Pod that would be a good title for the next 4 week challenge:
“July-August: keep on keeping on no matter what life throws at us” or something along those lines 🙂
I’ve been trying to think of words rhyming with August, but also think we need something positive.
I’m feeling more positive today, the weight I gained during my “off plan”
Weekend has dropped off after 3 days back on plan thank goodness.

Thanks Mixnmatch, I asked the same question just now on another thread, then remembered I had already asked it here. :S

Hmm, what about the advice to increase protein intake when training or engaging in significant exercise?
I recently forgot this advice, and regretted for two days following a particularly active day. ( basically felt like shit and had very little energy for anything)

Verano – happy BSD birthday. What a great achievement to be able to call yourself a true ‘non-carboholic’. I always enjoy reading your posts – you have been a real inspiration to me on this BSD journey. As Nettle said – aren’t we lucky we ended up here.

Lee I agree about the doc, so disheartening, would he ever try the bsd? He sounds more open- minded than many!
It’s really interesting when ‘friends’ do the sneaky sabotage, I think they must panic a bit and feel they need to get you back in the ‘box’, as though somehow you are challenging them or making them look too closely at themselves! A few people have posted about this phenomenon over the months, family as much as friends. It’s a bit shocking because you would presume everyone would be delighted and supportive! God forbid we change the status quo.

Do star jumps in two parts.
Lift your arms up and down.
Then your legs.

You dont have to do the two together?!!!
💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻🤸🏼‍♂️🤸🏻‍♀️

Love lucia
Xxxx

Hi john,

What ever is comfortable.
Whatever you feel you can due with a little effort.

Now, there are 173 days to christmas.
do that many giant strides, or minutes walk, or hops, or anything.

Do somethimg different.

How about a more difficult challenge.
173 smiles or laughs or jokes?

Lighten the mood.

Love lucia
Xxxx

I grew up at the height of the low fat diet period, I suspect a lot of people doing this diet did too. Is it a struggle letting go of the “fear of fat”?
Any tips for a first timer? Also, I’m hypothyroid and worried about low blood sugar, interested to know other people’s experiences.

dumptynomore So glad you are feeling chipper. Long may it continue.

flowers_ Welcome to our little corner of the BSD forum, we all struggle with addictions/binging but the bonus of this WOE (I am finding) is that due to the low calories I don’t mindlessly eat, I have to make every calorie count. If you can (and you are not alcohol dependant) abstain from alcohol for the entire 8 weeks. It’s fucking hard but worth it. Your sleep will improve as will your mood…..and the contents of your purse! You are not alone (also buy the book if you haven’t already), try to let go of the shame, shame can you make you spiral even more. You have admitted you want to change…..that is the biggest hurdle. All the best. BTW I started the BSD with a raging hangover!)

Hi flowers – I feel for you – I too only wear the same three things – I refuse to buy any more clothes because youa nd I are not going to be at this weight for much longer – that would be a waste of money! I too spend a lot of time listening to others and it truly can be draining! Be kind to yourself and try and make some me time. Could your husband offer some help and respite withyour mum! You sound like you need to start asking other family and friends for help – this is adversely affecting your health. You won’t be able to help your mother if you are unwell yourself. My OH goes on about my weight too – it doesn’t help! Much as I know it pains him to see me killing myself. I have actually lost a lot of friends through not keeping in touch – just trying to cope with day to day life trying to lose weight.

I say all this to show my support for you. Please look into possible services as well thatmay be able to help

All the best

Evening All – I feel rather chipper- long may it continue (I’m working tomorrow so it probs won’t – 😀 )

Mary – sisters for sure – you and I have about the same amount to lose – let’s buddy up.

EC – We British are equally as obsessive about the weather and tea too – so fire away – love reading about Tasmania – sounds brill.
Sounds like you are coping well considering all activity
I have to make myself go to bed or I’m up till the wee small hours – not good – harder to lose weight (Lee – get those naps in 😀 )

Inka – had a good day today – feeling more in control and not panicking when I have a bit over – great to hear you are having good days too

OImadam
– sounds like you are getting there – keep going and know that you are not alone

Crabbycams – You are so right – the problem with sugar addiction is that we are faced with it all the time wherever you go – and food in general. The good thing is that when you stop eating sugar , the cravings deffo lessen and it’s easier to resist (until the next time I go off the rails – hmmm – I’ll just need to stop going off the rails – watch this space!). That’s a very difficult thing you are coping with. I know if I took my own food I would still be eying up the rest of all that other stuff. Good luck with the final 8 week weigh in and your next 8 weeks.

Lee – I would have had to eat all 10 slices of millionares shortbread – damn my sweet tooth – hope your dad savours them and not eat them all at one go. And a word of advice – get rid of that ‘friend’ 😀

FFBB – good your mum is on board – any support is good support

Canada Liz – Yooo – hoooooo – where are youuu!

Welcome flowers – hope you feel comfortable here with these lovely ladies – I personally resisted for over a year and happy to participate in the banter now and all the highs and lows.

My report – (very boring) not started exercising – I am a very lazy person. Thought I would familiarise myself with the food side of things – it’s been a very good first week – so will start walking on Saturday – the start of my 2nd week. Had a nice vening meal – halloumi cheese , brown lentil curry, red pepper/mushroom/red onion/spinach and coriander stir fry – probably had a bigger portion thanI intended – hey ho. My mother is coming up to spend the evening with me tomorrow- so I will have to brace myself – she is very critical of peope who go on diets – and she can talk! Like a train – bless her! She’s on her own a lot – so the brakes come off when she is with us – doesn’t come up for air – 😀

Another fresh day tomorrow to be as good as gold! Good luck to all!

Hi Verano – I just saw that you are celebrating a birthday – congratulations – you have done so so well – proof that you get there in the end. That actually might be my problem – I just want it all gone – now! Anyhoo, I’ve taken all your comments on board and decided to go for ‘a brick not a building.’ Used to work with somebody that used that phrase all the time – very apt. And ‘keep on keeping on’ a la sunshine girl and ‘bloody never give up’ a la Bloke41.

Already into a nice wee routine, and feeling so much happier! Hehe to biscuit dunker – I don’t dunk either – I think I’ll probably just do without – maybe start with green tea – saw a girl on line who swears her weight loss was accelerated by drinking that.

I see you have a momentous year comng up – wish you all the best with everything and your continiuing journey here – hopefully we can bag a seat in 100 club – that would be dream come true for me! Haven’t been that weight since I was 13 years old! May never happen but I can dream 🙂

Oh Flowers, you are really not on your own. Many people on this forum have suffered or do suffer from low self esteem. Many turn to drink and many to food. You are a little hard on yourself. You are in a difficult and stressful position. Being a carer and in a caring profession is very draining and it is little wonder your hand reaches for the Wine. Wine makes all the problems seem less important.

I read all the posts that I can during the day and they strengthen my resolve. I have used Wine as a crutch for many years and I am confident at the moment that I can cope without it.

Try little steps. It works for some people…try cutting down, or drinking alternate days. For myself, I can’t trust myself, so I am abstaining completely. Others are still drinking, but much less.

We are here to support you. No-one will chastise you if you have a bad day and go over your calories or have a drink. Everyone here is supportive. I am happy to help in any way I can. Feel free to let me know what I can do for you.

Supportive
Joes Nonna

Hi flowers, ouch, a lot on your plate right now and a lot being asked of you. It sounds like you could use some taking care of yourself and some space and time to just breathe out and let some of this overwhelming responsibility go.
As you start into the BSD diet, don’t stress with it — it can take a few weeks (months) for the whole idea to really settle in so just be patient with yourself and let yourself “learn” how to do it — you will get better and better at it as you “practice” it day by day (some days will go better than others) — but just let each step in the right direction be a victory. It works even when it isn’t followed perfectly.
Take care of yourself too — rest, sleep, exercise gently, keep the activities to a minimum until you feel stronger and less overwhelmed. Sending you good thoughts.
We’ll see you here on the posts.

Hi all,
I have been reluctant to send this message as it means relaying my vulnerabilities…*gulps* but here it goes:

I have been struggling the best part of a 2 years with my weight which has namely been because of my personal circumstances. Unfortunately I am dealing with caring responsibilities for my mother who has mental health issues, work etc – as many of us perhaps do. However my coping strategy has been to resort to alcohol and over 18 months my weight has piled on significantly.

I used to be around 8 stone 3lbs, now I am 12 stones and I feel incredibly ashamed of what I have become. My husband has commented so many times that I need to change my behaviour and I absolutely agree but feeling so low in mood has made it difficult to make changes. I am trying to maintain some sense of stable mental health in amongst all the life stressors but it has been hard.

I no longer want to rely on alcohol, I no longer want to fight with my husband over this, I do longer want to shut the world out. I want to live a healthier lifestyle, I want to not hurt my husband anymore, I want to not live in 3 outfits, I want to see friends again – but I feel at a complete loss.

The irony of it is that I actually work with patients providing therapeutic treatments – I give my all to my job and fortunately this remains unaffected but after sessions with patients I am drained and emotional – thus going for that bottle of wine. I am grateful that my work has not been impacted but that’s also because I put my patients first and work so many hours to give the best care that I can – but now I’m crumbling too.

My husbands sister is getting married at the beginning of September and I want to lose weight before this and not feel disgusting and hideous in myself. My confidence has dissipated. I am pretty good at putting on a front because I feel I haven’t a choice.

So…(apologies for that!) I would love to have support to start the BSD as soon as possible, I have about 60 days before the wedding. I know alcohol will be a huge barrier but I am trying to figure out how to manage this. If anyone wishes to join me on a quest and keep one another accountable, that’d be great. If anyone wants to whatsapp support also that’d be great too 🙂

Apologies for this long message, but if you got to the end of this, I thank you sincerely.

Lucia,

I think Star Jumps are a bit beyond me. Would press-ups do instead?

John

Oops! Forgot to post yesterday! No weight loss to report, but no gain either! Eaten a lot of cheese and nuts, had the serious munchies, but no carbs.
NSV. Haven’t resorted to tea and toast, even though I’ve been sorely tempted!
Sorry to read you are in the pits Marsie, be kind to yourself, you’re always so lovely to us all. Xxxx
Let’s all “Keep on keeping on” no matter what life throws at us!!

@canadaliz I have just seen your first post and have been very touched by it – I just wondered whether I could email yourself with regards to some advice? I saw many similarities in your post. I will now catch up with the hundreds of messages on the thread! 🙂
Many thanks.

Had an unscheduled lunch out so I had my usual proper roast ham and 2 fried eggs. I had to guess the weight of the ham as I don’t carry my scale. It was a very generous portion so 200 g seems appropriate. I could have asked them to weigh it but they are not that accommodating.

Finally “came out” to my mum that I was doing the BSD 800 cals for 8 weeks. She wasn’t impressed….at first. I listened to the 5 minute lecture as to how it was too low calorie, that she was worried I’d become unhealthy(!!!) and that quick weight loss never stays off, etc.

When she had finished I explained that I wanted to kick start my weight loss and referred her to the book and website and went into the diet fully. I also stated how many more vegetables and nutrients I was eating. I told her I had quit drinking for the 8 weeks as well, I was sleeping better, my IBS was better and that I was nearing the end of my 2nd week already (to which she replied “that explains why last week your trolley contained the healthiest and most colourful groceries I have ever seen you buy”).

We came to the agreement that if I become faint or my mood becomes low and I feel “the black dog” coming (I have a history of depression) I will increase the calories to 1200 – 1500 per day and slow down.

She is now fully on board.

FFBB X

Mixnmatch is right. As long as you have plenty of fat in your body, not something many of us are short of around here 😊 (and are not ripped – I wish!) once once fat adapted you have fuel for lots of exercise. Far more than the 90mins or so stored in muscles as glycogen.

It is perfectly safe when you are sufficiently fat adapted, provided you are not underweight. The body will provide its own fuel. I played badminton for two hourly sessions every week on 800 calories, around 550 calories burnt each week according to the app, without upping my calories or carbs.

Happy BSD birthday Verano! You’ll be joining us in the 100 clubhouse sooner than you think. Keep on keeping on, and never forget the progress you have already made.

Lee, as the saying goes “with friends like those…….” Glad your dad is enjoying them.

Does Michael Mosley say anything about weight lifting and cardiovascular exercises in relation to the blood sugar diet? I can’t imagine he still recommends 800 calories if you’re doing fairly strenuous daily exercise.

Last round was last Oct to Christmas, as I have kept the 2.5 stone off yo-yoing a bit I now call this my current stable weight, onward and down wards once more, I did lose 3.5 stone last time but not in the 8 weeks, so first challenge is to get back to my lowest weight in over a decade, then down again.

caz – unless you’re working out very hard, your protein is too high. Assuming normal exercise, you should aim for a gram of protein per kilo of your goal weight (not your current weight). Bump up the fat instead. I always recommend this great post from LindaA which explains how to calculate your macronutrients: https://thebloodsugardiet.com/forums/topic/20th-feb-starters/page/4/#post-58403

I don`t use my fitness pal but on the fat secret app you can “go into” the day and see how many net carbs you have consumed in grams, you can also change your macros. I have mine set to sodium, fibre, net carbs, fat and protein. Percentages mean nothing to me on their own. 😏

For example my macros today is fat 37 g (44%) carbs 37.8 g (net cabs 26.4 g/fibre 11.4 g 19%) and protein 70.93 g (37%)

Hope this helps.

FFBB

Good to hear TBB! I will be happy to read about your successes!

Hi Maryschoen — you are going to find out! Maybe you can coordinate with your doctor as you move forward and your experiences/blood sugar readings can be helpful to others — I imagine that this is a very common scenario as steroids are used to treat so many issues — you are probably very wise to use diet to treat the side-effects of the steroids (high blood sugar) as it is never good to have high blood sugar. Good luck and keep us posted.

Welcome back Sumo — I look forward to your posts!

Hi Verano! Wow, a year on BSD — a true milestone! I have enjoyed reading your calm and intelligent posts all year and I wish you continued success as the next year unfolds. Sounds like you have big events, “big” birthday and a granddaughter on the way — just think, you spent the last twelve months preparing for them and you will greet them in a healthy happy body — such great blessings!
Julia

Sumo, I see you have lost 2.5 stones and managed to keep that off despite your injury. Well done, and welcome to another round.

Welcome Sumo, I hope you have the book – the 8 week blood sugar diet – as it has most of the information you need. Just shout up if you need help of advice. You say back on the 800, does that mean you have done it before???

I have an autoimmune disease that affects my lungs. I therefore have to take steroids, and always will. My blood sugars are in the pre diabetic range, but it is not known if this is because of the steroids, or if I am “properly” pre-diabetic. Do you think the BSD will reduce my blood sugars despite taking steroids. Also is steroid induced high blood sugars as dangerous as other causes of high blood sugar?

sunshine-girl

Count me in I need to lose an arm and a leg, but I will settle for an all over trim, to show I can be slim.

Back on the 800 here we go

Hi not been around for a while, I sort of got lost, but managed to stay 2.5 stone lower than when I started, I am just lowering my intake to start a fresh 800 8 week, I saw a knee consultant he was polite but basically said sod off fatly come back skinny? A**Hole, he just does not realise how hard lard is to shift of one’s body, so back into battle I go.
Exercise re gym work et all has be low of late, still walking dogs, have 2 now. But wife has decided to change the garden to be more useable, my extreme exercise has been take down old summer house kin heavy, don’t remember it being that heavy 20yrs ago, it must be water logged? Remove collapsing wall, dig earth back and dig out footing for new support wall, new summer house bigger than old so increase hard base and level out.
Not sure how much I have manually dug out, but I have wheel barrowed over 4.5 tonnes of Sand, Cement, aggregate and concrete blocks into my garden plus new summer house to be built.
Now wife has decided to patio the whole area in front of new summer house16Sqmtrs, that will be 2cubic meters of earth to dig out and god knows how much hard core plus slabs, as I am registered disabled with lower back injury, osteoarthritis of Knees, Ankles & thumbs, it has been a challenge, with very little help from my sons?

Oh and my “friend” (who knows I am going sugar free) made me 10 pieces of homemade millionaire shortbread.

How kind….👿😡 talk about sabotage. My father is enjoying them though….

L 😘

Part 2!
So all stabbed by someone who is obviously unhappy in her job and took it out on my veins!
3 days for the result but I’m guessing that if there is anything acute, I will hear quite soon.

Have taken today off as well as still don’t feel right but having had some brekkie and a lay down with a book I feel much better.

Inka, I felt sorry for the doc. He is a genuinely lovely man who always treated the patient with what is best for them and not what government guidelines say. Imagine going through such major surgery which must have been scary, only to end up back where he started.

Oimadam, well done on taking the positive vibes from here. I find these lot so inspiring!

FFBB, I went above 800 whenever I felt my body needed it. I will today as well but I do tend to stick around 1000 on those days. It may have slowed my journey but it has made it sustainable for me. So do what works for you. Nowt wrong with being a tortoise like me….

Dumpty, sleeping sounds good to me. I shall nap today 😂🤣 Verano is right, it really is one step at a time.

Mary. I’m soooo delighted and proud of you (if that doesn’t sound patronising) 6lbs is fantastic but an alcohol free week on top of that deserves a little dance around our herbal tea ☕️

Madmare, I hope your back is improving. That sounds rough as.

Just chilling out with supersize me dvd. Saw it years ago but the results still shock me and will keep me on the right path. I absolutely do not fancy a burger 🍔. Not at all… much….

Nope, not cured yet it seems… 😳😈

L xxx

Thank you! Good advice on painting nails will definitely do that! Might be daily ha!

I’ve decided to start tomorrow as my family leave Sunday and I find day 4 of any new diet is when I crave and then binge so I’m hoping that will the rush of them packing etc I won’t have time to think about cravings!
Then when they come back hopefully I’ll be looking slimmer already 🤗

so when i go on fitness pal it say total 36% carbs goal 15% fat 34% goal 40% protein 30% goal 45% so with what the food i have put in to eat today am i still having to many carbs according to my fitness pal hope that makes sense.

I think start it when your family leaves. It will be something that is just for you and I can assure you that the organising, planning, shopping, menu planning etc will give you plenty to think about. You also have the added bonus that when you feel overwhelmed, craving or hungry there is always someone here to discuss it with and take advice from.

Have a good BSD friendly snack to hand, something easy that you dont have to think about or prepare. Portion up some cooked meat up to about 50 calories, have a cold boiled egg, a small piece of cheese and if you miss crunch in your diet, a few – and I mean a few, 6 or 8 almonds or walnut halves, I personally like pistachios but avoid cashews as they are much higher in calories. Before you snack mindlessly drink a couple of glasses of water then think about whether you are hungry, craving or just bored. Eat if you are hungry (BSD snacks) paint your nails if you are bored, you cant eat with wet nails.

Hope that helps. There are lots more hints and tips on this site – just remember it is only 8 weeks if you follow the full plan. Then you can rethink.

Hi all, hope you enjoyed the day Californiagirl, well done V, we know we can do it.

I have to remember that I am taking a drug that reduces my bodies fat burning ability and actually puts on weight so I am fighting a double battle, temptation and insulin. Today my weight is down again so I know I can do it. Reduced insulin to 22 units and BG was slightly up this morning from 4.5 to 5.6 – I know it will steady itself out if I stick with the plan.

The sun is shining again after nearly a week of terrible storms, I even had to put a cardie on the other night LOL. Just had 20 mins in the pool but it was freezing (24 degrees) but nice once I was in and swimming, will do another 20 tonight, weather forecast for today 35 degrees.

Have a good BSD day everyone.

Sorry to read so many are struggling at the moment. No matter how much a gain is, you need to hang on to the bigger picture and overall trend and without exception, you have still made a huge difference when measured against your start point. Yes, it’s frustrating and demoralising when the scales don’t tell you what you’re hoping for, but that’s when you come to the forum and take strength from the group.

Marsie, forgive yourself for going off piste – we are all human and it’s not a crime to occasionally eat things not normally accepted on the BSD. All of us do this from time to time and yes, we might see an unpleasant result on the scales, but we all have the tools now, to be able to pull that back.

Cathy, 0.4lb is nothing in the scheme of things and I’m sure if you are focused for the rest of the week, you’ll be posting something positive next week. And SueBlue, life happens and we shouldn’t beat ourselves up for these one off transgressions. Why shouldn’t you have a few glasses of champagne to celebrate with your daughter? I’m sure it was fun …. and now you’ll be back to the regime and will be posting a positive result next time too.

Topcac, right place to have a rant and although you had a blip yesterday, you’re still with us and setting goals. Have the Mint Magnum and enjoy it! Then get back to the programme and report a something good on Tuesday.

We are all so much better equipped to take control of our eating and our weight now, than we were when we started on the BSD and deep down we all know we can do this. Accept you are human and will err, that life will happen and it will not always be able to observe all the BSD rules, but also know YOU have made a big change already and can continue to do that going forward. YOU have the POWER and YOU are STRONGER than you think – I KNOW, because you’ve PROVED it already….. all of you.

Hi everyone just checking if i have done my fitness pal right i have altered my calories to 800 then it say carbs 30g protein 90g and fat 36g so todays food what i will be eating comes out as total 726 calories then it say net calories 727 sorry to be a thicko lol but just checking i am doing this right thanks

Yes Inka13, it is bizarre to think that we are so close geographically. I’m doing a jewellery course on etching and enamelling. I have very dirty fingers right now despite much washing from messing about with metal for three days. And I’ve just booked and paid today for another 5-day workshop on another form of enamelling to be held in Canberra in September. Haven’t told the boss yet of course!

Thanks Leelee and everyone for the encouragement. I’ll be joining in the forum for anyone starting another round from next week as well as this one. The goal is to get into the normal range for fat to rest of body ratio at the next dexascan. That will be at the end of August so I will have done 6-7 weeks of Fast8. Also that’s when the next bloods are due.

Onward and downward.

Verano,
Happy BSD Birthday and congratulations on your achievements…i am a lurker and very infrequent poster but I always read your posts and you have helped me immeasurably. All best wishes for year 2 and…keep on keeping on, never bloody give up (thanks Bloke41) and all the rest!
towanda57

Happy Anniversary VERANO well done you. Great feeling this new life. Talk about KCACO…keeping calm and carrying on…you CAN do another year. It is so well worth it. I still have to stop and count the months of “freedom” (16)
and be so grateful. It can work, it does work but also needs some work….

Aren’t we lucky we ended up here?
Nettle

DAY 366 ….. My 1st BSD birthday and the start of a new year for me…….

Well, this has been an eventful year. I’m so pleased that I found the Blood Sugar Diet which I can only say has transformed my life.

Twelve months ago I was 53.6lbs heavier, my HbA1c was 6.4 and is now 5.2, my metformin has been reduced by 50% to 1000mg a day and my cholesterol has remained stable at around 4.5. Also those afternoon lethargic ‘naps’ have completely disappeared along with the carbs. I just feel so much healthier and look so much better.

As you will know from my posts my journey has been anything but smooth. My weight loss graph has gone up and down like the exchange rate! But nonetheless I have persevered and am now a true ‘non-carbaholic’. I no longer desire bread, potatoes, rice or pasta. I enjoy my BSD food and have even found a renewed love of vegetables. I’m no saint and do have a few foods for ‘crunch’ like oat cakes, the very occasional (now) digestive biscuit and the odd crisp here and there, but i do stick to the principles 99% of the time.

This is now my new way of eating, although after 12 months it’s not that new. So for the coming year ….. well this looks like being a momentous one for me. Hip surgery looming, new granddaughter almost ready to appear, big birthday to celebrate towards the end of the year to name but a few.

So that just leaves my goals for the coming year. I’d like to lose another 50lbs then I can join the 100 Club with a little to spare. I’d like to get rid of my remaining daily metformin tablet which will make me medication free, a great achievement at my age! I’d like to remain as healthy as I feel at the moment and better if possible.

Thanks to all my fellow travellers on this journey for helping me travel so far. The support of these groups has been invaluable to me and I hope it will continue to be so. So ‘once more unto the breach’ or in sunshine-girl’s words we have to just ‘keep on keeping on …..

JCH & Pollyg, glad to hear that some habits are changed! There’s hope yet…

I bet most people are like me, serial dieters. I know the calories in almost everything, but once I’m back in an old pattern, I’m happy to ignore this… I also eat healthy food, but, likeJCH, a snacker and grazer (but, um, seem to avoid grazing on sticks of celery ). I’m not a big rice or potato eater, but love warm bread with butter, and of course biscuits & especially chocolate.

Hypnosis… my H is a GP who has taken a million extra courses, including hypnosis. I’ve asked him several times to hypnotise me, but he said hypnosis can’t change what we don’t want to change, and the best solution is self-hypnosis, through deep relaxation methods like sophrology. He also believes in firm self-discipline, and of course he’s skinny, doesn’t smoke/ drink etc. and runs like he’s 21. He nags me somewhat, which just makes me hide the chocolate wrappers. Conclusion; it’s essential to keep this in our own hands.

Crabbycams! It’s bizarre to think you are just down the road! I’m deeply envious though, bet the Sturt winter school is great! What are you doing there? And don’t worry too much about the odd slide, it sounds like you are balancing everything out all round. AND it’s really cold so your body is probably begging for extra fuel. Are you staying nearby?
My food intake has been super good today but I have ruined it all with a couple of drinks 🙈 With peanuts 🙈🙈
Oh well. Tomorrow is another etc. etc.
Lee, you ARE the tortoise and the hare then! I hope he took a good look! Well done and hope all went well with your dad, and that your results are good too.