S-g happy hols. Think you must have left France now so just to wish a great time here in the UK, Happy Christmas and I hope 2018 brings with it all you wish for. Thank you for being ‘by my side’ for all this time, your moral support had been invaluable

Safe trip Busybee and enjoy!

If I may join in, I was ‘thin’ last Christmas although still a couple of pounds above my target as many of you know, having finished my 8 weeks on 28th November 2016. I controlled my eating last December, wary of waking the carb monster again, but I had ‘a few’ roast potatoes, ‘a bit’ of stuffing, baked my first ever Christmas cake, and ate some (in fact finished it off finally in March, after reaching my target at the beginning of February), made rum butter (a Cumbrian thing, sugar, butter and rum, eaten on toast, crackers, mince pies or with the Christmas pud) chose cream instead of sugary custard, and generally had the best Christmas I remember, never eating until I was stuffed or felt unwell, both elements I had previously suffered from. In terms of my overall WOE trajectory this was an important test that I wouldn’t just fall apart and go back to how it was before, it worked! This year so far I am indulging a little more in the run up, and have experienced a few cravings, but I have the tools to make them go away again. Even if I let go totally, and eat unwisely I know now that turning it round is never more than a strict 8 weeks away (in fact 4 also seems to slay the monster). This is from the perspective of a maintainer of course. It does take ‘practice’ at the flexible variants of the WOL to find one you can work with, but I am happy with mine.

Wow! Well done you. I would say don’t do it. My husbands uncle was diagnosed with T2 about 5 years ago, controlled it with diet and lost loads of weight. Then the diabetes nurse told him he didn’t need to be so strict and he started on the ‘treats’ and now has a massive belly again and all his old problems. I just think it can be a bit difficult to recapture the mindset and your body will be fighting the carb addiction again too. So I am going eat more but keep it as low carb as I usually do.

Hey Natalie,

Responding to you ‘how to break the cycle’. I think Lucia’s Lego analogy is great, and I cheat the 800 calorie thing all the time but I don’t cheat the carbs. So my treats are cream and 90% chocolate (sometimes together, with flaked chocolate and almonds) or roasted almonds or butter on cauliflower or roast beef with cream cheese and horseradish or melted cheese on a plate straight from the microwave (dirty food!)

Before August I definitely had a carb problem, an addiction, and now I do not yearn for any of it (and lost 16kg on the way). But I do also agree with Esnecca that my problem was only going to go away if I stopped bread and cake and all that forever. I mourned onions for quite a long time, though I don’t ban them entirely anymore. It is sad. But being size 10 isn’t sad, and neither is not falling asleep after meals. Or not having to worry about diabetes and it’s horrid friends. You are right about it all being in the head, a lot of it, but insulin resistance is also in the body, which is why a firm word with the head can help!

I wonder if mourning the cake (insert food item here), accepting its in the past, (though it was fun at the time) is the best way to let it go? Like a bad-for-you boyfriend? Thinking aloud here!

Lucia – I love your posts, they are invariably uplifting and lyrical. Hope it’s ok to jump on this one xx

I agree with Ensecca. To me, the idea that you are “treating” yourself with something sweet or alcoholic, or generally carb-infused is non-sensical. Sure, I don’t think anyone should beat themselves up over what they do – big guilt trips aren’t going to resolve anything – but effectively, you’re not treating yourself, you’re damaging yourself! Maybe if you have no issues connected with Type 2, and are following the diet purely to reduce weight with no other reference than the weight loss for its own sake, I guess it doesn’t much matter (or you can “pretend” it doesn’t matter.

I was diagnosed in September with Type 2. My fasting glucose was 8.6 and Hb1ac 64 – not exceedingly high compared with many on initial diagnosis. Because I had high cholesterol and triglycerides, I was tested regularly, so it’s not that the disease had gone on for years undiagnosed, and as I started the BSD immediately, I thought when I went for the retinopathy examination, there was no way I would already have damage to my eyes. But I was wrong. I already do have mild retinopathy. Still, I said to the guy who tested me, my glucose levels are now normal (fasting glucose 4.1 and Hb1ac 32) so I don’t really need to bother any more do I? Well, he said, I know what you say, and that you are eating low carb etc, but you might not always do that, and you might slip up sometimes – and if you do, your glucose levels spike (and spikes in the glucose levels as I’m sure we all know, come when you do eat the odd biscuit, the slice of Christmas cake, the roast potatoes…) it is these spikes that cause the damage, so yes, you should go on testing.

Given that, I can no more think of “cheating” at Christmas than I would poke myself in the eye with a needle – and in effect the risks are not dissimilar. So our Christmas is on plan. Will we eat a bit more than normal? Yes. Will we eat things we shouldn’t/wouldn’t normally because they’re high/bad carb? NO! A starter of parma ham, mozzarella, strawberries on a bed of rocket with balsamic dressing (one of our favourites before the diet, and perfectly on plan), roast chicken, with 90% meat mini sausages, braised red cabbage, roast celeriac, green veg (not yet decided which). Dessert, berries (raspberries/strawberries/bluberries, with full fat yogurt and a few flaked almonds or a grating of dark chocolate. Now, what’s not to enjoy in all of that? No damage, and no guilt. It’s a fry up for brunch on Boxing day (eggs, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, celeriac rosti, and then a steak with celery and pepper caponata for supper (someone posted the recipe for this on this website – it’s delcious!). And some blue cheese in celery “boats” afterwards. OH, and Jamie Oliver’s fantastic asian fishcakes (salmon with lemon grass, fresh ginger and coriander – the recipe is online) for Christmas eve (we’ve fallen in love with these, they’re so delicious!).

Hope everyone has an enjoyable (and healthy!) time!
Liz

Thanks Allie! A very Merry Christmas to you too!
I hope your culinary adventures turn out really yummy holiday fare and it is a warm and happy time for you. Yes, I am going skiing in Montana with all the children and grandchildren — should be fun and exhausting in equal parts! I got some new skis and I’m looking forward to trying them out — we don’t have much snow here in California yet so I haven’t had a chance to test them.
Happy New Year and best wishes for a wonderful year in 2018!🍾

Safe trip, Busybee! Enjoy every moment with your family 🙂 🙂 🙂 I didn’t hear of
any challenging winter weather on tap for the next few days, so you should be safe
with that. See you in 2018, and Merry Christmas!

Allie

Hello to all you BSD Elves.

Over this week I have gained two pounds but have maintained my three stone off. We have had visitors, a party and a couple of lunches which included lots of booze but ate low carb food. I hope to continue this way of coping over the festive period.

This is my last post on this challenge as tonight we go to Manchester Airport ready to fly out to NJ tomorrow morning to see our son, ( whose birthday is on Christmas Day), his lovely American wife and our darling grandchildren. Skype is fine but does not give you cuddles!

Thanks to you all for your support, advice and fun over the past months and I hope you all have a lovely low carb Christmas and a very happy new year. I will ‘see’ you in 2018.

KOKOODAAT
X B

Hi Julia (Californiagirl). Just want to wish you a joyous holiday! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I hope that your son will be able to spend part of it with you! As ever, I’ll
be watching for your posts in the New Year. Is skiing in your future over
Christmas? I’d love to be able to sneak in a quick trip to Vermont, but alas, I’ve
left it all to the last moment. Going to try one of Luvtcook’s recipes here at home…
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Allie

Allie is tall, Lilyrose, so her starting BMI was lower than ours but she lost just short of 150 lbs on the BSD. Whether you need some recipe ideas or an empathetic ear, you’ve got a support network of people who have been where you are and are more than happy to help you achieve your goals.

The great thing about the BSD is that it works so many different ways — stick with it long enough, (strictly or somewhat loosely) (with or without cake) and it can transform our lives.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! Have a wonderful and successful BSD new year in 2018, however you conceive that to be.

Hi Heather/Lilyrose! I’m elated to see your post today, and hear that you and your
husband are embarking on this way of life. I find that very exciting! All the positive
support and advice that you might need are available to you in our community here.
I’m one of those who had a great deal of weight to lose also, with a starting BMI of
44. Today, 17 months later, it is 21.46. All things are possible with the BSD, and
it is wonderful that your husband will be supporting you on this journey. I lost 147lbs.
and hubby lost 45lbs.
I’m really looking forward to reading your posts and following your progress. 2018
will be a transformative and life changing year for you. Welcome!

Allie

Interesting choice of words, Dumpy, “foisting our opinions on someone else”. And
here I thought we were exchanging experiences! Perhaps this isn’t the right thread
for it. Best of luck to you all, may your holidays be filled with love and support from
people that care for you and are invested in your health and welfare.

Allie

Thank you so much for the support Esnecca and Sunny B

Lilyrose, when I started the BSD in August of last year I weighed over 300lb and at 5’2″, had a BMI of at least 55. Today I weigh 117lb and have a BMI of 21. Bariatric surgery was also recommended to me by doctors who simply did not believe it was possible for me to lose the weight any other way, but I love to eat, I love to cook and I refused categorically to slice and dice my digestive system into some revenant freak that can no longer function even remotely the way it’s supposed to. And that’s the best case scenario. Let’s not even get into the complications which are almost certain to occur and are uniformly horrific.

I’m so happy for you that you picked up Dr. Mosley’s book and that it clicked for you the way it did for me. I too started out cutting all white carbs — flour, rice, grains, cereal, sugar, potatoes, other root vegetables — then added more high carb foods to the no-fly list (pulses, most onions, most legumes). I lost a few pounds, but it wasn’t until I started the BSD and began to measure, weigh and count calories and carbs that the weight began to melt off of me. My body’s response made it crystal clear that the BSD was the key to lockbox of weight loss and good health for me.

You can 100% do this. Use this moment of clarity to propel you forward. Don’t look back. No melancholy musings about things you can’t eat anymore. They were just dragging you down into the abyss. This is your liberation day and you will never for one second regret having committed fully to the BSD.

Good luck!

Don’t do it. You’re only halfway through the program and even if you don’t put on too much weight, the biology of sugar metabolism makes popping on and off the wagon extremely difficult because eating those carbs again will reset you back to how you were that first week: hungry and desperately craving more carbs. It won’t bring you any pleasure, especially since you’ve responded so well the BSD already and are currently detoxed from the carbs. It’s a trap lying in wait for you, only you know it’s there and so can avoid it.

If you think you’ll be bummed that you can’t eat something specific, make something of your own to take its place. Yogurt and blueberries for dessert, say, or if you want to get a little fancier, chia pudding made with coconut milk and unsweetened coconut flakes. Check Luvtcook’s recipes in the recipe section for some cool low-carb bread options.

Fair warning: I am immoderate on this topic. I was hyperobese, sick and constantly exhausted from taking 10 steps from the couch to the bathroom. I lost 200 pounds over the past year and a half and it has been the greatest accomplishment of my life. The BSD saved not just my health, but has given me a quality of life that I did not think possible. Others weren’t in so extreme a situation and milder approaches worked for them. I went hardcore and have zero regrets. This is for life, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Not one step backwards.

Big hug to you Lilyrose – well done on taking the decision to change you life for the better, by revolutionising your way of eating, rather than invasive surgery. You’re in the right place here for support and encouragement and I can recommend joining the four week challenges, which makes an eight week stint feel much more manageable.

It’s a good move to start preparing now, by clearing the cupboards of carbs and starting to limit your carb intake too. That’s easy enough to do, by cutting out the obvious carbs, like bread, cakes, biscuits, rice, pasta, potatoes etc. Now is a good time to start taking a look at hydration too and start to ramp that up as well. Making this change should be easier with the two of you on the same regime, as it will mean you won’t need to keep any non-BSD foods around at all, considerably limiting temptation.

Don’t think in terms of no carbs, as that is unrealistic, think in terms of reduced/limited carbs. Most people will lose very well at 50g carbs a day and sometimes higher, although there are some of us who find it necessary to push lower to nearer the 20g mark, but make a start first, see how you get on and look to adjust your intake later on as you progress.

Make good use of the forum, use the Search box in the top right hand corner, to search for specific topics. Use the forum to vent when things aren’t going well, to ask for advice and to celebrate your successes. The lovely folks here will offer advice, support and encouragement in spades and join in the celebrations too. Best of luck to you both and I hope you will soon be seeing encouraging results.

Hi my name is Heather, I’m 58 and yesterday I went to attend a bariatric clinic. I was told about my BMI and what would happen to me if I had bariatric surgery. I knew about the 60 ml pouch the small amounts of food. But did not realise all the effects, things like dumping syndrome, that if you even take 1 sip of a food, your body could reject it and you could be really ill and need to lay down even in the middle of town. That some foods like some fibrous proteins, nuts and seeds. You can never eat again. That the change of social lifestyle can effect relationships, friendships, going shopping, days out etc. I knew it wasn’t an easy way out, but it truly felt like a very bad thing to do to yourself unless no other option is open to you.
When I got home last night I could not sleep, thinking that I couldn’t Cope with the surgery and to accept that my life will be shortened and I will just have to make the best of it.
I picked up The Blood Sugar diet which I bought on Saturday and started reading. I can’t believe it, at last an answer, I could never understand why everything I ate on a low fat, controlled carb diet didn’t work, I felt that I was a complete failure and that surgery was my only option. I have always felt that whatever I eat just gets laid down as fat and now I know why. I WANT TO HEAL MYSELF, I am going to my son and he’s family for Christmas, so I will start in the first week of January, but I will start cutting down on carbs straight away and sorting through my larder to get rid of unwanted carbs like rice and pasta. I have already reduced portion sizes and I often don’t finish plates of food these days, so small meals will not feel too bad, but I think no carbs will be a bit of a struggle, but one I feel I can achieve. Good news my husband has said he will join me that’s got to make it easier.

[post removed by request]

Hi Guys, Thanks for the suggestions on substitutions for my step in mum, especially to help with her love of Bread. I was really surprised that the authors of the book on low carb bread had included so many recipes which involve expensive ingredients and produce bread that is still in the range of 9 to 12 grams of carb per slice. That doesn’t appear to be that different to low carb bread available from supermarkets. I am going to try out myself some of the recipes you recommend and search out other ones.

Its difficult when you live a distance away, and yours is just one voice in the many people including NHS staff who are all recommending different diets. As I find recipes that I enjoy I can then put together a small parcel with a copy of the recipe and ingredients so she can try for herself.

Hi Articfox, – I was going to ask how your horse is doing, and what the problem was. My favourite Christmas lunch is a cheese sandwich and bottle of beer carried in the saddle bags to a quiet spot on a long ride out. Will not be happening this year, my old boy that I spent so many days out exploring the country is no longer here, but I do have a young successor who I am starting ground work with. I am really lucky, I made the decision to drop out of the rat race, focus on quality of life rather than bank balance so that I could have my horses living at home (somehow when you have your own land the number of horses ends up increasing) . Its hard at times, and there are many occasions when I wish I could go back to the old type of work, but then I can count my blessings and walk out to my horses at any time during the day. They are a great motivator on this journey, (as are the silly designers of jodhpurs who think that no one other than a stick insect needs clothes to ride in.)

I hope you enjoy your Christmas with your horse.

This weeks loss is 2.1kg, which takes me after 9 weeks up to 0.7kg short of the half way mark in my targetted weight loss. Looking in the mirror though it isn’t going to plan. I can see that I am loosing weight from my face to my feet, but after loosing 17kg my clothes are simply more comfortable, rather than dropping a dress size. So I think my targets are going to change over time.

I know that there have been discussions on different parts of the forums about Christmas, and breaks and treats. I just thought I would share my 2p worth. For me I have spent decades trying to control my weight by counting calories, but because I am a vegetarian my diet tended to be higher on carbs, so it was a battle I couldn’t win. Now I understand more about how my body works, and I want to put that information to play for the rest of my life, but that doesn’t mean that I want to develop into having a fear of meeting with friends or taking part in celebrations because I am worried about eating an unhealthy meal occasionally.

A few years ago heavy snow fall before Christmas meant that my drive was not passible. I had parked the car at the bottom of the drive so I could head into town to buy supplies, but anything bought had to be put in a rucksack and carried across two fields, one so steep and thanks to the sheet ice I needed my hands free to hold the fencing to help me make it up to the level area. It was hugely liberating. So many people were stressing out pushing around supermarket trolleys which were heaped with food. I was free to wander around buying what I fancied for a specific meal, but the restraint that anything I bought had to be something I wanted enough to make it worth the journey carrying it back up to the house. At the end of the shop I had a layer of goods in the bottom of the trolley and didn’t end up with a cupboard full of things I was still eating up months later. I am going to apply the same mindset to Christmas, I am not going to limit relaxing the diet to just 24 hours, because there are traditions for Christmas Eve and Boxing Day that are important to me, but at the same time it will be in moderation. Rather than buying a selection of drinks that I am still working my way through months later, it will be one bottle of white wine. I will have a Christmas pudding, but just a small one, that is one portion.. And the money I save will be added to the pot for a new wardrobe once I am down to my target dress size.

There is some discussion about this in recent days on the 2017 Lucia thread with a couple of points of view if you want to have a look.

Hi Flick
Well done on that “whoosh” on Saturday! Good also that your friends were accommodating at the weekend: it’s great to have support from people in real life as well as the brilliant camaraderie on this forum.
I hope your weekly weigh-in goes/went well
Maggie

Hello all. What a lovely group you are – matter of fact about serious health challenges, practical advice on temptations (I love the idea of adding up all the things I would have eaten. And bright yellow visceral fat is quite an image!), and reporting some great successes. Even when we struggle, if we are hanging in here we are avoiding worse outcomes!

I can’t report a weight yet. Difficult to believe, but I forgot to weigh myself this morning! But a few comments on the week: when I went to dress up for our Christmas carol concert, I had to scrabble around for a pair of dressy trousers – the usual ones made me look like a clown they were so baggy. 🙂 My red cabbage coleslaw went down well at the choir buffet, and I avoided all bread and cake. So whatever the scales tell me tomorrow, I feel good and on track. I type this, wearing size 16 jeans that I rediscovered in my scrabbling. Haven’t been able to wear them in three years. Maybe it is time for a serious wardrobe clear out! Best wishes to all for Christmas and thank you for all the support and advice.

Hi Chazly1, excellent results to date – well done.

By all means take a bit of a break over the festive season, but try to stick to the BSD principles, so only have carbs in moderation – eat and drink mindfully. I would suggest setting yourself a limit for the alcohol and try to stick with it, having sparkling water in between drinks. Be cautious with things like beer and mixers that can be very carb heavy and try to avoid ‘nibbles’ as it’s easy to load up on these and swallow down a whole heap of carbs without really thinking about it.

Relax and enjoy your festive season, try to keep it high protein, full fat, low carb and you should be just fine. Just get straight back to the BSD proper after the festive season and any pounds gained should disappear again pretty rapidly.

Best of luck for good results at the doctors tomorrow and for continued success.

They all very much belong on this thread Natalie. This one is a space to share any of life’s positives, not just those related to the BSD. It’s to make us look for all the blessings in our life, no matter how big or small, weight related or otherwise. Enjoy your pool and garden, it sounds like you didn’t get the chance to use it much last year, so revel in it this summer.

Glad you ECG was okay, V. Well done on returning to strict BSD for a few days, that should give you plenty of scope with this time next week. I’m not calculating and recording, but I am making the effort to keep things low carb to preserve the wriggle room I already have, so I can ease up a little for the main event.

My positives for today are:
1) My OH has defrosted my car for me this morning, so I don’t need to stand out in the cold sorting that before going into town.
2) Managing to get my cold under control and feeling much better today.
3) Last visit to the shops today, prior to final food shop on Saturday evening – phew!

I have just had an eye opener. I started to fill in my Fatsecret diary again today. Breakfast 10 blueberries and 3 cherries just 21 calories but over 5g of carbs! Just makes me realise that the odd few things I mindlessly eat out of the fridge really can do so much damage.

Natalie whatever puts a smile on your face and a skip in your step will make you more likely to have a good BSD day so just go with it!

4 weeks in and it’s coming up to party season, I was a big drinker but after a slap by the doctor I started the BSD, I’m gonna be honest after the first week of cravings it has been very satisfying, and I’ve found it quite easy and once In the zone that’s it. My food has been so varied and still eating some great homemade currys and fish meals I’ve lost two stone. Tomorrow I’m back to the doctors to check my “close to type 2” but I’m hoping I can keep this mindset with party time coming up, some say a break can kick start it again but ?

Thanks everyone for all the support. Just want Christmas out of the way now so I can get started. Feeling motivated.

Hmm just realised my list was things I am grateful for rather than BSD related NSV, maybe not right for this thread, but it made me happy thinking about them anyway!

Positives for today:
1. Our new swimming pool, which we thought would be ready last summer, was finally finished mid-winter so now it’s hot again we are swimming nearly every day. I get some gardening done by pulling a few weeds then getting back in the lovely cool water!
2. Still on the backyard, a year ago it was an sterile construction site and I was worried about the wildlife that the previous home owners had welcomed here. But now we’ve restored a garden next to the pool they’ve all come back. Kookaburras on the shed roof, blue-tongue lizards basking on the mulch, even a resident water dragon who was peering over the top of a pot at me this afternoon. And lots of spiders. At least they are keeping the flies and mozzies down. But I killed the red-back spider by the back door.
3. State level Big Bash cricket starts on TV this evening! My favourite spectator sport. I go for the Sydney Sixers.

Hello challengers, I hope everyone else is KOKO better than I am at the moment. I’ve had a bad old couple of weeks work wise and with my fall last week a less active than usual week, despite all my good intentions and have been catching myself slipping back into ‘good’ old-fashioned comfort eating and not budging out of the house when the weather is less than clement. I know it’s a mental thing, and I just need to get moving so I will. The end result is I am currently the heaviest I have been since ending BSD 8 weeks over a year ago at 11 stone 8.4 pounds, a whole pound past my trigger weight. Today will therefore be a total fast day. Tomorrow an 800 day (with one session of badminton, my last before the new year). Thursday may well be back to alcohol and unwise nibbles due to a Christmas party but I will try to keep the carbs down. Friday will be another 800 day and then Saturday I am going away and will just have to be as in control as I can be, when not in control of the menu. Most of the weight must be water as it (as usual) went on far to quick to be the luminous yellow stuff, so control of carbs should be enough to kick it out again, but the cleansing feeling of the fast will be very welcome.

I have had another small weight loss this week and can’t understand why because I have been so busy getting ready for Christmas that my calorie counting has been very lax over the past few days. My wife is a childminder and although I am retired from “work”, I am now doing more than when I went out to work, and this is a very busy time of year for childminder’s but I can now see the winning post looming up and a 10 day break coming up, so almost there.

I notice that there are people on this thread who have very serious health issues, but who are so matter of fact about it and it makes me realise that my problems are nothing in comparison to others. Although I have been probably over eating I have kept on plan and won’t even consider consuming sugar, or any high carb food, and as I was shopping in the supermarket at the weekend I was wondering how much of the food produce in there that was not necessary for daily living. It would probably be about 80%, and I always wonder what future generations will think about the way that we have been manipulated by business and governments to eat all this rubbish that is so detrimental to human health.

I would once again like to thank all the strong characters on this forum who keep me grounded and have helped me in immeasurable ways to keep on keeping on. I will now close this rambling post and wish you all a Merry Christmas and I will be carrying on in the New Year, so see you all then.

Good morning. Sorry but I have really lost track of this thread because there has been so much activity. So well done all the losers and for the ‘maintainers’, like me, just keep trying and for anyone who has gained today is another day so just try and make it count.

Seasons greetings to everyone, see you next Tuesday for our last weigh-in.
P.S. I hate ‘wet’ food so it’s neither gravy or jus for me!

Good morning everyone! This thread really makes me count my blessings and I love hearing all the positives. So yesterday for me saw ….

1. Had an ECG because of a very cautious GP, not a bad thing, but all seems fine.
2. Received yet more flowers for my birthday.
3. Made the decision to restart a strict BSD routine today for the next six days.

Natalie I like your vision of 26 but I have to be a bit more realistic! Slim earlobes , I love it! Fingers, wrists and feet all get smaller so why not? I don’t wear earrings so would never have thought of that one.

Anyway, hope you all have a good day!

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If you want to reduce belly fat faster then you have to practice these Yoga asanas daily at your home.

List Of The Yoga Asanas

Bhujangasana
Kumbhakasana
Pavanamukthasana
Dhanurasana
Padahastasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana

for information check out the link given below
http://www.crazyhealthplan.com/how-to-lose-belly-fat/

Hello all our busy, Elvish challengers. Christmas is a-coming🎅

61.5kg this morning. This is 200 gm above my most recent low point but 700 gm less than last Tuesday. I am so pleased🙆 This had been a challenging period for restaurant/cafe socialising and I have shown myself that care with choice and portion control can reap rewards, even with some off-plan (eg icecream) eating happening.
A couple more eating-out challenges before actual Christmas Day, but I’m hopeful the control will hold.

Hi Milalin, yes the strawberries have been delish so far, also the blueberries. Good work on putting back the pre-cooked meal. Was it Churchill who said “the price of peace is eternal vigilance”? (Or some such, forgive me if I’m misquoting). It seems we need eternal vigilance to hold back our more destructive habits. Also, best wishes with your health issues.

Butterlover, back to your plan, as you were saying yesterday …

I’m needing to rush off now, will catch up with everyone’s results later in the day. Hope it’s a happy day for you all xxx

Hi Flick great news! And I’m imagining the visceral fat image too! Merry Christmas to you x

Hi everyone and Merry Christmas from me.
I just wanted to comment on how far I’ve come in such a short time and was just thinking of mindfulness . I was in the supermarket to pick up some strawberrries recently. I’ve really been enjoying them and was thinking h it’s the best summer ever for them. Then I thought, maybe my taste has already changed so I’m enjoying them more?!
As I waited to pay, I turned to notice all the ends of aisles were loaded with hi carb crap. There were soft drinks, chocolates, chips, savoury snack biscuits and more all on promotion. There wasn’t one non food item like detergent or toilet paper often there. Nothing on those aisle ends had any real nutrient value. And I know the companies pay a premium to display in those highly visible areas.
Another thought, I went to another store that I love for fruit, veg, fish, meat etc they have hot prepared meals not far from the registers and their food is nice. I’ve often bought a meal to take Home in the past. So I picked up a spaghetti bolognaise and put it in with the fruit n veg. I was waiting to pay for a good 5 minutes before I thought ‘what am I doing ?’ And left the queue to put it back. The habit had not even registered. I hadn’t even had the thought ‘that it wasn’t good for me. Absolute autopilot.
Just thought I’d share the experience. I’m sure you all have similar experiences. Between the advertising bombarding us and old habits it requires constant vigilance for our success!

Allie, why yes I do happen to remember where I got them. It’s the same place where I scored those adorable mod boots, and they just so happen to be on sale if you’re in the market for two pair. I got a second pair in royal blue. Here you go: https://www.modcloth.com/shop/accessories/accent-your-ensemble-tights/153603.html . The red ones I got just say “red” when you click on the color swatch, but the official name is Candy Apple, and that’s exactly the color they are. True primary. I think they’re a smashing accent for a classic like your new LBD. Congratulations on getting back in the skirt game! Time to show off those mile-high gams. 😀

Oops I forgot to post my results Im up to 81.3 kg today .I expected it to be worse as Im eating rubbish and not working so less exercise. I set my limit at 82Kg.and I will stick to the principles untill boxing day. I dont have the will power to be too strict at the moment.best wishes to everyone for a memorable and Happy Christmas .

Play on, Flick! Playing with nail polish was one of the few fashion-adjacent things I could do during my couch-bound days. At one point I had more than 60 different colors. Eventually I had to toss them out because it was impossible to use enough of a bottle before it dried up. I haven’t done more than a clear coat for years until the OPIs caught my eye with their shimmering samite sexiness.

The skirt is an a-line, box-pleated gold thread brocade midi number that I got from the same shop where I bought my fabulous floral pants suit. I bought it a couple of months ago specifically for the party and by the time I wore it it was loose. Just a size or so off, but because there’s some weight to it it wound up rather longer than it was when I bought it, hitting low on my shin rather than at the midpoint. That only makes me love it more. 😀

The ankle boots are 4 1/4″ platforms. You can imagine how horror-stricken I was when it decided to snow Friday night. It is yet another miracle that I didn’t find myself flat on my back 20 times before I made it to the safety of the party. I’ll tell you what, though, my feet didn’t hurt once. I never had to sneakily remove them or lean on OH to hobble around. I stomped that banquet hall like Allie and Theo doing a walk-off. 😆

Hi Milalin.Im so impressed that you are doing this while on dialysis. Im a nurse and my hubby was on haemodyalisis for two years.so I have a vague idea of what you are dealing with,
I suggest you talk to the nephrologist and the pharmacist. Review you metabolic supplements things like magnesium, chloride bicarbonate , calcium.the collective advice of a team of professionals might help. Also discuss with other patients for ideas and do your own tesearch so that you can ask well informed questions. Good luck.never give up.merry christmas

I’ve been secretly hoping you would model what glorious outfit you had planned for
the corporate Christmas party, Esnecca! Elegant and quirky, just my idea of how
to do your own thing…..I have a splendid jersey knit “little black dress” that I’ve
recently purchased (first dress in about 20 years!) that could definitely profit from
a pair of red tights…Do you remember where you got them from?
Love those snappy red boots, by the way 🙂

Thanks Allie, thanks for the list. I’m pretty good with that, I had been having avacado and I’m allowed 1/4 per day but if I have that there’s a whole list I can’t have that day like artichoke for ex. As I had t had the problem before I identified the shake and huge raw salads plus not boiling veges . I just got the result and it’s still too high but has come down significantly already. Plus that blood was taken before I dialysed so I’ll keep an eye on it. I’m sorry your husband is dealing with his heart condition too. I have had heart problems too. I have 2 cardiac stents and went flat at dialysis in my second week here. I’ve always dreaded doing haemo dialysis for this reason it’s much harder on the heart than peritoneal dialysis which I did up until about 6 weeks ago. I’m not too worried about Christmas Day as we are going to a buffet that will have seafood. I’ve learnt how to navigate buffets by now and I need to help my parents too. If there are nuts and cherries I’ll be in heaven. They always mean Christmas to me. I haven’t been drinking for a while and don’t really miss that now. It is extremely hot here so I tend not to want as much to eat, so I’m confident that by the time I get to sit down I’ll be ok with the diet. I wish you both a wonderful Christmas too.

Hi, Milalin, it’s good to know how you’re doing! I have much empathy for you with
respect to something as serious as renal failure, and I admire your spirit and the
example you are setting for your daughter, who must deal with this condition too.
I hope this information may be helpful to you. My husband has stage 3 heart failure,
and keeping his potassium levels high enough are important to the management of
this condition. Consequently, I’m well aware of high potassium foods. I wonder
if you have been eating any of these regularly and possibly contributing to your
high levels? I’m certainly not giving you medical advice, just a list of the top 10
potassium rich foods for your consideration:

1. Avocado 6. Dried apricots
2. Acorn squash 7. pomegranite
3. Spinach 8. coconut water
4. Sweet potato 9. White Beans
5. Wild Salmon 10. Bananas

Please stay in touch as you prepare for surgery in Jan. 2018

Merry Christmas,

Allie

Hi Donnaellen,

What a great way to start the new year! I add my voice to making any preparation you can fit in between now and your official start. I didn’t, just jumped straight in and ended up with carb flu for a couple of days and having to scramble to get all the delicious carbs out of the house. It worked out fine but would have been a littke less dramatic if I’d planned and eased in a bit.

I made the big ‘no alcohol for 8 weeks’ commitment at the start, and was quite worried about this element. I love good wine, it’s a part of most of my social get togethers and meals out, and meals in for that matter. It is summer here so perfect for delicious icy limey gin and tonics at the end of the day.

Anyway, I figured I owed it to myself to take this effort seriously and give myself the best chance to reclaim my health and vitality. I’m just starting week 6 of my first round and have maintained my no alcohol approach. Longest I’ve gone without wine since my two pregnancies some 30 years ago.

It’s not always easy, I’ve been in a couple of uncomfortable situations, where a friend has felt awkward to be drinking alone or someone at a function tried to apply pressure to get me to join in, and I would have to chant – ‘lordie, it’s only 8 weeks’ quietly to myself.

BUT, it has always felt just a little bit fabulous to be sticking to my commitment to myself. I just didn’t know what I was capable of until I gave it a real go.. And I’m quite sure no alcohol definitely gives your system more space to get on with healing and strengthening. I have never, ever, felt this good.

8 weeks goes by quickly but a lot of life happens in 8 weeks – we can each only do our best and the results keep coming.

See you in the new year!