And re. an extended fast: it is now 2:30 pm my time. No food since 7:00 pm last night and NO HUNGER. NADDA. And a very upbeat mood (can you tell. Right).

Will see how tomorrow and onward go, but I am very hopeful. The BSD has been a real shake up for me. Gone is my prior OCD dependence of 3 square meals and a snack before bed (and maybe 2 more snacks thru the day). The clock ruled my stomach before….would panic if dinner an hour late (OMG….I might STARVE to death). Gone is the rigid notion of what breakfast had to look like….or, “must have largest meal at night”. All out the window. I am now eating like a rational person and with my brain not with my eyes. Plate does not have to be covered rim to rim with food, no bare china poking thru ever to be seen. Gone. Done. Forever I hope.

Hi Paloma, add me to the list of people with a family history of T2. I don’t have diabetes but I am insulin resistant so without strict blood sugar control I put on weight that’s impossible to shift. When I discovered the BSD, everything finally clicked and the weight dropped with startling ease. Like SunnyB said, a lot of us have done the BSD for far longer than 8 weeks. I did an unmodified extremely rigorous version of the Fast 800 without breaks for over a year and lost something in the neighborhood of 200 pouds.

I’m on maintenance now and slowly building up my caloric intake while still strictly regulating my carb intake, keeping to 20 grams or less a day. That’s how I intend to live for the rest of my life and I have zero regrets about it. Everyone else around me can enjoy their potatoes, bread and pasta and the ensuing range of stomach upsets, bloating, exhaustion and inexplicable swelling of body parts. I’ll stick with cheese, high quality meats, fish, nuts, seeds, the lowest carb veggies and the ensuing clear-mindedness, stamina, glowing skin and endless energy.

Dr. Fung’s Complete Guide to Fasting is a great resource for anyone interesting in introucing one or more versions of fasting into their lives. I’ve done 5 extended fasts now and absolutely love them. That feeling you get on the second day is one of the greatest natural highs a human can experience. Even though I’m at goal, I’m going to continue to do one extended fast (72 hours) a month to keep my insulin levels nice and low and for the sheer joy of it.

Allie, hey girl, you are MY inspiration. I feel very privileged to be part of this group of sharers. Such a lovely lovely bunch of women. You all have aged into “fine wine”.

Luvtcook, Mary – I admire you both so much for being able to get your heads
around the concept of an extended fast! My best is about 17-18 hours.
I am always “all ears” to hear what knowledge everyone has picked up from
Jason Fung and other sources on the cellular benefits of being able to
accomplish this. Please continue to share your experiences.
Luvtcook, getting rid of the “fat suit” is a humbling experience. I still
can’t quite believe it, but I know that all thing are possible with this WOE.
I’m ready to begin weekly soup production, so I have an eagle out for
your posts in the recipe section. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

Allie

Verano, I just posted my favorite low carb bread recipe for you (Manna From Heaven). It requires buying some hemp hearts but I PROMISE you it is worth it. Your husband will love this bread. Its 183 calories a wedge but delicious and very filling. That and a bowl of soup and he will be full. And it toasts magnificently. Also high in fiber. The hemp hearts are a great secret weapon in low carb….added to cauli rice they bulk it up. Can be added to ground beef instead of bread crumps to make meatloaf or stuffed peppers, stuffed cabbage rolls. Great stuff. I am a big fan (can you tell …duh).

Nonna Mary….isn’t the info just amazing? I haven’t ever been so optimistic that I can finally unzip the fat suit I have been the prisoner of for 17 years and BE ME AGAIN!

Hi my lovelies.

Sorry for the radio silence today. Got totally absorbed in Grain Brain! The damage gluten can cause to your brain causing all sorts of neurological illnesses is staggering! Surely if it was true, why is there no campaign worldwide to make everyone aware that they are pretty much condemning themselves to appalling, ill health and misery? Is it because it would be an economic disaster? It’s terrifying!

Well I bit the bullet and climbed on the scales. A final gain of 4 lb. Sorry guys to disappoint you but, I am still very much in the zone and I know I can undo this blip over the next week. Going to try to stick to 20 g carbs max and make myself drink lots of water! I relaxed a little and had a very nice week holiday. But I’m ready now for the last stretch to Xmas, a clear run and well ready!

Allie, sorry to hear your plans have fallen through. Shame but better to dodge the illness me thinks. Go on and treat yourself to some new gear, you certainly deserve it! That pencil skirt sounds very classy, especially with some pretty nylons!

Mary, you do that, you’ve had a harrowing week and you deserve a break. I hope the sudocreme gives you a bit of relief. It does dry out the skin. My routine is to remove my makeup with aqueous cream and a tissue. Then I wet a flannel with warm water and gently wash my face. Never use soap. Then apply more aqueous and once soaked in, I apply the sudo. In the mornings, I do the same again with acqueous and flannel, then apply Astal moisturiser, then my makeup. I don’t bother with make up at weekends. I never used to be able to go bare faced, not even to open the door to the postman!

Good to see our other friends dropping by.

Allie, I owe you an email, but right now Strictly Come Dancing has started so will catch up tomorrow.

Lots of love and enjoy your evening my wonderful friends.

Kazzzeee xxxx

Hi and welcome PINKCLARE …good luck! XX
I wont add any more suggestions as ESNECCA has given such excellent ones as usual
I cant wait to try that custardy treat ESNECCA! I LOVE anything comfortingly custardy!😋
You have the most delicious ideas ! X

Thank you Luvtcook. I just watched the video! I have been 24 hour fasting for a while, but obviously need to ramp it up a bit more.

Thank you for sharing.

Nonna Mary
xxx

Thanks VERANO for the encouragement X
Im having the extra three grams over today and tomorrow! Overall it will work out 20g a day
Who thought an extra 3 grams could cause such joy! 😄
.
I dont mind if i dont lose more weight just now…i could still afford to lose some i hasten to add, but i dont want the surviving clothes i have to get any bigger on me just yet,coz i cant afford to buy more… i wd just like to see if 20 g helps the oedema in my ankles and knees as studies suggest it does… tho am baffled as to how it can help the lymphatic system start working properly🤔
You will deffo get there,V,social scene permitting..its hard as we are now in the party season! But youre an oldtimer on this forum and long committed to the low carb lifestyle! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
XXXXX

Mary, what a wonderful friend you are, not only here but in terms of your
“real life” relationships as well. I really hope that your “bestie” will embrace
this way of eating, and it never hurts to be a role model for her. Husbands
are always another story!!! I was called “the food Nazi” around here
(affectionately, of course 🙂 ) for a good 9 months. I almost fell over in a
dead faint during jim’s hospitalization when he said that the food they
delivered to his room was inetible, (sp?) and he couldn’t wait til we got
home so he could eat “my food”. No more grimaces, etc.! Is your Sat.
night dancing challenge almost over? Unfortunately Doc Martin has
begun reruns of the season. I’m thinking of having our first wood burning fire
tonight in the fireplace, instead. Going to hunt down some old newspaper,
I’ve already found a cache of hard wood logs out on the porch. Enjoy
your evening, everyone!!

Allie
xoxoxo

Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are one remarkable women and I have great admiration for you!

Esnecca, how wonderful for you! I have not worn a dress in over 15 years (my bottom so much bigger proportionately than my top, separates always work better. Slack and tunics have become my uniform).

I dream of the day I can buy a pair of petty tall leather boots to wear with a skirt. My calves are just too big to do that now. But I know that day will come.

I hope you dance the night away and make your OH so very proud to have a glam goddess on his arm!

FFBB…I didn’t know BP tablets could have an effect. I had the Psoriasis before I took the tablets though. But I would be interested to know which type your mother took? Kazz and I take the same ones …Losartan…and they have lots of side effects (don’t they all?). Be careful crossing that road, but enjoy your lovely Red coat.

Allie…shame about the weekend, BUT…spend the money on the clothes. If you are anything like me you have lived in baggy “comfortable” clothes for years! You deserve to feel good and dressing up can do that. That skirt sounds lovely. When eating at my daughters on Sunday, I wore a dress that I haven’t worn for ages. Jovis commented that it was longer than before, because my stomach wasn’t lifting it up. It was hanging on me and I used to stretch it…I felt very good. I haven’t lost the weight I gained last weekend and don’t think I will this week. I am going to relax tonight and begin again tomorrow or Monday.

When my friend came around last week, she noticed I had lost a little weight and I told her how. I bought, both the recipe book and the 8 week blood sugar diet and left them inside her porch today. She phoned me and was so pleased. She is going to read them over the next few weeks. Like I said, even if she doesn’t follow the WOL she can still use the recipes. Her husband has arthritis and carries a hell of a lot of weight around his gut. I am hoping she will be able to persuade him to join her, but I don’t think he will. He enjoys his indulgences too much.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Love from
Nonna Mary
xxx

I did it in stages, V. Every time I got to the point where I could no longer keep my pants up, I went through my closet and dresser and filled a box to donate to Goodwill. I found it very helpful in keeping me looking forward and not stuck in the sad billowing black polyesters of my past. I would buy exactly two pieces every 4 sizes or so I went down: a pair of black pants and a pair of sweats. The shirts I could work with for as long as it took, but your bottoms really do have to at least kind of fit. The last major purge was in September and it made way for the lovely new clothes I snagged at the Labor Day sales. Now I’ve added a ton of winter clothes to the mix so the few big sweaters that managed to survive my ruthless purges have gone to Goodwill too.

To all…..just watched several Jason Fung MD videos with great data from a number of research studies that show basal metabolic rate does indeeed go UP for fasters (studies he looked at did alternative day fasting) where as the poor schlemiels that did the old fashioned calorie restriction diet saw their metabolism fall.

More good news….those fasting saw their hunger hormone (grelin) drop over time, whereas (you guessed it) old calorie restriction dieters saw their hunger hormone steadily increase with weight loss. His point: calorie restriction is truely a recipe for failure. Fasting data is a plus in every column. AND….the rate of weight loss is the same for men and women who are at the same weight. And there was no plateau for those who stuck to the regimen (over the long haul….I am sure there were many stretches where nothing showed on the scale only to fall off the following week, etc).

And for those who might ever want to try it, if you do a multiple day fast, the rate of weight loss actully goes up from Day 1 up to Day 4 and then starts to gently slide/taper off. I had started a 3 day fast this morning and now have talked myself into seeing if I can extend it to 4 days. Will let you all know how it goes.

For any wanting to watch the video, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iatPAjf5I_Y

I feel like I have been given the secret password to unlock the treasure room. The treasure if free for the taking.

Thank you! I have been so busy today I didn’t get to either the mayo or the tuna! Only got to the ironing and following on from another thread, I keep washing, ironing and wearing these far too baggy clothes ….. why? When did you start to get rid of your ‘bigger’ clothes. Was it early of late on into your weight loss?

My favorite way of using chia is to grind it up in my spice grinder and it to coconut, hemp or almond milk (all unsweetened, of course). A quarter cup of chia to a cup of liquid is the usual proportion. Let it sit on the counter for 5 minutes and it’ll thicken all on its own into a pudding. Absolutely delicious. For a big treat, try it with coconut cream. It’s high in fat and therefore calories so you can eat much of it on the 800 cals, but the carbs are virtually nil and the rich, custardy mouthfeel feels like an indulgence of the highest order.

Other sources of fiber without a carb hit are flaxseed crackers, lupini beans, rapini/broccoli rabe, spinach and sprouts (just the kind from low carb veg like broccoli, alfalfa, clover, etc., not the kind from beans). I eat at least two items from this list every day.

Hi,

I’m a newbie and have been reading through this thread. I am trying to do the 20g carb challenge but am struggling to get enough fibre. Are any of you able to share some of your meal plans on what you have been eating? I have added chia seeds in the last couple of days but can’t say I love them.

Thanks everyone and keep up the good work.

Clare x

I have recently become an expert in insane online shopping sprees and I strongly encourage you to BUY IT ALL. But if you can, wait until Friday-Monday because that thousand dollars could be cut in half come Black Friday/Cyber Monday.

I bought my first dress in 20 years a few weeks ago. Because my thighs are weird, as my cat keeps reminding me, the dress is midi length which is very much on trend anyway and looks great with a pair of hot pumps or tall boots and ankle boots. I also bought a gorgeous skirt at White House Black Market that is festive but conservative (it’s black with gold jacquard embroidery and wide box pleats) so I can look good on my OH’s arm when we schmooze with his new employers at the office Christmas shindig. They both fit like a glove and make me feel like a teenager dressing up for the big dance.

In conclusion, Allie, treat yourself! How much have spent on clothes in the past 17 years? I’m guessing pennies. After all your hard work, now’s the time to invest in looking as great as you feel. 🙂

WOW Esnecca – Awesome! Congratulations on your fantastic achievement. It must have stunned you this morning to see such a low figure. Amazing news.

Good grief, Esnecca, you’ve actually done it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn’t be happier for
you 🙂 🙂 🙂 Enough, now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The scale told me I weighed 120.6 lbs this morning. I stared at it for a solid minute to make sure I wasn’t seeing things or still asleep. I ate 3 oz of cheese yesterday! And 15 grams of peanut butter! I expected the scale to go in the other direction. I still can’t quite believe it. When I’m a little less stunned, I might have to run around the house yelling “GOOOOOOOOOOOOAL” like a Spanish football commentator.

Thank you Verano, I have a smile on my face and feel so much less guilty
at the moment! 🙂 🙂 🙂 I wear a lot of black too, and a cold shoulder top
DOES detract from the bingo wings! I’ve been eying a pencil skirt with a
black lace overlay for the party season. Now I’m just going to go for it!
Black suede pumps, etc. Your a bad influence, but thanks so much! I’m
not sure o/h will be as pleased about it as I am, but he will just have to
adjust to the new/old me! 🙂

Hi Allie

Just sat down after doing a mountain of ironing before we go away next week. I hate to leave any washing/ironing before we go. But I can identify with the clothes problems!

Why not have a dress ? I don’t wear dresses because I have loads of scars but otherwise I would and you absolutely should! Go on be a devil!

I have disposed of so many clothes many still with labels on. Too small when I bought them but thinking ‘ I will lose weight’ and now that I have they are too big!

If you are buying online you can always return unwanted items so go on spoil yourself and have a day of trying on and twirling and deciding which clothes really suit you the best. I have had loads of stuff over the last few weeks trying to find a party outfit. Most of it but not all, has gone back but I have chosen, sorry, a black cold shoulder strapped top which hides the ‘bingo wings’ but still looks quite dressy for my party. I know it’s still black but it just seems appropriate at the moment.

Sorry your weekend has been spoilt but there’s still time to spoil yourself!

That’s great, Verano! I have indeed posted it before and I didn’t want to search for it either, which is why I forgot an ingredient: 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard. Gives a little zazz. Enjoy your tuna salad. You can throw caution to the wind with this mayo and make your tuna as creamy as you want. There are so few things you can do that with on the Fast 800.

Hi Both – the BSD is very much sustainable over the long term. There are lots of us on the forum who have been with the BSD for a year, 18 months and 2yrs. Some have reached target weight and are moving into maintenance and some are still on their journey. We are all unique and will lose at different rates, even if we have similar amounts to lose. Keeping low carb is key, so religiously tracking both calories and carbs is important and of course, keeping an eye on the all aspects of your progress is important too, as not all achievements are on the scales, so check your measurements and be conscious of health improvements too.

Best of luck Paloma and you too arcticfox. Make good use of the forum for advice and support and please join in on other threads, including the four week challenges, as these break up the eight weeks stints and makes them feel more manageable.

Kazzi ?

Hi, everyone! My weekend plans to spend it with my cousin and his wife seem
to have fallen by the wayside. Bronchitis has invaded their home, so here we
shall stay. Instead, I’ve been filling my online shopping cart at jjill, a U.S. Co.
that has clothing that caters to “women of a certain age”, yet plenty of style
for me. So far, I’ve loaded $1100 US dollars of merchandise into my cart,
which is ridiculous, so I’ve got to start winnowing down! I haven’t had a dress
or skirt on for a decade and a half. Should I risk it????????? I don’t want to
go crazy here. Where do I think I’m going to go anyway? I over bought in
the Spring, and am embarrassed to admit that several garments still have the
tags on them. Don’t want to do that again. Hmm, what to do…I’m no good
at decision making.

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable weekend. Let’s “talk Christmas”!
What sort of festivities do you all have planned?

Love to all my sweet sisters,

Allie

Yes of course she has …. I was hoping she might post her story too. I think it’s good for us to remind each other, and ourselves, every so often, of just how far we have come with our health. We need to be proud of our achievements because we have done ourselves really proud and we are still …. keeping on …..

Hi Verano – Sunshine girl has also been hugely successful. She was on very high doses of meds and insulin and has cut them dramatically. She is now only on half the doses she was on initially and is still steadily reducing both her meds and insulin.

Sunshinegirl. Well done on losing 3lb during this challenge so far. That is a lot of weight. Do you remember when I saw that old 4lb weight in a vintage shop earlier this year and picked it up, I was amazed at how heavy it was. You’re doing everything right. When I weighed myself on Tuesday this week I had only lost 0.2 lb but then on Thursday for no reason whatsoever I had lost 1.5lbs. My scales are up and down the same couple of pounds and that has been the pattern of my slow weight loss. It’s very frustrating. This is a life long way of eating for us now so you’re right to be strict about not letting carbs in. I am the same. If you keep on with the plan you will lose even if, like me, it is slow. Keep on doing what you’re doing and you will keep your weight slowly moving down. I think your plan to try new menu ideas is a great idea. One thing I did when I got stale was to psychologically pretend I was starting again. I was so excited when I started back in January because I didn’t know if this would work for me and when it did I was so happy. Like you I became a little stale of the same old same old as time went on so I read the book again, reset myself mentally and pretended I was starting again and it really did help. it may sound weird but it worked for me. Keep strong sunshine girl and keep on keeping on with your low carbs. You’re doing everything you can and it will happen – I am proof that this way of eating does work even if for some of us it is a painfully slow process and a test of our resilience!

We really must be creatures of habit! That sounds nasty Allie at least the water that poured out of my steamer was cold!

You are right … yes let’s just do this. So let’s call this Day 1 and start all over again. So far so good for me hope it’s the same for you both as well.

I think you may have hot the nail on the head s-g. We have been eating this way for an eternity and whilst I enjoy the food and don’t eat refined or simple carbs I have lost my motivation. I am still trying but it’s pretty half hearted despite all the challenges BUT I won’t give up! Nor will you! Yes let’s just keep going ….

Hi crabbycans. herbs and spices are virtually anything free but if you want to count them just at 10 cals per meal. That is about the average for some oregano, basil and bay in a bolognaise. Just for fun (yes I have a boring life) I checked out oregano. It has 265 cals per 100g, sounds a lot but if you think you use a teaspoon in a meal then share it between 2 people you will be getting 6.6 extra calories in your meal, the fat (yes fat) is 0.10g per serving and carbs are 1.72g per serving. So unless you are eating your herbs and spice by the 1lb dont worry about it. And, by the way, garlic is about half the values in herbs so stick it in and enjoy.

Best to also flap your arms around at the zebra crossing, FFBB, just to be
on the safe side! We really can’t afford any more accidents to our merry
little band. The grey and pink linen coat sounds beautiful!

Allie
xoxo

Hi all, I am up half a pound this morning so still hovering around a loss of 3lbs total for the challenge but stuck right now. I dont eat anything that I shouldn’t as I almost fear white carbs and dont have a sweet tooth so never crave chocolate brownies. Where I do go wrong is portion control and too much of the things I can have. Cheese, parma ham, rich charcuterie, that sort of thing, and of course wine. Although I have not had any in the past week but it doesn’t seem to make a difference whether I do or dont. I wonder if I have a glass of wine I am not so likely to search out some ham and cheese in the evening. I know I do have an empty feeling, like something is missing and I know that I could fill that hole with something like toast and jam BUT I never do. I cannot allow myself as I am so uptight about the whole carb thing. So I am going to relax, do some meditation, allow myself a glass or two of dry white wine and not feel so bloody guilty all the time. Monday is a new week so I will get my head back into it but doing my menu for the week tomorrow and try adding something different instead of the same old same old.

Sorry for the rant, just feeling a bit down with myself. Oh and I have still been exercising 4 / 5 times each week, even if it is just a brisk walk but mainly aerobics in front of the video. Enjoy the rest of your weekend all. And keep on keeping on…. I am trying to.

Good morning, my fellow water nymphs! Changing any habit, even how much
water to drink and WHEN isn’t as easy as I thought. Like you Theo, I thought
I’d make up for it later, but I ended being 2/8-10 oz glasses short for the day,
and I wasn’t about to chug it at 10:00pm!. When I was ready for lunch I
actually had to wait to eat it because I’d already downed a glass of water.
So, I have now placed a rubber band on my wrist to remind me to keep track
of the time. (simple plan for my simple mind!) V, what a day. We all have
them. Recently, I turned on the coffee maker at 5:00am, only to have the
10 cups of heated water explode out of it. After that, the plumbing backed
up and the bathroom flooded. All in all, a day when I would have done well
never to have gotten out of bed 🙂 Or at least learn how to appreciate tea!
Let’s do this, my friends!!!!!!!!!

Allie

Morning all, I’m with you again Verano, up half a pound this morning so still 1lb to the stone mark and 1.5 to be under. You and me have been at this for so long that, although we never give up and pile it all back on, we have lost our enthusiasm to keep going for the long haul. I can do a week and lose then I mess around after that. Monday is a new week and I am going to relax a little over the weekend (by that I mean have a glass of wine or two) while keeping my food BSD friendly and then back with gusto on Monday. Just looking at the calendar and I have 3 weeks from Tuesday before my next medical appointment. I really have to get back to what I was at my last appointment. Hopefully my BG will be okay but I have had one or two spikes. Keep going girl, I’m still with you.

A lesson to be learned indeed, V. Though one I think we already knew.

I had fully intended drinking my normal compliment of water yesterday, just not before meals. But, being out of routine and also having to go out unexpectedly for several hours meant my water consumption got left by the wayside. Literally didn’t think about it whilst so busy, whereas usually it is a habit to down a pint while preparing food. I shall try harder today – it’s a case of forming a new habit of drinking after meals instead of before. But I’ve had 2 pints today already, as well as a mug of black tea and 2 of coffee, so hopefully restoring full hydration.

Sorry both you and Krysia had “one of those days” yesterday – we all have them sometimes. Hopefully today will be better for both of you – and keep drinking the water. 😉

Hi Allie,

You are so right, my red coat is fun. I am also realising that I really suit blues and greens. I have a lovely size 16 linen coat from Per Una as my next non scale goal. It is soft grey with a pink lining and I can now put it on and fasten the bottom button so I think another 2 stone should be enough for it to fit nicely and losing 2 stone by March/April is doable.

My office is situated at the end of quite a dark road and I had a near miss on the zebra crossing so I figure they will see a red coat better.

FFBB X

Good morning

Well after a 2lb gain this morning I decided to look back over the last 23 days of my current 4 week challenge and the upshot is 7lb gained 6.6lbs loss so an overall GAIN of less just than half a pound! All that effort for nothing and really just a waste of over 3 weeks. I have been yo-yoing up and down like this for the last 5 months and dread to think how much I’ve gained and lost. I am certainly not working that one out!

So back to the drawing board now with 3.9lb to lose to drop into the next stone but with very much more resolve …. no more ‘playing’ at this, no more keeping on keeping on ….. time to knuckle down and ‘JUST DO IT’!!!!!!

Krysia …. today is another day and it WILL be better!

Thanks Krysia and yes it is a really good feeling. I know how well you have done and where you have come from to get to your present healthy state, but I hadn’t realised you were taking insulin as well. So doubly, doubly well done you certainly do need to congratulate yourself. You deserve all the health you have now and I can understand how you wouldn’t want to lose all of that.

I guess my journey has been much simpler because I didn’t have any health issues, apart from my metformin controlled diabetes which wasn’t causing any problems. I suppose with the set of circumstances at the time I decided it was just time to lose weight and get control of my health without drugs. I am now part way there. Diabetes under control without drugs and some, well lots of weight lost, but more to go. However, having reached my first, and main, goal it’s proving more difficult to ‘just’ lose weight for the sake of it. I will persevere though.

Seems Krysia that you and I could be the only diabetes success stories still posting. I hope that between us we can give hope to anyone tackling their diabetes with BSD at the moment. It may take a lifetime of BSD vigilance to remain healthy BUT we know it works and it’s worth it!!

Verano – I had one of those days yesterday. I spilled a cup of copy over my mouse and it went absolutely crazy – hopefully it has dried out now.

Theo you beat by a few moments I was just about to confess all! Amazing that you have gained half a pound by not drinking your usual amount.

I had a really bad day yesterday water wise, worse that normal. It started with my steamer breaking down and blowing all the sockets in my study with computer etc all going off. Fortunately all was well when we reset the fuse but that was the beginning of ‘just one of those days’. It ended nicely with good food, Thai, and good company but has left me with a 2lb gain this morning.

During the 23 days of this challenge I have actually gained 7lbs and lost 6.6lbs. What a total and utter waste of time and effort. If I hadn’t had the ‘bad’ days like yesterday I would have had a good loss overall. But your day yesterday Theo, and my salty food day, without enough water really point to how very, very important it is to stay well hydrated. A lesson for us all maybe.

So Theo what are you planning for today? It clearly is not good if it makes you feel less than your best when you limit your water intake. Maybe to start with you could try to not drink anything for 30 minutes before meals but drink during and/or afterwards.

I promise to try much harder today and at least make my goal of a ‘pint’ before meals and extra will be a bonus.

Hope you had a better day Allie.

Thank you both. I know so little about tofu I just thought it was a good idea to add some to my shopping list …. it just sounds so healthy! I think mayo it is! Thanks Esnecca I’m going to try that later and have it with some tuna. It sounds like an amazing substitute for mayo both calorie and carb wise. I’m sure you have posted that recipe before but I wouldn’t have the faintest idea where to look for it now. Will let you know how it works out.

Luvtcook I did eat Thai last night and had mushroom Tom Yum I have never fancied tofu in it I think because I’m not sure I would like the texture. The soup was lovely though!

Good morning V. Just wondering how your water consumption went yesterday? Did you manage to drink more?

Not being allowed to drink liquids before meals sent my consumption way down,
as being out of my normal routine meant I kept forgetting, which has resulted in a 0.5lb gain this morning, which I’m sure is water retention as I’m feeling dehydrated this morning. I had intended drinking the same amount, just not before meals, so must try harder today. Obviously we are creatures of habit.

Hope you managed at least the extra pint before dinner and bedtime?

Hope you enjoyed your Thai meal last evening and o/h managed to resist the rice?

And what about you, Allie? How did you get on?

Hi articfox, your post came in as I am about to leave for the day – I’ll add more detail this evening once I am home again! If you are UK, got Hemp Powder from Planet Organic online, but I am sure at the time Sainsbury’s had it as well. Your protein is absolutely fine at 60g per day! That is on the high end unless you are very tall – I need 55g at 5ft 8″ (173cm)!. I can find references for you this evening on that, likewise on eating the whole egg not just a part of it.
Your exercise regime sounds great – I wish I could keep that going in that way 🙁