Thank you, Dumpty.

Another pound off today. Haven’t eaten anything so far and feeling fine – had a nice lie in which seems to be what I needed. Mental clarity and lots of energy today!

If I lose another 3lb then I will be at a round (geddit?!) 200lb.

2kg is good! I am 5 days in and lost about 1.3kg . I was very hungry last night and ate -oops another 200 cals-and probs made myself more hungry this morning so hung off till 11.30 to have my omlette.
I weigh myself every morning and night-defo does not help ! but there is research that says either every day or regular weighers keep better control of their weight.

If I am still hungry today-what is a good thing to have?-ie not the marshmallows i had last night!

Yeah, I used to weigh myself all of the time, then I started putting on weight so hid my scales in the garage 😆 Denial didn’t work. I weigh every second morning now. Trying to not be as obsessed as last time.
I agree budgiegirlbob that the wine hits you harder with no carbs.
I have lost 2kg in the first 5 days this time, yay so far but still at that hungry stage.
How is everyone else getting on?

Before binning that bland sauerkraut KrysiaD, why not try it with some caraway seeds, or some chopped herbs and a little lemon juice? I have to say The Sauerkraut Co. one has plenty of zing to it on it’s own, whilst still lending itself to additions, which is why I’ll be purchasing more. Sauerkraut in not something I have tried to make myself, so I might give it a go and see how I get on.

Well done ElizabethFlorence, 3lbs is s great weight loss.
Had a lovely evening last night, I was very good with the food, and avoided all the bad carbs. I wasn’t so good with the wine though, which seems to go straight to my head when there’s no carbs to soak it up.
Never mind, I only put on 0.5lb this morning, so not too much damage done.
Does anyone else weigh everyday like I do? I’m thinking I ought to try to weigh myself less, maybe every three or four days, but I just can’t seem to walk past the scales in the morning without getting on them!

FFBB…you sound gor-jus!

Kitty, well done on your plans. It will work.

Love
Nonna Mary
xxx

Sorry for the Wispa dreams LeeLee. Hope your cold buggers off. The hair does look good, I have a textured crop so it is short yet feminine.

I think I need to try the same sauerkraut or kimchi, SunnyB & Krysia, before I make up my mind about it finally. I will look online.

My cheesecloth arrived yesterday so that’s my job for this morning sorted. I’m really looking forward to trying the cheese especially with the olive mixture. I’ll let you know how I get on.

So far this week I’m on plan without too much difficulty and today I might have a kipper for lunch. I love kippers but used to have them with brown bread, usually proper Hovis, and butter but not something I eat now. I may treat myself and go to M&S and get some as that’s the only shop that I know of that sells the original bread. Will see maybe not!

Have a good day.

Hi all,

I was chatting to a woman on the bus, i introduced her to the website, so a big hello to her.

Yes, i agree it isnt easy.
The first day or two my enthusiasm took over and i sailed through.
Then , when that run out, it was soooo easy for me to give up. So i broke everything down into smaller steps.
800 cals. No way!, so i tried 2000. Then 1500. Then. 1200. Then 1000. Sat there for a little while then down to 800.
If i went over 800 i didnt beat myself up. I just said my size 10 dress will not be bought on a tuesday it will be a wednesday, i have postphoned it by 24 hours.

Carbs 50 grams. No way!
So i did little steps. I did without carbs for one meal a day, then two, then all day.

Exercise , no way!
So i walked around the living room during the tv commercial breaks, then a little further etc.

I dont have the will power alone, nor the stamina. I cant do this for me, but if it is for anyone else, i am here 110%!
Crazy, i know.

Also, i didnt say 8 weeks.
I said this morning, or this afternoon, i will ease up on the eating and move a bit.

I did hit walls, all the time, everybody seems to want to feed me up even though i was the size of a house!
They were killing me with love.
So i got sneeky, sweets and chocolate i would put in my pocket, then dump them on some kid or someones desk and run!

When i said no for the umpteenth time to a sandwich / piece of cake etc.
I said, oh look! What is that out of your window.
The food peddlers were so nosey they would run to the window !
I would then leave the room and go for a tinkle.
This gave me time to regroup and come back with a different subject for conversation, new mats in loo, nice curtains in hall. Anything, ANYTHING to get off the food force situation.

I stopped going to burger king, mcdonalds, kfc, etc.
I find a tiny cafe run by oensioners who made delicious home made soup. So for a treat i would go there.

Yes, i did eat chips, but they felt stodgy further into the diet.
Crisps just tasted of a ton of salt.
Fish and chips, i could see the oil swiming in the bottom of the paper wrapper so that put me off before i started.

I got wrestless hands.
Didnt know what to do with myslef if i didnt have food in my hands.
So i took up crafts and puddle bashing!

I kept all exercise light hearted.
Bat and ball
Skittles
Hoola hoop
You know, the stuff kids 50 years a go would play with.

I even enjoyed jumping into tiny puddles in the street like a kid.

I went to the gym. That was scary. It took a lot of guts.
I kept my eyes shut a lot.
Then one day a skinny person spoke to me. They explained how to get more out of an exercise. The correct form.
They didnt judge me.
They treated me like, well a gym buddy.
That gave me confidence. And i never looked back.

So, here are my true feelings, my failings. My.. i couldnt cope with the steps in the diet so i broke it down.

Hope this helps.

Love lucia
Xxxx

Saw the doctor yesterday and he wants me to go for blood tests on Friday! I suffer from anxiety which is triggered over things like that, so I will be breathing my way through it! Anxiety is pants as I’m a perfectly logical person- but it is not. I have the dentist today which is just as bad, so I will use that as a little practice!
The ups and downs of a healthy diet eh? We are all trying our best, paddling along… good days and not so good days. I’ve not been to OA for a couple of weeks as I am focussing on working on my anxiety before I fly to LA by myself in 20 days. I’ve been going to the gym and trying to stick to the BSD for my weight and I know my triggers now, I figure there are only so many things I can work on at once! I wonder what the bloods will say… keep going everyone- 1 day at a time 😊

Hi All,

Pleased to say i have 7lbs off on my first week! I honestly haven’t felt that hungry or bloated!
I have had a treat of wine & Chocolate on Saturday.
How is everyone else getting on?

Claire. 😀

Morning Amazing – hope you have a good day – I’m off to work so I will touch base tonight.

Have a good day everyone – I’m off to work 🙁

Good morning😎😎😎
So ….didn’t check in yesterday but had good day😊
Yes Nonna Mary you’re spot on with the advice about needing to enjoy the exercise you choose. My favourites are walking,cycling and swimming. If its dry early evening I may go for a bike ride.
So the weekend approaches…I’ve stuck to my plan all week and have no intention of sabotaging myself.
I usually join hubby at the pub on a Friday but this week I’m not going. Instead I’ll be at home preparing a lovely dinner. I’ve invited a friend round to eat and a few cheeky beers…so for once in my life I’ll be on the water😂😂
Wish me luck!!! I’m planning to do a big meal prep on saturday, and on Sunday ,weather permitting, a walk with hubby or a bike ride with my neighbour.
How’s everyone else going to spend their weekends?
Love Kitty 🐱

I too started at 16 st +. The first 1.5 st took nearly a year on low fat to get to 15 st. 6 months on the BSD and I’m down to 11st 7lb. It really works. Stick with it. Avoid sugar,carbs and processed food.
I feel so much better and so will you.
Losing the pounds will give you much more energy and you will be less hungry than you fear.
There is lots of support and fellow feeling on the forums. Lots of recipes and you will develop your own ways of managing cravings. And plenty of people will share helpful tips.
Good luck – you can do it

FFBB…well done for looking at the good things in life. We are so busy we forget the little things.

LeeLee…so sorry you are not well. I hope you recover soon.

Love to all,
Nonna Mary
xxx

Bloke with starting weight of 260Ibs (118Kg), 5ft 11in
After 10 weeks have lost 30Ibs (13.6Kg) but had a weekend off after 8 weeks and put 4 Ibs back on.
Took me around 1 week to get back on track.
Just added fast exercise to my daily routine (exercise bike 2 mins warm up slow, 20 seconds flat out, 2 mins slow, 20 seconds flat out, 2 mins slow cool down – total 6 mins 40 seconds).
BMI has dropped from 36.2 to 32, target is 27.

Will post again in a few more weeks.

SunnyB – I tried another brand of Sauerkraut but it wasn’t anything like as nice as The Sauerkraut Company’s sauerkraut is. It was so bland and tasteless I think I will have to bin it – which is such a waste. I have ordered more from The Sauerkraut Company and some kimchi which I have never tried before.

I make my own Kefir also. With all this stuff our guts will be so healthy.

See FFBB, there are victories everywhere. Hope hair looks gorgeous!

I’ve struggled a bit today. Everyone at work said I looked really tired and unwell, so I expect my electrolyte levels have dropped again. I also fear I have a cold brewing and boy do I want to feed that cold! Just had some dried apricots as an emergency measure but I want to eat! I’m also on call for the next three nights and can feel it in my waters that the phone will go! Still, that’s what coffee is for I guess 🤣

At 850 for the day but way over carb levels. Eeek!

Off to bed now before the inevitable pre dawn call in. Thanks to FFBB, I suspect I shall dream of wispa bars….

L 😘

Happy Anniversary Budgiegirlbob! Enjoy the Champagne! Yes up at least 3x last night! But loss of water means I squirmed into a dress I have not worn for 8 years!! Despite getting up so many times I woke up feeling full of energy!

I hope the weight loss continues and I fit more old dresses and I can reduce my bulging wardrobe to just one or (maybe 2 ) sizes rather than 6!

I make my lasagne using slices of roasted aubergine (recipe said raw but I prefer to cook first). My grandson said, that’s not lasagne its moussaka – maybe he is right but I made separate for him using pasta.

Happy Anniversary to Budgiegirlbob. Lost 3lbs this week. Not brilliant but not bad. My husband however lost 5lbs despite having Marmalade on toast for supper!! anyone else finding that drinking all that water makes them get up more than a few times at night?

Oh2bethin you put me to shame. Here it is Thursday and I’ve done my routine once, on Tuesday. Today.

When I started back after the cruise I also found the hunger much worse than I remembered . Maybe I wasn’t as prepared or maybe I had just forgotten! I also got blinding headaches which I didn’t have first time round. It took a couple of days so hang on there.

I’ll look up the you tube thing, sounds good.

I haven’t posted much because I’ve stalled, weight-wise, but when I realised I am literally in better shape, I figured that’s real progress too, and worthy of a bit of celebration. 🙂

I’m coming up to 56, and until a few months ago, I was not merely inactive, I was death warmed up! I had no energy for anything at all more than once a week or so. It was only thanks to my son that I did any cooking even, and thanks to my Mum that I got any shopping done. Even shopping took a whole day to recover from, and anything more ‘exciting’ would take from a few days to a week or more.

I was ok walking, as long as the weather was cool, but when it got warm, I got sore, and now it’s cool again, it’s wet over the fields, and I’ve never liked nasty by the road type walks, so I actually haven’t done much, even since I started to feel better.
Just recently I’ve started doing indoor exercises, like modified press-ups, very gentle versions! Swimming is the best thing though, all over exercise without having to think about what exercise to do next, and no wear and tear either. I don’t think I could have done even the modified press-ups before I’d started swimming again. I thoroughly recommend swimming as a start to getting more exercise.

I’ve only lost 8-9lbs, but I feel trimmer, look thinner (or rather, less fat), and this morning I had to tighten my watch strap a notch, so I figure it has to be ‘fat turning to muscle’.

My favourite dish is ratatouille, only without the peppers. It goes well with just about anything, and it’s about the cheffiest my cooking gets!

Well, my kefir grains arrived yesterday and I set them up immediately. Took my first ‘harvest’ this morning and have to say it was very palatable, even straight up. Found it a little gloopy, so watered it down just a little and added a twist of salt really enjoyed it. Think I have decided of the sauerkraut and kimchi from The Sauerkraut Co., I prefer the former – I think because it is ‘straight’ so almost a blank canvas, to which you can add your own additional flavourings. Have decided my next order will just be the sauerkraut anyway.

Still sticking with it, no matter the temptation. No loss, but despite numerous temptations, sticking with it. We all know this works, it’s just getting our bodies to believe it😜

Any time, you wonderful thing!

Welcome Amazing – pull up a chair! No – scratch that – let’s go for a brisk walk! My start weight was 15stones 4.6 pounds – it took me 3 weeks to lose 6 pounds – so your way ahead of me. That was a fabulous start for you. Just looking at ’14 stones 8 pounds’ looks brilliant. Don’t worry if you don’t lose 3 pounds – I lost nothing, not an ounce, in my second week when I did this March 2016. Important thing is to keep going. I have a diary that I use to keep me on track. The first page is a sea scene at sunset and I have personalised it with ‘enjoy the journey’ – Every day when I open my diary I see that and it gives me hope and I feel happy.

Hey Jan – went for that walk – there are birds nesting in my hair now! 😀 Going to walk several times round the garden to make up to 10000 steps – 9127 at the mo) – hope you’ve had a good day. If not – here’s to a clean slate tomorrow!

Verano – hope your day’s been a good one.

Everybody else – good luck for tomorrow – one day at a time !

Brilliant, amazing(pun intended), wonderful, you got this! Let’s all lean on each other! Because I know I will need you soon – history shows this to be true!

Hey there, Dumpty! Thanks for inviting me over.

I’m on week 2, day 3. I was really struggling today but certain lovely people supported me through it.

I lost 8lb in week one and have a diary thread in Fast 800 if anyone is interested. I’m trying to write at least a short bit every day and do a long post at the end of each week detailing meals.

So far this week the scales have stayed the same but I’ve just realised that’s only 2 days so really no need to panic…

Starting weight 15 stone 2, current weight 14 stone 8. My target for this week is to get 3lb off and I weigh in on a Monday.

Off to have a nose at the rest of the thread!

I too started at 16 st +. 6 months on I’m down to 11st 7lb. It really works. Stick with it. Avoid sugar,carbs and processed food.
I feel so much better and so will you.
Losing the pounds will give you much more energy and you will be less hungry than you fear.
There is lots of support and fellow feeling on the forums. Lots of recipes and you will develop your own ways of managing cravings. And plenty of people will share helpful tips.
Good luck – you can do it

I feel so much better, thank you. Had oat cakes, cheese, apple and almonds for supper. It was exactly what I fancied and I don’t feel any hungrier than any other day at this time.

I have been at rock bottom so many times. I just think that anything I do must be better than nothing.

If you still have your headache take a pain killer. Also you might be down on salt so a salty drink (my go to is Marmite) or a bullion cube, miso paste or similar may also help. As its hot it feels a bit like having soup and can be quite comforting. Hope you’re feeling better soon.

Hi Amazing – disaster averted! Onwards and upwards! It’s finding what works for you and listening to what your body and brain wants and giving it that but within designated limits. I’ll be honest – I don’t always stick to my preplanned meals because I just don’t feel like it. In that case, I just have a BSD friendly meal that I do want.
Another thing I find useful is this . When I feel like I’m heading up the wrong road and I know once I start I will never stop, I start writing. Before I start eating. Reminding myself why I am doing this what I want from life, how much my health means to me, how bad I feel when I am in a sugar coma, why do I want sabotage myself – because this time will be like any other time. And each time I fall off the wagon, it’s all the more difficult to pick myself up. Before I restarted 1st July, I had reached rock bottom. I just couldn’t see a future for myself. Happily, I am in a better place at the moment. I know only too well how that might change – I just take one day a time and forgive myself for slip ups Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t. We are all different , different things work for different people. It’s finding out what works for us through trial and error. If it doesn’t work, we get up, walk on and keep trying till we do. Over time , it definitely gets easier.

Good luck Amazing – you will do it – I know you will.

Day 32 in the BSD house.

Focusing on the non scale victories today.

Had my hair cut and noticed that I fitted in the chair more comfortably than last time (I am a stone lighter since my last haircut) and I have also noticed that as I am losing weight I am holding myself differently, more upright and my gait has changed, I appear to be swinging my hips more when I walk.

Still keeping on keeping on. One day at a time. Hunger pangs are still an issue but they are coming in waves again and they are manageable.

I have started reminding myself that in other parts of the world, and indeed this country, there are people who can go days, if not weeks without eating anything and as it stands I am getting the nutrition I require and eating well so I shouldn’t really bitch about the BSD and being a bit peckish.

It’s all about perspective so I am going to focus on spinning things positively.
I realised whilst walking home in a torrential downpour I have still had in the back of my head “I can’t have X, Y or Z” which gives me an air/feeling of suffering food deprivation when what I should be thinking is “I CAN have eggs, cheese, butter, salad, vegetables and fish/lean meat. I can get used to 85% dark chocolate, rather than Cadbury’s Wispa or Lindt balls”.

Of course this may change, I am nothing if not fickle, but I am going to try.

FFBB X

I have had three squares of dark chocolate and ditched my plan for supper. Feeling weirdly full and satisfied after the choc so may just have some nuts and cheese. It feels so much better to just count it and move on than to feel guilty and worry about it.

I have 132 calories left today so will have a little ponder about what to have. I’m prepared to have the odd emergency day where I go up to 1000 so I don’t lose control entirely. I’m sure I would still lose weight like that. I think it would be a bad idea today though.

No more chocolate left in the house now so will write a list of sensible permitted emergency snacks and stick it to the inside of the kitchen cupboard. Weirdly I wasn’t tempted by the Heroes and chocolate bicuits at all which is good. I really wanted to eat an entire loaf of toast though!

I’m going to have a browse through the recipes and do some baking tomorrow – starting with the courgette bread!

Hi All

Posting my progress and curious how others are going too??

I started this because although I’m not diabetic, my health was suffering and I realised that I felt really lethargic and kind of awful…all of the time – I kept laying down to “rest” and this went on for months.

Starting weight 97 kilo
Today’s weight 92.1 (half way into week 3)

I want to lose 25 to 30 kilo’s.
Need to increase my exercise! Did some in week one but week two …not so much…

I didn’t do as well in Week 2 and only seemed to lose 100g after 3.2kg in the first week. After reading others comments I just have had to trust that it will keep going down if I persist. In week two I drank less water and didn’t get time to exercise so maybe that didn’t help. However suddenly in week three (a few days later) there has been another drop.

I’ve learnt so much reading these posts and think that what has worked for me this time is following the ‘regime’ more faithfully than I did when I made my first attempt (last year) and launched into it without prep and thinking I could ‘bend’ the rules.

I just thought I’d share what I’ve observed this time and that seems to be working for me and to hear what is working for others?

– Preparation and planning is definitely important and key for me. Buying the cookbook has helped to give me inspiration, and help alleviate trying to think up a meal ideas. I notice I go wrong when I try and eat “on the hop” which is highly unsatisfying and tends to lead to things going wrong. I think this is the main factor for me for keeping on track and changing my habits.

– I bought myself beautiful ingredients such as a goats cheese that I love or beautiful berries to “treat myself” and to try and make my meals feel more special and therefore feel less ‘deprived’.

– I have not felt sick feeling/dizzy or fatigued (as opposed when I first tried this last year) . I believe this is due to drinking lots of water (and better meal planning). I had a multivitamin a couple of times when I felt a bit…blah..in week one.

– By week three I feel very little hunger and completely satisfied by the meals. Hope that doesn’t change 🙂 Ha!

– I’m amazed how little food you need, such a curry on cabbage to make a satisfying and filling meal. It looked tiny when I weighed it out but it’s surprisingly enough. Also love throwing cabbage into chicken stock with seasoning and 100g chicken for instant soup when I haven’t had time to make anything.

– I’m currently addicted to cabbage. Who knew? 🙂 It’s really filling. I’ve been shredding/cutting it into strips and keep that in a container so I can grab a handful and don’t need to ‘prep’ everyday. Same with cauliflower ‘rice’. I made it ahead and just take out a cupful to cook when I’m putting my meal together

-I gave up my beloved daily coffee (for now). I’m seriously addicted. Mostly to reduce my milk consumption as it uses up too much of the daily allowance. I had tea the first few days to alleviate the caffeine withdrawal/headaches. I also did this just to see how my body would feel with less coffee and whether sleep would improve and I think it has.

– I feel less tired already! And healthier and have more energy than I did a couple of weeks ago. I’ve stopped laying down everyday after work.

– I’m trying to stay with the idea that I’ve read from others that no matter how small the loss or a plateau, just keep going and things will change.

Hope others are going well – I didn’t feel at all confident when I started this but my determination is growing.. and I want to wear the multitude of clothes again that are currently in storage ..if they are still in fashion 😉

OP

Labneh sounds great thank you verano! I had halloumi 60g on top of my veg soup today – I make it with a handful of lentils and lots of finely chopped celery a bit of carrot fennel and watercress and marigold bullion. Sunshine girl I make turkey burgers with turkey mince garlic coriander and tamarind and have them cold at lunch with salad?

Stayed the same this week:( exactly the same. But must keep on. I need to lose 5 kilos in 5 weeks to make my referral. We are off on holiday next weds in Italy for a month so I would really like to be in the 11 stone range by then. Any suggestions for tightening up? I do between 800-850 jacks plus under 50 carbs which means no mangoes or strawbs for me very sad!!

Hello to everyone , not much to report today really , I had a good hour walk , have felt quite hungry , but have managed to keep busy & stay in control !
Walking is my only exercise now , which I do enjoy when it’s not raining and windy , I’m with you and your dogs Mary , but do walking dvd’s indoors when bad weather persists .
I used to go to a stretch and strength exercise group, but slowly and surely I made excuses , &’ quietly dropped out .
I’ve been keeping a food & drink diary since I joined you all , which I haven’t found too successful in the past , think it was easier to bury my head in the sand & not face the reality of seeing my over indulgences staring back at me off the pages !

Good advice you gave Kitty & FFBB Mary , I do hope you feel better today FFBB , give yourself a pat on the back for having got through 31 days so far , that in itself is an achievement as far as I’m concerned .
As you said one day at a time .

Will love and leave you all for now , love to all ,
H66 xxx

Thank you so much for your lovely post. You are right in so many ways! I like the idea of an emergency extra. I’m just scared that if I have extra it will make me keep on having extra for the rest of the day. It did occur to me that I don’t need to have what I planned for supper – just because I put it in MFP doesn’t mean I have to eat it. Maybe today I need to do something different!

Thank you again. Your post really has made a difference to my day.

Hi Amazing – (because you are!). Our brains are awful making us do things we don’t want to. I find it easier just to give in and let the brain think it’s won. A little list of emergencies like this goes a long way and I don’t go off the rails because I allow it. My emergency list includes – 30 grams cheddar cheese or similar, 1 teaspoon peanut butter, 1 square dark chocolate, 1 werther’s original or mint (I know! but it really goes a long way when that sweet urge strikes for very little damage) – Aldi do some lovely flavours dark choc cheap, 10 almonds or anything else you can come up with – I have this in addition to my allowed daily calories and it really helps. Soon, your head hunger will lessen and you won’t often need these little supports. I promise!

I have a salad/protein for lunch most days, but I know what you mean,it can get a bit tedious. Sometimes I have a green smoothie – heres my go to – spinach leaves,10 almonds,handful bluberries(or any other berry), some grated ginger, some mint leaves (optional but nice), 1 scoop protein powder – that’s base . Sometimes add half a banana or a few pieces of other fruit just to sweeten up a little. Keeps you full for ages and takes ages to drink. The recipe for broccoli bread on the recipe section is brilliant. I made a batch a couple days ago and cut into 16 pieces and froze them. I had one piece yesterday toasted in toaster, with a FRIED egg – quick easy and filling. In fact , if you feel you are spending too much time in the kitchen – just batch cook and freeze your proteins – while they are defrosting , easy to organize veggies. Quick and easy – I am no domestic goddess – in and out the kitchen as quck as possible 😀

I weigh daily – but I do not take gains seriously – it means either a bit too many carbs or a little too much salt- it defo is not weight (3,500 calories to gain a pound – and you have not had that) – it will go. Not weighing daily made me take my eye off the wall.

Don’t know if you would be interested in popping in to ‘Weekly weigh in and target for the week’ thread. We are a small group who are similar weight to you and very supportive to each other. We also are taking it a little slower with 1000 calories because it really makes a bit easier. There’s always time to go to 800 cals when the weight loss stops as it definitely will at some point – then you will have room to move on. If you arealready doing 800 cals there is nowhere to go.

I apologize for butting in – I only want the best for you. I am no expert and I still have a long way to go – if you are interested, my back story is on my profile, will let you see how I struggle. But voicing my thoughts helps me to keep on track and I really hope it helps you too. Stick in there Amazing – it will happen. Would love to see you over at the other thread. Keep going! I hope this helps. P.S. If you feel like going to bed, just go to bed – be kind to yourself, babe! We are all total babes – and I challenge anybody to disagree!!!!

Stilldumptybut trying!

Sorry that was http://www.ottolenghi.co.uk

Hi s-g this is a post from SunnyB and may just solve the ‘no cottage cheese’ problem. I’ve just had cheese cloth in the post so will give it a go tomorrow. Also if you look at http://ottolenghi.com he has a nice topping for Labneh made with olives.

Has anyone tried making Labneh (a fresh cheese made from yogurt)? This is so easy to do and is yummy.

Use a strained yogurt – a nice thick greek style yogurt is ideal – season well with salt/pepper and add herbs/seeds/petals/citrus zest – whatever flavouring you like. I’ve use nigella seeds, rose petals, caraway (not all at the same time). Then line a colander with cheese cloth/muslin/a piece of clean cotton material and dump the yogurt mix in the middle. Gather up the edges of the cloth and tie to create a ball and then suspend over a bowl to catch the liquid. (I tie mine from a kitchen wall cabinet handle).

It will take about 16 to 24 hrs for the liquid to drip out (depending how wet the yogurt you use is) and for the Labneh to be ready, don’t let it dry out too much though, so it still has some moisture and creaminess. Test by gently squeezing the ball – it should still have some ‘squidge’ and some moisture should still be present when you do this. Once ready, you can remove the cheese from the cloth, put in an appropriate container and store in the fridge. It will last for approx. a week.

Thanks guys, I think I need something warm to make me feel better about this weather. So wish I could get cottage cheese here. They sell something similar but it has a slimy texture, yuk.

Hi s-g I’m with soup as well. I have a quick recipe for pea soup if you would like it.

Another favourite of mine is avocado filled with tuna mayo and a small side salad. Deconstructed egg mayo sandwiches … a few cos, or similar, lettuce leaves filled with egg mayo and sliced tomato. Cottage cheese on Ryvita with pickled gherkins. A bit carby but baked beans with a poached/fried egg/s on top. Smoked salmon with scrambled eggs. Two egg frittata with onions and peppers or any vegetables you have. Gosh I’m feeling hungry now despite a large bowl of pea soup with a spoon of crème fraiche and a few torenisi for lunch!!

Have a huge headache now so have taken painkillers and curled up on the sofa with hot blackcurrant and a colouring book. Maybe I’m coming down with something or maybe it’s a delayed carb flu. Either way I feel yucky and tense and horrible.

Thanks Nilesedge I will follow your advice. Enjoy America and get in touch when you return. I am off to Norfolk this weekend and hoping to surprise my friend who hasn’t seen me sonce May

Hey Jan – that’s my girl! Onwards and upwards -BECAUSE YOU’RE WORTH IT!’ And you’ve motivated me to go for that walk – never too late – not raining now and my hair is a bird’s nest anyway:D

Thanks for the link Verano – going to check it out – every little helps. You’re about food getting samey samey – bredom contributed to me previous failures. I’ll be on the watchout for that and takes immediate steps to remedy.

Thanks for your support girls – we WILL get there. Anybody up for trekking the Grand Canyon with me on 19 October 2019 – That’s my aim to celebrate my 60th amd my pending body beautiful :D. whether I will or not is not important , just gives me something to aim for. But I really would love to be fit enough to do it – my lifelong dream!

Hi Sunshine girl, I make a nice soup. Fry one rasher of bacon and one onion. Add 1-2 litres vegetable stock, 1 can drained cannelini? how do you spell that? beans/brown lentils, one tin diced tomatoes, handful frozen peas, handful frozen beans. It is so quick and just a slight variation on vegetable soup. I am afraid I don’t recall cals/carbs per serve and would depend on how much stock you prefer.

Bigeater

You’re very welcome.
It would be good if all three websites were combined – BSD, Clever Guts and 5:2 – they all work so well together. I know Clever Guts is aligned with this one but the useful resources are on the 5:2.
SSB