In the UK standard sizes are redefined periodically, so that people can kid themselves they are smaller than they are. I now wear a UK10, going into UK8, but I know that – as you say Theo – a few years back it would have had to be a larger size for sure.

Clothes sizes have definitely changed. When I got married, I weighed a little under 8st (110lbs to be exact) and wore a size UK12, which is what my wedding dress was. I now weigh 8st again, and my wedding dress fits me absolutely perfectly, just as it did on my wedding day. But what size do I wear these days? A UK8 (could even get away with a 6 in trousers) – that is TWO WHOLE SIZES SMALLER for the same weight than it was 49 years ago!!!

I LOVE pumpkin seeds (aka pepitas) Luvtcook! They are one of my standard go-to foods for topping yogurt, salads, curries and other stews, and snacking on — your idea to toast them sounds great — they have a lot of fiber, protein and wonderful flavor.
If you travel to Scandinavia they are on every breakfast table — yum — with unsweetened “red fruits” (lingonberries and more) just amazing!
Just one word of warning— don’t put them in yogurt overnight — I tried a pre-made/overnight yogurt parfait with pepitas and the pepitas turned soggy and disgusting. Yuk! That went into the trash!

My positives:–

1) Took my 93 year old mother for a hospital out-patient appt. with her physiotherapist this morning as a follow up to her broken and dislocated shoulder (last September) and the lovely physio has signed her off, saying that very few of her patients manage to get as much movement and strength back after such a traumatic injury. So well done Mum (she’s worked really hard at the exercises, bless her😊)

2) Following that appt, had to take her for a chest xray, but that has come back clear😊

3) It’s Friday, and I allow myself wine on a Friday😀😀😀

PS Jackie, loving that little elfin cut – had one just like it years ago and adored it, then wore it really long for years, now just a boring (but very easy to look after) bob.

Hi SunnyB
Well done getting the Christmas lbs off. You’ll get to 8 stone before long. I am struggling to lose the 2lb i put on over Christmas, a combination of feeling hungry and feeling cold. I am determined to get back to133 (currently 134) and hope to achieve 130 lb during February. I have increased my water this week, I love water but being so cold have not drank the usual quantity. Prior to Christmas I was doing 16:8 and since returning to work in January have been eating yoghurt and raspberries before setting off. Shall be going back to missing breakfast again and hoping that 16:8 as well as one or two extended fasts next month will get me where it want to be. It’s scary how quickly weight can return if you don’t keep a watch on the scales, I have vowed never to go 3lb above my goal weight. I weigh myself every morning and that keeps me on the straight and narrow.

Keep maintaining everyone. We’ve proved how resilient we are by achieving our target. As Esnecca says- Not one step back (think that’s what she says!).

I’m good, thank you for asking, Sunny.

Really pleased to hear that those last few pounds are melting away quite easily, you’ll be 8st, or just below, before you know it. That is exactly where I am at, and holding pretty steady +/- a pound. Not really counting calories these days, and allow myself wine every weekend, but staying fairly low carb – def no refined carbs. Almost 9 months into maintenance now and cannot see me ever going back, very happy with this WOE.

Essie, well done on the reverse sit-ups. Not even going to ask what they are, because they sound like some mediaeval form of torture – but each to his own.😝

Saw the courgette pattie idea and immediately googled to find out how they’re made. With only the vaguest idea, I then rushed to the kitchen and improvised – in a bowl went a grated courgette, a grated carrot, 100g cottage cheese, 15g parmesan, 2 eggs, some salt and some chilli flakes. I then cooked it in blobs in the sandwich toaster. The excess liquid took a while to evaporate off, but when it did, they were yum! Served with greek yogurt. I reckoned it at about 400 calories. So had dinner early. Oh well!

I do eat a lot of cauliflower but getting a bit sick of it. I dont count carbs to the extent that I dont eat carrots (6g per 100g carbs) I just dont eat white carbs or MOST underground veg. Mushrooms are a staple but usually for breakfast or with a steak. Making a curry tonight using celeriac, carrots, red peppers, mushrooms, onion and canned tomatoes. I think beans are in season – dont forget in France if it is not in season you cant get it – and also platt, the flat beans. Need to go to Grand Frais (a giant veg emporium) to get some inspiration.

Flick, I share you love of salty snacks and have satisfied that to some extent with nuts, but they are so high in calories that you have to be pretty stingy with them.

But have found a new love that is ringing all the bells with me and is so so good for you. Shelled pumpkin seeds.

I toast them in a small skillet with a 1/4 tsp oil until they brown and a few start popping. Salt them and eat them warm. They are terrific. Almost have a toasty popcorn like taste. They are also high in protein, but according to studies cited by Dr Jason Fung, unlike animal protien, the plant protein has a negligible effect on insulin. No increase.

I love them. To all: Give them a try if you can fine them.

Roasted Pumpkin or Squash Seed Kernels
154 calories
Serving size ¼ cup

Nutrition Facts
Calories 154
Total Carbs. 4g
Dietary Fiber 1.2g
Protein 9.7g
Calcium 12.7mg
Potassium 237.8mg

Interesting article on exactly how fat metabolizes and is expelled from body. Suprisingly, most of it as carbon dioxide.

http://bigthink.com/21st-century-spirituality/when-you-lose-weight-where-does-the-fat-go

Theodora and Allie, how are you getting on? Have you both stabilised your weight now?

It’s been a while since I posted on this thread, but thought I would pop in with an update. Have successfully seen off the couple of pounds gained over the festive season and made in roads into shifting the additional pounds I decided I wanted to be rid of, to get me down to a flat 8st.

Had expected that things would move in the right direction once back on the 800/20 regime, but have been surprised that the weight started to fall quite readily. Very hopeful of being a flat 8st (or possibly a pound or two lighter) in the next week to ten days and then I’ll be back to maintenance – with luck, successfully.

Hope everyone who has reached target is managing well in maintenance – long may it continue.

Thought I’d throw in some positives as the w/e approaches.

1) Made lots of yummy almond crackers today – three lots, one with the addition of milled nuts and flaxseed, one with chia and parmesan and the other with chia and a couple of teaspoons of turmeric latte mix. Should keep me going for a while.

2) Going out with friends for a curry this evening. I’m being very careful all day, just having a little kefir and a few almond crackers, plus lots to drink to keep hydration up to allow me to have a glass of wine later.

3) Almost finished booking the hotels for our drive out and back to Turkey, just a couple left to sort, then all our travel plans will be in place. Very exciting!

I go for various green beans – stringless, runner, dwarf – and sugar snaps, mange tout, baby corns; cauli, broccoli and leafy veggies. Recently, I made some braised celery, which was yummy and made an interesting change from the usual veggies. I love leeks au gratin, but leeks are a bit carby, so I tend to only have them very occasionally. Also sometimes make veggie patties, ringing the changes as to what veg, herbs etc. go into each batch.

Hello sunshine-g I have tried the roasted garlic mushrooms from the website that came from Luvtcook but is posted, as said , on the Take a look thread. Think it’s 150 sides. The mushrooms were lovely but that leaves another 149 to try! Why not have the courgettes hot in a tomato, or other, sauce. I make a mixture of fried shallots, peppers and mushrooms, maybe with some chilli sauce. I have also tried the courgette patties from the above mentioned website and they were also good. I often keep leftover vegetables and make them into patties either fried in a little oil or baked in a loaf tin. Hope this helps a little.

marie123 has a good point, it is vital to keep well hydrated for weight loss. If it is something you struggle with, find a way to remind yourself and keep track. I’m the same and historically hydration has been a struggle for me, but a couple of things I’ve used since being on the BSD, is making myself drink a glass of water whenever I go into the kitchen and I also draw little pictures of cups and glasses on our white board and strike them through when I have a drink. Perhaps you can think of something to prompt you too Megan.

Hi Megan987304

I’ve never been great (consistent) with the drinking water bit of BSD, but keeping well-hydrated definitely helped me with the weight loss. Keep going with it. Good luck.

Good for you s-g. I hope the same comes for me – just 1lb lost last week and this week the scales have not yet moved AT ALL. So fingers crossed (and a lot of food weighing) in the hope that I have something decent to report on Tuesday!

Well done Oddjob!

Flick – big congratulations for getting into the healthy weight range. That’s brilliant!

Jackie – I still have to translate kilograms into stones & lbs but that loss translates well – you’re so close to that target weight

Mokovex – good to hear the treatment seems to be working. Keeping going on BSD while fighting pain and fatigue must be so hard. Good going on the cake front.

Marsie – that must have been a horrible time for you – glad it’s in the past x
Also, I definitely need a grandson!

Got weighed this morning and might have a small but significant result for next week’s weigh-in – but not sure I dare do anything now except hold my breath until Tuesday.

Feels like we’re getting back into the swing of things. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Hi Sunshine girl…I understand what you’re saying about ringing the changes re vegetables. I have recently fallen in love with roast cauliflower and roast cauliflower steaks which have fewer carbs than carrots and parsnips. Both can be gussied up with herbs or spices…We also love caramelised brussels sprouts and mushrooms but go easy on the butter…

I use diet doctor as a source of side dish recipes and a new to me site called I breathe I’m hungry whi h someone put on the Take A Look thread. They have some great ideas for low carb vegetable side dishes…

Angela

I only lost 1lb in week 2 but fear not, it has started up again – not declaring loss until Tuesday

I’m also finding that I’m not shifting weight in the 2nd week, but my water intake is pretty bad.

I have pretty much weaned myself off sweet stuff – I don’t crave cakes and biscuits and I have never been a chocoholic but if I was ever going to ‘cheat’ it would be with a small amount of the real thing rather than a substitute. I made cauliflower bread – it was gross!
SSB

I like the idea of the “hot and puffy” look! I am continuing to lift those dumbells and do think it is getting easier and have increased the repetitions. My arms are really fat, so hoping they will tone up or at least look like Popeye. May get an anchor tattoo to complete the look.

Great stuff, Oddjob!

Wow! That’s rapid weight loss.

Unless the weight loss is dramatic, it’s hard to see it ourselves or in people we see every day. I expect you look slimmer to people who haven’t seen you since you started.

Still no more weight loss for me. I must be eating more than I’ve estimated and will make more effort to keep portion sizes smaller.

On the plus side, I’ve just done an exercise DVD and although I got hot and puffy, I wasn’t feeling wiped out as happened earlier – and I’m much better at the stretching bits. That’s cheered me up.

No to the bold, italics, the usual method doesn’t seem to work.

Weight same as yesterday, so very happy with that. BG is still around 4.5 and I have reduced insulin from 29 units to 26. Will stick at that for a few more days. Skipped breakfast this morning as we slept in so will be having feta and raspberry salad for lunch and planning a vegi curry for dinner. I am starting to get sick of the usual veg of the cooking type. I always buy courgettes and red peppers for my salads but getting sick of leeks and carrots with hot dinners. Any ideas. I have bought a head of celeriac and I have mashed aubergine in the freezer. I suppose it is the time of the year but all I see in the supermarket are turnips, swedes, squashes and so on.

All this talk of cake makes me queasy. I guess I am lucky because I dont like cake or most sweet things – give me a pork pie and brown sauce. I have 2 grandsons and they only visit twice a year so I have a couple of recipes for them. One is Chocolate Muffins made with oats, cocoa powder and apple sauce and I have a Chocolate Cheese Cake recipe made with egg whites, Stevia and cocoa powder (yet to try this one). I still wouldn’t eat them but it is nice to be able to treat others. Recipes on request.

So after all that I forgot to post!

Wednesday I did better with water and walking (11K in the end). I still had too much cheese in the evening though.

Yesterday I did ok with walking (11k) probably a bit short on water and there was much less binging on cheese but I still went over the 800 enough to feel bad about it.

It’s taking a bit of time to get myself back down to the restrictive 800. I was SOOOO good at doing it the first time. Oh well I’m going in the right direction at least and the scales are dropping (7.5 lbs in 4 days). Again I know it’s mainly water but it feels great and my skin has cleared up instantly.

Today I’m also working from home and not sure about when I’m fitting walking in. Will try to resist the cheese tonight.

I know, they have an easier life in terms of weight loss and I do all the cooking! No justice. He is eating more or less the same as me, apart from he has eggs for his breakfast and then takes a salad (made by me) to work with him. So he has a few more calories, but also he has kept off the beer for the two weeks. He wants to lose another 21lbs and hopes to do it in 4 weeks! I wish…..

Hi all – thanks for the welcome. Good luck with your last few days and I’ll join you on the 23rd 🙂

Hi Jules, I always think it’s unfair that men lose weight faster than women. They used to turn up at WW & would reach their target in a few weeks! What on earth are you feeding your other half on or is it just a case of no alcohol?

Morning Sandy13 and Squidge

I agree with you both, I don’t want to be skinny AND wrinkly. Once I get closer to the target (which is almost 3 stone away)I may re-asses my goal.

In other news Mr Pacman weighed in today and lost 9lb this week, making a total of 20lb in two weeks. Incredible, and he does look slimmer, I’m not sure that I do. There will be no living with him today!

Have a lovely weekend

Hiya lovelies

I’ve left my phone at home today – it might as well be my handbag! Feeling quite displaced, particularly as it has my bank card in it and I was going shopping tonight! Oh well…

Lee – ice your back four times a day? Good grief! How would you physically do that? Glad it’s not just me then feeling chilled to the bone. Our “People First” rep as emailed the group asking for feedback on the temperature in the building and who has to wrap up etc. It is definitely warmer this morning!

Right, back to the grindstone – catch up with you all at the weekend! 🙂

Kazzeee xx

Anyone know how you Bold /Italic things on this website ?

I think its a marketing technique. As overweight has become more normal there are more women falling into the plus size clothes band. If you face people with the choice of in shop A its the frumpy plus sizes only, but in shop B I can get into the largest of the normal size less frumpy clothes they are going to buy their clothes in shop B. Which means that all the sizes below have to be adjusted so that there isn’t a big jump between the sizes.

Just wish that shops had notices up on what the dimensions of their sizes were so you could work out what size you were going to be in their shop which would save the changing room blues.

*topac* China.. how exciting.. Is this a holiday or work? Yes fish and veggies are probably your friend..

yes yes yes.. happy dance.. 🙂 another 1lb down.. (wel,l 1 and a quarter but thats probably a cup of tea’s worth) .. SO it ^is^ working for me again.. . I’ve lost half a stone now from my Arggghhhh!!! weight and 5lb ‘officially’ from the Tuesday we restarted!.. .

Remember …weigh your food !!

Morning all

Been manic at work and have tried to be really good this last couple of days and have been! (Miracle in itself..)

Resulting weight loss has been encouraging and I won’t be able to weigh myself again until next Saturday (off to China), although last time I went I had a pair of scales in my room! Will probably steer clear of them though as it won’t be consistent plus flight bloat etc etc. So – lots of good reasons to stick to it – if all else fails I can eat raw fish…

Zoulou – many congratulations on all those milestones. And after only three weeks – awesome! and so encouraging for you – well done.

Anyway, China has a weird way of censoring certain websites so I’m not sure this’ll get through the great firewall of China. Just in case it doesn’t, Adios all.

Be good and KOKO!

Milalin – I also wanted to add my very best wishes to you for your upcoming surgery. It’s reassuring to see that Marsie has faced what you are facing now and that she been through it and is well. Very pleased for you, Marsie!

I’ve had another good week (I hope the scales reflect how I feel) however, the cold makes me crave hot stodge! It’s not a bad craving, but I feel all tense inside, hunched up against it and the cold, rather than relaxed… I hope that makes sense?!

Will post my results tomorrow…

Good luck everyone!

Kazzee xx

Zolou – I bet it was lovely hitting all those milestones – made me smile just reading about them. x

Hi all,

I agree about the varying sizes, I bought 2 pairs of a cheap jeans when I was in the U.S. to see me through the transition weight loss stages. They were sitting together on the shelf, and I only tried one on. When I got back to the U.K. they were very different sizes. Fortunately the ones I didn’t try were smaller and I have now slimmed down into those😀.

Sizes in general seem to be bigger than they used to be. I got some old 1980s sewing patterns out of the loft the other day and they are much smaller than today’s sizes.

Going to post my week’s results here, since this thread is where I seem to be hanging out more these days. Friday is week review day for me, bucking the Tuesday trend!

So, just completed week 3. Over the week, as planned I got the steps in (average 11,400), did yoga each morning and did HIT 3 times. Stuck to low-carb and pretty much within calorie count (average just over 800). It all went fine, except that yesterday I was light-headed, weak and irritable as well as a bit headachy (for the first time). Presumably because I’d had only a bag of peanuts for dinner the night before – so now I know that that’s not a sustainable approach! I went for a walk anyway, which was actually really nice, though I wasn’t quite in control of my feet!

Over the week I lost 3.4lb – better than the previous week’s loss of 3.2lb, to my surprise. That meant I hit a lot of milestones – inside healthy weight range, under 11 stone and one stone lost in all since the start.

Waist measures 40.5 inches, so actually up .5 inch since last week. Was 44″ at the start. The aim of half my height would be 33″. I’m not worried about the lack of progress there, it just means it’s important to keep going.

I’m now 153.2lb. Would love to get under 150, so that’s the milestone I’m shooting for next, but also grateful to consolidate the place I’m in, which already feels way better, though I’ve probably got another 20lb to lose.

Loving being on this journey together, all!

58.4kg, new personal low. Slowly slowly, nearly nearly, its said 58 before, will it say 57 soon?! Xx

Escnecca 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

That is not a small thing! Those buggers ARE hard!

I’ll ask Pete the personal trainer what to do after that’s been sorted, I’m sure there’s a fresh hell awaiting. Though he has flu at the moment so I haven’t been this week. Watch this space.

Morning all,

today -0.2lb 😀

Better news is that I managed to keep my paws off biscuits cake and cheese. It was because it was a go-go-go day but I did have the opportunity to have cake and I passed. I fully attribute this to returning to the forum and posting. It is no coincidence that it goes better for me when I do this, and I start to lose my way when I don’t.

I am off to the osteopath this morning which I am more than excited about. I have a permanent headache and this chap has the reputation of being able to fix things other people can’t. This is treatment 3 and it’s working! My headaches definitely contribute to my fatigue which fuels my cravings, so hoping that pain reduction will result in greater resilience against the carb monster.

Flick – well done on the loss 👍👍
Shanshu – If you are joining us on the final leg of this thread – welcome ✋ or if not, see you on the next one 😀
Milalin – Really glad this is a place where you can talk about what is going on, you are definitely not “raving on”, your posts seem honest, thoughtful and considered.

go well. x

Having been diagnosed a few years ago with type 2 I initially worked like a demon to keep my levels down and stay healthy. Sadly my resolved wore off over the years and I found myself not back where I started but going in that direction. The feeling of sluggishness and general lack of energy came with the realisation my diet had gone to ruin. Quite by chance I was in a book shop when I saw the 8-week blood sugar diet book on the shelf. On impulse I bought it and read it on holiday. The day after I returned, I bought a blood sugar monitor, started the diet and got back to the gym.

As with others on here I have been surprised how I don’t feel hungry on this diet and I have been enjoying experimenting with different recipes and venturing outside my normal food range. I have been amazed with the results so far and looking forward to the next week

date. weight(kg) waist(cm) fasting BS (mol/l). [mg/dl]
12/1/18 109.2 112 16.0 [288]
19/1/18. 103.2. 107 5.1 [106]

Was so tired after a full, but definitely fun, day with grandson and one of his matesi.e. car; train; dinosaur discovery show in convention centre; walk over to Elizabeth Quay for lunch (hamburgers for all, minus the bun for me); walk around the Quay while the boys expended their energy climbing and jumping everything possible; walk back to the dinosaurs for a conducted “tour” which, happily, the boys enjoyed; then the reverse journey home. Made cuppa and fell into a chair for a while. Other than dealing with some business, I didnt check emails or the forum so just catching up now.

Milalin, I’ll speak mainly to you today. I had such a shock to read that your kidney condition was polycystic. I have never met anyone else with this diagnosis although I was told it was not rare. In 1998 my right kidney was removed along with the attached polycystic tumour, initially thought to be benign but later biopsy proved it to be polycystic carcinoma. It was originally picked up as a tumour arising from the liver and attaching to the kidney. (I had been to my GP for a referral to a gynacologist expecting a hysterectomy). MRI could not prove otherwise but surgery showed that the tumor in the kidney had grown so large it had pushed the liver out of place – it was essentially draped over the top of the tumour and the kidney had been forced down as far as it was possible to go.

Happily for me the professor/surgeon was competent and all was removed intact. He messed up the hysterectomy, but that’s another story, lol. Again, happily for me, it was then, and remains, only the one kidney affected. I’ve since had melanoma and other skin cancers but nothing affecting any internal organ. And I am well.

So, Milalin, I can certainly empathise with you but also sympathise that you have so many more complications. You are in my thoughts. 💝🙅Marilyn

Hi Marie, you are so generous. Everyone is fantastic here, supporting me and each other. It’s such a pleasure to open my emails and read all the latest posts. Now, as for the kidney weight, I’ll take bets, we are talking kilos… since I’m just above the weight limit for transplant surgery it will bring my BMI under, its never considered when my BMI is calculated. And remember I’ll still have another ‘evil twin’ to contend with. Actually, I think the 2nd one ( ie remaining )is the one affecting my BP. So much as I hate surgery, I’m hoping it’ll eventually be removed too. You know I’ll be back, more determined than ever, once I initially recover, to lose, to prepare for transplant next. I need to be as ‘fighting fit’ for that and my new life, also to honour the gift of time from my donor..
I’m still almost a week out but time is going fast now as I’m so busy . I’ll still be on here when I can and I look forward to updating you all. I plan to weigh in for the next challenge, I don’t expect I’ve lost now, and I’ll be honest regarding the kidney weight. Thanks again to you, Marie, and all the crew. Together we will eventually get to where we want. I can’t express how much support here is helping me. I hope I’m not annoying too many, raving on…
I don’t tend to talk about this in my everyday life. Best wishes to everyone as we approach the end of this challenge!

You are right YSYG – my clothes have felt really loose these last three days – one pair I will have to retire.