Morning (or afternoon here), hope you are all well. Verano why oh why do you have digestive biscuits in the house yet wont allow a slice of bread to touch your lips. Chuck them out girl. There are lots of other things to snack on, cut up some carrot sticks to keep in the fridge, measure out 7 or 8 almonds, have a boiled egg, what about a couple of oat cake biscuits with some cheese. Sorry to tell you off but you would do the same for me and I always deserve it.

Hubby is in the pool right now and I have been prepping my lunch, tuna and cream cheese whizzed up with celery, carrot, courgette and red peppers to dip in. Breakfast was poached egg with grilled mushrrom and dinner will be that chicken cacciatore. Comes in around 650 calories so room for a bit of dark chocolate. BG was 5.0 this morning and on 21 units insulin. Might get in the pool after lunch if the rain holds off.

1960smp, the bacon and avocado recipe is easy. Pile your plate with the salad of your choice, I prefer ribbon courgette and red peppers and maybe a bit of spring onion, grill 3 nice sized rashers of bacon until pretty well done and slice half an avocado. Arrange these on top of the salad plate and pour over a couple of tablespoons of Greek yoghurt mixed with a teaspoon of olive oil and teaspoon of lemon juice – I also add half a crush garlic clove. Voila, delicious and doesn’t feel like a diet meal.

Keep on keeping on…

Am still planning, so not properly started ( shopped yet )

Sunshine girl, can you link me to / share the recipe for the bacon/avocado recipe pls?

I am so upset with myself as up to last week I had managed to lose 5kg but following a disappointment I let go and ate!

Anyhow, decided to get well planned with menus several days ahead to help so I don’t have an excuse. Struggling to concentrate and read so its taking me longer than anticipated…

SunnyB I only mentioned mindfulness in passing but you are so right. Mindfulness is a bit like drinking water we have to keep reminding ourselves all the time.

Yes pickled cucumbers, herrings yummy. I’d forgotten piccalilli with cheese lovely. I just don’t like pickled onions. In fact I don’t like onions full stop unless they are cooked in something. Hate onion flavoured food as well, cheese and onion crisps yukkkk, not that I eat crisps now. Well maybe the odd one!

Think I may just have cottage cheese with pickled cucumbers for lunch today and maybe some tomatoes with salt!

Thank you SunnyB – and good luck to you too – with lots of positive supportive peeps on this forum, we can do it!
SSB

Okay SSB, it’s good that you have things in control and find you can manage without counting calories. Somehow this just doesn’t work for me if I want to lose weight (might be because I’m a very slow loser). It works fine if I want to maintain, although even then I find the pounds have a habit of starting to slowly sneak back. So if I want to lose I have to count both the cals and carbs. Anyway, it’s good that you don’t have the same issue.

Glad that you are managing not to comfort eat. I think combatting that pattern is very challenging and can be really hard to break. Having something stressful and emotional going on, obviously makes it even more so. Hope you continue to keep a handle on things – well done.

Feeling slightly better on this challenge, maybe there’s something to be said for starting it, makes you feel triply accountable or something maybe. Yesterday and Tuesday I strictly calorie and carb counted, today is just going to be low carb aims as I go to a friend for lunch. Feeling positive about losing 2lb by Tuesday.
Keep on going everyone!

That Rendang sounds delicious, Marcie, making my mouth water thinking about it.

Sorry to hear the snacking got a bit out of hand yesterday, Verano. Hope you’ve got a handle on it again and I’m not going to get in trouble for the dent in your resolve! Might try the salt trick myself. I find the things with a strong punchy flavour, like something salty or pickled really helps when dieting.

Think you have also hit on something, Verano, mentioning the need to be mindful of what we eat. Actually, it was going to be my offering for today as well. Think it’s something that can be hard to hold on to and applying a little thought and mindfulness can make a huge difference. Just asking yourself, ‘Do I need this?’ or ‘Do I really want to eat this?’ before diving in, can make a big difference.

Anyway instead, for today I’ll offer up the pickles – gherkins/cornichon, olives, silver onions, etc – anything with a tang, but low on sugar. I love piccalilli and just a little with a bit of cheese is very pleasing.

SueBlue, well done for sticking with it this time – all us January starters must be celebrating our 6 month anniversary about now. My actual anniversary is on Sunday, and I have also just passed my 2 month anniversary on maintenance. Going ok so far – after our totally over-indulgent 5 days I am pleased to report that I am now back to being 5lbs under my target weight again, so have my wriggle room back. Just as well as today we decamp from the city to our summer home for 3 months of pretty full on socialising / guests staying / beach BBQs etc. On the other hand, there will lots of sailing and walking too, so hopefully one will counterbalance the other. Like you, I have learned a lot since January and am also totally comfortable with this WOE.

Cyster, good luck with your aim to lose 8lbs by the end of July and, of course, with your final target of 8.5st (which was my target weight too, but now 5lbs below for wriggle room 😛) Keep on keeping on and you’ll get there – well done on your 2lb loss this week.

lyn, good to hear from you too – really good to know you are still with us. I weigh myself daily too – particularly now I am in maintenance, on the basis that it is far easier to address a 2lb gain than a 7lb gain! Good for you on the exercise front and the weights etc. I have to confess that the only exercise I do is walking, but miles and miles of it (2 big energetic dogs who would be bouncing off the walls if they didn’t get at least 5 miles a day, and generally more like 8 miles – that’s me, they are running around off lead so probably do 3 or 4 times that 😝 )

I said in an earlier post that we must accommodate our ups and downs/ social occasions etc because life is for living. If we want this WOE to be sustainable we have to be comfortable with it, no point whatsoever being thin and miserable! The trick is, I think, to see the whole picture, not little blips, and remind ourselves just how far we have come since those dark days of January.

.

Hi SunnyB,
I don’t actually do the 800 cals – I just stick to low/very low carbs which tends to keep the calories low anyway but I don’t count calories generally. I only have a few more pounds to lose so I am not ever so strict – my real challenge is not to comfort eat and so far this time, I’m ok.
Good luck to everyone else here – it’s a very positive group! 😊😊😊😊
SSB

SaltySeaBird – hope you are doing okay. I understand you desire to keep a hold of the BSD, but don’t be too hard on yourself. If you need a day or two not sticking strictly to the 800 cals, it might be best to allow yourself a little space.

ClarinetCathy – very well done on being the lightest you have been for sometime. Keep up the good work!

There is lots of positivity on the thread, which is great to see. I’m feeling good at the moment, managing to keep good control of the cals and carbs well for the last three days, with an average cal intake below 800per day. Currently a pound down on my challenge start weight, so happy with how things are progressing.

I like the idea of thinking outside the box and making high-protein replacements for favourite foods, Ancient Weaver. I shall be giving that some thought.

Hi Cooper28

Thanks for info – I am going to weigh tomorrow morning which will be day 5

Concerned about weekend with socialising etc

Haven’t been eating breakfast find better for me to eat later 👍

Hi,
Yes the recipe is in the book, Page 226.

I weighed myself this morning ( was going to wait until Friday lol), 3 off, well chuffed with that.I feel more alert! No head smog, I just hope I can ghet through the week end on it.

I am loving the new breakfast, instead of cereal I am having – raisins, full fat yougurt, nuts and flax seeds, tasted great and the recipe is in the book, page 188 . Keeps me full until lunch, then I have the ploughmans.

Hope you are all doing okay on it!

Ellen :o)

I am feeling completely focused for this next challenge and have been planning my meals the day before and sticking to it. It’s six months since I started BSD and today I weigh the lightest I have weighed for a very very long time. 140.6 lb! My aim is to get 4 pounds off this month and four pounds off next month and then I should be near to my goal of a BMI of 25. I am doing a combination of indoor walking via Youtube, fasting and strict BSD and am the most determined I’ve been since starting in January to get where I want to be. Thank you for the support and encouragement and top tips in this thread.

Oh Mary, what are you like?

Wait, so now there are Bandits as well as those pesky Sirens? *circles all our wagons*.

XX

DAY 3 of 7

Sounds lovely Marsie and even though I’m just about to have my yogurt and berries I’d much prefer your Rendang!

Yesterday I think I took to your idea of BSD snacks with far too much enthusiasm SunnyB! I had a really ‘snackful’ day. It started with salad for lunch and then I just ‘needed something’ so had a couple of oat cakes and a piece of cheese but still not satisfied the digestives reared their ugly head. That was it, no dinner just a day of snacking, nuts, raisins and 90% chocolate. All BSD friendly just too many of them!

Anyway today is another day and I think I need to pass on a tip from Mixnmatch ….. salt. She suggests a taste of salt on your finger tip to stop cravings. I really think this may work. On Tuesday I had courgetti puttanesca for lunch and I though I was satisfied because it was quite substantial, but I now think it may have been the salt from the anchovies, olives and parmesan. So will certainly put it to the test today at lunchtime which seems to be my danger zone. It could also have a knock on effect and force me to drink more water!

Some really good ideas here and today I’m going to be really mindful of what I eat as my enthusiasm for BSD builds back up.

Good posts coming in. Love the idea of the one pot vegs Mnm. And re the water Baristagirls, I should add this to my new goals. With the weather colder here now, I am not getting in my usual intake. Thanks for the reminder.

Missed being here yesterday altogether because of computer probs. I’m sitting here now with the aroma of a Malaysian Rendang curry in my slow cooker. The coconut milk and jar of Ayam curry paste are within my cal and carb limits for today. Will add broccoli and cauliflower to the plates and cook only enough rice for OH.

Marsie I here you about being rather jaded and finding it difficult to stick to 800 calories. I found that 800 was fine to stick to for 8 weeks or a couple of rounds of 8 weeks, but when you are getting into 6+ months as I am it is hard. So I’m doing a similar thing, actually have been for a while now, I have 2 days of 800 calories and then 5 days of about 1000 – although it usually averages out to 900 calories per day over a week. This way I find I can stick to the WOE and lose weight (albeit slowly, but it is slow anyway while I’m on daily prednisone).
I think we all need to find our own way with this WOE and do what works best for us 🙂

Thanks for replying. Its good to hear that the sugar can be beaten. I have to say I felt awful yesterday, no cravings but I felt like I had the flu. Is that normal in the first few days?

Mrs Honey I guess it all depends whether you have diabetes or not. If you do have it then I’m afraid certain carbs are never going to be your friend. The odd potato may not do much harm occasionally but in general you won’t be able to eat them and control diabetes. If you don’t have diabetes then it’s a case of trial and error. Good luck whichever way and enjoy your holiday.

lol, Baristagirls, thank you for starting up this challenge for us.

Hi, SaltySeaBird. I like your thinking there: “break the stress-eating cycle completely.” Good luck with it, and in fact, I think I will embrace that too.

I’ve often said that “I don’t do well with actual kg goals, am better with behavioural goals that lead to the kgs moving downwards”. That was the theory but lately, anyway, I haven’t stuck with the step x step goals I’d set. Like Verano, I’m rather jaded and finding 800cals too hard to adhere to. Maybe a combination will help. So my goals for this challenge will be to:
1) Lose 2kg
2) Aim for x5 daily totals between 800-1000cals; x2 daily totals no higher than 850cals.
3. Beware of stress situations which may lead to careless eating.

Best wishes everyone in meeting our personal goals xx Marilyn

Hi everyone,

It was my turn to slip… quite a deliberate choice, actually, half way through the 8 weeks BSD. Not enough calories to be alarming, but significantly more than my 800. It is village party time in some places in Portugal, which means open air restaurants set up in the park, long tables with groups of friends, and music in the balmy summer air. Vinho flowing, grilled meats and salads, and desserts adorn tables. There’s rice, too, which I ignored (though Portuguese rice is cooked with onion and garlic and oven-baked).

So, Back to the diet today!

Good luck for Bastille day!

Catrina, we’re now waiting for your results too, on tenterhooks.

I also studied at the OU. I did my second degree, a masters in Education (first year psychology) at the OU. I did my second and third degrees while working full-time, raising two children and looking after overworked husband, etc. So I can understand how hard it is. The OU is an amazing organisation, and my MA was the best study course I’ve ever done.

Thank you AncientWeaver,
I don’t really have a typical comfort food – I used to be a serious carb-fiend but I’ve been doing this WOE for so long, I don’t really crave them. I do like ‘proper’ coffee with sweetening e.g vanilla syrup, but that isn’t something I have often. Thankfully, like you, I find the fat/protein combo do stabilise my emotions so I’m more likely to binge on nuts or cheese!
I’m much calmer today so keeping on track.
Good luck to everyone.
SSB

Good morning and a new day thank goodness! Hope it’s a good one for everyone and definitely a better one for me.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I’d not heard of the salt trick but will give it a go it can’t do any harm. As for pork rinds I’m not really a meat eater, just having a very occasional, steak, so that one would definitely not work for me. I think I have answered my own problem really. On Tuesday I had a substantial lunch of courgetti puttanesca with anchovies, olives and parmesan so very salty Mnm and I didn’t feel the ‘need’ for something more afterwards. You may have hit the nail on the head it could be salt so will have a savoury lunch today and see how I go or at the very least have some salt on my food.

Glad you had a really good day yesterday s-g hope you have a repeat today. Anyway I loved YOUR words they are very apt for me.

Mnm your menu sounds interesting and your weight loss great. Hope day 3 goes well for you. You certainly seem to be in the right frame of mind.

So onwards keeping on keeping on …….

Hi SaltySeaBird, sorry to hear you have had such bad news, but you are absolutely right not to give up on the diet. I actually came to this diet after finding that increased protein helped massively with my mh problems, especially stress.

What is your typical comfort food? Try and make a protein rich version.
If it’s chocolate ice cream, try a chocolate protein shake, enriched with real cream.
Cakes or biscuits? Make your own, replacing the flour with almond flour or ground almonds, or any nut flour really. Cut out most of the sugar and replace with a teaspoon or two of local honey (real honey has more sweetness for it’s calories).

If you’re finding it generally hard to keep to the diet, when you’ve got less on your plate, it will probably pay dividends to work out what important nutrient/food element, you are missing, but it’s not worth getting stressed about, especially as you are stressed already.

Why thank ya kindly little ladies….

I get the dry tongue too, especially when I’m rigidly sticking at it and drinking loads. Bit of a paradox…. but something salty helps!

Hi SueBlue, thank you but I think if I go down that path, I’ll end up comfort eating and re-teaching my body and mind that eating will make me feel better. No, I will keep going with the diet – I need to break the stress-eating cycle completely.
SSB

“dissatisfied and craving ‘something’ so keeping opening the cupboard or fridge”

The answer to this is to find out what exactly you’re really craving.

Thanks to a fluke series of events, followed by a bit of experimentation, I found that I need to eat eggs with my breakfast to get a decent nights sleep, co-incidentally, this also cured the last vestiges of the ‘munchies’ and my inability to refrain from finishing the whole pack.

I do still get hungry, and wonder what to eat, but once I’ve eaten, (and I keep it healthy,) that’s it for HOURS.
Once in a blue moon, I do raid the fridge for a chocolate mousse, and bury it in whipped cream, but one, just one, does the trick.

I should have added that beans, might do the trick for me too, and something else that I can’t remember right now, because my diet was (and still is) lacking in them too. (The precise nutrient that has such a profound effect on me is inositol, part of lecithin. Just 0.5g with my breakfast is enough, more is no better.)

Have to say I’m a laughin ‘ , not atcha but a with ya , glad you’re not havin’ any more dat fire water !! Yeeee haaaa , I’m watching ‘ out real close for dem bandits Mary 😂😂

Ha! You and me both, little lady! You keep nice and tight in that wagon now!

I get the dry tongue and mouth too Mrs Honey. Just coming to end of week 4 and some days its more noticeable than others, despite drinking 3+ litres of water a day! Great loss by the way, hope you’ve enjoyed the first week…its so motivating isn’t it?

Well, there I was just a moseying along, when we was chased by some bandits. I whipped the hosses and we went agalloping along when we hit a rock and the wagon wheel got broked.

Weehee, i went aflying outa the wagon and landed on my ample deh re aire! Well it only seemed kinda friendly like, to have a little drink. Thank ya kindly thats what I did. Just a little bit ya knows.

Well today I am kinda fine. I had the calories to spare ya know….so I am kinda still on course. The wagon wheel is fixeded, and the hosses are back in the harnesses..so am I if ya ken my meaning. Today is another day, an Ima planning on not having any more of that there fire water for a while.

Yee Ha!

Love to all
Mary xxx

Potatoes were one of the first things I added back and have had no issues, but have tended to keep portions quite small. I haven’t been even tempted to go back to piling my plate with them, just use them to increase the diversity on my plate, which is still largely full of other vegetables.

I intend to stick with the eating after 8 weeks, to a degree, I intend to start adding in this like new potatoes. Of course, well see how I feel then, my tastes may well have changed. I’m not convinced it would be healthy to carry on this way though I’ll be honest.

Day 3 of my reboot dawns and I am back to exactly on target at 10 stone 11.0. So 3.8 pounds off in two days, must definitely be water or glycogen in the main. My soup is made, I added a little horseradish too as I think kale soup can be too bland, and one chilli pepper, good for Sirt as well as tasty. The salad is mostly measured out, but may need some tweaking later. I will have the soup at work and the salad for an evening meal. Same menu most days, the soup I already made will do three of the five, the other two days I may split the salad in two or have a salad plus a stir fry. Feeling quite excited but not hungry despite two back to back ‘BSD fast’ days. Very interested to see what effect the drop in protein has.

Is anyone else suffering with a dry tongue? I’ve only been doing the diet a week, but for the past few days I’ve had a dry tongue. I’ve been drinking loads of water and if I drink any more I’ll have to set up permanent residence in the toilet! It’s not painful but it’s annoying and not that pleasant. Any suggestions?
Btw, first weigh in today and I’ve lost 9 pounds, no wonder I’m drying up!!

Hey Mariet – the cruise sounded fabulous dahling – lots to do and indulge in – and hey thats what life is about – having good times but being healthy to enjoy it. I’m like you skin floppin’ everywhere due south. I do mind about it but and its a big but – I like the way I feel and the fact that more in these last few months than in the last few years is the bonus. I’ve been reading about it and it can take two years for skin to catch up to sudden weight loss and sadly may never catch up – but I live in hope 🙂 So… would you recommend cruise – what were the offshore tours like – did you get enough time to see the sites? My vision is a cocktail in one hand and a tall handsome stranger in the other hahaha – well atleast the cocktail anyway!

Thank you so much DUMPTYNOMORE X and well done on climbing back on yr horse,clippety clop!
Youve successfully lost before and you can do it again x i know those times of physical/ mental fatigue with the whole weightloss caboodle but dont let it sabotage you..find something that gives you a lift or a little reward to help you over the phase,be kind to yrself,just dont make it carb related! 😉😉😉 xx

Hi all, I’m back in again for another 4 weeks. The challenges do help me stay on track, or mostly on track, as I have a fairly achievable goal to aim for, important when you have lots to lose like I have.
My goal for this challenge is to lose 2.3kg, or 5lb. I lost 1.9kg in the last challenge so if I focus and stay on track I should meet this goal 🙂
SSB – sorry to hear about your bad news, take care of yourself and if you need to put diet on the back burner for now x

Hi Medchezza, I’m just approaching the half way point and found the sugar cravings went really quickly, like two or three days and I’ve only been truly hungry about twice. Good luck, hope you enjoy it too!

Lyn.G Lovely to hear of progress even if its slow its going in the right direction. Congratulation on reaching the last bit of your journey.
I have stuck strictly to 20g of carbs and 800 calories and have lost 2 pounds so far this week. Hoping the progress will continue and soon i will reach my goal which is 8.5 stone. ( about 28lbs away) Good luck to everyone well worth the effort so many positive effects from this other than weight loss.

Sunshine-girl thanks for posting that Oprah Winfrey quote, it was really good. And if I may say so, you talk a lot of sense Too!💁

Good for you Mariet! I remember some people posting that they lost weight when they were maintaining. I think it’s probably where their bodies wanted to be! I hope so anyway. I’m seriously thinking about where I want to be when I stop dieting! But not stopping this Woe. I’ve had a dress hanging up in my bedroom since we all started all those weeks ago! It’s a size 12. I remember vividly buying it. It was 3 years ago, and I felt fab in it. When I comfortably fit in it, I’m going to maintain..I don’t know what weight I was, I think I was 10.7 but may be wrong. My target has always been 10st, but honestly, it’s just a number. If I feel 😊 good, that’s where I’ll stop. I’ll probably go on the fast diet, I basically am doing 16:8 now, so I’ll think I’ll manage. Let us know what you decide to do, 👍

Hello I’m new here. Its my first day on the plan. I’m not diabetic or pre but I had gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy so I’m at an increased risk. I’m currently 3 stone overweight which I’ve gained over the last 3 years. I’ve tried diet plans such as the bodycoach and slimming world but I only lost weight very slowly. I’ve found since having gd that I can easily pile weight on but not lose it again. I’m hoping this plan will help me get rid of the weight and control my sugar cravings.

Well done on maintaining ANNIEW!!! Thanks for yr well wishes re oedema,got appt coming up next week
Am i remembering rightly that you had an accident on yr horse? Hope all repaired now x 🌸🌸🌸🌸
Ps Im Candice on 5:2 forum X
STEWART what a massive inspiration and encouragement you are for us all! X 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

You are going to be shocked Mrs Honey — you won’t like the old carbs/sweet stuff as much as you did before and you are going to think to yourself, “huh, that’s not so nice, and I don’t like the taste like I used to, and it kept me up at night with heart racing….and I feel unhealthy …huh, maybe I am happier staying on my beloved BSD …. Just a thought…
(You are going to change on this way of eating)

Curry sounds brill – is the recipe in the book? I bought the recipe book in sainsburys today – it looks good from a quick flick through – hope to have a proper look later.

Today has been ok so hoping tomorrow is better, think could become easier the longer follow the plan.

Hope you have all had a good day 🤔

Thank you all so much for your advice! You’ve affirmed what I was thinking myself and I’m going to concentrate on being fit and healthy and maintain where I am for the minute.

I was thinking about it last night and realised that now I’m home and no longer drinking cocktails etc some will probably go anyway. In fact, 1.2kg left me overnight. So, walking and weights here I come.

I really appreciate that you took the time to help me.

StJames that is a brilliant result. You must be well chuffed with yourself.

I’m back after a short break in Ireland and I brought back a 3lb gain 😱 Course I know it could have been far worse. I usually indulge heavily in the alcohol and food while at home but did try to reign it in this time. Back on the plan today, so suffering a bit with hunger pangs but like you I managed quite long fasts when I was in the zone, so looking forward to getting back there. Got 14lbs to go now, so starting another 8 week cycle.

Hope everyone else on here is ok. You’re right, it’s gone v quiet!

L xx

Hi Verano, the beat ourselves up…. and forget the baggage were my words, Oprah’s were the quotes in inverted commas. Been super good today but missing the exercise and cannot get my head around doing aerobics in front of the TV so hoping the sun will shine tomorrow (promised for today but didn’t appear) and I will be back in the pool.

MnM I too have been completely off plan, alcohol-wise, not food, since my holiday in April, then they just kept coming, Alicante in April, cruise in May, family visit and many days out late May early June and I just cant seem to get out of that mode. Part of me thinks why should I, I only have a drink at the weekend but I know in my heart that it undoes all the good work I put in through the week. Just want to lose a little bit more to at least get me back to my pre April just under 2 stone loss and stop putting on and taking off.

Hey ho, tomorrow is another day.