29 posts already! I really need to come online x2/day just to keep up with all the great stories☺ It’s lovely to see all the new names, and the returning names, along with the hardy regulars.

I’m starting this challenge at 62kg, still overweight on the BMI scale due to being only 152cm. The 57kg on the scales needed to break through to normal weight seems a little unattainable and I’m setting my goal for this challenge at 60kg i.e lose 2kg.

Best wishes to us all in the “silly season” ie the very social lead-up to Christmas💜

Thank you Luvtcook! I’m so pleased to have found an alternative to the misery of low fat; I just need not to slip back into old, bad habits. Good luck with your own progress and navigating the holidays. S.

Congratulations to all who are finishing up this challenge with losses to report. A loss
is still a loss, after all 🙂 Some of you are getting so close to target. This WILL be the
month!!
Sunshine-girl, it’s great to see you back on track, and stepping up for the new Dec.
challenge.
I’d really like to follow everyone’s progress and pop in for a word of encouragement
on the way, but I think Theo may be correct. Best we take our lamentations about
anxieties over continuing weight loss over to the maintenance thread. I’m doing
better in that I haven’t lost any more weight in 10 days. If I can keep that up for the
weeks leading into Christmas, I may have it figured it out.
Best of luck to everyone committed to their Dec. goals. I’ll be cheering you on as
you go. I haven’t retired my pompoms, I promise! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Allie

Good evening, fellow challengers. Late in the day for me to be reporting my morning weigh-in but here it is, 62kg. This is the same as last weekbut 1.4 kg loss for the challenge. I’m very happy with that as I’ve pretty much been hanging around here doing not much more than moan about my lack of intent. Thanks all for your patience.

This has been a great challenge for many, and for all of us ….well done for taking charge of our own welfare. 👏👏👏

I’m glad you’ll be popping in SunnyB, and Theodora, we’ll miss you and if we don’t hear from you I just might find myself searching for you elsewhere on the forum😊

See you all on the new challenge💜

Hello There,
I have just discovered this Forum. I was astounded to have an HbA1c level of 42mmol/mol (prediabetes) in February. Also I had a BMI of 19. Trying to find info on ‘thin diabetics’ had been difficult. I have been able to reduce my HBA1c but at the cost of more weight loss. Not a good situation as I have osteoporosis (no treatment) I have been told that no action will be taken as to what type of diabetes I am likely to have until I get a diagnosis of diabetes. ?? LADA. I have decided to take some advice outside the NHS…..so watch this space.
PS I am a retired Practice Nurse, and was beginning to suspect that the prescribed dietary advice was not keeping up with changes in thinking when I finished four years ago.

Yes definitely the way to go. I try on clothes that motivates me and then find a dress that I can squeeze into but needs work and hang it on the wardrobe and have a date to wear . You should write down all the things that now fit because you are slimmer/ benefits of how you feel and what motivates you to keep going plus find some brilliant food that fits into 800. I bought the mimi Spencer’s book about this time and it really helped as I felt I was eating nice food. Bring on that xmas outfit !! Make it red and cheery!!

Welcome and good luck. Shout up if you need help.

Hi All
Just joining this thread for motivation! Im 4 weeks in, and need a boost to carry on for the next four,

Hi Ally
I have been walking most days weather permitting. I always get minimum 10000 steps. I have never been over my 800 by more than say 7 cals . I didnt realise drinking water was such a huge thing, but I have been drinking more anyway as I seem to be very thirsty, but
maybe I should drink more still. I will join the Dec group. Thanks

Thanks for the replies, you are right, every time i do other diets and stop I just put even more weight on. My measurements have changed to be fair, I have lost 6 inches off my waist and 2 inches from my hips, but I have this number in my head weight wise. I will stick at. My carbs are very low anyway. Maybe I will drink more water. Onwards and upwards…

Good morning, Veiled1. There many maintainers here like myself, along with others
who are far along on this WOE. There are a myriad of suggestions and tips that we
would be happy to share with you, but without more information on the specifics
of how you have done your weight loss so far, we would simply be speculating
blindly. (carb levels, amount of water, exercise if any, etc. etc. etc.). Just want to
let you know that I lost 10 stone in 10 months, and have been maintaining for the
past 7 months losing an additional 7 lbs. along the way. I never lost more than
14 lbs. in any one month either. Every journey is a unique experience, and it’s
always best not to compare your rate of loss to others. I noticed that you’ve
also only posted a few times in your four weeks. I think it would be invaluable
to you to join the new Dec. challenge. The support available is what gets us
through the moments of discouragement and/or frustration, and you will meet
some extraordinary and knowledgeable people along the way.
I’d be delighted to help, but need more information 🙂
Best wishes,

Allie

Hi there, I am joining until 19th Dec when I go away. I like to be in a challenge and it is something new to aim for and goal setting. So my weight today is 12st 3/4lb and I would like to be 11.11 by the end date. As I said on another post, my husband is going away on Thursday and wont be back until Monday evening so I am going to need a lot of encouragement and cuddles from you lot to keep me on track. My biggest problem might be boredom and I am planning on a couple of trips out on Saturday and Sunday.

Good luck everyone and keep on keeping on…

Well done you have lost a stone and that is a massive amount. Yes, this is just a normal plateau and not the time to give up or sneak in old habits. You say you have lost weight before and still eaten bread so why are you on yet another diet, because going back does not work and you have probably ended up heavier each time. As LessMT says, start using other measurements as the scales are not always a true representation of what is happening.

Right now your body is readjusting to its new weight and you will start to lose again but only if you dont pack it in. When the going gets tough the tough keep going. You could try lowering your carbs a little and drinking lots and lots of water or you could just keep on and wait for this phase to pass. Whatever you do, stick with it.

Well done to all those who have lost during this challenge. I started on this at 12st 3lbs and now weigh 12st 3/4 lbs so 2.25 lbs loss. Not really good considering I lost 3.5lbs in the first week and then managed to gain it again and then lose some of it. Well it is still a loss so i’ll take that. Just done 50 mins aerobics in front of the TV.

I am going to find it hard going at the end of this week as my husband is going away for 5 days. Hurry I shout but then it is a long time to be on my own day and night. I intend to go market shopping on Saturday and it is our village Xmas fete on Sunday. I just hope I dont resort to snacking due to boredom although there is very little in our house to snack on. I will join the next challenge to keep be on track so will see you over there.

This is the time to take your measurements and body fat. I went through a phase about weeks 5 and 6 which was slow and then it all moved again but in that time I went down a couple of inches on my waist which has become a perm reduction. Basically if you keep up 800 calories and keep going it will happen. If you are craving something then have it in 800. You have lost a stone obviously 🙄 it is working!!!

Hi all
So I have completed my first four weeks. (Week 1-) 8lb lost,( week 2) – 3 lb lost, (week 3 )- 2lb (week 4 )- 1lb lost
really disappointed as its getting less and less, and its making me less motivated. I keep getting that niggling thought that if Im not even losing weight why arent I eating all the things I enjoy as its not working anyway…I feel really de motivated. Yes I have lost a stone in a month, but to be fair I have done this on other diets and still eaten bread etc. Please can somebody tell me that this is just a normal plateau and weight loss will resume as I dont want to give up. Has anyone else had this issue?? Please help as I still have over 2 stone to lose and dont want to blow it. Many thanks in advance……

Wow! Some brilliant results being posted, both for the week and the challenge overall. I joined the challenge a week late and freely admit I’ve coasted on and off ever since. Anyway, my result is not stupendous, but is one that I am content with – 0.6lb loss for the week, 1.6lb loss since taking up the challenge. None of this is earth shattering, but as I am in maintenance I’m pleased to be under target weight by 2.4lb. Not a huge margin admittedly, though I am still trying to build that a little more. Seem to be maintaining with only small fluctuations and not yet been back up the target weight, so feel in general things are going well.

Whilst I’m not planning to actively join the next challenge, I will pop in to see what’s happening with you all and offer comment if appropriate. Most of you seem to be on a roll and I’m sure you will all be reporting more good things before the festive season. To those who have struggled, stick with it – mind-set and determination is a big part of the battle and I’m confident you can all be posting good results if you keep right on.

Hello all – I’m wading in too – have had a 2lbs loss this week at the last of the November Challenge but am still a long way off what I would like to be, and where I was this time last year – however, trying to be more realistic than I have been of late and my goal is to lose 3lbs in this challenge, and to walk at least 30 minutes, three times a week.

Will also try to check in more often but work is really busy and I’ve just started a Coaching and Mentoring course – no rest for the wicked!!

Hi Sunshine Girl, actually we’re ok with 800 calories. We’re coming from 5:2 where the limit for females is 500. We have cleared out pantry and fridge. I think breakfast is the highest carb meal we have, so the challenge is/was to reduce the carbs there. But we are slowly getting there.
Thank you for your reply and advice.
Best wishes
Buggerlugs

Hi Allie, thank you for response. Congratulations on your weight loss, that’s amazing success. I’m looking forward to see what we can achieve. It’s a big learning curve and definitely a complete change in lifestyle. We are trying to stick to 20g of carbs a day and that seems to correlate with 800cal. At the moment we have lots of delicious summer fruits coming into season, so it’ll be a challenge to resist eating them in bulk! 😁😁

Best wishes
Buggerlugs

Morning challenge buddies and many congratulations to all you losers out there – there are many of you and that’s wonderful to see, especially since we are entering the festive season – keep going!

I finish this challenge at exactly the same weight as I started it – 10 stone. I still haven’t upped my exercise and carbs are still controlling me on some days BUT – I am 1lb ahead of my target to lose 5lbs by Christmas (which was the challenge I set myself last week) – just 3lbs to go, and four weeks to do it.

See you on the December challenge everyone!

Hi Sueonit,

Let’s both cheer each other on now and in 2018… that would be lovely!

When I first started I couldn’t think about how many stones I needed to lose. Like you, for me it was just too dispiriting. So, I’ve just focused on small targets that are achievable but meaningful to me. Being successful in meeting them has helped keep me going. It’s only in the last couple of weeks that I’ve looked up a bit and can see the healthy BMI coming into sight.

I am also focused because of my diabetes diagnosis – like Bill1954 (old thread you might have seen) this has to work for me – and it has. The most important thing for me has been getting my blood sugars down and I’ve done it – now I’ve just got to maintain it.

As for getting on the scales, when I get on them I still do the old trick of shifting around, leaning sideways, lifting one foot up if I see the slightest flicker downwards on the lb side ’til I get the lower number. And so we go on ………

We’re both doing brilliantly, in fact we’re all doing brilliantly. Three cheers for us!

Marie x

Right, I’m off to Pilates. I never thought I’d be saying that six months ago!

Dear Nonna Mary,
You and I are so alike, the slightest blip and I put on heaps yet it takes weeks to lose!! This is why I rarely post anymore, so tired of saying the same things over and over and hardly ever losing let alone maintaining! It’s been a long 14 months….
SO. Maybe you and I are slower losers but we are still here and still trying. Imagine the state we’d be in if we weren’t.
I still love this way of eating and will keep it up forever, it makes me feel great so let’s both of us keep going!!! xxxxxx

Allie – I’ll be back later in my lunch break as it month end madness right now. xx

Hi Mary – I am so effin fed up for you also! I’ve also noticed how quickly I can gain after a weekend of more calories than perhaps in the week, and that it takes longer to lose it again. My only advice would be change your weigh in day to Friday mornings. Do not peep in between as we fluctuate most days and weighing every day and seeing this is very disheartening. But for now, have a break from this and re-charge. You’ve been working so hard at BSD for the best part of a year I think? Don’t go too mad though and never come back… otherwise I’ll hunt you down! 🙂 Lots and lots of cyber hugs xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Looks like a successful challenge for most, so very well done to you all.

My challenge was to maintain and stay exactly the same or even put on a pound or two. Failed in that, but not too dramatically as I’m finishing the challenge only 2lbs lighter than I began it which I’ll settle for as, at one stage, I was 5.5lbs below.

I won’t be joining the next challenge as I feel uncomfortable bemoaning too much weight loss when others are struggling to reach their goals. But I will continue to try to balance maintenance and report in our maintenance thread instead. I will of course be cheering you all on from the sidelines however and hoping you all attain your Christmas goals.

Hi

I would like to join as well. I too like Movex don’t do well with low carb. The only 2 x I have tried in my life
I have ended up I’ll. so after illness and a holiday an up 7lbs but am redoing 8 weeks the way I did in the beginning sticking to 800 calories and copying a man in the book who tried to eat the nicest and most for his 800 calories. I have discovered new things on this woe like cream in my coffee 1x a day avoids a biscuit and a tomato based curry from the fast cook book …. I eat it 2 x a week I crave it! With cauli rice . Have bought a whole new wardrobe so need to stay on this size 10 / 12 zone or less!

Hi Marie,
just read your post congratulations on your weight loss, that is amazing. It will be a great start to the new year 2018. I will cheer you on….
From your post you sound so focused 👀
I get REALLY nervous stepping on the scales and for a long time the MENTION of having such a high BMI AND BEING classed as morbidly obese made me feel physically sick! I seemed to self sabotage myself!!! I feel more in control with the BSD and I am getting results.
So my target 🎯for this challenge is 4lbs and I will start 2018 being nearer to that lower BMI, 😊

Good mornings my fellow Challenger’s
This seems to have been a very successful challenge and for me it has been th most successful. I have lost another pound this week which means I have lost a total of 8 pounds over the four weeks. I did see a new low earlier in the week which took me over the three stone of mark but have bounced up a bit by 1 pound which takes me back over. I am not concerned about it as last ttime me I lost half stone quickly it took my poor old body a while to accept the new low.
Now for the next few weeks.
Keeping on………..”
X B

Hi Nonna Mary,

I’ll be thinking of you, too. Best wishes and come back when you can….

Take Care
Marie x

Hi Sueonit,
That’s a great weight loss – you must be chuffed, and you’re certainly living up to your name – wow! and well done.
Marie x

Dearest Mary, I feel heartsick that you are having such a difficult time and can’t find
a way out of it at the moment. I never had to fight for every pound as you have, and
know I would be feeling the same way you are today if that had ever been the case.
You may feel you need to clear your head and stop thinking about the BSD every
waking hour. Be kind to yourself, please. It’s so important! You know how to find
me, either privately or on the forum. Don’t hesitate to do so, okay? I am at a loss to
help you find the answers, but do pray that someone else who has had the same
issues will be along to help. I think I might start with a complete physical, but
only you know what is best for you. Just know that you are much loved here.
I’ll be “on call” and happy to help in any way I can.( insert heart here)

Allie
xoxoxo

Hi Andy,
That would be a great result wouldn’t it – to be classed in the healthy weight range. Hopefully, that’ll be one of my first goals in 2018. I noticed that we’ve just both joined the December challenge so I’ll look forward to cheering you on from the sidelines when you lose those 2lbs – and hopefully more!

By the way, brilliant weight loss to date – congratulations.

Marie x

Hi all.. finally home trying not to worry too much about the many cooked breakfasts and extra glass of the red stuff may have sabotaged my plans so here I go on the scales …..
SOoooo. pleased just had my weigh in 2lb off so my total is 9.5 lbs in 4 weeks yippee 👍
I didn’t quite make it into the lower stone, but only 1.5 lbs and I will be there… signing up to the next 4 week challenge! I have increased water intake and feel ready to make a difference before Xmas is here, also big well done to everyone who was on the challenge👋
( so much stuff hits you in the face when shopping tubs of choccys, mince pies Baileys the list goes on)
But Yesterday I had 2 compliments about how I looked, and that made me feel really good 😊🤩 so with all the wonderful tips, shared experiences and real people doing this WOE I’m on it🤪🤪🤪will celebrate with green scrambled egg and smoked salmon and peppered grilled tomato for brunchy lunch 😊

Hello All – and especially to all newcomers

I’d also like to join in if I may. My aim is to lose 3lbs. I’ve set myself 2 mini-targets for this challenge a) to lose 2lb – this means I will have shifted from an initial 36.5 BMI to a BMI of 26.5; b) to lose a further 1lb – this means I will have achieved a total weight loss to date of 4 stone (25 kg).

If I can lose the 3lbs – and it’s definitely do-able, then it will set me up nicely for the start of 2018.

Now, my blood sugar levels look good and I’ve got my first 3 month HbA1c out of the way, I’m also going to try fasting to see if it helps with shifting the visceral fat around my tummy. Any tips on how to do it successfully would be great.

Best of luck on the challenge everyone.
Marie x

Hi all I’m going to join join would love to lose 9pounds to get to my goal weight of 8stone 7lbs. Today I am 9 st 2lbs. 800calls & no carbs . Good luck everyone xx

Morning all.

Well….Friday 16;6….Saturday the same….relaxed ate a bsd friendly meal….had a little wine (total cals 1560 carbs 56)….Sunday 16:10
Monday 16;10 Fasted for 24 hours.
Today 16:8

So I can GAIN 4 pounds in one day and take 2 days to lose 2 Pounds!

EFFING FED UP…I may be back in a few days…need time to take stock.

Mary
xxx

I missed last week’s weigh-in as I was away, but still happy to report another good loss here – in total 7lb on this challenge.

As I posted separately yesterday, I got my first hba1c blood test result since my diabetes diagnosis in August yesterday, and my blood sugars are now back down in the normal range so I’m delighted with that, too. I know I couldn’t/wouldn’t have done it without the support of people on these forums so thanks to everyone for helping.

Mokovex – 5.8lb, that’s great going, we’re on a roll I think…. lets keep going

Mariet – I’ll be there in the next challenge with everyone else ready to cheer you on when you lose that 1.5lb and reach goal – yeah! By the way, what a great idea to have a Christmas Breakfast like that – sounds lovely.

Sunshine-girl – looking forward to reading your post today, as always. You and Verano offered me some sage advice when I was debating about Metformin when I first joined the forum. I took your advice and it worked. Thanks to both of you for that.

Looking forward to reading everyone else’s final report-ins (reports-in ?) today – and see you over on the December challenge.
Take care all
Marie x

Hello,

I’m in too please. For those who are newer to this, I am continuing with 800cals + no carb counting (you will see we find the thing that works for us as individuals).

My goal isn’t a specific weight but fat loss. I would like to lose another 2% this challenge which would see my scales telling me I am 26-28%. My ultimate goal is 23%. Having said that, I reckon another stone might well get me there.

x

Haven’t posted for a while I’m now at 9st 2lbs & it’s getting harder to lose the pounds only 18 days to go will not be 8st 7lb by then. But on a good note another 2 pounds off & I will no longer classed as overweight. Whoppee!!!! Hope everyone’s journey is doing well xx

Start weight: 136.5lb
7th Nov: 133.2 lb (-3.3)
14th Nov : 132.7lb (-0.5lb)
21st Nov : 131.1lb (-1.6 lb)
Today : 130.7lb

total – 5.8lb Cannot be anything but ecstatic about that 😀

Even with cheese based gains over the weekend, a 24hr fast has repaired a lot of the damage.

Got to get going now so don’t have time to post christmas tradition but loving reading yours. x

Fermented foods are recommended, but that does not equate with vinegar as on sale in the UK, and even less so with acetic acid.
ISTR they are recommended for the beneficial bacteria/yeasts they contain, rather than the acids.
Unfortunately, although pickling and fermenting things is in itself a time honoured method of preserving certain foods and to make somewhat impure water safe to drink, modern hygiene regulations insist that everything be pasteurised thereby killing almost all bacteria and yeasts, good or bad.
I suspect that this is why I am having such poor results with making yogurt using shop bought yogurt as starter.

Mignonette sauce is BSD-friendly too. Champagne vinegar, 0 carbs per 15 ml (1 tblsp) serving. Shallots, 7 calories, 1.7 grams of carbs per tblsp serving. You could easily shave that even lower by replacing the shallot or some of it with the minced white part of a green onion/scallion. A tblsp of that has just 2 calories and .4 g carbs. A classic preparation is 4:1 vinegar to shallots, so 4 tblsp (1/4 cup) of champagne vinegar to 1 tblsp of shallots/scallions. Then a little fresh ground pepper and set it aside to get tasty. I like to give it a good long time, like an hour, but it’s not necessary. I also like to zazz it up with a little hot sauce or kimchi juice but I’m not sure the Cordon Bleau would approve. 😉

Dig up one of those tiny spoons if you have them. Get the greatest, freshest oysters and lay them all pretty on a plate. Put the mignonette in a small bowl by the side your plate and spoon it into the shells. Then go. To. Town. I love the production of it. It’s one of my favorite avenues to thorough food enjoyment.

So far so good. Main issues are mind games so I am upping the yoga classes and considering meditation each morning for 10 min to put myself in the right frame of mind for each day. My goals… regain healthy weight and put some zest back into my relationship.
Noosa

Hello all, I’m also new (2 weeks in) and would love to join this challenge. My starting weight was 78.3kg. I’m now 74.1 and expect the rate of loss will slow. I’d love to be under 70 by the end of this challenge but to be realistic I’ll be very happy to get to the end if the challenge 3kg lighter as it will cover the potentially heartbreaking weeks 3 and 4. I’m also challenging myself to see the whole 8 weeks, including the silly season, alcohol free.

Sounds to me as though we all have plenty of motivation and some great strategies. For me it is critical that I don’t feel deprived. And that really is all in my head.

Luvtcook – OMG oysters on the half shell had not occurred to me as an option! Yippee I’ll be at the door of the fish market when they open on Thursday.

😀

It makes sense to me that you would experience a mourning period for foods that have been sources of pleasure for many years. I expected to be mired in it, but it didn’t turn out that way. It’s like the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. He could have brought her out of the darkness of Hades back to light and life if he’d just keep looking forward. Instead he glanced back and she was stuck in the underworld for eternity. Squash backwards-looking thoughts as soon as they creep up and keep your eyes on the prize. What’s in front of you is so much better than what’s behind you.

Esnecca, thanks for the encouragement, I am looking forward to that day. Right now, even though I’m not hungry and am eating delicious meals and beginning to taste the sweetness in some vegetables and lovely mineral flavors of others, occasionally through the day a dish or an ingredient that will now be banned forever pops into my head, and I sigh. I don’t feel at risk of wavering (yet) but it’s not unlike when our beloved, aged, family cat died! Go figure …

I went to a steakhouse a few weeks ago and they mistakenly brought me someone else’s order which had a big ol’ side of risotto, mushroom it looked like. It used to be one of my favorite dishes. I told the server indignantly that this wasn’t my order and to remove it from my sight immediately. I found it genuinely offensive. When I got over the indignation, I was so happy at how repulsed I’d been. I love that I’m still encountering these benchmarks of how much my body, tastes and foods I am drawn to have changed.

It won’t be sad for long, Flick. Your accomplishments will build up and they’ll be the source of joy in your life, not some sugary poison disguised as good food. Well done! And a big round of applause and pompom shaking for you too, alibalibee!

Hi Alibalibee, that is a fantastic start! Well done you. I’m so pleased to connect with someone else starting out, so I’ll be following your progress as well. I’m planning to join the December challenge. Just need to formulate reasonable goals for the month. I’m expecting my rate of loss will slow down and achieving my target weight will likely take at least two rounds of BSD, but I don’t want to set the bar too low.

I’m also doggedly logging everything – a great tool for managing calorie and macronutrient intake, having a record to help identify any patterns if things start to go off track will be an added benefit. I’ve already had a minor 3 day stall – managed not to comletely flip out thanks to the plateau threads here – but it was a challenge.

So not hungry, lovely new consistent level of energy throughout the day and I swear I am sleeping more soundly.

What’s not to love? Hmmmm … maybe saying a sad goodbye to risotto.