Hi Natalie, this is a 4 week challenge, and then when it ends we usually start up another one. I’ve found them really helpful as it keeps me accountable.
I can totally understand how you feel. I’ve lost 12.5kg, and 40cm from my bust/waist/hips and on the inside I feel slim and healthy. I saw a group picture with me in it, taken at a work function and I was the biggest person in the photo, and I looked so much bigger than what I thought I did!
I guess though, at the end of the day, I am still obese (going by BMI). I may be at my lowest weight in 5 years, but I still have something like 18kg to lose before I’m safely in the healthy range!
So that’s my goal – to lose 18kg in 2018 🙂
I’m a slow loser so it will most likely take the whole year, but the biggest thing I’ve learnt with BSD is that it DOES work! We just have to be patient.
So in the meantime, don’t lose sight of that slimmer you – keep feeling slim as it’s so much easier to stay on track when you feel good about yourself.
As we often say on here – Keep on keeping on!

😆 I so hummed along to that tune. Laura and Mary running down the wildflower-covered hills… Ah, flashbacks of my tv-soaked childhood. If your boots have about 4,000 buttons you have to tie with a hook that’s kind of cute, though. Retro fashion is always best when it goes Victorian.

Handbags it is. Get your purse on! My vote (surprising no one) is for something bright and daring and happy that makes you strut like you’re in spike heels instead of big ol’ boots.

Speaking of which, Allie, my cheetah shoes actually have slim heels. I think they’re just short of stiletto and about 3.5″ high. I do know what you’re talking about, though, that midway between blocky and spike. I’ve seen so many cool shapes out there. My favorites right now are cone heels, the kind that go from broad and chunky up top to skinny at the tip. I haven’t bought any yet but I will when I find just the right pair.

PS My goal was for 8 weeks, I’m not quite sure if this thread is a 4 week challenge or going to be a 1 week interim challenge then a new one posted.

Thanks everyone, and I was going to say good luck but of course luck doesn’t really have anything to do with it. We can do this! So many inspiring success stories on this site.

I didn’t set a goal in my last post. I’m not sure if I should set a weight loss goal as that is the part I don’t have full control over. I only have control of my behaviours. But I have another 18.6 kg to lose to get to the top of my healthy weight (58) and that is my eventual target. For this 8 weeks, 6.6 kg would get me down to 70 kg and make me very happy. Or 69kg which is what I weighed when I got married 15 years ago! Is 7.6kg achievable in 8 weeks?

The things I can control: 800 calories, 50 g carbs. At least 8 cups of water (my tracker says 11 for my weight). 30 mins vigorous exercise a day. This morning I’ve already spent an hour and a half gardening – not the polite ladylike kind, the sweaty filthy exhausting kind! I had a healthy breakfast and I’ve got a frittata in the oven cooking for lunch soon. A good start.

Hi Natalie, I with you. I saw a photo of myself taken on Christmas Day. Let’s just say ‘confronting’ and in the evening my sister took a couple of fun videos that I won’t be sharing with anyone else. Yep reality check. Good luck with this challenge!

Thank you Marie. I hope you have a safe holiday and enjoy a very special time with family and friends. Xx

Oh, I will look forward to THAT day when my feet stop resembling boats but it hasn’t happened yet! Still in little house on the prairie boots! 🎶🎶 Da da da da…. da da da! 🎶🎶 Handbags, however, I could start collecting now, but then without an outfit to match them to …… I’ll hang on for a bit, savour the anticipation! Your bag and pendant will be just fine. Now, just the hat…. hope you find THE hat in time. Very excited for you and your fella!

Hi everyone and thanks Marsie for getting this started straight away. I’m starting at 102.3 kg. Even if I’m a couple of days late joining you all. I like the idea that people are taking it a bit easy up until New Year and that’s sort of where my head is too but I’m going to try to curb the snacking that’s crept up over the holidays .
Goals for me – some are continuing from last challenge:
1.Lose as much as I can before 25.1.18 2 x surgeries
2. Get HBA1C in normal range
3. Make BSD and my renal diet fit better
4. Get under 100kg into double digits!
5. Get under 98kg bmi <35 before surgery.
6. Reduce my potassium <5.0
7. Reduce phosphorus to acceptable range
8. Reduce BP meds
9. Get off insulin
I’m having a blood test for potassium tomorrow so hoping my cherry 🍒 indulgence hasn’t sent my number the wrong way.
Wishing everyone of you every success and thanking you in advance for the guidance and support which has overwhelmed me in the previous challenge x

Hi everyone I’m a bit late with my update but here it is before I join you all for the next challenge.
Firstly Allie I love the image of your white Christmas. How wonderful. We were blessed with a bit cooler day after some really hot ones. Christmas for me this year was a very stressful family situation so I was dreading it. Things didn’t go completely to plan but Christmas Day was better than I expected. However, a bit of stress but eating certainly crept in, oh, extra nuts and cheese n soy crackers! I did ‘go to town’ at the buffet in terms of quantity but I stuck to my bsd principles and drank soda water n lemon and loaded my plate with oysters and prawns before a selection of hot meats and cherries and berries plus pineapple! Boxing Day I had 1 glass of moscato and found it too sweet. Don’t think I’ll be tempted at New Year. More stress snacking nuts/ cheese and extra berries/ cherries creeping in so no surprise I finally weighed myself today( I’ve been away and couldn’t) and 102.3 so up a little over this week but I started at 106.8. So not my lowest but 4.5 kg in total for the month and lots of other health benefits already. Back on track from today. Congratulations to everyone. I’ve only just had a chance to read all of your reports and I’m reading so many fantastic
results!

I made duck livers for the first time tonight. Sauteed and browned in duck fat with a gravy made from pan drippings from when it was roasted Christmas Day, a splash of chicken stock and 1/8 tsp of guar gum. Oh, with a side of brussels sprouts steamed in the same stock just until they gave a little when you pressed them, then fried in more duck fat. All it took was 2 tsps of fat for both livers and sprouts. That stuff is magic. One of the best things I’ve ever had for practically zero effort.

Hi folks,

I am up for joining the challenge today as well. I am not sure on weight targets for the next 4 weeks, but would like to set an exercise target instead. I started the 800 per day in mid October, and have so far lost just under 19kg, and have another 18kg to go to get to my target weight.

I have been fighting to control my weight all my adult life, without realising that I was hampering myself because as a vegetarian my diet was always carb high, protein low even though I was controlling the total calories.

My plan is to continue to stick to the 800 cals per day diet and increase the amount of exercise per day I am going to dust off my fitbit and set myself the target of 10000 steps at least each day and just see how much weight I loose over the next 4 weeks.

Not starting ‘officially ‘ until January but this evening my OH made his wonderful pasta sauce but instead of pasta I had cauliflower – not riced but chopped to about the size of pasta shells – wow was it good – the natural sweetness of the cauliflower was fabulous with the rich pasta sauce – and very low carb! What’s not to like?!
SSB

Natalie, I’m with you on this one!! I’m starting again today too after realising my weight was back up to the same as when I first started the bsd 14 months ago! Had only ever managed to get 7 kg off from the set goal of 12 or so, so feeling like I need a swift kick!! Also, my jeans keep undoing by themselves! It’s time…
Will try and do a bit of a fast today to clear things out, loved your description of frankenfood, can’t wait to get back to things, actually.
Wishing you lots of luck on your restart!!

Charitable is in keeping with my history of posting for the past 4+ months,
LtC. Thank you always, for your thoughts.

Allie

I’ve been being a bit wishy-washy about getting back on strict BSD800, 1st January seemed soon enough (its even a Monday! I like starting on Mondays) but I’ve just been hit with two good reasons not to wait those few extra days.

Last night I saw a video of myself. We were playing a Kinect Dance game, which I often do for exercise but I don’t watch back the replay video. But my four-year-old niece insisted on watching every replay. I am so much fatter in real life than I am in my head. I have found that often in the past, too, but thought it would no longer happen since I’ve lost some weight. I thought I now fitted my mental image of myself – overweight but not THAT obese. Um, yeah, no. And so much fatter than anyone else in the room.

Then this morning, my weight (which has been steady over Christmas) had jumped up half a kg. I guess the bad food finally caught up with me. Three days of frankenfood snacks will do that.

So it’s time to begin, four days earlier than I thought, but I’ve done this before so I know I can. I’m kind of relieved, all those Cheezles were making me feel a bit sick anyway.

I’m one of those people with the genetic predisposition to hate cilantro because it tastes like dishsoap to me, so that element is a hard no for me. I usually just substitute parsley, or toss in a tblsp of coriander cracked and bundled in cheesecloth. Coriander has the same citrusy note, and little wonder since it’s the seed from which cilantro grows, but without the nausea-inducing soap effect. Otherwise it looks splendid. (Subbing fennel stalk for the celery root, though. 😉 )

Luvtocook, thank you for the many recipes you post! The purpose of this thread has always been to support, no matter what the problem. In this day and age I think we need to remember that we are all just human and working hard to get through life. We can be very hard on ourselves and support on forums can help us all. I am sure Canadaliz would be proud to know that what she started is being continued.

Let us all be kind to ourselves and everyone else.

Love
Nonna Mary
xxx

MEXICAN CHICKEN SOUP

One more soup….then I will quit….I promise.

Made this for lunch and loved, loved, loved it….has a bit of heat (your option of how much to add) and bright flavors from the lime and cilantro. A new favorite. Will be having again for dinner (did I say how much I loved it?).

I did use the celery root and thougth it added a lot for the few carbs….the lime and cilantro is essential. Scallions in it also very good. Diced avocado put it over the top. So yummy.

MEXICAN CHICKEN SOUP

A low carb Mexican Inspired Chicken Soup recipe guaranteed to warm you no matter what the weather!

Mellissa Sevigny I BREATH I’M HUNGRY
Yield: Eight 1.5 cup servings

INGREDIENTS

8 cups chicken broth (home made best, boxed is fine)
1 cup celery root, peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch cubes
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 Tbs ground cumin
1 four ounce can chopped green chilis…or use some diced fresh jalapeño
1/3 cup tomatillo salsa (salsa verde)
1/2 tsp minced habanero….may wish to skip this if using jalapeño
2 cups shredded or chopped cooked chicken

Optional: 2 Tbs frozen corn per serving

1/2 cup scallions, chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

Squeeze of fresh lime juice
Diced avocado

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine the chicken broth, celery root, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, green chilis, tomatillo salsa, and habaneros in a large saucepan.

Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium and simmer for 10-15 minutes until celery root is tender.

Add the shredded chicken and corn if using and heat through.

Serve.

Add the cilantro and scallions to each bowl so that they are fresh and bright (don’t “cook” them).

Garnish with , lime juice, or more cilantro and scallions if desired (strongly recommend…not the same without them).

NOTES
Approx. nutrition info per serving: 100 calories, 4g fat, 3g net carbs, 12g protein (not counting corn)

Note: could use zucchini instead of the celery root but would only need to cook it 5-7 min so as not to get to soggy.

That looks fantastic. I will eschew the sundrieds all together, of course, (I’ve never really understood the charm of raisin tomatoes anyway, not when you can have real fresh ones instead of terrible pink supermarket ones) and replace the onion with the white part of green onions or with one shallot, but those are minor subs compared to convoluted solutions I usually have to devise. Definitely making this and soon. Thanks, LTC.

Allie, I was refering to the comments of the last day or so…..a little more charitable.

I do not have a matching purse (all I have for evening bags is one sparkly black and one with white crystals, no animal print), but I do have happen to have such a pendant, as a matter of fact. It’s one of those that has a ball that you can drag up and down the ends of the chain so you can adjust the length anywhere from choker to navel. I’d be able to position it perfectly to accent the peekaboo. It’s just gold, not sparkly, but a very warm rose-ish gold and with its geometric shape (a sphere inside a square) it’ll fit with the overall sleekness of the look while adding some color and shine. It ties in with the cheetah print great too. 🙂

Oh god somebody hold me down. I have a sudden uncontrollable impulse to burglarize Faye Dunaway’s home. That half-down half-up brim on the Chinatown fedora is just beyond. I usually buy vintage in hats because I like the quality of the materials, but I might have to hit the shops to see if I score one of those before Sunday.

Thanks for the great suggestions, Kazz. You totally are a phoenix already. You may not quite be at the point of burning down your old nest (ie, closet) yet, but you’re well on the way. Have you noticed if your feet have changed size? Mine shrank 2 full sizes but that happened well before I got to my goal weight. I think I probably had another 50 pounds or so to lose when the feet stabilized. A little interim shoe-and-bag purchase would be a great way for you to feel properly phoenixy. 😀

Hi team,

Pork, with carrot and turnip mash tonight.

Trying to keep to the wol.

When are you starting?

Love lucia
Xxxx

Essie, from a Phoenix wannabe, I think the boots are perfect! Do you have a matching purse? Possibly some sort of sparkly broach for the lapel or a sparkly pendant peekerbooing through the lacy gap just as a finishing touch? I see you in a fedora, Faye Dunaway style!

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=fedora+faye+dunaway&rlz=1C9BKJA_enGB655GB655&oq=fedora+faye+dunaway&aqs=chrome..69i57j0.9254j0j8&hl=en-GB&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=tboMcQQ6iMk0OM:

1) I am 59kg! Without any apparent effort on my part. And definitely a size 10 top and bottom.

2) everyone had a great Xmas and loved the puppy

3) I have been saying what I think and the earth did not implode.

Thank you LtC. Your thoughts are always well reasoned and well articulated.
I have to respectfully disagree though, about liking the way this thread is
headed. I find it very unfortunate that a distasteful event that occurred on
a different thread and did not involve any of the posters here, has been
brought here, 5 days after the fact. Those posts have been thankfully
removed, and the moderators have addressed them. Since the “evidence”
has been removed, I see no earthly benefit in revisiting them.
I appreciate your support and all that you have brought to the forums,
and I will be on hand to cheer you on to victory! 🙂
Allie

I’m just theatrical enough to love the top hat idea. 😀 I actually have a rather dashing black and white hat that isn’t quite tall enough to qualify as a top hat but is cylindrical and taller than it is wide. It’s straw, though, not felt or trimmed fur, so it’s a little on the daytime side. It could still work. I must try it on with the whole outfit to be sure.

Essie, how did we manage without your fabulous energy for the past few
days??? Your great greet the new year outfit is going to turn heads. Now,
what about a top hat? There’s still time…. 🙂 I think you have kind of a
Faye Dunaway sophisticated lady thing going on! I love the peekaboo
blouse, but I’d have to wear it back to front, ahem. Boots are hot, hot, hot!!!
I’d like to find some snakeskin, but without the block heel. Some kind of
shaped silhouette, between the block and the stilleto. Italian, I expect!
Will you be going dancing? (and E, clean your mirror!) 🙂 🙂 🙂

Theo, is everything okay with you?

More to follow on email…

LOVELY VEG SOUP LOW CAL LOW CARB GREAT WAY TO KICK OFF BSD FOR NEW STARTERS

I BREATH I’M HUNGRY TURBO VEG SOUP

★★★★★ 4.8 from 35 reviews

This delicious low carb soup recipe is loaded with healthy veggies and chicken. It’s so good it was featured in Woman’s World Magazine in November 2015!

Mellissa Sevigny Yield: Fourteen 1.5 cup servings

INGREDIENTS

* very flexible recipe…..can substitute to your hearts content just sub with like carb count. This also makes a LOT so may wish to cut in half if cooking for only for one of two (but it would freeze well )

4 slices bacon, chopped…or leftover ham, or pork, or beef, or leave out for vegetarians
1 Tbsp olive oil
¼ cup onion, chopped
1 Tbsp fresh garlic, minced
¼ cup sundried tomatoes, chopped….be careful on this one as tomatoes are a bit high in carbs but great addition if you are careful and stick to the 1/4 cup
1 cup sliced white or crimini mushrooms
8 cups chicken stock (or other flavor, white miso stock for vegetarians)
3 cups water
2 cups celery root, peeled and chopped into ½ inch cubes (or cauliflower, jicama, radish, turnip)
4 cups cooked chicken breast, chopped (or other leftover meat of choice or firm tofu for veg folks)
2 cups yellow (or zucchini) squash, sliced and quartered
1 cup green beans, cut into 1 inch pieces
4 cups swiss chard, chopped (or collards – NOT KALE per higher carb count)
2 Tbsp red (or white) wine vinegar
¼ cup fresh basil, chopped…1 Tbs dried will also work
Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

In a large soup pot, cook the bacon and olive oil over medium heat for 2 minutes.

Add the onions, garlic, sundried tomatoes, and mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes.

Pour in the chicken stock and water, then add the celery root and chicken.

Simmer for 15 minutes.

Add the squash, green beans, and swiss chard and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the red wine vinegar and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Stir in the fresh basil just before serving.

NOTES
Approx nutrition info per 1.5 cup serving: 136 calories, 4g fat, 4g net carbs, 19g protein

So wonderful to see Joes Nanna and Dumpty back again…..sometimes the threads get so busy that what is just a week or so feels so much longer due to all the conversations going. I, like others, am catching up after the Xmas break so my apologies for being a bit late to the game….but I so like the direction this thread is going.

I truly believe there is no malintent on any of the comments here. Some of the Maintainers feel passionately about the path their journey took and are only trying help and guide the rest of us the best they know how based on their experience. But ultimately everyone needs to find their own path….some straight as an arrow, eyes on the prize, no wiggle room. Fast and successful. Others may take a more meandering route….may take a bit longer to get there, but choose to smell the roses along the way. But many of us have had what we thought were slight deviations before with the intent to get back…..and then got lost in the weeds along the way. So you can understand the concern that a few of the strident loses feel for those they fear might lose their way. But it is all intended to be supportive. Everybody just needs to give one another some breathing space….and be there to lend a hand when we climb back out of the weeds.

Thanks to everyone for all your encouragement and support, and for the best advise you know how to give, even if some may not be ready to hear it just yet. It has not been lost….its waiting for us when we are ready.

Fashion consultation time! New Year’s Eve is coming up and me and my fella are going to celebrate in high style. I’m going to whip out that tuxedo jacket with the tails which he has yet to see because I’ve been hiding it. I never did find a white pleated bib shirt that was quite right. I found a couple, but they had puffy areas in the shoulders and sleeves or were too long to fit sleekly under the fitted jacket and skinny velvet pants. I thought a body suit might work and I had one in black velvet with lace accents down the chest that I thought might work. I would have preferred white for the tux-like effect, but the full Johnny Cash turned out to look good. I tried it with a patent leather strappy stiletto and while it was gorgeous, I decided to break up the monochrome with an ankle boot of hotness.

What do my sister phoenixes think?

https://s17.postimg.org/aku03lbkf/NYE.jpg
https://s17.postimg.org/vhq887rkv/nye2.jpg

Oh lord that mirror is a disaster. Just for the record, anything streaky, smudgey, speckly or faded comes from the mirror, not the outfit.

Marie, it sounds like you are in a very good place and well set to move forward on your final push….so happy that things are going well for you and that overall a wonderful Xmas for you. Onward and downward as they say.

Dumpty – xxx

Promise me, though, that as well as cheering me on when I get there, you come back now and again to let me, and everyone else, know how you’re getting on working towards your Grand Canyon dream – I really would love to know.

Btw, meant to say good luck with the new job.

Marie x

Marie – what a turnaround in such a short time – you totally rock! 😀 😀 😀

Allie – that’s lovely of you, again x

I’m glad to catch you on here, actually. I woke up early this morning and went looking for you on your ‘home’ thread. You mentioned a bit ago about your husband having been poorly earlier this year, and over Christmas it suddenly struck me I hadn’t asked how he was doing – too caught up in my own angst I’m embarrassed to say.

You weren’t around this morning (but it was 6am-ish UK time so no idea what time it was with you!) so I started reading your August posts – goodness, I hadn’t realised just how poorly your Jim had been and what he, and you, had been through. Hope he is much better nowadays and wish you both – well, and everyone really, – good health for 2018

Marie x

Aw Marie – so nice to see to ‘see’ you again. Last couple of days has been really lovely meeting up with my family and friends – especially my dauaghter who lives a few hours drive away and doesn’t get home very often. Hoping you have also had had loads of fun.

It’s really strange that even within one practice , policy differs about who gets and who doesn’t. It could be that you are doing such a good job taking control that you don’t really need one. It makes sense that if you tackle the diabetic issue at source – i.e diet and exercise , then everything else should fall into place i.e blood sugars. There will be people that who are more resistant will need more meds, and therefore more monitoring. You’ve just been diagnosed and as MM says – a better chance of reversing diabetes. No monitor = Marie is taking control anyway – woo hoo!

Yes , that last post – not sure where that came from myself – just don’t like what i’m saying to be misinterpreted but it’s in the past, certainly not going to dwell on it. I only really posted a couple more times because you , Nonna Mary and Mixnmatch were very kind and humanity should not go unnoticed or un appreciated. So , thank you again ladies!

I used the word ‘liberation’ a few days ago – it’s really lovely to see that word being used by others too recently. We are all feeling liberated in our own individual ways.

I know I said ‘Dumpty returns’ – but i’ll be honest – I’m only going to pop in on the odd occasion if at all. Starting a new job and that’s never easy plus continuing on improving my life which is going great, but still needs time e.g to cook, exercise etc. Although, you can be sure If I see something something controversial or I think the wrong the wrong advice is being given , I fully intend on rocking the boat again – hahaha – only in the interest of disseminating correct info rather than targeting anybody on these forums – I would never do that! I read so much about health, I’m a little miss ‘know it all’. Not quite so much ‘do it all’ sadly – hahaha.

Anyway , I digress Marie – you are an absolute joy and very caring- bless you, my friend, and as I said before – I wish you utter joy, happiness and success – and I most definitely will be there when you sail past the goal post! Love success stories!

Adios for now!
Dumpty

Wow, Flick, that is momentous news. Congratulations on your fantastic results so far, most of all in the fearlessness of your resolve, your even perspective on the numbers doing their own thing and the sheer joy you exude for having made such a thorough committment that has paid off in spades already.

Your friends becoming your WoE advocates is truly a great and beautiful thing. My OH’s parents (who hosted us for Christmas) were so conscientious about my dietary needs that I didn’t have to worry about a thing even though of course I couldn’t weigh or measure or calorie count. It was so kind and really made a huge difference in my enjoyment of the holidays not to have to explain and justify for politeness’ sake. Your friends have proved themselves to be true friends who care about your well-being and are 100% behind your choices. You can’t put a price on that kind of support.

Hi, Marie! This a beautiful thread, because we’re able to see a summary
of all the accomplishments each individual has achieved, and how they
have been life changing. You’re inspirational, Marie! I wish you every
success in reaching that mid BMI ideal weight, and I have no doubt that
you will do it. 🙂 🙂 🙂 I’ll certainly be here to celebrate that moment with
you…to the fullest! There is really nothing like it…like achieving the
“impossible dream”! I Promise!

Allie
xoxoxo

I’m ending 2017 in a much better position as far as my diabetes goes, which ultimately is why I am here, although I’m getting all sorts of other things from being on this forum, too.

My Hba1c results have gone from one showing an uncontrolled high on diagnosis in August to one back in the normal range in November. My Metformin has been officially ‘unprescribed’ this morning by the practice nurse. (I was prescribed it although I never actually took it).

I’ve lost just over 3 stone on BSD since the beginning of August and only put 2lb back on during that time – 1lb of which was in the last 2 days! I’d been dieting pre-BSD so my total weight loss to date is 4st 4lbs (27 kg). I’ve tried to lose weight many times over the years and failed. I’ve succeeded this time not because I’ve developed iron willpower but because I’ve had no choice – it had to work. So much easier for me than dieting for weight loss alone. (It’s also to do with the BSD itself; thanks to MM and team!).

I’ve become a walker and a regular exerciser. I remember Terry Wogan once saying he was a lazy man who worked extremely hard. Yes, he worked hard but when he was at home he could sit for hours and hours doing absolutely nothing. I know exactly what he meant. I also remember when I was trying to give up smoking many years ago somebody giving me a tip. When offered a cigarette never say ‘no, I’m trying to give up’ instead say ‘I don’t smoke’. So, I applied that idea to exercise/activity in 2017 and now go into 2018 as an actual regular walker and exerciser. My initial high/pre-high blood pressure is mostly in the normal range.

I bought my first Lindt 70% dark chocolate bar this week and grated some on top of my full fat yoghurt for desert after Christmas dinner (delicious, Liz). Christmas evening I had a second lot, but included a couple of small shards of the chocolate. Boxing Day morning woke up and contemplated having the same for breakfast. Didn’t. But by Boxing Day evening I’d abandoned the yoghurt and wolfed down the rest of the Lindt chocolate. As Luvtcook said a few weeks ago, know your own triggers. I can have a glass of wine (didn’t bother) and not want another. I can have a piece of cake (didn’t bother) and not want another. But if I have 1 packet of crisps, I’ll want a Family bag, if I have 1 grape, I’ll want the bunch and if I have 1 square of chocolate – milk or dark – I’ll want the lot. A useful reminder for me that what clearly works for others won’t necessarily work for me – at least not for now.

My 2018 goals: to keep my blood sugars within the normal range – my next Hba1c is in March; to get down into a healthy BMI range (3lbs away from the top weight of this); to reduce my visceral fat to within the normal range; and finally, to stabilise at a mid-healthy BMI (probably) weight I’m happy with. Here we go…..

Thanks luvtcook

I think you’ve put it very well, V! I think it is only with practicing this WOL
for an extended period that we come to view food not as a menace or
challenge, but as something that no longer has power over us. It is
totally liberating, isn’t it? I struggle sometimes to communicate my
thoughts as effectively as you do. Thanks! 🙂

Hi Dumpty

Hope you had a good Christmas.

Just got back from the meeting with the Practice Nurse and it was a definite No to the prescription for BG testing strips. Oh well, I tried. I’m hoping to eventually stop finger-pricking (or at least reduce it significantly) at some point this year, so never mind.

I’m not sure what to say about your last post to me (I know you don’t particularly expect me to say anything) except I was sorry to read it. I notice on another post you’ve signed it Dumpty Returns – I hope so.

Marie x

Never any worries about not responding to posts.

…there definitely won’t be any photos 😂
SSB

Well who would have thought six weeks could go by so quickly. Here’s my weekly update

Starting Weight 78.3
Week 5 71.1
Week 6 70.1 -1kg
Total loss over 6 weeks – 8.2kg Yahoo!

No change to waist or hip measurements but still feeling in great shape.

Stayed on track over Christmas, no alcohol and all BSD friendly. Over my usual 800 calories but all delicious low carb goodies. I was hosting so my fridge and cupboards are still full of carby, sugary traditional Christmas foods. Clearing it all out is tomorrow’s job.

On another happy note, dinner out with friends last night, and they were the ones telling the wait staff – ‘no rice for our friend’, ‘ no, only three wine glasses’, and ‘can we have one of the duck pancakes without the pancake or sauce’. It was hilarious, I loved every minute.

Hi Allie and others!
Many thanks for your encouraging comments! In September, my Hb1ac was 64, and it’s now 32. My fasting glucose was 8.4 and it’s now 4.1. I did the diet rather than start Metformin, so I’m not on diabetic drugs. My cholesterol is down from 5.6 to 3.3 and triglycerides, which were really high at around 7 something, are now 1.6 (I’m currently off the cholesterol and lipid meds too – testing in another 3 months to check progress – if I need to go back on them to help with control I will, but hoping the BSD is enough). ate a huge amount of food yesterday, but all on plan, so delighted that this morning I hadn’t put on any more weight (other than the couple of pounds for Christmas eve and Christmas day). Today I am back on track, so hoping the excess will disappear quickly!

In the meantime, it’s back to work (fortunately at home, so I don’t have to traipse out in the slushy snow!). Interesting Allie that you were an interior designer – I do a similar job…but in miniature! I design and make miniature furniture, especially kitchens, for collectors and film/advertising companies.
Liz

Happy Christmas to all on this thread! Hope you all had a good one. We did, but need to eat sensibly now for a while. I’ve bought the BSD recipe book and Fast Diet book, as I’m now doing the 5:2 as maintenance.
It is now a month since finishing the 8-week BSD with AnneF. Personally, it did me a huge favour and this thread was invaluable.

I dropped a stone, from 9:11 to 8:11 and, although I still have a bit of a tummy, and since a week in Lanzarote and Christmas chocolates, I’ve put on a few pounds to 9:1 this morning, I now know how I can quite easily lose those few pounds again (once I’ve finished the chocs). So, thanks to all on this thread, whose reports kept me going.

How are the rest of you doing? AngS.

Good morning.

Yesterday’s positive moments were many but having a family day especially with our new granddaughter was top of the list……
1. I managed to cook the full works yesterday and stay pain free. A huge achievement for me.
2. I did have 2 small roast potatoes and a little pudding but I stayed in ‘control’.
3. I love being in control of my eating now. Being able to pick and choose without guilt or gluttony is so liberating.

I keep marvelling at the way in which this WOE has now just become second nature. I no longer have to ‘resist’ certain foods I no longer find them appetising. This I guess only comes with time, and I’ve been here long enough to know!!!!

Great tip about the sprouts Esnecca, thank you so much – I’ve got some alfalfa on the shelf so will get those going next.

I’ve got a dinner invite tomorrow so won’t start till after that, but am getting in the swing – just had a delish breakfast of runner beans, 2 scrambled eggs and 2 tbsp toasted flax seeds – about 250 calories by my reckoning and yum.

SSB, yay for the bikini!

Good morning everyone, I’m really enjoying reading the posts and am already feeling positive knowing that there are people like me on the same journey. Alliecat I agree with you – Liz I can definately equate with your picture as I have a very similar outfit as the one on your ‘before’ picture 😀, you look amazing after your weight loss, hopefully you will be able to give us some tips to keep on track. Thanks luvtcook I’ll look up that link too – although I’m not a vegetarian I do enjoy the veggie recipes and I do look for quick, simple but nutricious recipes. Good luck to all – this is the first day of my restart 💪.

Good morning everyone.

Shrinkingviolet I saw that same old lady too!!!!! That was eighteen months ago now and although she has disappeared, together with her T2, her replacement could still do with slimming down still further!

I think what is coming through in all these posts is the degree of ‘control ‘ we now appear to have over our diets. No longer do we seem to have the ‘ one won’t hurt’ mentality which ends up with total abandonment of any ‘sense’. I think we have all learnt that simple carbs do us no favours and although there maybe the odd slip we can still take ‘control ‘ and carry on. I just can’t envisage going back to a carb filled life.

S-g I remember you asking me how much more ‘normal than normal ‘ did I want to be but I do understand where you are coming from. Maybe it’s a little ‘wriggle’ room that we are all seeking. You know you can do it, we all can, and will.

Ahh, living in the moment is certainly something I need to do ClarinetCathy (enjoy the rest of your trip) and also increase my ‘exercise’. I have found my weights and bands and have decided that I will make sure I ‘walk’ every 30 minutes even if it’s only around the room!

I think it’s so important to write plans down and when they are on a forum we can always remind ourselves of our goals as the year goes on.

My plan is too keep on planning until January 2nd and then the ‘doing’ starts in earnest!

Good morning – what a fabulous gang we have all ready to take on the challenge. It’s great to see newbies to the BSD as well as ‘old faces’ – between us, we can do this!
Having been off track for a few months, I’m really looking forward to re-breaking the carb cravings – for me, once that battle is over, the rest gets easier. I really want to feel the way I did earlier this year – slim, relaxed, healthy and not constantly battling with myself about food. And I know this isn’t the be-all and end-all, but we have a pool at our new house in Spain, and I would dearly love to be able to put in a bikini (only when no-one’s around, of course! ).
Keep smiling peeps,
SSB