Morning Lucia, hope the throat is not too sore today. Hi Smeee and welcome.
I find initially, after a bout of not sticking to BSD, the easiest way is to have absolutely loads of stuff to snack on – cherry tomatoes don’t half fill you up, ,but 80% dark choc or handful of nuts are good choices too. Whatever it takes… even if a little over on the calories, if the carbs are low, I find the weight still comes off. I know snacking is not encouraged on BSD, but initially it does help until the appetite shrinks, as it does.
Quite pleased with myself as the scales are going down a little each week, and I am off on holiday on Saturday, absolutely cannot wait to leave all this rain behind. Sticking with the principles of BSD while away, but won’t get hung up on the odd single scoop of ice cream after a sensible meal, followed by a walk.
Lucia I thought I should report, like Stringbreaker did on his return a while back (Bill’s thread) that I have stuck with the exercise as recommended by you months back. I think he still cylces/walks his age in minutes each day.
Have a good day all.

Hi Kate,

I’m in the middle of week 3 and I’ve just started feeling well enough to do some gentle cardio at the gym. The first day doing it I got a bit overexcited, did 45 minutes and felt great until about 14:30 when I could barely keep my eyes open. I’ve cut it back to 30 minutes and used some of my lunch calories for a small mid afternoon snack instead and that has helped a bit. Bear in mind though that I’m a 6″2′ man, so you may well be able to get away with doing more.

Hi Mixnmatch,
Thanks, it’s good to know that week 2 slowdown is so normal.
I’d been doing other diets (with very slow weight loss and none off my belly) before starting te 800, and I’ve been doing the 0-5k run app for several weeks.
I did hit a wall last Friday, and really felt that weakness associated with low blood sugar, but most days I’ve found that I have more energy. It’s got to come from somewhere, right?

Hi Caz1973
We are the same age and I am also prediabetic, type 2 runs in the family. I am also v busy with work and find some tricks invaluable: whatever you cook, treble the recipe and freeze in containers you can bung in the microwave so you always have something instant for when you come home tired. If you have silicon muffin trays at home, then you can make crustless quiche with parmesan, egg, spinach, ham, whatever flavours you like. They keep in fridge well and can also be frozen. Likewise cauliflour rice muffins, etc, there are recipes on this website, and also Lucia does a good breakfast ‘muffin’, with mushroom, bacon, egg, see her thread (type Lucia into the search box).
To encourage you, I have lost 15 kilos on BSD, blood sugars in the normal range now. It works, and without feeling mega deprived. Exercise does help in terms of keeping the metabolism moving and avoiding muscle loss as the weight comes off.
I need to lose more visceral fat so I stay on these forums for encouragement. Best wishes for great success!
Julia

Thanks for all the messages, they have been really helpful and encouraging.

I bit the bullet this morning and weighed myself!! Not as bad as I feared. Phew!

My first test out in the real world today, going to dinner at a friend’s house. I have nominated myself as designated driver, so no alcohol, but have no idea what’s on the menu. Will try and fill up on veggies. I have had a late breakfast, 230 calories, and hope I have saved enough for my dinner.

What do you folks do in this situation?

Thanks.

Hi bloke41. Sorry you’re disappointed at the slow weight loss. I see others have offered resources on fasting. It’s not my cup of tea, to be honest, but I came across these that look quite interesting too:

https://spinalresearch.com.au/fasting-can-trigger-stem-cell-immune-regeneration/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4102383/

Good luck if you try it.

Wagill – because I had probably been running at 24+ bs for many months (the HBIAC showed I was 24+ for 3 months but it is highly likely that this was much longer because I had been having the symptoms for at least a year and had just put them down to getting older) so it did take the whole 3 months.

The blurry vision did settle after that but because of the high carb diet I was advised to eat the insulin didn’t control the blood sugar spikes after meals like the BSD does and I then ended up 2 years later with diabetic macular oedema and diabetic retinopathy.

Thank goodness for the BSD which has reversed all of this and I rarely go over 6.5 when I test 90 minutes after a meal now. From reading stuff on the internet it seems that the after meal spikes are the ones that cause the retinopathy and oedema problems. My consultant has said that I will always have to avoid the bad carbs and even the berries will have to be severely restricted because my pancreas isn’t likely to fully regenerate because I may have had T2D for many many years before diagnosis. I am happy with this because I absolutely love the BSD and follow it on maintenance – averaging 2200+ calories a day. I have just found that I start losing weight at 1600 calories a day – so it has really revved up my metabolism.

Your blood pressure looks brilliant now and will only improve.

Sorry to hear of your loss Lee….but well done for managing so brilliantly.

Snoop, at least you have a target. Just keep visiting this site and it will give you strength. Well it does me.

Theodora, the fact that you are a maintainer gives me hope for the future.

Stay well everyone.

Mary xxx

Had a disastrous evening food (and drink) wise. But a good chat this morning with OH on the subject. The upshot is that I’m going to aim to come back from my mum’s the same weight as I am today or thereabouts, and then restart in earnest when I get back. He’ll be joining me, though he has quite a different idea of what it represents. He thinks we’ll be all right on lentils and beans. Meanwhile, there are plenty of courgettes to get through. Unfortunately, I also have potatoes growing in my veg patch…

So how long did it take your vision to go back to normal KrysiaD?
By the way I also have high blood pressure , ( it’s crap this getting old bit!).
However I’ve started monitoring that over the past week and it’s dropping from 148/90ish to 127/73.
Now that is a good side effect buy I will mention it to the diabetes nurse on Friday. Hopefully I can come off at least 1 of the 3 tablets I take for that.

Sorry to hear your news, LLCC. The death of a loved one is difficult to deal with, even if – even especially if – it is not unexpected. Big hugs from me.

Hello all, have been so busy I have missed a few days posting, but just thought I’d let you know that despite the busyness I have managed to get down to 82.3 kg this morning. I have packed my running stuff for my holiday, although with the heat it may well end up as long walks rather than runs. I have until Saturday to try and lose some more – won’t be weighing on holiday but I have every intention of keeping up the good work and while unable to measure, will stick with the principles, although I plan to allow myself the odd single scoop of ice cream. I find that if I include this after a fibre filled meal, it doesn’t have the slightest effect on blood sugar, must be the cream? I do avoid sorbet though.

S-G the bigger picture looking at your full year is amazing.

Prawn salad for lunch. The usual predictable breakfast. Not sure what for dinner. Can’t have the pizza the rest of the family are having, although the dough looks amazing – lovely golden khorasan wholemeal flour. Will probably have the tomato and cheese element over a packet of courgetti/cauli rice.

Have a good day all – here in Edinburgh it’s raining stair rods/cats and dogs/buckets – had to drive quite carefully to avoid drenching the pedestrians in the mega puddles that are everywhere!

I’m doing this as I am at very high risk of developing diabetes and want to avoid it at all costs. So I’m very motivated approaching the end of week 2 of the Fast 800. Really pleased with how well I’ve planned, shopped and cooked, drunk litres of water and resisted all other temptations so the food side of things is absolutely there and on plan.

Week 1 was great with an 8lb loss. Now approaching end of week 2 and looking like a 2lb loss if I’m lucky. Now I’m not complaining that much as 10lb in two weeks is great and better than I’ve ever managed before, but my question for forum members is….how essential is the exercise (upping your daily steps) element?

Hi smeee,
It isnt easy, i wish it was.
I agree your four weeks have been a good start. You have learned that you can survive without toast etc.
I didnt think i could live up breakfast cereal, i thought the world would end.
How would i last? Would the world stop spinning?
24 hours later, all that happened in the whole world, wa that i ate less carbs!

My favourite breakfast is…
I get one of those metal trays that you bake yorkshire puddings in.
I put one big mushroom, in the bottom, curved or top of mushroom facing down.
I get a strip of lean bacon and curl it around like a wall,
In the middle i crack an egg.
Bake in the oven until all cooked.
I do a few and have them in the fridge for my evening meal, or take it to work for lunch.
It is self contained as the egg acts as, well, cement! Holding it all together.

I have had an ice cream last night as my throat feels as if it is on fire.
Probably the wrong thing for the diet, but i am not beating my self up about it as i have been good the rest of the day.

The first two weeks are fantastic, when the penny drops, you realise what junk you have eaten and now know how to improve.

Keep going, keep happy, keep smiling

Love lucia
Xxxx

The only thing you can do if the cravings are as strong as you say is emulate several maintenance posters who stay off the white stuff permanently. I have been able to indulge without massive cravings at times, and at other times have experienced what you describe and going forward will be trying out the ‘carbohydrate addicts diet’ plan of keeping white stuff intake to one meal a day, lasting no longer than an hour. According to the science this should prevent the hyperinsulinemia that causes the cravings to occur.

While you have largish fat stores the 800 calories is of course nowhere near the calories that you need to do so much exercise, but the body fat fuels the exercise well as you have found. After you get to your target body fat percentage, you will have to increase your calories to your calculated TDEE, and I found it works best for me if I increase it gradually, at around 50 calories a day. This would take about 5 weeks to get you to the number you quoted and you may well lose a few more pounds while increasing your calories, I certainly did. Congratulations on your personal best, and improved energy levels.

Wagill – yes that happened to me also. My blood sugar was 24 when diagnosed and I was put on insulin straight away. I was advised by the hospital not to get new glasses for 3 months because the rapid glucose drop would affect my vision – and they were right. Well done for doing so well.
.

Morning all.

I’ve woke up this morning and weighed myself and I’ve got to my current target weight of 13st 7lb.

My bloods yesterday were back down to 7.2. So in a better mood all round today. I’m going for my diabetes eye test later today.
I have been suffering from blurry vision for nearly 2 weeks. I read somewhere that this can be temporary due to a rapid BSG drop.
Anyone enlighten me more on that front?

Interesting post as I have been on the 800 for 3 weeks now and am fairly active, cycle 18kms a day,to work and back, run approximately 12 kms a week and play tennis 2 to 3 times a week. I just wanted to lose about 10kg’s particularly around the middle and after 3 weeks I have lost about 6.5kg. I feel great and actually feel like I have more energy. I just came in from a 10km run having broken my personal best time.

I keep wondering how many calories do we really need to function well? My fitness Pal says I should consume about 2460 calories to maintain my current weight which after doing this diet for 3 weeks seems like a lot of calories. I wonder whether my energy levels seem higher due to the selection of quality calories on the diet and the removal of the majority of processed refined carbs? Anyway whatever is going on its great and much easier to keep to than I thought.

I did the 800 for 4 months and lost over 30 pounds. I am now trying to settle into a Med style diet but I keep being betrayed by massive carb cravings. I am eating lots of protein, dairy, nuts, mountains of veggies, olive oil etc., but no matter how full I am I don’t feel really satisfied. However, if I have a slice of bread or something sweet I experience an almost drug like feeling of pleasure followed by an irresistible need for more.

I was at an event that featured an enormous selection of pastries, and I made the mistake of having one. That triggered a huge desire that I did not want to fight and I ended up scarfing down at least a thousand calories worth of desserts. Before I started the diet I never really had much of a sweet tooth, normally heading over to the cheese platter after dinner, but now I have to leave the room when the desserts come out because I cannot resist them if they are in front of me.

Anybody else experiencing this?

Hi bloke41…apologies all for butting into this thread….I always do a quick catch up on all the recent posts but generally only post in one forum, or I’d never get any work done! The fasting mimicking diet that you mentioned is based on the work of professor Walter Longo and my partner is working with TGA to get it into Aus (though you can order from America through him atm)
If you want to explore it (I saw that you’re in Aus too) you can get info at prolon.com.au…contact details also on the site

I’ve done one 5 day protocol and its pretty easy (I missed my tea and coffee….but it’s only 5 days!!)

42 weeks on BSD is VERY impressive (not to mention inspiring!)…I’m on week 4 and pretty happy thus far…each day counts

One more resource!
https://intensivedietarymanagement.com/fed-fasted-state/
Cheers
Linda

Hi bloke41,
I’ve been doing a fair bit of intermittent and extended day fasting for autophagy (killing cells) mainly for prevention of cancer and Alzheimer’s and to keep maintenance on track.

Check out these resources:

https://www.dietdoctor.com/longer-fasting-regimens

…also check out Jimmy Moore’s podcast ‘Fasting Talk’. Listen from the beginning if you can, you’ll learn everything you need to know about fasting.

https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/fasting-talk/id1192105323?mt=2

Finally, the ‘2Ketodudes’ podcast and website is my go to for resources.
https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/2-keto-dudes/id1086736152?mt=2

http://2ketodudes.com/

Cheers
Linda

Evening all, can I join you?
I had a good start: 4 weeks, lost some weight, then went on holiday and really lost the umph. It’s taken me 3 weeks to realise that for me I have to be very strict: no snacks at work, no sneaky crackers, slices of toast or packs of biscuits. I’m not able to eat a little bit… So yesterday I started again and have kept in control for two days: not perfect, but a couple of squares of 81% dark chocolate and a few toasted nuts is far better than half a loaf of bread, butter and jam…
I’m learning that for me eating and being hungry seem to be two unrelated ideas.
And it really helps to have someone to be accountable to: thank you!

Ohh Euthenia what a lovely problem to have , agree with California girl . I had weekend away at cold and wet seaside and decided to have an ice cream and ate half a small jersey potatoe. Next day peckish all day , ate seaweed crisps and chewed gum in between meals to get me through as I now know I am responding to insulin highs and lows . 2 days later appetite reset. Interestingly thought the potatoe had unpleasant texture never noticed before. Good fats have made this diet tasty, varied and sustainable I suggest that you use them as your balancing food – they are so high in calories that a little goes a long way.
The reason for beginning to write today is to bring back into the front of my mind that I am dieting which means counting the calories , weighing stuff, not having seconds cos it was tasty and planning a bit more ahead.
I love food and use it as a reward, a comfort , it connects me to my past and is an outlet for the little bit of me that is creative . I know that if I use all the startegies that this diet has shown me I’ll get those last pesky 6lbs down then will join the maintenance crew- again see what I did there .
NN

Thanks for the advice. Mr Euthenia is delighted he can eat more of the same but keen to tell me he likes beer!
Pastryless quiche is fine…. lunches of sweet potatoes instead of pastry work well so I’ll try the nervousnellie option above! Isn’t it odd how people respond when they ask how you lost weight! They seem to come back weeks later and ask for details…

Really sorry for your loss, LLCC – the fact that is was not unexpected doesn’t make it any easier, so not surprising you reached for a (good) burger.

Well done on still coming in at 821 for the day.

Yes I did take measurements but I’ve not checked them since I started.
I’ll do it in the morning to see if anything is different.
I’m weighing all my ingredients as well so fingers crossed I can start shifting some more off this week!

So how did wednesday go for you?

I had a big bowl of veg soup, felt stuffed.

Then i was too full to eat this evening.

Loads of water.

More work on the house.
Getting there bit by bit.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Crappy day!

Started on my whoosh high and came home to the news that one of my cousins had passed away from lung cancer. Not unexpected, but shitty nonetheless.

It’s amazing how a loss can trigger the emotional hunger. I so wanted food and a drink!!

I did have some comfort food in that I had a cheeseburger. Bsd friendly, all homemade with top quality ingredients and accounted for and have actually come in at 821 for the day. Boy, I fancy something sweet now though!

Sorry to unload guys but you make a great conscience!

L xxx

Did you take measurements when you started? When the scales stop moving temporarily usually the inches start going instead, as visceral fat is burned or the burned fat is temporarily replaced in the cells by water which takes up less room. If you didn’t measure, try on a pair of jeans that used to be too tight instead, you may just get a nice non scale victory to bolster your motivation instead.

Stay strong and ignore the cravings or try to fool them with something on plan like a small piece of cheese or peanut butter on the tip of a teaspoon. The carb monster doesn’t like being ignored and tries to prod you into feeding him (or her). Distraction can be useful as well, find something absorbing to do every time they strike. The good news is the cravings go and don’t come back unless you go back over your personal carb threshold, after a couple of weeks and then you begin to recognise that most of what we thought was hunger was actually just the cravings.

Hi everyone. This is my first post so please bear with! I heard about the BSD about 2.5 weeks ago and felt inspired enough to download the book and start it the following day! I think because last year at this time I was 2 stone lighter and so annoyed I’d put the weight back I just needed to kickstart and get back to where I was.
Anyway in the first week I lost 8lb, second week 3lb. Into the 4th day of my third week and a bit frustrated as no weight lost. This despite sticking rigidly to the 800 plan, drinking water etc.
I’ve read on the forums that this is quite common so I guess I need to just stick it out. Blooming annoying though. I could understand it if I’d downed a few bottles of Pinot! It’s going to be a long haul so need to keep focused.

Gday all,
Well done snoop and stjames keep it up,persistent is the key. Might have to have a squig at that book arthurconanddoyle. Been very hectic with work deadlines. Week 42 and 43 dusted last sunday. Only a 0.3kg loss taking me to 103.8 kg, 56.1 kg loss to date. This last 10kg been painfully slow. 99kg goal seem far away. Watched a interesting program on program called sunday night, about benefits of fasting. They were talking about a 5 day fast, only could have a few nut bars and soup. Research claimed it killed of bad cells and generated new stem cells. Will try to find the link. Found it fascinating. So i tried a 2 day fast just water though. Surprising i held up ok. Have a rd trip on friday for my wifes grañny funeral so dont think i get to do a weigh in this sunday. Have a good one all and most of all never bloody give up!

Well done mixnmatch, you is awesome! Well done for maintaining and staying the course xx
Have a lovely break Theodora xx
Thank you for your lovely comments Marsie xx

Don’t worry about a week 2 slowdown in weight loss. Your body will pick it’s own time to let go of the weight, search for ‘whoosh effect’ on the forum and you will see that such stalls happen to almost all of us and are related to fat burning related water retention. I didn’t cut back on my exercise while doing the 8 weeks at 800, but I was already very well fat burning adapted from doing low carb 5:2 including some fast days on exercise days. If you aren’t ‘hitting the wall’ on your run then it sounds like you are pretty well adapted yourself, and if you are adapted, then the more exercise you do the more fat you will burn.

Thanks for your comments, I know the BMI is a rubbish system. I shudder to think what I would look and feel like if I lost the remaining stone to what the Boditrax reckons is my ideal weight, 9 stone 11. If I look at the muscle mass though I’ve got almost 10kg more than what it reckons is ideal. I show as 51.6 kg muscle and the scanner reckons the ideal amount is 41.9 kg. Since there is quite a lot less than 10kg between my current weight 69.4kg and ideal weight (according to the Boditrax) of 62.1kg I am clearly quite skinny enough already. I am really glad I did the scan though, because my bathroom scales still keep stubbornly telling me my body fat percentage is 34%!!!! Enjoy your gourmet break, Theodora and make full use of that wiggle room if necessary.

Hey Bonnie I am also new to this I have had questions to ask and people on this forum have been great and soooooooo helpful my journey starts tomorrow I am so excited now i understand what I have to do with the advice and help from people on this forum. I have read all different diets and have been so confused now after people helping me on here I finally feel in control and I feel this is a great support network so I wish you all the best in your journey we can do this if we stick together I need people here because my hubby would just offer me a snickers bar lol so I have no support at home good luck bonnie keep us posted bring on the new healthy us.

Oh, I’ve just seen this. I’ve been running 5k before breakfast 3x a week and walking everyday. Perhaps that’s why my weight loss has stopped in week 2?

How’s everyone doing?

Apart from a tiny slip at the weekend, I’ve been sticking to the plan and exercising too, but weight loss stopped a week ago. They say this happens sometimes, so I’m plodding on…

Hi Euthenia — fantastic results — you worked hard! There are some good threads on maintenance here so you can get great advice.
I’ve been at goal since last June, I haven’t gained anything back — I eat very low carb, usually less than 40-50 grams per day (and almost ALL of that carb is from vegetables) — moderate amount of protein (any kind except cured meats) and good fats, heavy cream in my coffee, cheese, avocados, olive oil, butter and lots of salads and veg except starchy veg and some fruit and some wine!
No bread, no crackers, no cookies or sweets. I figure I average about 2200 calories per day. i do exercise and hike and swim but not every day although I try to get in a walk on non-active days.
I think the most important is the carbs — I can really pretty much eat my fill of everything else but carbs are a problem — they activate my appetite and so I just don’t eat them. My big reward for a couple hours hiking is a draft beer! Man do I look forward to hiking! Haha!

I too have lost all the weight I need to and would like some advice on maintaining that weight without losing more. Odd as it seems I’m finding it hard to find clothes which will fit if I get smaller! (BMI 19.5). Thanks

So I might take a fresh look at it — you’ve lost an admirable amount of weight and now you are struggling for six months to lose just six more pounds? Maybe your body needs to settle down for a bit and regain its balance — when we diet as seriously as we do in BSD, we definitely disrupt the stable physical self that all bodies strive to maintain (and I mean your body, which is always working toward a steady energy state and equilibrium).
How about you step back into maintenance (where I am now) and just “sit” with your wonderful new weight for awhile.
Let your body exhale and rest. Then you can look at it with fresh eyes in a couple of months. Who knows, maybe you are at a good sustainable weight for you.
Losing that much weight is BIG work for your body and your brain. Maintenance could be restful for you while you gather up the energy/resolve for that last six pounds.

Thanks all for replies , its made me realise you guys are real, I have looked in on these posts a couple of times a week across most of the year and have followed the tips and the struggles of this community . I remember reading from somewhere that the Nottingham research on reversing type 2 diabetes has found that having the support of others is a key to weight loss success which is one of the reasons for taking this plunge.
I am following the determined alcoholic thread most days since it began as it is funny, with the odd occasional drama and made me realise a bit of swearing is ok on the forum and like the observational nature if it which I hope to follow.
SG and SB agree about how my motivation has dropped as weight lessened and family and friends begin to notice.
Have others noticed though that it is a bit like when you are pregnant , this applies of course to the women of the forum, that your weight loss becomes public proporty. In my work, which is in health, so maybe we are a nosy bunch to begin with, I have had my loss discussed across meeting tables. Interestingly though many of my colleagues are following suit and I think my initial openness had led to a bit of a social movement.
Thus has also happened in my family, my sister, son ,husband and brother in law have all joined the team and between us we have lost fourteen stone and counting .
Did try vinegar fizz as I warned I might , needed a bit of tonic was ok , but tasted like a G and T left out overnight, then did a pastry less quiche. Used squeezed frozen spinach, yoghurt, Parmesan and lemon rind as a base bound together with a tablespoon of almond flour. Not bad I must say.
NN

Thank you sunshine-girl and Theodore before finding this site I read tons of diets and was more confused than ever, now after your advise I feel more in control than I ever have I am from norfolk in the UK and I am what is known as a norfolk dumpling lol weighing 13 stone 10 at 5 foot 3 aged 43 but that is about to change my journey begins tomorrow and I so grateful for your help and advice. I have a blood test in 4 months so time will tell I don’t really know results from last time was just told pre diabetic go and lose weight so I am determined to do this.I love reading people’s journeys on this forum it’s so encouraging and hopefully one day if my journey goes to plan I can then help somebody so thanks again

Nice to see you back, Melb100!
Haven’t totted up my miles for the 2nd half of June yet – that’s a job for the weekend.
You reminded me that I have the BBC radio adaption of LOTR on CD kicking around somewhere – must dig it out and relisten.

Well done, Theodora, on being 5lbs under target – don’t apologise for losing weight while on holiday. I think walking 15-20miles would probably take care of that! I remember coming back from holiday once and weighing 3lbs less than when I started – it was Iceland and I ate royally, plenty of fish & meat, all that skyr. One week back in Blighty and it was back on.

My original goal was (and still is) 9.5stone – I’m 5’3″ so it’s not unreasonable. You are absolutely right – there’s nowt wrong with hovering around 10st. In 2007 I was 10.5stone and just went up, so don’t get me wrong I am delighted to be around 10st all these years later. But I feel there is a bit more wiggle room to be found, particularly round the waist/belly. As mentioned before in my posts, I relaxed too much at the back end of last year and paid the price, and it has been a lot slower to come off this year – I think of it like chipping away at granite with nothing more than a toothpick. I think I’ve referred to it as my own personal Groundhog Day, losing, gaining & then relosing the same lb over & over! I didn’t expect the final few pounds to come off without a fight.

But I had a good day today – I managed to negotiate Tesco’s without succumbing to temptation and a problem at work has been resolved. (I run a charity shop and it’s a near continual battle to wrangle volunteers to make sure I have adequate cover for each shift.) And as I type, I’ve got some beef slow roasting in the oven so I’m looking forward to that with some veggies & horseradish sauce.

Have a great trip, whether or not you lose/gain any weight!

Hi Snoop,

Sorry to hear of your loss. Just go with the flow. We are all here if you want a moan. Go easy on yourself, you are important too!
Hope everything sorts itself out.

Mary xxx

We all need to find the best way to make the 800 cals a day work for us, Tryinghard. For some it’s having three meals and maybe even saving a few cals for a snack; for others it’s two meals and a longer overnight fasting period. In the early days, I found I needed three meals and sometimes a snack too, but now I am comfortable with two meals and that longer fast period.

Hunger pangs are very normal in the early days – and I think most of us can identify with finding it hard to stop eating when we know we’ve had our calorie quota, at least occasionally. The hunger pangs will decrease as you adjust to the new regime and your body gets used to not having the carbs it used to get – ride it out and in a few days these will die down, making life easier.

Anyway, no matter how you decide to use your 800 cals each day, remember we are in this for the long haul, so it important to find a way to blend it into your life in a way that causes the least disruption and that is trial and error. Good luck!

Dumptynomore, glad to read your story. Here’s mine: started on 29 August last year weighing 89.7 kg (just over 14 stone). I’m 1 metre 55 cm (just about 5 feet). Managed to get down to 76.9 by early February this year. And then things got complicated. My Dad was ill and eventually died a couple of months ago. My Mum isn’t coping. So although I live in Spain, I’ve spent a lot of time in the UK in recent months. Food has been the least of anyone’s concerns.

Weighed myself today. Now back up to 82.8 kg. So less than when I started in August, but quite a bit more than in February. I’m shocked as to how quickly I can put weight on!

Am due back to visit my Mum again in a few days. She lives on her own now. She’s started trying to eat more sensibly, but she still goes in the main for ready meals, cakes, buns with clotted cream… She says she’s losing weight. The only thing she doesn’t do is drink alcohol. I imagine I’ll come back heavier but at least I’ll have had a dry spell. Then I’m here for a few weeks before going back again towards the end of August.

Do we have goals on this thread? I’m trying to do things in baby steps. I’d love to start a new BSD year in September back at 76.9 kg, but probably won’t make it. Getting back into the 70s by the end of July would feel like a big achievement. Cutting out the wine would be another.

Have done reasonably well so far today. Picked three ballistic missiles today (otherwise known as courgettes/zucchini – anyone who grows them will understand), so that’s us for courgetti for a few days.

Edited to add: I’m not a diabetic but have other health issues that would be improved by weight loss and alcohol reduction.