Cyster- I am hanging on in there but beginning to feel my resolve waning a little! Have been here before getting disheartened about plateaus etc. It’s been a slow journey since January and I am getting impatient to get to the finish line. I will take your advice about lowering the carb count and seeing if that makes a difference.

I wonder if I have become a little complacent about my food choices and perhaps haven’t been calculating the fat/calories etc accurately enough. I do drink a lot of water as I know how important that is. I am going to try a week without fasting and then a week of intermittent alternate day fasting. I also think I need to seriously miss things up a bit dietary wise. It’s difficult being a vegetarian to have a big repertoire of recipes but I think it will help stem off some of the boredom. I am a fighter and I am determined to see my BMI get down to 25 this year. I think part of the problem is that I wanted to achieve my goal by September. Maybe I should just go with the flow and it will happen when it happens and that might make the rest of this journey more enjoyable.

Lyn g- thank you for your kind words.

Dreamscometrue- we are neck and neck in our journey. Thank you for some inspiring tips regarding fasting. Won’t it be fantastic to be 9.7 stone!

Thank you everyone for your support. The January starters are so lovely. Keep going everyone- we can do this and we can inspire each other to achieve our goal.

Am hanging on in there – I want this too much! Today I weighed in at 142.2 so it is doubtful that I will report a loss tomorrow. I was 142.0 last Tuesday. I used to struggle to lose about 1lb per week but now I am only losing 1lb every fortnight on average! Today I’ve eaten Greek yoghurt with a passion fruit for breakfast. For lunch I ate two mini babybel cheeses and some walnuts and a few strawberries. This evening I have had salad leaves with hummus and two falafel. I have had about 6 pints of water today so far. This journey seems to have become really difficult for me over the last month. Thank you for the suggestions to help boost things along- I do want to achieve my goal of a BMI of 25 but at the moment I don’t know if I have the resolve! The effort to reward ratio isn’t great at the moment. There are a few of us struggling at the moment – but like the title says keep on going!!!!! Good luck tomorrow everyone!

Mary, it is inches that count as well as weight. I have lost 2 inches off my jelly belly in 3 weeks so do not get disheartened if you don’t show a loss on the scales. Out of interest how do you record what you eat? I have crossed my fingers and toes but not my eyes for you.

On the topic of low carb bread I would want to know the ingredients and how it is made. I have this issue with vegan cakes. Call me old school but a basic sponge is a simple 6 oz of s/r flour, caster sugar and unsalted butter + 3 eggs (if I am being technical I weigh the eggs in the shell and match that weight with each ingredient) you don’t even need baking powder. It is a shame I am off cake because I make the best buns/shortbread EVER! And my mum is the queen of cakes. We don’t ponce around decorating them….it is the taste that counts. FYI my liqueur chocolates are to die for……..4 will take you over the legal driving limit!

Hi Jan – you’ll be happy to know I’m up to 7501 steps I got a right shock yesterday with 1879. Made myself move my lazy butt. I normally do eat when I’m happy, sad, angry, blah blah blah…… but all that needs to stop. I tell myself food is nutrients to keep body healthy and my body is not a dustbin – haha – hope this lasts – I know what I’m like. Hot in Scotland too – lemon watwr is great – I grate some ginger into it too – supposed to thin the blood lowering the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Plus I do actually love ginger – I even chopped some up into tiny pieces for my salad today – nice. Good luck with whoosh tomorrow.
Not sure if I should weigh myself weekly or daily. Daily , you do get minor increases depending on how many carbs and salt i’ve had – weekly tends to make me take my eye off the ball. Decisions decisions!

Theodora – you’re definitely living the dream – woo hoo! You go girl! Can I ask how much weight you lost – it’s ok if you don’t want to say. I have put all my stats on my profile page if you are interested. Good to know where everybody is coming from and where they end up.

Welcome to the forum 0053, you have come to the right place! If you have any questions or concerns just ask, someone will be able to answer. Do you have a final target weight yet or do you want to go with smaller targets? I can recommend the latter, it is always nice to have something to celebrate whether scales, measurement or just life victories. I suggest you have a look at the various mini-goals threads using the search box to get some ideas.

Hi SG — yes, I was responding to July 17 article referenced by MitalG — I read the article and don’t think it is good advice given the parameters of BSD so suggesting people take the advice to sleep more, but not the rest of it😀

Hello all. I started a week ago after at 52 thinking, I need to do something now or perhaps I never will. I started a week ago at 23 stone 5lb. If I’m honest it wasn’t an easy week, although I guess you can’t go from eating whatever you pleased at goodness knows how many calories to something between 800-1000. However, as difficult as it was, I did not falter and stuck to it religiously, including having 3-4 litres of water a day.
I am amazed that firstly I did it, albeit my slim and sporty wife has been incredibly supportive and for that I am totally grateful, but also that I clocked off the week at 22stone 4lbs, a very pleasing 1stone and 1 pound loss. I know that this week won’t be anything like that, but it has certainly made the headaches very worthwhile.
So, I have a considerable way to go, but will aim to do it a day at a time. Thanks for your stories on here, they are very inspiring. And thanks for reading, if you got this far 🙂

I usually went a few calories above the 800, just to get good general nutrition, getting as close as I could to the reduced calorie optimum nutrition model within 800-850 calories a day. I just didn’t like the idea of being below that, although when I started doing 5:2 I did stick to the 500 calories, I felt much better on the 800.

Hiya all,

EC, sounds like you are in a state of upheaval….congrats for being strong and sticking to this WOE.
FFBB…again well done for being in control.
Lee you will have to let us know how that bread is, taste, looks and toastability!
My weigh in day tomorrow and apart from one slip up, I have adhered faithfully to my 800 and low carbs (no potatoes, bread, rice etc) if I haven’t lost any weight I may just cry or get angry. If I get angry I will use it up by cleaning the house…so it’s a sort of win, win situation.
So fingers crossed for tomorrow and I will let you know.
Love Mary xxxx

Hi topcac, I am up nearer 2100 calories on average to stand still and I am not that energetic, with a very sedentary job during the weekdays. If you build up muscle to burn it and increase your calories slowly you may find you can eat more than you think and not increase your weight.

David, I continued playing badminton right through my fasting period, in the early days I would hit a ‘wall’ where my legs would just stop working, but after a few weeks I found I could even do two back to back hour long sessions again. Just keep an eye on your carbs, and when your glycogen is depleted and your body converts to burning fat it will get a lot easier. The fitness will come, and I certainly found that heaving my (former) bulk around was very helpful in building muscle 😀

Sorry to read of your woes, Pod (or should I say Heyho?). I suggest being easy on yourself today and picking the reigns up again tomorrow – hopefully with a new mind set. Strange isn’t it, that quite a few of us are struggling at the moment, but we need to try to refocus and get back to basics. Every single one of us KNOW we CAN do this, so need to find a way of applying ourselves to the task.

Hope we will all be able to report something positive tomorrow, even if it doesn’t include an actual loss.

dnmore, thanks for the welcome. I have posted on loads of threads, but apparently not this one before. Well done on increasing your steps too.

Geenjanet, enjoy your whoosh day.

Krysia, what a lovely compliment to receive so unexpectedly from your husband of 48 years. A similar thing happened to me today. I bought a beautiful Mint Velvet nubuck leather fitted biker jacket, size 8, online and it arrived today. I tried it on, and asked my o/h if he thought it was a little on the small side. His reply………….. “No way, you’ve got a fantastic figure now, be proud to show it off!” 😊 We too have been married for 48 years😋

Not doing great today either! Typical sabotaging. Just eaten 60g of cheese, for comfort!
Not comforting my self-esteem though
In the pits, been there a lot lately. heyho, I can always skip dinner.
I like using the phrase”heyho”. There was a lady cricketer called Heyhoe, second name, I’ve often wanted to change my name to heyho!!

SNAP! S-g up until this morning I had gained consistently but have dropped a little so now just 2.4lbs up on last week. I know that’s not a great deal of help to you but maybe we need to either weigh less often or just accept that in hot weather weight fluctuates much more because of fluid retention or dehydration or whatever.

Sorry I’ve not been posting much but have made a conscious decision to stop ‘overthinking’ which California girl suggested was happening.

I’ve not had time to catch up on all the other posts just noticed this ‘cry for help’ from you s-g. Wish I could be of more help.

Will weigh-in tomorrow and try to catch up on the posts but for those struggling …. hang in there… and for those doing well …. great !

Day 23 in the BSD house.

I have had a lovely lunch out, it was on plan but not within my 800 calories (or within my 50 g net carbs).

I had a lovely Ploughman’s but I didn’t eat the pastry from the Gala pie nor the meat from the scotch egg (looked unappealing) but don’t know how to alter the item to adjust for no pastry (pie) so I just guesstimated the size of the meat without the pastry and just added the boiled egg. Didn’t have a glass of wine or dessert and my daily average for July stands at just under 900 calories…. and do you know what? I am totally happy with that.

Under 1000 daily average calories is OK with me, it means that I can have an unplanned lunch out and manage my weight loss at the same time.

I am still sleeping well and my energy levels are up today, but then I have had a bigger lunch.

Did my 6 reps of 16 arm exercises as well.

Like I have previously said, life has to be liveable!

FFBB X

Hi caz1973, I too am starting week 3. Did have a go at this earlier in the year but only cut out the white carbs rather than measuring it all properly. So lost weight very slowly. I do stick to 800, but like you it’s sometimes less. (It was also more at the weekend as I succumbed to wine.) I was still under my carbs of 30-50 grams. My loss is 9lb. 7 week one and 2 week to. Like you I am not hungry, and feeling energised.

Hi dumnmore
Hehe I so know that everything going well today feeling, enjoy, and don’t do what I do, eat because I’m happy 😱But yep I’m having a good day also, well done on the steps, I find it’s a good avoidance of food. I’m having a whoosh day, so I’m sure that will make the scales,look even better tomorrow, well here’s hoping.🤗But phew its hot here, getting through loads of fizzy water. With fresh 🍋
🙋🙋🙋

The article on sleep was interesting because I really do believe that sleep is important. Not quite sure how drinking sugar cane juice is fine for people with diabetes. I think the author states that sugar and carbs do not cause diabetes which in my case very sadly they definitely did.

Mike – great news on your numbers. You have done so well. Good luck with your GP appointment.

Feel your pain and frustration sunshine-girl. My guess would be water retention, so your ‘time of the month’ theory is probably the correct one. Keep the hydration up and with luck it will shift almost as quickly as it appeared. I know it’s tough trying to stay positive when these anomalies happen – been through that myself in the last couple of days – but try not to let it get to you too much. Stick with the plan and it’ll come right in the end.

Hope the scales are kinder tomorrow – best of luck.

I have a phone chat with my GP booked for Wednesday to explore the possibilities for drug reduction. I will report his recommendations
Mike

BTW: I think that Californiagirl was responding to the link posted by MittalG about sleep stuff not the stuff in the first post

I seriously need your support today, stuck to plan and did 60 minutes in the pool yesterday. Today I have gained 2.5lbs. Will see if it shifts tomorrow for official end of week 6 weigh in. Hubby said I am gaining muscle but that is not true. One thing it could be is, even though I dont have periods, around mid month I still get the bloating and sore boobs, maybe it is that time. See you all tomorrow. By the way, it is not a gain this week, it is a gain since yesterday.

Hi Dolly,

Me too!! Managed to stay of the crisps, really chuffed with myself.
I did have 2 glases of red wine, but was very careful.

I have not weighed myself, will do at end of week , I am back on the 800 today, but sometimes do go over.

Hope we all haev a good week :O)

I dont get your point Californiagirl, what article are you talking about. I read it as a post of someone who does the BSD to lose weight and get control of BG and found that other things improved. I think a lot of us have seen that affect.

This article is sort of the antithesis of the BSD — if you follow this nutritional advice, it will undo all the good the BSD is doing. Sleep is good, but the rest of their advice is not in line with BSD recommendations and indeed, might be actually harmful to a diabetic.

Had a good week, (minus the ryvitas!) and have lost 3 lbs, so I’m chuffed to bits with that! I’ve started fasting during the period I am at work (volunteering at a large charity shop) and I think that has helped the weight loss. So that’s 15.5 lbs in about 5 weeks I think.

Seeing as I usually stop losing weight at this sort of time period on SW, it’s a real boost to see the scales go down! I very occasionally have a treat – a small piece of gluten and dairy free home made sticky toffee pudding last night, and it doesn’t start any cravings off which is absolutely fabulous. I can really see this way of eating taking me into the future and beyond – just bloody marvellous if you’ll excuse the language!!

How is everyone else doing, and what inspires you to carry on, and can you see this way of eating lasting a lifetime?? Sending lots of encouragement and hope to you all xx 🙂

Thanks for the support yesterday – I have a more positive head on today, helped along by seeing a pound less on the scales this morning. This means I’m in with a chance of reporting a small loss tomorrow. Back in control today and counting everything again. Stretched my overnight fast to 17 hours and have had a 230 cal meal to break that and have planned a meal of lamb and veggies later. Am doing well on the hydration front – managed to keep intake up over the w/e and doing okay today too.

ClarinetCathy – thanks for posting the video on walking at home, watched yesterday and it’s sparked my interest. Will definitely be giving this a go, as I’m not keen on walking on my own outdoors without a purpose.

Take control Natalie, go for it! Having that break from study can be a positive thing. Take the time to do some meditation; plan your meals; experiment in the kitchen; and of course exercise! This break could be the opportunity to really push forward with your BSD quest.

Verano, I agree that much more than we realise depends on our mental state, when it comes to what is happening with us physically. I also agree that it would be good to have this thread run longer, or alternatively, a new thread for trying something new should be started – or both? Think it really helps have new ideas and inspiration offered by others, as you are right Marsie, it’s so easy to get stuck in a rut, recycling the same few dishes – I guess it’s easy, but after a while it can become tedious and – I think – actually contribute to defeating our efforts.

So, what can I offer for today? Well, on the mindfulness thing – and again from the same book – “I let go of my constant need to always ‘do’ something and allow myself to enjoy the present moment.’ Think in modern day life, this one is especially important – how many days go past, when we don’t take any time for ourselves and allow ourselves to centre on the present. It is important to take time to just ‘be’.

Food-wise – Jande9 has some excellent ideas there and making friends with your spice rack again is well worth the effort and can really lift the mundane. Cinnamon works great with lamb in a tomato sauce, a sprinkle of chilli can add a spark to prawns or squid. The possibilities are endless.

Hope you are hanging on clarinet Cathy. Just a few things that helped me. Doing intermittent fasting every other day instead of daily was beneficial for me. Lots of water and the main thing was keeping carbs at 20g or less a day. I’ve noticed I lose most then even if my calories go over 800 and I eat about 70 to 80 g of fat

Whatever happens you are eating and doing so well hopefully you’ll soon get to your goal. Keep going. Keep powering through.

Theodora that fire cooking sounds delicious. If more places had food like that wouldn’t be so hard to eat low carb. Maybe I’ll try cooking something like that. See how it comes out lol.

Well done guys! You are such an inspiration!

I’m approaching this week with renewed determination and focus. Going to try to properly count calories this week rather than hazarding a guess lol! May even actually plan some meals properly too!

Had yogurt with strawberries and blueberries today and have a ham salad for lunch. Tonight will be yesterdays roast beef and salad as well (because I need to eat up the salad and I am too tired to cook today)

I’ve strawberry and blueberries in my water infuser today and I’m determined today I will meet my water intake target (rather than coffee intake!)

HI Michael

You say earlier that you aim to get down to 12st 7lbs. With the best will in the world it’s unlikely you will reach that by the end of your first 8 weeks so thinking about transitioning may be a little premature. However, if you really want to start transitioning at the end of this 8 week programme (and it’s quite OK to carry on after 8 weeks – lots of people do it) then I would suggest taking it really slowly as you really want to be able to gauge the amount of calories and carbs that you can eat whilst still losing weight. Everyone is different of course but I can almost guarantee that 2400 per day will be too many. I am on maintenance now and can still only eat around 1200-1600 per day – nowhere near the 2000 recommended for women.

With regards exercise, I don’t think that two 15 minute bike rides will require you to eat more than your 800 even though that sounds counter intuitive. I worked out regularly while losing weight on this plan – 5k runs three times a week, swimming, rowing and free weights. I won’t lie, I did get hungrier, but timed my workouts and my meals to make sure that I could eat soon afterwards.

Good luck with week 6!

Hi everyone! I’m still lurking and keeping up with everyone’s progress. Not doing so well myself, in the past few weeks I’ve put on a few kegs which is depressing but not surprising considering what I’m eating. Cold weather, sleeping badly, exercising (a little) more, bored because it’s a five week break from my study – all contributing to me eating everything in sight. But I just poured the rest of the chocolate covered licorice bullets in the bin and I’m ready to start again.

Fast day going ok so far. In fact, held out until lunch time, 12.30. Dinner will be in an hour or so. We don’t eat until 7 or after and I’m starting to feel hungry now, but I’m sure I can wait until then. I don’t think it will save me on the scales tomorrow as my usually comfortable jeans are feeling right around the middle. My choices, right?

We had a lovely sunny winter’s day today 21c, went for a walk along our nearby beach. Making the most of it as its been grey for days with more to come.

Good luck with overcoming all the frustrations and with tomorrow’s weigh-in xx

KrysiaD, like Esnecca, I’ve checked the gsk website and they currently only have limited, but apparently growing, distribution in three other states and none outside of Australia. Sorry to tease you about their deliciousness😔

Verano, trying something new each day sounds good. I do tend to get stuck in a rut. Should maybe revive the “one day at a time” but with a new twist.

Hey Theodora and KrisiaD – good to meet you both – come on all you maintainers out there – join these lovely people to help the rest of us! I’m in a good place right now but I know that can change very easily, so all encouragement welcomed.
Mixnmatch – you have done so well – losing all that weight is no mean feat! You have ALL worked so hard and now reaping the benefits – I take strength from that and intend to work hard too to join you in about 18 months.

Hi Elaine – good to read your post. You have a very busy life! I know that can make healthy eating a tad more difficult but damage limitation should see you right. A part of this programme is meditation- it doesn’t take long and I am convinced it helps reduce stress levels. Thanks for the heads up about Wagamamas – another place to consider if eating out! Good luck with your interview. Please consider going – I have missed out on too much in my life because of my fat and I really wish I hadn’t. A change is as good as a rest,they say – a new job just might be the catalyst for future success. Obviously it’s how you yourself feel about it in the end.

Me – I am proud and delighted to say I have already been for a walk and already clocked up 5000 steps. Go me! Lol.
How you doin’ Jan? Right – need to go and be useful and stop procrastinating. Amybody else with procratination problems?
Ontopofthe worlddumpty (today anyway)!

Hi Elaine.
I love Wagamamas used to go to one in Canterbury, but now we have moved to Norfolk, there’s nothing anywhere, they are about 30 years behind the south it seems 😅😅😅 but lovely simple living. Hope your week goes well, and if you stay on plan that will help you feel even more empowered, well it works for me. 🙋🙋🙋

My, my, what a lot seems to have gone on while I have been on holiday! Great to be away, but it was long enough that I have come back energised and with renewed focus.
Hello to all, especially to the new folk on this thread. Back Saturday midnight, and away much of Sunday as I had to take my daughter to a sports camp at the crack of dawn. Yesterday I was back to seeing veg again and easing back to low carb – but today is the first day of 800 in a while. After all my plans, the running was awkward to manage – I only got in 4 in the 2 weeks we were away, partly due to the location of one of the apartments, and the second week, due to not being up early enough to run before it was too hot to do so. Stayed low carb initially, but the last week really told in the scales on my return (in spite of my plan not to weigh immediately, I couldn’t stop myself as have always been a daily weigh-er as I find it helps keep me on track). Up 3 kilos! I was seriously cheesed off, but fully expected it as we had several meals at friends’ houses who we haven’t seen in 15 years, and whom I wasn’t able to pre-warn.

Susnshine-girl, so impressed with that reduction of insulin – that is a bigger success than weight loss in my book.
Verano – sounds like you have had an up and down time. Hope today is proving a better day so far.
Mixnmatch, well one and wish I had that dogged determination on a limited diet! I would miss dairy hugely.
NancyB – wishing you success with the walks – I am going to be back to running first thing tomorrow morning, so am with you in spirit on the exercise front.
1960smp – how are you getting on? Hope things are going well, the important bit is not falling on the wagon, which happens to us all now and then, but getting back on and working together towards better health.

B: half avocado and an egg
L: Greek salad
D: aubergine and lamb from the book, minus the pomegranate because I don’t have any – might sprinkle a few raspberries on top instead.

Have a good week, all!

Morning all – late to the party yet again but have been on it since last Tuesday even though I haven’t posted. My goal is to get to 9st dead (not literally obviously!!) by the end of this challenge. This means a loss of 8.5lbs over the 4 weeks. I started in earnest last Tuesday. Haven’t weighed in yet but will do that tomorrow – it’s not official until then anyway lol. However, rough weekend, wine, chocolate cake (tiny sliver) out for dinner – did choose wisely but you just never really know what’s in it! – then more chocolate to help me cope with Wimbledon stress….

My exercise has been shocking also – managed a run on Saturday but that was the first for a month. So my other non scale challenge will be to get back in the gym / pool and tone those muscles!! I got fed up with my Fitbit telling me I wasn’t hitting my goals so I’ve taken it off and am ignoring it!! Who needs the stress…..!

Have a good week all, looking forward to hearing your successes tomorrow and if there aren’t any, well, roll on another week!

TC x

Good morning all. Well we have reached

DAY 7 of 7

There have been some goods posts but for me the one that is top of my list is SunnyB’s reference to ‘101 Thoughts and Affirmations’. I had just read the ‘glasses’ saying. I’ve always though of my glass as half empty but have been trying to think of it as half full. Now I can just be grateful that I have a glass with something in it!

Roger Federer, after his win yesterday, said, more or less, that if you believe and dream and keep believing you will achieve your dreams. Maybe we should be looking more towards our mental state to improve our physical condition.

There is no reason to finish this thread because the 7 days are up and we can carry on or maybe start a new thread …. ‘ Today I will try one thing new’ . Lots of things have cropped up on this thread that are new to me such as sauerkraut and kimchi, fig leaves and affirmation. I think trying something new each day, no matter how small, could help lift our spirits and bring us nearer to our dreams … we just have to keep believing!

Mixnmatch – as well as the health benefits I adore being slender also. We went to watch a local band on Saturday and half way through the evening my husband (we have been married for 48 years) suddenly said how lovely I looked.

Now he never ever comments on how I look – and has never done so over all the years of yo yo dieting – so it felt really good. I think it is not just looking slender but because I look much healthier and full of energy also on this way of eating. I just couldn’t go back to how I was before – and this forum has been a lifeline since I have been on maintenance.

I need to stay accountable or I might just drift back into bad habits.

Thank you my lovelys that all makes sense at the moment i am just not that hungry just didn’t want to ruin what i have done already, only done 2 weeks, week 3 starts today time is going quickly thanks all have a fab week x.

Thanks for the tip Mixnmatch. I’m hoping to get fit enough to cycle the 15 minutes to work without being a horrible sweaty mess when I get there, but there’s no way I could do that twice a day on 800 calories. Did you find exercising difficult on 800 calories? If so how long before you had enough energy to do it?

My advice about transitioning is do it gradually. I added 50 calories a day and just kept going but in control until I got where I wanted to, and that worked very well for me, but may cause more weight loss as you transition, as you are still effectively fasting for a while. That equates to about 260 calories extra on average each week so would take 6 weeks ish to reach your new level. Keep it the good stuff though, just more of it and limit white stuff and alcohol.

Week 5 is done and I’m now weighing in at 17st 6lbs. I’ve found the last week tougher than some of the previous ones. I often felt tired and it took me 3 days to re-decorate my kitchen, when it normally would have been a 2 day job.

The cricket yesterday wasn’t too bad, although not doing much did remind me how hungry I was feeling. I still managed to stick to the 800 calories I’d planned and didn’t let the smells from the burger vans distract me.

I’ve now only got 3 weeks to go and, while it feels difficult, it also feels achievable. I’m looking to transition to eating around about 2400 calories a day once the 3 weeks are up, probably by adding around 400 calories to my daily allowance each week until I’m back there. If anybody has any advice about transitioning to a regular diet after the 8 weeks, I’d love to hear it.

5 weeks down, 3 to go. Starting weight 19st 8lbs, current weight 17st 6lbs.

You are absolutely right Dnm, I started BSD unusually slowly having adapted straight from 5:2, and slowly increased the number of fast days I was doing while controlling the intake on my non-fast fast days too, so all were low carb and calorie controlled. (800 on fast days and 1600 on non fast days, 40g carbs on fast days, 80g on non fast days, but all the good stuff) I went from 5:2 to 4:3 to 2:5 with just 1600 on weekends, and then hit the ground running with my 8 weeks that took me almost to my target. The rest has been losing that last few pounds and maintaining since Feb 1st. I do feel that the 5:2 approach is under used, it is so flexible, and allows you to gradually get used to the idea of fasting and control without feeling deprived in any way, but I do understand that many people just want a quick fix. That wasn’t an option for me with still 5 stone to lose when I started this WOE.

Last day of fasting mimicking today. Observations are so far, I think it may be helping my skin recover just a little bit, it feels smoother and looks maybe a little tighter, I still feel quite well on it, and I miss dairy a lot more than meat. Weight this morning is down to 10 stone 4.8, just a fraction above the 8 1/2 stone lost marker, so considerably below where I was when I began maintenance, so this seems to be an excellent ‘short sharp shock’ to get rid of the bad effects of an extended indulgent period such as Christmas or birthdays. Will almost certainly plan another one in for January and my birthday next year. After another week of 800 calories, some of the loss must be fat as well as water, so I will be interested to see what my weight increases back to as the glycogen stores are built back up again from tomorrow onwards. I am on holiday almost immediately though, so weighing will be infrequent. BMI now 23.3 but I fully expect a rise over the next week’s back into my comfort zone of the mid 24s, and hopefully no longer bouncing around the top of it, near 25.

Hi Elaine,
Hope you have a good week. When you say you are not good with stress- does it cause you anxiety? If so let me point you in the direction of DARE response, it helps me and has helped so many people 😊

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.