AnneF, you sound so happy! Well done to you! I too am not looking forward to coming off these recipes. They are so delicious, we are certainly going to incorporate them into our every day way of eating now.

I am stuck this week (week 8 too) at 8st 12 lbs. Still just 1 pound to lose, but a few more days to do it in. I’ve lost 3 inches off my bust and hips and 4 inches off my waist. Mine goes in too! Hurray!

Looking forward to treating ourselves to an all inclusive week in Lanzarote, where with the buffet food on offer, I can still avoid carbs. Not long to go now. So pleased I’ve managed to stick to it. I couldn’t have done it without my husband’s support, but luckily he’s really enjoyed cooking. He’s eating for England now, but still losing weight!!!! Mince pies, potatoes, puddings! Pah! I’m being strict on 800calories and staying the same! Never mind.

Silly isn’t it JackieM, to be fretting about managing to losing more weight when we’re already below target weight, but there is something very comforting about having that extra leeway, just in case. I’m keen to get back to my lowest weight before Christmas and am hoping to be able to post success in the next couple of weeks, despite the social occasions already starting to pop up – two meals out early December arranged in the last two days and a potential third to be confirmed! I guess it just means I need to be mindful of what I do the rest of the time and make sure I reign things back to keep control.

Hope you will succeed in dropping that extra 2.2kg JackieM and best of luck with avoiding those middle day ‘treats’. It’s the evenings that I’m most likely to experience temptation, but managing not to give in to more than the occasional square of v. dark chocolate. Actually, eating to a 16:8 pattern means temptation doesn’t strike too often, as I have no problem stretching the overnight fast in the mornings.

Anyway, best of luck to you JackieM. Keep us posted on progress.

Oh and thank you Verano for the link to the article. So succinct – really explained things easily. I have directed several people to it and saved it to share with my doctor in case it’s helpful on my next appointment.

And congrats on your lowered blood results – bet you are really chuffed and probably still skipping everytime you think about it!!

How are we all doing out there, never thought I would be reaching the end of week 8 and still be enthusiastic for this way of eating. Was expecting to be desperate for it to end so that I could go back to my porridge and bread and mash and chips. But I’m not!

I am loving the new way of eating, I am sleeping better, I have as much energy as ever (I buzz through life at a zillion miles an hour – running on the pure adrenaline of loving life!!) I am the thinnest I have ever been since leaving school – not skinny and gaunt, just looking good – I actually go in at the waist! Am off to a clothes swap tomorrow evening and taking nearly all of my trousers – someone gave me 4 ‘new’ pairs of size 10 skinny jeans (I even need a belt with one of them!!). I need a new swimming cozzy and new undies.

And the best bit…the bestest bestest bit in the whole world…I don’t take medication every day for diabetes any more. I have a Hb1Ac blood test next week to confirm, but i have been monitoring my fasting blood sugar levels and although a bit random (as discussed previously here) they show consistently that I am no longer diabetic!! Happy, healthy and looking forward to dinner (always!!)

Luvtcook there will be another December challenge starting next Tuesday not sure of the title but look at the Remember remember thread.

Thank you for joining me Allie and Theo and Caron and anybody else who is still reading! I’m not going anywhere just taking a short break. Sometimes we need a change but I’ll be back!

Sunshine-girl I’m not sure what to say to you. Firstly though never think of stopping posting and ‘venting’ if it helps you. We have been through a lot together here and I would hate to lose you …. sorry for being selfish when you are the one feeling low.

I can’t imagine what you are feeling but I’m sure having all this ‘news’ day after day can’t be helping you. I think Marilyn may have a point if it’s not a route you’ve been down before.

Sometimes life throws curved balls at us but try not to be too hard on yourself. You have to do what’s best for you and that may just be taking the pressure of yourself for a while by taking a back seat here. Alternatively it could be that more posting will help you to think of other things. Trial and error. In the meantime my heart goes out to you and I hope that this black phase ends quickly. May the ‘sunshine’ on you again soon.

You’re very welcome, Brava – Keep in touch and let us know how you’re doing.
Any other questions, and we’ve probably been there, so just ask. A very happy
BSD journey to you! 🙂

Allie

Unsweetened almond milk plus Total 2% yogurt are now in my fridge and I hope will help. Thank you to everyone for such helpful and encouraging posts.

Verano, great job hosting the challenge for NOV. I am hoping someone picks up the batton to do a DEC challenge, because lord knows DECs are always challenging.

Enjoy your day of pampering.

I am off to pick up turkey, then home to clean house and start prepping veges for THE FEAST.

Actually my feast starts tomrrow. End my 4 day fast at 7 pm tonight. I am planning a light supper tonight….but tomorrow night will avail myself of a local restaurant’s WED Lobster Special…option of a 1.5 – 2 lbs, or the 2 lbs. I am going for the 2 pounder….with all the drawn butter the poor thing can sop up. Salad on the side. It comes with a baked potato. Usually I take it and scoop out all the inner fluff and just eat the skin with some butter, salt and pepper. Potato skins without the crisping, but very good and you get all the vitamins and minerals in the skin anyway. Does the trick. Counting the hours.

Ta ta all.

I am up and down the 62.x kg all this and last week. This I my wiggle room, so I don’t mind too much. Currently 62.2kg, so nearly back at my lowest. Find not eating til near midday helps me go down (no time today til gone 11am, so did gym on empty but was fine). That plus a dog walk and an hour of puppy class in a field (definitely me that needs training not the dog!)

Have to try and remember I am still trying to lose 2.2kg (same number SunnyB but a bit more in lbs I am afraid) in the middle of the day, which is when the (low carb) treats come in, which are strictly not necessary but pass the time. Today I am going to go have a shower and read my book instead, before First child pick up and the evening chores kick in.

Hope everyone’s day is going well, you giddy lot! I enjoyed reading the fun yesterday.

How well you are doing Cameron, you have my admiration for making these changes. Best wishes for your continued success.

sunshine-girl, you have not brought the mood down, except that we’re feeling your pain. A couple of days ago you apologised for your rant but, as I said to someone else sometime back “it’s not ranting, it’s venting”, and that is absolutely allowed here in this safe space. Without wanting in any way to interfere, I wonder if you have thought of some counselling … could you have a little Traumatic Stress Disorder around you earlier experiences? If so, it’s not so easy to overcome without a sounding board and perhaps guidance. I’ll say no more other than that you’re in my thoughts and have my best wishes xx Marilyn

Hi Traveling Rose – welcome aboard! Lots of us on here have been in it mainly to lose weight, but it will inevitably improve your health and wellbeing too. Like you, I found my at menopause my weight crept up and ended up with about 30lb to lose. Happy to say that’s done now, but I am still here on maintenance, so that I don’t slip back.

The BSD is very doable and once you have got your head around to low carb, full fat thing, it becomes second nature as a way of eating. Look out for the four week challenges on the forum. They are worth joining and make the eight week stints feel less daunting. The current challenge has only a week to run, but there will be a new one starting next Tuesday.

I’d recommend setting mini goals to hit along the way, as this gives a sense of achievement and helps keep you focused. Maybe make your first one getting to 140lb? Make good use of the forum for advise, support and encouragement – it got me to the end goal and many others too.

Best of luck to you on your BSD journey.

Okay, well firstly well done on your decision to make a positive life change. My advise would be to follow the BSD way of eating, adding in some of the Clever Guts stuff as well. This way, you should see the pounds decrease quite quickly, whilst building up your gut biome.

Eggs are fine, but in moderation, so you need to find other foods to add in, which won’t cause weight increase. How about quorn and tofu – it’s easy to make your own and it’s tastier than the shop stuff. Also, take a look at what veggies you are eating and in what quantities. Root veg need to be limited and legumes and pulses reduced too, as these are carb heavy, so better to have lots of green and leafy veg. And of course, you need to ditch the sugary stuff too!! Those cereal bars are an absolutely no, no! The good news is once you are properly into the BSD way of eating, that desire for the sweet stuff will markedly reduce. For some it never completely goes, but it becomes much more manageable.

As for the Clever Gut aspect, look to include sauerkraut and kimchi to your menu, but make sure it’s live stuff and not pasteurised. It can be bought commercially, but the best way of ensuring it’s live, is to make it yourself.

I hope some of the above might be of some help and that you will soon be adjusting your way of eating to improve your weight, health and wellbeing. To search for particular topics on the forum, use the search box in the top right hand corner and make good use of the forum for advice, encouragement and support, we’re a friendly crown and love to share our knowledge offer assistance where we can. Just shout out if you have any issues, someone will respond for sure.

Best of luck to you on your quest and I’ll look forward to reading of your progress.

Hi Theo! You aren’t being in the least too personal. I enjoy our daily
banter enormously, but I also know that you recognize exactly where I am
with respect to maintenance. Uniquely so, in fact! 🙂 I’d truly welcome your
opinion! I’m 5’7″ tall, current BMI 21.46, current weight 137lbs. The range
for my height is 118.5 – 159.6. I set my target at 150lbs. (I like round numbers!).
Since reaching that goal I’ve basically been losing about 2 lbs. a month, getting
me to 13lbs. under. I feel extremely well, better than at any time since my 40’s!
O/H has seen me at this weight before, @ age 50, and never thought I was too
thin before. What is hard to calculate, though, is how much the loose skin
weighs. He thinks it’s probably 10-15 lbs, so I actually appear to look about
125lbs, give or take. I would describe my bone structure as slender to average.
I don’t know how U.S. sizing correlates with yours, but I’m wearing a U.S.
size 6/8 at the moment. When I look at sizing charts to order clothing though,
my hip measurement is closer to size 4. I think I need a 6 to accomodate
this waist size where I have, ahem! some loose skin. So, that’s IT, in a
nutshell! Your concern means a great deal to me, so thank you. I’ll be
looking forward to your perspective on it!

Love,

Allie

Hi all. Well, for Nov challenge, I had lost 4 lb – from 17.2 to 16.12 (goal was to lose 6lb) however, fell off the wagon a bit at the end of my week off last week and gained the 4lb back again! So damage limitation now. Intermittent fasting will be the order of every day between now and 30th! It was enjoyable at the time, but I’m itching to concentrate on getting as close to 16 stone by the end of the year as I can. Good luck to everyone else. It’s good to know that I’m not the only one to having a blip. The name for the December challenge is brilliant!

Good luck to everyone else.
Kazzeee xx

First off, if you can’t open up and vent here where can you, sunshine-girl? It’s absolutely the place to come and be honest about what is happening with you. Secondly, I won’t say I understand what you are going through right now, but I will say that my heart goes out to you as you struggle with your personal demons.

Looking for the positive in your post, even given your current headspace you have achieved a lose this week, which is a plus. Use you lower weight photo, to spur you on – you know you can do it, ‘cos you’ve done it before and I’m confident you will do it again. None of us mind if you need to offload here, as long as it helps you to move past your current malaise and achieve you goal.

Big Hugs to you sunshine, you CAN do this!

Just 0.4lb down this week, which increases my wriggle room to 1.8lb – not great but better than nothing. Still looking to build my wriggle room to 4lb, so still a way to go. As a slow loser, it could still take a while to shift that extra 2.2lb – hopefully by the festive season though. Meanwhile, I’m sticking with the 800/20 and 16:8 for a minimum of five days a week, as anything else leaves me static.

Yes, feet do expand with the extra weigh, just like one finds during pregnancy – a mix of fat, poss water retention and spreading from the additional weight carried I guess. Whatever the reason is, mine have shrunk too, though not as much as yours Theodora, but they are definitely smaller. I have shoes that now fall off and others that fit more comfortably, making them wearable where before they had to be side lined. It’s just another bonus courtesy of the BSD!

I bought some fab shoes when we were in Singapore last month – a pair of point toe sparkly ones in a champagne colour and a pair of green sued with silver heels. Both pairs with heels only a little higher than kitten heels. I love the shoes out there, as they aren’t all stilts. Haven’t been able to wear serious heels since putting them at the back of the cupboard during my first pregnancy 35 years ago! Have one or two pairs of higher heels I can manage for a few hours for a dinner out, but can’t wear them for any prolonged period or walking very far. I’m only 5’1″, so have just had to accept being vertically challenged as the way it has to be for me – at least I found a way to deal with the weight issue though!

Hi everyone. You are all doing so well. I dont want to bring the mood down but my situation has only got worse. I lost 3.5lbs and now I have regained 2lb of that. So I still have a loss but my head is all over the place. I got out my fat photo and there are three in succession, 1 at heaviest, one at a stone lost and one at a lower weight although not my lowest. I am now back to that middle photo so I can take some consolation that I have not gone back to square one, just stuck in the middle. I have worked out what the problem is and will not bore you with the details but quite simply I am depressed or heading that way. I also know the cause and it has nothing to do with my weight gain. Just briefly, throughout my childhood I was abused and all these revelations on the TV news are making me dwell on what ifs and the whys. No more to be said, I just have to get my head out of my own backend and get on with things. Make things better for myself in the here and now and not let myself sink because of the past.

Sorry to lower the mood. Maybe I should go away until I am sorted. I will keep going and not let anything stand in my way of future health and happiness. Sorry.

My goodness Allie – 13lbs under target is a huge amount! No wonder he’s worried! Well, depending upon how realistic your target was, of course. Do you mind me asking how tall you are, and how much you actually weigh? And your BMI? Forgive me if I’m being too personal, feel free to tell me to go to hell on a bicycle 😉

I know I’m 11lbs under target, but only because I’m just completing a 40 odd hour fast – wanted to rehydrate, not lose weight, but ended up doing both.

Maybe you should let him persuade you to have that wine, if it makes him feel happier? Like you, I abstained totally whilst wanting to lose, but since reaching maintenance I drink wine 3 days a week and it does have the effect of keeping my weight more or less stable, within a pound or two. Ideally I’ll keep between 5 – 7lbs wriggle room.

I’m worried that your o/h thinks you look unwell! What do others think? Mine at least keeps telling me I look great. I certainly feel great. How do you feel? Have you had a check up? Sorry to be so nosey, it’s done out of love and concern by someone who is/has been in similar position, ie losing too much.

Love Theo xx

Well done to everyone posting losses, regardless of how much it is – any loss is a loss. I’m reporting a smaller loss than I had hoped – 0.4lb. Had I posted yesterday, it would have been more and I’m a bit puzzled why things skipped up and not down, but hey ho! Not going to whinge, as I am still under target weight and regaining wriggle room – albeit slowly.

If you find yourself having to post a gain, don’t be disheartened, it will come right. Don’t let a small setback derail you, just refocus and press ahead. And if you’ve stayed the same that’s a plus, as it’s not a gain.

Think you are right Theodora, it’s probably time we bowed out of the challenges and used the After Target Weight thread to bemoan our maintenance issues. Like you, I will see this challenge out, but not join the next one – unless anything goes horribly wrong and I suddenly find myself over target weight! Will probably pop in to see how people are doing though, even though I’ll not be posting any results. However, have to say that title sounds like a good one, Marsie, it would get my vote.

Best of luck to those yet to weigh-in and to all of us for a very successful final week of this challenge.

Good morning Everyone!

Weigh in today and as expected no weight loss. I am beginning to think I hallucinated the scale measurement of 16:6…as it would mean I gained 4 pounds in as many days. Going to attempt a 24 hour fast…so far…15 hours and ok…some of them sleeping.

Kazz sorry meant to answer your questions re grandies….little ones chickenpox is evident, but not sore/itchy and she is recovering. Her brother has visited Doctor today as he spent the night coughing…I have skyped and it is nasty. Doctor says to wait and see how he gets on. They do not like giving out antibiotics. I asked once how they know if its viral or bacterial and was told they don’t. Without taking a specimen for culture…they have no way of knowing. So they advise to wait it out. If it gets better fine…if it doesn’t then they will try antibiotics.
The sinusitis comes and goes. I think I had it last week because it was so cold and I wasn’t wearing a hat (as is my way). I need to wrap up more.

Allie…lovely that you have so many clothes choices. I am loathe to buy new clothes at the moment as my weight doesn’t conform to the rules. (see above). I so dearly wanted to be below 16 stone before Christmas, but it doesn’t look very likely. Will have to settle for by my birthday in January (some hope after Christmas when I intend to relax a little and go over 800 cals). I hate to keep moving the goalposts!

Erin, pop in when you can and remember too much work is bad for you! The poor collies…I don’t think dogs like walking in the heat any more than humans do. My Akita hates it, and dislikes walking in the rain. The Labrador will walk anytime, but he is proper daft.

So good luck and much love from
Nonna Mary
xxx

That’s all folks!

Well V, can we really be at the end of our 4 weeks? It’s been a pleasure to be
a guest on your thread, you really do “host” it like we have been invited into
your home, where you look after us all! Many thanks for allowing me to be
a part of it. I hope you truly enjoy your time away, and I’ll be looking forward to
your posts when you return. I know it will be a challenge with the water while
away, that’s always an issue for me too. (I hate using public washrooms,
and I don’t have the mobility issues you do). You can get back to it when
you return, no worries. Just have a great time!!!!
‘Morning Theodora, All! I hope all of you fasters are almost thru your
3-4 days. I can’t do this at all, so I tip my hat to you! Theo, o/h thinks
I’ve gone too far below my target (13lbs) and believes that I look unwell.
The word “scared” isn’t part of his vocabulary, so when he used it recently
to tell me that “I’m scaring him” he succeeded in getting my attention 🙂
The wine (and I’m NOT advocating for it as a weight maintenance tool, either!)
he keeps on hand is his best effort at preventing me from further losses. I
think I may be responsible for planting this idea in his head because I totally
abstained for the 10 months it took to get to target. Does this make any
sense? 🙂 🙂 🙂
Catch you later, luvtcook. I need coffee, NOW

Allie

Well done on an, on the whole, successful month V. But if you’re not starting another, does that mean I have to put my pompoms away now? 😢

38 hours into my fast and I have lost a whopping 4lbs 😱 That wasn’t the intention at all, though I knew I’d lose a pound, maybe 2. But FOUR??

On the plus side, body water percentage has clawed back 2 whole points and I an feeling much better, rehydrated and raring to go.

How are you doing luvtcook? Not sure exactly when your fast is due to finish? Hope it’s going well anyway.

Off for family lunch today so will hopefully claw back a pound or two. Have a good day everyone. Bye bye pompoms 😢

Great going everyone – all doing really well on this challenge. Sue, I’m so pleased you are in a better place than this time last year. Not all our victories are of the scale variety, our health and wellbeing is paramount, and that’s obviously been a huge improvement for you, which is a powerful incentive to keep going. Well done.

I’m managing to maintain, maybe a little too well, as I am a whole 2lbs down since the start of the challenge, despite time away with friends last week..Sigh – so failing in my challenge so far.😢 I’ll finish this challenge but won’t be joining the next (though great title Marsie ) because it hardly seems fair to be complaining of weight loss when you are all trying so hard to lose.

Hoping to read great results from everyone else too – oh, and happy belated birthday Marsie.

LAST DAY………………

So we’ve almost made it to the end of another challenge. My aim has been to refocus and in the main it has worked. In the last four weeks I have only eaten biscuits a handful of times and crisps once. I have been more conscious of drinking water and I do have more now. I gave up on giving up Lindt 90%, a girl has to have some pleasure in life! Unfortunately wine didn’t take a back seat as planned but hey there’s still time to address that.

I am away very early tomorrow so won’t weigh-in but I have had a small loss so far over the four weeks. I’m off for a bit of pampering today, hair and nails. I think I may have a break from ‘hosting’ a thread for a while but I will be around. I hope this challenge has been useful for everyone and so it’s onwards towards the next challenge, the silly season and the New Year…..

Thank you, I will look at the vegetable suggestion, I could live on broccoli so that should help! I have just had breakfast, following ideas here and taking the recipe from the BSD book, 150g of plain, own brand Greek yogurt, 1 tab each of blueberries and walnuts. I’ve tried to find a brand of yogurt on the tracker list that matches the nutrients, for 100g calories would be 125, protein 4.1, carbs 4.6 of which sugars are 4.4. None matches so the comparison is hard to do. I can buy Total Fage but wonder if I should get the full fat version or the 2%? This, plus the change to almond milk will be important because if I look at lunch and dinner, I’m in line and so should be losing weight!

Hi Marianne,
I bought a Code Free BG tester from Amazon about 5 years ago for about £15.00 and it had some test strips with it, but the replacement test strips are quite reasonable. My surgery wouldn’t give me a tester because I am diet controlled so I bought a tester so I could keep an eye on my BG levels.

I know what you mean about losing the plot when life gets in the way, but I feel now that I have been shown how to eat and about 80% of what I used to eat was junk and if you follow the general principles of this WOE, then I feel that even if you are not too strict it will help to keep the weight in check. And when life gets less hectic just resume a few weeks of BSD, to regain control and just try to remember the feeling of achievement, and well done for your weight loss.

Kind regards, taurusmmuk (Jim)

Morning,

Start weight: 136.5lb
7th Nov: 133.2 lb (-3.3)
14th Nov : 132.7lb (-0.5lb)
Today : 131.1lb (-1.6 lb)

Total loss so far: 5.4lb

Happy with that. Lost a little more off my waist and hips and some of my ‘normal’ clothes (i.e. not my fat clothes) are getting loose. So nearly into the 120’s now, really would love to get there by the end of this challenge but don’t usually lose much over a 1lb a week. Oh well, perhaps in the December challenge.

x

Half a pound down for me this week, giving me a nice new number on the scales this morning. Just snuck into the 8’s at 8st 13 7/8! 😄

Love the idea for the new challenge title Marsie!

hello , i wonder if I can pick your collective knowledge please to finally end 30 years of non stop yo yo dieting and stress. I am a dairy free vegetarian ( still eat eggs) , and am very active, walking for over 1.5 hours a day and gym/cardio or swimming 4 to5 days a week.
I have a waist measurement of 71cm and bodyweight of 10.3 lbs. I have struggled with weight, sweet tooth and carb cravings since I was 12. At my heaviest I was 12 stone ( in my 20’s and early 30’s)
About 2 years ago I suffered a loss which affected my appetite and I only ate scrambled egg 3 times a day – it was all i could face. A rather wonderful side effect was that the weight dropped off and i reached a happy weight of 9 stone 5lbs. However as soon as I started to eat a wider range of food, the weight crept up – well , actually came on suddenly really to 10.7lb. Now I find that the only way I seem to be able to lose weight is if I revert back to a diet of egg 3 times a day with a bit of salad on the side. Now this is not ideal for getting a good range of all the essential things I need to survive. I have read the 5:2 book, the BSD, and Clever Guts and am now at a stage where I think the advice makes sense about rebuilding biome, stabilising blood sugar – but i really have no clue as to which one I should follow? I have a terrible sweet tooth – which I pacify daily with a cereal bar ( but if there is chocolate in the house – it will be demolished) . Any help would be very much appreciated , thank you for your thoughts in advance

Hello everyone. Can I join as I am beginning my BSD journey today. Read the book a while ago and then had some success with low carb eating to lose weight before a family wedding in the summer. Then it all slipped a bit (well a lot really!) and I need to get back to some sensible, healthy eating. All advice and support gratefully received.

thanks friends for the generous welcome back!
I’ll try to be a regular if intermittent poster (is that an oxymoron??)….my normal introvert nature tends to make me retreat into just maintenance on overwhelm, but here I am (and in need of reminders to stay accountable!

Rebooted myfitnesspal this morning and while I expect to be over for a day or two am at least counting!!

Mary, yes, it is hot here…..unusually so in Tas for November ….luckily mu office is cool but the border collie acts deprived with less walks!!
Allie…broken toe was a separate accident!!! (promise I’ve stopped now!!)….and enjoy your shopping, however it pans out….I’m still culling!!!

Anyhow, work is still crazy, but the household has retreated to normal, so all good here…and while we no longer have our own hens, Heather, my friends’ are so plenty of easy vegetarian protein!! (and when it cools down a little, I’ll try to tame the garden enough to plant some more leafy greens for salads

Cathy thanks and good luck with your weigh in tomorrow, you are doing so well 🙂
I love analysing the numbers. As I mentioned I had a 500g loss, but when I started looking at my total loss since this time last year, I realised I’m only 1 pound off of a 2 stone loss. When I think back to this time last year I remember how miserable I felt. It wasn’t just my weight, although I was at the heaviest I’ve ever been, but I had really bad joint pain and inflammation, was having lots of time off work which was causing issues too. Anyway fast forward a year and I feel like a different person! I know I’ve got a way to go yet, but when I think back to how I felt a year ago I would have given anything to be where I am now

Marsie, firstly a belated happy birthday 🎉
Secondly well done on such a good result this week 🙂
I love your suggested new thread name! 🎅

Good morning all,

Have been fairly busy this week, including painting our bedroom (which took days longer than anticipated, I don’t do things as quickly as I once did), so am just catching up with all the great stories, including you SueBlue, good going👏. Looking forward to the weigh-ins today.

I seem to have struck a vein of gold this week ….62kg this morning = 1.4kg less than last week’s result. I’m impressed, as this included x2 dinners out for my birthday on Sunday. 73!! I can’t believe it except our eldest is 50 today, bless him.

I have been at 62kg before, on this journey, and hope very much to have this as my upper limit for the time being. Would like to keep losing, eventually to be below 60kg. This week will be another challenging one with lunch out today with a group of friends, making sure we see one another before Christmas, and no.1 son’s 50th party on Saturday. ODAAT☺

Fingers crossed for everyone on today’s weigh-in and for the last week of this challenge. Time flying again!

I’ll start the discussion on the next challenge title:
BUSY, BUSY WITH SANTA’S ELVES, WHILE CARING GENTLY FOR OURSELVES: 4week challenge ending 26 December”. More thoughts, please?

Hello, I’m starting today and look forward to hearing others’ experience. About 10-15lbs to lose. The 5:2 seems like a manageable starting point!

Hi, I’m in the US, just starting today. I’m 58 and don’t have pre-diabetes; my weight’s just crept up and I’d like to lose 10-15lbs (5kg). I struggle with dieting and hope this will be a good option; my brother-in-law did really well on it. Starting weight: 145lbs. (67 kg). Glad to find the forums for camaraderie and support! And look forward to following others’ journeys.

Woweee, pcoventry, that is fantastic. Well done on your fantastic achievementioned. And well done on spreading the word too.

Just noticed it’s your first post was a year ago today – guess that makes it your BSD anniversary 😀 How’s your wife doing?

Haha Allie, fancy me being classed as a fellow-conspirator with your o/h – though why does he want you to put on a few pounds? Or does he just want you back to more or less target weight? In which case, he can conspire against me too😉

We always have white wine and champagne in the drinks fridge and numerous bottles of red on the racks, and it takes no persuasion at all for me to pop a cork, which is why I could do with a reverse miracle. Mind you, drinking wine – and I AM NOT ADVOCATING THIS in any way, shape or form – seems to be about the only thing keeping my weight stable atm!!!! Days I drink wine, weight stays the same. Days I don’t, I drop a pound or two! Very disconcerting 😲😞😫

Well I wanted to come back and update you all. I’ve been doing this now for about 6 months. I stopped taking Metformin and all the other statins and stuff when I started. (otherwise how was I to know if it worked or not)

I had bloods last week, I saw my GP earlier today and I am ecstatic to say that my Diabetes is now GONE!

My fasting levels were 4.6! I am considered Normal! I was told to “keep doing what I was doing, as it’s working” and I re-mentioned Michael and the diet – my GP was impressed and knew of both

I dont follow the book anymore nor do I count calories but I have stuck to the eating plan and just adjusted it. Now it’s everyday life not even thought about. I confess I drink coke Zero like water but clearly its had NO effect on me at all – which I am glad to know!

Oh and I have lost 3.5 STONE since I started this. Through the diet and exercise day to day

I am now going to give my book to 2 friends who are bordering insulin for their type 2! If I can do it they bloody well can too!

Thank you all – and take care 😉

Theo, you are an inveterate bad influence on me. O/h always keeps an
unopened bottle of chardonnay or white bordeaux in the drinks cabinet
for me, in the hope that I’l l pull the cork and gain back a few pounds!
I’m going to have to put you on his list of co-conspirators! 🙂 🙂 🙂

How’s the long fast going, Luvtcook? I’m 28 hours in and feeling good – far more hydrated as I’ve been drinking water like it’s going out of fashion 😄

The next stage will be a doddle, because I’m tucked up in bed now, so that’s the next 8 hours sorted, then it will be water and black tea before walking the dogs, then water and black coffee upon my return, and then a blowout family luncheon to break my fast. But, and it’s a big but……I got to choose the restaurant, so I know it has plenty of BSD friendly choices😄. But, there may be wine…..🍷🍷🍷

PS Just had a thought – maybe I need a reverse miracle and have the wine turn into water?😉😄😉 If it can be done one way, surely it can be done the other? 😉

Yes, I soooo do, Esnecca😃 The jumpsuit pants are quite long, so pink it is. At least I won’t need to invest in new pompoms😉

Mind you, I have quite little feet. And who knew that when you lost weight, your feet get substantially smaller too? Now is that because I had fat feet? Never noticed that I had! Or is it because, with less weight to carry, they are splaying less? Who knows? Whatever the reason, my shoe size has dropped from a UK 5 (US 7.5; Eu 38) to UK 3.5 (US 6; Eu 36) which is the same as in my 20s. Anyway, the point is (excuse the pun) that, with little feet, I’ll need the points long to show 😲 So pink pointy boots……here I come😃

Wayhay for Groundhog Day, Allie 😃

Good evening, brava! Jackie is right, there are many vegetables that are high
in calcium. My husband has stage 3 heart failure, so the balance of calcium,
potassium and magnesium are very important with respect to his health.
If you google “foods highest in calcium”, you will find a site “health.com”
that will give you a list of 15 vegetables. It might surprise you, it certainly
surprised me. Best of luck,

Allie

Hi, my beauties, I hope everyone has had a happy day!
Erin, it is so wonderful to hear from you. Life doesn’t feel quite balanced
without a post from down under. I didn’t realize that you had also broken
a toe in your fall. You must be in one of those restricted “boots” then?
Having a houseful of guests is always fun, but there is always a certain
relief when life returns to normal, isn’t there? I find it quite interesting that
“black lives matter” has taken a foothold in Australia as well. I’m more than
a little interested in American politics also. I used to be totally apolitical,
but in the past 5 years what I see happening in my country is profoundly
disturbing, so I’m very passionate on the subject as well. The equality vote
in your country seems to have been a real mandate from the people.

Kazzi, I’ve been pirhouetting around the house today after receiving your
selfie from “the ladies”. That’s a beautiful blouse that you’re wearing today!
I’m happy to hear that you’ve caught up on that astronomical number of
emails. We’re all looking forward to resumption of services. I can’t be the
only one that looks forward to your communiques each day 🙂 I’m not sure
what I’m doing with this demented shopping spree. There are a lot of
duplicates in the shopping cart because of different fabrics and trouser
lengths. Basically, I’ll just try the mountain of clothing on and send back
what I don’t like. So far (shudder!) I have 2 different lengths of denin pants,
ponte knit slim trousers, tights, a simple pleated back little black knit dress,
3 tunics, 2 scarves, a pair of high suede boots, and a pair of block heeled
black suede pumps. Enough! I’ve invested a fraction of this in my wardrobe
over the past 17 years and I feel very decadent indulging myself in this way.
It’s completely out of character to focus on myself in this manner. I also
threw a black lace pencil skirt into my cart, but I don’t really know if I
can justify that. I still haven’t pulled the trigger and finalized my order though.
Must be guilt!!!

Have a great evening, everyone. See you tomorrow!

Allie
xoxoxo

Hi I was told by a Dr to bin the milk as too carby, even full fat milk, so I have black coffee and tea now. For calcium I’ve been having yoghurt as above but recently discovered full fat creme freche (spelling?!) is lower in carbs than the yoghurt. Have to confess not to checking calories. It really feels like pudding though! Also, cream in coffee once a day or less as it is filling and decadent. The trick is to leave it to a spoonful when trying to maintain 800 cals (I’m not very good at that part – but am now in maintenance so something worked) But broccoli and spinach are good for calcium too I think (open to correction!)

Wow Sue that’s great news! You’re on track to do really well during this challenge and hopefully achieve your next mini goal. . That milestone is within grasp now. I am hoping to have lost a little tomorrow but again the scales are up and down daily for me so I can’t predict. I am hovering either just above or just below my 133 lb goal weight which is great. I will be posting tomorrow morning (we are twelve hours behind you) and I hope it’s a small loss as I have been really mindful this week about my intake.

Hi Jim!

Very well done on your weight loss and fantastic blood sugar results; it must be a big incentive to know that what you’re doing is right for your body and also for keeping you on the straight and narrow!

I really won’t know whether this diet works or not for about 6 months. I can manage to lose weight very successfully and can stick to it for about 3 months then something will happen and the catastrophic thoughts take over and before I know where I am I’m right back to where I started! I’ve NEVER been able to get past the 3 month mark so it will be a big psychological barrier to overcome.

Having said all that, I am enjoying cooking BSD friendly meals and so far they’ve all tasted pretty good! For breakfast this morning I had porridge with a topping of a diced eating apple sautéed in butter and mixed spice; yummy!!! (I think this would be good with yoghurt too).

I haven’t weighed myself for nearly a week but I’m now under the 13st mark (just!) so that feels pretty good.
Unfortunately I don’t know what my blood sugar’s doing because I haven’t got a tester. Did you have to buy yours or was it supplied by the NHS? I think I may invest in one just to keep an eye so if any fellow BSDers can suggest the brand to get I would be appreciative!

Onwards and upwards! Have a great week and let’s all keep up the good work.

Marianne x

I can’t believe this is the 3rd week of the challenge already! I am pleased to say that I’ve had another 500g/1.1lb loss this week. Doesn’t sound much I know but when you’re a slow loser like myself it is!
I started using My Fitness Pal to record weight back in 2011, and now I’m at my lowest recorded weight in that time. Actually the last time I was the weight I am now would have been in 2010, so I’m happy about that 🙂
I’m now only 1kg away from my goal weight for this challenge, so will need to pull out all stops to try and reach it! It will be an important milestone for me as it will see me move into the overweight BMI bracket, rather than obese.
Step wise I only just made my goal, reaching a total of 70,694 for the week.
Good luck to everyone else weighing in!