Brilliant news Margaret and Star Gazer. I am still in the 2lb club…lost 2lb each week since the end of July! So a good steady loss. I went off piste yesterday, with a meal out! 🥴 BUT today I am back on track…
I hope your no internet day went well S-G. I love the idea..will have to try to persuade hubby and give it a go!

Keep on keeping on!
xxx

Hi,

I hope all is OK with you all.
I had a 2 lb loss again this week, and I am happy that I am still steadily losing! BUT I leapt off the wagon last night!
I was waiting until after the GP appointment next Wednesday to have my treat meal out…but hubby couldn’t wait any longer! 🥴
So we visited our favourite restaurant! I did try very hard to stick as closely as possible to the diet (I didn’t eat the little bread loaf served with the Crevette starter) but I did succumb to 10 chips….after I had eaten the plaice with tender stem broccoli and capers (thinking of the advice to fill my tummy before eating any carbs)…However my major sin was a Creme Brulee desert! 😩(I did give the shortbread accompanying it to Hubby!)
😢
So back to being even more strict today…1 poached egg on a large mushroom for ‘Brunch’….and a little chicken with roasted med veg for supper! 😇

Keeping on keeping on! 🤞
xxx

Californiagirl, bear with the French. You must be learning something if you spend an hour. I think because my French is intermediate I don’t really have to study, just listen several time, then follow with the French script and sometimes need the translation, especially when they use slang. I then study and write down the slang or unfamiliar words and keep going over those. About 15 mins for me. I thought we would learn more about wine and tasting etc but at least we are learning the words to describe wines but don’t think I have learnt much new. Just the odd word here and there, like today using GRAVE to mean DEFINITELY and J’AVAIS KIFF for I LOVED IT. Nice little phrase.

Sorry for hogging the Positives thread.

Hi all, well done to Margaret and StarGazer, it certainly pays to stick with it. After my continuous blips up I had a big drop this morning. Unfortunately, it only took me back to what I was on Tuesday so I hope it continues. However, (I must stop using that word, sound like a report card). I am going to have a small vodka and tonic tonight and my small treat after no alcohol for 3 weeks and a very long day out.

We did the Escape Route in Bergerac and it was tres difficile – all in French but, we were reading all the story about the tasks and the girl told us it was just fluff and if we scrolled down to the bottom of the page we would just find the task we had to do. This set us back about 30 mins plus we set off 30 mins late. At one point my phone kicked me out of the game and I had to reset and then it did the same again so we gave up. It was fun but was hard going with the language and I did 7000 steps up and down and round the city.
It was an experience but I thought we would learn more about the city and its history. Quel dommage.

Tomorrow we are having a no internet day – I can have my phone on but cannot use for WhatsApp or anything online. It will just be for emergencies. I have gathered together some things to do. We will start the day with a crossword (a real paper one) with our brunch. Then we are going to do some reading and then a game of scrabble. We are allowed to watch TV or listen to the radio. It is supposed to calm the brain but also show up just how dependent we are on tech. So I wont be coming on here and I wont be able to do my daily French course or my Duolingo. I can set them to allow me a day off so I don’t lose my progress.

So I will see you all on Monday. Hopefully with a clearer head and better mindfulness.

Hi you two, one of the best and cheapest products is Cerave. Lovely and gentle. I wash my face in Boots Aquaeus Cream, goes on like a moisturiser but washes off, very gentle, or use E45 cream, it is the same thing and I tend to use cold water (tepid).

Started my new regime of Vit C followed by Hylauronic acid, then L’Oreal moisture for old skin 🙂 and then sun screen. Felt a bit claggy but soon calmed down. I will be beautiful in 6 months 🙂
Did the Escape Route and it was so difficult. Didn’t quite finish as my phone kicked me out and I couldn’t find the link again. But it was a day out.
Weight has dropped right down again, just shows, perserverence pays.

Yes Julia an absolute nightmare. I bought a whole system , day and night ++ , of a ‘natural’ range that several people had said worked wonders. So one week in and my skin had broken out in a red rash. Fortunately because it was an online only product I was able to return it all, including the opened products. Guess once you find a product that suits ‘if it ain’t broken’ …….

Hello all, I had a better week as well. The tiredness has worn off to a significant degree, and I’ve also realised how much eating bread was upsetting my stomach. I’ve suspected for some time that I have some sensitivity to wheat, but I definitely feel much better when I don’t eat it. Also figured out the right ratio of water for my shakes, which I’m having 2 to 3 lunchtimes a week. Just off to stock up on chicken breasts and veg!

Good morning everyone & phew I have lost 2.5lbs this last week with two consecutive 24 hour fasts which must have helped as well as the brighter days. I have also been using my SAD lamp, started taking St John’s Wort & have increased my protein & fat intake whilst staying between 800-900 calories in the last five days which is quite a juggling act. I must keep focused now because the thought of reaching Christmas weighing more than I did in last January is awful!!
Keep on going everyone & sorry for not posting much because reading all your experiences is helping & is very motivating 😀👍
Enjoy your mystery day S-G 🤞👏👏
Margaret xx

Have fun at your event in Bergerac today Sunshinegirl.
I am struggling through the wine region French course at this point, as every day is a full hour of study to get it all fully understood. Learning lots of new words, but I am glad it is only a month long! It is making me tired!! And it shows up in my inbox every single day!
Face products: a nightmare in my opinion. I have developed reactions to almost everything out there — no matter whether its expensive stuff or even from my dermatologist, it all makes my skin red and irritated. I have retreated to Clinique everyday moisturiser that I have used for thirty years — I had a “regime” of fancy stuff from my dermatologist which seemed to work well for a few weeks and then it all went south. I can’t even really tell the difference anyway. So I am relying now on lots of exercise to get blood flow and a bit of gentle soap and water — I seem to be getting more sensitive to products as I get older — weird — I am also more intolerant of heat and I have a terrible time getting over jet lag. Those are new to me, so probably age related. Pretty funny actually, if a tad annoying.
Happy weekend all!

No-one posting lately so thought I would think of something to say.

First my weight is getting me down as I have gained 0.2kg every day for 3 days. But thinking about it I had a bad stomach upset on Tuesday and took some bunger uppers and not been since 🙂 So made a smoothie for lunch with chia seeds, they usuall help things along.

Looking forward to our mystery day out tomorrow. It is like an escape room but in a town (Bergerac) with clues and little souveniers. We did similar when we were in the Alscace and got little reminders of our trip. Apparently this new game is ‘permantently replayable’ so hope we can do it again when family come out – obviously no prizes or bag of goodies at the end but just a fun thing to do.

I understand exactly what you mean about throwing stuff away. However, I get a lot of free stuff from a national French company because I have their fidelity card. So I get vouchers like buy one item in store get a free serum worth €28. Latest is a mascara worth €28 if I buy one item and I want some handcream I particularly like. Because of this I have a draw full of stuff not even opened so I said NO MORE… Then I went and ordered the stuff I mentioned yesterday. I was going to send it back but I need the Vit C and the hylauronic acid serum. One tip I can pass on is always, always use sunscreen even in winter. I personally love Dermalogica but really cant afford it.

Positives
Parcel with facial products arrived – yeah, they can go in the bathroom cabinet with the rest.
Looking forward to our mystery escape route in Bergerac tomorrow.
Lazy day with nothing to do. Peaceful.

Welcome Mixnmatch, I remember you too. Cornwall is beautiful and I hope that you and your husband will be well and happy there, and that you can now focus and move forward with your weight loss goals. As you say, you know what works for you so I’m sure you’ll soon start to see the results you are hoping for. Just be kind to yourself along the way : you’ve had a lot going on and lots to do, but make sure you take care of yourself too.

Dawn and Sue I’m so pleased you are both seeing losses. Well done! That’s really motivating and am sure it will continue. Dawn you definitely need a new sparkly chart! And Sue I hope your blood tests are all ok and that you get on top of all the storage symptoms. It could all just be stress, with all you’ve had going on recently. I hope you feel better soon and, as you say get your mojo back.

Arcticfox I’m so sorry you are in pain. It must be very confusing about what you can and can’t eat but, like Yowzer said, it seems to make sense that the tomatoes are not helping. I really hope you get sorted soon and can have a reliable meal plan with food that you know won’t hurt you. Good luck with the shed too! And I hope your work trip goes well next week.

Yowzer thank you as always for your inspiring words. How are you? It sounds like you are still battling with the sciatica and I really hope it improves soon, then as you say you can revisit those other symptoms too. Sending love and healing vibes your way. You are amazing to be achieving such tremendous weight loss whilst struggling with all these other things too. Well done!

Hello to everyone else on here too, and hope that you all have a wonderful weekend X

Hello all 🤗
I am so sorry foxy that you are in so much pain especially as you are trying so hard I have heard that tomatoes 🍅 are out good for gout I have arthritis in my fingers and have to be very care hope you find a solution soon to your eating plan
Well done sue 🤗I have only lost a pound this week but i suppose that’s in the right direction I think this time round we all seem to have the bus 🚌 going in the right direction still away to go but I feel positive
Well done Dawn ! thanks yowzer for the rhyme you always make me 😊 smile
Keep going everyone sorry if I have missed anyone out have a good weekend
Take care Lv nokie💞x

Hi S-g. I used a well known cosmetic brand for years but it became really expensive so I went for a cheaper option, own brand from a large chemist. I tried one or two other makes of day cream but was never really happy. Then the chemist brought out a new range and I was taken in by the hype. It was awful. The serum was in an opaque spray so couldn’t see the contents and that lasted 2 weeks, the night cream was ok but the day cream was a thick white paste that just wouldn’t rub in. I don’t ‘rub’ I ‘press’ so after a few weeks that went into the bin! I’ve never done that before and was really upset at having to waste an almost full jar. So, after that long story, I went back to my original brand which has just brought out a new version of its ‘double serum’. So we will see!

I’m fortunate that I have pretty good skin with very few wrinkles so my first positive is that I’m finishing off the my current creams before I start my indulgent ones when we go away. No waste!

I have just 1.6lbs of my 5.2lb holiday gain left to lose. Quite happy to have lost 3.6lbs this week.

Mountain of ironing to do today so hopefully will have my first positive for today when I finish it!

So sorry FOXY to hear youre in pain. How frustrating for you while youre just trying to help yourself and get answers with yr elimination diet.
I think you might be right about tomatoes not being good for you. I know theyre not good for arthritis,and gout is not dissimilar to arthritis.
I hope travelling goes ok for you X

Hi everyone, good to see people off to a good start.
I am really struggling on my elimination diet. I am in worse pain than ever since starting it. My tomato plants have been going gangbusters lately so I have been eating a lot as I have them as snacks when I get hungry, which has been often since starting the elimination phase. I wonder if it is the tomatoes. I am very suspicious now that I might be experiencing gout. It runs in my family, and Dr. Bikman says that it is tied to insulin resistance, and tomatoes and other nightshade vegetables may exacerbate it. So back to the drawing board for me. I am just so confused about what I can and can’t eat. I really went off piste today as a result of feeling so hungry and rather sorry for myself. But back on it tomorrow sans tomatoes. I just have to figure this out, as I’m really not enjoying feeling this way and it is impacting my sleep, energy and will to get things done.
I have also been exceptionally busy building a new shed. I had a builder in to do most of it, but my dad and I have been putting the siding on ourselves, which has been a bit rough when I’m already in pain. Luckily a builder friend of my dad’s came over to help us for a few hours today. Still a bit more to go though. I have to travel for work next week too, so might not be popping in here for a bit.
Keep on keeping on everyone!

Woohoo well done SUE! X defo going in the right direction 👍
I’m same as you,getting funny palpitations and a bit short of breath..not a nice feeling is it…they did an ecg and a chest xray,said normal,no further action. Sadly its how things seem to be now,NHS just doing the basics. I need to go back and ask what more they can do to help,but for the moment,just concentrating on trying to get over sciatica.
DAWN thats a great start to put on yr sparkly chart!X 🌟🌟🌟keep going,girl!
MIXNMATCH i remember you too,nice to have you back!I’m so sorry to hear about return of cancer for your husband,thats a blow,i hope it all turns out ok 🙏 a good move to retire,nothing more important than good health,ditto downsizing a great idea,wish your new place didnt need some work though X
Love to NOKIE!DCT!CATHY and all the gang,hold on to your hollyhocks as the bus zooms across hills and dales,ups and downs,rain and sunshine. Sit tight in your seats as we keep making our way through the 100 day challenge!
Lets have a singsong…all join in… 🎸🎶🎵🎸 she’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes!… 🎸🎶🎵🎸
🦉 An Owl Blessing 🦉……
“May you always have –
A moonbeam to guide you,
A starlight to charm you,
An angel beside you.” XXX
✶*¨*.✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¨*.✫*¨*.¸.¸¸.✶*¨*.✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¨*.✫*¨*.¸.¸¸.✶*¨* ✶*¨*.✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¨*.✫*¨*.¸.¸¸.✶*¨*.✫*¨*.¸¸.✶*¨*.✫*¨*.¸.¸¸.✶*¨*

Quick update, I’m another 1/2kg down, so 1.5kg so far. Think that’s just over 3lb. Not a huge loss but another step in the right direction!

Hi V, what was the face product. I have just bought a set of vitamin C, an hylauronic acid and a retinol. I already use retinol most nights and I use sunscreen every day, even in winter. Hard to get in the shops right now as I want a special one for face. Great idea to treat yourself.

Positives@
Hanging our washing to dry noticed my tomatoes have had a last flourish – about 20 which needed picking. My basil has also come back along with the oregano. Is that one positive or 3 ????
Hubby had a problem with his laptop, took it in to the specialist nearby and they got it working – no charge.
Shopping today and managed to keep it under €100, especially with all the vouchers we had. Thats about £84. It had been creeping up and up.

Hello Mixnmatch, I remember you 🙂
Sorry to hear that your husband’s cancer returned, but it’s good he was able to retire. It’s good that you have the next few months planned diet-wise.

Dawn – well done, it sounds like you are off to a great start!

Cathy – welcome back! So glad you got to enjoy your cruise 🙂

And a big warm, welcome to Heidi 🙂

I’ve had an up and down week, not sure what I’ve lost yet as I check my weight on Fridays. I’ve definitely been more active, my husband and I went for walk on 3 evenings and I’ve had a couple of daytime walks too, so averaging between 8-10,000 steps per day. Diet hasn’t been perfect but I have cut back on carbs and eating more protein, so that’s a start.

I’ve been getting heart palpitations and feeling very fatigued at times, also slightly short of breath so went to see the doctor today. He’s arranging blood tests to check iron, thyroid, blood sugar etc. I’m hoping it’s just that I’m run down. I miss how well I was feeling when I was following this WOE a few years ago – need to get my mojo back!

Hope everyone is having a good week!

I’ll hop on board as well (if a bit late to make the Christmas Eve deadline). Things went totally crazy after I last posted here, OH cancer came back, he immediately decided to retire and we bought a house down in Cornwall in need of a lot of renovation and proceeded to downsize the contents of a 5 bed house into our new 3 bed cottage. I got a new job as well, although later gave that up to spend more time with him, but the weight gains that had already started before lockdown and ballooned then accelerated more with eating out/takeaways/comfort eating in the bad times and the carb monster got the upper hand again. I am currently in the process of putting it back in the box using all the old tools, Fast 800, Full fasts, and 5:2. (Or rather 2:5)

On a full fast (with elements of fast mimicking) for 5 days then starting 2:5, until the festivities start (and in between them) then after Christmas I intend to do a 7 day water only fast and then 8 weeks of Fast 800 keto.

At least this time round I know what works for me!

Hi.
Some positives here ….

😀👩🏻 yesterday I had a lovely compliment, I think, from someone I’d not seen for years … ‘you look well ….. for your age!!’. Not sure if that was actually a compliment!

🧴🧴 Can’t find emojis for what I want but today I received face products that I’ve denied myself for ages. I just though to heck with it, life is too short, just enjoy. And I have!!!

Hope everyone is well and staying positive.

Hi friends, positives for today

Booked to do the equivalent of an escape room but called escape route, based in Bergerac trying to find stolen jewels (I think) using phones and clues that are sent to us.
Sun is shining and will be for a few days – but not for our trip to Bergerac.
Picked up my repaired engagement ring. 2 cubic zirconium as we couldn’t warrant the cost of 2 diamonds even though they are still only classed as chippings – so small. It is 38 years old so nearly an antique 🙂

Hi everyone and welcome Heidi,
I meant to post yesterday but didn’t get round to it.My 1st week went quite well, I’m 4 and a half lbs down and have an inch less bloat.Going to try to be a little more organised this week and cut carbs further.Good luck to everyone for this week🤞
Dawn XX

No offence taken SG ! Please don’t worry ! Xx

Hi all, today is my weigh in and was a little disappointed as I have been super strict but I have lost 0.75 of a pound, so on track if I can do that every week for another 3 and half weeks. Must get more exercise factored in. I am doing some but a bit here and there so maybe 3 times a week.

StarGazer, sounds like you have a plan and doing what is working for you. Not sure about shakes with water, I prefer to use almond milk which is quite low in calories and fat but gives my smoothies a creamier texture.

Spend the night worrying that Wendy is going to take offence at what I said to her. I’m sure she will understand I was just flexing my newly found language skills. Big hugs Wendy.

This idea of mine of getting out and about more seems to have got out of hand. We have 2 more cinema nights next week and I have booked for us to do a city murder mystery tour on Saturday. It takes place in Bergerac and is all done on the phone. We have to decide whether we want to be Ersin Lupin (the famous French jewel robber) or Moriarty of Sherlock fame. The only difficulty we will have is that it will all be in French so 2 phones will be needed, one to translate in case we get stuck, but a great way to learn the language more.

Hope everyone else is keeping on.

Heidi welcome on board! I hope we can help you see some positive results and also support you as you navigate your way through the other challenges you are facing.

And Cathy welcome back! I’m glad you had such a fab time away and am sure you will soon start to reverse the weight gain. Its interesting what you say about body confidence. I think we can all learn from that : even though all of us on here want to lose weight and are mindful of what we eat, it’s easy to fall into the trap of not expecting to feel good about ourselves until we’ve achieved our goal. But life’s too short not to enjoy the journey too. So I hope we can all celebrate who we are, whatever stage we are at, and enjoy life one day at a time even if we’re not quite there yet in terms of weight and measurements.

Yowzer I am so impressed with your weight loss! Another 5lb in September is amazing! Ang I hope the various treatments continue to help your sciatica.

Have a good week everyone, and keep posting x

Hello all, just started having a shake at lunchtime. Bit of trial and error with the quantity of water and stirring it up properly, but super easy. Having a med style dinner, usually chicken and veg but also make my own burgers with just the meat and herbs and a bit of cheese and salad. After a week clothes feel looser (I don’t weigh myself), but definitely felt more tired than usual. Hoping this wears off as I adjust!

Hi all, no weigh in today. I am getting used to not weighing every day but tomorrow is my official day – hoping… fingers crossed. I have been super good and no afternoon snacks except one slice of ham today and yesterday I have 2 olives and a couple of chunks of pineapple.

Verano, I too know what carbs I can have and how often but they can still creep in. I allow myself the occasional Ryvita with butter with my boiled egg or with my homemade soup. But notice it is getting to be most days. Luckily I run out after my current packet and no more until we go back to the UK.

Wendy, sorry you are struggling. Think of it as your body ridding itself of the poison. I could say in French ‘bien fait’ but wouldn’t even suggest such a thing 🙂 Sorry, something I learnt today. These crazy little phrases that we think we know what they mean. Now I am worried you will think I am serious. No way. It is a phrase I had to learn so I never make the mistake of using it. :). Only you and maybe Californiagirl will understand – are you still on track with the French Californiagirl.

Lovely weather here again but no chance of the pool heating up so just have to get on with the aerobics.

Have a good week.

Wendy so sorry to hear that your carb withdrawal symptoms are so bad. Hopefully this week will be smoother. Keep on keeping on ……

Welcome to this lovely thread Heidi where you can receive advice, support, inspiration and absolutely no judgement. Dreamscometrue has kindly sent up another wonderful thread for us. Most of us have had our fair share of difficult times and with many challenging times along the way but we keep going and we keep supporting each other and trying our best. We have some good weeks and some not so good weeks. Yowser keeps us going with her wonderful inspiring quotes and entertained with her jokes and everyone here feels comfortable to share theirs ups and downs. I hope that like me you will be inspired to keep digging deep and doing your best. I am going to try and undo the extra weight I have gained whilst on holiday and the 100 day challenge gives us all plenty of time to achieve our realistic goals. One thing I have learnt is to be realistic. I can’t lose weight like I want to. It happens very very slowly but it does come off if I eat a healthy diet and slowly and steadily I am to going to make the next 100 days count.
Good luck everyone!

Welcome HEIDI and well done CATHY. Its nice to have you back and Im so glad your pf has gone.
HEIDi I love yr name. I worked in a hotel in Austria in my 20s and there was a lovely Austrian girl working there who I will always remember called Heidi.
Love to all and keep on keeping on xxx

Hi everyone
Well to be honest speaking French is a lot easier for me than struggling with a pretty rough week back ! I think I knew what to expect with carb withdrawal but I reckon it was a bit more than that .Headaches yes, but feeling weary and really out of sorts for well over a week … ? Ok I had a month of excesses when family were here but I didn’t expect to feel so yuk for so long after .Oh well …maybe something else was going on ??

So I am sticking with it , fasting where possible and eliminating any white carbs .I immediately get an attack of acid reflux if I eat bread so that is a good deterrent .
I have a week in the UK planned early October to catch up with hubby’s family so I will need to be extra vigilant there but apart from that , no other trips planned .

I start back to yoga this week and will resume pilates whne aquagym stops mid October .

Just keep going everyone and be gentle with yourselves .You can pick yourself up and crack on if there are any detours on the road !! Just find your way back 🙂

Wishing everyone a positive week
Wendy x

I like the words “thread of inspiration”. I have a lot of challenges on my plate at the moment, but this would be one that makes a positive difference. So I would like to join too. Thank you for starting the thread.

Well I braved the scales this morning and I have put on 6.6 lbs. Much less than I anticipated! You won’t believe this but my step count every day was high! The Sky Princess is a big boat and one day I clocked up 21,000 steps!!!! It was a shore day in Gibraltar. I think the steps I did daily may have offset what I ate. I am hoping to achieve a weight of 145 during this 100 day challenge. I know how difficult it is for me to lose weight so this is a realistic weight and my aim is to keep out of the pre diabetes range at all times. Today is a day of healthy eating and I will keep up the steps. My plantar fasciitis is definitely healing so can’t make any excuses not to keep the steps up. Off to fill the fridge and cupboards with healthy food this morning and then a huge pile of laundry to tackle! Have a good day everyone and thank you for this thread of inspiration.

Quick drop by to thank SG and Verano for posting here and keeping the thread active. Have a few positives so thought I’d post while I have a quiet moment.

🙂🙂 had a lovely few days with my folks, good to catch up in person and spend some real time with them.
🌸🌸 visited a garden centre and was seduced in to purchasing a few plants … they have to live with Mum for now, but they’ll eventually make good additions to my garden
✈✈ we fly out to Turkiye today, pleasant evening/night at on-airport Hotel yesterday, so nice relaxing morning before we go and check in

Will post again in a few days.

this is i think such a good things to see and i cant wait to try it now ekotogel

S-g yes I remember the days when I was ultra strict too throwing away the bread from sandwiches etc! Must admit I’m far more lax these days although I still don’t eat a sandwich unless it’s with my low carb bread, and then it’s always an open sandwich and I do have a burger, but without the bun!

The abiding thing I remember of my pre BSD days is that ‘afternoon fatigue’. I used to think it was the normal thing to need an afternoon nap after lunch. But then lunch was usually heavy carbs with a sandwich, crisps and maybe even a chocolate biscuit! Now, with a low carb diet, I never get that afternoon slump and in fact when I wake in the morning I feel much brighter and more alert and stay like that for most of the day.

So, I guess this Way of Life has many benefits apart from controlling blood sugar. Losing weight I guess is the primary benefit for many but there are others, well for me at least, include feeling much brighter and alert despite getting older, eating a far better diet with virtually no UPFs and being far more aware of how food can, and should be, our ‘friend’ not our ‘foe’. I’t comes back to the old saying we should ‘eat to live not live to eat’!

Thanks S-G yes time to stop fooling myself with guestimations about what amount I am eating & smaller big girls pants will also be welcome 😂
Margaret xx

SunshineOrange ….. great advice from sunshine-girl. Just stay with us and write down all your daily/weekly/monthly goals. Although at the moment ‘one day at a time’ might just be the way for you to go.

Hello Cathy
Glad you had a wonderful cruise and didn’t worry about the eating too much!!🤗
Happy anniversary next week end I am boarding bus tomorrow let’s hope it works by Christmas Day that will be a good present 🎁 to ourselves
Have a good week
Hope everyone has a had a nice weekend
Lv nokie x🤗

Just realised that if I start tomorrow then my 100 days will take me to 25th December. Perfect!

Hello
I am back from my wonderful Mediterranean cruise and will be boarding the bus tomorrow for the 100 day challenge. The holiday was amazing and I dread to think what I weigh! I didn’t hold back on anything! I didn’t over eat but I definitely didn’t stick to this WOE!! was never going to hence why I had my HbA1c checked before going and the nurse agreed! I saw some very large people whilst I was away and nobody seemed to be bothered about being overweight. They were wearing bikinis and had absolutely no body confidence issues whatsoever. it was quite liberating to see people embrace who they are. I don’t think size matters as much these days but of course health does and that is why I will be back to eating a healthy diet from tomorrow. Two weeks off is not a problem. I might get on the scales tomorrow to see the damage but part of me doesn’t really want to face it! Anyway, I’m back home today and looking forward to eating healthy food and joining you all on the challenge. I am away again at the weekend As it is our Ruby wedding anniversary so will do my best and then from next Monday I’m fully committed to doing my best. I’ll catch up on your posts in the next day or so. It’s good to be back. I’ll start my 100 days from tomorrow.

Hello.

S-g great positives.

Dark and dank here today but there are positives:

🥒🌶️🫒 Back on plan for 2 days and 2.2 of my 5.2lb holiday gain are gone so very positive.

🧺🧺🧺 Washing all done so just the ironing to do now!

🥦🌶️🥑 Finally, after all these years I’m working out just how to eat some carbs that don’t send my blood sugar soaring. I have a feeling that after 8 years of low carbing my body is reacting more normally to carbs.

Onwards and upwards making every ‘positive’ count.

Hi Verano, glad to have you by my side as you have been for many years now.

My positives are:0

1. Found a housesitter for our Christmas (been trying to avoid that word but….) trip. Coming from America to meet up with their daughter who is in London but fancies a holiday in France.
2. Just sold my heavy Dyson vac, no hassle, just put it on a site and it went the same day.
3. Hopefully picking up my engagement ring from the jewellers after having replacement stones. Couldn’t really afford diamonds but they have put in 2 cubic zirconia.

Will save any other positives so I have something to say next week.

Great plan Pootle. I had a doctors appt on Tuesday but had all my blood tests on Friday so was very tempted to have a treat over the weekend knowing it wouldn’t affect my BG or cholesterol but held back because I didn’t want to have gained a pound or so with a few glasses of wine. Also the more you delay the easier it gets. There is something to read about deferred gratification but I can’t remember where I saw it. Will google later.

Hi all, hope you are having a good weekend. I love it when things go right and that is what is happening for me right now. First we put out a call for a Christmas housesitter on the site we use and, after 2 false starts we have found someone who we hope is a perfect fit for us. Next we bought a new light-weight stick style vacuum and put our heavy Dyson on a selling site. Went the first day and they picked it up and paid today. That money will go towards me having my engagement ring repaired – needed 2 new diamonds (tiny ones at around €100 each) but couldn’t justify that so settled for 2 cubic zirconia at €100 for the 2.

Weight loss is going well so I resisted weighing today as we all go up and down on a daily basis. Going to try to wait until my weigh day on Tuesday. BG is going down every morning so I am still reducing the insulin dose. Down to 15 units. That also helps me lose weight as I am not pumping so much fat magnets into me.

SunshineOrange, you are in a safe space here. We never criticise or have a go at or insult anyone – we are here to look out for each other. We might sometimes give each other a little push or some advice people don’t want to take but it all comes from a good place. I am assuming you don’t have any health problems like diabetes where diet plays a big part but I am sorry to hear about your head injury. It must be difficult to cope with the combination of insomnia and memory loss – I find it very hard to sleep and often still awake at 5am but lucky enough to be able to stay in bed if I need to.

My suggestions for you are 1. Stay with us and shout out if you need any help or advice. We might have been asked a question a dozen times but we don’t mind and that even makes us quite an experienced resourse. We will never try to give you crazy ideas or sell you anything but we have all done lots of reading or watching videos we might recommend. 2. I think you said you have bought the book (can’t remember which one) and I am sure you will find a menu plan for a couple of weeks. Try to follow one or spend a couple of hours making up your own using them as inspiration. 3. Do a shop with your menu with you and don’t buy anything that will throw you off plan. 4. Write down all your goal, hopes and dreams. You can also write down how you are feeling, is the diet helping with sleep or are clothes fitting better etc. 5. Write down what you eat and drink or put in an online application like MyFitnessPal which will calculate your calories, carbs, fats etc. Also write down any exercise you do and try to get into a routine, be it a walk once a week, aerobics in front of YouTube 2 days a week. Whatever. It is all up to you and baby steps are fine. I think the lists and recording will help you remember where you are and what you are doing. So many things. Hope I haven’t overwhelmed you.

Margaret, at least you have admitted you have strayed from the plan and maybe you already know where you have been going wrong. I think you can still go out to bowls dinners or spend time with your son but plan it into your diet. When he has a bowl of potato chips you can have a bowl of carrot sticks with a hummous dip or something similar. Have a meal out but leave the bread and miss out the dessert or have some fruit or even ice cream or a sorbet. There are lots of little tricks that can build up to good habits. Don’t think any of us find this easy. I sometimes want to scream – I hate being diabetic and I cannot be on and off my plan as my diabetes is always there at one level or another. Much as it is my dream it is not going away. Pull on your big girl pants (not a comment on size 🙂 ) and crack on with a plan to get you where you want to be.

Well I think I have had enough to say for today, see you all next week.

Thank you SG, DCT and Yowser. I guess we are all inclined to blame ourselves when we don’t lose and not necessarily take the credit when we do.
Yowser, what fantastic results you have had! That is amazing and in such a short period. Kudos to you!

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone.

S-G, you’re right; I’m quite the lurker. I am rather shy and easily discouraged so I tend to stand in place rather than take action… but I would like to change that. My two biggest challenges right now are my severe insomnia, which leaves me so exhausted that I struggle to even think clearly, and my traumatic brain injury that prevents me from taking short turn memory to long term storage, which means I forget most everything including my goals and determination.

My introduction- I am an almost 40 year old widow with a teenage daughter. I currently weight almost 270 lbs.
My reasons for joining everyone is to decrease my weight, improve my health, and positively influence my daughter while giving my self-esteem a facelift.
My marriage was a rocky one to say the least and left me with quite a shattered view of myself, not really knowing who I am, what I want, or where I belong. My daughter is likewise lost and wandering so I hope leading the way to a better path will help her in her journey of healing.
I really love the atmosphere of this forum so I’ll try to contribute more in the future.

Just a quick drop-in for Margaret. Can I suggest a complete “back to basics” approach?

No more guessing portion sizes even for good stuff … weigh and measure everything going on your plate, stick to as near 800 cals as you can each day and similarly, decided your acceptable level of carbs a day and try not to exceed it. And no “just one/just a little won’t do any harm” excuses.

We can all get complacent about the size of portions and little “off-piste” treats/exceptions, but by going back to basics and reminding ourselves what “normal” portions/eating on the BSD looks like, we can reset. The exercise might only be necessary for a couple of weeks, to get you solidly back on track.