Hello lovelies!!
‘pologies for the long silence: travelling was good but difficult on many levels…..many slip-ups re BSD on the last week when a lot of moving around, and stopped counting calories for almost a week….though kept up most of the BSD principles

Glad to hear ALL your collective and lovely stories again
Lee….go easy with your back and Liz….go easy on yourself. I went through all that with my mum a few years back…when just after her 90th (!!) birthday, she developed dementia….never an easy time. I spent most of Friday in Sydney visiting a friend in hospital going through horrendous chemo and cancer treatments…I felt grotesquely robust looking at her poor ravaged body. Life and health are often so random

I’ve returned after almost 12 days with only a 1kg gain (from my 6-7 kg loss…when I couldn’t locate the scales, so a little unsure), which I feel is already heading on its way, so not too disappointed.

We arrived home Saturday morning and spend all weekend dismantling the kitchen and dining rooms to put in underfloor heating. I spent all yesterday stocking the fridge and freezer with BSD friendly soups (at least five varieties!), frittata and veg meals….so NO excuses even in the bedlam!!! Fortunately the office is away from all that….and next winter, I will warm my slimmer feet and body on the heated floorboards!…and will finally get my years-awaited kitchen tiles/splashback!

Son no 4 has come down from Melbourne for a week to help our builder-friend…he served eggs and veg for breakfast yesterday and didn’t even offer me toast…another ally!…so I’m pretty lucky that I haven’t met many detractors as yet, but I’m storing all your wittisims for if I do!!!….. the journalist friends we visited for dinner last week did serve a very BSD friendly salad and fish, but I lacked the resolve to say a firm no to the prosecco x many!!…..anyhow, as I said, the fridge and freezer are stocked with pre-prepared meals for at least 10 days. Mary, said to hear re your SIL also….again I am so far very lucky…all the boys’ wives and girlfriends are just lovely…though not all hitched yet, so I won’t be complacent!

Today’s calories at less than 400 so feel as if I’m truly back….had a five hour meeting today so truly back at work too (ugh…and a seriously bad headache to show for it!)

thank you all for being here

go well
xxx
Erin

Esnecca – I have washed some jars – run off the recipe for sauerkraut – and have suddenly got ‘cold feet’. It is easy – but if everything is not scrupulously clean it looks as though things could go wrong. I probably shouldn’t have read the article about the dangers of home made sauerkraut.

So have looked on Amazon and they do sell the proper sauerkraut but I am quite keen to try the garlic sauerkraut from your producer if you could let me know the name of the brand.

Marsie – I am going to try your brand also. It is really helpful to get recommendations of good brands to try.

Exactly – and like so many folk on here, you have recognised the dangers, dangers of which she seemed to be in denial. What really puzzles me is her claim that the obese survive diabetes and cardio-vascular diseases better than the non-obese.
Mike

I generally have a plateful of vegetables to go with my lean protein of choice at night and they are almost always sauteed with some kind of spice.

Cumin, coriander, garlic, tomatoes, oregano, individually or mixed in any combination, sauteed, with spinach or kale or broccoli or any veggies you want. For instance, sauteed mushrooms and coriander with spinach added at the end is nice. Cauli and broccoli sauteed with cumin and mashed when done is also nice. Mix and match just to try new tastes. Tomatoes, onions, garlic, oregano and zuchinni all sauteed together is good.

Fresh green beans sauteed with a glob of sambal olek, an Indonesian spice paste available at most supermarkets. Really good.

Hi

Had very social weekend – managed to keep steps up but did slip foodwise 😕 back to logging food today and off to aquafit this morning. Determined to improve food choices this week and keep to 800 cals.

Hope everyone had good weekend and we all have good week 👍

Marsie, I checked the website of the sauerkraut brand you buy, and it’s definitely done right. Krysia, it’s not just East Anglia. I’m afraid the mass-produced stuff has taken over most markets. I had to track down my favorite brand online and order directly from their website. Their garlic sauerkraut is worth every dime of the shipping cost. They make great kimchi, too, which my OH loves with a fiery passion. He keeps a whole jar of it at work for a snack. 😀

Good luck making your own. I’ve been too intimidated to try it but from what I’ve read the actual work is minimal. It’s just a waiting game. I’m looking forward to hearing your report. 🙂

Well said Dreamscometrue! Don’t despair ClarinetCathy. I lost 8 kilos last time I did the 8 weeks and am at the beginning of week 7 and have only managed to lose 4, with many ups and downs on the scales with very few explanations for it. I always weigh myself at the beginning of the day after my morning walk. I think it is important to try to be consistent with the time of day and such. It can be very disheartening to seem to be putting in all the effort for no return, but they do say that muscle weighs heavier than fat, so that can be a factor. Have you taken any other measurements that you can compare? I have only measured my waist and my blood sugar and they are still excellent and as I stand at my desk in my once squeezy tight stretchy jeans and feel how loose and baggy they are, I am encouraged that all is well. My scales are very used to me asking “are you kidding me?” when I am expecting a very appreciable loss and find I have actually put on weight!
My middle son’s birthday yesterday, so went off task there and with my soon to be son-in-law’s birthday tomorrow and my daughter’s birthday on Friday and a long weekend down south to meet the aforesaid soon to be son-in-law’s mother, I expect the drive towards my goal will be seriously curtailed, but that’s life and it is meant to be lived, and besides, I can always start again, because I have control of it ! Yay! My goal is 60k, not sure what that is in stone, but I think we are all looking for around the same weight.
Keep it up girls , and remember it’s the long haul and not a sprint…… although that does remind me that you might want to check out what Michael says about ‘Fast Exercise’ because I think it has made a big difference to my benefits from exercise.
Cheers

Hi Nilesedge thank you for your comments. Ditch the prosecco, which sometimes gives me headaches due to the sulphites although champagne is ok as sulphites are taken out and go for gin and diet tonic instead.
I challenge you to do it and lose that stubborn 1kg. Don’t forget that wine has a lot of calories in it.

Thanks Mixnmatch, good to know it won’t last too long – I felt so ill yesterday. Re running low on body fat… I used to race at 67Kg – so coming down from 102 will take a looong time to get there!

Dnmore, I’m a maintainer – though only a few months in, so can’t yet claim to be long term, but decided when I hit maintenance that I would stick around for (a) tips and support on how to maintain and (b) just as importantly, to encourage others to get there. During my bsd journey it has helped so much knowing that, not only CAN it be done, but that there are people out there that ARE doing it. So thank you to all you great maintainers who continue to help and encourage those of us following in your footsteps.

Krysia, great adage and a complete no brainer. Good to keep our health in the forefront of our minds. Have to confess that, being neither diabetic nor pre diabetic, I embarked on my journey purely out of vanity, but cannot believe how much better and healthier I feel, and really don’t want to revert to the old, sluggish half-life I now know I was living. Mind you, I also have to confess that, not only do I love the way I now feel, I also adore being slender again after all these years 😜 No intention of back sliding any time soon 😊

So keep going everyone, it can be done and you are going to do it. Just believe in yourselves.

Well done Onetowatch!! Are you finding it easy?

AngieTW, at least they were home made so you know what was in them, the lavender shortbread sounds amazing by the way! Good luck with your interview 🙂

I’ve been losing and regaining the same 1kg for 2 weeks, all my own fault, too much prosecco etc on the weekends.

Hello Ladies!

All going well – day 4 for me. We went to see Planet of the Apes last night and went to Wagamama’s for dinner beforehand. I LOVE Wagamamas but when hubby suggested it, I’d had a relatively large lunch and was planning on salmon and courgetti for dinner. But I need not have worried – they have a fabulous new salad on the menu – c350 calories and it was SO tasty. I did succumb to ebi katsu – another favourite of mine – but hubby had 2 so not so bad. I came in at just under 1000 calories so I’m fine with that. I’ve averaged 856 cals and 49 carbs per day and 8100 steps. I’m trying to keep away from the scales for a few days as my weight has dropped by 4.6lbs and I don’t want to see it bouncing back up!

I’m hoping that we are going to book a holiday for October. I am studying for a Diploma and have an assignment due on 8th October and my eldest son has exams right at the end of September so we’re a bit restricted for when we can go. I’d really love some sun so it looks like we’ll be going to either the Canaries or Cyprus. We’ve been to Lanzarote years ago when the boys were little. We really enjoyed it but I do like to go to different places. Do any of you have any experience of these places in October/November?

Dietwise – I may have a challenging week ahead. We’re going to London on Tuesday to a Proms evening and meeting eldest son for lunch. Then on Thursday I’m back up to London for an interview. So eating out and a bit of stress will be coming my way. I’m not great with stress – hence I’m so fat! I may not go to the interview – I’ll see how I feel!

I’m going to aim for 10k steps each day and as long as my overall weekly calories are a tad under 1000 then I’ll be happy.

Right, I’m off for a soak in the bath before I start perusing the cupboards!

Elaine x

Dnomore – I agree that slipping into old habits does so much internal damage and that alone should stop us from straying. Whenever I am tempted by the bad stuff I do a little calculation in my head – it goes ‘ which do I prefer – my eyesight and feet or this sweet treat’. So far (not surprisingly) my eyesight and feet always win and I don’t succumb to the sweet treat.

Hey Mixnmatch- I agree-there probably are maintainers that are not posting. I wish they would – people like you really provide hope for people like me. I feel there are people struggling -might be wrong- me being one of them. The message has to be ‘Every little helps’ which absolutely backs up your point of not slipping into old habits and just do what you can do. I guess what I meant by my post was -if you think you might give up because 800 cals is too stringent then do what you can and hopefully, with time, you can cope with the 800 cals. I think I am just trying to be supportive and forge a ‘Let’s keep this going no matter what’ momentum.

Also, slipping into old habits will not only put weight on, but it does a lot of internal damage too and that alone should stop us from straying. For me it’s more about staying healthy given my age – although I wouldn’t be upset at looking a whole load better too!

Your story is very inspirational MixnMatch. I aspire to you and your success. Thank you for being one of maintainers that are around to keep us going. I really hope, one day, I can join you in inspiring and advising. And thanks for clearing this up – would hate for people to give up before they have even started. Take care.

Didn’tmeantomisleadanybodydumpty

Love the Ecclestone Dr Who era. I have the box set too, though I’m curling up with the Victoria box set! Good news for the new clothes though…👏

Hovis have just introduced low carb bread and it’s on offer at 90p in Waitrose, so have ordered for next week. Got a craving for cheese on toast now thanks to HRH Liz 1st!!

L xx

The good news is this is temporary, and once you have adapted to burning fat instead of carbs/glycogen your endurance will be back, you are just literally running out of energy. Once your body fat is available as a fuel source, and your metabolism is working properly again, you will be able to use that nearly unlimited fuel source. (Although running your body fat too low is very dangerous). Everyone is different but I would say in a couple of weeks the adaptation should have occurred and it will get much better.

Hi Nickix, I am still here. Still mainly plodding along with the woe.
Just arrived home today after 9 days away in our motorhome.
Lots of walking and relaxing. Had four of our grandchildren with us over the weekend and found myself wandering over to what I cooked for them. Not worried about what I have eaten over the past four days as tomorrow is another day. Even managed to walk over 10,000 steps most days and actually did over 18,000 one one day. So pleased with myself as I could not have done 800 this time last year. Not weighed for two weeks now but will hop on the scales in the morning. Hope everyone is well.

In general if it ends in -ose it is some sort of sugar, and beware the ingredients lists on some supposedly healthy food which make use of this fact to confuse people. Fructose is particularly bad in large quantities as it tends to head straight for fat in the liver which is damaging to the health, luckily on this eating plan fruit and therefore fructose is limited as well..

I think the research says that “sugar” is sugar is sugar — whether it comes from sucrose, fructose (fruit) maltose (beer) or lactose (milk) or sucrose/fructose (table sugar) — doesn’t really matter — your body converts or uses it mostly the same (with a couple differences).
I would check the ingredient label for “added” sugar (AKA corn syrup, rice syrup, high fructose syrup, aloe or other “nectars”, fruit juice, maple syrup, honey etc etc etc — they are getting tricky these days) — avoid that as much as possible then just use the carbohydrate count for general purposes — you probably don’t need to count sugars separately.

I think some more have maintained successfully but are not on the forum anymore, and some only pop back in occasionally to the Target Weight thread, but there are a growing number of people who are there or nearly there. The important thing is to not slip into those old habits, because it will result in the weight going back on.

Hey Jan – no walk today – too involved with Wimbledon – a bit of a let down (the no-walk and the tennis) – might have to get a dog by the sounds. Ashamed to say I have only clocked 1412 steps and the day is nearly over. That’s my usual sedentary lifestyle – I didn’t realise I was that sedentary. Going to have to get my butt in gear! The tennis over so I can really get going now, especially since I have eased myself into the food side of things. Would be a shame to get myself too stressed out (chance would be a fine thing – lol).
I’ll be honest – I think i’m a bit over 1000 cals too. I found last time I was really lacking in energy – fine this time around – so I don’t mind taling it a bit slower if I can stay the course a bit longer with lasting results. I’ll look up that fishcake recipe and let you know how I get on. Hope you’re getting on good too – you sound quite chipper! So I’ll take that as a good sign. Happy and healthy – way to go! I hope I don’t cave in again – I know what I’m like. But good to chat with you.
Hi Hughsey – sounds like a good start. Don’t worry too much about the weak /tired/grumpy feelings. Cutting the carbs does that too you and things will settle down. Personally, I’ve have had to up the cals a bit – hey ho! But keep going. Our health is important.

Hi Lainie – hope you are doing okay! Give us a shout – would be good to see how you are getting on! Ups and downs – all worth sharing.

The feeling I’m getting from reading these forums and personal experience is that while much success is achieved only a handful have managed to maintain. I’m not a maintainer as we all know. I am hoping for better success to be a bit easier on myself. I really hope that works, otherwise I am well and truly ‘gubbed’ as my son would say.
Good luck everybody – keep going –

Many thanks to mixnmatch for your assistance in my dilemma, I’m a little now the wiser, but why do manufactures insist on putting sugar when life would be a lot easier if they put lactose, at least you’d know whether it was a natural ingredient instead of manufactured sugar.

Day 22 in the BSD house.

I am shattered! Really busy day in the shop and my energy was really low. This is either an after effect of Friday night or I need to increase my calories a bit. I am after a perfect daily average for the month. I want August to be the same. So I am going to monitor my energy levels.

I have bought a pair of size 16 jeans from the shop (M & S new £4) I tried the size 18 dress on and it zips up a little bit more but I still have a long way to go (fucking back fat and boobs!) I will get into these items and then play it by ear.

Going to chill out with a Doctor Who box set (Ecclestone era) now.

Regards,

FFBB X

I haven’t come across this here yet, but I will keep an eye out for them. Thanks for the info.
Mary xxx

I’ve been naughty!! For the first time in 8 weeks I had a home made sultana scone with raspberry jam and cream and 2 lavender shortbread. All made by me this morning for friends who were coming round for coffee. Sat out in the garden and really enjoyed it. I will now get back on track and pull my socks up for the next 2 weeks (but will have a gin and slimline tonic) this evening as stressing about an interview and assessment centre I have to do on Tuesday.
Well done Onetowatch for losing

It is lactose from the milk, always present in dairy products. Don’t worry about it (unless you are lactose intolerant in which case I guess you wouldn’t be buying it) but if you are limiting carbs, remember that along with the white stuff starches it should be kept to a minimum. I regularly check carb levels on yoghurt and try to buy the highest fat/lowest sugar.

Ah commiserations ClarinetCathy but don’t despair – you WILL get there! As we all know this diet has its own rules and weight can come and go inconsistently. But keep on and there will definitely be an ongoing downward trend.

Just one thought that may help. I’m at a similar stage to you and have found that fasting (including 16:8) doesn’t help me at all: in fact my body seems to take that as a cue to hang onto the weight. We’re all different, and some things work, some things don’t. But I’ve found my most consistent losses have been when I’ve eaten regularly rather than going for very long gaps without food. Being specific, starting the day with one scrambled egg in butter (around 100 calories) is always good for me; I can then go through till lunchtime (when I may have something like tuna or chicken or another egg with salady things) then eat again in the evening (eg fish and vegetables or maybe a small stir fry). For me, balancing out the eating that way seems far more effective than going long periods without anything to eat.

But as I say we’re all different and I hope you find what works for you!

I’m heading tantalisingly slowly towards 10 stone – hovering around 10 stone 2/3 at the moment: but I do find that with me it takes a while for a proper loss to “bed down” and settle before becoming a permanent fixture. I’m still aiming for 9 and a half stone and – like you said in one of your earlier posts – hope to be there by September 🙂

Good luck and keep us posted X

Dear all,
I am a newcomer to the Blood Sugar Diet, and no doubt you’ve seen this question before but I’m really confused and need your help regarding label information on ingredients. As I’m trying to follow the dietary programme I purchased a pot of natural full fat sugar free yogurt only to find the information on the label was not as I thought. It says typical values per 100g Carbohydrate 6.3g of which sugars 6.2g is this as stated in the book that the body turns the carbohydrate into sugar or is this added sugar I’m none the wiser…..help!

Hey Lovelies! I’m not sure if it is happening in your parts but here in Toronto the low carb thing is making off to the degree that a reputable bakery now makes Carb Smart bread! It is a rye type bread with 3 net carbs per slice!!! Thank you Jesus. AND there is a new Carb friendly grocery store that is my frigging dream!! It has everything like soups, condiments, tortilla wraps, snack foods that are all low to no carb. Even a pasta that is carb friendly!!! I think due to the Western lifestyle loads of people are developing type 2 so the money will be in low carb foods. Keep an eye out in your grocery stores. I am just having 1 slice every couple of days as it is 80 calories/slice but what a heavenly treat! I love cheese and tomato on bread or toast and had that yesterday….fucking bliss.
Yours, Liz’s Low Carb Options Detective Agency

Love it sunshine-girl – love the fact that I am not the only one who finds the crunchy delights of ryvitas rather moreish! Still, like my sister says, if that’s the only think you’re losing control over then you’re not doing too bad!!! One or two strawberries just before bed does the trick now!! 😉

Thanks for the support Pod and Marsie, it’s much appreciated. Just frustrated that I can’t seem to get myself sorted and back to target weight again. I know of course that I CAN do it, but just can’t seem to get it done. Going to start some daily meditation and mindfulness exercises from tomorrow, hopefully that will sort the head out and the rest will follow. You are right about the alcohol and the mindset, Pod and I have had a couple of drinks this w/e too.

Anyway, think I’m doing okay today, although I have had yet another day off counting – of course the scales will tell me tomorrow morning if I’ve made things better or worse. For tomorrow it will be full on back to counting and extending my overnight fast. Hope your fast day goes well tomorrow, Marsie, keep us posted.

Hope we can all post some sort of loss at weigh-in on Tuesday – keep going everyone.

As we are in this for the long haul, don’t worry if there are days when you are quite a bit under, as long as you are comfortable with that. There will probably be days when you go a bit over occasionally and these will be balanced out by those days you manage to be under. It will all balance out over the 8 weeks – or however long you elect to stick with the 800.

Keep going and best of luck for the next weigh-in.

Hi Mike
I started this WOE last October whilst into the second year of PMR. I lost two stone whist reducing the steroids and my ESR slowly reduced at the same time, and I am now symptom free with a normal blood result.
Although my weight has fluctuated (due to my lack of control), I am convinced that the anti inflammatory foods in the BSD helped to rid my body of the horrible condition.
Good luck!
X B

Hi ruthydoo, your post struck a chord with me as I like my ryvita with ham or chicken and with butter it probably adds about 50 to 70 calories then the meat too. I have to give up because I am on my last packet and no chance of buying any more until October. Glad to hear it is possible to live without.

Hi hughsey
Don’t worry those feelings will soon pass , and then you will feel marvellous, keep up the good work.
🙋🙋🙋jan

Hi caz1973, as long as you are not too hungry or fainting away, as my doctor said to me, but you still have room for a small snack if you want to. Sometimes you might be having a bit more as trying to calculate can be quite inaccurate so at 690 you could be anywhere from 690 to 750. Dont worry and let your body guide you.

To answer directly, yes I try to keep around 800 but mainly have between 670 and 750. Sometimes when it is as low as 670 I realise I didn’t count that teaspoon of olive oil and the cauli rice or something small and insignificant, but that gives me a bit of wriggle room.

Well done Mike. I too am a chart maker and record everything. One thing is my doctor always wants to see my notebook so I have to fill it in for him so not just being anal. It shows weight, exercise, date and time with BG measurements and units of insulin used. When I am feeling a bit cheesed off and not losing weight I can look back to last year and see how far I have come. Not lost a lot of weight just 21lbs at the moment but I am not massive anyway but I have reduced my blood sugar from 190 to 90 reduce insulin from 40 units to 21, HbA1c as 11.4 now 5.4, cholesterol was 6.4 now 3.4 also triglycerides and blood pressure are also well down into normal range. I have blood tests every 3 months for diabetes and now he keeps testing my cholesterol (3 times in a row) but once a year I get a full blood and urine screening. I didn’t know what the sedimentation rate was for but mine was 24 mm in the first test then 54 in the second, that was in May 2016 now it is 14 in test one and 34 in the second. Notice that I should not be higher than 15 and 35 so mine is under that. Whatever it is it has improved as has everything else so something else to be pleased about.

Keep on keeping on…

Not whinging, venting. So vent away, SunnyB. We’re all allowed to vent when needed. Moving on is the important bit🙅, hugs on their way.

I’m hating the sight of the scales at the moment, knowing I’m not going to like what I see. But, following my day out today (described on another thread), and after having a burger lunch on a day out with grandson and friend on Friday (ate the bottom half of the bun), and being so tired after chasing the two 9yo boys around the Lego exhibition for a few hours I agreed with OH that fish and chips from the local shop sounded like a wonderful idea for dinner ……
so … I’m determined to have a “fast” day tomorrow, Monday. I won’t have eaten since about 4 pm today, (with the exception of a couple of forkfuls of kimchi a short while ago to ward off a bout of mouth hunger), so I’ll have a light brunch. Nothing but water and green or herbal teas until dinner time.

See if that gets me AROUND the wall instead of constantly banging into it.

SSB, was that your version of my wall? I think we all run into them from time to time. Keep on keeping on, as we say. 🙅

Sounding good pod, keep it going xx

Keep checking in with us Theodora. Let us know how you’re going. It sounds as though you are a wonderful hostess, just don’t forget to look after yourself first xx

‘Nighty night everyone, I’m off to bed 😴

Hi everyone can I ask do most of you stick to as near to 800 calories as you can as I find some days I am only reaching like 690 and I feel as if I have had 3 meals aday like 2 boiled eggs for breakfast, for lunch fromage frais with frozen raspberries and main tea steak with red and white cabbage with mayo and salad lettuce cucumber and on my fitness pal it comes out at 690. Do I need to eat a little bit more or is it ok as I don’t feel hungry for more food and have lost 9 pounds now on day 13 look forward to your replys hope you are all having a good weekend.

Sunnyb and Clarinetcathy feeling for you both today. Sending weight-loss thoughts through the airwaves!
I’m being very good today cos I had three Campari last night. Sooooooo many carbs, but I enjoyed them, perhaps a little too much cos I was only gonna have 1! Alcohol really does affect the mind set!
Anyway, hope we all have a really good couple of days!
Let’s Keep on keeping on!
Ann xx

Hi Everyone.just read all your posts and goals Im still on holiday in thailand so not currently weighing or following Bsd.In fact after a week of binging on pastries etc Im no longer enjoying that type of food.So tonight I settled for a clear broth with vegies and minced meat.I will continue to eat whatever is around that takes my fancy but I will be back to BSD next week when Im home .in the meantime I hope you are all achieving good results
Cheers

Hello ClarinetCathy
I feel for you – your gain is much the same as mine. Going back and forth over the same couple of pounds is really frustrating and when this is for an extended period, it makes it even tougher to take. I’m with you in hoping this blip will soon be consigned to history and we can report better things on Tuesday.
Keep drinking that water and let’s try to make today and tomorrow really count. We both know we can do this, we just need to find the motivation to stay focused and keep on keeping on. Best of luck CCathy

Marsie – I have been searching for real sauerkraut here in East Anglia but can only find the fake stuff. We are going to have a go at making some ourselves this week – it hopefully isn’t too difficult and should be a gut healthy way of adding a bit of variety to meals.

SunnyB – I too am feeling glum today. I weighed 140.6 on Thursday and today my weight is 143.0! It’s so demoralising! I didn’t drink much yesterday because I was performing but like you I am drinking a lot of water today. II don’t understand the science of weight gain or loss but when we are sticking to such a low calorie diet it’s not a good feeling to see such a gain. I was so hoping to break the 140 lb barrier this week! I haven’t lost any weight now for one month because I am up and down the same two pounds. Let’s hope we get through this blip and have some happier news on Tuesday.

I am almost at the end of my Sunday so ever closer to the end of our week. Apologies for not being much help along the way with this thread after joining in so willingly.

I spoke earlier about Green St Kitchen’s delicious Sauerkraut. I’m also enjoying their Kimchi, the Korean version of fermented cabbage. Again, utterly delicious, with similar cal/carb numbers.
Came home this evening after a day of eating while watching football with friends. Everyone brings a plate of something for the table and, while I had small serves, there were many serves and it was mostly BSD unfriendly. No dinner by choice for either OH or me but just now, 9pm-ish, I wanted something, anything, in my mouth. Not stomach hungry, mind you, but mouth hungry, just wanted to eat. Looking for control, tried water, not enough, so I had a couple of forkfuls of the kimchi. I think that will do it! Crunchy, with a chili bite. I know I’ve had something to eat but no overloading. Excellent!

Oh, and Esnecca, thanks for the reminder about looking for properly fermented foods, not just cooked down or pasteurized. I’m sure about this boutique producer but equally sure you’re right to warn about the more mass produced product on supermarket shelves.

And I’m with Verano …. more quotes welcome, SunnyB.

Having a doom and gloom day today, as the scales tell me I have gained 2.2lb in 2 days. Pretty certain that although I haven’t counted over the last couple of days, this is not a ‘real’ weight gain, but is more likely to be largely water retention, however, as I had been within 0.8lb of target weight again on Thursday, I’m still struggling to stay positive today.

I’m making sure to up the fluid intake today, in the hope of seeing the bulk of the 2.2lb disappear rapidly, keeping upbeat is proving a big ask right now. Keep telling myself, I still have 11 weeks to my deadline to be maintaining at target weight, not helping much at the moment though.

Sorry, whinging over! Hope everyone else is having a good w/e and will be reporting positive results at the end of the first week of the challenge.

Hey Verano

From the online research I did, broccoli rabe is similar to tender stem broccoli, which we have in the UK. I actually have a fig tree in my garden (Somerset) and there are a few varieties of this tree which survive well in the UK. N.B. you don’t actually eat the leaf, but use it like banana leaf, to wrap food for cooking, whereas vine leaves are okay to eat of course.

I’m struggling today, as the scales have told me I have gained 2.2lb in two days. Haven’t been counting for two days, but am confident that I haven’t consumed enough to have really made this gain in real weight. However, whilst on some level I recognise this is very unlikely to be a true gain and is most likely water retention, I’m still finding it tough to think positively today. So, I offer these quotes from the 101Thoughts and Affirmations to Create Positive Change by Michael Austin Jacobs:

“Some people argue over whether ‘the glass’ is half empty, or half full. I say, just be thankful to have a glass with something in it.”

“Anything you desire, can be attained through the correct thinking and direct action. It is a personal decision, that can only be made by YOU!”

And finally an affirmation: “I release all negative thoughts that I have been holding onto, and in turn, let go of the negative energy associated with those thoughts.”

Sorry, no foodie tips from me today, as I’m not quite in the right head space and am trying hard not to think about food right now.

Mike – I agree that the message from this American Professor is misleading. Thank goodness I didn’t see this clip before I started the BSD as i might have been very confused and it might have stopped me starting the BSD. This would have resulted in me hurtling towards even more severe problems with diabetic retinopathy, macular oedema and neuropathy in my right foot.

When I was diagnosed with diabetes my resting heart rate was 122. When I started the BSD it was 98. It has very very slowly dropped since starting BSD in May 2016 and is now 65. I am sure it will continue dropping.

Even the American Professor must concede that the 3 stone weight loss has left me much healthier with diabetes in remission, diabetic retinopathy, macular oedema and neuropathy reversed and a resting heart rate much more in the normal range. Who knows what other good things are going on unseen inside my body.

I started to make an effort to lose weight in August 2015 after advice from a friend (a German GP rtd). My Hba1C was 72 and my blood glucose was nearly 9. My weight was just on 100Kg and my BMI was around 34. I am a retired engineer and a believer that data is my friend<G> so I approached the diet in a structured way. I measure my weight in the morning before I dress and in the evening after I undress and note the data. I have a spreadsheet that I keep up to date and, using this, I get an average weight for the week and plot this as a graph. My target has been to keep the weight reduction to around 1kg per month and I have managed to keep close to this. I bought the BSD book last year and started using the advice in it and I am progerssing well – a bit faster since I got the book – towards my goal of a BMI of 25 by Christmas (currently it looks as though I will do better than this).
My weight today is 78.8kg and my last Hba1C was 44(June 2017) My blood glucose, which dropped quickly when I started the effort in 2015, is averaging 5.3. I am still taking 1 850g Metformin tablet a day (down from 2) and 1 glycoside tablet and I am wondering if this can be reduced.
One unexpected result is the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) which is a measure of the state of the polymyalgia rheumatica I was diagnosed with in 2010. This has measured between 36 and 16 when the normal range is 2 – 10. To keep the symptoms at bay I take 10mg of steroid/day (prednisalone) this has many side effects including weight gain and suppression of the immune system.
My last measure (June) was 9 and I am considering stopping or reducing the steroid. I plan to talk to my GP as soon as I can.
Another unexpected result is my underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) measures in the June blood test would seem to indicate that I am now over treated and could reduce the thyroxine I take.
I have also noticed that the LDL cholesterol measure is now in the good area for trhe first time although the HDL measure is a bit low (1.43).
I always get a printout of my blood test results and keep them filed and I would recommend that everybody does this.
I would welcome any feed back

Mike

Thanks mixnmatch, that’s really encouraging! I guess I will just have to do it slowly. 130 seems to be the absolute bottom of the healthy range for me, so may adjust goal up to 135, which would allow for any extra weight loss while I navigate maintenance….
I’ve started increasing my calories a little already to mitigate my electrolyte disorder and I’m still losing, so that makes sense.

All still seems surreal to me. Wish I had done this years ago!