HUGE CONGRATULATION, Cathy, I’m so pleased for you and you have managed to hit goal in what I would consider a relatively short time frame too. You are no doubt floating on a cloud right now and feeling justifiably proud. Well done on hanging in there and achieving your target weight.

There is now a thread for those of us in maintenance, so hopefully we will be seeing you on there, as you build in that wriggle room and start to settle into maintaining for a healthy, happy life.

Big hugs to you!

Got some fantastic news to share…
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
Starting weight
8.1.17 = 175 lb
9.11.17 = 132.8 lb

AT LONG LAST I HAVE ACHIEVED MY GOAL!!!!

43 lb gone – BMI 25 !!!!

This has been an incredible journey! I couldn’t have done it without the support of the many friends I’ve met on here! Thank you to everyone for your advice and support over the last 10
months!. I am absolutely delighted this morning to have eventually reached my goal weight.

My plan now is to get me some wiggle room before the Christmas festivities start. I am aiming for 3lb.

This is the beginning of the rest of my life at a healthy and happy weight!

I hope that my story encourages all the slow losers that with a lot of determination and support from the friends on here, it can be done and it doesn’t matter how long it takes!

Cathy

Hi All

End of week 5 today and, as predicted, a sharp 5.2 pound rise following a week off. I try to think that this just mirrors the very sharp drop in week one. Neither makes sense at a simple level. I have not taken in 18000+ extra calories in one week! (Honest!) Back on track today and should be able to maintain this for the next 2 weeks at least. There should be a sharp drop over the next few days then a steady slide downwards…

Superb effort AngS! I look forward to the day when I have finally lost your present body weight!

Keep it up every one!

As a PS: I loooovvveee Pilates. Just found a good teacher again after a hiatus. It’s so good, we do it in an old church, great for mind and body. I also have a PT twice a week, though recently events have conspired against me, so more like once a week. We do compound/core/weights. Then I walk the dog as well, but he’s only a puppy, so I try not to exhaust him! I definitely lose weight slower when on full exercise regime, but figure I put on muscle, which burns fat, so I try to be patient.

I found the thing I had most of when I started this was time – that I used to fill with food, so now I get stuff done to get out the habit of snacking. Boring stuff like laundry or nice stuff like gardening, posting here or reading the paper! Though with puppy a lot of previously empty time is filled with standing in garden waiting for him to wee! This week I’ve tidied up and thrown out old scarves/gloves etc and the shoe cupboard (room!) – as the kids feet keep on growing!

Last time I lost weight (hypnosis) I played candy crush instead of eating, and knitted a lot once that got boring. Teeny tiny Xmas decorations …. completely lost urge for that now though.

Good morning V. Pleased to hear you are still refocusing.

As far as increasing your exercise is concerned, a little bird told me that pompom waving is great for batwings, especially if they’re shocking pink – err the pompoms, not the batwings 😉😄😉

Keep up the good work

Cheerleader Theo🔮🔮

That’s brilliant, AngS ! I can feel your elation. I still have 9 lbs to go until my weight starts with an 11 stones, which will be the first time since my marriage in 1972. Boy, do I look forward eagerly to that day !

Keep it up !

Macloud

Great news, Lynchick. So pleased for you – I think this WOE has changed all our lives. Congratulations on being almost at goal 👍

Success! 8st.13.8lbs! First time my weight has started with an 8 for years. As I’m only 5 feet tall, my ideal weight is 8st 7lbs… Now to get rid of my tummy! Have booked into an ab attack class tomorrow before my Young at Heart mixed activity class (for more mature people at the gym).

AnnieW is right. The muscles repair themselves on rest days, so a mixture of fitness activities is best.

Hi JackieM – I have also changed from double to single cream . I agree – not as nice as double, but much much lower in calories. I will keep double as a special treat for Christmas.

Marsie – it is a great feeling to have no regrets about your dinner selections. I have also noticed how much like enjoy what I am eating when I go out to dinner. Am feeling very envious about your dinner on a veranda overlooking Geograph bay and the Sunset.

Marie123 – I love Pilates also. I started doing it in 1998 to help me recover from years of back pain and then trained to teach it. I still have some of my clients from 2001 – when I first started running my classes. We are all getting older together and Pilates helps us stay young and active.

My biggest problem is that Pilates is so popular and I teach 6 days and 5 evenings a week. Probably at almost 70 I should slow down a little – but I find it really hard to turn people away. I am trying to start being more disciplined and pass people on to other teachers so I can at least have a relaxing break with a cup of coffee.

Topcac – I love your mum’s saying. It is so true. It is the same if you maintain for a week instead of losing – you can count one pound lost for the pound you didn’t put on.

Angela 06 – MFP or fatsecret really do help to keep track of what we eat. A good idea to go back to logging what you eat.

Well done to everyone for keeping on keeping on. It’s great to read everyone’s posts.

Allie that has taken an amazing amount of willpower. Now I know why my journey has/is so long and bumpy …. I need to be far, far stronger in my resolve!

Good morning.

We ( or at least I !!) are now in the second half of this challenge. I have certainly increased my water intake on the days I’m home so I feel that I have become refocused in that way. Now I need to tackle my exercising. I tend to use my weights and bands one day and then forget for a few days so I need to get into a better routine. Must get rid of the bingo wings!

So for the second half of this challenge I will exercise everyday … it’s only two weeks, and I’m sure I can do that, and hopefully it will have become a habit by November 22nd … or at least I will be on my way to making it a habit.

Have a good day.

Morning all, 63.4kg today, down 200g.

First ate at 11am, 2 tablespoons yoghurt and 7 walnuts.

Lunch – pulled ham, mixed leaves and 1teaspoon mayo.

Dinner – left over cauliflower cheese.

Snacks – coffee with single cream (not as nice as double) couple of glues cream over and above that, 2 pieces 90% chocolate.

Lots of black coffee, not enough water. Thirsty this morning.

No real exercise, bit of walking.

Hello sisters!

First 48 hour fast completed last night at 7.30pm and boy did I enjoy my supper! I also slept better last night even though I woke the usual 3 times, but not for long. I did have a peak on the scales this morning, and it was worth it but I shan’t divulge until my Saturday weigh in! Sorry to keep you in suspenders, girls! hahaha.

Marie – I switched to unsweetened soya milk in tea, would that be an option? I totally understand your association with tea and your mum. I can’t drink tea black either. Soya milk is only 1g carb for 150ml whereas semi skimmed and whole cow’s milk is 7kg. It’s the only milk substitute that I can enjoy. Makes coffee curdle though! So I have black coffee when fastiing.

Juliet – yes, see food and eat it – that (was) me all over! The old ones are the best! I love that description of mailbox spider mail!

Mary – I guess your mum was trying to jolt you perhaps and meant well, but we don’t need telling these things as we already know! We are our biggest critics! So pleased for you that having Noodle will be a regular Wednesday thing. Your patience has paid off. I’m really pleased for your daughter and her weight loss, she’s obviously feeling much happier in herself and that has a knock on effect with everyone she is around. As far as downsizing goes, I guess the pressure is off slightly now with Jovis working, so you can take your time and think about it. Research best ways to invest should you decide to sell. I need to see a FA myself and a colleague at work has given me his number. Says he’s good. I’ve yet to ring him because I have a distrust of FAs!

My guys are all back in the office today so it will be full speed ahead now until Friday but I will try and pop in at lunchtime if I get chance.

See you all later.

Loves
Kazeeexxx

Morning,

today +0.1lb

Body fat is going down but very very very slowly.

Go topac go! (I had to google hump day)

Sueblue – well done for those steps 👟👟👟

Marsie- hoping that today is a good day and gives you resilience for tomorrow.

Thank you Marie! 😃 Really hoping to make the weight target. Ideally I would like to be about 65kgs but that will come. I haven’t been 65kgs in nearly 20 years!

Hi KazzUk. Fasting BGL was 5.5 both yesterday and this morning. So that still needs to come down a little as I am spiking in the 7’s still but at least double figures are a thing of the past.

I awoke this morning extremely fatigued and must admit I have had little motivation or energy now for about a week. Probably hormones as my period begin today. That’s what I am going to put it down to anyway. 👍

👏👏👏 Lynchick.

All very well to be grateful to the good Dr M, and the plan, but major credit to you in your application and ability to persevere with this WOE, and in making it your WOL (way of life). Great rewards for you 😊

Hello everyone, have been away only since Saturday, home yesterday ie Wednesday afternoon, so this morning was the first opportunity to weigh. Very happy to say that the scales showed 63kg, ie 500gm less than the start of this challenge.
Given the 4 lunches + 3 dinners in restaurants or cafes, and the 4th dinner as our own shared plates (on the verandah looking over Geograph Bay and the sunset) I’m pleased the result reflected the care I took in my selections, without being obvious about it, and best of all that I enjoyed what I had and didn’t regret anything not selected😊 😊

So well done, SunnyB, to be so in charge over that period of time on holidays👏👏

And👏👏👏 to everyone else on the first week of this challenge.

Now I’m home in the place where logically I should have the most control over my eating but where, apparently, I have the least, it’s back to “one day at a time”.

I used to use stevia daily in my apple cider vinegar-sparkling water beverage, but over time I lost the taste for it. I can still tolerate it in modest amounts. Erythritol is a problem if there’s more than a couple of teaspoons in anything because the cooling effect makes me heave. The best option for my tastes is a mixture of erythritol, inulin and monk fruit extract (also known as Lo Han Guo). Zero blood sugar impact across the board, injection of prebiotics from the inulin to keep your gut flora happy and the combination obscures any odd aftertastes and deficiencies from the individual elements. https://www3.netrition.com/nunaturals-losweet-pure-lo-han-guo.html

I still have the occasional artificially sweetened beverage (Zevia Cream Soda is amazing) and some strawberry preserves with erythritol that I pair up with freshly ground peanut butter when I want a hit of that classic PB&J flavor. It doesn’t set me off on a mad sugar craving, but then again, I’ve been doing the BSD for a long time and I’ve gotten stricter as my tastes have changed. I don’t know if I could have hacked baking my first Christmas on the program. Having said that, I did manage to go to my favorite sushi place on Christmas Eve and stick with the seaweed salad and tuna sashimi while avoiding all the rolls and dumplings I used to love.

It’s fab to read all your posts which I have done all year and now I feel the urge to share…if I can anyone can … I’ve been following this WOE since Feb this year firstly just the general principal of Mediterranean diet then after losing 6kg (I’m an Aussie) in 6 months decided to do the 800 cal I’ve completed 2 rounds with the 5 -2 in between and have lost 19kgs (40lbs) size 20 now size 10/12 … I was a serial dieter tried and paid for every diet, plan, book group meeting, food provided plan out there over the last 20 years. This way of eating has done it for me like no other, and after the 3 days of the first week of 800 cal I have NEVER been hungry. I now feel confident I will never return to my old ways of eating. I have 4kgs to reach my goal and today have emptied my wardrobe of clothes that hang off me. My family have been super supportive and my darling hubby has never once complained about my calorie counting obsession and today again encouraged me to give all these clothes away without hesitation knowing I now need a new wardrobe. So if you are thinking of doing this or just started. DO IT I mean really do it…. read the book cover to cover as many times as you need to understand it all. Track your food every single morsel that goes in your mouth and it will work. Thanks Michael Mosley you have literally saved my life.

One quick question to all your experts: with Xmas coming up am wondering if I dare make any of the low carb cookies I used to. Do you ladies find any issues with the sugar replacements (my favorite being liquid stevia, and Swerve/erythritol if I must use a dry product)? Do you get stalls in you weight loss or extra hunger if you use them and still stay within your calorie and carb budget? I have cut way back on my use of those re. concern about effect on gut bacteria, but will like a few around Xmas or I will feel like a martyr.

Esnecca and Theadora – you wouldn’t believe how much better I feel about teaching Pilates since the BSD. I was incredibly lucky that my weight didn’t seem to affect my classes – but it is so nice now not to worry about my weight, especially when I meet a new client.

Luvtcook – I have also been a yo yo dieter (I started dieting when i was 19 and I am 70 next year). I agree with SunnyB that the BSD is very forgiving and it is easy to get back to when things go wrong.

Jande9 – that is a very interesting article. I definitely feel the benefit of eating a bit more protein – especially when I have been very active.

SunnyB, thank for sharing your story. And yes it does help. Nice to know that this truely works for real people and not just the few that other diet programs feature in ads.

So far so good, and I totally agree with you about this diet or way of eating being very flexible. I have switched meal times around when I had to and found no downside. I had tried the 5:2 for about 6 months several years ago but always stuggled with hunger on fast days. With BSD I am never really hungry. I do hear the kitchen calling to me around 8:00-9:00pm as I had developed a bad evening munchie habit over the years. I have every intention to make that my one firm rule…eat nothing once dinner is done. If I have planned any type of “dessert” (yogurt with raspberries or other sensible thing) then it has to be budgeted and at the end of a meal. If I can tame that beast it will be a major acheivement for me.

Thanks for your kindness and encouragement.

Hi everyone 🙂 I have just turned 50 and would like to shed the 20kg I have steadily gained over the past 20 years. A recent barrage of blood tests with a new doctor has revealed that I am extremely healthy and I would very much like to stay that way. I am reasonably fit and active and not suffering from any particular ailments except for some long standing reflux (well controlled by ongoing medication). My starting weight is 85 kg and at 5’2″, I’d love to be lighter for the sake of the long term wellbeing of my joints and every other bit of me.

I’m very good at following eating plans strictly and have tried numerous approaches over the past few years. I don’t eat a lot, mostly averaging under 1500 calories a day, and I eat very litle sugar, very few processed/unhealthy foods at all, but this has not resulted in any weight loss. For a few months I followed a strict 800 calorie/day plan and didn’t lose any weight. Then I stepped it up to 2000 calories a day and didn’t gain any weight. I habitually drink a couple of stubbies of beer and a few glasses of wine and/or spirits each day, but during a period of three months when I drank no alcohol at all and substituted unsweetened herbal teas, and didn’t change my diet at all, I didn’t lose any weight.

I am now wondering if insulin resistance lies behind this intractable weight issue. In the past, probably over half my daily calories have come from carbs so this is going to be an interesting experiment. I LOVE every kind of food that belongs in the Mediterranean diet so I am looking forward to everything about the next couple of months and beyond.

Hi Nonna Mary,

It is a lovely memory and yes, I’ve just got to bite the bullet, separate out the emotion and get on with it. It’s just funny how these things catch you unawares – well, it did me that’s for sure. Thanks. Marie x

n.b. I’ve never posted on this thread before but I always visit to read what’s happening. It always feels like all of life is here. It’s lovely!

Thank you so much for that link, that sounds ideal.
I prefer the room temperature/hay box method, where you heat the milk first then leave it to set at room temperature, but out of desperation, put my last attempt (with Yeo Valley Greek style) over a water bath after it had set as much as it was going to, and was cold. It did make it set firmer, but it was still a bit gloopy, and reheating it made it let out a lot of whey. (I use the whey to make a yogurt drink so it doesn’t go to waste, but there is a lot of whey!)
In the past I have had fizzy yogurt drink (not made by anyone I know) and it was always quite strong flavour, it would be awesome if this same culture makes that same fizziness and flavour when warmed! I sometimes add a mix of powdered rose petals and mint to the diluted yogurt drink, courtesy of one of my nieces.
If I can get the basic yogurt right, I want to mix cinnamon and mashed spinach into it. It was a favourite side dish of mine years ago.
That blog post about making kashk misses out a stage, and I have my doubts that it would have the same tanginess if I had tried it with the any of the yogurt I have made recently. Ah, she does actually specify sour yogurt. :S
Fortunately, unlike my MIL, who much preferred home-made to shop bought, I am quite happy with shop bought! Especially the big ‘packet’ that I was given recently which is superior to the jars you usually see in this country. I am a converted kharejee! 🙂 (‘ha’ is the plural ending)

I had reserve response from my district nurse at my DR’s but that is only because of my dietabes and meds, I was recommended to try this by stroke nurses. Due to my minor stroke, I am getting lots of support from the DR ‘s and the stroke unit at the hospital. It is ok for people to have options but the thing is, folks, we are taking control of our Health. This may not work for everyone but to me it is worth a try.

Annie x

Hi alliecat,

I enjoyed the positivity of your post, as I am on my first week I feel that I am floundering a bit but determined to keep on to finally sort my weight and diabetes. I get one diabetic checkup a year and very little support from my medical centre. I have never been offered a healthy eating course or if I need podiatry I have to pay £38 out of my pension, also in this area you definitely can’t see a dietician because I was told by a doctor “they are only for seriously ill patients”. I don’t feel seriously ill but I think that I should have access to a dietician. The only advice I have had from the DN, it use the eatwell plate and when I told her that I am going to do the Blood Sugar Diet I was warned of doom and destruction. But I have remained almost pre-diabetic for the past 4 years so they can all sod off until they get their head around this WOE, I will plough my own furrow with the excellent help of this forum.

Thank for the welcome Welshannie I really feel at home on this forum.

Thanks SunnyB, it never occurred to me to try drinking the bulk of the water earlier in the day. I will try that starting tomorrow, I try to drink about 3 litres per day plus one or two cups of coffee. I know that I should drink this amount every day but it is hard from a very low base, but I will persevere and win….. 🙂

Don’t know if it helps, but I too am over 60 and have reached target, having used the BSD on and off over a 20mth period. During that time, I lost 30lb or 20% of my starting body weight. The beauty of the BSD is it’s very forgiving, it’s easy to get back to when things go a bit wrong, it’s easy to assimilate into almost any life style and produces positive results relatively easily.

I too had been yo-yo dieting for years and when I hit menopause it seemed nothing I tried would produce anything more than a few pounds lost. Finding the BSD has been a revelation and has completely changed my attitude and approach to the way I eat. I have been maintaining for a month this time, but am planning to try to drop a few extra pounds, to give me some wriggle room, having been away on holiday and gained a few pounds – pleased to say even then I didn’t go above my target weight.

There are plenty of us on the forum, who are older and have still managed to successfully achieve the losses we desired using the BSD. There is nothing special about those of us who have reached target, so there is absolutely no reason that it won’t work for you too, Luvtcook.

Set yourself some mini goals to help keep you focused and to give you a sense of achieving, while you are moving towards you ultimate goal. I have no doubt that you will get to where you want to be – best of luck.

Taurusmmuk – warmest welcome, – wish you the best with the BSD.

Thanks 😎 SunnyB for helping Taurusmmuk out. Hopeful the night trips to the toilet will settle down.

Now that is a idea with the buffet – go for the quiche and leave the pastrybehind. Gives me an idea to make some on the weekend without the pastry to keep in the fridge.

Back to work tomorrow after been off for over 4 weeks after mine minor stroke. So lunch ready and breakfast planned. Looking forward to getting back to a routine.

I thought I would tell you guys about my dogs. I have two dogs 🐕 both German shepherds, one is ten and the other one is two years old. And THEY ARE NOT HAPPY with me and my family as there are no scraps left on the plates as we are eating all our food. Image what they may be saying to each ‘ no leftovers again …😠. The older one, Misty, is so hopeful and keeps giving us her paw 🐾 even after we have finish eating. And the younger one, Daisy, sneaks in to the kitchen behind me and tries to lick the plates as I put them in the dishwasher. 😁.

So day 3 has been the best one so far as I do not feel hungry today.

Have a good day tomorrow
Will catch up with everyone e tomorrow.

Kind regards
welshannie.

Thank you Verano, I have a lot to learn and am most grateful for your reply. If I use MFP I’ll use 20 or 30g for carbs and see how the calorie totals work out. I’m also hoping that the end of the plateau is in sight!

Marie123…it is lovely that you have that memory. Can you not drink tea without milk? I didn’t think I could until I found out I am lactose intolerant. I couldn’t drink it with milk now. You do get used to stuff quickly on this WOL.

Advice from the Financial Advisor was …sell the house and downsize, then come back to me and I can invest your money….I am sitting there thinking…I don’t think so!

Today I finished my 3rd 24 hour fast. If I don’t lose weight this week I will have to chop my leg off to do it!

Take care all.

Lots of love
Nonna Mary
xxx

Sorry if you already know this but exercise causes small tears in our muscles which fill with water during the repair process, hence the almost immediate weight gain which goes away quite quickly. Also our muscles strengthen during our rest days, not when they are being exercised which is why, generally speaking, we shouldn’t do the same exercise everyday. However a rest day doesn’t have to mean doing nothing, just do something different that uses different muscles to previous days exercise. I run several times a week and on other days do strength, stretching or core exercises. Swimming is good too – but I hate it unless in the sea on holiday.

No need to find me elsewhere Allie, I know where you live. And I LOVE reading the posts on this forum. First of all….its full of “been there done that” so really great info and inspiration. And frankly I mostly love the warmth and affection you all have for each other. Half of weight loss is attitude….and you ladies have such a positive attitude in spades.

One thing that might be a great forum to start is just to have a place for everyone’s success stories…..anyone that has hit target regardess of how little or how much weight loss. And include ages and diet history. Because it is so comforting and encouraging to see that others like oneself (in my case over age 60, a lifetime yo-yo dieter, with 70 more lbs to lose) can see that it CAN be done. So many times the success storied are men in their 40s who lose fast and easy, and those of us that have hit brick walls over and over think that their experiences just don’t apply, whether thats true or not. But to hear that you all have succeded so brilliantly throws all the excuses out the window. As you have said, “If I can do it you can do it”….I am printing that off and taping it to the refrigerator.

You ladies are my heros and feed my soul as well. Maybe someday I can legitimatley join you as an “after reaching your target” member.

Put that in the “ITS JUST NOT FAIR” column.

There was an article in the paper (Toronto Globe and Mail) looking at a study on muscle loss as you age. They looked at high intensity workouts (H) and low intensity workouts (L).
They found that younger people benefitted from 3 H workouts a week, but as you get older a HLH pattern weekly was better, alternating H and L. This was because it takes longer for muscles to recover when you get older so your muscles don’t have time to heal when you do all H workouts.
They also found that your muscles don’t respond to protein as well as you age, so you require more to trigger your muscles into repair mode. They suggest .5 gram per kilogram of body weight per meal.

Hi Yowser — my mother had very troublesome lymphodema after a hysterectomy and she hated to wear the compression stockings — she finally started to get lymph massage about once a week and that really really helped enough that she quit wearing the stockings except for long plane flights.
The lymph massage is a special technique that moves the lymph fluid up toward your heart and out of your extremities. I know she had to hunt for a specialist but that person helped her immensely.

Wow all you 20 carb guys rock! I am so in awe of you all,with yr low carbs and yr high weight losses! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Youve all made me see its NOT impossible to do.
Thanks for all the food ideas xxxxxx
Ps ESNECCA pls pass on my regards to yr mum and her poor feet! She has my deep sympathy..i wdnt wish this on my worst enemy X

Haha again, Allie, doesn’t take much to lead us astray, eh?😄😉😄

But at 68, I’ll take being “naughty” as a compliment 😀

Cheers 🍷🍷🍷

You’re naughty, Theodora, and a bad influence! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Haha Allie, we’re BSD twins, obviously separated at birth and one whisked across the pond!

Verano, thanks for the suggestions, but I’m a bit of coffee afficionado (double esspresso) and adding anything at all to my precious cup, let alone cream, sounds like the work of the devil to me😱 And even before BSD I didn’t eat chocolate, but maybe I’ll give it a try. Mind you, o/h eats dark chocolate as if it’s going out of fashion, so I’d have to find a very obscure hiding place or he’d eat the lot in one sitting 😈

Allie, glad V’s suggestions sound more palatable to you, will be interested to hear how you get on. In the meantime, maybe I’ll have a glass of wine 😜

Those are great suggestions, Verano! I’m just about to place my
online grocery order for friday delivery, and I’m now going to
add to it. Thanks so much! 🙂

Theodora and Allie how about a little cream in coffee or a few squares of dark chocolate? Won’t take up too much room in your tummy but will add a few calories.

Oh Theodora, when I open my mouth I hear your words coming out!
Are you sure you aren’t my ventriloquist handler? I wonder if we
haven’t painted ourselves into a corner not wanting to go any more
below target but unwilling to gain either 🙂 I know that drinking wine
to maintain weight is neither wise or sensible, so I try not to do so
more than a few times a week, and like you I just don’t feel like
eating more. I have to force myself to put 1/2 oz. of nuts or 1/3
avocado onto my plate! I, too, feel wonderful and energetic and
don’t feel like eating for the sake of eating. Are we becoming
“nutters” do you think? 🙂 Nobody wants to walk with me either.
At 5’7” I have a long stride and my husband doesn’t do a good
job of keeping up either. By the time the walk is over I’m 1/2 –
1 block ahead of him so I’m walking alone anyway! I don’t think
that I’ve cracked “the code” on all of this either. But it feels
marvelous to know I’m not alone. Always great to chat!

Allie

Yes, luv2cook, I agree and see exactly where you’re coming from. After my dance or gym classes I always seem to weigh a pound more the next day.

It’s the specific viili starter that Happy Kombucha sells that I was recommending. It’s less stringy than viili usually is – mine is now not stringy at all – and has an excellent flavour and texture. I’ve pretty much tried them all now, and I really think this viili makes the best yogurt.

I often make labneh, too, and even more often, I strain a bit of the whey off and add chopped herbs – usually fresh dill, but sometimes garlic and green onions – and use it as a dressing or cold sauce. It goes extremely well with the beetroot falafels in the book!

I just love the flavours of fermented foods, and would choose kefir or yogurt over chocolate any day!

I can feel the holidays coming because everything just keeps speeding up! Sorry to take so long to reply — before I know it the day is gone — also the time change for daylight-savings time has left me disorganized mentally — so funny, I don’t understand why California can’t do what Arizona does and just stick to one time!
Allie, I love that you know Williams art museum — actually my daughter ended up doing their Masters in Art History there and so she lived and breathed the art museum for two years — it was an amazing program and she is SO much fun to go to a museum with now (she gets a crowd when she starts to talk about a painting) but she decided not to teach (or work in a museum) and is working on developing a women’s bicycle clothing company in the mountains — not exactly what she trained for but she is happy so we are happy.
I loved the Berkshires and my OH loved them too and he is often rabble-rousing about buying a house there, however, they have long cold winters and I really don’t know if he truly understands how that would be (he grew up in Los Angeles).
I might like to spend some summers there — east coast summers are insanely beautiful.
And wow, Harvard legacies in your family! I would love my granddaughters to try for Harvard (or Williams) –I told their parents that they should move internationally for their school years and that would help them get in. It must be incredibly hard to get accepted — kudos on all the hard work in your family.
Mary, it’s not rude to ask about my dad, I am the one who brought it up! I like your thought that he must have loved my mom very much to stay married for fifty plus years, despite the fact that he is gay.
They were married about 47 years before she found out and it was only when he was diagnosed with full-blown AIDS that the doctors insisted he tell her.
It was a very damaging bombshell to my whole family, and especially my mom, but they stayed together until she died (ten years ago).
We have all come to grips with the history of it now — each child has their own “take” on it — he is still my Dad and he is still here, he had a very successful response to the anti-viral drugs — he is not well now but honestly, he is a strong person.
Kazz — did you make it to the end of the fast? I might have just eaten something at the 35 hour mark and there is NO way I could have watched a cooking show — ha ha — self-induced torture — I can’t even watch TV sometimes because all the pizza ads make me hungry! I am a See-food, eat-food person — have you ever heard that joke? “I’m on a sea-food diet — I see food and I eat food” — I know it’s an old one!
I love the articles being cut out by moms everywhere! My mother was famous for cutting articles from the newspaper and mailing them with just a scribble on top “thought you’d like this” — we called them mailbox-spider food!
Electrician coming today to install a new thermostat! Yay, I am always too hot in this house — the BSD has revved up my metabolism and the inaccurate thermostat is killing me! I think my metabolism has gone on overdrive and I really do attribute it to eating BSD friendly foods and low-carb.
Take care all — have a great day (wherever you are!!)

Esnecca, well done on reaching your lowest weight to date. Have no idea how I managed to miss that fantastic announcement over the weekend!

Krysia, I’m with Esnecca – took real guts to teach Pilates pre-BSD. Take my hat off to you, well done.

Welcome aboard SunnyB, and congratulations yet again on returning from your wonderful, extended holiday still at target.

Personally, I still love black and I have bought some new black clothes – dressy ones to be sure, my casual wardrobe has seen a new injection of colour. Though, like you, all my new clothes are of the “skinny” variety, all super-fitted.😝

Allie, I eat approx. the same amount of protein as you, give or take a few daily variations. My exercise consists solely of walking – a lot of it though, 2 big bouncy dogs see to that. I have always given them 2 x 90 mins walks a day. That used to add up to approx. 6 miles in total, these days it is over 10 miles because I walk so much faster. When o/h walks with me, he used to complain about how slow I was, saying I didn’t walk, I ambled. These days, however, it is more likely to be him who is lagging behind (and he is super fit – thinks nothing of cycling 60 – 80 miles for “fun”!!!) I don’t do any weights though (other than carrying vast amounts of shopping), what with 3 hours a day walking, I don’t have time for any extra over exercise!

I don’t think I have got this maintenance thing sussed yet, despite 6 months practice. I don’t know about “starvation mode” my metabolism seems to have gone into overdrive. I am eating up to my TDEE (and beyond some days) but
I too am at my lowest weight since my 20s (40 years ago) and dropped yet another pound this morning. Weighed in at 110lbs (7st 12lbs ; 49.89kg), so 9lbs below target. I guess I am going to have to force myself to eat more, but I really don’t feel hungry and it seems pointless to eat for the sake of it – that’s why we all put on weight in the first place after all, and I don’t want to go there again! The days I don’t lose any seem to be the days I drink alcohol, but I would prefer to give my new, healthier liver at least 4 days rest a week, and I’m not sure I should be drinking alcohol in order to maintain (though I oh so easily could😜) Oh well, I’ll just have to eat a few more nuts, or cheese or something I guess, but hope my body adjusts and the whole thing stabilises soon. On the plus side, I cannot remember when I last felt healthier, more energetic etc. so all good there.😊

The night time toilet visits should reduce as your body adjusts, but try to drink the bulk of your fluid intake during the day and limit intake an hour or so before bedtime, so that most of the necessary elimination happens before you settle for the night. Hopefully that will help to limit the number of times you need to get up during the night.

Allie, My lovely grandie, Noodle has just left with her mother and the news is…I get to have her every other Wednesday from now on as my DD with be going into work. Yay. I get to play with my lovely baby and give her back later.

Kazz, as long as you are sure. I very, very rarely get hungry and quite often used to forget to eat. I have to say today I could see such a difference in my daughter. She has really lost weight, in just 2 weeks. I am such a proud Mother! You job sounds very high powered and stressful. I hope you have a good unwind programme! Your mom sounds great. My mother once asked me what my friends thought of me being fat! I told her they are my friends because of who I am, not what I am!

We have a financial advisor coming in a bit. Hopefully, he can tell us the best way to handle the house etc. We are thinking about equity release, but something in the back of my mind is telling me just to sell up! Will let you know later.

Lots of love,
Mary
xxx