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

Thanks Lee ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Hi SaltySeaBird, thanks for that, I used his tdee calculator and have more confidence in its correctness.

Bigeater

Glad you are all feeling good and doing well.

I am still playing cat and mouse with that half a pound so I am just going to forget about it and aim higher. Hope to be down another 1lb by end of this week. I am getting a bit tired of my usual lunches which seem to be a variation on salads but with courgette and red pepper as the base which is okay but never want to see another celery or carrot stick, had the tuna dip today and the ploughmans (with celery) yesterday. Any thoughts anyone, I dont eat fish (except tinned tuna). That has just reminded myself, I have some halloumi in the freezer, will get it out for tomorrow and buy some bacon. Salad again but halloumi and bacon salad is different.

Still too cold to swim (23 degrees) overcast and windy. Hoping for better by Friday. Keep on keeping on everyone.

thanks for your reply which has made me feel better.
How are things for you?

best wishes

I am desperately ‘hungry’. I know it’s not hunger but cravings and head stuff. I just want to go to bed now and not get up until tomorrow. I weighed this morning and no change. Partially due to only counting in whole pounds I think. I knew I should stop weighing. It’s so demoralising. Maybe I will have a woosh?

I couldn’t face salad today so had ham/cheese/apple/almonds for lunch. It was lovely but I’m fighting the urge to have a square of chocolate. Might take the kids for another walk instead! I have the other half of yesterday’s supper for tonight and it was delicious and filling so maybe that will sort me out.

Thanks ever so much for reply. I think BNS lasagne will be a treat in future.

Hi Bigeater – Michael Mosley’s 5:2 website has a good TDEE reckoner.
SSB

Put it into a nutrition calculator and see how many calories and carbs it has per 100 g. Also compare it to other carbs like potatoes, I believe sweet potatoes are higher than white potatoes although lots of people think they are okay, they are not. If you are on 800 cals and around 50 to 100 carbs you will have your answer. Personally I only have squashes now and then.

I have just done the check for you and 100 g butternut squash is 12 g of carbs and 45 calories. Compare to cauliflower which has 5g carbs and 25 calories, you can see where you can be saving on both carbs and cals. Also remember it is the type of carbs that are bad for diabetics and should be cut out, all underground so you would think BNS is okay but I would say again only occasionally.

Hi Mariet & Luckylinda

I’m mid week of first week knuckling down and I am starving 🙁 worse than I ever was back in Feb – never mind ploughing on got determination written all over me lol

I’ve been doing this little 6minute full body toning exercise routine by Zana Morris (on YouTube) which isn’t much but I think it has helped with toning – am now upping it to morning and night everyday and trying to put in a few 5k runs a week (eh hmmm – well maybe 2, knees aren’t what they used to be) – I also like PIYO but my flexibility is shocking – ridiculous as I know I have to do it to improve flexibility and its all about the core so should try and do it more often – all the usual excuses family, working, too tired, can’t be bothered………..

LL – interesting about the pasta and not enjoying it now, pasta and rice use to be my go to foods and had one with every meal (and mounds of it – thanks sliming world!) can’t believe I have not missed them.

Hope everyone keeping on x

Still here! Well done Angie, that’s awesome. I eat eggs for breakfast every day and always have 100g of cooked meat (usually chicken) for lunch and fish or chicken or steak for dinner. If you’re veggo though, obviously that won’t work for you!

I’ve just hit my first goal weight (getting under 80kg/176lbs), which I haven’t been since 2013! I can also fit into a whole lot of clothes I haven’t been able to fit into for ages.

So I’ve lost 5.2kg (11lb) since the start of May. I could have lost lots more if I didn’t drink alcohol and eat chocolate and pizza on the weekends, but it goes to show it does still work even if you’re not super strict 🙂 About to go on 4.5weeks holiday to America this weekend though, so I’m hoping to stick to the principles as much as possible and not put on too much (unlike usual!)

Hi DTNMore and Verano
Thank you girls for your kind support , remotivated and moving forward. Will try your tips.

Keep going
🙋🙋🙋

Hi Perseverance,

Well done on the weightloss so far. My personal thoughts are that your rate of loss is very steady and on track. You are starting from a lower base than many people, and with that into account I wouldnt be concerned about averages.

You are also very active and you may be losing fat and gaining muscle mass. Have you been taking measurements as well? As I know people often find on slower weighloss periods it shows more on the tape measure.

I will be honest I am not sure on the age factor.

Are you drinking plenty of water?

best wishes

Hi all

Oh Jan know how hard it gets at times. Like dumptynomore I find 8 weeks very hard to sustain and it can become overwhelming. I find 4 week chunks much easier to stick to.

Sometimes it’s really hard to get your head back into gear when you’ve been following a plan for a long time. I think you get stale and fall into a rut with same food over and over again. I have found my ‘7days to renew enthusiasm ‘ thread really useful with some great ideas for varying your diet. Otherwise a new cook book, Tom Kerridge is very good if you’ve not read it. Even re-reading The BSD book helps too.

I’ve posted a link below from an email from Myfitnesspal that came this morning. It may just give you some inspiration. One of the tips is dumptynomores …. concentrate on what you can have not what you can’t.

’21 Dietitian-Approved Tips to Jump-Start Weight Loss’ – http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/21-dietitian-approved-tips-jump-start-weight-loss/

We’ll all get to where we want to be eventually it’s just a case of helping each other through the rough patches. What’s gone is gone you can only make today better.

Hello everyone, newbie here.

Hubs and I are starting the BDS on Monday having purchased the recipe book yesterday.

Hubs is type 2 diabetic and I need to lose a stone and a half.

My question is about BNS, is it ok to have this instead of cauliflower rice and courgettie?

I make a mean BNS lasagne and was wondering if I could incorporate it in to the plan.

Thanks for reading!

Hi, does anyone have a reliable or reputable site that measures tdee. I have been to a couple and get a variance of 1300 calories. Would be good to have a bit more clarity,

Thanks
Bigeater

Oh, Jan- I know that feeling so well where I can’t seem to stop eating even when I really really want to. I did that for the first 6 months of the year and then really had to give my self a right good talking to. I had got to the stage where I couldn’t actually walk for more than 5 mins. What I have learned is that just easing into gradually, first reducing refined sugars then cutting out, then work on eating protein at each meal – concentrating on what I can have rather than what I can’t. And you know this too – it becomes second nature in a very short time. I don’t know if this helps but what i have done is is make a list of breakfasts, a list of lunches a list of snacks a list of evening meals . The night before I choose from each list write it my diary. Takes away the ‘eating ad lib’ factor. It seems to be helping (who knows for how long though! Watch this space!).
Anyhoo, go Barbie ! Paul McKenna (yep – tried that too) used to say -visualise where you want to be really think it, see it, feel it, own it wihyour eyes closed. He also had a DVD that was titled something like ‘Secrets of a thin person’ – turns out thin people eat everything in moderation. My problem is that I eat everything to excess! Therein lies the problem. You go girl – post as often as you like! You know you will always know I’m with you, doing this to the best of our ability, every step of this way. We all are!
Come on Jan , we can do this! I say this to encourage myself too and everybody else too. Never mind the blips! We’re only human after all! Haven’t been walking so far today – tut tut! Bucketing with rain. Used to work with a doctor -when I said I wasn’t going for my lunchtime walk because it was raining, she would say ‘you’re not going to melt.’ Very true -but my hair will frizz up – 😀

Everybody else – keep going, for today only! And if it goes belly up (oh dear!) tomorrow is a brand new day – a clean slate!

From the soft and gentle thread by the sisters of mercy – 😀

We have a weekly weigh in club at work, helps with incentive. Lost 2lb in week how , no idea. For me that is 40lb down from last October.

I started 3 1/2 weeks ago and have stuck to the 800 calorie blood sugar diet and increased activity. I swim 30 mins a day and walk 10000 steps ( some of this playing golf) . Sometimes I use the exercise bike for 20 mins or 10 mins on the 20 second burst system suggested by Dr M Moselely
I initially lost 3kg but now weight loss is slowing to about 1kg a week despite having upped the exercise and continuing to follow the 800 cals low carb diet. I have the book and recipe book and really haven’t cheated. At this rate I will not lose the average 14K that it is suggested should be achieved.
Has anyone else found a slow down in weight loss and how can I kick start it again? Starting weight 81kg currently 74.9KG
Is it harder to lose weight the older you are? I am female age 70

Hi guys.
We should rename this thread the soft and gentle thread by the sisters of mercy. We are all working sensibly and kindly for long term results, I’ve had an awful few days eating wise, my 3 days, triggered everything of for me, and was just eating any old rubbish, of course stopped logging it on MFP worst thing to do as it’s so easy to forget, we’ll sort of for days. I find logging it keeps me in the real world, not the barbie shaped one where I can eat alsorts of stuff and look like her. What a laugh who am I kidding, but there you go the internals of a fat persons mind. Hehe
Anyway, back to it today, but as a consequence I’ve put on 1k so weigh day Friday, and it won’t be water as it’s over many days, it will be a miserable experience I think.
But onwards and downwards, got to eat, so may as well make it healthy. Just to test myself just had poached eggs on toast and can’t say I particularly enjoyed it, used to love this for breakfast. So back to 1000 cals trying for low carb but not pedantically, I just can’t seem to sustain it anymore. But talking on these blogs definitely keeps me sane.
Happy Wednesday 🙋💃🙋💃🙋💃🙋

S-g that’s great you’ll soon be out of the ‘twenties’ and into the ‘teens’. It must be so satisfying to be moving down with both insulin and weight.

Well done NancyB shouldn’t be too long before you get into the 16’s and why not aim for 14 by Xmas it’s still many months away.

Julia I often average out my calories and carbs over a week or a few days that evens out any damage and is less demoralising.

Well I’m off to have my yogurt and berries too Sumo.

Scales dropped by a smidgeon today so I can actually report an overall loss for this challenge at last! I’d love another challenge after this one but it will only be 5 weeks for me. I really do need to carry on while I have my head in gear! Have a good day.

Hi Everyone,
How’s it going so far?
I’m now 5 days in and have lost 6 lbs, very pleased!
I’m finding it ok, not really missing sugar yet, which surprises me. I know I have to avoid it completely though, because I know if I have a tiny bit of chocolate, I’ll go on to eat the whole bar!
Today won’t be too good for the diet though, as it’s my 20th wedding anniversary, and my husband is taking me out to dinner. I’ve already checked out the menu, and found some good choices, but I know I’ll be having a glass of two of champagne! Im just going to enjoy it, and get back on track tomorrow !

First a huge THANK YOU, for all your support, it really, really helps.

Kitty, well done on the walking. You are great. Just a little caveat, make sure that a)… its something you like doing and… b) it is sustainable when the weather changes.

It is persisting down here at the moment and I am about to do my wii fit. I am lucky that my dogs hate walking in the rain, so they are just going to watch me and sleep (what a life), I always feel sorry for people and dogs who walk in the rain, the dogs don’t look happy and the owners are soaking wet. Not much fun for either.

That’s all for now. Will check in later and see how everyone is doing.

Much love
Nonna Mary
xxx

LOL! Go on Esnecca,, if you have the time let us know what we should do with Brazil nuts. I was just having a conversation with somebody yesterday who was saying that, here in the UK, they have become very scarce because of a drought in South America so we may have to wait to try the recipe out.

Last night, as a change from mashed cauliflower, I made butterbean mash. I softened half a red onion and two cloves of garlic in a tbsp. of olive oil. Added 100ml of milk, juice of a lemon and the butterbeans with a tsp of mixed Italian herbs, but any herbs would be fine. Cooked for 10 minutes then smashed with a hand blender. I didn’t work out the calories or carbs but it made a nice change and I only had a couple of tablespoons full.

Woken up to a negative feeling. I know that it’s just a passing thing (or at least I hope it is). Had my breakfast at 9am and think I might regret that. It’s the earliest I’ve eaten since starting.

It’s all about the mental game today. I can feel that little bit of my brain that persuades me to eat doing its best to be heard. So I hear you, I acknowledge you but I’m worth more than that. I deserve to be healthy. I am not going to die prematurely just because you won’t shut up. I’m going to go for a long walk in damp woods with my gorgeous children. So there.

Hi Pirellibelli, if you take a look at the Clever Guts book, MM says that two things happen when we go on a diet – I.e reduce calories – the first is that we produce more grehlin – the hormone that makes us feel hungry, and less leptin – the hormone that tells us we’re full! I’m guessing this is an ancestral mechanism to guard against starvation but obviously for those of us who are reducing calories to lose weight seems like nature trying to sabotage our efforts. The good news is that if you can ‘tough it out’, these hormones do eventually recalibrate. Studies have shown that if people can keep weight off for a year, their bodies ‘get used’ to the new weight and so they are less likely to re-gain weight. Remember that the BSD is a way of life for health – the weight-loss is just one of the benefits.
Keep going – you will get there.

SSB

Thank you KrysiaD!

I have now had a good nose around the forum and the motivational aspects of the posts are brilliant! There are certainly a few times over the past year when I could have done with some of the wisdom here!

Still, onwards and upwards… keep on keeping on!

Been doing great all week, lots of graft in evolving garden, summer house up, need the little bits doing to finish off, new hot tube craned over house, so good for soaking the aches and pains away.
When I say great, I have not been near the scales this week, so maybe not so great come Saturday morning?
Just had my 150g of full fat Greek style yogurt with fresh Raspberries and Strawberries, yum

Well done NancyB!
I had a good day Monday, yesterday not so easy, but reasonable, but at work today, so easy to stick to BSD as I take my food in with me. Hope everyone’s week is going well so far.

The flaxseed crackers are very little hands-on work, really. Just a lot of waiting. I admit I do tend to complicate recipes. I like to aim for the best possible outcome, and in my experience, the ultimate success of the dish is all in the details. This tendency has only gotten worse with the BSD because my palate has become much more sensitive. Also we only have 800 calories to play with and I want to pack as much flavor in those 800 calories as possible. You don’t want to know about my new method of seasoning Brazil nuts. I cannot tell a lie. It’s insane. 😀

Forgot to say… didn’t get swimming but did go for 2nd walk this evening 🚶‍♀️

Well said Lee, good night everyone x
Kitty 🐱