Day four.

Today, I am going to do something strange , alone on the bed.

I am going to use the support and softness of the bed to have a go at yoga positions.
Lying on the bed, and lifting one leg up to the ceiling, gently drawing a circle in the sky. It doesn’t matter if it is more of an oval. Or has square corners. It doesn’t matter if it is only a few inches or miles wide.
It doesn’t matter if you can do only one lap or several.
Don’t forget to do both sides otherwise you will look like red hell boy.
Try lying down on your back and lifting your bum off the bed, I think it looks like a table. Two seconds is achievable and something we can build on
. How about moving your arms from your sides and then over your head, touching the headboard, and gently back.

Eating, today, I am going to have 350 calories for lunch.
But Lucia, your maths is all wrong.
350 lunch 350 dinner. That’s 700 and we haven’t mentioned breakfast.
If you know me, you know I do things gradually. Able to cope and handle it. I can maintain it for longer then.

Mentally, anyway, I have got over laughing about the sprouts.
Guess what I am ready to do now?
I am waiting for the first snowdrop then crocus. They are on the way. Go into the garden or field or park. And just stand still. You can hear a noise, a weird one. I straining noise. As the snowdrops are growing and pushing through the soil.
It may take a few weeks, but it doesn’t matter. I am outside and looking for the first signs of spring.
Enjoy the freshness.

You going to give it a go?

Have a great day four.
Love Lucia
Xxxxx

Hi Everyone , Its 40 degrees in Perth today, so I’m locked in till after 4pm when it’s supposed to cool down. The last few days have been a bit challenging with the heat. I managed to get to the beach for a quick dip before 8am, after that Its too hot.So i haven’t done my steps. Yesterday my weight was up .3kg for the second day plus BGL was 6.9.So I really needed to stop snacking even on BSD foods.It worked. today my weight is the same 84.7kg and fasting BGL is 5.9. I’ve decided to check my bloods a lot for a few days with the plan is no food if BGL is above 6.
I’m focused on keeping busy and lots of water.It seems to be not fair that I can’t go out because of the heat and all of you in UK are house bound by the cold.I hope all of you suffering with colds and flu will feel better soon, cheers

Love your wisdom BfitB470 – turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones. Indeed we all need to do so.

Had a successful day today – trying to get back to the routine even though we still have guests staying. I was upfront at dinner and said had to weigh my food…and that we were eating ‘early’ cos I was not eating between meals and I was hungry at 6pm. It was just to my son and his girlfriend but at least now I don’t have to try hide my measuring etc. They were totally fine with it. The Routine is so key to me. Cara54, bring on the weekend when you are back to yours too.

PS: hope you feel better today Miss Ziggy.

PPS: Margaret: I didn’t really put you to shame yesterday after all did I?!!! Best laid plans….haha.

Well, I had a an amazingly RUBBISH day yesterday too so I’m glad to know I am not alone. A combination of PMT hormones, tiredness from some (rare) insomnia and some work stress caused me to plough into a few things I should not even have in the house at this stage – namely left-over Xmas cheese and a big bag of gourmet chocs that The Chef brought me. I dread to think how many calories I consumed. AND I didn’t get out on my walk due to work deadlines. AND I only managed a litre of water. Pants day all around.

On the upside, I did make a yummy roasted tomato and onion soup for lunch with my new immersion blender which was utterly gorgeous. (Roasted 3 tomatoes and one large white onion (all chopped up and seasoned) for 35 mins at 180 degrees, stuck it in a pan, added a litre of veggie stock, stuck in the stick blender for 10 secs and then heated it all up. Recipe said add dried dill but i forgot. Easily made enough for two meals. And it was delicious and satisfying. Who’d have thought 1.5 tomatoes, half an onion and a stock cube would have turned into something so delicious. Possibly cheapest meal ever too – great for January budgets! Would be lovely with a swirl of goats cheese through it too.)

New day, new start. Hey ho. Feeling like cr*p but determined to crack this (and at least the cheese and chocs are now gone I guess….!!!)

Better luck today everyone: we all know the starting bit is the hardest; we just have to push through it.

Aw thank you….I know what you mean about the traffic and the rain. I always allow lots of time and arrive hours early…but good news that your husband is getting better. I will look out for the protectors, thanks for the tip.

Have a good day (or night) catch you later..

Daisiesmum, I was always a breakfaster but on the bsd and reading about fasting I gave it a try. Of course I do have to listen to my body, occasionallyI will have breakfast should it be safer bs wise. Usually I hold out for brunch or lunch having consumed herbal tea but not coffee on an empty stomach! I just wanted to give my innards a chance to recuperate and heal after years of sugar/carb abuse! I read recently that this whole recommended food/calorie intake needs to be reviewed/reassessed as it was originally set out in ww1 when work was more manual and people more active.
Hope everyone coping and back on track.

Quick check-in – weight 163.2 – couple lbs off since last week – so, OK onward and downward – have eaten less protein over past week – has been rainy and chilly around here so have come up with a mushroom soup that is Lots of veg and thickened with some tofu – the firm stuff leaves the soup a little grainy but the soft purees up nicely. With the decrease in protein I have noticed the blood sugars are down a bit which is a goal. Using the suggestions I’ve read here about getting up each hour and walking .
Also going to go for larger meal midday and soup/salad at dinner and see if that impacts the blood sugars in the AM – anyone have any experience with doing that ?
Have resolved (it is that time of year !) to let go of the frustration I have been feeling since diabetes diagnosed 6 months ago – I have since dropped 40+ lbs, have changed my eating patterns, drew down the A1c to 5.9% – changed docs (though not sure about new one – he thinks I am relying too much on lab results – and is reluctant to monitor more than at 6 month intervals – I would like quarterly for a year). I have no idea what is the “norm” or what to expect / ask for. Anyone willing to describe what they have been told ? or your experience ?
I figure I am ‘changing the things I can change’ and see what happens over time w/ whether my pancreas kicks back in . Frustration = stress – = increased cortisol …… bad …. not sure how Zen-like I can become …..
I do like this WOE – has changed my relationship w/ food.
Thanks to everyone on this thread – you guys are inspiring !! This is do-able – no doubt !!

Beans can be higher carbs but some of those carbs are from fibre, so they won’t push your insulin. I think the US counts all carbs but the UK counts net carbs, ie starch/sugar minus fibre. Here in Canada they list all the carbs so we need to subtract the fibre to get net carbs. In beans, about 25% of the carbs are fibre.
With cauliflower most of the carbs is in the form of fibre.
If the recipe comes up with lots of carbs don’t forget to subtract the fibre.
When I imported this recipe into myfitnesspal it gave me 117 calories and 7 grams of net carbs per serving.

Thanks Californiagirl.

Interesting question — I believe it would be a mixture of insulin responses — but who knows really because how do we digest high carb and low carb and high GI and low GI all in our stomachs at the same time? I think we need an expert nutritionist for this question!

Thank you Angela06 for contributing! That’s my peak for the day. :–)

That is so great that you lost a kilo overnight–whoo hoo-you must feel so good about that!
So crummy about the blistered heel and sore toe–I hope that heals quickly! I have that problem with the blistered heel often and have to put blister protectors on my heel when I go for long walks. Have you seen those? They are like a thick bandage that can be put on your heel. Really helps me!

Extra PEAK for my day–My husband is feeling better. He stayed home from work today but plans to go tomorrow. He is coughing so much less! I’m relieved he is feeling better. I hate to see him sick!
Also, I had to drive to another city for a doctor appointment and to get my hair cut and colored. It was raining and everyone was heading back to work so I was worried about the traffic being bad and people getting into accidents. It turned out great! No traffic both ways. Yay!

PIT: I had the day off but spent most of it going to those two appointments so I didn’t get to do anything for myself at home. :–(

What a wonderful target. I don’t know if I could lose so much in one year but I will certainly give it a try. I would be so thrilled with myself if I do it. In our town if you weigh over 80Kg/176lbs the ambulance won’t take you unless you can walk yourself into it. The staff stay with you and care for you until the one ambulance with the large weight lifting capacity arrives. Then you get taken to hospital. Two of my friends have died waiting 5 hours for the weight lifting ambulance to arrive from dealing with another patient 100km away. It’s pretty scarey when you are so obese. So I really wan’t to get down below the 80kg.

Californiagirl thanks for such a comprehensive explanation. When you say subtract the fiber from the carb count to get net carbs, would that mean that if I am having a salad and some metamucil and a carb dense food I add up the whole meal’s fiber content and take it from the whole meal’s carb content to get the carbs level. Or is just the fiber from the carb product? Thanks for your help xx

I just remembered that I forgot to say that you will be counting “net” carbs so don’t forget to subtract the fiber from the carb count to get net carbs — makes a huge difference and will give you more flexibility and will encourage you to eat high fiber/low GI foods!

You are so right Thelwellpony about how strange it becomes to be disinterested in food when it has played such a controlling and dominant role in our lives (due to our choices). It is liberating but at times seems odd. Aren’t we lucky to choose to avoid food domination.

Hi. No idea what’s going on. I’m away from home and have no scales. I’ve been eating reasonably well apart from the pavlova which I had on New Year’s eve and the following day, plus the alcohol and some chocolate. I’ve done 2 x approximately 16 hour fasts since then but have been eating bread and potatoes.

I miss my routine and my scales!!!! Going home on Saturday so I will find out then although my official weigh in day is Monday.

Thanks for listening!xx

Attempting to lose five stone as well this year. On day 7 now of the fast 800 and hunger seems to have stopped. I’m not having any cravings, which is really good, but it feels very strange to be so disinterested in food!

Lainie
Hope the 1st day back at work went OK. Haven’t heard from you this evening. Sending encouragement your way☺
Julia

Two easy options I’ve found are M&S chicken pakora (no batter coating, just lovely spices), served with salad (you could get an M&S salad for convenience) or quarter portion of crispy duck (most supermarkets do), throw away the pancakes and serve on mini gem or romaine lettuce leaves.

I was doing so well as i have this dreaded cold and no appetite so didn’t eat much then a pork chop and a couple of roasted veg then while watching tv i went to get a couple of Brazil nuts and found a packet of roasted coconut. Just plain nothing added so thought I could have a couple! 3/4 packet later!! 😢 🤧 Xx
Well done to everyone who’s stuck to it and well we’ll get there! I hope! Xx

Well done on keeping it up over the festive period, Yorkshirebloke and as for the two hours walking! – that’s impressive.

Lost a couple of pounds myself over Christmas, so still heading in the right direction … my initial 8 week period finishes next week and with 1 week to go I have lost 35lb. More importantly for me, it really feels like eating like this is sustainable beyond the first 8 weeks … I don’t really crave many of the things that I have cut out.

I invested in some ‘weightwatchers’ scales which give you a measure of %age body fat and BMI … all a bit scary but I thought it would be worth tracking those things as well as weight.

All the best for 2017 to everyone reading this thread – Mint_Tsaurus

Hope you are feeling better now Miss Ziggy.

Thanks Orchid 👍

I like Dal Makhani and Punjabi Choley by Ashoka. I get them from Morrisons and Tesco. Often pour them over some steamed cauliflower for a quick meal or they are good on their own too.

Well day two done. I’m not yet back to a strict 800 calories but close enough to it and most importantly no startchy carb and sugars. Slightly headachy today and probably a few too many cups of tea, but just trying to steer myself in the right direction in general. Made the skinny aubergine lasagne from the cooking book and it was lovely, very filling and satisfying. Feeling positive and ready for tomorrow!

Just a quick check-in with a 1.5 pound loss. Still trying to turn my stumbling blocks into stepping stones !!! My aim for this coming week is to add more veggie intake. Never have been a fan of vegetables unless they were in a salad, but I am quite enjoying cauliflower rice and zoodles (along with longtime favorite spaghetti squash). Cookbook for US available now, and mine should be coming this week. Would also like to get in more exercise. Walking is my favorite, but since it has been hovering around freezing for the past two weeks, I’ll just be walking more around inside (with or without a duster or vacuum !!!)
Good luck and good wishes to everyone for the upcoming week.

3lb off on Christmas day. 1lb on new years day. 2 pound off over the Xmas period. Loads of walking. Over 2 hours a day.

Had a terrible day today. Need to get back on track.

Hope you’re all OK and doing well.

Edit from above – 3 hours after eating my level is now 6.7 so I am keen to see my fasting level

Good morning everyone. I am thoroughly enjoying reading everyone’s inspiring and supportive comments. Today was my weigh in day after three weeks on this diet. My loss this week was 1.1Kg ( 2lb 4 ounces ). My total loss over the three weeks was 5.3Kg ( 10lb 10 ounces ). And my fasting blood sugar was 5. I am really pleased with this progress and now I start the 4 WEEK FIX. I am feeling really well and it is wonderful not having the blurred vision I was suffering with the high blood sugars. I feel much younger than my 68 years now. Keep up the good work all. I look foward to reading all about your progress too.

Good Morning Jo G – and thats great to hear well done you 🙂

Keep us updated, as I am sure we will you!

Pete

Jo G – your post is inspiring too. Well done. 🙂

Can someone please have a look at this chart and tell me why I see it wrong?

https://s24.postimg.org/ljue85u5x/Screen_Shot_2017_01_03_at_21_20_56.png

If a normal person has a level from 4-5.9 before a meal, how can someone they say is diabetic also have a level of say 5.9 before a meal? Surely the normal person has diabetes too?

Personally my “2 hours after eating” level is 7.7 and they say 7.8 and under is normal. so am I normal OR type 2!?

SO confused, For it also says to be under 8.5 is also for diabetics. BUT if I am 7.7 and therefore in the “normal range” then I have no bloody idea which one I am lol

Is it as simple as, if I am between 6 and 7 before a meal and under 7.8 2 hours later I am T2D? and if I am say 5.9 before a meal and still 7.7 after I don’t have it? Also when I do the 1 hour test it will be higher but everything I read just says to do after 2 hours, where did the 1 hour come from?

Thanks!

Be lovelynif anytime he has found a microwave/tinned meal that would be suitable for this diet, pls? Thx.

Good morning everyone. Your posts are so inspiring and supportive. I am learning so much which is helping me tremendously. I had my three week weigh in this morning. My loss this week was 1.1Kg ( 2lb 4 ounces ). My total loss over the three weeks was 5.3Kg ( 10lb 10 ounces ). And my fasting blood sugar was 5. So this diet is doing me the world of good. Today I begin my January challenge. All the best everyone. Keep the updates coming. I love to read them.

Thank you yes it is the beans 400 grams !!!! Will split the last two potions into 3 then it will be better thanks again xx

Hi! I’m back to work in February so I have decided to use the time off to focus on my weight and general health. My first goal is to get under 80 kgs. At the moment I am sitting on 82. I’d like to be 79 by February. Then I will aim for 75. I weigh more now than when I was 9 months pregnant!!!!!
How depressing!!!

Don’t panic about 63g carbs on Day Two, there is plenty of time to adjust your intake and remember, we are in this for the longhaul and there are inevitably going to be days when we do better than others. Now that you know that recipe comes up higher on carbs than you might expect, you can plan around it if you want to use it again. I don’t know the recipe myself, so can’t advise how adjustments might be made, but I’d guess that the beans are probably the reason the carbs are high, so maybe tweak the proportions if you make it again.

Good luck for Day 3, hope it goes well.

@MixandMatch – thanks for the tip about the porridge. I will make it with water when I fancy it – I have read up on Cinnamon and I aim to have a tablespoon a day in Pro Bi Yogurt or over porridge.

Hello all
Second day has been great except I have just checked my carb count and think the Creamy Cauliflower & bean soup on this site comes in at 29 carbs a potion !!! Seems very high to me but it is lovely and would like to have it again does anybody have any ideas how to lower it? Or am I doing it wrong ? I do think it would be better for the carb count to be shown on all recipes as well as the calories as I want to stick to 50 but at the end of my second day I am a little upset that I have consumed 63 carbs, any advice please
Day 3 here I come
thanks

Thanks for the tip on the cottage cheese 🙂

Hi TumTum 🙂

I am aiming for 50 but I try to do 25. I am currently reading a blog where a doctor shows he ate a steak and veg cooked in butter and a fancy sauce – and it was 17G of carbs!

That’s not much – by contrast coke Zero is 3.5 grams of Carbs per bottle!

Hey that’s good to know 🙂

My meter arrived today and I was in bed by 9:45pm last night so I am keen to see what my fasting level is – I reckon about 6, place your bets lol

Hello again

I’m continuing to read your posts with such interest – I’m learning so much.
I’m another day closer to my Saturday start. Have my food shop list ready.

You are all going great guns, fantastic.

I’m looking forward to being healthier and being the proud owner of just one chin!! 🙂

Best wishes to all.

Hi all
Isn’t ketosis the part of The Atkins Diet that makes you smell awful??? I can’t be hungry, fat and smelly!!
I’m aiming for 50g CARBS- on MFP I just keep track on the list. Hope I’m doing it right-lots to loose

But I also see this..
A normal blood sugar level is up to 6 mmol/l (108 mg/dl) fasting, or up to 8.7 mmol/l (156 mg/dl) after a meal
A marginally elevated blood sugar level may indicate prediabetes
Above 7.0 mmol/l (126 mg/dl) fasting, or 12.2 (220) after a meal, indicates that you are diabetic

So at 7.7 2 hours after a meal – is this bad? I used to be 9.7 when I was first told I was diabetic – this was after a meal. But it’s dropped a hell of a lot!

Grr – my mmol/l 2 hours after food is 7.7

Tested the wife’s – 4.8! And she used to pack away treble the sugar I did before I was diagnosed. Cow! lol

This says

If your blood sugar reading remained under 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L) at the one hour test and all the later tests, you have completely normal blood sugar and can stop worrying about it.
If your blood sugar did not reach 140 mg/dl (7.7 mmol/L) an hour after taking a large dose of carbohydrates and if it was below 120 mg/dl (6.7 mmol/L) two hours after you ate the large dose of carbohydrate, most health authorities would also say that you are normal. These numbers, 140 mg/dl at 1 hour and 120 mg/dl at two hours after a meal are what Joslin Diabetes Clinic of Harvard Medical School defines as upward limit of “normal.”

You can see more data about what normal blood sugar levels look like here: What is a Normal Blood Sugar?

If your blood sugar is at the very top of this normal range, near 140 mg/dl (7.7 mmol/L) and near 120 mg/dl at two hours, you may have a very slight amount of either beta cell dysfunction or insulin resistance going on. If you are at the high end of the normal range, especially if you are noticing that you are gaining weight more easily than you used to, it might be a good idea to cut back on the amount of carbohydrate you eat and begin an exercise program.

So I am right at the top of the scale, which is full on diabetes? I have always wondered where the limits were! I’ll try again tomorrow without the porridge! swap it for some eggs instead !

Marmite in scrambled egg. Makes them a bit of a funny colour though. And as a hot drink – a teaspoonful in boiled water. That is good for adding salt to your diet and fending off hunger pangs and headaches. Quite a nice addition to plain cottage cheese and tofu as well.

My chia buckwheat porridge uses 20g of buckwheat flakes and 8g each of chia and a mix of ground linseed, almonds, Brazil nuts and walnuts. Add whatever you like for flavour, if made with water this makes quite a large bowl with around 12g of carbs. Use almond milk if you want it creamier, or stir some cream in. Will probably make some for tomorrow breakfast, and have with some berries and cinnamon, as I have bought a nice new porridge microwave lidded bowl that needs testing.

Thanks for your time orchid.

As I read through I made a note of many of your ideas that I think could work for me.

Chuffed to hear that a Square of 90% is acceptable. Hadn’t thought about a cocoa drink but have added to my shop list.

Need to fish out some smaller plates that have made their way to the back of my cupboard. Love this idea, think will help considerably.
Will also try out your breakfast idea. Having had cereal/porridge for umpteen years it will be a change. Hoping it will fill me up. I’ll give it a go this week before I start.

I love to cook soup and often make masses to freeze so this will be ok.

Will weigh food but need to face up to weighing myself. Have just guessed weight for a few years now.

I know that I need make long term changes. As my name on here clearly states, a ‘way of life’.

I appreciate your post and certainly will shout if I need more advice. Thank you.