Hi guys

Have been trying to perfect my mirror selfies, not very successfully I’m afraid. But for what they are worth here a few of my 80s clothes that now fit me (some even a tad on the big side)

For Essie, the sequins

https://s7.postimg.org/vxcacerbf/20171215_114951-1.jpg

The jump suit underneath is too big, so I have had to cinch it In at the waist which, sadly makes my hips look a lot bigger than they are – all that extra fabris….

https://s7.postimg.org/tg0j5bf6j/20171215_115202-1.jpg

Hi Marie, I am really pleased sometimes a little in disbelief when I step on the scales!! This is a great thread, it is motivating reading (Kazz’s yellow Fat)everyone’s posts and hearing how they manage this WOE.
You are so focused and determined and doing so well I am sure you are going to achieve your goal! GO GIRL!! and thankyou and Merry Christmas to all. I am away from Monday so won’t post until New year but am determined to follow BSD principles 😊

Kazz, and anyone else with a western boot/bag fetish, this link is for you. I know
everything is a bit pricey, but definitely one of a kind signature pieces, which is
usually the way I shop! Let me know what you think!

Allie

https://www.sundancecatalog.com/category/footwear-and-bags/boots.do

https://www.sundancecatalog.com/category/footwear-and-bags/bags.do

Hi all, still around the same weight and not likely to do better as we have our big meal out tomorrow then it is house sitters arriving and will be making them a meal then our journey begins with a meal on the ferry. So not holding out much hope for Tuesdays weigh in but I will do my best.

Perfect sense, Kazz! I was having a problem with I think it was called “browser slowing
down” yesterday, and it took me ages to get out of the program. I think the solution is
to not “reply” with another of my long winded continuations, but “compose” a new
email instead??? If you don’t receive it, I’ll call in “the bearded one” to analyze what
I’ve done wrong. And you know how much he enjoys that! The blundering continues…
Lots more later, I hope 🙂

Allie

Can’t say I have ever had this problem myself, as there are so many delicious foods available to us. I am not aware of any BSD ready meals, but could you find the inspiration and time at some point in your busy life, to prepare and freeze some so that you have something to pop in the microwave? I’m thinking maybe cottage pie topped with cauliflower mash, or bolognaise frozen in portions to microwave and pour on to cauli rice or courgette, which can be quickly prepared fresh. Alternatively, think in terms of grilling or pan frying fish or meat and microwaving some veggies, which makes for a quick meal. Also have a think about spice rubs for these and about how you can add flavour with herbs, none of which needs to be complicated and helps to keep things interesting.

Don’t know if any of that helps or not, but hope you will find the inspiration to find something new to eat and to keep going.

Hello Positive People, find this thread such a boost! Think it does us good to look for the positives, no matter how small.

Thanks V – my folks, although in their early eighties, are amazingly resilient and are powering ahead. The police have caught the perpetrators and recovered the safe unopened, but at present much of her jewellery is still missing, a lot of which was of huge sentimental value of course. However, they’re determined not to let this event loom large over them and are arranging a trip to India in the spring, as something good to look forward to!

My positives for today are:
1) Unlike most years, I am feeling really relaxed about the upcoming festive season. Usually by this stage I’m a ball of stress and anxiously going over lists – not sure what is different this year, but I’m grateful for the lack of stress!
2) Enjoying some family time this week, with a daughter visiting for a few days, a family dinner last night with our other daughter and family, grandchildren visiting overnight tonight and seeing one of our sons and his family tomorrow.
3) Realised yesterday, that my finger nails are stronger now than they have ever been. This realisation came about when one broke and thinking about it, this hasn’t happened for months. Unusual because historically my nails have been weak and brittle, breaking easily.

Look forward to reading other positive posts, so please keep going everyone.

Well I am now six weeks in. I have lost weight, which is brilliant, Im not diabetic I am doing this purely to lose weight. However, Im not going to lie, as somebody who despises cooking, and works full time, I am sooooo bored with the food. I dont have time to cook all the delicious looking stuff, and I am at the stage now where I would sooner eat nothing than eat the food I have been eating. Admittedly its the first diet where I havent been hungry which is great. I will have my Christmas dinner and get straight back on it until I reach my target weight, then I shall have to look at how to eat sensibly after that so as not to slip back into bad habits. Ideally, I would love blood sugar diet ready meals that I can bung in the microwave. Is there such a thing?

Hi Natalie, I’ve alsohad success with Duromine and lost a lot of weight with it. i think BSD is more effective long term though, it’s taught me a different way of eating so that even with the odd blow out I can easily lose any little gain. It’s given me tools that no other weight loss regime has ever supplied. After using Duromine in time all the weight came back. I’m not afraid of that now.

Having said that, if it’s helped to get to a place where you can move on with your plan then that’s a great thing. I hope you can combine the weight you’ve lost with BSD to make a fabulous future!

Marsie, I am so envious of you! Days at the WACA for the last Ashes test there! I’ve never been to the WACA but I looked over the fence when I was in Perth years ago. Such a beautiful ground. And it looks like it’s going to be a fabulous last day. Enjoy!

I’ve had three seriously strict days and have been rewarded with a moderate loss. I hope I can hang on to it but I have a huge party tomorrow, it’s a yearly event and commonly goes on for 3 days… I’m only attending for 24 hours and though I have a plan I know it’s going to be hard.

I have my celery sticks and BSD friendly olive dip and sparkling mineral water all organised. My downfall is likely to be the champagne flowing like water among the live music and many friends I only see once a year. Plus hot weather that makes champagne so attractive. Wish me luck!

Hi everyone, checking in for the first time in ages and enjoying seeing some old friends here. Love that these 4 week challenges are still going, so great that you all have a supportive community.

Instead of my usual absence due to failing at my diet, this time I’ve actually lost weight while off-line. My doctor put me on Duromine (appetite suppressant phentermine), I resisted a bit at first but she gave surgery as the other option… so drugs it is! This was after trying a dietitian and exercise physiologist and twenty years of trying other ways to lose weight. I’d had success here with BSD but couldn’t seem to stick to it. Anyway in three months of Duromine I lost 9.6 kg, more than 10% of my bodyweight. I was happy with the experience, it reduced my appetite and interest in junk food and gave me a bit of extra energy, but nothing weird or manic. Just made dieting easier. Dry mouth and some nausea. But that all finished five weeks ago and now I need to keep off what I lost and lose another 15 kg! I plan to start proper bsd800 after Christmas (and I think I’m getting an electric tracking doohickey for Christmas that will help) but can’t just eat junk until then. I was thinking of trying intermittent fasting with a couple of carefully chosen 600 calorie days. I’ve never tried that before and I’m worried that I’ll just be putting myself through the toughest part over and over without getting into a routine. Any thoughts?

Marie, many thanks for your post. Yes, it had occurred to me about the tests. Various things make me think that I had the condition quite a while before it was diagnosed. My diagnosis was September, and after about a month on the BDS my levels were already back to normal (they’ve reduced further since) so I went for the eye check thinking there was no way I would have damage given such a recent diagnosis (bearing in mind that I have regular blood tests, and have had for years, because of high lipids and borderline cholesterol). But then discovered that I do have retinopathy. Not only this, but when we first moved here, 7 years ago, I saw the dental hygienist who asked if I was diabetic because my gums were not good. I said as far as I knew, not, but she was insistent I was tested, so I went to GP and they did a blood test. I was told all was well (and in fact, the other day when I saw the GP, I asked about previous results, and although we didn’t go back years, she did show me that in 2015 everything showed normal). However, my gums always bled profusely every time I brushed, and my dentist has always been concerned and determined to keep a close eye on things….but since I started the BSD, the bleeding has stopped. Completely. I brush and brush, and no bleeding. This does make me wonder if the hygienist was right all along, and therefore I think that in particular, i should have the eye test (as this is something you can’t determine yourself). I don’t feel I need the nurse to stick pins in my feet to see if they are losing feeling – I walk around barefoot in the house (nurse was horrified when I told her I work with wood etc so the floor is covered in bits of wood, plastic shavings etc!). However, I am fully aware that my feet are fine – I do feel it when I step on something sharp! Similarly of course, I will go on having the blood tests (the GP herself said I should do that, even if they put resolved on the notes – as we all know, this isn’t a cure, it is only keeping it at bay by the correct WOE, so it does make sense to go on testing, in case something else is going on, beyond dietary control).
Best wishes
Liz

Hello you magnificent phoenixes! Just popping in to say how much I’ve enjoyed this recent exchange! I too love your recent boots, Esnecca. I am developing a foot fetish and, wait for it ….. handbags/purses! I am making a list of footwear that I would like to buy once at target. I shall not buy anything before then. I would also like an array of handbags, with dust covers (so we’re not talking cheap here!), that match said footwear! Question: what style of handbag would go best with cowboy boots? I’m thinking a tote style?

Allie – excuse me ladies if I may take Allie to one side… just to say my friend, I’ve not received a reply to my last email from early this week… that is absolutely fine, but I just wanted to mention it in case you were having email problems and had replied, and was wondering why I’d not responded! If that makes sense? 🙂

Toodle pip for now!

Kazeee xxxx

Thanks Marie, yes, I’m treating Xmas day and Boxing day just like any other weekend! It is good to have a doable mini goal and I’m sure you’ll get to 10 stone by end of Dec. Just over 2 weeks to go for us.

Arcticfox – I recognise also a cold office makes me miserable and I feel the urge to eat stodge to keep warm. I ignore it and just get on to maintenance (again) to moan about the chill which gets worse as the day goes on. I can’t type properly with cold hands! Also lack of sleep and feeling tired gives me the urge to stodge up, but again, I recognise what’s going on so have a hot black coffee, 6 brazil nuts or small piece of cheddar as the fat and protein will sort me out! Glad your horse is on the mend. Lucky you, having finished for Xmas! Well done on the loss.

Sueonit – excellent results! I’ve not really fasted much this week after all although am planning to do it today – last meal was 1pm yesterday, so hoping to go through until tomorrow lunchtime.

Good luck everyone else and see you all soon.

Kazzee xx

Good going, Kazz – that is real discipline. Have another strategy in place like that for next Wednesday and you’ll smash it!

Like you, my eye is now on the end of December. Having said I wasn’t going to set another weight loss target for this challenge, I’ve changed my mind. All day yesterday this idea of not giving an inch to my diabetes was rattling round in my head. I’m still losing steadily (1lb or 2lb a week) that might get harder the nearer I get to my goal weight, so why waste the two weeks still left in December. Looking beyond the 26th, (and past the 25th!) my new target is to lose another 3lbs to reach 10 stone by 31st December.

I’m away now until Monday so hope everyone has a good weekend – and happy birthday for Sunday, Verano.

Good morning. My positives yesterday were….

1. Travelled home safely and on time. Often a worry before hand.
2. I have found my new ‘natural’ weight having stayed the same for almost a month and most of that time being relaxed about calories.
3. Thai meal out and I have now learnt how to eat Thai food quite happily without rice. Tom Yum mushroom soup, followed by a chicken dish and pak choi …. easy!

Hope you are all well and managing to stay positive … despite life!

Hi Jan glad you enjoyed the added extras! I sometimes make the same recipe for a few people and just lay the salmon in a flatish baking tray, cover with the mixture and then tinfoil and bake in the oven for maybe 20 minutes or so until cooked through. I’m sure you could do the same with the fish uncovered.

Hi lovelies

Got through the 3 course Xmas lunch yesterday. Not sure whoever said it but it’s true, people don’t notice what you aren’t or are eating. I had pumpkin soup to start but only about 5 spoons as I didn’t like it. I’m just not a fan of pumpkin soup. Turkey dinner minus the potatoes and stuffing with mashed pumpkin and roast parsnips but didn’t eat either of those. I just ate the turkey and sprouts. I did eat 3 spoons of the small portion of gluten free xmas pud and brandy custard. No breakfast or dinner. Next Weds will be the next challenge. Team 3 course dinner and overnight stay in London with a free bar!

Crazy busy at the moment. KOKO! I am determined to get to 15.13 by the end of December! Ideally by Xmas day! Start the new year in the 15’s!

Good luck everyone.
Kazzee xx

No pre-senile dementia, Theo. Just my lack of clarity in describing block heel black
croc SHOES. The “shoe” portion of Essie’s boots is what I was remembering…. Con-
sidering we are close in age, I’m sure you were wearing the mini skirts and swingy
little A-line dresses, and the optical illusion black and white geometric prints, too!
I even remember using fake eyelashes and drawing exaggerated lower lashes on,
Twiggy style. Lots of kohl pencil used. We invented the “smokey cat eyes” !
I hope the boys were happy to see you now that you’re home for a bit. I’m sure
you’re emotionally exhausted, so hope that you can get some physical rest at
least. We missed you, but of course understand.

Hugs,

Allie

I insist that you post the sequined selfies this weekend. Insist! I’m dying to get a glimpse of the famous vintage wardrobe that has so enchanted your granddaughter and her friends. This thread isn’t just for the new stuff we got after we lost weight. It’s also for the old stuff we kept for all those years when we had no chance in hell of fitting into them and now can rock them harder than when we were kids.

I’ve managed to lose half of the 1.8kg that I put on last week in just 2 days. Most of that has been water weight as I have been having to run to the toilet almost hourly in spite of being very remiss on my fluid intake. I found I wasn’t able to fast on Tuesday as planned. I gave it a good try, but just got too hungry in the afternoon, so ended up having a late lunch and then dinner later. My office was very cold, and I was glued to my desk for most of the day, so I think that really didn’t help. I haven’t been getting much sleep over the past couple of weeks, and I think that might be driving hunger as well. I’m off work now until after Christmas, so I’m looking forward to being able to look after myself a bit better. My horse appears to be on the mend and if he can stay that way after coming off his last dose of antibiotics tomorrow, then I can cut back on the number of visits and hours spent with him daily to something a little more reasonable. I need to get back to the gym or my kinesiologist is going to fire me!
Mixnmatch – I hope you are not too sore, but some ice for 10min several times a day for the next couple of days might help if you are and you are not doing that already. Not just for the ankle and knee, but it works well if you overdo things at the gym and have sore muscles too.

Emu and Eliza52
Emu – Well, that’s really heartening to hear – it always lifts the spirit when you hear positive news like that. You and your OH must be so cheered by that meeting and it sounds like you have found a good GP.

I actually registered for online access to my medical records so that I could see the result of my Hba1c blood test before my appointment with the practice nurse. It was on-line the day after the blood test and meant that I could prepare questions before my appointment. If you’re in the UK (with a name like Emu I guess you might not be!), you have the right to access your records on-line; you may need to go into the GP practice to complete a form but it’s straightforward. It proved really useful for me as I couldn’t get an appointment to see the practice nurse for a while afterwards. My only caveat is that there were 1 or 2 things in my blood results that were ‘red-lined’ that I wasn’t aware of – so not sure if that would suit your OH right now. From my pov it’s a positive because I can ask questions about those, too. I’ll look forward to hearing how it all goes.

Liz – Thinking about your post on Positive Thoughts post (again brilliant outcome)
Don’t know if you’ll see this but I also visit the diabetes.co.uk forums (or to give it it’s technical term the red website rather than the blue website). There have been a few questions from people wanting to come off the diabetes register or who’ve had ‘diabetes resolved’ placed on their records. A message that comes across quite strongly from some forumites is to make sure if that happens that you still have access to the annual health checks (feet, eyes, etc) at least for a while, as Emu’s OH would have, or you’re OK with not having that. Some people have found it unsettling to have monitoring checks just stopped. This might be blindingly obvious to you – in which case, apols – but it had never occurred to me.

Jim – Gosh, those Hba1c results are so good – over 3 stone lost and another reversal – congratulations!!! I’m glad to hear your wife is doing well – best wishes. Marie x

Don’t remember any Croc boots (but that could be dementia setting in😉), but plenty of block heels.

Of course, I was a child bride, so cut off in my fashionable prime😉 But will definitely try to get some selfies this weekend – home alone whilst o/h abroad, so may distract me from the family worries xxxx

Theo! I’m so glad to see your words and know you’re home and can relax a little after the rough times you’ve been through with your family. Did your Carnaby St. dream involve any block heel croc boots? Because I didn’t even know that was a dream of mine until Allie brought them up but it is now. 😆

Hey – Allie. Carnaby St??? I was there. Lived the dream. You name it, I did it 😀
Now, 40, maybe 50 years on, am living it again 😃 though I missed you, Essie, over the past couple of days.

Back home now, so hoping to get a couple of selfies over the next few days (crises permitting), though none as exciting or outlandish as Essie’s (loving the boots). Love to you all xxxxx

PS Ahem…..Essie, I’m your mum’s generation and also have some great sequin stuff – maybe I’ll master the art of the selfie and post a piccie or two this weekend. Could do with some light relief 😉

I was amazed at the speed of delivery too, Allie. I didn’t pay for expedited or anything! I just picked the default free shipping and they got here today. I imagine this time of year they have the process down to a science.

Black crocodile, oh wow, those must have been gorgeous. I don’t suppose there’s a chance you kept any of those great pieces, is there? Maybe in a secret “someday these might fit again” box in the attic? I dove into my mom’s fabulous 60s-80s stuff recently and scored an amazing couture silk Pucci shirt and maxi skirt, a bolero jacket with black sequins and fur trim cuffs, a pile of Hermes scarves and a Sorelle Fontana black velvet floor-length cape lined in quilted red silk. We had such a great time going through everything and while there were plenty of things that didnt fit because my mother was a little taller than I so hem length was a constant issue, it really was a joy reviving these classics. Quality and verve are never out of fashion.

I would most certainly call it a boot fetish, and you’re right, the boot tree has become an urgent need more than a fancy at this point. 😀

P.S. – The pants are actually silk and to tell the truth, they’re my long johns. Working on adding layers so I can survive these cold temps. 😉 🙂

I should have updated the group on my own case ages ago. In 2016 I finally went to a trichologist who, to my shock, diagnosed age related hair loss/thinning ( I am 63).. I say shock because it runs in families and it is not in mine, plus all my life I have been like Crystal Tips (cartoon character who had huge hair). I was in denial for weeks and to some extent still find it strange that it coincided with the diet. Anyway, I bit the bullet and started using minoxidil daily and my hair has somewhat recovered – enough to stop me being self conscious and to others it just looks normal. It has been a horrible journey and is not the answer I wish I could have come back to the group with, but there we are – worse things happen at sea and at least there was a solution ( literally!).
Jillf

Just tell me one thing, Esnecca..How did you get this pair from website to your feet
in 2 days!?. I like the pants too, if they’re velvet! I thought you’d been a little quiet in
the past 24 hrs….Now I know what you’ve been doing 🙂 🙂 🙂 Brava, go for it all! I
actually remember the block heel and mod style, though at the time it was called
the Carnaby St -London look. Think it was ’67 or ’68. I had a pair in black crocodile!
I think you had better get that boot tree we discussed ASAP. Would you call this
a boot fetish? 🙂 🙂 🙂

Here is a link to the sbs insight show. If the link doesn’t work, I googled how to beat your type 2 diabetes and clicked on the video tab. The sbs show came up as a youtube option. I can’t get it on the sbs catch up.

https://youtu.be/44fgRi4SfnY

Thank you for the boot cheerleading, Sue. It worked like a charm. 😀

https://s8.postimg.org/h8mqmrst1/modboots.jpg

jimnz, would you be so kind as to post the link to the M Mosely interview on SBS TV….have been searching for it and would like to watch it again, but cannot seem to find it….does not come up in the Google searches I have done.

Thanks so much in advance.
LTC

We do all carry and lose weight differently – I’m in the middle of Week 5 (first round) and my feet are now almost skeletal, I seem to have knee bones, but my tummy and hips are still hanging in there.

Sunshine-girl – I think the only answer for under my eyes would be injectable spakfilla 😂. I’m just going to embrace the bags.

Surreymaggie and Veerle,

ME TOO. 4 days at 72.2, one at 71.9 and now 2 days at 72.1. No change to eating or exercise patterns, Extremely boring! My legs and arms are visibly thinner than 7 days ago and clothes looser all over. No doubt our bodies are just doing whatever they need to do make the next leap downwards. I think I’ll try on some of my ‘should fit soon’ clothes.

Hi sunshine-girl. Thank you. Couldn’t agree more. Where I was expecting OH to suggest we revert to ‘normal’ he’s quite the opposite and keen to continue to develop it as a WOE. Same for me. I saw some photos today and realised I’ve been struggling to shift my spare tyre for 9 years. Two months on this diet has shifted 2 stone (each) and lowered blood pressure. The thought of going back is incentive enough to stick with it.

Hi Jim, thanks for your comments. I’ve really had to pick up the cooking thing. I never bothered as a kid and since getting married work has rather got in the way. Its been easier to add an extra round of sandwiches/ladle of pasta and skip the veggies. Lesson learnt, and digested!

We are making this a joint lifestyle change, and feeling better. Yippee! Fingers crossed for the bloods – we’ll carry on regardless, as it’s definitely working 🙂

Oh one more,

I woke up this morning to a message in my garmin connect that read, ‘Do you want to see what a healthy sleeping looks like?’. Of course I clicked yes …

Next screen displayed MY 7 day sleep charts with the message ‘This! You are a champion sleeper’. This is such a turn around for me, so important, I actually teared up.

Here are mine for today –

I woke up this morning –

1. With that happy, warm feeling I get when I have spent time with good friends

2. With that slightly surprised, powerful, just a little impressed with myself feeling when I have stuck to my guns and resolve

3 RAIN!!!

Do you count carbs at all or just calories? When I first started measuring and counting everything I was shocked to find out how many vegetables are high in carbs. Your carb intake may be higher than you realize even without eating any of the superbads like wheat, rice and sugar. Dairy milk, for example, is high in sugar. If you drink it at all (and I would investigate substitutes like hemp, soy and almond milk, if I were you), before bed is probably the worst time since you won’t cushion the sugar blow with slower to digest foods as you would during a full meal. Count your carbs. I bet you’ll find a few nasties there that might be at least part of the reason you felt impelled to eat all that sugary chocolate.

You’re doing great, though, as your excellent weight loss proves. With a few tweaks to be sure you know where exactly you stand, I think you are very well positioned to attain your goals. 🙂

Morning all,

Just to report in, yesterday evening Christmas drinks gathering with girlfriends went brilliantly. Not drinking the beautiful champagnes was just not an issue for anyone and while I had a few pangs when an exceptional Tasmanian sparkling white was opened, I thought if swatting gnats, and was fine. Definitely enjoyed some extra cheese but otherwise I happily topped up glasses, passed around crackers etc. I feel confident my resolve will hold over the weekend dive trip coming up.

In other news, after one glorious day in the 71 kilos (71.9 😂) my weight has bounced up to 72.1 the last two days. So, excluding the 71.9 day, that’s a week at 72.2 or 72.1. So, good to know I am totally normal!

Also no cereal wheat sugar or similar. Just meat and veg and a small bit of cheese.

Thank you guys!!

My daily calories are 800 with no more than 850 or less than 750. If I’m low I have a glass of milk before bed.

I’ve been eating lots of veg and I’m really enjoying it. Grilled peppers with a sprinkle of feta is sooo good! I definitely need to drink more though, so thank you!

Before now I was certainly addicted to carbs. I have quite a stressful life at the moment so it’s easy to emotionally eat. I also managed a 20 min and 30 minute run on Monday and Tuesday. Rest day yesterday.

Thank you all for the encouragement. It definitely helps! I hope you guys are all doing well. I certainly feel healthier, less sluggish and in control of myself which is such a good feeling.

What are your daily carb counts? Are you still eating anything in the wheat, grain, cereals, rice, root veg and sugar categories? A sugar binge so early in the game is likely driven by carb addiction. A lot of people experience intense cravings for junk when they first cut them out of their diet. They get headaches, fatigue, aches and pains. That’s known as the carb flu. There is only one remedy for it and that’s to grit your teeth and tough it out. It doesn’t last long. You have to detox from carbs or you’ll just keep eating them instead of actually doing the BSD.

I wouldn’t worry about plateaus. You have far more pressing issues to address right now. Losses come and go at different rates. You roll with the punches and keep focused on your goals.

As far as your hunger is concerned, turn to fat and fiber. Some foods like flax seeds, chia seeds and avocado have lots of fiber and healthy Omega-3 fats. Add the seeds to salads and yogurt for an easy boost. Broccoli, spinach, rapini and leafy cooking greens like collards and mustard greens are high in fiber. Steam them and sautee quickly with a tsp of high quality olive oil and a grating of parmesan for a very filling dish. You can pile those types of veggies high on the plate to get you over the transition from your old ways to the BSD way of eating.

Good luck!

Thank you Allie for your endorsement of my eating plan! I think it’s fairly balanced, but it’s always good to get someone else’s feedback! We have cheddar in the fridge (I do courgettes and tomatoes – slices layered in a dish, seasoned with a teaspoon of pesto (slice the veg in a processor and then mix thoroughly with the pesto before layering) topped by a thin sprinkling of cheddar and a (VERY) few panko crumbs. Do this about once a fortnight. Today, having looked at an almost bare fridge (shop due tomorrow) we also did stuffed egg to have with salad – mixed hardboiled yolk with a little mayo (less than a tsp) and fat free greek yogurt, a thin fine grating of cheddar and a dash of Lea and Perrins and piled back into halved whites (I love these, and they taste quite indulgent!). I love blue cheese, and Brie (and others too) but I daren’t buy it as I would eat the lot in one! However, have promised myself a TINY portion of blue for Christmas, which I am going to eat in a stick of celery (rather than water biscuits!). In any case, cooked cheese in any quantity sets off my gall bladder, so I’m not tempted to overdo that, or I end up in pain for days.

I think I might follow your lead and try and add the almonds – I do have a few flaked ones with my berries and yogurt for pudding, but I’m wary of overdoing them, again because of the gall bladder. I could have it out, but it seems to me that I’m better off keeping it – there can be side effects after removal, and knowing that if I start to overindulge on fats I will end up in pain, seems an easy way of keeping some control over that. I know full fat is encouraged, but I’m not sure OVERdoing fats is good either. I might try the 1/4 avocado too – I think my system will be fine with that – though maybe not every day to begin with.

So looking forward to seeing my daughter next week. We visited her in New York in June (middle of a heatwave so not the best time to have chosen!) and I was still my 14 stone self then. We’re picking her up from the airport, so not sure she’ll notice immediately with me sitting in the car bundled up in a warm coat, but hopefully she will notice at some point! I’ve gone down almost three dress sizes, so even my somewhat unobservant daughter should notice that!

I am so impressed with your weight loss – and maintenance! Every time I’ve dieted previously, it’s gone back on again, but firstly, given the diabetes diagnosis I know that I can’t afford to go back to old ways (and doing without pasta and bread – cheese even – is so much better than living without my sight or my feet, and that for me is the most powerful driver) and then, this WOE is so easy to do. I don’t feel deprived or hungry. Discovered so many new dishes that I really enjoy, and which are healthy. I don’t think my diet was too bad before (ate plenty of fruit and veg) but of course it did include carbs. Luckily I didn’t really drink anyway – never have – so I didn’t have to worry about that – I only ever drank tap water in restaurants (ok, so the occasional cocktail to start – but only two or three times a year) and I’ve never been a cake or biscuit fan (except the water biscuits and cheese – I could go through half a packet of those at a time with a slab of cheese!). And working from home makes lunches easy. Plus, I live with my sister, and she has adapted to my way of eating even though she’s not diabetic (losing a stone in the process) so I don’t have anyone else clamouring for “proper” food. We binned or took to the food bank all the biscuits, pasta, rice etc, so no temptations around. So I am very aware that perhaps it’s been an easier path for me to take that it is for some others who don’t have such good support around.

Will post daughter’s reaction!

Best wishes
Liz

emu
Heaps of encouragement to you both. I started on this new way of living on March 16 2016 and am enjoying the change. I have never been prescribed metformin and neither have I ever been given insulin.
So far, I have lost 20 kg and that has been almost entirely diet. Exercise has been spasmodic – an occasional 30 minute brisk walk.
I love my new way of cooking vegetables. One evening, I do a big stir fry in olive oil in a wok. Cauliflower, broccoli, carrots and parsnips are first par boiled for a few minutes in water. Meanwhile, onion, capsicums (sometimes all four colours), mushroom, zucchini, are set in the wok with the oil and a touch of salt and black pepper. When the other vegetables are slightly tender, the water is drained off and they are added to the wok. I usually prepare enough for that evening and then place the remainder in take-away containers in the fridge for the next two or three nights. The next night, that evening’s veges are re-heated in the microwave on “Sensor reheat”. Delicious.

Two nights ago, I served a small piece of salmon to my wife, and I had some Vietnamese Basa fish from the local supermarket. Gently fried in olive oil, they are both delicious.
Breakfast for me is usually rolled oat porridge. However, sometimes, I grill a portabello mushroom and cook a scrambled egg and drop that on top. When my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, I took over the cooking of all meals. Fortunately her treatment was successful and, thanks to our government funding of a year’s Herceptin, the outlook is good.

Two days ago, I went to see our diabetes nurse at the medical centre. Last year, I had given her two video references to view. One was Dr Michael Mosely’s interview on SBS TV in Australia; the second was a TED X talk from Purdue University by Dr Sarah Hallberg on youtube. Her talk was entitled “Reversing Type 2 Diabetes starts by ignoring the guidelines” Both videos are well worth studying.
The diabetes nurse told me that she is a real fan of Michael Mosley. BTW my last few HBA1C readings have been consistently around 4.0 or 4.1 Blood pressure was 120 / 60. She said that, provided I retain my present dietary discipline, I have successfully reversed diabetes.

Bread is now down to one slice per day with the early morning cup of tea. Potatoes – never. Rice and Pasta likewise. Tea or coffee are both taken black without sugar.

This 77 year old has never felt better.
Good luck to you both – emu and OH!
Jim

Well Amy eating 350 cals of chocolate is easily done – what 2 or 3 chocolates – put it behind you and get on with this way of eating. You are doing so well so dont let that slip up discourage you. As for plateau, normally about week 3 but will happen several times, say week 3 week 7 week 10, whenever your body needs to adjust to its new weight and food regime. Constipation wont help either and may seem like you are not losing much, you are just keeping it inside. It will pass, drink lots of water and maybe sprinkle some chia seeds on a morning yoghurt. I still swear by Andrews Liver Salts for really bad times. Yes you can still buy them.

Hi there, just two observations. If your hubbys HbA1c comes back still at 6 then this diet is still for him. If it comes back lower and the diagnosis is overturned then this diet is still for him. This has been a warning and eating this way should become a way of life even if you allow an occasional cheat. Good luck for the blood test.

Eliza52, thanks for including the details of your nutrition plan. It’s actually the closest
to mine that I’ve seen yet, which is to say that it looks extremely healthy to me 🙂 🙂 🙂
I also eat wild fish 2-3 x per week, for the heart benefits of the omega 3 fatty acids,
which aren’t the same fats that are in animal based protein. Perhaps that is why you
don’t have gallbladder pain associated with eating it? I eat 1/4 avocado @ 5 x per
week, and about 8 almonds per day, both for the plant based healthy fats. The rest
of my proteins consist of free range chicken breast (and eggs), fat free organic
greek yogurt (which isn’t recommended here, I know, but I don’t care for the taste
of the full fat version) pastured steak 1 x month and pork tenderloin 1 x month
because o/h needs the variety. In cooking, I only use xv olive oil or avocado oil
when I need to sear something at high temp (much higher smoke point!) I never
eat sausage, bacon, etc. For the veg, lots of cruciferous vegetables and spinach.
Now that I’m in maintenance, I allow roasted root veg., but in small quantities, i.e.,
1/2 a 6″ carrot, or 1/2 a small beet, or 1/4 c. of squash. This suits our lifestyle,
as o/h has very advanced coronary artery disease. We haven’t eaten any cheese
since 6/2016 because neither of us have any portion control with the stuff or bread
either, for the same reason! All the “white stuff” went in the bin in 2016. You’ve
done extremely well thus far, so I hope taking a multivitamin helps you. If I’m
remembering correctly, you’d like to lose another stone? I sincerely hope that
you will share your daughter’s reaction when she arrives! My “version” of the
BSD has allowed me to lose 10+ stone and successfully maintain that loss for
7 months and counting. A lot of us maintainers increased our calories as suggested
in the previous post and continued to lose a bit more until reaching our TDEE. There
are a number of members of the community who are able to eat considerably more!
I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts, so I hope you remain with us.
This is a beautifully flexible plan, and well suited to special health needs.
Best wishes,
Allie

1. I am so enjoying the extra energy I have. –

2. I had hoped that having lost 16k so far I would be ready to throw away my ‘fat’ clothes. I am not, but maybe thats a good thing, I have a lot of redecorating to do, so I can do that and hopefully by then I will be down another dress size.

3. Having enough socks so that matching them up is a chore. – This may sound like a strange one, but I sometimes have youth groups from disadvantaged backgrounds staying in my holiday let taking part in activity holidays. I always make sure the dehumidifier is available in the drying room for these groups because often they only have one pair of shoes or two pairs of socks to their name.

Thank you to everyone for your repsonses. Allie, I agree about supplements. My usual attitude is that if you need supplements there’s something wrong with your diet! However, I decided that given the low overall consumption (with 800 cals you’re not eating large quantites of ANYthing, even some of the goodies) I would take a multivitamin “just in case” I was missing out on enough of something. Thank you too for the link on vitamins. I think on the whole my diet is fairly balanced. I have an egg most days for breakfast (along with either mushrooms and aubergine, or mushrooms and tomatoes, or celeriac rosti and tomatoes), oily fish a couple of times a week, other fish too (cod for example). I eat other meats – steak about once a fortnight, chicken, pork, turkey, lamb, ham – plus some pulses, or soy proteins (veggie sausages). Veg too, I eat a large bag of spinach at least in a week, cabbage, celeriac, aubergine, peppers, small amounts of carrot (half in a stir fry or coleslaw), mushrooms, red onions, courgettes, tomatoes, spring onions. Occasionally I have a little avocado…but I have to be careful as i have a dodgy gall bladder and some high fat things set it off (oddly, salmon doesn’t!) I have red berries (strawberries or raspberries, sometimes blueberries) most evenings and a small (kids) apple in a salad or a coleslaw. I have pumpkin seeds in salads, and a few nuts here and there (again, not too many or it sets off the gall bladder). I can’t eat flax unfortunately (or only about a teaspoonful, as that seems to be the worst for the gallbladder oddly). I don’t count anything (I did for the first two or three weeks, but now I think I have a feel for it – at the end of the day, we tend to repeat the same things on a rotational basis, so working it out all the time seems pointless (for me anyway – I know that for others it’s essential to do it, which is fine. I think we all find our own ways of doing things). I’m sure I don’t go much below 800 but not much over either – and the weight continues to come off, though rather slower than it did in the beginning obviously. And my blood results are really good, so I figure on the whole I must to doing the right thing. I don’t feel hungry (or very rarely) feel healthy, don’t sleep as well as I should (but that’s the cat’s fault!) but manage to work full time (run our own business from home). I think I will maybe try and put up the calories a little at a time (I think your idea Mixnmatch of 50 cals a day seems like a good start) and I am reasonably confident my hair WILL grow back!

Thanks Marie123.

We braved the GP yesterday (I say ‘we’ as OH is hard of hearing and I attend appointments to make sure nothing is missed/misunderstood). Relieved to say when OH said “i’ve followed the reverse your diabetes book, i want a new hba1c” the GPs face broke into smile and he’s pleasantly surprised at what has been achieved so far. New blood test booked for next Wednesday … who knows when results will be available! But will report back when we know more. We’re hoping for something around the 39 he got from the home test kit, apparently ‘normal’ is 33-34 – so that’s the next target!

Also good news, the GP said he would only make a formal diagnosis if the second test comes back at 48+ … so fingers crossed. That did come with the caveat that if he’s reversed the problem he should return for annual tests to make sure nothing starts to creep up again and to be aware of the symptoms just in case.

All of which means OH is feeling quite perky. We were planning an out of scope meal on Monday (a birthday celebration) but this has been postponed until Wednesday (after hba1c) so there’s no question of interference. (We know hba1c is ‘long term’ but who’d risk it?)

Emu x

I need to confess. I’m only on day 5 and this morning I ate 350cals of chocolate. I feel so guilty but hoping my confession on here will help get me back on track!
Otherwise, I’ve lost 3.4kg in the 5 days and I’ve been struggling to cope with the lack of food. Green tea has been useful for hunger pangs! I also noticed I’m constipated which I hate!

Im worries about this plateau. When does it happen? I need to not let it demotivate me!

Hello Eliza52 – your experience is sounding similar to mine. After around 12 weeks of c850 cals and over 2 1/2 st lost I shed like crazy for about 2 months. Ironically the start of this episode coincided with me increasing my intake to around 1300 – 1400 cals (I’m a little taller than you at 5ft 7). I’m no authority but I suspect that the body’s messaging to follicles has quite a long lead time! Another 3 months on and my hair is still there, I’m down another 2st but can’t really tell whether regrowth has started. I think that my advice is to nudge up the calories a little (800 really isn’t very much), be patient and don’t worry too much about it unless it keeps falling out beyond say 2-3 months or seems to accelerate. Meantime expand your hat collection for the chilly weather – I have one bought in May just before my my shedding spell that is now too big; I’m a bit miffed!

Smaus