Well done marie123 xxx

Hi blah
I’m 4 months in but wanted to wish you good luck. You’ll see from the posts that this way of eating helps a lot of us regain control of our eating and get positive results. Good on you for starting before Christmas. Keep posting – if no-one else is starting right now you can also join in on the other threads.
Marie

ArcticFox – I’m glad to hear your horse is stabilised. It must be so upsetting and frustrating when the cause of his illness isn’t clear. Hope he is on the mend soon and good on you for keeping going.

Hi all!
I have been making michaels granola recipe from his clever guts diet, but is this a massive no no?

I’m so confused about oats!

Many thanks!

61.7kg this morning, ie 100 gm up on yesterday. I’m not unhappy as have proven to myself that I can cope with a “set menu” lunch, and it was very enjoyable – the portions that I ate and the portions that I left on the plates 😇

Good on you s-g for writing to the nutritionist with a different and accountable viewpoint. Not enough “experts” are called out on their “pronouncements”. Wonder if you will hear back?

Hang in there, Sueonit, hang in there. Someone said, on here or another thread, that they were envisioning all the horrible, bright yellow, glistening fat around the pancreas that really needed to shift. Is that graphic enough to put you off?

Theodora, saw some mentions, when looking at the “latest forum posts” that you have a family crisis. I do hope things ease for you, and that you can keep well yourself. Hugs, even if only virtual, from down under🙅🙅💜💜Marilyn

Thanks everyone for the tips and support. My horse is remaining stable for the moment. I got some lab results back today which ruled out 3 major illnesses, so good to know it isn’t any of those, but also frustrating that it is still a mystery what is making him so ill.
Kazzee – you make an important point about the cold. Our temperatures have suddenly turned frigid again, and I think I was really needing a few more calories as a result of being out in those conditions for hours on end and also craving something warm to eat when I got home. I need to remember that I need more fat in cold weather, not more carbs. My downfall is ready meals or frozen pizza or quiche that can heat in the oven while I get warm by taking a shower. When I’m more organized I cook meals on the weekend that I can just reheat in the microwave or the oven, but that just didn’t happen this weekend. I’ve had a fridge full of ingredients this week, so not bare cupboards, but they needed to be cooked to make them appetizing.
Esnecca – I have been eating sauerkraut at home and it has been a lifesaver for getting enough veg into my diet. I think I need to keep a jar of it at work too. Your idea of flax crackers made me laugh, because I made some healthy flax cookies for my horse (just ground flaxseed, a bit of applesauce and cinnamon, mixed with boiling water and baked in the oven) but he won’t eat them, so I ate a few of them myself today!
The egg dishes are a great suggestion. I actually made spanakopita without any filo pastry last week (it was delicious) and I still had the ingredients, so I could have easily done the same again, but I just haven’t been thinking. I was feeling like I needed something extra when I was at work today, and instead of making a supermarket run, I opened my desk drawer, and there was the remains of a packet of chia and hemp cereal and half a jar of almond butter. I felt like a squirrel who buries nuts and then doesn’t remember that I did or where they are. I could have had this yesterday! Anyway, I cooked up the cereal with some boiling water from the kettle and added in a tablespoon of the almond butter. The cereal was a little stale so it wasn’t super delicious, but it made a passable snack that satisfied my cravings. There has also been a bit of reward thinking happening, as I’ve been feeling a bit sorry for myself having to deal with all of this, and feel like I deserve to be able to go off plan a bit. It has been good to discover that what I used to view as a reward is no longer very rewarding. I can’t really binge on carbs anymore at least; I end up feeling sick before I can eat very much.

Hi Veiled1. Just thought I’d check in and see how your next week has gone after this post. I’m also trying to deal with not feeling discouraged that my weight loss has slowed each of the three weeks I’ve been on the BSD – 2.3kg the first week, 0.7kg the second week, and almost at the end of the third week, I’ve lost 0.1kg. I have experienced this very same pattern on a lot of other eating plans and I still hope this one will turn out to be different, that this is just some kind of period of adjustment. How are things going for you?

I don’t feel I look that small with them on though, even though I couldn’t have got them up one leg 4 months ago. it turns out I have actually been teeny tiny under all the (yellow glowing) fat and need another half stone off to be the right weight for me (which is true according to my bMI). It sounded really ridiculous to aim for 57kg (bMI 22) at the start but that’s the next challenge, at which point I guess I will Be size 8 and in my daughters jeans. Well well well. Not rushing to get there but let’s see if it happens.

Slightly scared the earth will fall in as can my luck hold if I get what I want since I was 8 and be properly not fat? Will something else have to give? It’s this kind of superstitious thinking that’s held me back I think, but this woe circumvents it by making it about nutrition not waistline.

Thanks s-g. Hoping to get control over BSLs and PCOS more than anything else. Let’s see what comes of it at the end of the process.

For accountability’s sake:
Current:
Weight: 79.1 kg
Waist circumference: 103cm
Height: 160 cm
BMI: 30.9
Pulse: 104bpm (82bpm resting heart rate)
Fasting BSL: 15.9

Target:
8 weeks: (2/2/2018)
Weight: 64 kg
Waist circumference: 80-85 cm
BMI: 25
Pulse: 70-75 BPM (resting)
Fasting BSL: 4.0 – 5.1
Range: <7.8 post meal

12 weeks: (2/3/2018)

Weight: 56 kg
Waist circumference: 69 cm
BMI: 21
Pulse: 67-70 bpm
Fasting BSL: 4 – 5.1
Range: <7.8 post meal
HBA1c: <6.1

Mixnmatch, you’re post made me smile – that’s exactly what’s been happening to me recently – except the wearing them a year bit – oh, and of course they are nowhere near size 10’s.

Hi Theodora, I’m also sorry to hear that things aren’t going so well – best wishes.

ArticFox, Warm hugs to you, hopefully your beloved horse is on the mend. Discovering your tastes have changed so much that the disgusting high carb convenience poison tastes horrible, you have already reprogrammed your taste buds – kudos to you!

I agree omelettes are a great fall back meal, and if it is all too much then simple scramble eggs with whatever greenery you have available on the side. If the cupboards are really bare, I suggest a quick supermarket stop on the way home. The trick when you are stressed and tired is to get in and out quick. 5 items max – bag of greenery, lemon, punnet of berries, some precooked protein (rostissery chicken – likely to be a but blerrgh but – emergency, vac pack of cooked prawns or smoked fish) and a pot of full fat yoghurt. Bonus items – avocado and bag of Brazil nuts –

Now get out of there. Have a berry or two (or nuts if you managed that) as you drive home. Put the kettle on. Throw leaves and chopped protein (avocado and hastily chopped nuts if available) in a bowl, squeeze of lemon, plenty of salt and pepper. Take a deep breath, sit down and shovel it in. Another deep breath and in a more relaxed, civilized manner, properly enjoy some yoghurt and berries and a soothing cuppa. Finally, you need to manage those cortisol levels so a warm bath or shower before bed.

Sueonit, I’m finding imaging those ‘goodies’ transforming into Kush’s description of toxic, rancid yellow visceral fat is working a treat! Worked like a charm with the chocolate berry cloud cake that was on offer at the challenging dinner party I ended up quite enjoying last night.

Hi Theodora, your dogs look bonny, as does your bit of coast. Are you north or south? My mum is from Hayle, near St Ives. Sorry to hear about your family crisis. Just remember amongst all the stress that you need to look after yourself (and the boys) first, everything else has to be secondary or you run out of strength to cope. I hope things look up soon.

When I first held up the size 10 super skinny jeans from my JOTF pile there was a weird feeling that they would always be far too small for me, they just look so teeny tiny. It is an optical illusion that has been quite slow to go, I still pick them up and think ‘they’ll never fit’ and I’ve been wearing them for 12 months!

Hi Tasha
Just wondering how things are going for your lovely daughter now?

Oh cool! I think you may be the first person to actually take the kelpen plunge and I’ve been haranguing people to try them for a year. 😀

They do need some prep. They have to be drained and rinsed and detangled (they come out of the bag in one giant knot). Then you have to soften them because they’re crunchy and plasticky and don’t really work as noodles unless you’ve going for a chow mein sort of vibe. After much trial and error, I found the easiest method is to fill a large bowl with warm water and a tablespoon of baking soda. Stir to dissolve the soda. Plop the noodles in and give them a stir with hand just to make sure they’re nicely spread out in the bowl. Let it sit for 3 minutes. Rinse and drain. That’s it. Set them aside until you’re ready to add them to the sauce. You can nuke them in the same bowl right before you sauce them if you want to get them piping hot, but no more than 30 seconds or they run the risk of softening too much.

Alternatively, you can dress them raw in something with a decent amount of acid and just let them stew in the fridge overnight. I’d done that before with a dressing of fresh ginger, scallion, garlic, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, hot chili oil, fish oil, soy sauce and sambal oelek dressing and it came out unbelievably delicious. I could have eaten just like that (and I do fairly frequently), but I like to gussy it up a little for dinners with my OH. I’ve topped it with fresh spicy steamed shrimp, the chopped green end of a scallion and one tiny little fresh habanero for a touch of extra color and kick. I’ve also done vegetarian versions with tempeh, mushrooms, 2 oz of snow peas (gotta be vigilant with them sugars), alfalfa sprouts, bok choy and avocado.

Esnecca, I have been following Dana Carpender’s recommendation (a low carb blogger for about 10 years now) to do it the lazy way: rinse off well, drain, and throw them into a class bowl and microwave for 2 min. It does the same thing as your fry pan….drys them out and they shrink a bit and end up with a more interesting texture that sauces stick to a bit better.

On your recommendation that I saw somewhere back, I have ordered a package of the kelp noodles from Axxxxn. Tried a pretty decent Asian grocer in my area but no luck, they only had the shiritaki. Anxious to see what they are like. Do they need any special prep?

Theodora – your dogs are good therapy for all of us! What a splendid picture.

Have got bad cold so not v focussed at present. Nipped into town to by son some essential items and bought self a pair of size 10 jeans (UK). They did look very snake hipped but I figured one day …. tried them on this evening and can proudly announce I am now a size 10 all over! Yikes!

I quite like konjac noodles. The texture is greatly improved by drying them in a hot pan on their own before you add them to the stir fry. Alternatively, add them to a soup like pho, faux ramen or a Buddha bowl type thing where the wetness won’t be an issue. Konjac powder is an amazing miracle product too. Zero carb, high fiber and thickens liquids like nobody’s business.

Weirdly, it’s derived from the root of a Japanese vegetable in the sweet potato family, which means konjac products are kind of root vegetables!

Thank you, I hesitated about posting a pic of the dogs – not sure it was appropriate. But decided it would be acceptable to post a pic of a new-fangled piece of gym equipment and, in effect, that’s what they are. Certainly keep me fit anyway.

The boys are gorgeous – a real handful, but very gorgeous. Yes, Beardies, full brothers but from litters 2 years apart. Very energetic and natural clowns.

Essie, thank you for your kind thoughts too. I have indeed been gorging on yoghurt and nuts. Grazing all day, in fact, which is a habit I really don’t want to re-establish but needs must atm.

Allie, thanks for your suggestions, may be a good idea as o/h has a stinking cold atm. Man flu😉

Celeriac is, unfortunately, fairly high in carbs. 8g (roughly) per 100. Unfortunately another root vegetable. I find that if I feel desperate for a carb type meal adding konjac noodles to a stir fry helps to bulk it up. The texture is not ideal, nothing to compare to luscious carb noodles, but definitely hits the spot for me.

Wow, Theo, that looks like a calendar photo! The boys are so happy and bright and clearly loving life frolicking on a blanket of daisies. Are they bearded collies?

I’m sorry about the stress and awfulness of the family crisis. You shoulder a lot when things are going fine. I imagine your family relies on you very heavily during moments like these. Time to go a little past that TDEE, I’d say. Now’s your chance to well and truly chow down on some Brazil nuts and Greek yogurt.

I second that Theo…..such lovely lovely boys. They look absolutely joyful. Bearded Collies?

Theo, the boys are gorgeous, GORGEOUS! I’m completely smitten with the gray and
white one, not to mention the breathtaking scenery on your seaside walk. That hill
reminds me of parts of northern California. I just know that the sea air would do me
no end of good. Thank you for sending the photo, delightful, really!
Take good care of yourself, my sweet. Maybe some extra vitamin C and Zinc to
support your immune system? (I’m sorry, I just can’t seem to help myself! 🙂 )

Allie
xoxo

Trying again. Hope it works this time.

Allie, you were asking about my boys’ breed, so thought you may like to see my combined gym / stressbusters on one of our daily coastal walks.

https://s7.postimg.org/e1vbdxzy3/Boys_on_peninsula.jpg

Mmm, tried to post a pic, but didn’t work!

Cathy, LTC and Allie, you are all so kind. Thank you so much for your words of support, they mean a lot.

Allie, I did eat yesterday – right up to my TDEE – but still lost a pound. That’s 4lbs in 2 days, which is crazy – I wasn’t losing that much on 800. But just shows what stress can do – have eaten today too, and have supper already prepared.

You are right, Allie, the boys are keeping me sane at the moment, and force me to take a bit of time out.

ArcticFox, I always keep a bag of uncured turkey pepperoni in the fridge, smoked fish, flaxseed crackers and a bunch of different sauerkrauts, kimchi and pickles. When I’m hungry and need something stat and don’t have the time or inclination, an ounce of the pepperoni slices tides me over very. I’ll have them on flaxseed crackers sometimes, or bake them in the oven for 10 minutes (if I’m not ravenous) because they get lovely and crispy and then I use them as chips to have with baba ganoush or my black soy bean and lupini hummus. The fermented stuff I just plop on a plate and devour, or if I’m up for it, I make into a salad with Romaine, arugula, radicchio, broccoli sprouts, sunflower shoots and an extremely simple two-second miso dressing.

Congratulations, Flick, on slipping into those pants! That .5 cm loss had far more concrete results than you might expect and now you’re already rocking your goal clothes and you’re not even halfway through the first 8 weeks. So great. I love to see you taking so much joy in the moment. Every step, no matter how small, brings you one happy yellow brick closer to Emerald City.

Thank you MissZiggy👏👏👣👣best feet forward then!

Hi Luckylinda, I am in total agreement but I was just saying that none of the newspaper reports have mentioned the lower carbs or even the higher level of ‘healthy’ fats. I also think that the low calorie in the first instance provides the body with the shock it needs to return the pancreas to some sort of working. So I am not discounting the low cal aspect.

ArcticFox – my emergency quick meal is a quick omelette. Quickly saute some finely chopped mushroom and a handful of spinach for a couple of minutes, add the two beaten eggs, stir it all up, season, then a couple of grates of cheese. Or omit the veg and serve a plain cheese omelette on a bed of raw spinach leaves. Job done! I hope your horse is on the mend. I feel for you – my niece has a horse and works full time. It’s hard in the winter with the draining cold, let alone with the stress of a poorly neddy!

Well done, S-G, writing that email. It’s so frustrating having to listen or read “advice from nutritionists” when it’s contrary to what we know to be true. People will follow her advice (like we all did with the low fat is best advice!). Let us know if you get a reply!

KOKO and well done to all.

Kazzee xx

I will join you Margaret🙂

Hi All,
Well done to all it’s great to read everyone’s posts. I am trying really hard not to fall into bad habits and over eat all the sugary Xmas goodies that seem to be everywhere! I know I can say NO and just not eat them! THERE REALLY BAD FOR ME! I have to imagine me next year carrying less weight and looking amazing😊 and feeling HEALTHY. I can walk past the tubs of sweets 🍬 I can!!! It is feeling hard!!!!!
I have no loss to report this week, I have stayed the same weight. (9.5lbs lost previous challenge) I am on my first fast had dinner 8pm yesterday and have not eaten since👍 Planning on fasting until tomorrow lunch time💪💪 So next weeks weigh in will be reflective, tummy grumbling that’s a good sign😊time for a glass of 💧 💧 Good luck all 👍👍

I agree totally sunshine girl if you are following MMs suggested menu plan very little carb however I had to adapt Prof Taylor’s experiment to my own belief system (I don’t eat animals) so my fish (tofu seasoned and wrapped in seaweed) would be higher carb than fish itself. My meatloaf(lentils nuts oats) would be higher carb than usual meat – so I had a lot of adjusting to do. I did cut out pasta and rice and root veg which were staples in my diet and anything refined and it worked for me. As I said in earlier post we are all different so we need to experiment with what works for us. What I have discovered is that the amount of fibre in unprocessed carbs seems to negate the bs spikes and I didn’t have to compromise what I believe in so all round happy camper 🙂

Hi blah, welcome. This diet can reverse T2 but it only appears to happen in people who are newly diagnosed (3 years or less) or pre-diabetic. That is not to say this wont give you amazing improved results in your blood glucose reading and many other benefits to your health. I have been diagnosed for 12 years and dont expect to be ‘cured’ any day soon but I have gone from a HbA1c of 8.4 to 6.2 (or was it 8.2 t 64 no matter). Cholesterol down from 6.2 to 3.6, blood pressure down too. Insulin reduction by 50% and other meds by the same. Oh and you will lose weight. Good luck and keep us informed of your progress.

Hi everyone, sorry for anyone struggling, especially if it is with important things not diet related. It can make things so much harder for us. I have stuck with the weight but still motivated. Funny I feel my midriff and stomach have gone down so I might have lost some fluid so not as bloated.

I was at the dentist this morning and, as usual since going on this diet, didn’t need any treatment for my gums. She always used to say, your teeth are lovely but your gums are crap.

When I got back I spend half an hour typing an email to The Wright Stuff after Lowrie Turner said it wasn’t possible to EAT an 800 calories diet and it could only be done with drinks. I explained the diet to her as she is supposed to be a nutritionist and told her that the newspapers are slightly misrepresenting by not mentioning the low carb healthy fat aspect and to show her 800 calories is easy (ish) sent her a copy of my menu plan. Wonder if she will bother to read it.

Anyway today is another day and I am organised and motivated. Spinach, raspberry and almond milk smoothie for brekkie, homemade pumpkin soup for lunch and my usual clear the fridge out Wednesday omelette with a portion saved for supper. Keep up the good efforts everyone.

I think in the first 8 weeks you will not find any refined carbs if you use the menu planner, you also cannot add very much starchy carb if you want to be around 800 cals and they soon eat (s’cuse pun) up the cals. What he does say is that things like pasta or rice should be seen as an accompaniment to the diet and suggests a small handful of pasta as a portion, not quarter of a plate.

I agree what some say about carbs being the most important part of this plan FOR DIABETICS not necessarily for weight loss. However, the press have not mentioned this. I also believe that Prof Taylors shakes will not be full of starchy carbs. In my own experience the initial weight loss in the 8 weeks shocked my body into seriously improving my blood glucose results, down from 8.4 to 6.2 HbA1c in 3 months. I continue with the no carb rule but not always the 800 calories although most days I do. If I go out for a meal, say once a month, I will exceed 800 that day but not touch the starchy carbs. I know I am on this plan for life but being diabetic for 12 years and on insulin do not expect the reversal or remission result any time soon. My plan is for another year. To be honest the alternative is too hard to even think about, going back to high BG, threat of amputation as I had already lost feeling in my toes – that has now returned. Possible sight problems, no names but someone on here had serious macular degeneration and told she would lose her sight, now cured. And so on. For me there is no alternative until medical science finds a cure – Oh hang on, what else is Prof Taylors research trying to do. I am sticking with it.

Hi there it’s interesting isn’t it – I know there’s no fixed amount in Mms book, but he does emphasise reducing carbs, I thought (I have lent it to a friend!) but says to quickly get your health back restrict the cals to ease pressure on the pancreas as fast as possible. But you would get there on restricted carbs alone. Or am I mis-remembering?

Regardless, this woe works really well for me as cravings and hunger and obsessional thinking about food have gone. And that didn’t happen on a full fat, organic omnivorous diet with carbs. I know my friend whose dieting to reduce fat round her liver using low fat methods is really struggling.

I was always overweight, unless I worked obsessively hard at it, until diagnosed as insulin resistant and have since lost 3 stone in 4 months and am now healthy weight.

It seems that what this forum proves is that the approach is flexible and you can try different things until it suits you.

Oh Theo, my arms are open wide, step right into them and rest your head on my shoulder
for a bit. I’m so sorry that your life and that of your family has been upended. Our
sense of wellbeing is so fragile, and nothing is harder for a mother than to be unable
to “fix it” for our families. I’m going to speak to you like a close friend now. Theo, you
know you”re pretty much out of wriggle room, so you must take care of yourself. My
reaction to bad or unexpected things is to be unable to eat, also. If you can’t face a
whole plate of food, try a smaller plate, it will be easier that way. What I had to
keep telling myself on multiple occasions during the past 2 years was that I was
eating to stay strong for those who were depending on me. You will, too. I’m glad that
the dogs need to be walked each day. That will help a little to manage the stress,
I hope.
We’re all thinking of you, so check in when you can.

Much love,

Allie

Hi luvtcook – was never a Yoyo dieter but have/had a lot of weight to lose. Am down 54lbs and have another 20 to go. Other auto immune health issues have improved also so it works for me and finally very good cholesterol reading so am a very happy lady at the moment. Anything you want to know just ask – everyone was so helpful when I started this and got great advice but I also had to find my own path as the 30-50 carbs was just not going to work for me.

Arcticfox, my go to when stressed and no time to cook is tuna salad (tuna and mayo)….zero carbs, on Wasa Light crackers (1 slice has about 4 carbs and 22 calories….see below). Only use one cracker/slab and load it up with tuna salad.

That with some hot soup (or just broth if needed) seems to be comforting to me. And its stuff I always have in the pantry.

Hope things look up for your horse….I am so envious that you have one. It is lucky to have such a caring owner.

Crisp’n Light Wholesome Wheat Crackerbread

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 3 slices (18g)
Calories from Fat 5Calories 70
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total: 13 net carbs for 3, 4.3 g each

Luckylinda, thanks for sharing that. Do you also fall in the category of yo-yo dieter with substantial weight that had to be lost? Many of us that have 75 /100 lbs to lose are finding we just could not do it without the low carb. You example seems to show something different. Its hard putting all the pieces together to try to figure out the pieces in this equation. Anxious to know your particulars.

Wish I / we could do more for you. Family crises are so tough because they are usually the folks we turn to for support. Double the stress when it is those very folks in the middle of the crises. You know we all love you ….glad that may be of some comfort.

Hi all again adding my 2 cents – no where in Prof Taylor’s research or in MM’s book do they state keeping carbs under a certain number. I, as a veggie have very high number of carbs however as in Prof Taylors research did a short sharp shock of losing weight very fast eight weeks and yes continuing to lose more slowly as I watch what I eat and yes as per Prof Taylors have added in foods I had restricted. A little bit of what you like ie. chips yum, roasties, rice etc but only on occasion and much smaller amounts and yes habc1 down to 37. I get my bloods done every three months and weigh myself every day to ensure i don’t fall back into something unaware. I know we are all different but I believe that it is the weight loss done quickly that was the definitive factor and as a veggie GOOD carbs are very much a part of my life and certainly add to over 100 daily and I’ll always stand behind that. Trick is to balance it at each meal and ensure some fat and protein is included which is something I had not known before this way of eating.

Theodora- have been out of the loop for a couple of days whilst I’ve been singing. Sorry to hear that you’ve had a family crisis. Sending you a virtual hug and thinking about you at this difficult time.

Cathy

JackieM, I do think you need both the low carbs AND the low calories to lose signficantly. I originally lost 30 lbs on low carb alone but then my body seemed to “figure it out” and became more efficient at managing on no carbs….weight loss stalled big time. I kept plateauing and could not break through a floor of 213 lbs.

Adding in the low (very low) calorie element seems to have given it no choice but to lose below that old floor. I have finally cracked that floor and am at the lowest I have been in 10 years, and counting.

I expect that once in maintenance you can add back a good bit of the calories (up to your TDEE) as long as you stick to very low carbs so as to not trigger the insulin response that is needed to store additional body fat.

The BBC article failed to mention anything about carbs, but I have not seen where Prof Taylor has emphasized that aspect much. His proscribed diet was stated to be “3 diet shakes per day and 240 grams of non-starchy vegetables taking in between 600 and 700 kcal a day for 8 weeks”. So it sounds like it was low carb per the non-starchy veg, but no info on the nutrient composition of the shakes those subjects were given.

It is unfortunate that the low carb element is not addressed, because nearly everybody on this forum feels that this is a most critical factor in how we are losing this weight and that low calories alone will not do it.

Hello Miss Ziggy,Inka13,Fairyface, Patc & anyone else who knows me!
I am still plodding on in a two day fasting semi low carb way & am the same weight I was this time last year which means I have gone up & down in weight but still not yet got to my goal weight! I have recently had wonderful surprises for my 70th birthday celebration with a weekend in Dublin & then an amazing surprise lunch with friends & family. This month there are two lunches with friends my eldest sons 40th birthday bash & hotel stay then two Christmas lunches! None of this is conducive to losing any weight😂
I am therefore reconciled to starting again in January to get down to my goal weight. On the plus side my husband for over a year has maintained his weight loss & is still on much reduced diabetes meds’ which was the whole point of us both doing this. As you may remember I am not diabetic but have arthritic knees that much prefer less of me to carry around!
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas 🍷🥂🌲& I may have you joining me in the new year to continue the battle of the bulge with a low carb diet?
Margaret xx

Aw, thanks, LTC.

I seem to spend my life supporting others with their problems, so it means a lot to have a bit of support for myself. Sadly, I don’t think it’s a problem that is likely to be resolved any time soon though. Bu thank you, hugs gratefully received.

Theo, sorry about your family crises. Hoping things were not too dire and getting sorted a bit by now. Hang in there. Hugs from across the pond.