I’m sorry to hear how difficult things are for you happysnap but you are doing well so keep on going & posting how you are doing👍
I’m trying a fast day today until supper & usually don’t anyway eat anything until lunch at 1-0pm after supper the night before at 7-0pm but still feel that I am not fully back into this low carb routine yet.
I am reading a lovely series of books written by Martin Walker an English writer who lives in the Périgord region of France about a fictional small town policeman named Bruno immersed in French country life in the fictional town of St Denis. The stories are a delightful commentary on French country life full of recipes because he likes cooking and the history of the Dordogne. There is also a cookery book out with the recipes of the area which is fun to read. I buy them as second hand paperbacks from a well known online supplier & I can share them with my husband this way although we are running out of book shelf space. I’m also finding reading an actual book rather than on my kindle seems to help with my poor sleep rather than reading digitally.
I am hoping that I might lose some weight this week & will weigh on Saturday. It’s lovely sunshine here in Sussex today but very chilly with a heavy overnight frost.
I hope you are all having a good week🤞🤞🍀🍀
Margaret xx

Thanks for the support and encouragement!
Yes exactly, that’s 4kg gone and 4kg closer to remission so I will just have to keep on keeping on to quote some wise person on here! I will check Benjamin Bikman out- thanks for the tip!

Brilliant news Lucy!
Hope they resolve the tummy troubles now.
Onwards and upwards!
Xx

Lucy great news! Keep on keeping on…..

Supposed to say a few years at 44 ish

Really quick post. Despite eveything and still continuing tummy troubles I had a text re my bloods rhis morning. . I am no longer pre diabetic or diabetic…reading was 40.
I can’t believe it and actually had a few tears.
Previously was 48 and diabetic and then years at 46 ish.
Thanks everyone. I actually feel proud of myself for once !

Happysnap,
So sorry to hear about your troubles. Losing 4kg is an achievement, it is 4kg you no longer have to carry.
I hope the headaches ease and life becomes a little easier!

Pootle you reminded me of ‘times gone by’. Yes pop-up is a revelation. Thank you for making me smile!

Sunny I use Fatsecret. I must admit it’s improved since I first started. It’s so much easier to add your own foods/recipes so slightly more accurate.

So things here aren’t brilliant at the moment with friends ill, and very ill, and other friends with recent losses. But we have to carry on. For me, at the moment, I just have one positive tool …. I keep using my meditation app. It helps me so much and ‘Today, no matter what, I will stay calm’. Not worked that well today but there’s always tomorrow.

Have a good evening.

Happysnap welcome back. So sorry to hear of your problems.
Please take a look at Ben Bikman’s podcasts etc. He is so hot on insulin resistance. His mantra is …
Control Carbs
Prioritise Protein
Fill up with fat and fibre.
Wishing you well and hoping you find a way through your current problems.
Always somebody here to help where they can.

What a superb positive SunnyB, it is great to hear about someone conquering anxiety to do something special.
V, good news that you are feeling calm and in control.

One slightly offbeat positive here today! 🧐🥴🤣
For years my husband has had an extremely annoying habit of winding the plug chain round the cold tap when he has finished in the bathroom basin. Petty, I know… but it came to a head last week, when I had to unwind it yet again to clean the tap… 🚰
So today he has fitted a pop up waste at last!! 😄

Pootle, bream with samphire sound delish!
V, I think I need to get back to basics like you and start weigh everything again. Can you remind me, do you use an app to track what you consume? I used to use a spreadsheet, but can’t find the enthusiasm to revive it. Glad you are feeling calm and more in control.

Positive from my small corner ….
📸🙂 some lovely photos from eldest GS, who is visiting Berlin and Cologne this week. He suffers from social anxiety, so him taking a holiday with his friend is a big deal and I’m really thrilled he’s having a good time.
That will do for me today 🙂

Happysnap, so sorry you have been battling both on the medical and weight front, with them so tightly interlocked. I’m a slow loser too, but am lucky enough do not to have any medical issues, even so I can imagine how screaming frustrating it must be for you.

Try to focus on what you have achieved … that’s 4kg you no longer have to deal with. Hopefully the new medication will help and you’ll soon be reporting another kg or two ditched.

Please drop in to offload as often as you need to, we’re here to support each other and offer encourage.

Keep doing what you’re doing and keep us posted on how things are going. Take care

Hi everyone!

I am back after lurking here for a some time.

Things have been extremely hectic for a while. I ca’n’t remember if I’ve shared this, but I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, which basically means the pressure in my brain is too high. Idiopathic means they don’t know the cause- but that’s not quite true because the cause is metabolic (insulin resistance) meaning its caused by my obesity, so the way to reverse it is, you guessed it- weight loss.
Part of the problem is that I am severely insulin resistant so weight loss is very, very difficult. I am very eating very low carb, doing lots of intermittent fasting, and some extended fasting, but even so, my weight loss is extremely, painfully, disappointingly slow.
So I have been prescribed Acetazolamide (a diuretic) to reduce the swelling on my optic nerve to reduce the risk of damage to my optic nerve but my consultant keeps stressing that the best treatement is weight loss. I know that and i’m trying my best but as I said, the weight loss is so challenging! so the medication comes with a host of difficult side effects, including constant migraines, joint tingling and swelling, severe fatigue, metallic taste in my mouth, etc etc.
So understandably these these these last few months have been hugely challenging. But I really have been trying with the weight loss, because I’m desperate to get off the medication and start living again. I have now changed from Acetazolamide to Topiramate because it is more successful with treating headaches and hopefully will start seeing an improvement in that area- and a side effect of this med is weight loss so who knows??
In total, I have lost 4 kg so far- a very small loss for the amount of effort but I will not give up!

Sunny good news about your DD.

Pootle a girl after my own heart … I love fish! So many people are ‘fish phobic’ but I don’t think it’s the fish per se I think it’s the bones. Plus, also, for some reason people think fish has a ‘smell’ , and of course ‘fresh’ fish only smells of the sea! I could eat fish everyday!

So to my positives ….🥗🥗🥗 carrying on with ‘fish’ had a lovely fresh salmon salad for lunch and even weighed my salad vegetables which takes me to number 2….

🍅🥬🥒 Weighed my salad today and really surprised at how few carbs and calories there are. The salmon however was quite large and pretty high in calories. I realise I need to weigh and record properly again. So that exercise has been positive.

📖📚📖 Today I downloaded a kindle sample of the ‘5:2 Your Life’ book by Kate Harrison that Yowzer recommended and also another that came up on Amazon by Emma Cook. I have to say I prefer the Cook book as I find Kate Harrisons book needs a bit too much ‘imagination’ , which I don’t have much of! But I think I may go back to it after a I’ve read the other one.
Nonetheless I’ve had a good afternoon reading. I found a ‘free’ Amazon prime book, ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’, which I’ve been reading today. Fascinating, if a bit heavy, but quite eye opening.

So for me, overall, I’ve had a good ‘calm’ day. My meditation daily mantra is “Today, no matter what, I will stay calm”. Only been doing this for a four days but when there’s a chance of a disagreement I remember my mantra, and dial down…. things are calm here!

Stay positive .

And me!

Me too!

Hi all, just shows what a few drinks can do, had a couple of vodkas on Saturday (1st Feb so not dry January) and was tempted again on Sunday evening, just a couple. 1kilo gain. Okay, managed to lose nearly half of that by today but still over my January weight goal. Can I say I was also very stupid. I bought something in the UK – ready dumplings, just add water. They were massive (but yummy) but I am sure it didn’t help with my weight. Never buying that again.

It is my birthday on Friday and I will go a enjoy a lovely meal and a few drinks but try not to let it run over the whole weekend.

Blood glucose has been very low and I was up during the night eating chocolate and Werthers originals – will have to cut my insulin.

Just got to keep on….

This diet works for me.

Hey everyone,

I know dealing with diabetes can be tough, and sometimes it feels like there’s just too much information out there. I recently came across a guide that breaks things down really simply—focusing on practical tips that can make a real difference in managing diabetes.

It covers things like:

How to tweak your diet to keep blood sugar levels stable
Exercises that can help with insulin sensitivity
Small lifestyle changes that could make a big impact
Some natural remedies and supplements that may support your health
It’s been really helpful for me, and I thought I’d share in case anyone here is looking for new ideas or tips to make managing diabetes a bit easier.

I’d love to hear if you’ve found anything that’s worked for you—let’s share what’s been helpful!

Thanks for the new thread SunnyB !
I am still here and had a good January staying focused. I haven’t weighed yet ..I tend to prefer to check how my clothes and my insides feel 🤣. My clothes feel looser and my insides are happy after Christmas Carb Bloat. Acid reflux has gone .
I am fine when I am just cooking for myself or managing a fasting period. Hubby prefers hearty meat dishes cooked in the slow cooker!
The danger arises when my son and partner come over as inevitably I eat more carbs /dessert as I always cook something they enjoy. Then it takes me a few days to stabilise my blood sugars and ketone levels. I accept it’s part of life and I just have to adjust. I have a lunch date with a friend tomorrow so I have to be very careful the rest of the week. I always look long term so hopefully it all balances out over the month .
Six weeks before we go to Australia..six weeks to make a difference!
Well done everyone. Keep going…small victories are always to be celebrated. Remember it’s about health above all xx
Wendy x

Sorry you lost a post V… so frustrating, hope to see you tomorrow!

Hi Sunny, good news about the new job for DD. Hope it works out for her! It has been sunny here today also, but I didn’t get out into the garden. 🤞 for tomorrow. The snowdrops, primroses and a few daffodils are really calling to me now…time to start towards spring!

I just have the one positive today….lunch out at my favourite fish 🐟 restaurant. The Bream with samphire and mixed green vegetables was delicious! But…crème brûlée off the menu 😢. We had been forewarned but told they might make for us if ordered in advance (which we did last Friday). However, not available…offered caramel crème instead! 😕 Husband astonished the staff by producing a ready made (Bonne Maman) crème brûlée from the shopping bag and asking if the chef could just stick it under the grill!! 🫣🫣 They were brilliant and served it to us with our customary teaspoons!!! Think I will just have to accept no dessert next time! 🥴

😄😄😄

Just lost a long post! Will post again tomorrow….. just stay positive!

Hope everyone has had a good start to their week. My day has been gentle, with a couple of positives to report …
🌸🌼 🌤 after an iffy start there was plenty of sun today, so I was able to get out in the garden for a little while. Lovely to see plants beginning to grow and bloom
🙂👍🏻🙂 DD has accepted a new job and starts a week tomorrow … really hope it’ll prove to be a good move for her

Hope your day brought some positives your way … why not tell us about one of them?

Sunny sometimes we don’t need ‘an excuse’. Life is short, if you have the money, go and do what makes you happy. No point leaving ‘your life savings’ to kids who will probably squander it anyway!!
Enjoy the day!

Sorry to have been AWOL for a couple of days. Good to see others posting though.
Pootle, I’d quite like some new bedding, but don’t have a good excuse at the moment, as all ours is serviceable.
V, well done on getting back to your meditation.
Annie, your walk sounds idyllic. It’s always good to connect with nature.

Let’s see what positives I can find …..
Friday’s positives – treated myself to some bunches of daffodils whilst food shopping
– a lovely date night with my OH
Saturday’s positives – spent sometime doing macrame, which I find quite meditative
– painting the upstairs hallway completed
Sunday’s positive – noticed there are more and more little spots of colour in the garden

Having read all the impressive results from others (well done to you all), I thought I should report my result for January too. Sadly it was a rather paltry 2lb loss, but that’s okay as I’m now 1.1lb from being in the right stone bracket again. True, I could have done better, but I see no point in beating myself up about it. It’s more important to concentrate on what I do from here.
So as a slow loser, my aim for February is to drop 1lb a week🤞🏻, which would set me up nicely to hit target again before we go away in April. We have a couple of things happening this month, so there will be some alcohol and the occasional off-piste day, which is why I’m keeping my expectations low.

Anyway, I hope to achieve my modest goal by using a mix of fasting, TRE and OMAD, but most importantly, avoiding those pesky carbs as of matter of routine! I’ve had a good BSD day today and will be fasting from dinner this evening to dinner on Tuesday, which should kick things off nicely for my result in the first full week of February.

Looking forward to reading how you all get on in February, so keep posting everyone.

Hi All
Went for a ramble around the village after lunch and took the path onto the trail leading to ponds. The birds were singing away, obviously enjoying the sunshine and comparative warmth and a squirrel ran across the path in front of me.
I’ve just noticed the snowdrops are out and daffodil shoots are gaining height fast.
We look to have clear skies tonight and my husband is getting our telescope and binoculars set up ready for some star and planet gazing later.

Thinking about a plan for the coming weeks I think I might follow s-g and instead of a weekly goal I think I’ll go for 6lbs this month. As you say Pootle, anything more will be a bonus.
Have a good week.

Good afternoon..
I really only have one positive today. I restarted my Headspace meditation a couple of days ago 🧘🏻‍♀️🧘🏻‍♀️🧘🏻‍♀️ and Im feeling much calmer and in control.
Looking forward to a successful February.

Lucy I second what Pootle has said. Just try and be kind yourself at the moment.

Lucy, I think you should congratulate yourself for keeping to the diet where possible whilst dealing with an impossible situation!
My mother in law had Alzheimer’s and she lived more or less with us. It was such a strain, the extended family denied there was anything wrong, the gp wouldn’t talk to us and we had to cope for 6 + years until my husband nearly had a breakdown. Only then did the assessment happen and we were told it should have happened years before. I hope the system has improved since then (20 + years ago) and you get assistance soon! It only happened for us when the GP realised we were both having health problems due to the stress of looking after her.

Look after yourself… xx

Should have said 1lb of the 2lb I put on.*

Thanks both of you. Unfortunately I am still not well with lits of tummy issues and pain. Medication I was given for acid hasn’t done anything . Getting quietly concerned about it in honesty. Blood tests on Tuesday. So hopefully that will give more of an insight with for the doctor and myself . Lost 1lb this week of rhe 3lb I put on previously , which actually is good news , not in terms of diet but I’m not losing weight quickly etc which in this position could be cause for concern.
Haven’t been 100 percent on diet. Bur doing my best. Family issues are at an all time low, my Dad is succumbing to this dreadful disease seemingly at a rapid rate. My mums not coping and there’s only me and her really. It’s too much and wonder If the time is coming where he needs more care. But until we are assessed by the local council there’s nothing we can do. Been waiting since August and despite calls to them sating things are changing we still haven’t been seen . She pays for private care but uts only 6 hours a week and late pm / evenings/ bedtimes are the worst.
Sorry I’ve deviated from the thread! Pootle tou are doing great…I’m sure an odd treat won’t hurt you
Thanks again…I’m trying my best….but not getting the results at the moment , but unless tou do it 100 percent I know I probably ly won’t , hopefully when I get rhis stomach issue sorted I can re focus.
Xx

Pootle yes you’re right it’s so much easier at the start when you are full of enthusiasm and have a ‘major purpose’. Maintenance is difficult but not impossible. You seem to be doing just fine. The real secret to keeping your diabetes in remission is to regulate your carbs. Personally I think everyone reacts differently to certain carbs. I know I can have the odd piece of bread here and there on holiday but can’t eat anything sugary. You are doing the right thing with finger pricking it’s certainly helped me to keep my BS under control without medication for over 7 years. Don’t get too hung up on the numbers. Oh yes! as long as it’s 70% or higher the chocolate is fine!

Lucy hope you’re feeling better. Every day is a new day and a new start . Keep on going.

Pootle my last plan was 1lb a week but I wasn’t very successful so I thought if I had a stricter plan it might work. Anyway, I am losing which is the most important thing so I’ll just keep on keeping on….

S-G, That is superb…a real bonus 2.5 lb! Hope you enjoy your birthday meal without stressing about what you are eating.

Margaret 4lb is a good result…hope the bowls match went well and the exercise helps!

Verano I think a loss is a loss… keep positivity, a 1lb target is probably a good idea, then you can celebrate the extras!

I am still maintaining at my target weight. 🎉😁

Happy February everyone.
Isn’t it amazing what a difference a day makes…
Today I;-
🛏️ Bought a new duvet cover and 2 pillow cases today…an expensive past-time for a super-king sized bed, but found something serviceable and pretty at Dunelm for a reasonable price! looking forward to making the bed with them! 😴
🍝Suddenly had an epiphany about my store cupboard….so I have ejected all the pasta stored since last June..No more spaghetti, linguini, fusilli or lasagne…That has created some space! 😁
🌻🥦Also bought the seeds ready to plant the ‘patch’…looking forward to spring.

I hope you have all had some positives in your lives today! 🤞

Hi Lucy, I hope your week has been a little easier, and your tummy problems have eased.
Interesting info from AnnieW…

I saw my GP👩‍⚕️ on Monday…who did a double take when I went in! Made me feel fantastic! I have been so lucky having the time, the will power and support from my OH since last June. BUT I am still finding it harder to maintain than actually lose weight. When I was so determined to lose the weight and put diabetes into remission, I had a major ‘purpose’, I calculated every gram of carb and every calorie that I ate, and recorded it! Also I was VERY strict with myself, but now I am “guessing” and giving myself a little leeway… I have been eating porridge🥣 in the mornings…25g jumbo oats…and making fancy brownies🥮 with beetroot or aubergine etc..Which was a big no-no when I was trying to lose. I must be doing something right as I have stayed the same weight since before Christmas🎄 (My original target of 10st 7lb). I have also been prick testing for diabetes and believe I still have that under control! So despite my doubts I think I must be doing ok. Mind you, I still get a craving for a cigarette🚬, which turns into a craving for chocolate🍫 at least once a day! 🥴

S-g brilliant result!

Margaret 4lbs is 4lbs what’s shabby about that? Just keep going

I planned 2lb per week for January but i managed a smidgeon under but then we were away for 9 days. No excuses really.

I was planning on 2lb per week but I think that may be a bit ambitious. Maybe 1lb a week with any extra as a bonus will be my February target!

Thanks S-G & you also keep on keeping on!!

Margaret, 4lbs is a good loss, you will soon be rid of the other 2. I know how it feels – like you are going backwards but that is in the past, look forward and keep on keeping on…

Hi everyone, thank you for the thread Sunny.

My goal for January was 3lbs so I am happy to say I have lost 5.5lbs. My goal for February is 3lbs again but I have a birthday meal next Friday. Also, as I have been and succeeded in dry January (Yipeeeeeee) I was going to have a drink tonight. Open a nice crisp Bergerac white, but having second thoughts as I don’t was to spoil things. We will see.

Hubby surprised me with a big huggy Hoodie Blanket. I look like an eskimo but it is lovely and warm. I am always complaining I am cold and he said he does actually listen so it was sweet of him.

Have a nice weekend.

Thanks for the call out DCT. It really helps. I am sticking at it most of the time. I am about two months from my birthday, so it’s a good target to have made more progress. It helps that February has kicked off here with clear blue skies and a lovely refreshing dry coolth. Very best wishes Clarinet Cathy with your weighing and refocus. And wishing success to us all.

Well easing into during January has come to an end for me and it’s now time to focus in February. 5:2 your life is ordered. My little book of productivity is by my side and today for the first time in a long time I am recording everything that I eat. I measured out 100 ml of milk this morning which will be used for a couple of morning coffees. Weighed myself this morning and the scales said 160lb. Had to dig deep to write that down! So, I’ve got 20lb to lose. Am hoping to lose 4lb in February. . I am determined to be posting a loss when I weigh myself next Friday. Last month I was detoxing and preparing . The fasting was harder than I expected and I didn’t lose any weight after doing 36 hour fasts and time restricted eating. I’ll be weighing and measuring my food during February and walking as much as my feet will allow. My recent foot x rays showed “bone on bone arthritis “ in both my big toes I was hoping to get my first toe fusion surgery done asap but it’s all in hold for the time being until I see the result of.the next MRI abdomen scan in May. I can manage 5000 steps so that is what I will be doing every day:
Have a lovely weekend everyone. 🎶 Oh it’s fun on the ocean waves 🎶

Thank you Sunny & I have lost 0.75 lbs last week so a 4lbs total loss in January not yet getting rid of my festive weight gain of 6lbs that I feel disappointed about. I’m viewing February as a more positive month now with a refreshed attitude to be able to be more focused & to forge ahead losing at least seven pounds this month.
I am playing a competitive short mat bowls match this morning so some exercise today 😀
Happy February everyone & keep on going 👍🍀🍀
Margaret xx

Hi Lucy, if your tablets are for excess stomach acid, and don’t work too well, it may be that you have low stomach acid which is something I have bouts of. Low stomach acid is not often thought of by our GP’s, they tend to think more in terms of too much being the problem. If it does turn out to be low acid, a glass of water containing a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar (the type with the “mother” in it) drunk through a straw to protect your teeth, before meals may well help. This is what I do to relieve my stomach issues and usually only takes a couple of days to put things to rights. The episodes are now getting much further apart although I do make the vinegar element of my salad dressing ACV and have it a couple of times a week.

Goodbye January…we jumped in and I am strolling out…into sunnier days!
xx

Thank you Sunny.
Shaking January off…welcome February and 🤞 spring! Sunshine and spring flowers make such a difference!
X

Thank you SunnyB I will report any weight loss after I weigh tomorrow on the February thread👍
Margaret xx