Hi lovely ladies
Welcome Kitty
This is a great group and glad you have joined us
I an in Tuscany and its absolute heaven.
Had a bad few weeks mum in and out of hospital after falling over cutting her head etc etc.
Until the very last minute i was not sure that i was going to get here.
The diet went out of the window. The bad news is that the goal of a nine pound weight loss for my holiday didn’t happen. The good news is that Mum is on the mend and I have not put any weight on!
Being in the land of pasta, bruschetta and prosecco is going to be a challenge. Pasta and bruschetta I can manage but the prosecco will be or more accurately is more challenging.
The good thing is I share a bottle with our friends and then play cards with the godchildren. They are ensuring I work off excess calories in the pool.
Let you know how I got on!

Hope the week goes well for you

Ciao babies.
Blissfully yours
Mad mare

Hi everyone,
Just got back from my walk, it took an hour and I look like I’ve just completed a marathon!
I used to walk a lot but this is the 1 st time I’ve walked being this over weight( approx 4 stone overweight)
Oh my goodness I’m in pain!,
My addictions are definitely alcohol and carbs. So with BSD it’s going to be like going cold turkey 😎Also in an attempt to reduce hot flushes I’m cutting out caffeine…. I’m either brave or stupid!!
Onwards and upwards… I hope you’ all have a good day 🐱

Interesting article Marsie given my body weight to water ratio I’m highly unlikely to drink too much!! I struggle to drink 1.5 litres of water a day and I only have maybe 3 or 4 hot drinks.

I made my Asian salmon last night but I think I may whizz all the ingredients together next time and then use the sauce as a marinade for about 15/20 minutes. It was very nice but I think the flavour may be enhanced with a marinade.

I have ordered cheesecloth from Amazon and hope it will be here later this week. SunnyB how much yogurt do you use to make the cheese? Really looking forward to making it.

I think I may try and get some Kimchi from one of the Chinese supermarkets just to try it out and then I’ll decide whether or not fermented vegetables are for me.

Hope you all have a good week.

Forum is playing up. Apologies if this is a double post.

So, I’ve finished week 6 and I’ve lost another 5lbs. I’m hoping to get down to 16st 8lbs by the end of the 8 weeks for a round 3 stone loss, but in reality, whatever weight I finish at, completing the 8 weeks will be the real achievement.

The diet has gotten easier as time has passed. Last week I managed several trips to the gym, as well as a couple of full days decorating the house. On one day, due to it taking longer than I thought, I didn’t eat dinner until gone 11pm. I was hungry, but not desperate to eat, like I was early on in the diet. The only difficult day was Saturday. I went to my friends’ housewarming / childs 1st birthday party. As a single man, frankly I am slightly traumatised by the amount of chaos (and especially noise) that a house full of toddlers can create. It took a lot of willpower to just stick to water and not to indulge in the free drinks, snacks and cakes on offer, but I managed it and left with only a bit of a hunger and mild PTSD.

While the initial phase of the diet has gotten easier, I’m looking forward to increasing my calories in a healthy and sustainable way when it is over. Ideally, it’ll take ~4-6 weeks to transition to a sustainable diet where I’m losing about 7lbs a month. I’m aiming to get down to my final goal of 12st 7lbs by my birthday in April.

Thanks for all the advice and support. I’m looking forward to seeing your replies.

6 weeks down, 2 to go. Starting weight 19st 8lbs, current weight 17st 1lbs.

Thanks Jan. I know if I go back to eating carbs my diabetes could run riot. At the moment my medication has been reduced by 50% and my aim is to come off medication completely. I have an HbA1c test in just over 3 weeks so I need to keep going at least until then but in reality for the rest of my life!!! Hope you are back into the swing of things now.

So, I’ve finished week 6 and I’ve lost another 5lbs. I’m hoping to get down to 16st 8lbs by the end of the 8 weeks for a round 3 stone loss, but in reality, whatever weight I finish at, completing the 8 weeks will be the real achievement.

The diet has gotten easier as time has passed. Last week I managed several trips to the gym, as well as a couple of full days decorating the house. On one day, due to it taking longer than I thought, I didn’t eat dinner until gone 11pm. I was hungry, but not desperate to eat, like I was early on in the diet. The only difficult day was Saturday. I went to my friends’ housewarming / childs 1st birthday party. As a single man, frankly I am slightly traumatised by the amount of chaos (and especially noise) that a house full of toddlers can create. It took a lot of willpower to just stick to water and not to indulge in the free drinks, snacks and cakes on offer, but I managed it and left with only a bit of a hunger and mild PTSD.

While the initial phase of the diet has gotten easier, I’m looking forward to increasing my calories in a healthy and sustainable way when it is over. Ideally, it’ll take ~4-6 weeks to transition to a sustainable diet where I’m losing about 7lbs a month. I’m aiming to get down to my final goal of 12st 7lbs by my birthday in April.

Thanks for all the advice and support. I’m looking forward to seeing your replies.

6 weeks down, 2 to go. Starting weight 19st 8lbs, current weight 17st 1lbs.

Hi Kitty. FFBB, Leelee and all the jolly warriors in this forum.

My addition is to carbs, specifically bread. For various reasons life has got quite frantic and I was down to the final couple of slices of my home made sourdough bread. I was unable to make a new loaf (one of those various reasons) and once the slices were gone I became very anxious that I had no bread! I’m proud of myself for not buying bread since I learned to make my own last October, but it wasn’t that that made me anxious. It was being without my carb comfort food; my go to thing.

Who’d a thunk that bread would have such an effect! Thinking about it I wondered if it was also linked with it being the ‘staff of life’.

Whatever, at least I can limit how much I have I a day. And will now start trying to go one day a week without, increase to two etc.

On other matters, my shoulders have lost weight! My man size polo shirts now look too big on my shoulders.

Forgot to weigh myself this morning, will do so tomorrow.

Onwards and downwards my fellow travellers.

Thank heaven for great people like you loversghost – we just have to keep spreading the word. I work in a school and I know so many staff who are forever on diets and failing because they keep to the low-fat/high-carb advice. I have managed to convert a few who have been delighted with the results but others cannot let go of the ‘low-fat’ mantra.
Keep up the good work!
SSB

Keep at it! I am at the start of week 4 and though I seemed to lose very little in weeks 2 and 3 I am down 12lbs at the end of 4wks. Not everyone has huge losses – but if you stick at it, you will get results. Also, the scales are not always the best way of gauging weight loss – do your clothes fit better? Are your measurements less? If so, then you are losing fat – which is the main thing.

Hi,
Well I’m an NHS practice nurse who also does clinics for people with diabetes and I am trying valiantly to give people the correct advice (which I don’t believe is as NHS Choices would have you believe above). Diabetes UK are finally (sort of) getting on board with the issue of carbs, but so many people I see are still eating breakfasts of orange juice, porridge and wholewheat bread because they think it’s ‘healthy’ and wondering why their diabetes control isn’t great. I also practice what I preach because my brother has type 2 and had a gastric bypass last year because his weight and control had got to such a poor state. I am NOT going there, and anyhow, I LIKE this way of eating. It fits into normal life with a few adjustments (when eating out, say). I don’t tell anyone I am on a ‘diet’ (because I’m not) and I have found ways to substitute other things for carbs and it works fine. I will keep trying! 🙂

Dear Dr Mosley and all BSDers,
How depressing is this advice from the NHS on eating ‘healthily’?
‘Have a balanced diet – this is eating a variety of food from the five main groups of fruit and vegetables, carbohydrates such as pasta and potatoes, protein like pulses, fish, eggs and meat, dairy such as milk and yoghurt and fats
Have a healthy breakfast every day to avoid snacking on high fat and sugar foods
Get at least your five-a-day of fruit and vegetables
Get fibre from wholegrain foods and nuts
Make carbs just over a third of the food you eat. Carbohydrates, including bread, potatoes, rice, pasta and oats, are an important source of energy
Have protein every day which can include fish, eggs and pulses
Eat two portions of fish a week, only one should be oily fish like salmon or mackerel
For dairy – try and choose low-fat options of milk, yoghurt and hard cheese
Limit food and drinks high in fat and sugar like fizzy drinks and biscuits
Choose healthy snacks such as salad vegetables, hummus, and vegetable soup
Source: NHS Choices’

That seems a recipe to condemn so many people to a life of over-weight and ill-health while they feel a complete failure because they are desperately trying to do the ‘right’ thing.
It makes me so angry that the powers that be refuse to look at current science and stick to out-dated, and completely wrong, advice.
I think it has to be up to us BSDers to keep spreading the word.
Sorry – rant over…

SSB

Good morning!
I’m just getting up and have decided to go for a walk round the village. I think it’s maybe a couple of miles so that’s a good start! I will plan my meals later on and go shopping . Have a good day everyone
Love Kitty 🐱

How is everyone doing? I didn’t lose that much in my second week, only 1 pounds, so a bit disappointing and it looks like this week will be the same.

happy Monday everyone!…and welcome Kitty! as Lee and Mary say…this is a great, supportive group and keeping us accountable

Well a pretty dismal weekend to report on BSD…..Saturday night I bought corn chips for the boys…and ate a whole bowlful!!
then yesterday couldn’t resist the sourdough baguettes….would have still been OK if I didn’t then resort to the wine last night as well

confessional over and back on track today though a little hungrier post poor weekend choices

RE weight, I’ve been treading water (I think, as the scales are now buried somewhere in the loungeroom along with the whole contents of our kitchen and dining room) due to slip ups, but don’t think I’ve regained any of the original 5kg loss, so lucky considering!

Went for a good 1.5 hour walk this am (Liz, if you’re still up for reading this, I always think of you striding out with your walking poles!)
Walk was an attempt to regain a little sanity as the renos are driving me more than a little batty (I keep reminding myself that it’s a first world problem!)

wishing you all a great week and for those of you that can access the scales :)…good losses!

L, it sounds like you’ve got it Sussed xxx you’ve done really well
I’m really looking forward to starting this.
kitty xxx

Sounds yum! I am posting from the pub where I have had two sparkling waters and a compliment.

Nonna Mary, wise words indeed xxx I’m all geared up to start tomorrow, thanks xxx

Hi kitty 🐱

I started on 22nd May at 167 pounds (11stone 9) and ended the first 8 weeks at 145lbs (10 stone 3) I’m now in a normal weight range for my height and that’s a game changer for me. And my wardrobe 👗👠

I drank once during that time during a trip back to Galway to see family at the start of this month and found that I really didn’t enjoy it or the way it upset my stomach the next day. I won’t say that I will never drink again but if I do it’s likely to be on an Ireland trip. We are quite a drinking family….

I feel so much better living this way, I can’t ever imagine going back to the way I was.

L xxx

Kitty, I used to drink one to two bottles of wine a night….now nothing. I read the inspirational posts by Liz and knew I could do it. I have to say I am still amazed. I know I cannot say no to more than one, so it is better for me to abstain completely.
This Tuesday will be the beginning of my 5th week. I was 18st 4 pounds when I started and lost 6 pounds in the first week. Then stalled. I have a few health conditions that hinder my progress but I am confident I will have lost some this week.
I have to try not to measure my success by others. Some people will lose loads and others very little. I walk my own path and when I am down, my fellow BSDers lift me.
You can do this. Good luck.

Nonna Mary
xxx

Hi L and Nonna Mary
thank you so much, my motivation is growing stronger by the minute ! How long have you both been following BSD? How much have you lost? Have you both quit the booze or cut down drastically?
Kitty 🐱

May try the livelife seeded bread I’ve just read about on the forum. Be ideal for work lunches with baked beans. What do people think ? Will I get away with eating this ?

Hi Kitty

Another brace post inspired by our guru Liz I’m sure….

We all have addictions of some kind on here. For a while before I started this, I wanted a drink every day but never at weekends or on holiday, so it would seem that work was my trigger. Giving it up was the best thing I ever did. I genuinely haven’t missed it, nowhere near as much as bread anyhow!

You have a very good reason to cut down. It may even make those menopause symptoms easier to bear. When I stopped, I slept so much better and that made my very stressful job much easier to cope with. It’s been a win win for me. My dad is poorly too but I used it as motivation to get as healthy as I could in order to be of some use to him.

You will find everyone on here totally non judgmental and sooo supportive. We will hold your hand as ours have been held.

Give it a go, you may just find a new you at the end of the path….

L xxx

Thanks Nonna Mary,
Getting the support from people who know what it’s like will help so much.
I’ve drank far too much for far too long, and I love tea so maybe this time …. fingers crossed xxx

Hiya Kitty,
You have to be honest with yourself. Our Liz would say, what has alcohol ever done for you? All it has done for me is make me fat, I don’t really get hangovers, but I feel crappy, get depressed, need more food, eat while drinking etc. So I know it has done me no favours. If you are able to restrict your intake, then do that. Or just take one day at a time. I told myself I could have a drink on Saturday…I never thought I would make it from Tuesday! I got to Saturday and thought, I will have one on Tuesday, still didn’t. I am not going to say I feel totally changed and wonderful…but I do feel better and really really proud of myself.
If you feel like a drink, paint your nails, or have a shower, or if you like it, knit or sew. I sew and it relaxes me. Although if you heard my language when I go wrong you wouldn’t think it.
I am sorry you are going through the menopause, it’s shitty. You could try HRT? I am sorry your dad has problems too, be careful not to use that as an excuse.
This is not your last shot either. You are only 52…that is really young! Give it a go and we will support you. If you fall down, we will pick you up again. You are not on your own. We have all been there.
We all drink tea (virtually of course) with our Liz in Toronto, and we give the best hugs too!
Lecture over,
Take care,

Nonna Mary xxx

Hi everyone, I’ve been reading through this thread and to be honest most of the alcohol related ones could have been written by me🙁
I’m 52, 5′ nothing, and drink everyday. I’m going through the menopause and I’m suffering with hot flushes, lethargy etc.
My dad is T2 and has had a leg amputation . He has dialysis 3 times a week and it’s sadly looking very likely he will lose his other leg shortly.
So early it’s a no brainer…quit the booze and carbs and shift the belly!!! BUT I’ve tried and failed so many times, this really has to be my last shot. Any advice for me?

Aww Lee,
How lovely of your dad. 852 is good I think. Glad your back is a little better, perhaps wearing the heels made you more aware of your posture? I wore 1 and half in heels the other day and crippled myself. Definitely need to lose weight before I try that again!
Keep on keeping on.

Love
Nonna Mary
xxx

Wow! Go you StJames.

That shows incredible determination and resolve. You must be so proud!

I’m starting my second cycle tomorrow. I lost 22lbs in the first cycle and I’m now officially a “normal” weight 😊 So I’m happy with that.

I’ve slept better and definitely had more energy most of the time. Had a very lazy day today though 😈

My goal for the second 8 weeks is 10lbs. That would get me below 10 stone. I started at 11 stone 9lbs and I’m now 10 stone 3lbs. I think the 10lbs is realistic in 8 weeks but we shall see. Have spent a fortune on some new work clothes. I was beginning to look like a bag lady and nowt wrong with celebrating my new shape either….👗👠

Would love to hear how others have done too.

L xxx

Ended up with a protein bar and a coffee.

My dad (recently diagnosed with heart failure) wanted a chat. He then gave me my mothers engagement and wedding rings (she died when I was 15)

Didn’t feel like cooking 🍳 after that. Lazy I know but still only puts me at 852 for the day.

Strange day xx

Thanks for that I will try it.

You could do “overnight” oats – which I make early morning to eat at lunchtime – but you could do just before bed.

13g oats, milk (or as I do Greek yoghurt) and then whatever you like. I use a few grams of chia seeds, 80g frozen berries, sprinkle of cinnamon, about 1/2 a grated apple and occasionally a couple of chopped nuts. It is a bit carby but as I don’t eat breakfast, or snack and have this for lunch it’s not too bad.

Happy Monday!! starting weight for the week is 125.75. Yes I have been procrastinating!! Time to stop and get my act together. Nearly a year since I first started. I know what I have to do, so have my salad ready to go in the fridge, even if it is the middle of winter here in NZ!! So look out – here we go!!
Onwards and downwards!!
KJ

I do hope so Mary, everyone else seems to thrive on this diet. All I can say is I cope with it and I can manage it.

Thank Lee, I too am on about 850 cals per day. Hope you enjoy the poached egg.

FFBB X

Ok thanks, suppose if I added some nuts it may feel like muesli !! There is a banana pancake recipe on the recipe section, a mashed banana and 2 eggs made into a pancake. I may give that a go.
I’ve just read the book and cut out as many carbs as I can. Not strictly counting calories yet but being very careful.
I agree with the lengthy fast, I usually try to do 14 hours.

Oh and I don’t eat before 10.30 or after 6.30

No I actually just had it cold together. Eggs don’t work for me for breakfast either – I do best with full fat yoghurt and a little fruit. Seems to keep me full longer. I’m hoping to post my menu every Sunday night. Bit scared about the next week – two picnics and a 2 night camping trip. I’ve started planning on MFP already!

Hi, I liked your daily menu, very useful. Can I just ask , the oats and milk was this porridge ? I’m not a massive egg fan and am looking for alternative but filling breakfasts.

So meals this week have been as follows:

Mon – 864
B – oats and milk, orange
L – tuna mayo salad, banana
S – chicken, bacon & butterbean stew

Tue – 885
B – orange
L – tuna mayo salad
S – chicken, bacon & butterbean stew

Wed – 756
B – apple
L – chicken
S – saus casserole, brown rice & quinoa

Thu – 840
B – banana
L – tuna salad
S – bacon, mushroom, brown rice and quinoa risotto

Fri – 946
B – banana, apple
L – tuna salad, hard boiled egg, 2 squares dark choc
S – smoky bbq chicken slimming world ready meal

Sat – 800
B – Greek yoghurt and apple
L – John dory fillets and salad
S – beef and onion stew slimming world ready meal

Sun – 776
B – Greek yoghurt and apple
L – chicken salad
S – ham, cheese and 12 grapes

Snacks have been almonds and hot blackcurrant squash (sugar free) in the evening if I’m craving food.

I have averaged 838 cals a day.

And yes I unashamedly have the occasional small banana when I need it. I have now reached the point where I do not feel hungry between meals and have heaps of energy. But I feel so much better than when I reached this point doing CWP. I’m not feeling the cold in the same way, I don’t have any nausea and I’ve managed to avoid headaches.

Test of will tonight – off to the pub for a quiz. Luckily my team are all lovely supportive people so should make it easier. And I feel so good I have no desire to go off plan – exactly as Theodora said!

Hello all!

So, after my small gain I’m refocusing. Have spent much of today planning my menus for the week but with the best will in the world I appear to be hitting 850 cals. Hopefully that will be enough! Typically I shall be “starting” again on Monday morning but have been sticking to principles over this weekend.

Back has seemed better this weekend. Weirdly I wore high heels all day at work on Friday and it seemed to help. Sadly it meant I was fit enough to hoover and clean the bathroom and toilet today. Such a rock and roll weekend!!

Now, had the new hovis low carb bread yesterday in a cheese toasty and it was bliss! It comes in at 85 cals per slice and 9g of carbs. It’s quite a small loaf which helps and I think I will have it weekly. I’ve missed my poached egg on toast, which I will be having tonight with a smile on my face!

Well done FFBB for resisting the post work tipple. That’s always been a trigger for me when I’ve had a stressful day. It still whistles sometimes but so far I have been able to power through…

Hunger pangs got the better of me last night though and I had a granola bar. I really appreciated it and have no regrets but hoping work will help me power through the hunger. It took me 3 weeks last time to get rid of them, so I’m not looking forward to August!

Have a good week all xx

Started eating my supper and didn’t fancy it at all. So didn’t eat it and had something else that I actually enjoyed instead. Bit of a revelation that.

I second Theodora, with a stock cube dissolved in a mug of hot water as my go to remedy.

Other options are magnesium (and calcium? or zinc?) tablets, electrolyte, or if all else fails, my Mum’s remedy: tonic water.

It looks like we are the only two on here at the moment FFBB. Well done for resisting temptation. I know what you mean, I don’t have loads of energy etc. Perhaps it will come later.

Sending you hugs

Nonna Mary
xxxx

Hi Marsie

I’ve posted on ‘Serious 800’. I’m not doing this challenge because it’s half way through almost and my head’s been all over the place. Also I think I need to just concentrate on a couple of threads otherwise I get lost! I do read other thread and comment occasionally but don’t really participate.

Glad you’re writing a plan too. I have found it has helped me concentrate my mind so thank you!

Day 29 in the BSD house.

I was so tempted to buy alcohol after work…but I didn’t.

I feel better than I did yesterday, the book and shower relaxed me last night.

Gonna follow suit tonight as well because work was really annoying and I am a bit wound up.

Still struggling with my appetite and wish I could experience the energy highs that others on this WOE experience but at least my overall mood is level (no emotional highs or lows……normally).

FFBB X

Well as I said, you can use any mince, as long as you account for the calories, so yes, the lean mince should work fine. If you want to reduce the calories further, you could use extra lean beef mince or even turkey mince.

Think once you get down to goal weight, it’s a case of trial and error, to see how your body hands the increases. I have found in periods of maintenance along the way, that I can keep reasonable control, as long as I stick to the principles of the BSD and largely avoid the bad carbs. I admit though, that small increases in weight occurred and that I haven’t actually don’t a proper period of maintenance at goal weight yet, so can’t say for sure how things would work long term. I am close to goal and so hopefully will be in a position soon, to find out how things work longer term.

There are lots of people on the forum who are in maintenance, so have a check around and see if you can glean a better answer from one of them. Try using the search box in the top right corner of the page, to look for specific topics.

Good luck Claire.

Thanks sunnyB.

Should read…But what mince can i use. I suppose i could use the lean mince then.
Thanks for your advice.
Do you know how many calories you take once down to your goal weight,?

Thanks
Claire

Hey Claire12345 – welcome to the forum and well done on that loss in just four days. Was a little confused by the question, by basically, you can use whatever mince you like, as long as you account for the calories in your daily allowance. The leaner the mince, the lower the calories will be, but remember that fat is no longer the baddy, so there is no need to go to the expense of extra lean mince.

Keep up the good work and keep posting your results and questions.

Hi All,

So far so good, after weighing myself, i have lost 6lbs!
I made Bolognese with Quorn mince, bit what mince do i use? Ordinary, lean or extra lean?

My tummy is shrinking & don’t feel as bloated. I did have a glass of wine & Chocolate on Saturday as a treat day.

How is everyone else getting on?

Claire

Oh my god lunch was fab (big fat show off alert). I did chicken and green beans on a big plate of salad. Chicken was marinated in olive oil, soy sauce, ginger, sesame seeds and honey. Came in at 271 calories. Will definitely be saving that recipe.

Verano, good on you for setting out your plan (this thread? another thread?)… thinking … thinking … why am I wise only for others? So, I’m doing my own plan – writing it out and reading it aloud (that somehow makes it more real for me). Will share when I’ve revised and am happy with it.

Happy Sunday
DTNMore Bril work on the weight loss, and yes I have felt very lethargic the last three days also, okay today, but as I have been munching a few of the monster things, you know shhhh carbs, I am now craving them like crazy, although not really hungry. But been for a nice long 40 min walk around the village, so getting back on it.

Hi verano lovey, you deserve to get to target, just for the fact of your dogged persistence, keep at it everything comes to those that wait.

Hughsey well done coping with the migraine and keeping a loss going for the week. The migraines I used to have also made me eat carbs and sweet things, but keep at it soon we won’t look to carbs for comfort. Well that’s what I’m wishing for 💃💃💃
Just enjoyed some lovely sausages, because its sausage Sunday hehe
Hope we all have an excellent week 🙋🙋🙋jan