubi/mult
http://www.jjill.com/jjillonline/product.aspx?item=Z2100M&rPFID=19&sk=
M&h=M

3. knit border-print boat neck tunic
http://www.jjill.com/jjillonline/product.aspx?item=Z2099H&rPFID=3712&
sk=M2h=M

4. lace d’orsay flats
http://www.jjill.com/jjillonline/product.aspx?item=Z2098P&rPFID=52&sk=
A&h=A

5. cambridge coat – color: true red
http://www.jjill.com/jjillonline/product.aspx?item=Z2056H&rPFID=11&sk=
M&h=M

Now I’m just going to hold my breath…………

Hi Shansu

These 4 week challenges usually start on and end on Tuesdays – so the next one will start on Tuesday, 23rd Jan.

I think the suggested new title is “Keeping carbs at bay over Valentine’s Day” – suggested title courtesy of topcac – sounds good to me, too, Marsie – so look out for that.

But you’re welcome to join in on this one for the last few days – might help over the weekend!

Marie

I know what you mean! I haven’t got a weight in mind, being an old dear I think I’ll see how things look when I’ve lost a couple of stone. I remember when I first joined WW back in the 80’s, they gave me a target of 9st 7lbs. I did get there but looked like death warmed up! So don’t want that again.

With you on that one, V. No way am I putting all that blubber back on.

My positives. ………

1) Yesterday morning o/h suddenly, apropos of nothing, invited me out for lunch at a newly refurbished lakeside pub. So we enjoyed a 2 mile walk (with the dogs) around the lake, in bitterly cold but very sunny weather, finishing with a lovely lunch in front of a roaring fire.

2) This morning we received in the post an invitation to the wedding of my younger son’s best friend and his girlfriend – lovely couple, and am exceedingly fond of them, but rarely see them so this came out of the blue and was totally unexpected, but we were thrilled to be included., especially as our boy is Best Man😊

3) Despite gale force winds last night and being surrounded by damage to buildings and felled trees, we have escaped unscathed. O/h spent the morning rebuilding an elderly neighbour’s fence.

Hello to all the ladies that have posted. You have all been very informative and I like Esnecca’s advice about weighing and counting calories. As you may be aware, I last did Slimming World where there is no weighing or counting so I deffo need to get into that habit daily.
I can’t wait to start and hope this one works !

Thanks again to you all 😘

Of course I’d never give up on you, Allie – it’s the new phone I might admit defeat on😉 Sadly life often gets in the way of good intentions 😢

Sadly your links didn’t work for me, so cannot admire your latest acquisitions 😢 but I’m sure they are stunning 😊

…if I’m going off the rails, it’s going to be cake 🍰

I seem to remember my mother giving me Ribena (and rose hip syrup) because of its vitamin content rather than the low fat aspect. I also remember the nurse at my school dishing out some noxious brown malt product, incredibly high carb, which is still available at Holland & Barrett. I also remember being berated for refusing to eat fatty meat.

I must say, if I’m going off the rails I would rather do it by eating a cake rather than a glass of ribena or a spoonful of malt extract.

Hi JulesMaigret,
I didn’t see it but it doesn’t surprise me – to think it used to be sold as a ‘healthy’ drink for children – because, of course, it’s low fat!
I am interested in your other point about self-appointed ‘police’ – I belong to a Facebook group which is about a particular Keto diet – I am often amazed at people who come on and claim that it must be done this way or that, even when that isn’t actually in the diet book, and also, more scarily, people who give medical advice quite forcefully when they cannot know the details of a contributor. Fortunately, as on here, the moderators are very good and will step in if they need to.
I do understand how evangelical we can be about this woe and it’s easy to get carried away but, as NonnaMary says, we have to take responsibility for ourselves and work out what’s right for us.
Sorry – soapbox moment over 😉
Keep smiling.
SSB

Hi all – hope you don’t mind me crashing in. I’ve noticed these 4 week threads and wondering if I can participate in the next one? Does it start on the 24th?

Thanks

Many years ago we had a boxer dog who required surgery and we were told to put coconut oil around the stitches as it was antibiotic but also dogs aren’t keen on the taste so it stops them licking and picking at the stitches. Seemed to work but not sure about the dietary impact though

Zoot, alors!!!

Interestingly – did anyone see the programme the other night on how they make Ribena? Apart from the large amount of blackcurrants involved, their site receives ten tankers of sugar a day – that’s 270 tons a day, when they’re in production!

In terms of the site, there is some interesting research done by Harvard on behaviour on sites where there are varying levels of moderation. Like/dislike is regarded as one of the easiest ways of causing “disruptive” behaviour within a community. Just look at newspaper comments sections.

Apparently in non-moderated comments, the high risk is the self-appointed “orthodoxy police”, who attempt to enforce a single set of opinions across fora. We had a couple, I think, a while ago, (“MM says in the book that you must….”) but what always impresses me is the openness and willingness of people to discuss their experiences and ideas.

Hi again, angiepix! I stepped out for a few minutes, only to
find that Essie and Sunny have arrived on the scene to echo
exactly what I would have said. Thank you, ladies, very articulate,
as always. Angie, there is an entire community of maintainers
here who have reached their goals, but we are all passionate
about what is possible with this way of eating. We are always
out and about, so give a shout out to any one of us with your
thoughts or concerns. We’re always more than happy to help!

Very best to you, Angie

Allie

Yet it’s quite easy to eat BSD food at his pub and if you mention low carb, the dishes are automatically transformed.

I’ve met him a couple of times and he comes across as quite a nice guy. He quite happily offered a free meal for four at the Hand and Flowers as a lot in a charity auction I was involved in a few years ago.

SunnyB this certainly is a thread for positive thoughts! Yes I have a ‘trigger’ weight, as I’m sure lots of others do, that I will not go above because I know that would be the beginning of the slippery slope. I only allow myself a 3lb window and if I go above that then it’s back to the plan, although I do steer clear of refined carbs anyway. Couldn’t even think about regaining weight, and going back there with an extra 62lbs or so, high blood sugars and metformin!

I bet you’ll do great on the BSD, Ange. Your previous diets were all high carb-low fat and Slimfast shakes practically sugar bombs for many years. It sounds like your diet is already BSD-friendly. You’ll probably be able to stick with foods you’re used to making with only minor adjustments.

My one suggestion would be to measure, weigh and tally up the carb and calorie totals for everything you cook. Some of the vegetables and fruit you’ve been used to eating may turn out to be surprisingly high in carbs, and when you have a history of difficulty losing weight, you might need to drop your daily carb intake significantly. I stick to less than 20 grams a day religiously because I’m insulin resistant and all kinds of carbs, even ostensibly “good” complex ones, make me put on weight. A more common limit is around 50 grams a day. That seems to be a sweet spot for a lot of people that keeps them in a fat-burning state. Your mileage may vary, so it’s important to know exactly how much you’re eating of what so you can make adjustments if necessary.

Good luck!

Don’t give up on me Theo (as if you would :), that phone is in
the cards, but trying to schedule our lives with O/h new semester
course load, has been really challenging. Things have fallen thru
the cracks already, and we’re only in to week 2. Only one car
at the moment, and he’s out in it 12 hours a day! I’m going to
try and post links here to my newest acquisitions, certainly no
qualifiers for “hottest looks”, but garments in which I swish
about town…
1. “true red” jacket:
http://www.jjill.com/jillonline/product/product.aspx?item=Z2056H&rPFID=
11&sk=M&h=m

2. polka dot slim pants: Color: blackstone
http://www.jjill.com/jillonline/product/product.aspx?item=Z2053F&rPFID=
14&sk=M&h=m

3.black tunic
http://www.jjill.com/jillonline/product/product.aspx?item=Z2099H&rPFID=
3712&sk=M&h=m

4. black velvet d’Orsay flats
http://www.jjill.com/jillonline/product/product.aspx?item=Z2100Y&rPFID=
52&sk=A&h=a

Because desserts are PROPER LUSH.

😀

Hi SunnyB,
Thanks you so much for explaining things. I received the BSD book and the recipe book earlier today, the book is a really interesting read. Now need to get some recipes sorted and do a shopping list, so will be good to start tomorrow.
I will be on the forum again, I’m sure and will posting my thoughts or questions as they come up.

Thanks again,
Ange x

I am sticking to what I know fits at the moment!

Yes you are right, if you have more to lose then it does goes quicker at first. My target is 3st, but if I get near that and think I look OK then I may stop. I haven’t been that weight since my daugher was 4 – she’s nearly 23!

Ooops! Sorry, Verano. Still it’s good that you are back below trigger weight and even that is making progress towards target, so all good. Keep on Keeping on!

Hi Angiepix – it takes a bit of time to get into the BSD properly, as it turns all we have been told for years, about low fat and high carb on it’s head. With BSD fat becomes a friend and it’s the carbs that are avoided. It sounds like it should suit you, but be prepared for a period of adjustment, both in your approach to what you consume and the way you body may initially react. Even though you don’t have a sweet tooth, you may still have some carb withdrawal symptoms. I didn’t eat cakes, biscuits, sweets etc, but did have potatoes, pasta, rice etc. and still had withdrawal symptoms, although not as major as some people have to contend with.

Once you get used to the way the BSD works, it is very doable and you should find it quite easy to make BSD friendly choices in all situations. Don’t panic about the exercise thing, it sounds like you already have a good foundation you can build on, but you’ll find the pounds should fall with or without the exercise.

Give the book another read, make a plan of action and then start. We’re a friendly crowd and you’ll be welcomed on any thread you wish to contribute to. It’s worth joining a challenge – there’s a new four week one starting next week I think. Keep us posted on progress and shout if you need advice or support.

Why does Tom Kerridge have a dessert with EVERY meal? Even if you’ve never heard of cutting carbs (which obviously he has) it seems mad to be encouraging overweight people to regularly eat dessert. It seems irresponsible.

He’s really patronising too. ‘If you pay attention and try really hard you might just manage this recipe, you thickos,’ he says, then just slices and stirs stuff.

I don’t like him all that much.

It seems quite a lot when I try on a fitted dress!

Rates do vary and it does seem those with more to lose tend to shift it slightly more quickly. To be honest the speed doesn’t greatly bother me as long as things keep going in the right direction. I have 18 lbs to go. And it will go!

Sometimes our bodies just need a bit of time to regroup and adjust and in these periods, the scales stop dropping. Watch out for the non-scales victories though, you might find even if the scales haven’t moved, the tape measure shows a decrease or your clothes feel less restrictive.

Just remember that as long as you stick with the BSD, the pounds will start to fall again.

Hi Squidge

Good to hear you are less ‘marshmallow’ like and feeling healthier. I suppose we are all different and lose in different ways and I don’t think you have that much to lose do you?

Hiya, thanks for your reply.
I have tried weight watchers, Slimming World, but didn’t like the restriction on fat, never had a sweet tooth, fortunately but am a cheese addict. I know its restricted on the diet, but at least full fat is welcome.
I also did Slim fast for 2 weeks and didn’t lose a pound! I had 2 shakes per day plus evening meal which were all low fat ready meals.
I am hoping this diet wil be a little easier to stick to as it includes a lot of the food I like, such as fish, veg, salad etc
Don’t do a lot of excercise except walking for 20 mins a day and some callanetics for muscle strength.

Hi, Angiipix, and welcome to the forum.Of the different diets
that you tried to date, were any of them low carb, moderate
protein and high fat? How many calories per day? Many of
us here are peri, menopausal and post. We’d be happy to share
our success stories with you in answer to your question, but
a bit more of your history would help 🙂

Allie

I don’t remember where that recipe was posted either and search isn’t very helpful, but here’s one very simple almond cracker recipe from SunnyB that can easily be modified to decrease the almond meal and add seeds. I’ve made a version with chia, golden flax, rosemary, garlic and sea salt that came out great.

https://thebloodsugardiet.com/recipes/snappy-almond-crackers/

LTC, wasn’t the best ever seed cracker recipes one of yours?

Victoria, how did your thickening project go?

arcticfox, I’m so pleased to hear the creamy salad dressing tips have been of use to you. I love finding new ingredients that work to inject the creamy element. My latest find is fromage blanc, a French farmer’s cheese that is very yogurt-like. It’s low in fat but unlike the usual low-fat products, there are no sugars. It does a great job of adding creaminess without jacking up the calorie count of a salad.