Hi Mrs Honey, if you really go back to how you used to eat before, calories and full carbs included, the worst you can expect is to put all or most of your weight back on – depending on how much you manage to lose. Another thing is you might find the carbs leave you feeling bloated and a bit sick. I would suggest you enjoy your holiday but try to keep off the carbs as much as doesn’t interfere with your enjoyment.

Shows how bad I am, what am I going on about having chicken cacciatore tonight. It is Wednesday and I always do a frittata, simply because we shop on Thursday and I empties out my fridge of mushrooms, peppers, bit of left over meat etc. It is the only time I have the same thing week in week out, just a habit I have got into. And I always save a wedge of the frittata for my supper.

Ooooo…thanks SunnyB – I keep a huge bag of almonds in my freezer so I shall sus the recipe out and try it!!! (Probably best they’re not too nice though!!! lol) xx

I must admit, I never have people over so don’t have that problem. So far, I’ve made my husband fend for himself just to make my life easier, but next week I plan on making the chicken korma, he can have real rice, and the gammon steaks with red cabbage, he can have new potatoes as well.
I don’t know if I’m feeling bloated after eating, or really full! Which seems a bit weird. It’s my first weigh in tomorrow! Let’s hope it’s all been worthwhile. Hope everyone else is managing, planning is the secret I think, including planning a bit of flexibility into it, for when you think “er, I just don’t want eggs for breakfast again!!”

Thanks for that.

Tomorrow is my first day on the fasting mimicking plan, and is planned to be 3 cups of herbal tea, along with the usual water, and marmite in hot water for another drink, lunch will be Kale soup served with crispy kale (own recipe in soup maker, Kale, celeriac, green and red cabbage, onion and a little fennel, with salt and pepper and dried herbs but no additional stock) then a salad consisting of spinach, rocket, avocado, spiralised courgette, mushrooms, peppers, tomato, onion, radishes, cucumber and maybe a couple of others that I have forgotten. Served with some chopped walnuts and a dressing of walnut oil and apple cider vinegar. Pudding is a fresh fig, and a teaspoon of peanut butter with seeds, then an evening ‘snack’ of some of my dried dulse seaweed for the salty finish.

Carbs 38.8, protein 19.9, fat 63.1g 834 calories.

Really trying to eat the rainbow while I do this, to maximise nutrition. The fig is a late addition as I love them 😀 and found some reduced in Waitrose this evening.

Hi Mariet, don’t despair about loose skin, it will improve if you keep working on it, keep well hydrated, moisturise the saggy areas and above all don’t feel you have to put weight back on if you feel good as you are, just to try to sort the skin out that way. It probably wouldn’t go back on the areas you choose anyway. I would however concentrate on toning muscles as well, the muscles will help you stay at whatever weight you choose to be when you start maintenance. Maybe give yourself a period trying to maintain at this weight and if you still feel you need to get back down that other 3 kg then you still have time.

Hey FFBB, love the Big Brother reference…I actually read it with a geordie accent lol.

Day 19 in the BSD house.

Not much to report today although I have had a shock (I’m exaggerating a bit).

Turns out I am only 5′ 4″. I have been going round since I stopped growing convinced I am 5′ 5″….but I got measured.

I think instead of losing an inch off my boobs it has come off my height.

Regards,

FFBB X

P.S Stuck to my WOE despite all my favourite carbs being on offer in Sainsburys Local.

I’m in also. My goal for the challenge is to lose 3lb to give me some wriggle room before my holiday at the end of August. Have crossed off the almond butter from the shopping list – so should have a good week.

Staying accountable on this forum has really worked for me and on the 10th July I was 7 months on maintenance. So new goal is 8 months on maintenance. The almond butter incident really bought home to me how easy it would be to ‘go off the rails’ if I wasn’t weighing myself and actively keeping on maintenance.

Hi, update. After just 10 days my blood sugar is down to a healthy 5.2mm/l. I didn’t think I would lose weight very quickly as I only have a stone to lose for a healthy BMI. However my fat %age is 38%, so I guess a lot is visceral. Also previously I just cut out the white stuff but ate loads of fruit. For the last 10 days I’ve kept my carbs down to 50 grams and I’ve lost 8lb. So everybody, really count the carbs honestly and this really works. Now I’m doing it for health rather than aesthetics I’m so much more focussed.

Hi sunshine girl
What a coincidence. I am still waiting for my classification, probably some time next week. Hate the wait. Well done for doing your degree with so much going on in your life and for the great outcome, that of your daughter’s success. it has taken me 5 out of the last 6 years to do this honours degree. The juggle of normal life and academia has been quite hard.

We are celebrating 14th July at our local village repas. The commune sits down together to eat. It is great fun and usually quite a drunken occasion. The mayor brings out his ‘eau de vie’ served from recycled water bottles and there is a disco from a lorry that parks in the Place. Last year there were tangos and also French provincial dancing to contend with. I think I will call it exercise!

Keep up the diet.

Catriona

Hi again fatinfrance, what a coincidence, I too have an OU degree in psychology and sociology although I only went as far as BA, another 2 years would have given me honours but as a single parent working full time it took me 7 years. Then I met someone and just didn’t have the peace and quiet to study, also my main area was learning and development and I didn’t have any children to use as subjects as I wasn’t in teaching or any such profession (I was a secretary). I never did anything with it except did an excellent job of bringing up my daughter who is now a chemical engineer.

We watch the TdF several years ago, quite by accident. Trying to cross the Alps from France into Italy found we were diverted back into France so stopped for lunch in Cluzeau (excuse spelling) and found we couldn’t get out again. We waited for nearly 5 hours as this was the last part of the days ride – we were by a rond point so they had to slow down a bit but it all goes by in a blur. Best part being the entourage cars and the freebies.

Are you celebrating Bastille Day. Don’t make the same mistake as I did and called it that to the French, trying to book a restaurant – vous etes ouvert le jour de Bastille – blank stares. They, of course, dont call it that, it is la fete nationale or the quatorze juillet. Another reason for champage. Enjoy.

First of all, for all of us who have been on this plan for a while, here is a short quote from my WW magazine (sad I know but I like to have something to read in English). The quote is from Oprah Winfrey (so I have acknowledged it). So, on the subject of losing or not losing weight but the importance of being healthy and appreciating your life.
– “It is frustrating to promise myself ‘I’m going to do it today…’ and then not stick to the plan… Now I dont have a goal in mind. I get to a certain weight and I’m okay and say ‘This is where I want to be. Hang in there. I’ll get there when I get there’”.
– She also says she changed her intention on why she wants to lose weight from just I want to get into a size 10 or look better etc. Now she says her intention is “to be the healthiest I can be…. physically, emotionally, spiritually.”
We beat ourselves up everyday for what we have not achieved but fail to look back on what we have achieved. Live a good and happy life. That doesn’t mean we stop trying to achieve greater and better for ourselves just forget about all the baggage.

I just put this on another thread but thought I would share it here too.

My half pound has gone again and my BG is 5.3 on 21 units insulin. V, yes I have been down to 21 before, just before I went on the Easter holiday and then the cruise but in all, it is the lowest I have been.

AnnieW, I have just watched a clip of the bikes passing through where we would have been stood and it had the title ’30 seconds and they’ve all gone’. Exactly, once in a lifetime is enough and I was 17 years younger and more able to stand the heat and standing around. Now I need to carry a folding chair with me.

Welcome 1960smp, hope you are not put off by one or two (mainly me) being a bit down on all this. V and I have been doing this plan for just over one year so, although we are experts??? we are never going to have the big losses others have when starting out.

I know I have become jaded as this week is the first time I havent bothered to do a menu plan or considered my shopping list. That doesn’t mean I have nothing in the house, just means I bought more than planned so I wont get caught without. So, I like the idea of printing our daily menus but mine is on the hoof.

Today I had no carb bircher for breakfast, pho chicken soup for lunch and I am going to chuck together a chicken cacciatore, just chicken in tomato and mushroom sauce. Probably with some cauli rice.

Have a good day all.

Mariet, here is a short quote from my WW magazine (sad I know but I like to have something to read in English). The quote is from Oprah Winfrey (so I have acknowledged it). So, on the subject of losing or not losing weight but the importance of being healthy and appreciating your life.

– “It is frustrating to promise myself ‘I’m going to do it today…’ and then not stick to the plan… Now I dont have a goal in mind. I get to a certain weight and I’m okay and say ‘This is where I want to be. Hang in there. I’ll get there when I get there'”.

– She also says she changed her intention on why she wants to lose weight from just I want to get into a size 10 or look better etc. Now she says her intention is “to be the healthiest I can be…. physically, emotionally, spiritually.”

We beat ourselves up everyday for what we have not achieved but fail to look back on what we have achieved. Live a good and happy life. That doesn’t mean we stop trying to achieve greater and better for ourselves just forget about all the baggage.

Hi ruthydoo – if you want something with a crunch, try making some Snappy Almond Crackers – I posted the recipe in the recipe section here. If you roll them out very thin and cut them small, they only come in at around 25 cals each and about 0.25g carbs. They can be flavoured with any herb or spice too, to make them a little more interesting. Stored in an airtight container, they keep for ages too.

Hi everyone,

JCH, I get my recipes from this site (Recipes… at the top of the page) and by googling “low carb” plus whatever ingredients I have to hand. I’m a lazy cook. I prefer to do something quick and easy, and once I’ve mastered a new recipe, that’s what everyone gets for a while (I have a few that I alternate…) I also love salads, all carefully weighed, with mixed leaves, asparagus, avocado, coleslaw (careful of the dressing), nuts, cheese, chickpeas, beans, tofu, chicken, egg, celery (sliced very, very thin… it’s great for fibre and low cal/carb), raw beetroot/ carrot, olives, tomato… any other suggestions?

PG, love it… You are the sole master of your body…. We are, indeed! Too easy to get enslaved to sugar.

Crabby, Strangely, I’ve got past my cravings (for now…), but, like you, have actually managed to reintroduce 1 square per day of dark chocolate, which I dip in my sugar-free decaf coffee, and love. For the first time, I manage to stop at 1 square. But eating that 1 square has to be totally mindful. Wonderful!

Just hoping I don’t fall off the wagon. Everyone has noticed the difference. I’ve lost more inches than kg.

Just thought I’d check in again Lynne. Please to read that you were making progress again on the BSD, prior to your holiday. You know of course that you can achieve your weight loss goals, as you did so brilliantly before. It’s good that you are finding taking control of your weight again, is helping in other areas too.

Hopefully, your holiday has recharged you and you feel more able to tackle things. Look forward to reading your update soon.

Take care and post again soon

Had another blip yesterday. Was at the tour de France, drank some wine and then when we got home my daughter announced her engagement by skype….had some more wine….

Weighed myself this morning and was surprised to find that I had lost 3 lbs in the last few days. It will probably go on again because of the wine and the fact that we have Bastille day celebrations for the next two days and the wine really flows around here.

Hope you are fairing better and behaving better in this diet!

Cheers, vive la France and vive Le Republique!

Some excellent ideas being posted here to renew enthusiasm. It was a great idea to start the thread, making us all think about what we are consuming and what we have allowed to fall by the wayside.

Pancita, your chicken breast recipe is a variation of an Italian dish called saltimbocca, usually made with veal. It also works really well with salmon, which I have done several times and turkey steak also work with this recipe.

Did a quick google on rapini, as I’d not heard of it before and I don’t think we have its in the UK as such, but looking at pictures, I would say that rapini looks similar to tender stem broccoli. Anyway, will definitely be giving the garlic recipe a try use some of that.

Good advise about drinking water Baristagirls, it’s so easy to let that slip – for me at least, as staying well hydrated has always been one of my issues. Think I’m doing better, but know it’s definitely something I need to pay attention to.

My piece of advise for today, is if you are a snacker, to make sure you have BSD friendly snacks available and be sure you include their cals and carbs in your daily record – even if it’s only a couple of nuts. One of my favs is kale crisps, which are quick and easy to make and can be tweaked by sprinkling them with various spices.

Hi Dolly, you were asking for suggestions of what to feed people. I’m having people over today and have decided on Cobb Salad (you can search it on Pinterest for pretty pictures and elsewhere) and BBQ salmon. I’m a bit stumped for dessert but have loads of raspberries in the garden so will probably have those. If their just coming for snacks, there’s a recipe for seed crackers in the cookbook (with cheese) and the old standby of veggies and dip. And as bigeater before me said, roasts with vegetables are great.

i know the bsd book/cookbook say to try to stay away from artificial sweeteners, but I use stevia to sweeten Greek yogurt to go with berries and to make lemonade (can barely tell the difference), but I hesitate giving it to company as lots of people don’t like it. I also don’t use it for baking after more than a few epic fails.

Hi thanks Baristagirls and carbbycams for the advice i am hoping its just one of those days i will keep trudging on lol and will drink plenty, and Baristagirls i will give those peanuts ago i have some calories left over today for a small snack, as each day passes i know things will improve yesterday i even put on a pair of shorts that before i couldn’t do up but know i can so that’s good insentive for me and in august i will be reaching 44 years old so need to keep going as i want hubby to take me out clothes shopping for my birthday lol new clothes for a new me (bring it on ) thanks guys have a great day

Mariet, I’m with Verano. If you feel and look good, what’s another 3kg? It’s only a number! If you don’t need to, why do it. Go maintenance!!

Hi Mermaid

Where are you getting your recipes from? I know the cottage pie but had forgotten about it so just added all the ingredients to my Ocado order! My problem is I’m a rubbish cook and don’t enjoy cooking, I lack imagination! It’s my birthday next week and I’ve asked my brother (who’s a chef!) for an easy low carb cookbook!

Hi,

Of course its okay to join me, nice to have someone to discuss with.
I am the same , drinking loads of water and herbal tea at the momment. Feeling quite good today, was great last night as we had the chicken and lime curry with coconut, very filling. Stay positive!! Just think of your holiday and how good you will feel.

Ellen :O)

Thanks guys! It’s very helpful to me. I’m going to try it！

Hi,

I find one of the simplest things to do is a roast and vegetables, just don’t eat the potato!

Hello Mixnmatch, completely unintentional, I read posts so sporadically! Massive congratulations, and to all other 100lb winners too. I don’t know how I’d stick at it that long if I had that to lose. xx

Hi Cax 1973, I think the tiredness and slump does eventually go. I find after exercise I’m really hungry the next day. As for the constipation, I have to sacrifice 100-200 calories to prunes (20 cals each), but it does work. So does the water and there are a couple of yoga exercises you can do to massage the stomach. To be perfectly blunt, I product rabbit doddles no matter what I do.

Eggs and cholesterol. I probably have about 3-4 eggs a week and found after the first four weeks that my cholesterol had seriously improved. I think it is the ratio of eggs to vegetables. I have found that if I eat massive quantities (for me) of raw greens it all helps.

I’m addicted to sugar. That’s been my biggest challenge and has had the most effect on the process. Instead of sugar I will have some carbs and frequently have a half slice of my home made sourdough with Vegemite, and that helps enormously without blowing the cal count.

You will be fine and discover what works for you as you go along. There are people on these forums who have been doing this for over a year and we are all still learning.

Good luck, go well and persevere.

Crabbycams

Thanks ANNIEW! X
Ps are you the same AnnieW from 5:2 forum? X

Am loving this forum, so many inspirational people. Had scrambled egg and mixed in mushrooms and a little feta to give some flavour for my breakfast. Cannot do without my morning coffee, have tried it black but couldnt drink it, so milk has to stay. It’ll be mackerel salad for lunch today. Can actually say I am enjoying this so far but it’s only day 7.

Hi Mermaid, I totally get what you said about the sugar calming and causing the wobbles. I was away last week and gave in to the yummy sugar things on offer. By the end of the week I was just so irritable. Really impatient with everyone around me and not a nice person.

Feel better this week now I’m home and not being offered desserts or morning teas. I only want the sugar when I’m bored/stressed etc. Now I know it will only make it worse. Not sure it will help me resist though. Really wanted chocolate this afternoon as I tackled challenging work.

And you know, most of the sweet stuff wasn’t even that nice. I did enjoy the chocolate brownies, the chocolate mud pud with cherry sauce and cream and the fruit salad and cream. The theme there is chocolate, and cream. The cookies, crumble and pies, well, meh!

So the struggle continues. I’m finishing off a few things in the frig and they won’t be replaced. I’ll restrict myself to the one square of dark chocolate a day at work. None at weekends.

Thanks BARISTAGIRLS x
1960SMP …do you have an ipad? I have my netdiary on a free app on ipad …just put mynetdiary in Search then when app pops up,click install and it will do so in seconds
Not sure how it works from laptop/ mobile etc ..can anyone else offer ideas? 🤔

Hi – hope it ok for me to join you – I am on day 3 today. Found day 2 really difficult but feeling very positive today. Am drinking loads of water so make sure go to the loo upstairs to gain more steps 😄 On my Fitbit.

Am going on holiday in 9 weeks so determined to do this to improve aching joints and feel better generally.

Morning!

Am jumping in to join you all, if I may …..

Going to get time later to have a good read of this thread and make a planned menu

have a fab day x

Hi everyone – am drinking loads of water but didn”t have to get up quite so much last night. Found yesterday – day 2 – difficult. Feeling very positive today. Ordering the cookbook today as seems to be popular with several of you.

Not sure what to have for dinner tonight. Also got friends coming round for food after we have watched granddaughter on stage on Saturday night but wondering what to give them so I can eat as well – any ideas would be appreciated

Hello Caz1973, this is very typical of what I experienced and unfortunately it lasted about 6 weeks but hopefully that shouldn’t be that long for you, I had to kill a lot of rubbish inside! Keep going. Its tough when you feel sluggish, some days I could hardly drag myself up the stairs at work (office on top floor) but forced myself… remember what you’re doing it for and be sure to drink plenty of water. It should pass.
Another thing people found helped was to have a bit of salt in those moments. Some peanuts perhaps.

Please post your daily menus. I’m really fascinated and may give it a go myself.

Hi does anyone have a slump i am on day 9 and i feel sooooo tired, yesterday i was full of the joys of spring i slept well last night, i have made it into work this morning but could quite easily curl up and have a nap. I have been a little constipated the last couple of days as well altho my stomach is gurgling also I am a little concerned as i do take statins for high cholesterol and i am eating eggs every day, should my cholesterol come down on the bsd this morning i had 2 eggs and was going to have a omlette for my tea tonight as i will be in abit of a rush to get my son out to football is this too many eggs hence the contstipation, i am 7 pounds down so thats a good thing feel i need a boost in the bathroom department and also a boost in energy, hope everyone is well and have a good day x

I am just trusting cronometer with the proportions, most vegetables have some protein, so I just listed a few of my favourites that I could combine into a soup or lovely salad, added a few nuts and seeds etc, and some oils and seasoning and just stopped when it said 800 calories, 20g protein 😀 I am really quite looking forward to it.

Hello all,
My tip for day 2 to renew your enthusiasm is – are you drinking enough?
I found that whilst drinking quite a bit it wasn’t as much as when I lost all my initial weight – so as someone once said on here, keep drinking water like its your second job! Really helps the weight fall off.

I thought I’d share the link to this recipe I really love:

http://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/recipes/burger-in-a-bowl.aspx

Its so tasty, used to do it when on slimming world and can be very easily adapted to BSD. The mince, mayo and fromage frais can all be full fat and the mince can be fried in oil. Its yum and tastes very authentic.

Yowzer, am having difficulty signing up for FREE mynetdiary…any tips?

Don’t forget me! 😁

I do just the vegetables this way as well, as an accompaniment to fish or roasted cold meats, and occasionally as the basis for a very satisfying roasted vegetable soup in my soup maker. It really has been one of my favourite discoveries.

Mixnmatch I’m intrigued as to what you eat when you only eat 20g of plant based protein. I just looked up chickpeas and they are 19g of protein per 100g.

Whatever you did yesterday did the trick with a loss of 1.6lb even if you say you your reboot didn’t start to plan!

I’m off now to lift my weights … well all 1kg each of them!

Hey Yowser, only just read your post about having lost 100lb and counting
Hearty congratulations, you are amazing to stick it out so well!
CaptainLynne number 2!

I’ll join up too, week 1 is my 7 day reboot which I am documenting on the Seriously thread, week 2 and 3 and part of week 4 I go on holiday 😀 so my weekly weigh ins may come at odd times as I will mostly be away from my scales. I have had occasions where I actually lose a little weight on holiday though so not too worried. Goal is still to stay within my comfort zone of 10 stone 8 to 11 stone exactly. Three pounds above and three pounds below my final target. I have been slightly above since my birthday hence the initial reboot, I am back into my zone today after one reboot day.

Hi Polly! It is really hard being away whilst on a restrictive eating regime – holidays are a time for treat food, so I feel your frustration! A pound off is great though! I managed to keep to the type of food I usually eat on the plan but didn’t weigh anything – that was my “holiday” away from the diet – just lost 1 pound in 2 weeks however! (My sister and brother-in-law’s portions are somewhat bigger and their cream and dairy portions more generous than my own!). I have had a bit of a slip over the past few days – on something as silly as Ryvita crispbreads! I used to eat one before bed, as I found this helped with my sleep to combat the really empty feeling I was getting which would wake me earlier than I wanted – that one crispbread ended up turning into six or seven, spread with a very generous helping of “Pure” marg on each one – oh dear! I know my problem is with crunchy food, so decided that they had to go – I haven’t replenished them this week in my shopping trolley! Trying to think of something else that would be a good, less moreish alternative. I am trying some different rye breads so maybe I will save 50 cals to have a finger of that just before bed and hope it doesn’t turn into four slices! I keep it frozen so defrosting just a small amount will make it less on hand than just reaching into a packet. I guess it’s just realising where your triggers are and getting rid of them! Done good over the past few days however and am hopeful for a great weight loss this coming Monday. Hope everyone else is all good!

I love simple recipes Mixnmatch, especially when they cook in ‘one pot’ . I might try your recipe tonight but just the vegetables to go with my sea bass. It would certainly be a an easy meal in the oven.

Day one of my reboot didn’t start to plan when the lovely lady in our kitchen at work presented me with the only thing I allow myself off the very carby breakfast menu at work, and that she had saved for me specially. It is a half bagel, with a slice of bacon and cheese on top, and is the only thing close to a healthy balance of the macros. I added it to my planned day and ended up just over 1000 calories, but that is still down on what I have been eating most days. Carbs were 46.6g so should still be low enough.

Today’s plan is much the same, with a stir fry this afternoon instead of the leftovers I enjoyed yesterday, and again will be about 1000 calories, before I start in on the fasting mimicking part of my reboot from Thursday, cutting my protein to 20g a day for 5 days and using plant based only food.

With badminton last night probably helping get rid of some glycogen, I am down already to 10:13.2 so down 1.6 pounds from yesterday.