If you’re making porridge using rolled or jumbo oats, you don’t need to soak them overnight just use a mix of water and milk, warm it and dimmer for five minutes or so on a rolling ‘gloop’ and it’ll be fine. You get a porridge with texture rather than the smooth semolina-pudding like consistency that seems more common these days.

Soaking overnight is however best if you’re making bircher muesli.

Hi

Loopylou I’ve just started a new ‘7 Days’ thread … 7 Days(3) …’Add a little extra’ . Starts tomorrow as this one finished so for those needing the extra boost of a new 7 day challenge come on over!

ElizabethB56 and everyone … HUGS, HELLO

I am not sure what the answer is …. except perhaps trial and error

I wonder if one could try the 800 calorie plan for a couple of weeks on moderate exercise … and see if you lost weight …. and if you do loose weight your body might get used to the calorie limit and you could gradually increase the exercise and eat the 800 calorie, perhaps putting your carbs in the hour before exercise.

Otherwise … maybe do the Mediteranean low carb plan on 4 or 5 days … the days when you do strenuous exercise … and do the fast 800 calories on the other 2 to 3 days.

Has anyone tried something like this??

I just think the body needs some lead time to get used to new things especially when it’s a big change
??????

Morning losers this weeks scales lied to me, I thought they were wrong so weighed again, the wow went back to that’s ok down to 23s 3lb that 5lb last week start of BSD 25s 1lb that is 4 weeks down, did not realise how long until I checked my start date, because in my mind that start date was way before that it was the mental preparation I put my self through, looking ahead to potential pit falls and what really made me look for the biscuit tin, I came up with stress and annoyance, so I looked at mindfulness again and use this in time of biscuit hunting, and if I choose to have one biscuit I do, then count it towards my daily carbs, which then shows me what a waste of my carb allowance that biscuit was, all part of the lifestyle re-adjustments.
As for clown trousers I have plenty, but still using a few pairs for a while longer ?

Hi this will be the third 7 day, just 7 days, challenge.

For those of us on the second round of 8 weeks this is our penultimate week so just two weeks left to reach our second 8 week goal …. not sure if I even had one!!!

Still keeping to our theme of staying with 800 calories and picking our own carb level I though it might be an idea to ‘add a little extra’. Sorry that won’t be chocolate or wine!!!

I will be staying at 35g carbs and my ‘little extra’ will be some exercises with light weights to help stop all that saggy skin forming as I get ‘thinner’ !!!

Please join me on this short journey.

I’ve got my head around breakfasts and what I’ll eat on the BSD diet, with the help of the books. Where I’m having more difficulty is ideas for lunch away from home. I’m at work 3-4 days a week and in the past I would have grabbed a sandwich. Any ideas gratefully received. Thanks!

Hi Busybee and Hosta!!

I say let’s do this as well!!

I’m feeling very positive!!

HUGS 🙂 🙂 🙂

I found some brilliant organic oats called Flahavan’s . They come in a paper bag (for a change!) and Tesco sells them. I’m pretty sure they are not “processed”.

annieh :HUGS …
4 pounds is great
You don’t have as much to loose as many …. it’s usually more of a loss if you have a LOT to loose
Your period might well have something to do with that .. if you usually retain water then
If you had plenty of salt you might not have lost as much water … because water loss accounts for much of the first week

Did you count carbs as well as calories … most people here try to keep around 50 g of carbs per day or less (especially if they hit a plateau they usually try and decrease carbs or other strategies)

Are you counting everything? Even cream/milk in coffee.

Even vegetables and salad greens have carbs and calories

It’s difficult to know exactly what is happening …. AND your body and its ways is specific to you … it’s not really wise to compare weight loss with other people …. as we are ALL different.

4 pounds in a week is pretty darn great!!!

Me too! 7 years with type 2 diabetes. Far too much weight and I know how bad sugar is – I gave it up last year and my hba1c dropped like a stone. This makes sense. Let’s do this!!

Well I have just returned from UK where I followed the daily mail supplements about BSD. Being impressed I bought the books and a spiraliser and set off home with a new determination! Arrived home last Tuesday and immediately gave up booze. Not so bad, haven’t missed it! And I was having a couple of wines each night. It helps that himself has given up to. I told himself and daughter that come Monday I was starting the BSD and that they would have to have the same as me just larger portions as this would mean dinner time would be easier and it would help me.
Last Dec I found out my BP was out of control, still trying to get it right and a blood test confirmed I was prediabetes!!!
I have at least 50kg to loose and today I started.
Its been a great day!
I haven’t felt hungry or deprived, I am a foodie and always cook from scratch so that doesn’t faze me.
Dinner tonight we had chicken curry, I didn’t have Thai red curry paste so improvised with curry powder. Served it with cauliflower rice (a first) we all loved it.
Roll on tomorrow.

Hi Angiebabe.
Thank you so much for replying – I haven’t read that anyone else on this forum has PMR. I will have been on steroids two years in January but am now gradually reducing the dose and hope to be able to come off them in the two years, so you had a much worse time of it than me.
You have done so well losing all that weight so quickly and I am feeling so positive this morning.
Off we go!
X B

Hi Daniel

Your posts often sound as though you’re really struggling at times. Do you actually count calories and carbs? If not it may be a good idea for a week, just 7 days, to see exactly what you are eating. Fatsecret.com, there are other counters, will show you all the nutrients fats, proteins, carbs, calories etc. Just a thought but it may be an idea to set yourself a high end target of maybe 75-100g carbs and 1000-1200 calories at first. Its amazing how many carbs there are in some fruits etc.

Shanah Tovah to you from the UK!

Well, if anything, this weekend has been worse diet-wise than while I was away. I’m really looking forward to getting back on the diet. I’m feeling even more poisoned than I did on Friday.

Weight: 84.5
Change: – 0.6
Overall: 4 kg

Yesterday’s food
1688 calories (far, far too much wine…)
109 net carbs (spaghetti, not courgetti…)

No idea how I lost weight in this morning’s weigh-in. Presumably the wine hasn’t yet settled as fat.

So I started last Monday 3rd and have been following to the letter. I weighed in today and I’ve lost 4lb – which is good but feels low compared to others’ first week losses. Could my time of the month have had an impact? I was expecting a bigger loss. I’ve got 4 stone to lose!

ladyvalient 🙂 HUGS

You should do okay with other food

I do like salad but i haven’t eaten much lately because i like the high calorie high carb dressings … i intend to remedy that but i haven’t so far

I did eat high fat plain yogurt with some frozen berries twice …. but it hasn’t been often at all … i did enjoy it but in this current low fat world it’s actually difficult to find a source for plain high fat yogurt.

Caught part of a TV programme last night and heard that those who drank alcohol ate 30% more than those who didn’t drink alcohol! It was an experiment on Secret Eaters.

Hi

Krysia, I hope you feel better. Your blood results are amazing. I don’t think you need to worry about your forthcoming test.

Jan, how’s your reboot going? Mine was really successful. I lost 4.5 pounds I had put on plus another 3 . In one week. I am definately going to try to stick to 30g carbs next week. It seems to work for me even if my calories are sometimes a bit higher than 800. I seem like Krysia in that.

Are we sticking to this thread or going somewhere else ?

Hi everyone,

Meee toooo starting today, 5ft 2inches, 11stone 8Lbs, first goal set for one stone, but realisticaly would like to loose two stone. Excited but apprehensive as dont like salad or yogurt/creamy products, but going to trowl through all the recipes and continue to read the book (my new bible):)

Good luck everyone

DAY 7 OF 7

Can’t believe we’re at the end of another 7 day challenge!

Yesterday
Calories 295 ….. yes!
Carbs 10.6
All sounding very, very low BUT …. then along came a piece of Victoria sponge!!!
so….
Calories 545
Carbs 42.1 !!!
Who would believe that an innocent small piece of cake could have 31.5 g of carbs!!!! Frightening. After logging that cake I was too shocked to eat anything else yesterday so a really unhealthy day food wise. But did lose … down another 1.6lbs!!

Loopylou you did yourself a real favour resisting the profiteroles!!

So all in all not the best of weekends for me or a few others. Best we can do is ‘learn’ and move on. I know I really do have to log all my food in the morning. The cake was one of those things that was hard to refuse. DD made said cake for OH’s birthday so would have been fatal to refuse! Was obviously fatal not to!!!

Krysia sounds like you may be worrying without cause. Your bloods sound really good especially without medication !!

Hi Jan glad you’ve found us!!! But this is the last day of this challenge!! I’m just about to start a new ‘7 Day’ thread for those who are happier taking one week at a time.

Well, last day! Hope you are all close to this weeks goals. I think I may just make mine as I’ve got 40 carbs left for today to give me an average for the week of within the 35g I was aiming for!

One last push … it’s only 1 day!! Have a good one

Cecily 🙂 HUGS

Glad you saved and enJOYed!! 🙂

Week 4 was a resounding success for me. I lost another 5.2Kg!

I think my 1Kg loss in week 3 must’ve been either a blip on the scales or that bloated feeling I had was down to constipation which added weight.

Either way, it doesn’t really matter because things appear to have returned to normal. 17.1Kg lost in 4 weeks, 5.8Kg to go to my week 8 target.

Carb_Addict …. HUGS HUGS HUGS 🙂 🙂 🙂

good luck with the BSD today!!

Way to go Blue Jays!!
I grew up in Dundas before moving to the UK in my late teens, so the Jays are my team too.

Well done Shalimar on your resolve with the wine box!

I saved 250 calories for my Book Group evening last night – that glass of wine was the nicest I’ve had. Amazing how you appreciate things once you can’t have them often

@ Disney Nut: obviously look at balancing your food intake for more fibre but you could also try psyllium capsules. You need to take them with a lot of water and the psyllium + water swells up into a kind of gel in your stomach (filling you up) and acts like an internal broom (no further description needed!). 100% natural and great for internal cleansing. The brand ‘Solgar’ has a good product.

I only bought it … the wine that is … because i got pissy over something. I need to address the mental/spiritual side of things … mindfulness.
I tend to NOT handle my negative emotions well. I don’t even handle postive emotions well.

I’m sure we are all familiar with solving non-food issues with food … and WINE.

I really have to address that … it’s weird because i always thought of myself as rather cold and unemotional … WELL have i got some lessons to learn …. and i am sure the universe is just waiting to give me some lessons.

It’s very freeing admitting stuff like that to myself and you all.

HUGS 🙂 🙂 🙂

So I slipped up yesterday for the first time. I had been feeling unwell most of the day (inexplicably exhausted) and had gone out for dinner intending to order some lentil soup and a salad. I asked the waiter not to bring the usual bowl of croutons. But he did. After staring at them for five minutes I ate them. And then I decided that I couldn’t face another salad and ordered a portion of deep-fried vegetable spring rolls, battling internally with myself all the way. (Pure habit – I always used to order them in that restaurant.) And I ate them too. Then I gave into to my exhaustion and went to bed, ending up sleeping for 15 hours.

I made myself get on the scales this morning and they can’t decide whether I have put on 400g or lost 100g. (400g would hurt a bit as it’s 20% of my overall loss so far, but the lesson would be a productive one.) As such, I’m not going to log any weight for today.

Mentally I’m fine with it and cutting myself some slack. I was clearly not well yesterday and I didn’t use the one slip-up as an excuse to do more damage. I left the restaurant having resisted dessert which for some reason I really wanted too. I’m back on the BSD today and moving forwards. I’m not even sure how much I enjoyed those spring rolls – certainly not ‘+400g enough’! But the experience has made me think about habits, and how we so often get stuck into a pattern of doing things because it’s what we have always done. So I might stay away from that particular place for a while until new habits are firmly in place.

Well done Shalimar … now you just have to resist buying more!!!!

Oh my God Billingebabe …. that DOES just sound lovely.
We have a LOT to be grateful for!!!!

A little extra pension money can go a long way!!!
HUGS 🙂 🙂 🙂

AND i dumped the rest of the wine down the sink … i don’t need it … and if it is not there i won’t really care at all.

Carbs yesterday 25 calories 829. Began to get sore throat yesterday and voice croaky so will cancel classes today. Usually I struggle in to work because I don’t want to let anyone down by cancelling but it usually means more time off because I end up completely losing my voice. Maybe I am beginning to get more sensible at 68.

Have been worried about my next hba1c but am not anymore. I dug out last year’s blood sugar monitoring diary and was horrified by the readings this time last year. Fasting levels 7.8, 8.2, 5.9, 6.5, 7.6, 8.5. That was on night time long acting insulin and short acting insulin with all meals and snacks. Now off all insulin and fasting is consistently between 4.5 and 4.8. So thank goodness for the BSD and this forum.

Your wish is my command LUCIA darling

I will be 199 pounds by December 10
or
I will be less than 199 pounds by December 10

I will be full of energy
I will be full of love
I will be healthy
I will be fit
I will love Lucia and everyone here çause i already do!!

HUGS 🙂 🙂 🙂

AJAZE, Maharani Kitten, Disney Nut …. HUGS 🙂 🙂 🙂

Feeling proud of myself … threw my wine down the kitchen sink.. Temptation removed.

I see many of us have some goals before Christmas. I took a hint from someone on our forums to write down my goals, my why, and an interim date and the goal i want to reach … they said write it on a piece of paper and put it in my wallet … and i did. Very handy when i’m out of the house at a restaurant … i just read it before i order off a menu.

As Gail Vaz Oxlade, a very nice Canadian lady who advises on financial matters on her various TV shows …. if you don’t set a goal, a “how” to achieve your goal, and a time limit …. it is just a “dream” or a “wish”. She’s a very smart woman.

Anyway …. HUGS to everyoe!!

Thank you Lucia, you are so right😀👏
I now feel that I am at my ideal weight and I’m not intentionally trying to lose more, I’m just playing around with carbs and calories to find to ideal level do that I can maintain.
I still read your posts every day as that is a huge motivator for me not to go back to the way I was before, so thank you again.
Keep going, you won’t know yourself by Christmas.
Cheers
Linda

Hi shal I mar.

I don’t say
Won’t
I say
It will be…….
I know as a fact that I will be lighter this Christmas than last
Fact I am fitter this Christmas than last.

So
Please
Give me a line that starts with
I will be……….

Beacause where this is a WILL there is a WAY. 😀😀😀😀😀
Love Lucia
Xxxxx

I’m also starting today. I will be cooking for myself. I need to lose weight, about 10 kg and had been trying very hard but not succeeding with a high exercise, healthy food diet. I hope this works better for me. I like the idea of it being over and done with quickly! Today I skipped breakfast and had a lunch of 100grams of smoked salmon, 100grams green beans and a 1/4 cup of brown rice. I had some walnuts for afternoon tea (5) and am planning to eat a later dinner than usual with more salmon and vegetables. Seems doable today. I just need to be able to do it every day!!!!! I hope I can. I feel like the focus and control is helpful and provides good structure to this diet. And I am keeping a food/exercise diary! Good luck everyone. Talk soon.

Hi pop pet ini,

Many thanks.

I think I am wired wrong.
Everyone can Zumba, I can’t.

I have to split my body into two, through the bully button.

I learn the steps for my legs.
I learn the movements for my arms.
I then put the two together.

I have a wii thingy.
When I switch it on, I have a dining room chair near me, so if I need to sit down, I do.

I LOVE the pause button, it’s my favourite, it means, hang on a minute until I catch my breath or untangle my legs, the off I go again,.
NO ONE Has told me, and I don’t think they would dare… to tell me it has to be done in one portion.

While you are sitting on the settee or chair, are you waving your arms,
Wriggling your toes
Pulling in your tummy,
Squeezing your bum cheeks together
These all all movements in muscles we don’t often use, but we are still sitting down.
But
Listen to your body.
It will tell you if it needs a time out, or to be left alone.

If I can do it, you can. I am a big old bird, you are probably a little fluffy chick,
Keep positive,
Keep it fun,
Keep just wriggling around

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Thanks Shalimar…I think the smidgen is probably due to a lack of fibre. Need to find something to add to my food that helps with that.
What is everyone doing in that respect? Do you have similar issues?

Ah Lucia …. lovely words

Won’t it be nice to review how lovely our bodies are by Christmas!!
Won’t it be nice to have our bodies move the way we want them too
Won’t it be nice to feel healthy
Won’t it be nice to feel energetic
Won’t it be nice to say “No thank you, I don’t want any more right now”.

Won’t it be nice to hear someone say …. Are your sure you haven’t lost too much weight??
Won’t it be nice to reply How nice of you to notice … but i haven’t quite reached my ultimate goal yet?

HUGS 🙂 🙂 🙂

Good Morning…I have cheekily asked to join your facebook group if that is okay?
I have started last Thursday so am 6 days ahead of your 10/10 start but so far very motivated!

My ultimate aim is to get rid of 30kg but the first hurdle is going to be a holiday in December and of course Christmas. One day at a time until then and maybe I am in the zone by the time we fly to Florida so Disney snacks won’t tempt me…

One mini goal reached … i poured the last of the wine down the sink. No longer penny wise and pound foolish. I’d rather be healthy!

I too am retired and finding it is the best time of my life. I also live in a lovely place, on the edge of the South Downs National Park. My town is called Arundel. We have the second biggest castle in .England, complete with Duke; a lovely river, a RC Cathdral, a 10 day community, arts and culture festival. Oh and we are 3 miles from the coast. My exercise is walking our border terrier and growing veg and fruit on my allotment.

A decent pension makes a difference. I am so pleased that I paid extra contributions into my pot.

Hi Linda a
For years everyone has bullied me with love.
Oh just have a sandwich
Oh just have that last cake
You haven’t eaten for five whole minutes, let me make you something.
I have drawn the line.
—————-

I know my own body
Better than anyone else.
I still don’t feel as if I am there yet, so I am carrying on a little longer.
I am reviewing my weight at Christmas.
I will know if there is a bit more blubber to lose or if I am too skinny.
You will know in your heart if you should stick or twist.
I need to twist more ( is that poker ?)
There are charts out there with height and healthy weight ranges. Use them.
Get into the healthy BMW range.

Keep yourself healthy and active for YOU.

Sorry to pass these comments but if I hadn’t of listened to the above people, I would be in a size 12 UK now.

Love Lucia
Xxx

Also starting today – feels like the first day of school! Recently diagnosed Type 2 at the same age as my mum -51 – but absolutely no symptoms, discovered during routine blood test. I’m a lifelong dieter, teetotal, always the ‘fatty’ in an incredibly slim family, all of whom eat like horses and drink like fish – not fair! Have followed low carb diet for 8 years and maintained BMI under 27 for 7 years, but since starting medication have gained 18lbs in 12 weeks, and all around my middle, a place I’ve never stored fat in the past. Hopeful that this 8 weeks gets me back on track and feeling more in control. At the moment it feels like my body is the boss of me – time for a change of management! Good luck to everyone starting today.

Good luck! I started yesterday and these forums are worth their weight in gold. I’ve tried to lose weight loads of times but these are really keeping me motivated.
Let us know how you get on!

I have just started the BSD and like you I cycle to work about 3 times a week and I and do fairly strenuous rides at weekends. I did run out of energy yesterday after one steep hill and 16 miles so turned around and came home. I think we need to accept that for the first 8 weeks we cannot ride as we normally do. I plan to do what I can because the weight loss is more important. I think that performance will improve as the weight drops off. When you look at how we should exercise putting in fast sprints for a few minutes is important then just relax and enjoy the scenery. When my weight is back where it should be I will increase my calories but probably not by too many working it out as I go.

jonoworth

my latest tip is …. don’t buy wine!!!!

Hope to see your posts in the threads!! HUGS 🙂 🙂 🙂

Disney Nut … at least it was only a smidgen of a gain …. Good luck with the DOWNwards!! HUG 🙂

That’s brilliant!! Thank you I’ve got the books and read them, but it’s always good to talk to people who are doing something.
Thanks for the advice, it’s greatly appreciated.

Happy Thanksgiving CallMeDeb and Shalimar..hope you have a lovely day.

My scales went up 0.1kg today but onwards and downwards…looking forward to my week 1 result tomorrow morning.

Have a good week everyone.

Natalie …. just take something for the headache if you can keep it down.

I ate badly today …. actually i was sick of the unexpected sugar … and i still ate it …. i was very stoopid. But hopefully i learned from it.
Sometimes i think every bloomin thing in life is a lesson …. and i am a slow learner!!

It really is bad for our poor bodies when we don’t eat healthy … or even just too much … our lovely wonderful bodies are just trying their best.
HUGS

Christel / shalimar