Wow everyone – it is so encouraging reading through the last few messages how “do-able” this eating plan is. I think most of us would agree that losing weight isn’t rocket science, but the keeping it off part is somewhat!! It seems to be the absolute key in keeping the blood sugars low and never getting into the craving way of being. I’ve certainly found it easy to carry on sensibly if ever I’ve “lost it” over eating a piece of cake that someone’s made for me! Great to hear all the positive vibes – thankyou!
(Managed to now give up the ryvitas at bedtime so hoping my weight loss this week will be rewarding!).

Interesting, I’ve got some mineral water in the fridge, I’ll see what’s in it.
I remembered I had some mineral salt sachets in my bag from when I was sick last year, so I’ve taken one of those. My husband said “you must be worried!” Well, when you’ve had a racing heart with palpitations for days amongst other things, it is a bit worrying!

My go-to for magnesium is Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water (in fact sitting at kitchen table with bottle right in front of me). It is great for this kind of thing, fills you up, hydrates and even has 25% of your calcium per bottle.

Whoop whoop StJames. 👏👏👏 that’s an amazing result. You have done brilliantly.

I’ve only lost 25lbs so far but I’m well pleased with that. I’m officially a normal weight now and aiming for another 10lbs or so to get me to 9.5 stone which will give me “wiggle” room for hols etc.

I’m back to Galway on 7th September, so that’s my goal date and I may indulge a bit then. I’m not looking forward to maintenance. I suspect that will be harder. I’ve calculated that to maintain my tdee is 1500 calories 😱 I think I will have to log all my food for a long while to come….

Hey all,

So tomorrow marks the end of week 7.
This weeks been a weird one because until this morning despite living by the book the scales told me I had gained weight. I had a magical whoosh last night and woke up this morning to find i have lost a total of 42lbs (3 stone) which I’m most pleased about. I have about another 3 stone to go to reach my goal weight. Throughout this initial 8 weeks I havnt really exactly measured my intake but I’m going to maximise my weight loss over the next run of 8 weeks by measuring my exact carb and protein intake.

I’ve been using the book but making up my own menus as I don’t like a lot of the foods listed.
I’ve just been doing a bit of research and see plain yoghurt is high in it. I’ve been eating Greek yoghurt most days, but it says normal is better so I’m going to get some tomorrow. I’ve been sprinkling my yoghurt with flaked almonds and sunflower seeds, both good, but perhaps not enough.
I always use salt in my food, so I’m probably OK for sodium.
I’ve been really thirsty all the time, despite drinking loads.
I read that potassium is bound up in glycogen and is released in the first few weeks, and something about low insulin levels making a difference too. I maybe should’ve researched this first, I just bought the recipe book and thought I’d have a go.

That’s a good craving to have!

I’m just back from Ireland. My aunts baked for me (and I coped) I had a few drinks one night (which was inevitable) but they did deal quite well with a non drinking Lee which surprised me….
My cousins ranged from saying “you look fabulous, keep it up” to “are you ill?” “Do you have an eating disorder?” “Eat some bread for goodness sakes” 🤣
Just under 3lbs on 😱 I know it could have been so much worse but it’s disheartening nonetheless. I shall be back in Galway on 7th September and I’m determined to be under 10 stone by then. I’ve got time for a full 8 week cycle of bsd, so it’s achievable if I attach myself to the wagon again 😳😇😈
Just waiting for Waitrose to deliver my lovely healthy food. But I may have a pack of stunning Irish sausages to use up first…

L xx

What are you eating? Are you following the meal plans or going your own way ? I didn’t have any problems, although I did supplement occasionally while doing the 800 calories, not specifically, just a general multivitamin and mineral tablet, once every couple of days. I am supplementing daily on my current fasting mimicking diet as well, but that is only a short period. The cramps could be sodium rather than potassium depletion, all lower carbohydrate diets cause retained sodium to be released from the body which lowers blood pressure among other benefits of the diet. If you don’t already, make sure you are adding salt to meals or use salty ingredients regularly like feta cheese or anchovies. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Try looking for some foods high in potassium but lower in carbs and incorporate them into your meals.

Hi all

Thanks for your good wishes…I’m practically high on painkillers but was up and about earlier. Note to self, M&S foodhall while fasting is not the wisest move 😳 But I escaped relatively quickly with protein filled goodies!

Have just practically inhaled a poached egg 🍳 on toast. I know bread is not bsd but the painkillers make me sooo nauseous I figured it was the lesser of two evils. 😈

Loved the poem Mary. Liz is obviously not the only one on here with a literary gift!!

H66, don’t worry about the “ginger” wine. It’s probably still less than normal. I find weekends the hardest if I’m honest, so tend to up the calories. Weigh day tomorrow, so I will know then if the bread has damaged me! Still I was going to have two slices and two eggs but halved the portion….

FFBB way to go. I don’t know why people feel it’s ok to comment on eating habits, weight etc. Just imagine how great he looks naked!! 😱😳
I’ve developed spaniel eat boobs) great phrase so have booked myself into rigby and peller next weekend. I shall be perky again in no time 🤣

L 😘

Has anyone had problems with mineral deficiencies? I’ve had tingling in my arms and hands for the past few days and it’s been a lot worse today. I was having a look online and the symptoms of potassium deficiency matched other problems I’ve been having, heart palpitations and muscle weakness. I’ve had some cramps as well.
I’m starting to get a bit nervous about this diet but don’t want to stop and would appreciate some advice. What should I do to quickly boost my levels (I think magnesium might be an issue too) without resorting to supplements? I’m on day 10 and have read it can be worst in the first 2 weeks .
Thanks.

Hey Hello66,
Sometimes you have to do what it takes to get through the day. Today my family visited. Love my girls and their kids….not so keen on one of the sons in law though. He is an arse and I get so angry at his lack of manners etc. As I was cooking a meal for them, they opted for spaghetti bolognese. I forgot to buy courgette, so ended up eating it with them. Then (they had to have cake it was their birthdays), I just had to have a piece of cake, I am not a great cake eater, but I just had to have it. My problem now is to compound the misdemeanor with wine tonight or be good….only time will tell.

You will get there Hello66, I did…and didn’t drink for 2 weeks…I think I may go for 3 next time…but maybe not tonight.

Take care.

Mary xxx

Hi David,

Congrats on the weight loss.

One question about your post, which was great, sugars are less than 5%, is that per serving or 100 grams etc? Only reason i ask is that i tend to like hot and spicy food which sometimes requires a shop bought paste, of which i use a tblsp as i cater for myself & my son.

I’m sure there is a question in there, sorry, day 6 and already brain dead!!

Jo

Inspiring , funny , strong , entertaining , and supportive , you’re all here in this lovely group & I so enjoy reading all your comments .
Lee hope that back is better , just loved the ode Mary , & can I Yelp ? Help !!
I’m still having trouble leaving wine off the menu !
It was dinner time , well and truly after 5 , wine time had been , gone , I’d missed it , so thought I was cruising ….. I was thinking about it though , trying to ignore it , I made some ginger tea , then decided to pour it into a big wine glass , was quietly congratulating myself , feeling smug even , sipped half , then weakened completely , & topped the glass up with wine & drank it 😁😁😁😁warm ginger flavoured watery wine , not ideal I have to admit , but filled a foolish need at the time .
Today is another day , will think of you guys when a moment of weakness comes knocking , and just have to say ,
FFBB what a fantastic put down for that obnoxious p…! Brilliant 👍
H66

Well done, Cyster, that is a great loss – keep up the good work.

Maintenance still going ok with me, still 5lbs below target, despite rather a sociable evening with friends yesterday. Out for supper at our yacht club this evening, so more food and wine, but gaining confidence in my maintenance ability with each passing day. If I see a rise on the scales, I will either fast for a day, or throw in a couple of days of BSD800 again.

Well done Choccy Holic on your weight loss, and for getting straight back on the wagon after your daughter’s birthday dinner, which I hope you enjoyed. I truly believe that for this WOE to be sustainable, we have to be able to have a little flexibility and enjoy life.

I totally agree with Mixnmatch. Now I am in maintenance, I don’t worry at all when I eat out, attend parties etc and certainly don’t count cals / carbs (though I don’t have much desire to eat refined carbs any more, I do often drink alcohol, probably a little too much on occasion😜 ) and I know that a day of fasting, or a couple of days BSD800 will undo any damage. It is really encouraging to feel so in control, and feel confident that I can maintain my current weight indefinitely.

Hi all, had an interesting experience today – I was celebrating last night and had a small (200ml) bottle of Cava which was a present from work; I drank it on an empty stomach (bad move!) and ended up feeling not a little fragile this morning. At lunchtime my OH was having some bread and me, still feeling fragile, decided to have some (another bad move!), it was granary so I thought it would be OK if too many carbs. It’s now 4 hours since the bread – I have heartburn, indigestion and I am craving carbs – what a disaster! I have managed not to give in and will have fish and salad for dinner this evening but having not had bread for many weeks, I am shocked at my body’s response to it – won’t be doing that again any time soon.
SSB

I once worked with a woman who told me “if you were married to my husband he would make you do exercises until you were slim.”
I replied….my husband loves me for WHO I am not WHAT I am, I am sorry you have such a rotten husband.

She didn’t speak to me again and tried to make others join in….workplace bullying…I had a work review and the Manager told me off!
I left.

Sad bastards.

We will outshine them all. Grrrr.
Mary xxx

Well done, it is surprisingly easy to just get back into isn’t it, seems to be a sign that our habits are changing so this is more normal, and I can tell you that that continues into maintenance, I can indulge and then throw in a fasting day without any concern or difficulty.

Hi Ladies, how is everyone going? I’m doing my 6 week check in. 9.4 kegs down. Yippee. (20.6 pounds)
I overindulged at my daughters birthday dinner. Had 4 margaritas, 2 glasses of champagne, birthday cake with cream (just 1 piece) and a 2 course dinner at a restaurant. I didn’t count calories. I got straight back in to the diet the next day albeit with a mighty hangover and headache. Managed to stay on track since.
Hope you all are hanging in there……
Cheers

Haha Greenjanet – that had me giggling at the idea of your OH blanching at the idea of fishcakes – they need to see how we suffer – haha! Agree with you about preplanning – I’m a lot happier since I started writing down the night before my intentions for the next day. Doesn’t always go as planned – unfortunately – was out last night -an at home get together with friends – the hostess is a feeder. Need I say more?!. The damage this morning – 15stones 1.6 pounds – 1 pound off this week. Today is a new day! So far so good.
And you’re right about less inflammation in the body so it’s good to focus on other benefits as well as the figure on the scale.
Those Thai fish cakes sound lovely – is that a recipe from the book or your own? Might try that. Keep up the good work! Guess what, Jan – I’m also less strict with myself – happy if remain under 1000cals and about 50 carbs – another twinny thing,eh! lol

Welcome onto our deck LainieUK and Hughsey38 – grab an oar! We all seem to be in the same boat (pun intended!). Good to have your company. What neck of the world to you hail from. I’m a wee Scottish lassie (amendment – big Scottish lassie soon to be small).

Lainie – laughed at your lack of motivation re walk. I PROMISED myself I would go for a walk first thing this morning – promising myself for months! Come this morning toddled over to window – ‘Oh, it’s raining’ went to loo trying to talk myself into it, crawled back into bed doing same, picked up kindle doing same – after 5 mins, I gave myself a right rollicking, and with all bodily cells screaming against it, I made myself go downstairs , get my trainers on and just b—– well go! I did! Result! I didn’t melt in all that water surprisingly -I’m amazed! Same again tomorrow without arguing with myself. Haha. Anyhoo – been sitting on bum for most of the day watching Wimbledon – very enjoyable – I’m good to myself!. My weigh day is Saturday – results above. Hope to do better next week!

Hughsey38 – youre aims seem to be pretty much the same as the other ‘rowers’ and mine calorie/carb/step wise. Be interesting to see how we all fair. Is this you’re first time on 800BSD? If it is – be ready for a very pleasant surprise. You won’t need OA – that carb monster will flee good and proper -I still can’t beleve how quickly that happens when you start to follw the rules. In answer to your question, I reckon you could lose at least a stone in 5 weeks if not more. My first time I lost 1 stone in 4 weeks. Those were the days, (eh Jan?). To be fair, setting targets just throws me off target (getting good at this!). My new thing , like Jan , is to just to accept any little loss gratefully and carry on best I can. Life will always get in the way and I personally need to find strategies to not succumb – last night was a total disaster! Good advice from Jan re possible things to expect. Also , you are much less hungry if you have protein at each meal and a little fat. I know this may not work for you but if I am gagging for ‘something sweet’, I allow myself a ‘Werthers original.’ – at 23 cals and 3g carbs definitely better than a slice of cake and lasts much longer. Hope this is of some use to you.
Good luck to all of us. Keep posting – good and bad! It’s clearing the decks to get it all off my chest and start anew All hints and tips gratefully welcomed!
Happydumpty (must have been that 16 minute walk – haha)

Sorry to dib in again today, but just wanted to add in a little mindfulness thing. I am reading a short book called 101 Thoughts and Affirmations to Create Positive Change, by Michael Austin Jacobs and I wanted to share this qute today:

“Life is beautiful. It is your journey. Others can walk with you on the path of life, but no one can walk the path for you. Realise that YOU are the sole creator of what occurs in your reality.”

Beware, I will probably be share a few more quotes from this book along the way.

Not cauliflower but back to aubergine. I made the lasagne using aubergine sheets (pre0cooked) and my 8 year old grandson said “that’s not lasagne nana, its moussaka” – clever clogs.

Glycogen holds on to water and is used up by exercise, if you are eating low carb it is not replaced, immediately. It is just part of the water lost during this switch to low carb along with the sodium depletion which also causes retained water to be lost. I have done a lot of reading about the subject on my journey but am far from an expert, I was looking for a reason why I can lose over 7 pounds in 4 days when it obviously can’t just be fat.

My tip for today, is adding flavour with no calories or carbs. Of course you can use spices in this way, but did you know that fig leaves can be used to wrap food to be grilled or roasted and will impart a slightly coconutty flavour? It works well with fish and I have also done cheese – ricotta and halloumi, any cheese that doesn’t go runny when heated will work.

Like the sound of that yogurt concoction NN – shall give that a go for sure.

Thank you both.

I have to say that I have had that answer (well the first part) ready for just such a moment and it is true. I have considered my maintenance plan and I know exactly what I am going to do when I get there. The bit about the naked/nibbles/diabetes was just for him. I can be quite cutting when I have to be.

FFBB X

Just updating to encourage fellow pcos cysters.
I have now been on this journey just over six months. I have lost a total of 50lbs. I can honestly say this way of eating has changed my life. My periods have become regular like clockwork. My fertility specialist said i no longer need to see him and to try by myself for awhile just to see if i do get pregnant by myself. To any fellow cysters pease try this way of eating also i found cutting carbs to 20g and intermittent fasting helped me alot too. Also drinking lots and lots of water. Hope this encourages and /or helps someone.
I am not finished yet still want to lost approx 28lbs to get to my goal weight. Hopefully will reach that by the end of the year

Been trying out some new recipes from the diet doctor website ave been delicious and also a you tube channel gayle macleod has some lovely low carb recipes too. Enjoy cooking them too.
down six pounds this weeks hurray. This has been after weeks of up and down the same few pounds lovely to finally see a new number on the scale lol
hope everyone’s journey is going well.

News! Down 2.7kg by day nine! Hurray!

Hi Mixnmatch, you mention using up glycogen stores. And then the weight loss slows down. I seem to have missed something somewhere because I don’t recall this in MM’s Fast 800 book. I’ve posted my book to a friend so could you expand on this for me please?

Thanks from Crabbycams

Hi FFBB, well done you. That’s the sort of come back I only ever dream about. Some people have a nerve.

I have a skinny minnie at work who is always telling me what I should do, and that if I lose weight too fast etc.etc. And the concept that you MUST lose weight slowly is like, well, like a commandment that came down from the mountain with Moses.

It’s even more entrenched than the fat is bad concept.

Again, well done you FFBB, may the force be with you and with me when I need a ragingly polite put down.

FFBB…You go girl….I hate that people think they can say what they want when we are bigger….when was the last time he walked up to a skinny bitch and said…hey you are too thin, you look like a rack of ribs?

Effing ARSEHOLE!

You told him…thank goodness.

Impressed…Mary xxx

Brilliant Mary. xx

Well I stuck to the plan last night and I am pleased to say that today I don’t have the urge to drink. I thought it might be a slippery slope but it appears I have on non slip shoes though I did make a swift exit when the pizzas arrived…….I’m not that daft!

Don’t know when I will drink again but it reassuring to know I am in total control.

Thank you BSD.

***********************************************************************************************************************************

Whilst I am here I want to tell you all something that happened last night. Someone I have NEVER met took it upon themselves to give me a lecture on how bad for my metabolism/body my WOE is. He heard me telling someone how I was losing weight but eating healthier. He said and I quote ” You will lose weight too quickly, your skin will sag and you will look awful naked. Then when you return to eating normally you will regain all the weight plus extra for good measure!” To say my flabber was gasted is an understatement! This bloke is easily as heavy as I was 14 months ago and he was having this go at my WOE while inhaling Pringles and drinking Strongbow.

I calmly replied with “When I am at a weight I am happy with I have a plan for maintaining and living my life to the full. If I do gain a little bit I know what to do and as for your other points you will never know what I look like naked so you just enjoy your drink and nibbles and your inevitable type 2 diabetes” I then smiled sweetly and excused myself.

Fucking nerve of the guy,! like the saggy skin isn’t the main thing that worries me about losing weight. I know I will end up with spaniel ears for boobs but that is what bras are for and I won’t get type 2 diabetes or end up losing a foot.

FFBB X

I am a maintainer, having lost 8 stone over the last two and a half years and currently keeping it off (mostly, birthdays permitting). I am just joining in the thread for 7 days while I try out a new style fasting mimicking version of the BSD style food, to reset my weight after my birthday indulgences. It is open to everyone who wants to focus on their eating plan a little more than they have been. Welcome to the thread, and thanks for the menu recommendations, after I finish this phase, and when I get my recipe book back from the friends I have lent it to, I will definitely give it a try.

It won’t undo everything, and my advice would be fast during the day up to the meal and then indulge yourself, and count the calories estimating the weight so you know what you have had later, but don’t worry if you go over on either calories or carbs. You may find an increase over the next couple of days, but equally you may not. I did this quite a few times while I was losing, because life does go on.

Hi everybody!
Last evening tried for the first time the BSD recipe chicken biryani – it is gorgeous!!! So delicious, it’s my new favourite recipe and can highly recommend it. It serves 2 people, so I’m delighted to have half of it for this evening’s dinner so I won’t have to cook tonight. Got on my own scales first thing today and I am so nearly down in the 15s (everyone on here seems to be considerably lighter than me????).
I lost 20lb first time round in Feb/March (start weight was 17st 8lb). So my long-term plan is to complete this second 8-week BSD before my holiday in September, then do a third 8-week BSD after the holiday and before Christmas and then do a fourth 8-week BSD after Christmas and New Year. Then hopefully I will be a ‘normal’ weight looking reasonably slim and in size 14 jeans.
One area I need to improve on is the walking – I must make a big effort to do more.
Nancy x

The journey continues, after 2 days of the 5 I am now at 10 stone 7.4 pounds, a new low again, after yesterday’s later weigh in. Trying to analyse my feelings and the hunger comes and goes, I was absolutely starving last night by the time I got to my main meal (turned into a stir fry, as I didn’t fancy a salad, and included some red quinoa so at least the protein I got was varied) and didn’t measure everything carefully, although I did measure my protein sources so pretty sure that was about right. I maybe have a few more aches and pains today than I have been used to but I had a good long walk and managed 12,700 steps, much more than my usual. At least the weight loss has slowed a lot, so I must be fairly well through any glycogen stores again now.

I challenge you all to try and do better…..

ODE TO B.S.D.

Well it’s early Saturday Morning and I have time,
So I thought I would try to write in rhyme.
We are all here on this way of life
Hopefully, you haven’t too much strife.
This way of life can be hard sometimes.
Even those from other climes
Restrict their calories and alcohol intake,
Think of the self control that must take.

We weigh and research and look at food,
At the end we count and decide if we’re good.
If you’re having trouble the forum will help
Just join in a thread and give a loud yelp.
The support is amazing, the advice it is sound,
Friends on the forum, just abound.
To lose weight may be someone’s aim,
That’s why they keep on with this game!

Some people want to live for longer
Others just want to be stronger,
We all differ, according to self
One thing we all want is better health.
So no carbs or low carbs,
How hard can that be?
That’s life as I see it on the B.S.D.

Keep the faith peeps.
Love Mary xxx

Not much to say today, weight maintaining (better phrases than reporting up and down) and BG down to 4.7 on 21 units. I will leave it until after the weekend before I reduce further.

Had a few celebratory champagnes (sparking wine) with limoncello, very nice for a change. Only had one of those as I was aware of the sweetness of the liqueur, but had to finish the bottle of fizz with hubby or it goes flat dont you know.

Sun is back but I had still been swimming, 30 mins Thurs and 30 mins Fri, will probably get 50 in today, will see. You would think that would be enough to shift the weight but hey ho.

Morning Lee, Hope the back is better. I wouldn’t dare to go out after a bucket of Tea, I would be like the little pig and wee wee wee wee all the way home.

Mary xxx

Morning all!

Have posted a pic of my bsd savings jar on the fb page. Another £80 put in this morning. Beginning to think I should have done it on pounds lost rather than on alcohol free days. It’s becoming very expensive….🤣

Had a bucket of tea and coffee this morning and about to head to the shops. Going to fast from food til lunch, so hopefully that will keep me busy.
Have a great weekend everyone xx

Thanks both of you. I think you’re right ‘overthinking’ can be a problem. Think I’ll take your advice Californiagirl and stop counting and logging and probably posting for a few days. I was away on holiday for 4 weeks with very little weighing etc, came home and did a strict 5 days to lose my holiday gain and now I’m in the doldrums. A break may do the trick.

Hi I’m new to the forum! I am 5ft 4 and have just lost 8lb in 3 weeks on the BSD! Im so happy to be back to 9stone something – currently 9 stone 8. Would love to get back to 9 stone! I think I can do it! I’ve been invited to a gathering tonight and on the menu is pie and peas! I’m vegetarian so it’s a cheese and onion pie! Will having one pie undo my good work. I’m not drinking tonight and this is a one off! Thank you from Hayley

Yes that’s it- interesting 10 year old nephew eats this -can’t tell it isn’t rice and doesn’t ‘like’ cauli.
Posting made me feel peckish so looked through 2 new cook books OH gets them from library .
Thomasina Miers recommended this for brekkie
Greek yoghurt
Dry roasted mixed nuts I ate pecans/whole almonds /pistachios
Supposed to dry fry quinoa – didn’t have any so added tsp flax
Added tiny bit Splenda and a scattering of date pieces -tsp
Added salt and lemon zest
Drizzle extra virgin olive oil
The oil made it lovely- hint of vegetation in the creamy nuttiness.
Will do that again.

NN

Hi how are you all doing.
My Thai fish cakes yesterday were very nice, and as they are very kind on cals, ended the day at 800 cals/55 carbs, Bril, and to keep the trend going, I have some pre prepped frozen Thai chicken curry I will have this evening. Sat evenings are always a challenge for me, it’s no different from any other evening, it’s just in my mind.
How’s about yourselves.
🙋🙋🙋jan

Hi hughsey34
Come on board luvvy, and row with us, sounds like you are brilliantly organised, I’m also doing 800-1000 and aiming for 50 carbs but not being to pedantic, like last summer. As for a target weight loss, in my simple way of thinking, it will be what it is. You will be aware looking through these threads, sometimes enormous weight loss can be achieved, I for one lost 10 lbs the first week last summer, but I was 8 st overweight. This time around I lost 1.6 k in my first week, I think what is sometimes more important, is the amazing way this plans nutrition type makes us feel, and cutting out the refined carbs, definitely for me quells my carb monster, and that unquenchable appetite just disappears. It scientifically, is also having amazing results in its anti inflammatory responses, I for one reversed pre symptoms of S.L.E. which for me was a miracle. So I ave great respect for the science behind this plan.
By the way what is over eaters anonymous. But I would suggest plan your day’s eating, enjoy the food, drink plenty, add a little salt to your food to counteract carb flu which you may have in the initial stages. Carb flu, is withdrawal, headaches, irritability, tiredness, muscle cramps. Just counteract them by as I say drinking plenty, and add a sprinkle of salt to your veg or something. I have always done this to start the plan, and never had any symptoms.
Keep us posted here, there are always loads reading these posts, and many very experienced in this plan, and there is always some one to guide, and give hot tips.
It will be great to hear your progress.
🙋🙋🙋jan

DAY 5 of 7

I love feta and I guess as you say, Nervousnellie, it’s the saltiness. Mind you at the moment I love almost anything!!

Yes SunnyB I think every little bit does help. I’ve just started to do some upper body exercises with 2kg weights and I think it’s definitely helping my waist and midriff although my primary target is ‘flabby’ arms.

So my tip for today comes from Californiagirl ‘don’t over think’ and now and again take a mental break by not counting and logging. I think this is a good idea when you hit a ‘wall’ which has happened to me at the moment. Sorry I’m not being that helpful in helping to renew enthusiasm. But when all else fails I think taking a mental break and just eating good BSD food without too much thought (no mindfulness here) for a day or so may help.

Nervousnellie this may be the recipe you’re looking for. Just googled ‘cauliflower rice paella recipe’ and this came up!

ocado.com
Cauliflower ‘Paella’
Cauliflower ‘Paella’
Cauliflower stands up well to the powerful flavours of chorizo and smoked paprika.

Instructions
1Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and sauté the chorizo until golden, then add the garlic and roasted red peppers and cook for another 1 min.

2Meanwhile, pulse the cauliflower florets in a blender until it forms fine grains, similar to rice or couscous. Be careful not to over-pulse!

3Transfer the cauliflower to the frying pan and add the prawns and spices.

4Season and cook until the prawns are pink and the cauliflower is tender. Stir in the chopped parsley to serve.

Ingredients
100g cooking chorizo, diced
1 cauliflower, cut into florets (or use ready-made cauliflower rice)
180g raw jumbo king prawns
2 roasted red peppers, from a jar, diced
2 cloves garlic, sliced
25g fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
½ tsp smoked paprika
1 pinch saffron, optional

Serves 4
Total time required 20 mins
Preparation time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 10 mins

OcadoLife Recipe published with permission from OcadoLife magazine

Always read posts that talk about food looking for tips and inspiration- trying out new recipes has been part of the joy of this diet -it has expanded the type of food I cook which is a real plus.
I have been thinking about what has worked for me -9 months doing 5:2 – 3 1/2 stone down- and offer up the following
Feta- maybe it is the saltiness – baked / mixed with strained yoghurt with mint and chilli / on Greek salad with lightly picked onions / with watermelon and pumpkins seeds- always a winner in my book.
Cauliflower rice paella – found this in a Waitrose mag few months ago – but can find it on Ocado website, I just checked. Really lovely and can eat with padron peppers or fresh anchovies -real spainish feast.
My final tip , if you like cooking is to collect both cook books and recipes that fit the WOE.
Nigella / hairy bikers / Jamie Oliver all have some great recipes- only one absolute failure which was smoked haddock with cannelloni beans – tasted like baby food, made the house stink for days and because I ate a bit of it ran out of calories – was a sad evening in my household .

I agree with Californiagirl that the diet can get overwhelming at times. If I plan ahead I don’t have to think so much about it and it’s so helpful to log on here if I have a few minutes for a little extra moral boost.

This week, my calories started to increase, so It occurred to me that I can skip dinner and not fade away (it’s so ingrained in my routine) so the last couple of days I’ve done that as I’ve had a late slightly larger lunch.

I’m also 2 pounds away from being in the 100s again, so that been helpful to stay on track as I want to make it to that first goal. I know now that I’m so sensitive to grains and particularly flour that if I have any at all, the next day is much harder and I get cravings.

Ladies,
You sound so lovely and supportive on here. I am 15.3 stone and am about to commit 😳 I have joined a gym and am doing c25k. I am also doing over eaters anonymous to get to grips with my insatiable carb monster. I want to set myself a target for 5 week blocks. What do you think is realistic for the first 5 weeks? I am 5’8 and am going to aim for 800-1000 calories a day and 10,000 steps. Any advice appreciated 😊