Hi all — an interesting of story of a hypo happened to me yesterday — I’m taking an all day/five day class this week and all morning we were busy walking and moving about and I had eaten a small breakfast (scrambled eggs and coffee, very typical for me).
Then around 11:30 AM we had a snack “presentation” (this is for Waldorf schools) and to be POLITE I ate five (5!!) tortilla chips (organic, blue corn, I mean it’s Waldorf!).
Within ten minutes I had the first hypo I have had in 18 months since starting the BSD — so so weird — I had ALMOST forgotten that strange cold/numb/dizzy response but the minute it hit I knew what had happened.
I’ve been on maintenance for a year but this was a new experience — I couldn’t believe such a tiny bit of carb set it off but I think I was hungry and jet-lagged (in New York) and we had exercised — normally I would eat a protein filled lunch with maybe just some nuts for dessert so my body was shocked.
Next time I will decline being “polite”! It isn’t worth it!

I am slightly ashamed to say that I have been reading these forums for 9 months but have never had the courage to post, in fact I have never written any sort of blog, so this is a first. I submitted a ?? Pen name a few weeks ago- nervous nellie – because writing this is slightly discombobulating to me – isn’t that a great word, better than anxious
I also know that after a first flush of optimistic enthusiasm i can get a bit overwhelmed by the busy-ness of life and my commitment tails away. As a kid joined girls brigade , I think my mother wanted me to get out more- bit of a fat nerdy kid- went weekly until mum bought the uniform which included a hat the shape of a pancake and then never went again. My younger sister wore that hat on a day to day basis, alternating with my riding hat, which I also no longer used after falling off , which she wore to bed until her head started to become misshapen and the hat had to disappear .
Any way always been a bit fat and after another sisters wedding last year, where I saw this fat middle aged woman I decided to do something . A GP friend told me that she was buying the BSD book for her patients and I thought I’d take a look. I was convinced by the science and the references – still a nerd but now just a bit less fat.
So I started , 9 months later I am 3 1/2 stone down with 6lbs left to hit my target which is the upper limit of my BMI.
That’s the good bit, bad bit I have been trying to lose these last 6lb since Xmas and have been oscillating , another good word in my opinion , for weeks .
So this is my introduction to the BSD forum world, please join me if you too have been lurking and have never tried this before , I will try to write a post on a semi regular basis as a way of strengthening my resolve and commitment to the diet which has given me control over my nemesis – my appetite – was always just a bit peckish but no longer.
Today I am fasting for 16 hours, topped up with tea, considering a cider vinegar fizz I just saw on the gut forum. Tried plain as a drink was revolting. One of my motivation in writing was to pass the last hour and to distract me from the rather loud grumbles emanating from my gut forum.
See what I did there ??
Good day to you all .
NN

Hi everyone, Todays my birthday, todays my birthday, todays my birthday – said with a little dance for anyone who remembers Friends. It is not my actual birthday but one year since I started on the BSD. I wont repeat my achievements as I listed them yesterday and, yes, I am pleased with how far I have come. Okay my mind it set and I am a stubborn little terrier so back on track.

Since starting this 3 weeks ago I have lost 1.75 lbs so at least it is a loss. My BG is stable around 80 to 100 even on reduced insulin so all is well. I checked the pool this morning and one night of storms has dropped the temperature from 28 degrees to just under 25. I would have got in but there are black clouds swiftly moving in and it has gone very dark outside. To replace this I sat watching Lorraine and the ladies on the cruise being put through their exercises – incidentally it is the same cruise I am on next year ending in Dubrovnik. That motivated me to get out the weights and spend that sitting time doing 200 each arm bicep curls and 200 each arm behind the head dips, to keep my arm muscles firm – not much I can do about the bit that hangs down the lower part.

Well V, I gained around 5 lbs on my extended holidays and had the occasional dessert (even a chocolate bomb but it was 80% dark chocolate) and it only increased my HbA1c from 5.4 to 5.6 so get straight back onto it when you get back and you should be okay. What about the rest of you – Julia, Ali, Susie, Moulay, vnunny to name just some of you. How are you all doing, is this working for you, are you struggling. Let us know, we are all here to help each other and you have all helped me.

Keep on keeping on…

Oh, I am glad I am not the only one suffering from a plateau! Soooooooooooooooooooo fed up with being the same weight for over 10 days now!!! I’ve only got 1 week left of my 8 weeks and haven’t made it to 1.5 stone off. Woe is me!!!!! That said, my clothes are much looser. One of my skirts keeps swivelling round while I am wearing it. And it was tight when I started! Perhaps the mysterious, unseeable visceral fat is melting away and not having any effect on my weight?
Well done, Old Sponger!
Think I am going to do the 800 calories a day on weekdays and ease up a bit at weekends once my 8 weeks is up.
Any more tips for getting off a plateau? I feel like I need to be helicoptered off it…

Well, easier and harder than expected!

With planning it was easier than I thought to get three meals out of 800 calls (though I did use the slim rice which I’m not that keen on).

But I did feel empty in the evening and had dinner an hour earlier than usual.

But the after dinner cravings for something sweet were very powerful. I had saved 20g of almonds but it was HARD to stop eating.

I am wondering about going to two meals a day, breakfast and a late lunch. Does anyone do that? It seems that the act of eating stimulates my appetite!

Sorry all, and especially Rozy, plodding along all alone!

I have been tracking my steps – and what a lot of palaver at that old Inn in Bree!

75 miles from 8 – 30 May left me camping on the edge of the marshes and swatting the midges away.

More active in June; 114 miles so far. Frodo is sadly injured, having put the ring on right in front of a load of black riders (idiot)! So we are trudging on to Rivendell now while avoiding the road – about 3 days out from Weathertop. Hoping for a glimpse of the river soon!

Actually a few days ago I was way down on my step count so walked on the spot in the living room while listening to the LOTR audio book – full immersion!

May Galdalf protect us all!

G’Day,

Wow EC I so want to live where you do. I adore frosty weather…the sort where you can see your breath as steam, but you feel toasty inside your clothes. The place you live sounds unbelievable. I live 2 miles from a major airport so totally different. Although, I am almost next door to fields and woods, it is still very urban. I may have write the story of Joe’s memory loss in serials, as it is a VERY long story.

Lee…well done! You were so right to enjoy your birthday! So pleased you have had a whoosh…I am looking forward to that feeling.

Love to everyone
Mary xxx

Mixnmatch, please don’t consider 24.6 as a high BMI. Not only is it in the normal range, we are all so different that I personally dislike BMI as a standard measurer of what we should be. At my good weight I am also exactly that amount, and that’s quite nice and slim 🙂 I have very heavy bones so BMI doesn’t hold much water!

Ooh good to read – well done 🙂 Buying clothes because the old ones are too big is such a good feeling. I’m going through a plateau myself right now, so reading about your loss has reminded me to keep ploughing on. It’s so strange when you think of the weight loss in terms of packets of food too…makes you realise how much extra you were carrying around!

OMG! Quick update before work.

I appear to have had a whoosh!!! (Despite birthday indulging) midweek weigh in puts me at 147lbs dead or 10 stone 6 for imperial peeps like me. WTF??? How did I do that???

Another 12lbs to go for my goal, but I’m so happy I could do a little dance 💃

Couldn’t have done this without each and every one of you heavenly peeps xxx

me again…firstly, excuse the typo on the previous post…I must proof read before pressing submit!! Liz, I meant the one you inherited your wit from…etc, etc

Nothing to do with diet as such…but

This afternoon I had cause to go halfway up “our” mountain to a little village called Fern Tree. Driving home I was struck by the sheer beauty surrounding me as listened to Phillip Adams with his sonorous voice interviewing a very erudite writer on Spanish culture. I drove down in the pre-sunset painterly light looking over grey green hills and into the valley with the Derwent River nestled in and surrounded by the low rise (at least for now) of the city.
Intrepid souls riding up the hill after the work-day, a young child on foot racing a parent in a car up a steep driveway, each pulling an empty rubbish bin (yes, one attached to the tow bar!!) and hardy walkers rugged up against the weather.
Home to the apricot glow of sunset over the mountain and a forecast of snow to 300 metres overnight! (glad we have central heating)

Days like this it’s SO good to be alive. I cherish it!

I’ve been told to eat every 2 hours so that’s 6 times a day otherwise my blood sugars crash. Isn’t the BSD only 3 meals a day? How have you prevented blood sugar crashes? Thanks

Thank you all. It is quite interesting looking at the distribution of the fat I have left. My trunk reading is down to 18.4%, at 6.8kg only left, my arms have about 1kg each, and my legs just over 3kg each. Apart from maybe a little more off the legs, I really don’t think it would be healthy to lose any more, even if my BMI is still quite high at 24.6. I will pick up on the weights work though to try to stop losing more muscle. It is such great stuff for driving the metabolism.

ClarinetCathy, Hi! It was kind of you to ask. I am sorry to say I drank six glasses of wine last night. Indeed I am starting to realise I have a bit of a problem. I don’t drink anything for about 8 weeks, Then drink way to much in one night. Binge drinking. That is the 3rd time I have done that in the last 6 months. Before I started the BSD, I would never have recognised this problem. I will experiment with restraint and the very occasional one glass and just see if I can do it. Otherwise I fear I may have to become a tee totaler. I don’t want to continue with unhealthy habits. Speaking of which, I have been good on the food front, managed to stop those dalliances before I let it all slip. Still on the BSD. Still intend to stick to this way of eating and still intend to lose more weight. I have only lost 1kg in the last 4 weeks and I am not entirely convinced that I wasn’t around this weight about 7 weeks ago.

Anyway, there are so many positives. I am getting lots of compliments, people are noticing my weight loss of late (really – one kg?). Anyway I will take it. I do look and feel healthier and the only way forward is sticking with the plan, albeit I have to be stricter and not let in any random mashed potato again!

ClarinetCathy, let me know how you are going, sounds like you are going through a rocky patch. Only 1 stone to lose – I could be so lucky! All the best
Bigeater

Great maintenance Mixnmatch. It’s always good to hear of people maintaining over a long period.

Oh dear!
Make that a gain of an extra 2.4lbs so that’s a total of 5.2lbs!! These holidays are not going me very much good. Just hoping my HbA1c will be ok. Best get myself back to 800/30 next Monday without fail.

Ann/pod, thank you for posting. Your results speak very much of your strong character. To achieve progress with weight loss, AND also becoming a non-smoker, in the face of clinical depression is very, very impressive. I hope your meds are now right for you.

Hugs and love to you in your continuing journey🙅💜 Marilyn

Started today too. I have read the book a while ago and picked bits and pieces …. and than life caught up with me and I was back on the chocolate. My doctor was please to hear, me starting this diet. I am travelling a lot work wise, I will be not home for weeks and that will be the difficult part. Luckily I love my veggies (but a nice sausage too), see how I will go and a forum like this can help and encourage.
Have a nice day everyone!
A

G’day all (yes we really do say that here!)

thanks May and Lee for your understanding yesterday. None of it was new news, but I’d just had long conversations with two friends going through the aforementioned and well, life’s fragility felt a little overwhelming!!

The good thing is that I felt so shabby this morning that I’m not in a hurry to repeat the exercise AND the only food I overate was frittata, so low carb at least!!

Dumpty…truly its safe to visit…we rarely get below zero…and its only snowed at my house two or three times in the twenty years we’ve been here….I actually really like that unlike some parts of Aus we actually get all four seasons

back at it holding all your hands spanning this wide wonderful world this morning…..freezer full of soups and am about to tuck into a piece (just one) of the leftover frittata. At a seminar tonight so out of temptations way!

Oh, and Mary…lovely to hear your whole story (and now curious about Jovis’ memory loss!)

Liz…your mum is obviously the from you inherited your fabulous wit from…heaven’s brass section!
….and I totally get the tea bit….A thermos has often been my salvation (sticking to the religious theme)

go well my lovelies
xx

Great news Mixnmatch!

That’s fantastic Mixnmatch!! Just really excellent. I am sure you are very pleased with your hard work!

My BSD birthday passed unheralded a week ago! I had to look back to make sure of the date but June 20th 2016 was my first 800 calorie fast day, replacing the standard 5:2 I had been on up to that point. My actual birthday is on Thursday this week, and there will be some indulgences over the next few days, as only seems fair. 😀

I went for a second boditrax scan today at the gym. Fat percentage was down a little from 22.5% in December to 21.8% now, muscle and hydration were also a little lower, but I expected that as I haven’t upped my exercise, and the exercise I am doing no longer involves hauling that extra weight around. Pleasingly the visceral fat reading was still 4, so the same as it was immediately after finishing the 8 weeks, and we’ll into the healthy range. I am still in the same thin/muscular zone on the body composition grid, so won’t be trying to lose any more weight just yet.

Today was the end of week 3 V.

Hi Spicycoffee!

I am starting tomorrow!!!

Excited and terrified! Read the book and done some shopping in preparation but I know it will be hard!

How has your day gone?

Wendy

Seems to me you have heaps of will power, Pod! Don’t worry about the excess calories today, you can get back to the programme tomorrow and today’s blip almost certainly won’t register on the scales, so just ignore it. Just keep on keeping on.

Thanks Sunnyb and clarinet Cathy, weight wise I’m doing good. Although I’ve blown today’s calorie count, apart from the potatoes and sausage, tonight eating coconut flour bread I made a couple of weeks ago, it was in the freezer. So at least didn’t give into the carb monster again, I did get a piece of OH bread out of the bread bin, went to put it in the toaster and thought ” what are you doing” and put it back in the bread bin! I must have some will power then!

Oh you ladies do have a way with words.

Hey Pod – sorry to read that you are struggling at the moment. Hopefully the new dosage for the anti-depressants will set you right and you will soon be feeling better. Meanwhile, excellent news about the 3lb loss and a big congrats on achieving a whole year smoke free. All-in-all you are doing brilliantly, despite the struggle with depression. Keep posting and we’ll keep supporting – onwards and downwards (weigh-wise that is). x

Yay Liz, I admire your restraint…I would have opted for the punch. A friend of mine was in Starbucks and asked for a tea…the assistant said…is that large or medium….my friend asked what the difference was….she was told the large was more expensive….my friend said you are charging me extra for hot water? This confused the assistant who said …no for the tea….my friend pointed out that whether the mug was large or small the tea bag was the same size so they were charging her for hot water. The assistant fetched the manager who explained….The larger mug holds more Tea therefore the price is higher…..again my frustrated friend explained, the only thing that changed was the water…Manager getting slightly arsy explained in a patronising tone, that my friend was wrong. So she again asked if she was being charged for the water….The manager laughed and said, no for the Tea. My friend left and went elsewhere.

Moral…of the story….There are pricks everywhere who don’t understand what Tea is or how to make it….we should tell them to Fuckoffee!

Haven’t tried cauliflower rice yet but that sounds like a lovely filling meal..,

Off to reflexology in an hour. It’s so cold right now, I could do with some really bad comfort food! But only got 174 cals for the rest of the day…

Damn these cravings!!!

Oh way to go to Liz. I could so go a burger right now….

Just a quick note from the McDonald’s parking lot…..

Just went through Mcdonald’s drive thru for a tea.
Me:(belting my order into the speaker) large tea with milk please.
McHer: is that everything?
Me: Yes thank you.
McHer: Would you like to try our McCarb/McFat/Super McCalorie summer combo? (or whatever she called it)
Me: Did we not just confirm “that is everything.” Soooo, just the tea please.
McHer: I’m sorry Ma’am I didn’t hear you. Can you repeat that?
Me: DID WE NOT JUST… oh fuck it–ONE-LARGE-TEA-WITH- MILK- PLEASE!!! NOTHING ELSE–JUST TEA.
McHer: Did you know you can use your tea in place of a pop with a lunch combo?
Me: SERIOUSLY?? TEA!!!!!. JUST TEA.
McHer: Would you like a hot apple pie with your tea?
Me: CAN-I-PLEASE-JUST-HAVE-THE-DAMNED-TEA?
silence…….
McHer: Ma’am, I’m just making sure you are aware of your options. Pull up, second window.
(I pull up)
McHer: would you like to donate to Ronald Mcdonald house……

I was hoping one of my options was punching her in the throat.
diet mood: maybe a little crabby.
diet success…..waning.
desperate for a pick up LIKE A TRIPLE BACON BURGER (old Lizzie used to get a kid’s meal and feel virtuous) but may try out murder for immediate satisfaction.
DICKHEAD TOLERANCE VERY LOW TODAY!!!!!
Seriously??!! What am I?? The fuckface whisperer?? What part of JUST A FUCKING CUP OF TEA WAS SHE NOT GRASPING??
But, as the eternal optimist I will pull success from this irritating as fuck experience–didn’t cave for treat, and didn’t punch the idiot in the throat.
Lizzie 1 – Cravings 0

Right, must drink my tea, only 2:25pm so another couple hours of work, then home, uniform off, bra off, under tit scratch, stretchy pants on, big loose shirt, feet to soak in a cold bowl of water, vat of tea and a bowl of homemade red pepper/cauli soup!
yours, L xoxo

Bigeater- how are you doing? Hope you’re still sticking to BSD. I agree with you that it is difficult to keep going and there is often a slippery slope to contend with. There are a few of us determined to get there by hook or by crook. I am still plodding slowly along the slippery slope and gripping on til the bitter end! Another stone or so to go so that might take three months but “I ain’t gonna quit” (Officer and a gentleman)!

Theodora- your maintenance has been amazing and very inspiring. How wonderful to be able to go on your gourmet break 5lb under your target weight and be able to indulge yourself. I dream of that being me in a few months time!

I lost another 2.4 lb this week and am determined to get to under 10 stone in the next couple of weeks. My BMI is 27.2 so I am getting to a normal weight slowly. Your journey is so inspiring but I have to say I am very impressed by how much walking you do! You must be an exceptionally fit person to walk those distances every day. Like you, I think fasting has a definite role to play in maintenance and I am intrigued by the science of fasting. Thank you for posting and inspiring us that this can be done.

HI Pod

I am so glad you did post today and congratulations on another 3lb loss. It is so difficult at times having to say NO to the nasty carb monster but I think you would feel a whole lot worse if you did give in. It can’t be easy living with depression but you have proved how strong your will power is by being a non smoker now for twelve months and doing so well on BSD. You are obviously a vey strong person. That is a massive achievement. Hopefully the antidepressants will kick in soon and you will be feeling so much stronger and ready to continue on your BSD journey with us all.. You’ve done so well losing an incredible three stone in weight and it won’t be long before you’re in those size 12’s. Sending you a big hug and hoping you feel better very soon.

Cathy

Oh ladies, what a day we are having!
Liz gets a visit from a heavenly choir and conquers satanic evil bitches!

Mary and Joseph pop in to say hi too. Obviously we are getting intervention from somewhere…..

EC, sorry you have had bad news. That always makes it difficult to prioritise ourselves, even though we know we should….

Snoop, I agree alcohol is often my trigger for eating junk food for recovery, it’s why I feel so much better now. No ups and downs or wicked cravings that are impossible for a weak willed me to resist!

Thanks all for your snack tips. I’m going to hit the Irish supermarket too and get some good quality deli meats. I reckon I will cope! Hopefully I won’t gain, but I won’t offend my 90 year old aunt and my 85 year old aunt by refusing their food. I will just try to plan around it! Alcohol will be the toughest. We are a drinky family!!!😱

Off to reflexology tonight, can’t wait! Need it after a truly mental day at work. The first item of food didn’t pass my lips til 3pm! Think the fast did me good. Evening bs is….6.1….

L xx

Hi all… nearly didn’t post today, as I am in the pits.
Unbelievably l’ve removed 3lbs this week, should be elated but I’m in the depths.
The depression monster has been baiting me for weeks. I tell myself something to eat will make me feel better, then tell myself it won’t and basically argue with myself constantly. Basically a comfort eater I’ve been craving carbs, basically bread, for weeks. I’ve managed to distract it with water, cycling , swimming and anything else I can do. Today I just couldn’t be bothered and tonight have basically given up. I was at the docs last week and she has upped my anti depressants, not what I want but what I need. I’m hoping to get it together and not beat myself up, have a long soak in the bath and start again tomorrow. Depression is sh*t and no matter how hard I try, it gets me in the end. Anyhow, hopefully be happier next week. Oh, and by the way today I haven’t smoked for one whole year, Who would’ve thought!,
Ann x

.

Hello everyone

This morning I weighed in at 143.8 lbs and have lost 2.4 lb this week. My BMI is 27.2. I have had a good week avoiding bad carbs but feel I need to start looking at eating more variety. My husband has “gone vegan” after being vegetarian like me for almost 30 years so that means a lot of the food I used to cook that we shared I no longer cook for us to share so I feel like I am just eating omelettes, yoghurt, cheese and salad. I am taking a good multi vitamin but I need to up my game now for the next few weeks. I am in my 24th week of BSD now. I am hoping that another round of BSD 8 weeks will take me to a near normal BMI.

MaisieMouse- it’s so hard when everyone else around you seems to eat and drink whatever they want and we have to make sacrifices. My colleagues have been ridiculing me at work this week for suggesting that instead of having a glass of beer in the lovely sunshine they choose to drink sparkling water if they want to lose weight! Like you my next mini goal is to get under 10 stone- I am about 4 lb away so next month that will be my main challenge.

Have enjoyed reading the posts today. Keep chipping away everyone. – we’re all doing so well keeping on keeping on!

Quick hello.

Not sure where I’m up to with this challenge but I think we’ve just completed 2 weeks. So, my goal was to stand still I think because I’m on holiday. I’ve put on 2.8lbs over the last two weeks but not too upset with that. I’m not weighing or counting or logging but eating with gay abandon but within BSD principles plus wine! Very warm here so I’m taking on board Mixnmatch’s theory that water retention puts on 3lbs in hot weather. So I’ve lost!!!

That’s my story and I’m sticking too it!

Hope you’ve all had a good week and sorry I’ve not answered other posts, but well done to the losers and for those of us still trying we just have to keep on keeping on….

Dont forget to add The 8-week blood sugar diet by Dr Michael Mosley to your shopping list. Essential reading to understand the science and the myths.

Thanks SunnyB – though I don’t know about “relaxing the rules” I think it was more like blasting them into the stratosphere!!

I didn’t indulge in refined carbs (other than on one occasion when I had a lovely savoury tart, do miss pastry, and another when I had a really rich ice cream) but other than that ate and drank whatever I wanted. To be fair though, I do think my appetite has decreased (though sadly not my appetite for wine – I still easily downed an entire bottle on a few occasions) but I struggle to eat more than one course these days, but do sometimes have 2 starters when dining out and everyone else is having more than one course.

Thanks for your good wishes about our trip, I am sure we will have a great time. It’s not often we get away without the dogs, so will be able to have a totally different type of break. Really looking forward to it, and posh frocks will be worn! I used to hate having to dress up, but since losing 3st (3st 5lbs now 😜) new dresses have been bought and I am really looking forward to wearing them ☺ I will even be wearing stilettos!!! 😝 Cor blimey, can’t remember the last time that happened!🤓

SueBlue, my 39 year old godson suffers from RA and his is more or less totally controlled by diet. He was diagnosed about 5 years ago and determined that he didn’t want to be on drugs unless he could help it, and is really strict about what he eats (not sure what his diet entails though), and it seems to be working, with only very occasional flare ups these days.

Interesting posts about microbiomes. Did anyone see the TV programme the other week, Doctor in the House, when the doc helped a lovely young lad (about 10 I think) who was obese, despite playing sport etc? The rest of the family were not obese, and they all got behind the diet changes implemented, but no huge weight loss was recorded. However, the doc took all sorts of samples (blood, stools etc) and finally decided it was the young lad’s gut bacteria which was at fault, introduced the relevant bacteria and about 8 weeks later the lad had lost a couple of stone without much effort! Just goes to show………………..

Anyway, I don’t think there is much wrong with my gut bacteria – think I put on weight through greed, pure and simple as I LOVE good food and wine. However, I am now almost 2 months into maintenance and, despite having just spent 18 days in two back to back holidays, I have come home 3lbs lighter than I went! So I am now 5lbs under target weight! Not sure how this happened as I indulged in alcohol every single day and on several days my calories were about 2,600 with carbs of more than 100g!!

I can only put this down to walking the dogs between 15 – 20 miles per day whilst away, and total fasting for 24 – 36 hours (consuming absolutely nothing but copious amounts of water, black tea / coffee) on all my travel days – so 4 days out of the 18.

Anyway, however it happened, I am happy to take it and will try to maintain the loss this week as, on Friday, we are off again for 5 days sheer indulgence, which will involve huge amounts of gourmet food and copious amounts of wine! Not taking the dogs this time, so there won’t be much walking involved to offset the damage, but even if I put on 5lbs in the 5 days, I will still not exceed my maintenance weight! Phew!

Wow, Theodora that’s an amazing loss considering you were away and relaxing the rules!! It’s great that you are under target weight – congrats. Hopefully, I can get there myself in the coming weeks, though not by such a big margin perhaps. Sounds like you only need to do some minor tweaking to be in maintenance proper and I have confidence you can do it just fine.

Have a wonderful time away and I’m sure you won’t gain much. Keep posting so we know how you go.

SunnyB – yes it is so easy to drop into bad habits. The great thing is that, for me, staying on this forum has helped me become aware of what I need to do to achieve long term success. It isn’t by being perfect – it is by keeping on keeping on and accepting that sometimes things go wrong but that it doesn’t matter in the long term.

So – I won’t stress over eating a whole jar of meridian crunchy almond butter in 2 days – even though it was an amazing amount of calories nor the pots of double cream I consumed recently. They are little blips on my journey to better health.

Well done for your weight loss this week and for anyone who didn’t lose – or put weight on – well done for keeping on keeping on.

Well done SunnyB, that 2.8lbs loss must be so encouraging for you.

Rozy, you just have to keep on keeping on, try not to get derailed and the results will come, good idea to try to substitute something else to comfort you when things go wrong, and yes, I think it is much easier when you are busy with no time to think about food. It’s a shame you can’t get on with fasting, because I am sure it has been key for me. But a shade over 10st is hardly disastrous, sill sounds pretty good to me, although I’m not sure how tall you are and can’t remember what your ultimate goal loss is?

I returned home yesterday from 18 days holiday (2 different back to back holidays), to find (and I hesitate to post this, when others are struggling) that I had LOST another 3lbs 😛 Quite how I managed to do that I cannot imagine as I did have a some very heavily over-indulgent days (max estimated consumption, repeated on several non-consecutive days was circa 2,600 cals with approx108g carbs, and I have to admit to drinking alcohol every singe day 😝) So much for this diet screwing up one’s metabolism.😛

In all honesty, I can only put it down to 2 things:-

1) Walking with the dogs between 15 – 20 miles most days whilst away
2) Total fasting (ie 24 – 36 hours consuming nothing at all other than water and black tea / coffee) on all the days of travel, so 4 days in total

I am now 5lbs under target, which I am going to attempt to maintain this week as on Friday we go away for another VERY indulgent 5 days, but this time without the dogs, so I’m afraid there will not be much walking involved, but there will definitely be a lot of gourmet food and huge quantities of alcohol involved! Shame really that we cannot take the dogs as we are heading to Northumbria followed by North Yorkshire, both glorious walking areas. Anyway, if I come back having gained 5lbs, I will still be exactly on target weight.

Keep going everyone, it does get easier – I was absolutely dreading maintenance but so far have not found it too difficult – says she, frantically touching wood!

Thanks for your sound advice, SunnyB! Main cause of comfort eating is work – when I get home all the worries are rattling round my brain. I’ve got some knitting on the go, as well as a book of Sudoku puzzles, not to mention working in the garden & allotment, to give my mind something pleasurable to think about. I stupidly break my own rule about not buying extra stuff in the first place – once the bag/box/tub of whatever is open, there’s no hope – that’s when I ought to knock back a glass of water, not food!

Fasting is not something I get on with – I can do it when I’ve been so busy at work that I’ve not had time to think about my stomach. But at home I don’t find it easy at all – I enjoy food, plain & simple.

But the days below 10st are increasing – this month has been the best so far. A short stint here, a short stint there, eventually they will join up. Like they say, look after the pennies and the £s will take care of themselves – it must be the same with weight.

Anyway, keep up with whatever it is you are doing!

Hello all,

Earlier in the day I had my post almost complete when one of the tradesmen working outside today (for which I give sincere thanks and also say “not before time!”) needed to consult. By the time I came back in the post had disappeared and here I am only getting back to you at 11pm. So a short post, for which some may give thanks.

I weighed in today at 63.9kg. 900 gms more than last Tuesday. Carbs, carbs, carbs. Posted earlier of my struggles this week. Did well yesterday until after dinner when I attacked the 85%/GF chocolate I keep in the house for OH, who, drat him, she says enviously, has always been able to have 1 square and walk away. Did better again today.

Too late now to comment on others’ posts, but I am always inspired by you all. Good luck this week, goodnight now xx Marilyn

Wow thank you so much there is so much to learn unfortunately my gp are like you are pre diabetic gp away and lose weight they are not much help but thank you very much for the help I will sit tonight and write a shopping list and plan for the week thanks guys it’s really appreciated.

See s-g you really have done so well in the last twelve months. Your stats are great in comparison to the old ones. Can you imagine how they would be if you’d not embarked on BSD a year ago!! Maybe you should make a poster of where you are today compared to where you were and look at it whenever you waiver. Anyway here’s to year two of a healthy way of life.

I’m a bit confused not sure if we have had 2 or 3 weeks of the 8. Anyway if it’s 2 I have gained a total of 2.8lbs. But working on mnm’s theory if I have a 3lb water retention gain I’ve lost!!!! Ok I know I’m only fooling myself. It’s still very hot here, high 30’s, but next week l’ll be back sticking to 800/30 like glue. I’m actually missing all that weighing and counting but on the other hand it’s been fun eating with gay abandon but within the principles.

Hope you’ve all had a good week.

Nectarines are so delicious. Unfortunately, they’re also quite a bad fruit, sugar-wise. Like sunshine-girl says, you’ll want to stick with berries for best results. Same with carrots, sadly. I’ll still have the occasional half carrot, but they’re not a great idea for daily sustenance.

You may find these at-a-glance charts useful to give you an idea of what kinds of foods should be in daily rotation and which should not. Good luck!

https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/vegetables
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/fruits
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/nuts