Morning all

Further to my very short post yesterday I haven’t weighed myself today and probably won’t until the weekend now – I just can’t face it.
There are a HELL of a lot of losses being reported this week – it’s so amazing – you are all amazing. whether you are a slow or fast loser or just planning on maintaining it’s so encouraging that so many of us are having successes.

Putting my modest 2.5lbs loss into perspective, if I did that every week I’d be at my goal in no time – well 8 weeks but that has a nice ring to it!. I also know that’s probably not realistic and one of my ‘resolutions’ for this year was to try and set realistic goals so I’m just setting it at a pound a week. If I could just get under 10st soonish I would be delighted. 3.5lbs to go!

My course yesterday was, very luckily, extremely interesting and time-consuming. I avoided all the sweets, cakes, biscuits and white carbs at break and lunch and just had my spinach and pea omlette (that I brought with) and some salad bits – few slices of pepper, some green beans and some shredded cabbage. The only thing was, and I’d be interested if anyone else has done this, I was actually so embarrassed that I’d brought my own lunch that I felt the need to eat it in the toilets!!!! I know!!! What the hell!!! Has anyone else found this – you don’t want to start having the conversation with people about why you are eating differently so you’d rather just hide it? I used to be really evangelical about this plan but I’ve had too many people say it’s rubbish so I don’t bother having the argument anymore – their loss.

Anyway – I’ve ranted enough – have a good day all KOKO
TC x

I’d love these diet programmes to get back the people from the previous year and see how they’re doing now. I suspect most are al least as heavy as they were before they started.

Did you see the thing on superfoods last night? It was very irritating to watch, but the small amount of advice was quite sensible. I can sum it up for you – fruit and veg is good for you, but don’t smooth masses of fruit or you’ll be drinking too much sugar. Also eat a wide range of healthy foods, including oily fish.

Another lb lost – which makes it half a stone now!

Can’t say I look or feel any slimmer, but hopefully that will happen soon.

I second Verano’s recommendation of the Diet Doctor site.
(And I also didn’t want my only contribution to this thread to be Tom Kerridge bashing. 😀 )

Its not a site I really follow or read deeply but I do find the infographics of carb levels really useful.

Like this one
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/drinks

They’re also handy for explaining my madness to friends and co-workers.
And the fact I’m on low carbs not NO carbs. 🙂

So I am on D3 I have lost 4lbs and my energy levels don’t seem to be too bad. Monday I did need to sleep for a couple of hours about midday, bit yesterday was fine and even managed to do a 2 mile walk!

The only challenge has been the constant need for the loo due to my increased water intake – I feel a bit trapped to be honest, does it get any better?

As long as the legs are still there, Flick😊😉😊😉😊

Hi Jande9 it could be those ‘splurges’ at the weekend that are stopping you from losing the need to feel really full to bursting. You don’t say how long you have been eating this way. I also started to control my T2 which is now in remission without drugs but I have been eating this way for 18 months. I have never been ultra strict but have eaten low carb even if it’s been rather high calorie wise at times. I think it takes quite a long time before your taste buds change and you lose that feeling of ‘hunger’. I get ‘full’ after a salad with eggs or tuna or smoked salmon with a tablespoon of mayonnaise and half an avocado! I think you do need to eat healthy fat to feel full but to be honest I don’t think I would like that ‘full to bursting’ feeling after a high carb meal again. I also think you should take a look at Good Eats thread maybe you are just ‘bored’ with your diet and it needs a bit of a shake up.

Hi Mixnmatch, I’m also having “a visit from Aunt Irma”, as my daughter says, and had a gnawing hunger all yesterday – craving bread. Didn’t succumb except to eat a few more spoonfuls of the chilli, which actually I think with hindsight was a good plan as it was then enough to get rid of the miserable hunger and I’d had a walk so it wasn’t really going to blow anything. No gain or loss, which like you, feels like a real victory. I like your idea of a “trigger weight”. Sounds like you’re finding a healthy balance.

sunshine-girl, well done, lovely to see those milestones go by. Interesting (and motivating) to hear your experience with the blood tests. I’m curious to know what makes you say the readings mean nothing if you are not diabetic. Noticed there are some ranges here: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html. I did do a home cholesterol test once and the results were ridiculously low for both so I was convinced it hadn’t really worked.

Jules-Maigret, sounds like you are really making good use of the local opportunities 🙂 Great cooking inspiration!

SunnyB, that sounds like an amazing loss for the end of the journey and very inspiring for those of us at the beginning! I’d love to know whether the goals people are setting turn out to be about right for MM’s suggestion of waist being half your height.

Laska, you knew how many calories were in that dark chocolate you ate, that’s impressive in itself – and your loss is major (thinking of the packs of butter) so well done! Sometimes they say all you have to do to achieve great things is keeping turning up.

ClarinetCathy, I feel you. It’s interesting what toby101 said about finding the right calorie count for you. I think MM suggests a 2-week review, so that might be an idea – hope you’re feeling better by then.

Natalie, hope you are feeling better!

Nick C, I like your thinking with the mini-steps. I’m shooting for the healthy weight range, which you’ve just made me realise is only 1lb away! Then it will be another 2lb to under 11 stone, then another 4lb to the 150lb mark, which was a previous stable weight. Great motivation for me just as I need it.

Congratulations DoodleDooToo, Sandy, Jax and everyone – not just for the losses, but for all the spadework in changing habits x

We’re still doing this!

Good morning and even though it’s still dark here it is a ‘good’ day I can feel it in my bones. The bones that slept until 5.35am this morning, a wonderful achievement. Lately I’ve been clock watching at 2am 3am 4am etc etc.

So my first positive
1. Another good nights sleep even if I have been up for a couple of hours!
2. Looked through my weight loss journal and have redefined my goals both mini and final. I know what I have to do to stop maintaining and start losing again. Will do it.
3. Have been uplifted by all your posts which make me smile with joy for all the positives in your lives. Especially love Jovis having a permanent job!!!

Have a good day!

A day late with the weigh in this week. But pleased I’ve lost 2.9kg in the first week.

Had a really tough evening yesterday though. I didn’t stay in top of drinking water as I was in an all day meeting. By 5 I clock I had a headache and back ache for some reason. Actually felt. Like I was getting properly sick. I suppose I still might be but I feel better this morning so I’m not sure.

Anyone else had something similar?

Thanks again to everyone for sharing and staying positive.

Morning all,

Today 127.3 a new low 😀 (9st 1.2lbs)

I touched briefly on this weight early 2015, just before I then piled on over 30lbs, before that, I landed here briefly in 2011 (Hurrah for digital scales on which I can track my progress) but again, I was only here for about a week before putting weight on. What I really want to achieve is consistency as the graph of my weight looks like a mountain range. Aiming for flatlands or at the least gently rolling hills.

The low 9s is the best I have managed to achieve post baby (she has just turned 13). Daring to hope I can finally get back to pre-baby. Goal weight is 8st 7.

x

CORRECTION: I am 163.5cm and this will henceforth be referred to as 164cm.

Thanks Theodora. I started Round 1 describing myself as a barrel with legs. Round 2 and
I’m more a demi-barrique with legs!

Delighted with 4.6 lb loss this week 💪🤓🏆but aware of a couple of slip ups, ice cream & 5 chips were down my throat before I had time to recognise them…. I am learning to be more mindful & vigilant this time.
Everyone’s posts are inspiring and helpful as I know I’m not alone in my quest. Keep strong everyone, nite x

Hi,

I am a second timer too after falling of the rails – I am hoping to start again and this time complete the eight weeks and follow through with maintenance. I love reading your inspiring posts and reading the recipes – I am hoping I will succeed this time.

I note that the BSD book says that steel cut oats spike blood sugar less than the more processed rolled oats.. but really sounds like it’s horses for courses here. I like porridge and am now eating the steel cut oats (BUT i’m doing BSD to lose some weight; I don’t have elevated blood sugars.)

Thanks, SunnyB, for the warm welcome and the inspiring story! I’m looking forward to the journey with you all, and I feel very hopeful.

Wow, thanks so much, everyone, for the great and informative replies. What a warm and knowledgeable community this is; I feel lucky to be joining you. So impressed to hear of others’ great results.

I’m taking more care with the carbs and I am seeing some faster downward motion on the scale! I am intrigued by the 20 or under carbs plan. I think I’ll stick to 5:2 for now, because my husband is our main cook and doesn’t want to be usurped, though he is fine with the Mediterranean plan–and watch the carbs and see how I go.

I’ve also been stepping up the exercise, and that makes me feel good and I think it helps. I’ve started doing The Daily Burn–anyone else joined that? I find it really easy and fun, and the first month’s trial is free. https://dailyburn.com

Well, I am 59yrs old and post menopausal I was struggling with elevated BGLs for 14yrs and Type 2 diabetic for the past 9yrs. I was hot flushing regularly and just generally feeling hot and sweating all the time ; I didnt even need to wear cardigans in winter. I was 120kg on October 31st 2017 and today I weigh 106.6 kg = 13.4kg loss in 9 weeks. I am not taking Metformin any more and my BGLs are returned to normal ranges, my GP was initially sceptical, ( and gave me a stern lecture on all things regarding diabetic comas etc) but my last visit to him he was so impressed he took photos of the BSD book and the 5:2 diet book- he awaits further results when I return at the end of the month. So now my hot sweaty existence is NO MORE. I feel bright, alert and energetic. I sleep better and sleep all the way until morning, and I am now waking up earlier and getting more out of my day. (no more of that morning foggy brain and sleeping until 9am). My attitude to food has changed dramatically- I enjoy and appreciate the food I prepare and consume and savour each mouthful, appreciating the notes and textures of each mouthful.My mobility has improved out of sight.
I keep looking at the 3kg bags of oranges in the supermarket and realising that I have lost more than 4 of those bags in weight- this is one of my visual inspiration tools. HAPPY DAYS indeed; but I still have a way to go.

We all hope that she will be back, too, Judy. A truly magnificent lady!

That would be “hear”, not “here”! Good grief, I am a dunce!

Well duh Allie.. I thought she just posted it.. gotta go wash off my glasses.. lol Shame she hasn’t been back.. hope all is well..

Judy

Hello, Judy! (dipgal) It’s wonderful to see you visiting this thread! You
will find many sympathetic hearts here, so I welcome you, again. Make
yourself at home…I’m confused, though. We all miss Canadaliz, but to
the best of my knowledge, she hasn’t posted here since August. We’re
all anxious to here from her, so have I missed something? I’m
confused!! I’d very much like to know that she is well. Have I missed
an update, Judy? I can’t seem to find it?
Allie

Hi Dipgal, I think you could definitely say I made a success out of using a combination of methods, I still mix and match them now in maintenance, proving what a wise choice of name I made 😀 I have used 5:2, 4:3, 2:5 and one round of full blown 800/40 for 8 weeks, and have since used 16:8, full fast for up to 40 hours, 6:1, 5:2 and reverse dieting to keep my metabolism guessing. It seems to have worked to an extent, I have been in maintenance for over 13 months now, although I am heavier now than I was at one point, it is because I prefer it that way not because I have lost control. I also used a plant based only low carb and low protein fasting mimicking diet for 5 days that seemed very effective, and intend to redo that one every six months or so (round two coming up in the next couple of weeks).

No loss for me this week, no gain either despite a visit from TOTM, so I am reasonably happy with that, remembering how the hormone related water retention used to often end with a couple of pounds gain. I have had a little bit of a realisation that I am actually happier not being able to count my ribs anymore, so may not struggle to get all the way back to my target weight any time soon. I do have a few pounds to shift post Christmas but will probably not push below my target for some wiggle room as originally planned. I plan to get back down to my new ‘happy weight’ of just over 11 stone by the end of this reboot but will be happy with that, and I am increasing my ‘trigger’ weight to 12 stone before drastic intervention is needed. Good losses people, and just keep on keeping on for all of us.

Just WOW Liz! Way to go! You are inspirational to me in many ways..
First of all, I also drink alcohol – sometimes to excess.. And despite starting a variation of BSD800 and 5:2, I still have been drinking a small amount of alcohol each day. This is day 4 for me. I am not at all (surprisingly) physically addicted after 40+ years of almost daily drinking, but am emotionally. I don’t know why I believe it’s so hard to give up when the small amount I’m now drinking barely gives me a buzz.. Just habit I guess.

I am morbidly obese with terrible knee pain and lower back pain. Absolutely no stamina. 61 years old.. Love to travel and have wonderful opportunities ahead of me. But, this dang weight ruins everything!

I am not diabetic, and haven’t tested my BS.. I do have the supplies.. Maybe I should – and use it as another motivating tool along with the scale.

I am trying to reinvent myself – and reading posts such as yours is so-o-o helpful!

Yes, good point. I’ll try and stick without it.

Thank you, Nat! Like full fat greek yogurt! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Yes, Allie what Natalie said. How funny it’s British expression only, not foolish to ask at all. We’ve both learnt something! Xx

Allie it means something you want more of when you have some! More-ish.

I’ve never used gum, I hate chewing chewing with no swallowing. Sounds like torture! And could it lead your body to expect food which would trigger a release of insulin – just what you don’t want? I believe artificial sweetness do that, don’t know about gum.

I’m on day 2 of the BSD and although I’m not hungry, I do find I’m missing eating. I was wondering whether chewing sugar-free gum might help with that. But then I wondered whether that would make it harder to break my sweet tooth, which is one of the things I’m really hoping to do. Do other people use gum? Good thing or not?

I had a visit from the Whoosh Goblin – 12 hour gastro. I don’t recommend it as a weight loss tool.

Thanks!

I looked at the link and it seemed to suggest that for fizzy water (rather than fizzy sugary drinks) the difference is quite small. I think I’ll stick with fizzy water for the moment.

So day 2 complete – I am finding that it is easier to continue fasting until about mid day, as I am never hungry in the mornings. I am retreating upstairs pretty soon after dinner to avoid the siren call of the fridge! Seems to be working.

I’ve found it surprisingly quite difficult this week to get back into the groove of BSD!!! I have felt hungry most days. I have lost 2lb and am back at goal weight post Christmas but I could quite easily have eaten a lot more. I think post Christmas it has been difficult to re-focus to getting back in control again. once you get into this way of eating your hunger goes I think. Because I’ve relaxed over Christmas I think my hunger mechanism has kicked back in! Also it’s been so cold and I’ve not been able to get warm. I am determined to stay in the zone because I know only too well that once you take your eye off the prize then you’re back to square one. Hoping to feel back in better control again soon and hoping that my hunger pangs soon go away.

There has been some great re-booting done this week and I have been impressed by the great weight losses so well done to everyone. Have another great week everyone.

Well done all, some great weight losses. For those not losing, hang on in there it will happen!

I’m down 2lbs since last week, which is 2lbs under my pre-Christmas weight. Now weigh10st 11lb, so saying goodbye to 11s and heading for 9s. Would like to get to 10st by end of this challenge.

I have an appointment tomorrow to get my BP checked (currently take Ramipril) and going to ask if I can get bloods checked to see if I’ve lost enough weight to reverse pre-diabetes diagnosis (24 lb). Even if I have, I’ll still continue as it’s working well and hope to stick to this way of eating for life now. Don’t find time to post very often due to busy job but enjoy reading all your posts, it really is motivating. Thanks to all x

Hi Jackie, I know that this is probably a foolish question, but I keep
coming across this British expression “moreish”. Can you translate it
for this silly American?
Thanks 🙂

Hi Jande I know what you mean, although I don’t want pizza or spaghetti I do sometimes feel like I fancy something but there’s nothing to eat that I fancy! Mind you, I wasn’t all that on pasta or pizza before I was diagnosed as insulin resistant. Biscuits, on the other hand, or bread … but I don’t want those now either.

If I’m honest I went hell for leather on (some of the) 8 weeks and did that with a lot of cheese and ham. It worked, but now I’m moving into lots more veg, have gone off processed meat and am not as mad on cheese. I find Greek yoghurt and chia seeds surprisingly moreish, together with green veg fried in butter. I think it’s keeping the fat up that helps me feel satisfied. I drink coffee with double cream for some of the day (have stopped feeling the need to glug cream straight from the tub).

When I was diagnosed the doctor said I had to start seeing food as functional, not for pleasure, and I think that probably true. It’s why I admire people without insulin issues who follow this WOE, there’s no way I would have done it initially without the threat of diabetes. It’s still enough to keep me in line, although I don’t find it hard anymore.

Hi all
I weighed in down 3lbs for the week. I am happy with that. Now 11st 3lbs. No alcohol at all. Sneaked in a few peanuts last night but no scale change (yet)….
Thanks all.

Sunny…. 8st!!! .. That’s amazing.. Well done! .. if only I could ever get below 10st id be really happy. I’m one of those people with a v slender partner who eats like a horse and never gains ..Id love to weigh less than him .. ( but I never have since I’ve known him though- and that’s 25 years!)

Sadly my scales were up a little this morning 12.8.. . it means a 2.5lb loss from my official start weight , but a 4.5lb loss from the weight I recorded 2 days before I ‘officially’ started back on BSD.

So quite good…. But today hasn’t been so good. – or it was until about half an hour a go ….Why have i just eaten about 100 cals worth of dark chocolate I wonder ? 🙁

You need more fat and fiber. Not as a general rule, but in dishes. When you want to fill yourself up to bursting in the way you miss from when you gorged on carbs, that is the winning combination. Cheese and flaxseed crackers, konjac noodles with sausage cream sauce, 6 oz grass-fed sirloin steak, compound butter (butter with herbs and/or cheese) and a side of broccoli rabe or spinach sauteed in olive oil. You wil find it far more satisfying and long-lasting than the brief sugar high of carb binges.

Hi Jande! Have you taken a look at Luvtcook’s “Good Eats” thread? It’s
full of exciting low carb recipes and links that might seduce your palate!

Best wishes,

Allie

How wonderful that so many people have positives and wonderful things to post. Mine for today are:-

My darling Jovis has a permanent job at the age of 65! I am so proud of him.

My new car is brilliant and I am going to visit my best friend of 50 years tomorrow.

Life is just so wonderful at the moment I can’t stop smiling!

I really hope that wherever you are and whatever you do, it is joyous and makes you happy!

Love
Nonna Mary
xxx

Interesting points you are raising, You snooze to gain. That’s why a whole
bevy of maintainers here, myself included, refer to the BSD as a “way of
life” and not “a diet”. We haven’t fallen back to trying to include bad carbs/
sugar in our lives in our version of moderation, and many of us have a year+
or close to it of maintenance behind us. Good luck to you and everyone
else walking this road with us. The only way to fail is to abandon the
principles of the BSD 🙂

Allie

Although I initially started the diet to help with my pre-diabetic blood sugar levels, I also needed to lose some weight. When I started the diet my fasting blood sugar level dropped very quickly and then stabilized at a good place so after 2 months I stopped testing it, and then just concentrated on the weight loss.

I have now been in maintenance for many months but I still am not happy with how I eat, which is low carb throughout the week, and a bit of a splurge on the weekend. I find my weekday diet to be unsatisfying and I too often snack on cheese or other low carb items. I miss that feeling of fullness you get after a big feed of pizza or spaghetti, and I haven’t found anything else that can give me that. The closest I’ve come are dishes with lots of lentils or beans. I have become leery of all carb foods even from whole grains or brown rice, because I am worried about starting on the slippery slope leading to weight gain and blood sugar issues.

However, I am probably eating a more healthy diet than before, with plates full of vegetables and minimal sugar and alcohol. I just wish it was more satisfying.

Weight loss regimes (diets if you insist) are specifically designed to lose weight. Therefore it’s nonsensical for the Times to claim that any method of eating has no long term effect when, by definition, its effect is short term. It’s the long term, daily effort that is involved in maintaining weight loss that’s the problem. No one off weight loss is irreversible and no “diet”, once you stop following it, could possibly be “effective”. A bit like complaining that makeup needs renewing.

‘Evening V! I missed your early post today, but happy that you can keep
in touch on your travels 🙂

Sunny, you’ve had one of those wonderfully productive days today!
Everything falls into place with a good night’s sleep, doesn’t it?
How wonderful to be able to plan 3 months in the sun! I’ll be waiting
until at least May to feel that warmth on my face. Is this a new adventure,
or do you do it each year? As Theo suggests, I think my internal combustion
engine has been working overtime to heat my body, and I’m very happy
the temps. look far more seasonal for the remainder of the week!

It’s relatively easy (well, not impossible), I think, to lose the weight. However, I have noticed that thin people actually seem to put a huge amount of effort into STAYING thin. You can never, ever again let your guard down because if you eat food without exercising caution you regain those pounds, so you need to accept that permanent control is how thin people live. One day “off” a week or month can rapidly turn into almost every day.

One small step I have taken is to always drink jasmine tea rather than booze with Chinese food. I’m working on the need/taste for lager with curry, but that’s a work in progress.

I must say I find the thought of lying there and having my fat cells heated to the point of destruction nothing short of terrifying, especially after seeing what it did to the pork!

Hi everyone – pleased to say that like some others reporting, I too had a good night’s sleep last night. Took me longer than I would have liked to get to sleep, but slept well which is the most important thing. Certainly felt much better today anyway. Somehow, today got very busy, which is why I’m quite late posting, but at least it’s given me a few positives to add here.

1) Had a charity shop snoop and found a new pair of Next trousers for £6.50 in a size 8 ….. AND they FIT!
2) Have spent sometime writing a news letter and revising brochures for a Turkish friend who runs a small tour business. Great sense of achievement pulling it all together.
3) We are starting to plan our drive out to Turkey and best part of three months in the sun. That gives us something to look forward to in the grey and gloom that is England at the moment.