Hi Mariet, Our first cruise (well 2nd but we dont talk about Costa in the Far East!!!) and we decided on 7 days in the fjords of Norway. Went with P&O on their biggest ship (18 stories high with 3500 guests and 2500 crew) and it was fantastic, so many things to do I never got time to use the gym or the pool, yes it was warm enough. Okay there were lots of quizzes and dancing classes but we went to some interesting cookery demos and talks including one about serial killers given by a forensic psychologist who worked with Stuart Sutcliffe (Ripper), absolutely fascinating. We also went to the cinema a couple of times and saw film we would never have paid to see and found they were really good.

Our next cruise is also P&O in April going to Spain, Sicilly, Italy, Greek and Croatia then back down to Venice and Gibraltar. 17 nights but I think I am ready for that as I thought 7 days wasn’t quite enough and as we go from Southampton there are no airports, delays, long flights etc. We ate ‘freedom’ dining, same thing as you and met some very interesting people and never got stuck with the same crowd or the one you prefer to avoid, it also kept the conversation fresh. So glad you enjoyed yours.

One thing I like is you get to see so many new places and not get bored being in the same place, I dont like beach holidays but you can still go poolside or swim if you want to. Now I am back I am finding it very hard to get back into the swing but have ordered 2 dresses on-line which I might have to slim down to get into, we will see. Enjoy your next cruise when you decide where you are going.

Hi Verano.
I think aiming to loose weight long term on this plan is as difficult for peeps like me returning to the plan. I can see from your posts how fed up you are at the mo, one thing that has helped me is to look at the food I feel I am being denied, and really look at what is does to my body. For myself when I eat refined carbs, I feel toxic, exhausted beyond belief, and after a while my symptoms of S.L.E. return, which mean I don’t function. But I think for myself i just feel I am missing out on the ‘fun’, a bit like if you are home alone on a Saturday evening when all around you are socialising etc, left feeling a bit lonely and sorry for yourself.
So when I’m feeling determined I take time to really look at these things, so when I am feeling deflated like at the mo, because week one has been a very slow small loss, I check my mind, and it helps to prop me up.
We know from working long term on this plan that loss of control and unplanned eating is nothing to do with hunger, perhaps just a sense of missing out. So I ask myself what am I missing, it does work sometimes, but I have to stop myself to give my mind long enough to think these things through 😅😅😅
Just a suggestion, when we try so hard, for so long we loose sight sometimes of what’s really happening. But whatever happens we are all rowing the boat together.
Keep on keeping on. 🙋Jan

Good news is BG is right down again, which seriously shows I cannot be doing too bad on the diet. 4.3 on 21 units. Not good news, half a pound wobble again. Going to stop thinking about it for the weekend and re-focus on Tuesday.

It is Fete Nationale today (Bastille Day to Brits) so big celebrations all over France but we will be keeping it chez nous (at home) maybe a glass of champagne later.

MnM can you explain what a fast mimicking diet is, not sure.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Love that – rowing the boat together -and can I add – against the current – lol. I agree, the regain was slower and I didn’t regain all of it, thankfully.’ And I am definitely all or nothing! One little slip and I let it affect me for days. No more! I need to stop this.
Greenjanet, I have spent most of my life wanting to lose it all by yesterday. It’s taken a lot to be accepting of myself and just take it as it comes. Putting a time limit on it just makes me go the opposite way.
November last year, a family wedding was announced. I was 12stones 10 pounds ,having got down from 16 stones. Fast forward to today and wedding in 3 weeks and i weigh in today at 15 stones! I had intended to be at least 10 stones. See what I mean! So no more! One day at a time. No yesterday and no tomorrow.
I have that recipe book too – but the calories are way out for some recipes. Which is a bit ridiculous for what is meant to be a retricted calorie diet, IMHO. I have frozen a lot of cooked proteins, makes it easy to just haul out something and have with veggies or salad. I am no Nigella! or Delia! or anybody else for that matter. I know I will soon tire of that – will maybe adapt a few recipes then.
Oh, btw, My hair falls out lot too. For years, I could not put it down to any one cause. I used to say to my hairdresser, she should be charging me half price due to the sparcity! I think, for me, it a lack of vit D. I started taking this a while back and my hair is not too bad at the moment. I’m hoping this lastest change in diet doesn’t affect it.
But you sound upbeat! I’ll drink to that with a cup of green tea. All the best. I’m meeting up with friends tonight – another challenge eating wise! Sigh! 😀

Hi everybody – where are you all????
I’ve started another 8 week BSD on the 6th July and have started another thread: Starting today 6th July – anybody like to join me???
After six days I have lost 4.5lb which I’m pleased with.
Would love to hear how everyone is getting on.
Nancy x

Hi Narnea
Thinking of you camping – have a wonderful time away.
I’ve had a boozy couple of days, so cross with myself. Anyway don’t have any social invitations looming at the moment so I’ve got to be good and lay off the drink. I was weighed at Weightwatchers Tuesday evening and after 6 days I was 4.5lbs down, weighing 16st 2.5lb.
Wendy – how are you doing?
Nancy x

Ooh dear I haven’t set myself a goal for the start of week two. So my goal is to loose 2 kg, stick to 1000/50-60 and walk 10,000 steps. Also drink an extra litre of fizzy water with fresh lemon.
💃💃💃💃💃

Sorry for jumping in, but I just want ofer some support – I, too, am a cakelover Bigeater. That was so strong of you to say no. I know I could not have done that. I know when I am in ‘self destruct’ mode, my go to is cake deffo not BSD food. So, be kind to yourself and chalk it up as a success. Slow but sure wins the day (as I’m trying to convince myself).
Everhopefuldumpty

Hi DTNMore
Ooh lovely we can row the boat together, it is strange isn’t it second time around it’s so much slower, I lost three stone and put one back on, but the putting back on was very slow, it was almost like my body had forgotten how to put weight on. Hahaha it’s remembered now.
I have to admire your long term objective, I want all my lbs gone like yesterday 😅But I am aiming for my 60th at Christmas , 23 weeks 😱Sogot to loose just under 40 kilos, so at 1 kilo a week I would have a good crack at getting there. So that’s my plan, if I do more then great.
I’m an all or nothing person, and one slice of bread, would tip me over the edge, I suppose once I regain confidence again in my control of eating the right things, I can be less strict with my thinking. I have the large BSD recipe book, so I am going to pull out some tasty recipe ideas from that today, and also drink an extra litre of fizzy water with lemon, good vit c don’t want my hair dropping out again 😁.
Hope your weekend goes well, bye for now from sunny Norfolk 🌞🌞🌞

Hi Verano – sorry you’re struggling at the moment. Note – ‘at the moment.’ I think we go through phases of being strong then struggling a bit. I am trying to keep this in my head, motivated by you, I have to say, not that long ago. I’m in a good place right now- far from perfect, but I’m accepting of this.
Your story is very motivating, more so than those who ‘whoosh’ from A- Z. Of course, I’m happy for them, but I personally find stories of lower losses more encouraging. I lost almost 7 stones in 15 months in 2012 – it didn’t last and I put it all back on again. Lost a fair bit last year and regained a lot of it. So, I am a ‘tortoise’ now and happy about it. I hope the loss to permanent this way.
Best Wishes and keep going.
Everhopefuldumpty

Hi greenjanet – I am almost 59 and practically the sameweight as you. Like you, I had good success with BSD last year. I regained a lot. Restarted again same time a you – 1st July. Keeping to it immaculately but loss is much slower. We seem to have a lot in common!
I am content to see it go slowly as long as it goes! Everytime I see a pound go, I really hope I don’t see it flashing on the scale again! Chin up girl – we can and are going to do this! I have allowed 18 months which is when I become 60. I would love to be fit enough to trek the Grand Canyon then.

What I said to OH was this- ‘I am in this for the long haul. This is going to take at least 18 months. I cannot be perfect for 18 months.’

So -I have given myself permission to accommodate ‘problems’ and ‘life’ and then go back on the staright and narrow. Verano was very helpful in letting me realize this. Thanks Verano.

Best wishes greenjanet – I don’t post much but I was moved by your story – just showing my support
Everhopefuldumpty

Hi FFBB and KrysiaD

Thanks so much for your messages. Yes it was nice of my friend to say – don’t eat cake – you will be pleased you didn’t. And I am pleased I didn’t but can identify an “I don;t care attitude” that instils itself on the now rare occasions I overeat. . It is very important to seek help – I do. Just wanted to thank you for your support, tomorrow is another day and I will continue on the journey!

Hi everyone. Joes Nonna, Lee, FFBB and all doing so well and resisting temptation.

Today I decided not to diet at lunchtime as it was a bring a plate farewell for a retiring colleague. Ate bits and pieces with no guilt, did not necessarily enjoy all of them and felt very full very quickly, which is a new experience. Consequently now home and will probably not have any dinner.

I’m going to have to be very organised and disciplined over the next few weeks as I will be starting a jewellery course that goes for six weeks (Saturday only). I’ll be hopping in the truck on Friday afternoons after flying home and feeding the cat, then fanging down the highway to Sydney (4.5 hours).

Staying with friends and family will be lovely, but oh so tempting to have one or three glasses of wine, carbs etc. They are all generally supportive, but it could easily end up with two days a week of not very health eating. I’ll also have to make sure I have a health lunch with me for Saturday and snacks to keep me going on the trip home on the Saturday evening so that the siren call of McDonalds at Lithgow or Bathurst doesn’t get too loud.

And Sunday will be challenging as I will be tired so not in the mood to cook, shop or prep food in bulk. I’ll be hunting for easy food in the frig and that can so often mean cheese on toast.

But I will prevail. At least on the Saturday I will be in the workshop and probably moving around a bit more than usual. I also have no idea what sort of assignments we will have to do or when I will find time to do them. But I will. This is my transition to retirement as I will have to keep on earning at least a bit of a living, and the BSD is my transition to a healthier life.

And of course there is always a way to spend time not eating, and that is reading all the forum posts.

All the best lovelies for a fantastic weekend.

BTW, whoever developed the recipe for the cauliflower and capsicum soup is a genius. So amazingly easy and delicious. Will be a staple in the freezer along with the pea and mint soup.

Way to go Lee…..here’s a big CHEER !!

You are amazing, such control and you get results. Liz will be so pleased when she has time to visit the forum. I am guessing she is having a rest after her mammoth trek.

Take care.

Mary xxx

Well done you!! I’m going out for tea this afternoon so I have planned my eating for the day today, one apple and a bowl of tomato soup! I know I can do it with your support, its already helping, I’m gong to report a loss by Monday!! xx

Bigeater – what a good friend you have. Well done for only eating BSD foods. That’s exactly what I do when I either have a ‘using food as a crutch day’ or I just really feel I want to over eat.

I never feel it is a failure but think of it as doing the 5:2 for a week. It doesn’t unleash the carb monster or a massive guilt trip which made it so much easier to get back into the BSD when I was in the weight loss stage of the journey and to get back to maintenance now I am on maintenance. I am planning to do some overeating on holiday at the end of August – but will only overindulge on lovely BSD food.

FFBBs advice is really good.

Way to go Lee. Whoop Whoop.

Into every generation there is a woman born, she is destined to fight against the bandits and the sirens. She is The BSD-er!

💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐

FFBB X

Fascinating Mnm. Will be really interesting to see how you ‘feel’ on this regime at the end of the week. How much protein are you averaging ?

My two days of ‘gay abandon’ including some exceptionally nice Australian Shiraz last night, have now shown up on the scales. Time to refocus, yet again, and keep in mind my goals from yesterday.

I know I need to be ‘serious’ but it’s just getting harder and harder to get back into the zone. Really not sure what to do to achieve that. Each day starts with good intentions but ends in disaster. I seem to have totally lost my way. Maybe I will just count carbs and forget the calories for a few days and see if that works. I’ve run out of other ideas.

Anyway, forget my doom and gloom, I hope you are all progressing well.

bigeater

At least you have realised that you were on a slippery slope. Tomorrow is another day and you will get back on the plan. Maybe you could chat to your friend about how you are feeling since they cake-blocked you.

Think about how far you have come and how well you have done……but if the anxiety and depression continue please see your GP.

Take care,

FFBB

Hi am amazed as despite yesterday i have lost 3 lbs since Monday 😊. Hope everyone is ok 👍

Weigh in for day 7 week 1
Lost 1.2 kg must admit I’m a bit disappointed, as my loss earlier in the week was 2 kg, I’m eating up to 1200 cals and eating averaging of 50-80 carbs, last time in this plan when I lost 3 st I stuck rigidly to 800/50 but at week 9 had enormous hair loss, so had to up my protein and vit c to counteract this, so have been reluctant this time to go so low in cals.
In view of how hard I work physically I’m amazed my loss isn’t more.
So I will do another week and then review, it’s funny last time my weight loss was very rapid 16 kg in 8 weeks, but now very slow, but a bit of a shock, but hey it is was it is.
So week ahead, make a weeks menu aim for 1000/50 and see how I go, will also start the exercises in the book, not that I don’t get enough exercise 🤣 But just to reinforce what I should be doing. Also continue with 10,000 steps a day.
So onwards and downwards 🤞

DAY 4 of 7

Yesterday went bottoms up for me. Started with all good intentions but ended with me enjoying, and I really did enjoy, some Australian Shiraz that I’ve not had for several months. I suppose it doesn’t harm now and again but now my last two days of ‘gay abandon’ have shown up on the scales this morning.

My tip for today is just to reiterate ….. eat mindfully and drink plenty of water. That’s mainly aimed at myself. I just need to get my head in the right place again and I will but my enthusiasm is not at its best just at the moment.

Hope you are all enjoying re-kindling the joy of BSD eating.

Hi all,
Ok day yesterday – kept to low carb and no snacking. I also spent several hours in the garden and as ours is about 1/2 acre and very steep, that made for a pretty good workout!
I also rediscovered alcohol-free beer 🍻🍻 – it doesn’t taste quite the same as the real thing but at 3g carbs and 24 cals in a bottle, it makes a good option on a hot afternoon.
If you haven’t read MM’s book ‘Clever Guts’, you should take a look – it’s like the final link in the chain – what I found really interesting is the way different people respond to different foods – some can eat chocolate with no really negative effects, others will get a massive sugar spike which will derail them, and this applies to a wide range of foods, even what we consider ‘healthy’ ones. Maybe this explains why we plateau, or have weight gain even when we have kept to the plan.
I used to do the 5:2, now I’m doing the BSD, and I am going to add in the Clever Guts advice – blimey – I might live forever 😉
SSB

life has been tough lately and i am depressed and anxious. not helping scales were up today and further not helping i consumed 3000 calories today. nearly went for cake but good friend talked me out of it. 3000 of bsd food. i really thought i had overcome the food as crutch syndrome but clearly not. i am hoping i will be in a better frame of mind tomorrow. old habits die hard it seems.

As I think is pretty plain from the various responses, it’s a case of different folk react in different ways – hardly surprising. I started the BSD in January and have kept to the general principles ever since – but I don’t find that the occasional lapse sees me feeling bloated, etc., as others have. I do lapse from time to time but the big, big difference is the amount of sugary things and other high carb things that I consume. Used to be that mid-morning snack was a Cappuccino and a couple of chocolate biscuits. Lunch (unless the weather was cold enough for soup and a roll) was a ham sandwich and either a cheese sandwich or cheese on Ryvita – the cheese was invariably Cheddar – and an apple. Nowadays the mid-morning snack is no more (although if feeling hungry I will have a small piece of Camembert) an lunch is a salad – oh, and porage for breakfast has been replaced by yoghurt and seeds/nuts, or occasionally a high protein breakfast – bacon, ham, egg, mushrooms (not all together!)
Overall, the diet has worked very well for me – weight down for 14-s (BMI 28 odd, forget the exact number) to 13-7 give or take a pound or two from day to day – BMI 24, and by blood sugar dropped from 75 in January to 40 this month.
So, overall, provided things are going in the right direction, don’t worry if your own experiences differ from those of others – we’re all different
Mike

I may be heading into new weight territory soon, after one day of the fasting mimicking diet and three days in total my weight is back down to 10 stone 8.6 pounds, which is only 0.4 pounds above the lowest weight I ever saw on my journey and 0.6 pounds above the lower limit of my self designated comfort zone. At 6.2 pounds in total, over the three days this must be water/glycogen obviously, and I will continue for the rest of the 5 days as I am doing this to explore health benefits, not specifically for weight loss. Slightly more tired than normal I think, I slept a little deeper than normal for the first three hours last night, but then woke up and slept lightly after that according to my tracker. Today is just a salad similar to yesterday, but bigger which I will split into two as that worked well yesterday. On the weekend my soup comes back and I may stir fry some of my vegetables for a change. So far still positive about the experience.

Wagons hitched, bandits and sirens slayed and I’m buzzing!

Funeral went as well as it could. Sad day but nice to see everyone. I got lots of compliments on the way I looked and questions on how i did it. I didn’t expand too much except to say low carb and that helped me stay on the straight and narrow food wise and I made it through the day on 933 cals.

I’ve also managed to lose my Ireland gain and some extra (3lbs + 1.6 loss) so I’m now 24lbs down from my start in May and not far away from being under 10 stone. Whoop!

Have a good day y’all!
L xx

Hi Linda, good to hear from you. The cruise was great, thoroughly enjoyed it but I don’t know that is choose it for a first ever cruise. 21 days is a long time, many sea days. That’s never been a problem before but this time (Princess cruise) there were not many ship activities organised which I found unusual and what there was seemed to cater for an older demographic. Ballroom dancing, string quartets and trivia. Also a first, the live bands played inside in the atrium instead of poolside which was disappointing.

I still had a great time, the friends I went with are smokers and there’s no doubt about it, you meet more people and more fun people in the smoking areas! In most public areas people tend to stay in their own groups but in the smoking areas they chat and you meet then frequently. They’re not all smokers you understand, often like me they are there with people who are. I’ve come home FB friends with several from US and UK and we are planning a Mediterranean cruise with some year after next.

This cruise was mainly couples and groups so not many cocktails with handsome dark mysterious men 😥

I had my fair share of cocktails without them though!

I adore cruising but for a first one I would go for a week or 10 days, with 7 or so ports that you’re interested in, and on another line! I found that Celebrity, Carnival and P&O have more things to do or watch if you don’t want to get involved and are more fun. Also a slightly younger and more varied passenger list.

We had Anytime dining and we’re willing to share a table so we met some great people at dinner which is always interesting.

About the ports- they were all fabulous apart from Xiamen in China and that was a combination of weather, 40degC and the ports being unaccustomed to receiving cruise ships so organisation wasn’t great. Loved Singapore,Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan; Vietnam was overwhelming, went to Ho Chi Min city and the crowds and traffic were terrifying! I’d love to go back on a land based holiday and see more of the country, maybe with Cambodia.

It was a fantastic holiday and a good mixture of relaxing and active. I’m very glad to have this week at home before I go back to work though. I don’t want to bore you but happy to tell you anything else you’d like to know.

I thought I’d put on 3kg but after 5 days, 2 of them have drifted away so all the walking and stairways I took must have stemmed the damage 😊

Now I’m back I’m looking for a dress to wear to my son’s wedding and that’s uphill work. It’s a Spring wedding 8 weeks away but all the formal dresses out now are dark and sombre winter ones. I’m tossing up leaving it a few weeks (anxiety in case I don’t find anything) or having one made from an Internet site. (But what if it doesn’t fit or is cheap& nasty! ) My mission today is to have another go around and if I don’t find anything I will bite the bullet and send off my measurements.

How are you going? Enjoying your summer I hope 🌞

1960SMO…..Ahh im so glad,it makes keeping track so easy! Good luck! 👍🏻🌸👍🏻🌸👍🏻🌸 xx

So good Mnm! I think that is so right!

Hi

Not a good day – can’t explain why just seemed to be looking to eat!!!!! Feel sad now but even more determined to stop now and get back on plan. Really helps being able to tell you of my awful day – thanks

Hope you doing ok 🙂

FFBB Lol…they ARE the bandits…they drive me to drink lol

Look at it this way Mary, your visitors proved a healthy distraction from the bandits. 🤠🤠🤠🐱‍👤🐱‍👤🐱‍👤

Don’t feel guilty sunshine-girl I need a good telling off now and again. Haven’t touched a digestive today. Weird thing is that when I was away and didn’t have any, although we could have taken a trip and got some, I didn’t miss them at all.

I think Mnm has it with ‘mentality’ being the key. I used to smoke but could go on a long haul flight and it never bothered me that I couldn’t. I eventually gave up 18 years ago with no difficulty because I made my mind up to stop. Now I just have to make up my mind to…
1. Stop snacking on rubbish.
2. Get back to healthy, varied BSD eating.
3. Practice what I preach.

So there it is in a nutshell. Now I just have to put it into practice.

FFBB, I wish I had your resolve. I started this week exercising, but daughters and grandchildren have got in the way. I am exhausted though so maybe that will help. I thought I was to have a ‘me’ day today…but my lovely girls and their lovely babies came around again…good job I love seeing them.

Stay strong.

Mary xxx

I have had the odd ice cream on holiday (orange and mascarpone, yum) and far too many slices of cake recently 😀 but for me the trick has been to keep mindfulness front and centre, so I absolutely enjoy what I eat, and then eat healthy low carb the rest of the time. Very occasionally I get the carb addict symptoms back again, but I recognise them when they appear now, and usually a fast day will reset my system. After my birthday at the end of June I probably overdid the eating and drinking and ended up out of my maintenance weight comfort zone, if only by a pound, so I have currently embarked on a reboot week of 800 calories again, with 16:8 intermittent fasting and for the last 5 days full fasting mimicking diet with low protein as well as low carb and all plant based, I have just (almost) completed the first fasting mimicking day so 3 days in and have lost 3.8 pounds so far and exactly back to my target weight. I will almost certainly have a bit more wiggle room after I finish which is good because I am off on holiday again. Never say never, but you will have to find your own way to make it work. I certainly am still eating a lot healthier and more carefully than I used to.

I’m not sure enjoy is the right word! But I’m certainly pleased with the loss, and it’s been so much easier than I expected. It’s felt like a lot longer than one week though.
It’s funny, we’re always being told to eat less salt yet with this, it’s more!

Day 20 in the BSD house.

Stuck to my WOE and have done my 4 sets of 16 reps strength exercises (arms and shoulders) I am starting to feel the exercises in my muscles but I know it will take weeks, if not months to see a change but what counts is that I am trying. 😇

Shame exercise increases my appetite 🤔 but I stayed strong! 💪

Hope you all stayed strong.

FFBB X

Thanks everyone for your advice. Really, I just want to be able to have the odd ice cream on holiday, or a piece of cake. I suppose I’ll see how I feel afterwards, I may go to the 5:2.
I’m not diabetic ,or pre-diabetic, I just want to lose weight and as I’m hypothyroid it’s always been difficult. As you’ve said though, by the end of 8 weeks I might not see them as treats! Thanks.

On plan so far for day one, and still not hungry really. Mentally in the ‘fasting zone’ really quite well and didn’t have the salad until 4 o’ clock, still have the soup to go. The only extra so far is two grapes! The salad tasted great, I must keep making such varied salads as they are far more satisfying than my more usual leaf based pre-prepared ones. Going for a walk now so I can split it into two meals and looking forward to more tomorrow.

To reassure you Mrs honey, I am a year on maintenance, still eating very low carb and all my cholesterol ratios are excellent — eating this way is the healthiest way — of course, because it has very few refined flours and other starchy carbs, low sugar and lots of veg/protein.
To return to old eating patterns like pasta, bread, potatoes, sweets etc. would put me right back on the yo-yo nightmare that was my previous life. It was a complete failure for me — the BSD has been a real eye opener — it is not how MUCH you eat, it is WHAT you eat. It took me a while to truly internalize that fact but now I can be friends with my body — before my body and I were in a daily pitched battle that never gave me any peace of mind.

Just thought I would share a link to a really good 45 minute work out for those of us who aren’t particularly active or go to the gym. Usually whenever I go walking I fall over – some of you might remember that earlier on in the year I fell over in Harrogate and sprained both ankles! I had surgery about twenty years ago to remove a Schawwnoma from my femoral nerve and this has left me with a weak left leg and a tendency to fall. . I was told at the time of my surgery that I would always have to walk with a walking stick but I I refused to do that! I am very nervous when out doing a brisk walk because of my history of falls but I have found the perfect solution- you tube walk at home videos and they’re brilliant. I’ve copied a link to the 45 minute walk but there are one mile, fifteen minute walks too. I think they’re great. Happy walking everyone- I am hoping this will boost my metabolism!

https://youtu.be/DYuw4f1c4xs

Yes. It’s known as the carb flu and is a very common symptom of cutting out the carbs from your diet. Some people never get it (I didn’t), most people experience it for a few days or a week, some have an extended bout lasting more than a week. Power through it, drink water constantly and add a little salt to your food if you don’t normally to keep your electrolytes up. Good luck!

Well done you 2 for sticking with it, Well done Ellen on your great loss!
I’ve had a dodgy couple of days but back on it now. Sugar again!
I found missing breakfast quite easy too Dolly and I will go back to doing that. I get more pleasue out of a decent evening meal than breakfast and the fasting for all that time is really good for you.

I’ve had quite extensive foot surgery so been off my feet a lot more than usual this past 12 weeks, but going to see the surgeon on Monday so hoping he’ll give me the all clear to exercise again. I’m a bit of an all or nothing person so I need to be backing the eating up with exercise.
Regarding the socialising I find drinking slimline tonis with ice and lemon a good bet, it feels as though I have a proper drink in my hand. I know the gin isn’t that many calories but I start to make silly food decisions if I have a drink.
Good luck with the weigh in xx

Yowzer
think I have managed to download it on my ipad now, thanks hun

Thanks for that Sunshine!!

Ive used aubergine in ‘lasagne’. I sliced them about 1cm thick, put on a baking sheet lightly sprinkled with olive oil and cooked them for about 10 mins ( I can’t remember exactly as was ages ago but they dried out a bit) then layered them between the meat sauce. Was pretty good substitute.

Mrs Honey, a lot of sense and good advice has already been spoken here and I agree with previous posts.

I have been on this WOE for 6 months now, 2 of those on maintenance having reached my goal in 2 successive rounds of BSD800. So I have relaxed my calorie / carb counting but, in all honesty, struggle to eat much in the way of refined carbs as they end up making me feel so bloated and uncomfortable, so now I don’t even see them as an occasional treat! However, I have reintroduced wine and now have a glass most days, more at weekends with no ill effect. 😜

So complete your 8 weeks, and have a good holiday. You may find that you may not actually want much in the way of carbs by then😜

SSB, so sorry to hear about your bad news, life has a habit of throwing curve balls at us to knock us off balance, but you seem to be coping admirably, and so glad you are feeling a little better today.

Lots of interesting challenges already posted, and I wish each and every one of you good luck in achieving your goals.

I didn’t join the last challenge as I was going to be away so much, but I’m up for this one. I am now in my 3rd month of maintenance, so my personal challenge is pretty boring, and that is to stay at or below my maintenance weight of 8st 7lbs (currently 8st 2lbs so have 5lbs wriggle room) But it will indeed be a challenge as today we decamp from the city to our summer home for 3 months and will have a succession of guests for more or less the entire time so there will be lots of food and wine involved, plus too many visits to the pub😝. But at least I’m in charge of catering (other than when we are dining out, which will be 3 or 4 times a week) so hopefully I will cope. Weather permitting, we always have lots of beach BBQs, fish straight from the sea onto the BBQ in 10 mins flat, so at least that is BSD friendly, and very tasty too. I will try to avoid all the rolls and buns that are always available to accompany sausages and burgers! Wish me luck!!

Oh V I feel so guilty now, certainly not smacking your hands, just keep them away from the digestives. You can slap me around at the weekend when I cant resist a glass or two of wine. 🙂