Hi all

It seems I am the only one posting in this thread now but that’s OK, I will adopt it as my own little BSD diary and those that wish to read can do so.
So beginning Week 6 today and feeling quite positive. Another half pound gone which isn’t much but considering I was away most of last week in the States with no access to fridge, kitchen etc I am pretty pleased with that. I set myself a target just to maintain so a loss is great.
I attribute it mainly to two things. One, making low carb choices even though my calorie count was probably double what it should have been and two, getting straight back on it from Friday lunchtime when I got home.
If I needed any more motivation over the weekend then none was better than watching the Panorama programme from a couple of weeks back about diabesity. Amputations will definitely motivate you to stick to the plan!
So that’s where I am today fellow BSD-ers. I have a challenge on Wednesday when I am going for Tapas with my lovely OH, (who has lost 12lbs also) but it’s always helpful when you go out with someone watching carbs too.
Hope everyone else is steaming along lovely with some great losses – I have my positive pants on today so if anyone needs cheering up just let me know 🙂

TC

Wow yes i agree huge losses, well done Ren and Busybee, hey Natalie i’ve lost 5lbs too but thats still fantastic👍. Feeling positive at the start of week 2 although holidays are looming at the end of the week, as were going to Spain i’m hoping to do the BSD med style 😂. Good luck to everyone this week👍

The title of the diet is self exploratory but I am still a little confused as to precisely how many grams of carbs a lady should be consuming per day?

Morning – love your name Maharani Kitten – have taken to calling Froglet (my cat, who thinks she is still a kitten) Maharani Frog

After aerobics last week I picked up 18kg in weights in the gym, the amount I have lost so far – it is a lot!
Unbelievable that I used to carry that around all day, no wonder I never had any energy, even without the now-resolved blood sugar issues.

I never thought of myself as having a sweet-tooth but I can now see that I’m addicted to carbs and sugary fruits. I’ve had limited success on the 5:2 diet in the past. I was in Asia when I started and I found it difficult to stay hydrated and keep my salts in balance in such a hot climate. I’m starting the 800 cal for 8 weeks tomorrow and hope to achieve my goal of loosing weight and changing my relationship with food in time for my second wedding anniversary at the end of November! Here we go…

Those are huge losses Ren65 and Busybee! Congrats! (Trying not to grumble as my 2.3 kg [5 lbs] doesn’t seem quite so great,)

Finished Day Eight on 754 cals 30g carb. I feel like I’m eating such huge meals. The amount of vegetables I’m eating is limited by my stomach, not the calorie or carb count! Plenty of meat and fat too. When you don’t use your calories to “buy” carby foods, you can afford so much else.

Struggling with getting enough fluid the last couple of days as it seems to make me feel bloated and gassy. Hopefully that will pass. No pun intended.

Morning Lynne – how are you?
I started wearing some old leggings at the weekend that I’d bought to wear underneath trousers a few winters ago when it got very cold. Mostly indoors, but now a bit loose rather than stretched to their utmost, and quite comfortable.
Hope your new uniform still fits 🙂

Day 14 & our second week weigh in. I have lost 2.25 lbs & my husband has lost 5lbs since last Monday so a slowing up of weight loss in the second week which I suppose is to be expected!
Sorry you have gained weight PatC but it will go! It is early days yet & I think our bodies are still getting settled into this new way of eating. Best feet forward for week three!

Week 9 lost 5.6lbs yaaay! I have never had a big loss like that this far into a diet. This week I upped the fat and kept carbs as low as I could. 35.2 lbs total in 9 weeks. 2.5 stones.

Lol@Natalie

Looking forward to seeing your list Jmarie!

That is a great idea Maharani! I am really going to try that. Not the walking part for 20mins!! Just the weighing it out and carrying around the house. I have a rucksack…

As the title says, it works for older women too!
Week one and I have lost 9 lbs, one inch off my waist and two off my hips – I am delighted!
X B

HI Krysia
It wasnt a shoulder joint, but breast of lamb – which I now know is the fattiest bit – if you think about the physiology of a lamb or sheep, it’s logical really, its the underside or belly. I know for next time. I did pull meat off of it – but I know for nest time!

Diabetic cookery course today – we’re making soups

Really pleased this week lost another 5lb 13oz even though I had a couple drinks Saturday night!
Blood sugars down from 6.6 last week to 6.3 this week all seems to be moving in the right direction!!!!

Morning everyone x
Just want to say how much reading all your stories and progress supports my journey. I laugh smile and commiserate with all your ups and downs … from bras, Lindt balls, rolling down knickers, falling off the wagon and getting back on again. Just soldering on. You all help each other. Aren’t we marvellous! Have a good day x

Hi everyone,

Its lovely to read all of your results, I am having such a down day today, weighed myself Saturday and lost 1.5 lbs (I know its not a lot but its down ) was really good over the weekend and stuck to the plan, except one glass of shiraz on Saturday night, seeing as I used to drink two glasses most nights, an improvement. Ate to the plan Saturday night and even went to my sons housewarming party breakfast on Sunday, (I know odd but we have two grandchildren of two years – born within two weeks of each other) and he decided he would do a brunch, everyone around me stuffing sausage butties, coffee and tea, then pastries and fruit salad, I had one sausage, and the tiniest bowl of fruit salad ever – no bread – no pastries – my husband cooked a curry in the evening which I ate a cup of – no rice – no wine. And guess what I put on 2 lbs this morning!!!!!!!!!! I had swum masses of lengths in the pool at his complex, played mad games with the children and walked and walked that day. Sorry I sound so fed up and sorry for myself, I only want to lose the weight it doesn’t matter if its slowly but I want to lose it, I know I have dieted my whole adult life and I have a thyroid problem but give me a break – sorry rant over.

It’s interesting how attitudes can change.

Like you, Tapatch, I was thinking about “dowdy old dear/mutton dressed as lamb” thing. I could hear my late mother whispering in my ear that I shouldn’t wear certain styles/colours, “at my age”. When I commented on that on a different thread on the forum someone who works in fashion answered, saying that they are really trying to get away from that and encourage “older” women to go into shops they’ve not tried before – she particularly mentioned Zara. Where I live the choice of clothes shops is limited (and they are only small branches) but I have become more adventurous.

Most of my clothes used to come from BHS, with some from M&S. I really don’t like many of the styles or colours in the shops at the moment, butbtried a lovely red dress from M&S. trouble was, I’m “petite” but the dress wasn’t. Just didn’t fit properly!

I don’t think I’ll ever wear leggings again, but happy to have discovered jeggings. Part of me thinks they’re the modern day corset! A gentle reminder when eating.

as a church leader I have to dress a certain way most of the time so have become unaccustomed to having much else in my wardrobe, but that is changing. From navy and white, there are now colours. And jeans, and jeggings. And prettier undies.

I still sometimes struggle with thinking “I’m not worth it” when I see something slightly more expensive, but am working on that too.

Tapatch – they were surprised, to put it mildly 😃 I can wear heels about 2-2.5″ for most of the day. Anything higher than that is a struggle. And they’re not stilettos! Too many hills and cobbles near my home for that. Walking through that room last week I was reminded how I used to feel walking through a plane or crowded train to go to the toilet, down that narrow aisle, bumping into people all the way. It was embarrassing. But walking through that room I didn’t care who saw me, and I was striding out. Head held high. 😃

For all us “re-cycled teenagers” out there – we need to be more adventurous. I’m learning 😃

Back on track and a pound down – the same pound I lost and put on again last week.
Anyway all fired up and this week’s meal planning a priority this morning. Don’t feel any slimmer at this time although I know that bits of me are, by the way my clothes fit. Jeggings don’t do it for me but I have bought 2 new dresses in the last fortnight and a pair of heels to go with them. Because the shoes were tight, walked round the house in Mr BB’s socks to loosen them up. Not a good look with trousers.

Aiming for 3 lbs off this week. Yesterday omitted breakfast and had a pot of Waitrose low calorie soup about 3pm and then chicken with carrots and leeks last night. Sneakysnooper – your icecream and Oreos don’t tempt me but cheese and red wine do. So keeping well away from both of those – although I have had cheese weighed out carefully in the past couple of weeks.

Good morning 10/10 ‘ers.
Did you hear my whoop of delight as I stepped off the scales this morning? 9 lbs off after the first week on this round and the first time I have stuck to the plan apart from a couple of G & T’s whilst watching Strictly. I have counted calories ( approximating at times) but not bothered too much about carbs. I think I will leave that until the weight loss slows down. Now to week two.
X B

Good results Natalie, sorry about your back Wishbone hopefully you will feel better soon and get up and about! First week over and I was surprised how easily it went for me! Apart from slightly constipated although drinking loads of water I have felt great after the first few days of headaches and getting used to less calories! I’m pleased to say I have lost 9.5lbs and 2 inches from my waist and have the added side effects of no irritable bowel symptoms, sleeping better, more energy and skin is not as itchy! So all over good results for me. Here’s to a good second week for everyone and I’m looking forward to read everyone else’s results! X

Hope you guys are out there and still doing OK. Tabletalk, are you still caught up in hurricane recovery? If so, hope it’s all going as well as can be expected.

Today’s weight: 82.6
Today’s change: -0.5
Yesterday’s food:
953 calories
85 net carbs

Have been eating lots of complex (and not so complex) carbs recently, but the fibre is doing my stomach good. Chickpeas are a winner! This is the only thing I can think of that has helped this morning’s weight loss.

Frog – sorry your shoulder of lamb wasn’t very nice. Husband cooked the shoulder of lamb – around 6 hours as Verano suggested. The fat was caramelised and so wickedly yummy. Since he retired he has morphed from someone who quite literally couldn’t boil an egg to a top class chef and I am sad to report he is much better at cooking than I ever was. He calls the kitchen his kitchen now.

Verano – you are doing well with your food choices in your hotel break.

It is a lovely moment when you look in the mirror and realise the plan is really working. I bet that you are seeing that with a lot of your clothes now – not just the top that now looks like a dress. It is also so nice to catch a glimpse in the mirror and see less of you now. I am afraid I have to report a new obsession – looking in the mirror at every opportunity and thinking wow – is that person in the mirror really me.

Am realising more and more that exercise is really important to my continuing weight loss. We are continuing with our walking instead of using the car campaign for short journeys. We walked to my sister’s yesterday – only a mile and a third. We have always used the car before but it was so lovely walking. We couldn’t believe we had never thought of walking before. The dogs loved the extra walking also.

Weight down another pound today, so steady loss at the moment. Only just over a pound to go now to 11 something! This weekends clothes purchases were a mixture of wearable now and into the box of the future for later targets. Bought some smoothing pants to wear under the dress as well, to minimise any remaining lumps and bumps. I think this may become my ‘after’ photo dress.

I can’t agree more CallmeDeb. It’s a “walk on air” feeling when your clothes feel nice. I no longer rush upstairs to take my bra off that was leaving its marks by the end of the day so hurrah for that! Each week will make my wardrobe of gorgeous clothes that presently I can only look at seem more accessible. Bring it on! X

DAY 7 of 7

Well another challenge drawing to an end! Back over to ‘2nd 8 weeks …. ‘ thread for me this week for the last week of 16.

I think I have finally cracked this …. I seem to be no longer hungry!!! Away at the moment so no weighing yesterday but had eggs and smoked salmon for brunch. Dinner slightly difficult …. no starter to suit me so had a vegetable side of broccoli with garlic and chilli and then steak and Asian salad …. very virtuous ! So feeling like I’m doing a spot of 5:2 at the moment. No longer afraid of fats in food either !!

Frog the obsessive weighing has disappeared in a blink of an eye … not obsessed after all!! Next time try shoulder of lamb cooked long and slow ….. around 6hours …. lots of recipes online … delicious!

One last observation. I think this plan really is working. I put on a top yesterday that I’ve not worn for a while. It is longline but it’s now a dress!!!!! Also when I was waiting for a lift a noticed myself in a mirror and there is definitely less if me!!

So I guess it’s onwards towards goal … as Lynne would say ‘keep on keeping on’.

Hope you’ve all had a good week. Have a good day … last day make it count!!

No movement on the scales today – secretly relieved given yesterday’s major overshooting on the calorie and carb count. So still at 7lbs loss total and looking ahead to the next seven. Have planned out today’s food with the aim of saving on some carbs if possible, if not calories too, to rebalance from yesterday. Have a good day everyone x

PS: love the ‘NSV’ acronym and will be using that going forward!

Congratulations Maefly! You have done exactly what I need to do lose 50lbs and sort out my T2D status -really well done and thanks for showing that it’s possible. So encouraging – thanks.

Oh shalimar, maybe this is how the universe decided to plunge you into mindfulness!……and haven’t we all been there……our lives are so busy (often others’ expectations of us) that we don’t have time to meet our own needs (eg. put dentures in).
As Simon and Garfunkel famously sang in the 59th Street Song ‘Slow down, you move too fast’.
Best wishes shalimar.

Yay, that is awesome! I’m not much of a drinker so I’ve never needed alcohol to enjoy music, but avoiding the yummy food would be hard! And getting down into overweight category is so exciting and healthy! Well done.

Hi captainlynne – Bet you knocked their socks off in those jeggings and heels! I don’t see myself in heels any more except low ones, but , hey if you can pull it off, I say go for it. I love the look but can’t stand the noise of screaming feet!

What I like about fashion nowadays is that really anyone can wear anything. Obviously we have to be appropriately dressed for work, worship, etc. but the choice of what is around is mind boggling. Especially these newer fabrics that don’t require babying. I’m all for it.

What a triumph! Strutting one’s stuff…keep it coming!

Hi Jazzista- thanks for the welcome. It’s a very sweet group here, hope we all meet our goals and have fun doing it. Although at the end of today (last day of my first week), I was still famished before dinner . Once that was over, all is well again. Pressing on to week two.

Hi Snoop – you are right about the OH. I don’t think mine will ever go full 800 cal. but he can most likely do the 5:2. He doesn’t have much weight if any to lose, but it’s just the sugar thing. His doctor says he is ok there but I know the old boy worries about it, though he doesn’t say much. He would feel better if he did not have to take the metformin. I would like to see that all behind him as it would ease his mind. We can only lead by example. I do try to cook the same dinner for us both, and add a couple of things to his that would just put me over the limit so I only do it for him. We’ll see what happens.

I’m glad your husband is at least aware in his dreams. And he seems to be responding and getting good results. It’s always the same…someone has to lead the way forward in these things. You’ve penetrated his subconscious. Well done!

Hi Sneakysnooper– I misread your name and thought it was Sneakysooper [kind of like a furtive super being] LOL!

Thanks for the welcome! I do have leggings [no leather thank God] and provided I cover up the naughty bits, not too hard to wear. Not saying I look great but I can live with it. I don’t want to be a dowdy old dear or mutton dressed as lamb, so it’s a thin line I tread!!

Not sure I know what lace-up leggings are yet, but will look into it.

Here’s to a great week to come.

hi Wishbone – sorry you were not 100% yourself during this first week. More important to get better and do the best you can in the interim and then go full tilt when you are up to it. I feel sure you will notice improvement soon.

Hi

I think I’m about where you are Verano – just want to try something a bit different!
Krysia – finally cooked my lamb joint today, inspired by yours of last weekend; wasn’t great – when I looked for recipes, came across lots of posts saying it was a cut that butchers “give away” – hmm, not quite the case in Waitrose! Was a bit too fatty, will get a nicer cut next time I go shopping.
Antigone- will definitely keep weighing to stay in check!

Ginger tea is supposed to be very good for this – or ginger generally, but fresh ginger as a tea is really simple to make

also, have you tried using the search box for any previous threads or comments on the subject? Top right hand corner of the screen

So… here I am at day 11 after a pretty amazing weekend.

I had a big function gig on Saturday night which was pretty stressful. It was a new, unrehearsed line-up and a horrible echoey venue with big sub speakers under the stage to make my bass sound simultaneously indistinct and intolerable. On top of that we had to wait for two hours backstage in a room full of high quality wine, beer and food, but I conscientiously ate my lentil salad and nuts and only indulged in a glass of Diet Coke for the sake of a caffeine hit. The gig went well and I left on a high and snuck off with two lovely bottles from the rider which I stashed away for a special occasion.

The next day I spent at my favourite local pub, firstly with a friend who I was so happy to catch up with and then in the evening playing a gig which turned into a jam with a couple of my absolute favourite songwriters. Such music! 🎼 It was blissful! Usually on a day like this I would have had at least 6 glasses of wine from the start of the afternoon and headed right to the end of the gig at 9pm at night. The gig includes a meal of anything we like from the menu and the food is yummy!

So what to do? In the end, I figured it would be an interesting experiment to see what it felt like to deeply indulge in the music without having to deeply indulge in the food and wine. So I passed on the food, sat on one glass of exquisite Pinot Noir for ages and had an incredible night.

My reward for my fortitude? I’ve now lost 4kg/9lbs.!?

Ladies and gents….drumroll please…

My BMI has officially dropped from the ‘Obese’ category into the much less alarming ‘Overweight’ category… *ba-doom-tish!

Ahhh, toast. I remember it well…

I’ve just made some parkin for my other half, I’m wondering if at some point it will be a case of “Result: enjoyed parkin. Move on”

Found my dentures without having to go through the garbage in great detail!!

Had a good sleep …. and i am almost at the point of finding out who done it in Murder in Mesopotania

I thought a heard a big crash/noise last night outside the house and wondered if i should be scared …. found out it was likely my stack of a hundred paperbacks had fallen over in my bedroom!!!

Hi Chookymama

How’s it going? I am a keen cyclist too. I have also just started running. I had a great run yesterday, a bit longer than usual for me, about 5 miles and I’m so exhausted today. I wondered if it is the low calories. Otherwise I am living the diet and finding it surprisingly easy. Hope it’s going well for you too.

Congrats CallMeDeb!!!

I must say … even more than seeing change on the scale … it is so nice having existing clothes fitting better (or now available for donation because our pants are falling down!). It’s even nicer because we all seem to have clothes that were too tight before …. and now we can fit into them.

It’s lovely!!!!

I lost my dentures …. again today. I even checked the garbage!! Actually … it was related to eating. I found them in a soup dish i put on the kitchen table and put something on top of. To exercise in mindless eating AND mindless housework!!!
I’ve actually gotten on the bus to work … and had to get off the bus … on a freezing winter morning … call a cab to get home quick … find my teeth … and then take a taxi ride to work … about 35 or 40 dollars!!!!!
Not the first time i left the house without my dentures!!

I also catch myself in mini OCD episodes … because i lock up the front door at bedtime on autopilot … and then i have to check and re-check the door … because i’m not doing it mindfully so i don’t remember that i’ve already locked it. And then there are the times i’ve fallen asleep with the key in the door … or the door open!!

Not living mindfully can have real consequences!

I think that you can have anything that doesn’t have sugar in it. Not sure how fruit tea goes with that.

MASSIVE NSV (non scale victory)

I HAD 50% off coupons to my favourite plus sized clothing store that were expiring today, so I dragged Dad to the mall (he walked whilst I shopped) and spent over an hour trying on tops.

The tops I usually wear to work are getting a bit baggy, the bottoms are still fine, as they were tight before.

I’m usually a 2/3 in their sizing system. I walked out with leggings (sized 0), two tank tops (sized 1), a blouse (0), and a new bra (1)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The blouse fits a little tight, but I’m hoping it will fit better by the end of next week 😏

The numbers are nice, but I have to say that the most pleasant surprise was when I turned sideways in a (too) tight sweater. My stomach has definitely gone down, a lot. I carry ALL my weight in my stomach, so this was a really unexpected surprise (my GP says I am a skinny girl from the waist down and boobs up, lol). When I buy “skinny” jeans they look like regular ones on me because I have to fit for my stomach.

So it was a nice day 😄

I boiling some eggs for my salad lunches next week, and I have prochutto wrapped chicken in the oven for dinners, now onto cutting up my peppers and then prep for next week will be done.

Make it a great one!

Cheers,

Deb

Thank you for replying so quickly JulesMaigret. The Tech people removed the post very quickly – which is good.

Sorry to hear about the bad back, Wishbone, glad you’re up and about now. Nothing wrong with a practice week, I think even the famous Lucia took a few weeks to ease into it.

Good morning Day Eight. My plan for the day is a bit dependent on whether I’m able to get up to the shops to buy a few things, but Plan A:
B: yoghurt with raspberries
L: rotisserie chicken with salad
D: roast beef and vegetables

Tea with milk, chicken broth, lots of water.

Morning all, week one over, and not much success for me, the scales are the same this morning but….I had lost just over 1kg By day three, then ended up bed ridden for the rest of the week with a bad back (I’m currently suffering through three slipped disks with minor nerve impingement). I did stick to the menu, but didn’t drink nearly enough water as the thought of having to get up and go to the loo frequently was a bit daunting. I don’t think the codiene helped either….bit of a catch 22 really, my GP says to lose 10% body weight and I’ll see an improvement with my back. Anyhow, day off again today, so the plan is to reread the book and go again this week. Great to see the amazing weight loss for you guys so far! On the bright side, I’m up and about today and counting last weeks efforts as a practice run!

Good thanks, in my 8th week, will be going another 8!! Down 19lbs, very happy. Feeling really good, very positive and happy! Have now lost a 10th of my starting weight, a good result, and am now overweight, no longer obese and my BMI is 29.9. Ecstatic. Lowest it’s been for 18 years.
Your loss of two stones is fantastic, well done. What’s the news about your eye? And, how are the family doing? I am back home now, my daughter popped in for a quick visit today and she has been getting recipes off this forum to feed the family. They are really enjoying them. She always eats well but she is finding new ideas for low carb eating which is always a good thing.
Have a good week. xx

No, I think it was just badly coded, but it certainly wasn’t the sort of one you’d want to put your bank account details into!

Hi everyone,
Well here we are I’ve weighed in today on week 2. Now 9lbs lighter, feeling more energetic and I’m shaping up. All clothes I’m currently wearing feeling loose and I’m not hitching up my jeggings they remain on my waist aww remembering those days!
Soooo I start another positive week and my shopping list is at the ready. I’m also starting the exercise bike this week combined with walking my lovely Lil I’m hoping for more toning up.
Checking in again next week my fellow slimmers have a good week!!
Treat for weight loss: croissant this morning and new boots from my gorgeous supportive hubby :)) X

Hi JulesMaigret – I reported Janice’s post and it looks as though it has been taken down. It was advertising. Before you posted I had already looked at the website – do you think I have caused problems for my computer.