as you are not diabetic Maccy, I would suggest you check your blood sugar weekly, you should see it come down steadily. I assume you have a metre and sticks or did you get your reading from the doctor.

Seasidenana very impressed with your positive approach and determination…clearly getting the results because of it 👏Well done…
I lost 16lb the first eight weeks, then relaxed for Christmas and shocked myself by gaining 10lb in just a few days.
Slow start but have commited to my second lot of eight weeks. I’m now into my second week. Lost 7lb week one, keen to shed the xmas gain, so I was pleased with that.
My goal is to lose two stone by April 18th.
I had a sort out of my clothes a few days ago, bagging up what doesn’t fit. Purchased a few items that actually fit me now from a charity shop without shying away from the changing room mirror when I tried them on….
Onward and upward 🙂

In answer to your questions, I’m not diagnosed as diabetic so I don’t check my blood sugars. I do weigh myself daily though. It’s a contentious one because some people find it very disheartening if they have a blip. But I find it keeps me focused and motivated – I *want* to jump out of bed in the morning to check my weight. It also helps you to identify things which help or hinder you quickly – even after a fortnight I can see that my weight loss speeded up when I stopped snacking and just ate meals.

Essentially don’t worry too much about details to begin with – 800 calories, no bread/pasta/rice/potatoes/pastry etc and don’t snack. Within what you do eat choose a good amount of fat and loads and loads of veg. The recipes section will be full of inspiration – unlike most diets you can enhance the plate of salad with mayonnaise, you can top the veg with cheese and you can wash down your berries with cream 🙂

You *can* do this!

Hi Maccy — well, you’ve come to the right place. You can make this happen here with the tools that the BSD gives you — it is literally a game changer and you are going to amaze yourself.
I continue to recommend the book by Gary Taubes “Why We Get Fat and What to do About It” as a good explanation of what went wrong with our bodies that we gained so much weight. It makes a great background understanding for why the BSD diet is so appropriate and is really good to calm the worries that we maybe should be eating more carbohydrate. It is also based on medical research out of the US so it is trustworthy information.
And here’s the most important thing — don’t quit no matter what — bad days, bad choices, bad-hair days — just start again, get right back to it. You will get better and better at it and you will learn how to do it — it truly can change your life. Just stay the course, until you get there.
What’s that great Chinese saying? When’s the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago.
When is the second best time to plant a tree?
Today.

Hi FindingMe, nothing has been lost. Whatever is done is done, and if you start again straight away then the worst you will have is a perfectly valid 4:3 week, if not quite so med style as you would like. The fasting way of life is very forgiving of transgressions in my opinion and you may find you don’t have to go through withdrawal again with quite a short exposure to the bad stuff.

Angela and Julia,

I’ve just sent you the spreadsheet with detailed instructions on how to use it. You’re not gatecrashing at all, Julia, btw. We’re all here to share, learn from and support each other. I hadn’t even thought about how important reducing emotional stress is to keeping you focused and positive not just on the decision process itself, but on your diet and fitness as goals as well. I hope this tool is of great help to you. 🙂

Any symptoms in the first week are likely to be withdrawal related. Just push through it, being as kind to yourself as you can and when your body starts to adapt you will discover an amazing feeling of energy and wellbeing. You are in this for the long haul, but I have lost eight stone in two years on various diets (although this one is definitely the best, and in many ways the easiest, I just wish I’d known about it decades ago) and have gone from 18 stone 11 to 10 stone 11. It absolutely can be done, and as FiB said above, just reread your commitment above any time you waver.

Thank you so much for the warm welcome. I’ve had few tears today at the realisation of what I’ve done to myself. However I’m determined to succeed. I had bit of a crash last night…bad head and fuzzy and dizzy but little better today although the headaches still with me. I’m so encouraged to read your success stories…well done all of you. Hopefully I can update with a good loss soon. Do you all weigh weekly and how often would you check your blood sugar?

Hello Maccy. You’ve come to the right place. There are so many inspirational people here with amazing stories to tell about losing weight and regaining health. You’ve made the decision and made contact. Read everything you can and keep coming back. There’s loads of help and advice available.

Best of luck to you. You can do this.xx

Maccy, you’re in good company here. Some of us have got more to lose, some of less. I’m in the more category, so’s you know. There are lots of really friendly, supportive folk here, all willing to share stories and experiences. Any questions you have, someone is sure to have the answer or know where to find it. The fact that there are so many people here, some who have been following this diet for a very long time, just goes to show that it works. If you do stumble from time to time – it happens, we’re human – just pick yourself up and start again where you left off. Very best of luck and best wishes to you and your husband and your daughters.

Maccy,
well done for taking the plunge, keep plugging away. I am on week 5 and have found an appetite for cooking again especially cooking everything from scratch. My husband is also eating the same food and also my 15 year old son, I just add a small amount of rice or potatoes to his meals. I have combined this drastic change of diet with exercise and have to say I feel great even in just 5 weeks. No tiredness and much more energy. A few ups and downs with my stomach over the first couple of week but no cravings and my stomach soon settled down.

5 weeks in my weight loss is 30lb and I do not feel as though it has been a struggle but I have stuck to it 100% including excluding alcohol.

Good luck and keep going.

Regards

Sue

I live alone too, but I seem to be quite capable of scuppering any chances of sticking to healthy choices all by myself!

That being said, I’ve made a large batch of lentil (whole mung bean) casserole and it’s so good I don’t think I’ll be going off the rails too much today, as I’m eating a small bowl of that when I feel hungry. Also having some fruit (kiwis and oranges). Turkey breast and pork mince stuffed peppers for dinner, if I get everything together in time.

I tend to like eating the same thing all week so hopefully that’s most lunches and dinners all sorted for this week.

I’m going to try my hardest to eat Mediterranean style now with a view to getting as many days of fast 800 as I can in gradually. Good luck to all!

Hi Chunkyd

I think you are right, after the 8 weeks either increase you daily intake for a week or two and then reduce it again, or even transfer to the 5:2 version, that is the way I am going after my 8 weeks. Stick to it solidly for 5 days and allow a few carbs to creep in over the weekend without going mad.

However if you are still losing and do not feel hungry then it may be worth to keep going until things slow up.
Good luck with whatever you decide

Regards

Sue

I am just a bit fed up with it so having a few days off, this weekend and then Tuesday is my birthday but we are not going out until Wednesday. After that I will get straight back on. BUT when I say have time off I still wont be having any white starchy carbs and will generally be eating good stuff, just not counting every blinking thing. Having said that, I have drawn up my menu for the next week and it still comes in around 750 cals so I think it will be a few glasses of wine that will be my extras. Will come back on here on Thursday but right now I dont want to be thinking about it day and night. Hopefully I wont do too much damage.

Hi there Essexalan, under normal circumstances I test twice a day, fasting in the morning then again at 7pm or just before I have dinner. But I also test if I am going to do a lot of exercise of have done a lot, I would also test if I felt the symptoms of a hypo coming on, like blurred vision, tingling in lips, shaking etc. What I have done is make sure I exercise not too long after a meal so I don’t have to eat just to do the exercise. If I do have a low I now just eat some prunes and a couple of spoons of Greek full fat yoghurt which brings me back up.

Good luck.

Hi Heather – look forward to hearing from you.
Wondering if you’ve got my address OK – nancybutler27@hotmail.com.
Day 5 for me – going OK not hungry, so far so good.
Nancy x

Hello Everyone
Like Captain Lynne, I live alone and I think it is probably easier when you don’t have a family living in the house. No need to buy for others, no excuse to buy that poison we used to eat – just take care of No 1!. Still I could always find excuses. Work days were always a problem. One of the courier drivers would leave a heap of cakes and croissants (on the verge of sell by date) in the tea room which he had gathered from a petrol station he visited each night and I could never resist – several times over. I would find an excuse to go into the tea room which was a room off our office. I would food shop on the way home, always tempted by rubbish with a promise to begin again the next day.

The family would visit and I had to have food in for them. There would be left overs which I just had to eat. I loved to bake – any excuse to bake a cake for work or family – guess who ate the most….. Now I have retired so the work issues have gone and I have found this great diet. The visiting family has to have what I have. I have given up baking.

Was youngest son’s birthday and we all went out to eat. I assumed I would fall off the wagon in impressive style but happily Weatherspoons do a skinny steak – small steak with small salad – perfect, I survived. Progress!

Just stayed with my sister and she was brilliant with the food for me, maybe a little puzzled, but brilliant. I have much to lose and a long, long way to go, but will take on Lucia’s baby steps. I fail frequently of course, become very lax with the calorie counting. I am not diabetic, but just about pre-diabetic – or so my previous GP told me at 0.1 of a degree above normal. (I didn’t leave the GP for this…… I moved house). I know I need to reign in calories and focus more on carbs. Having been a huge fan of crusty bread preferably with poppy seeds and thick sliced (fortunately Greggs stopped selling it) with a thick enough layer of butter to show teeth marks, I have not really missed it or roast potatoes and chips. I am very grateful for that. I note that many people on here have struggled with the lack of wine and I am lucky in that I have never been much of a drinker.

Sugarfree Farm had a section about mindfulness (went on a course while working) where you take the time to look at food for instance before you eat it. Smell it look at it, describe it and then experience the taste of it, being mindful of every mouthful as you chew and swallow. I had forgotten about it, but intend to add this to my list of things to do this week…. Now I have the time.

I also need to incorporate the walking 10,000 steps now that my knees don’t hurt as much as they used to – baby steps to begin!

I am a food addict and exercise phobic.

As Jules Maigret said, food is fuel………… We need it to survive. I shall try to think of it as a necessity
This is all doable. At last the possibilities are here. Success will be mine and yours.

Thank you Lucia for the motivation

I plan to start the 8week diet later this month. In preparation I have consulted my doctor, she has agreed I should stop metaformin during the diet. I plan to test my fasting blood sugar levels prior to stop medication and the continue to test during the diet.
Can anyone offer advice on this in particular the frequency or testing during the diet.

At blinking last! 9 days no loss. Yesterday, welcomed in the whoosh fairy with 3lbs off. Had 3 nights of great sleep, am sure that’s no coincidence, also stayed off scales for 4 days. Hurraayyyyyyyyy. MKx

Go for it, Maccy! You’ve already got loads going for you – You know you need to change, you have a supportive partner, and two gorgeous girls to provide all the motivation you could need.

You CAN do this, you know, and here you’ll find all the info and support you’ll need. wishing you the very best of everything – it’s not about luck – you do it all yourself. Look around the site – there are lots of big losers. MKx

Hi all, after being told by my doctor that I’m pre diabetic, I found out about the Blood Sugar Diet on line and have decided to buy the book.
Interested in any tips on the 5:2 diet, particularly for the two ‘fast’ days. Thanks! Any help much appreciated.

Yes, I think you are right, Lucia, in suggesting that living alone is maybe the secret to losing weight easily.
There is always so much unintentional sabotage to combat by others.
This is very hard to do always 100% successfully.
Also, sometimes it may offend …

Big hugs to you and I applaud your bravery.

I am in week 3 and the weight does seem to start to come off quickly which will motivate you. I’ve also spent a lot of time trawling through success stories (there’s a whole section for success stories in the My Fitness Pal forum, if you’re using that) and they keep me inspired, and more importantly they keep reminding me that big weight loss is achievable and I can do it too. Also really enjoying the food, and enjoying a way of eating which doesn’t make you feel like you can’t enjoy the food. Luxurious things like full fat yogurt, or the delicious lunch I’ve just enjoyed (scrambled eggs with chorizo and broccoli) don’t leave me feeling deprived like other weight loss tactics have.

You can definitely do this. Stick to the rules, don’t snack (already I can see that tiny snacks, even within the calorie allowance, really slow down my weight loss), be imaginative, and you will soon start to see changes. Very best of luck to you ❤

Well done you – and welcome! You have a supportive hubby and the determination – can’t wait to hear your progress. You may fall off the wagon (you have a long haul to go) but if you do pick yourself up and re read the post above and straight back on it. Sending you good wishes.

I am 37 years old I live in the UK and I’m slowly killing myself. I’m embarrassed and ashamed to admit what I weigh but I’m going to do this.😳 I NEED to do it so any help and support is appreciated. I’m 5’3 …just and weigh 18 stone 7 pounds. Just writing it down makes me feel sick. It’s the one thing I don’t tell anyone. I secretly keep it to myself to hide the shame. I’m a size 20 and my BMI is 45.8 😨. I suffer with asthma have done all my life but my breathing is laboured and I fund just walking my daughter up to school from the car difficult. I have had chest pains since Christmas and my fasting blood sugar is 6.6! I have tingling in my limbs and if i stand for too long my left leg goes numb. I have an amazing husband who is doing this with my as he too wants to reduce his weight and I have two beautiful daughters who need their mam in their lives. There’s a history of high cholesterol, angina and high blood pressure in my family bit no one yet has type two diabetes. I think as I’m in the pre-diabetic state I am seriously concerned for my health. My Dr’s are appalling still dishing out the eat less exercise more rubbish and telling me not to exclude important food groups like carbohydrates. Thankfully I’m not listening and have signed up to this in a bit to change my life. I want to be able to play with my girls to go horse riding and get on that rollercoaster without worrying whether I’ll fit or sit in a BBQ and not worry that I may break the chair. Writing this has made me see how bad things are and how I must change. Please help me achieve my goals.

I’m on day three so far and ive stuck to it like fat to my organs. Constantly on the toilet guess that’s the water going. Cmon mrs u can do this….

Thank you shrinkme81 I’m following the diet to the letter, other than I’m not drinking enough water. I have noticed better losses on the days I have drunk more water, so the theories on this diet about fat loss do seem to be correct.

I have a lot of weight to lose (165 lbs) so for me and others in this position it’s going to be important to keep the motivation up over a long period. I live alone, so there is no one to keep me motivated.

I don’t know how other people tackle this, but I have set myself three goals and I’m only aiming for the first one first. This should be acheived by the beginning of April so not too long, and I have a holiday in April to aim for.

I have started a diary on my iPad, recording how I feel and adding photos. I have also pasted photos of myself at lower weights, including me at each of my 3 target weights so I know roughly what I should look like at each stage and what clothes I’m likely to fit into.

I have sorted out my clothes and packed away smaller sizes into bags and stored them away. I only kept the nice stuff I have given away the rest. The only clothes hanging in my wardrobe now do fit me, which makes me feel better in the mornings. As I shrink out of these, they will be given away or the nicer items sold on eBay.

This may sound silly, but it really has helped me to visualise my own body and why I’m doing this. I had got into a state of denial about my weight gain, and now I really do get it that I was obese ! I have been avoiding mirrors and cameras for a long time. It does help to be in touch with your body and your feelings, even if it is painful.

Hi cmawp,
It’s a bugger, isn’t it! I share your pain, you are not alone!
Just remember to enjoy the Superbowl.

Hi Libby,
I have never tried Atkins products (but have used other meal replacement shakes years ago). I am with Californiagirl – real food is much more satisfying and more beneficial over the long term. Whipping up a quick meal can be the work of just a few minutes.
In agreement with Jande9, too – the cost over the long term would certainly put me off. It’s lbs we want to lose, not £s. 🙂

Helster milk is okay but you have to count the calories, I think full fat milk in tea would be around 30 or 40 cals. I drink green tea without milk so not sure exact calories in milk, the site I use to check is a diet site so only shows fat free. Doh

Thanks mixnmatch. I am in the UK and my husband eats a lot of Fage Total greek yoghurt so that’s a good start! Drinking water is a struggle but I’ll get some Badoit in and also I’ve ordered lemons and mint to try to increase the flavour.

Is it ok to still drink tea and coffee – or should I be limiting milk intake? I don’t remember seeing much about this in the book.

Helen

Thanks sanshu, I am not planning to post my weekly loss normally , as I know it is not a competition but I was so thrilled this morning when I weighed I just had to share. Never in my life have I lost that so much weight in such a short amount of time. I didn’t believe this eating plan would work so well.
The frittata recipe sounds good – will definitely try it.

My Veg Frittata for brunch = 308 cals / 7.8g carb

(I didn’t like the look of the recipe in the book as lots of carbs so came up with my own which I’ve just cooked and it was delicious!).

Recipe below is for two servings:

Frylight 1 cal spray x 2
4 large eggs, whisked
80g Greek Feta, crumbled
95g closed cup mushrooms (4), sliced
134g green pepper (1 medium size pepper), chopped
150g courgette, chopped
42g spring onion, chopped (4)
70g young spinach
Chives, chopped (1 tbsp)
Fresh mint, chopped (1 tsp)
Fresh coriander, chopped (2 tsp)

Method:
Add 2 sprays to a small but deep frying pan and then sweat the courgettes for 2 mins.
Add mushrooms and stir – sweat for another 2 mins
Add pepper and spring onions – continue to sweat for another minute
Add spinach – stir thoroughly and cover and leave for 2 mins
Crumble in feta, add all other ingredients, stirring gently as you add the egg
Let that set on a gentle heat for two mins
Put under grill until brown and puffy
Test by inserting a knife – there should be minimal liquid

I’m told you’re supposed to then let it cool and eat at room temperature but I was far too hungry to do that and it tasted lovely freshly cooked!

Seasidenana that’s still a very respectable loss, and much more than you would expect from the standard “lose weight slowly, 1.5-2lbs a week” tactics. Well done all 👍

Annepod – that’s amazing. Well done!! Especially getting your step count up. I find the hardest thing about getting your step count up is the time. I am very overweight (would like to lose at least 7 stone from my starting weight) so can’t walk fast which means really dedicating the time to exercise.

I know I’ve lost some weight but I’m doing my measurements this evening so hopefully will have lost a few centimetres too.

I really admire everyone who is managing to do this and cater for others too – I don’t know how you manage it. I am very lucky – I am either making for myself or my bf and I are cooking together (or he’s cooking for me). He is hugely supportive so when he’s over is eating what I eat with the occasional extra carbs on the side.

Vogager you have done brilliantly well done. I’m planning my meals for my granddaughters coming visit, and will learn from your experience there ! My loss is not dramatic like some people, but steady. 5.8 lbs off now at the start of week 3.

Hi Nancy B – thanks for the encouragement. I got lucky with time yesterday so instead of driving fifteen mins to the shops I walked the long way around through the parks to get there which was really pleasant and great for birdwatching.

Unfortunately such a large amount of steps won’t be a daily occurrence.

Hi FindingMe – somewhere in the book it talks about lapses. It’s unlikely to have set you all the way back to the beginning and may not have done as much damage as you think. Either way don’t despair. This is a long haul thing – this is a new way of life and not a diet (although we calorie control in the beginning) so we can’t be perfect 100% of the time. I suspect the trick is to just start up again rather than give up.

All is not lost – you were good for a week and a bit so you know it can be done.

Also it must be very hard when campervanning to be good. I think about when I go camping and we live off white bread whilst we’re waiting for the Trangia to cook us something nice.

Be nice to yourself xxx

I’ve just completed five weeks (started 2nd January), and I’ve lost a total of 20lbs, so I’m quite pleased. I’m not counting carbs at all, just calories and following the GI index, keeping under 50 – as far as I can tell a low GI also means low carbs. As I live by myself I can’t be bothered to cook fancy meals so I’m eating mainly eggs, prawns, salmon, cod and chicken, full fat yoghurt and berries – with 25g of cheddar cheese when I make myself an omelette. I’ve bought Birds Eye frozen vegetables as they’re packaged individually and cook for three minutes in the microwave, they’re ok and I add some mixed herbs, or paprika to spice them up a bit. Also plenty of salads and an apple a day – can’t manage without my apple! I only eat between 12.00pm and 7.00pm and so far I haven’t felt hungry at all. Slipped off the wagon twice – once when I bought my eight year old twin granddaughters chicken breasts from KFC, one of them decided she didn’t like them and I couldn’t bring myself to throw them away so I ate all three! I was horrified when I checked on Google later to see they each contained over 300 calories…… I won’t be doing that again. The second time was when I cooked them a pizza, they had apparently had cake and all sorts at their after school club as it was someone’s birthday, so they weren’t hungry – so I managed to eat 75% of the pizza. Unfortunately I belong to the generation where you were made to clean your plate, and didn’t waste food. I think the moral of the story is not to feed my granddaughters!

Hi, I’m starting tomorrow. I’ve written a food plan and a shopping list!

Week four completed and 12.5 lb gone. My goal for this week is to count calories carefully. I am ok with watching the carb count but don’t give enough attention to the calorie count. The diet goes against all the “rules” of other diets I have done that I still find it hard to come to terms with this way of eating. My colleagues at work are all doing slimming world and we are eating the total opposites of each other! They think my diet is weird! I am very happy that this way of eating is helping me lose weight. Almost one stone down and two more to go! I am still very much in control and despite having three meals out this week, lost 3lb. How good is that! If I can lose weight doing this then anybody can lose weight- it has previously taken me five months to lose 12lb with either Weightwatchers or slimming world. I am going away for a couple of nights in March to Harrogate after my eight weeks on BSD 800 and my plan is to have those three days “off” and then will be back on plan again until my summer holiday in June. It will be interesting to see what my body tells me to do off plan! I will not be jumping on the scales now til next Sunday. I got on this week on Thursday and was still the same weight as last week, felt upset all day and spoilt my day off and then on my official weigh day has lost 3lb. Lesson learnt! Have a good week everyone. X

Sunday 5th February end of week 5. I have just weighed & I have lost 2 & 1/4 lbs this week so pleased with that because it’s better than one pound! Since week one I have now lost a total of nearly nine pounds.
My husband is maintaining the weight he lost but his bloods are a bit up! I think because he has introduced back in his diet nuts & raisins, bananas & cheese crackers & we are also eating more couscous & bulgar wheat. We are still working out how to maintain his current weight by him eating more but not increasing his blood sugars.
Sarah very well done getting back on track👍💐💐
Wonderful weight loss Fairyface 💐💐💐
We are going out to lunch today at Cote Brasserie so I’m really looking forward to that & will have a couple of glasses of wine that I will calorie count into my day eating below my BMR for one day rather than trying for 800.
Having discovered kefir I have bought from Amazon a book on it, fascinating history about it, kefir starter & a new plastic sieve because it reacts badly to aluminium but is OK with stainless steel & I don’t know what my own one is made from. So into kefir production when it all arrives probably using whole organic milk. The book suggests starting with eating small amounts to acclimatise ones gut but we are looking forward to repopulating with good bacteria 😂😂😂
Let’s all keep on going because it’s only three more weeks to go to complete another eight weeks👍👍👍👍👍
Margaret xxx

I fell of the wagon this week because of…well, life 😉

Oh well, 1 kg found it’s way back, but when I measured my waist there was no change there. That felt good. My biggest concern now is that my old friend Mr. Sugar Craving is back in town. I suspect this next week will feel a bit like the first one.

I’m back on track and ready for the next 3 weeks of mostly 800 kcal. So inspiring to read all your stories.

Hello all, I haven’t been a frequent poster but I have been watching all of the posts and have found all of the information and advice very helpfull and motivating. It’s good to know that I have not been alone in my constant fight to lose weight for the past 20 years. I have not had a diabetes diagnosis but would consider myself at high risk. I am approx 3 stone overweight and carry most of my weight around my stomach. I also have a family history of type 2. I would imagine that I am insulin resistant which needs reversing. I am now on day 8. I have been having 2 meals a day, I was never a breakfast person so have not found that difficult and I think a daily fast to lower insulin release is a good idea. I have stuck steadfast to below 800 calories and have been keeping my daily carb count to below 30g.
I can’t say that it has been really easy because I find the portion sizes very small and it has been difficult cooking for 5 others in my household before I cook for myself. I work full time so lunches have to be organised the evening before. All is manageable though with a bit of planning and forethought.
I have been trying to up my daily steps and with the help from a friend have been walking every evening. I have managed to get from a poor 1000 steps a day to about 7000. I am aiming to manage 10,000.
Anyway, I just wanted to say it really works. I have lost 8lb this week and 6 cm from my waist measurement. This is a big motivator and is encouraging me to keep going.
So thank you for your posts and good luck for the next week.

Aargh. Today is Day 14 for me and I blew it the past 3 days when away Campervanning in the bush with a group.

I was going so well at home the first 11 days and was so pleased with myself. I’m now back home but am feeling that old sinking disappointment that Ive failed myself yet again stuff.

It’s nearly bedtime here in a continuing very hot Queensland, and I’m hoping I will restart “the program” in the morning but not as confident as I was 🙄

Great to read how well everyone is going though. Cheers.

Hi Nancy. That would be great. Will drop you a quick email now. Heather x

Jpscloud – funny to find I am not the only one who can be good all day at work and then come home and make the most disastrous food choices. Usually when bringing out the cake etc for the student or when, like Lucia’s other half, I am presented with the doughnuts he brought home to share with us! I have tried asking him to keep them away from me, but wherever they are I have an instinct for sniffing them out!

Lucia
As usual you speak to the soul. Spot on.
Have a good Sunday.
Julia

Esnecca – just catching up on posts this weekend and saw your excellent one on decisions above. Would you be able to send me the spreadsheet too? Sorry to gatecrash but it sounds like a game changer. Currently weighing up some difficult decisions regarding changing jobs. I am a massive emotional eater and anything which helps to remove a little emotion from life decisions has to be beneficial in terms of what goes into my mouth. juliabsd18@gmail.com if that would be possible.

Oh Lucia, I feel your pain, I really do. It’s tempting to sweep these thoughts under the carpet and feel that now we’ve all found this eliqusia(sp?) of life that it’s easy to follow and all will be well.

But it’s not easy. It’s hard to break a lifetime of habits and support mechanisms. Food to treat boredom, loneliness, stress etc is such an easy option. And no one ever reaches for the kale in a crisis.

You are doing so well. Keeping up the ideal even when the going gets tough. I’m sure your hubby means well, but could he show you how much he appreciates you in other ways, apart from cake?! It is easier when you only have to make choices for yourself, I do agree. And your choice for yourself has been to improve your health, so you will be around longer for your hubby!

Take care and carry on with your planning and one day it will all become second nature.

Hi,

Thank you all for your honesty and sharing your inner most feelings on food.
On reading them I learnt a lot.

My own feeling just about me is…
I am addicted to food.
I just want to sit down and eat nice food, sweets cake junk all day every day.
How many times have I, out if the blue said… oh I fancy cake, chicken, pasta, chips, chocolate. Etc etc.
When have I ever said… oh I fancy a bike ride, lift some weights, Hoover the whole house for exercise.. never.

To get me over my food addiction, I have to… believe it or not…. focus on the menu for the next day… plan it out…. I use that time to cut all the carbs out.
I then have a map of food, as I walk through the map .. bit by bit… I fight my urges for carbs… junk etc. I have to work on each hour, sometimes each five minutes just not to eat junk.

My hero, I wish I could copy is captain Lynn.
She read the book twice and followed it to the letter. She lost do much weight in such a short time, she got healthy in such a short time.
Lynn lives alone, is that the secret?
When hubby brings coffee and cake to you, it’s a hard temptation.
When hubby says he’s hungry and you make a meal for two when you really didn’t need to eat just then.
I am not blaming hubby, it’s my fault for not saying, oh not just now , put the cake back in the kitchen for later ( like never). Or I could just make him food and omit me.

I do eat more when I am bored, unhappy, lonely, tired, fed up, moody, angry, feeling badly done to, poor, ill, etc etc..

How many times I have come into the house, straight to the kitchen, put food in my mouth, and not noticed or even tasted it? Millions, zillions bagillions of times. It’s just programmed into my sub consciousness.

All the above is my burden, that I carry every day.

To me, I feel as if I am carrying a mountain, so easy to give up the struggle. It is SO HARD!!

That’s why I find it hard to change. I have to break a task down into baby steps.
I share my breaking things down smaller, or spreading the change over a week instead of immediate as I know how easy it is for me to stop/fail/give up/breakdown/say what’s the point/ or say I will just have this and start tomorrow/or I will start Monday.

I wish for a magic wand to change me into a person who eats to live not lives to eat.

Do you remember in Harry Potter, the wand lessons… swish and flick?
I will hold michaels book above my head and try swish and flicking it. See if the magic that’s within his book and in his words, comes out and works on me.

Love Lucia
Xxx