Kwiskot
with the milk, either work out what think you use daily on average, and log that as a daily food.
OR
Measure what you think that you use into a jug or separate bottle, add that quantity to your food log. What you don’t use can be added to your allowance the next day.

If you drink tea away from home a lot, remember to include that too.
Maybe work out what you have in an average cup (by measuring at home), and keep track that way.

Hi Kiwiscot

I’m not sure what oats you are using, but if I use My Finess Pal, the nutrition of your porridge comes out as follows:

Oats 40g 156 calories, 27g carbs, 3g fat, 7g protein, no sodium or sugar
Fresh skim milk 100ml 35 calories, 5g carbs, 0g fat, 4g protein, no sodium, 5g sugar
Raspberries 8 berries 15 calories, 3g carbs, 0g fat, 0g protein, no sodium 2g sugar

So your breakfast is a grand total of 206 calories, 35g carbs, 3g fat, 11g protein, 0 sodium, 7g sugar

More than you thought in calorie terms, but I absolutely agree with Baristagirls and SunnyB, that is too many carbs as it will work best for you, most probably, if you keep under 50g per day. If you aim for that, you won’t want to have 35g of it for breakfast!

Do you spot the carbs in the skimmed milk – all sugar! That’s because if you have the fat taken out of milk, sugar is added. The BSD recommends full fat milk, and certainly no 0 fat dairy.

I agree that you should try full fat greek yoghurt with just a few berries (even raspberries add quite a few carbs to the party), or you could, like me, switch to eggs – I have just had a breakfast of 2 fried eggs, 77g portobello mushroom, 6 baby plum tomatoes on a bed of 20g of baby spinach leaves with plenty of salt and pepper, and even making sure to add in the olive oil I used it came to 140 calories and 8 carbs.

Understand that you like porridge, but maybe swerve it unless you plan for it and treat yourself and reduce everything later in the day?
I would recommend you use an app to check nutrition because until you explore this a bit, some things can take you completely by surprise! I just wondered about having a small flat peach, and on checking, it weighed 80g (!) and has 6 carbs in it. Just under what I had for breakfast. So I didn’t have it, would prefer to ‘spend’ those carbs on something else.

I hope that helps, you will soon get the hang of it! Keep us posted.

With the oats, I think the packet I had (I’m eating them a lot less now its a few weeks in, and tend to think of porridge as a “cold weather” food), I think the standard portion size was 30g, rather than 40g – it was smaller than I’d have usually eaten, but I did adjust to it & it soon seemed loads! That takes it to under 20g of carb, but probably an occasional rather than every day breakfast.

The other thing is to use whole oats, rather than the milled instant variety – and soaking them overnight has lots of benefits too, they taste creamier and sweeter. I find that they are great made with water when soaked, and don’t need any milk added, as they sort of form their own oat milk overnight. If you’re concerned about blood sugars, soaking them is beneficial GI wise, and is less likely to cause any spikes.

As Sunny says, there have been several threads and discussions about porridge and oats – using the search box will help you find them. There’s a thread somewhere about benefits of rolled-v-steel cut oats somewhere.

I just had some soya ‘yogurt’ with almonds – it didn’t taste very yogurt like, but quite pleasant and very low carb, 2.3g in a 100g serving. Currently half price in Waitrose (hence trying it!)

Thank you SunnyB and Barista Girls, I was really impressed to get such rapid responses! Looks like I need to Ditch the porridge then! Will try Full Fat Yoghurt and raspberries instead!
I think drinking water might be another item needing attention, I drink heaps of tea with s.s.milk every day, but guess those small amounts of milk mount up! Back to the tap then!

Hi Puneet
I have been using inulin for about six weeks now and have found it has help on the constipation front. Movements are much more regular now. I have also been using Bioglan’s Fibre Boost (only because I know someone who works for Holland & Barret and they let me know it was on offer). It is a good source of fibre though, consisting of oat bran, rice bran and inulin. Have also used psyllium husk in the past, but personally have not found it as effective as inulin. Horses for courses though, you might find it works for you.
Some people – me included – have found adding inulin to their diet has the unpleasant result of increasing flatulence, however, this can be counteracted most effectively, by taking charcoal capsules.
Think adding fibre and making sure you drink enough, is a better way to deal with constipation than laxatives, but they do have their place of course and for me, good old fashioned senna is as effective as anything.
Hope you manage to resolve your issue.
Good luck.

Great goals here. It’s so fun to work at the smaller goals and celebrate so often!

Here goes: I want to be down another 2lbs by next Thursday, but to do that I have to be careful this weekend. Weekends are the hardest as we’re socializing and there’s always lots of people and food (and almost all naughty stuff!) around. Just have to be strong and exercise my “no thank you” muscles for the next 3 days! Having just tea or coffee tomorrow night with friends while everyone has chips and desserts. Going to try and get our conversation going in the next room rather than the kitchen. Dinner at my mom’s Sunday…will say no to the dessert and breads…. Saturday fun with the family at home, just sticking to the diet. Might get creative if there’s time and do a low carb pizza or 1 sugar free chocolate.
Committed to logging it all and keeping up with the exercise this weekend.

Hi Kiwiscot – sorry you are feel a bit confused and disheartened.
Firstly, many of us lose more slowly than others, so we just need to accept that is how we are and not measure ourselves against the achievement of others. Our achievement, is our achievement and is of no less value for that. Secondly, yes, do take a look at the carbs you are eating, as well as the calories. When I was struggling I was advised to do this and it really helped. I try to keep my carbs under 50g a day – most days are between 20g and 30g. Eating more fat help to boost the calories without adding carbs, make you feel full quicker and for longer and is a good fall back for a satisfying snack – a cube of cheese, dollop of full fat yogurt with a few chopped nuts for instance.

Personally, I would ditch the porridge, but I know others on the forum are keen. Bear in mind you can make a sort of porridge from grains other than oats and you could even use quinoa, which is higher in protein and lower in carbs. If you want to stick with the oats, why not reduce your amount to 30g and maybe add a dollop of full fat yogurt or crème fraiche, to make it more filling and satisfying?

Remember to drink plenty, hydration is very important and it helps to keep the digestive system running. Retention of waste products can make our weight vary by a surprising amount even just from day to day. Drinking plenty helps to ensure our systems have enough fluid to keep it work well.

It’s great that you are stubborn and determined to see this through. You will soon find your tastes change and you no longer want or enjoy the sweet stuff any more. Keep us posted on your progress – good luck!

Hello Kiwiscot!
When i saw rough oats, I thought – CARBS! – but thought I’d better check as I don’t actually know, looking it up 40g shows as about 26g carb which to me seems awfully high.
Although 800cal was key to me to lose weight quick my focus now is carbs. Some people try to keep below 50g and I kept below 30, so if you have already had 26 in the oats alone, plus the milk and rasps, over the day it mounts up quicker than you believe.
Do you like yoghurt? Try some full fat yoghurt (need the fat to burn the fat) with your berries in the morning.
Also drink drink drink water, can’t emphasise this enough, it flushes the system and aids the weight loss. Aim for at least 6 pints of just water plus everything else.

Great news Tabletalk – anything lost is a positive and 4lb is excellent. Some of us lose more slowly – me for one – but if you stick with the regime, it will happen. The BSD is so easy to get back to and very forgiving of little transgressions.

Look forward to reading more positive news soon.

End of week 2 for me, and today’s weight is a pound down!
I lost 3 lbs the first week, then gained a pound last weekend when I fell off the diet with company over and desserts laying around. But, I’m so grateful for the grace to jump back up on Monday and get back to business with the diet. Minded my P’S and Q’s and I guess actually lost 2 lbs since then if you count the one I had to re-lose!
Hoping not to repeat that mistake again, and really feel this is starting to click for me.

Starting: 167lbs(75.9kg)
Today: 163 (74kg)

I know 4 lbs is not a lot but I am really excited as I have dieted and exercised hard for weeks before without losing much at all. 4lbs in 2 weeks is really encouraging to me.

Well done everyone. I’ve enjoyed your posts.

I started the BSD Diet on 29 August at 14stone 1 lb. full of hope after reading the book twice! Weighed four days later and had lost 9 lbs, jubilation unrestrained! Checked again 2 days later and Nooooooo I had gained 6lb! I haven’t varied from the diet as I have followed the recipes in the book, except I have porridge each morning, large rough oats 40g with water and 8 raspberries, about 100 ml of skim milk on top. I worked this out to be 100 cals. Am I wrong? Is it too many carbs? Haven’t given a thought to carbs really, just noted the calories in each recipe and have not found it easy to get to 800 calls. Plainly I am not going to shed as rapidly as I had hoped, but I have not been at all hungry and have gone for a walk each day, trying to work up to 10,000 steps, best to date 7,387, that’s a 35-45 minute walk. My 70 year old frame (which lurks beneath the blubber) has very arthritic knees and lower back, so I sometimes struggle with the walking. My pluses? I’m extremely stubborn and intend to see this through, and my OH is very supportive.
Any tips? I have only eaten berries and grapes, so will knock off the grapes. My addiction has always been sugar, I can eat sweets like you wouldn’t believe, but not a grain has passed my lips, so I’m very proud of that. Should I add more fat? Please help, I’m lost to know what to do, but reading blogs all morning has made me aware of carbs…..and grapes 😄.

I’m down a pound this morning!
4lbs total since Aug. 25
Started 167lbs
Today 163lbs

Super excited : )

Way to go 54! 10 days adherence to the diet is something to be very pleased with! Look what you’ve done in that time! Awesome results.

Hi Tattiescone
Just a quick note. When your children are older, they won’t worry about what you look like in a photo. You will be what they remember, fat or thin, happy or miserable, but they will be able to look at those photos and remember those days. So don’t be camera shy, get out there and let those kids have memory joggers for when they are older! xx

Morti, 7lbs , wow that is great. I have lost 10 lbs in 10 week but still very happy as I have never been able to lose anything before. Keep on keeping on (and taking off).

Great news Puneet

Re constipation and fibre try typing the words in the SEARCH box top right to see what other people have tried and found worked.

More possibilities than I can type in on a reply 😉

Good luck!

Hi everyone
Sorry didn’t log in yesterday. But had a good day.
I had a 1 hour very brisk walk and run combination with the dog. It was very muggy yesterday, so I was sweating like a pig. Hang on..I am a pig! Finished day at 857 and slightly over the 50 on carbs. .but as you say..every day is a new day. I log it all in my phone. I find that helps. You just have to keep saying that each day is a new chance to learn how to do things differently or trim a little off here and there!
Today, I have not had breakfast..just a cup of tea. I am hoping to have just another cup of hot water which I like..and i think is good for you in many ways..and then I shall have a salmon salad for lunch with some black olives. Evening meal tonight is pork type stir fry with caulifower savoury rice. I will get an over hour walkrun in with the dog also when wee one at nursery. Presently planning on an hour of vigorous housework before lunch.
Just for the record..my weight yesterday was 15 stone 8. I am all belly. Thin legs and arms. Just a couple of chins though..if you catch me at the wrong angle.
Here is another poignant symptom of being a fat mummy..” no photos of me and the children together”. Maybe just 1 or 2 when they were born. I think I should aim to get a nice photo on my 40th with the darlings!
Have a good day folks.
Tattiescone x

Morning everyone. 😃

Yowzer – when I started this, I thought ‘I can try anything for 8 weeks’. That number seemed achievable. When I started to see the results, and realised that I no longer felt hungry all the time, combined with all the health benefits I was achieving, I decided that I could stick with this for longer. And so it continued. If anything, I’m amazed that I’ve lost so much so quickly after all those years of struggling at slimming clubs. 2016 is certainly a year to remember😃

Thanks Flowerpot. Welcome to the family 💐. Like you I have stressful days but, for me, controlling just one aspect of my day (BSD food) helps me when everything else may seem to be falling apart. Just a thought! Please let us know your progress 😃

I’ve probably already said this, but I want to lose just another few pounds. I know that’s below my target but it gives me a little wriggle room. What I don’t want to do is go above the 9st 7lb. And I don’t want to lose much more than another few pounds otherwise my new clothes will be too big😱

You coped at the pub, 54, and I would have found that a challenge. Have a good time.

I’m up for stir-fried chicken today (with loads of cabbage).

Hi Igorasusual

Thank you. What a relief. I have dropped a dress size. The best part is feeling light . All the measurements are showing a decrease.

I realised that my activity levels have gone down. i gave in to work commitments. Making a conscious decision to put health and fitness first.

Constipation is a problem. What fibres can i add to help with that?

START DATE 29th AUGUST

ok Day 10 over (Wow double figures already !!)

WEIGHT NOW: 20 Stone 9 pounds

START WEIGHT: 21 stone 12 pounds

LOSS AFTER DAY 10 : 17 pounds 1 stone 3 lbs in old money.

Dangers today. Having lunch out !!! (First time)

Hi Tabletalk

Yes my bread maker has been ‘given away’ !!!!

No more home made bread for me (I dont miss any bread now !! Yeh !!!)

Hi sunshine-girl
Thanks very much for your message. I’ve had trouble with my internet for a couple of days, but today is weigh-in day, so…. I’ve lost 7lbs which I’m delighted with. Just half an inch off my waist but 2.5 off my chest (typical!). No other inch loss but hopefully that will come. I’m doing it to lose weight but supporting my husband who has diabetes. I feel great within myself so definitely sticking to this as a lifestyle. Great results on your tests. Hope
It keeps going in the right direction.

Brilliant, Mixnmatch, those may be mini goals but they will be massive achievements. And so inspiring too.

Wow Mixnmatch, that will be a parade day!! Hope to be reading about this achievement very soon.

I’m still trying to get to my next mini goal, but to be fair, I haven’t been as strict with myself as I should be, so I can’t expect to see that result yet. Will be trying harder over the next few days and hopefully will see some real progress again soon.

Routing for you Mixnmatch!

You both have the power to make this work for you. Focus on today, not weeks ahead; every time you are tempted to have something you know you shouldn’t, double check with yourself that you really want to go that route and make sure you make full use of the forum, as it is a huge support. It’s got me through when I have been floundering and faltering, frustrated, or uncertain. As someone else on the forum says, ‘onward and downward’!

If you have a food processor, try the cauliflower couscous as an alternative – just chop the cauliflower into florets, pop in the processor and blitz to tiny pieces. This can be added to salads, used as a side with meat and veggies or you can add chopped veg, pomegranate seeds, little chopped cold meat or diced cheese, pine nuts etc, dress with a little olive oil and lemon juice and you have a great lunchtime meal.

I agree esnecca.

Whilst weighing is a bit of a faff, quite easy when you get used to it and it certainly is an education as you grasp how many calories/carbs everything is

I combined this with finding out how many calories I need for maintenance daily for my age/activity level. It’s only just over 1500 per day (I’m on maintenance, having lost more than 15% of my starting body weight on BSD).

So I’m really pleased not to be eating bread! With a couple of slices in a sandwich and perhaps a slice with dinner, just think how many of my 1500 would have gone without even thinking of it! Wasn’t a doughnut or biscuit eater but they also wouldn’t have helped. No wonder the pounds gradually accumulate.

Not any more!

You could try a few beans (red kidney, cannelloni beans etc) or lentils but both are also heavy on carbs.

I know this won’t sound helpful, but can you try having more salad rather than thinking you need something to bulk it up? We would always have had a refined carb – potatoes, pasta, grains- but now don’t add it. And often we say to each other – you don’t really need it, do you.

If you can get out of that instinctive habit – it helps.

Try adding a bit of feta cheese, cut into small dice, to your salad. It really is lovely. And fills you up.

well another 1.1 kg off this week so in total 10.1kg or 22.2 lbs or 1 stone 8lb !! i am 1.4 kg off my next goal and then a huge rethink as been having quite a few possible side effects of low carb eating and i have to be a bit careful so will see where i go next but continuing fir the time been and see what happens 😎

8lbs loss now. Feeling good. How is everybody doing. It’s a new day folks! xx

Yes I am cruel…

I saw it there, just behind the wardrobe.
It was cowering, hunched up, looking lost.
It looked at me with those big eyes, asking, no, pleading with me to take it back,
Remember how we loved each other, the fun we went through,
It started to inch towards me, slowly, one tiny step at a time.

I reached , just past the tissues,…..
And grabbed the yard brush and gave it
THE BIGGEST THRASHING Its life.

It seems my memories of our relationship were all sad and tearful.

I scooped it up and put it out with the trash.

So team, if you don’t know how to get rid of a pound of Blubber, see above.

Yes , I am cruel.
But I don’t want it back.
Ever.
Full stop.

My right knee is looking pretty cute and slim.

How is your day going?

Love luica
Xxxxx

Thanks, do you know of suitable alternatives

Im in Aus.

I’m aiming for 10,000 steps average every day..so some days might do 15,000 and another 8,000etc with a couple of yoga classes thrown in. When I have lost a bit of weight might do some HILT classes.

Stay strong! My worry is I will get bored with it and give up 3 – 4 weeks in. …

Hi guys. Yes, Frog, there are lots of fantastic walks in this area. OH says that if we lived in the UK, we’d be unable to move for parked cars and people out with their dogs. It isn’t a declared natural park, but it’s beautiful enough. We don’t go to church but when the almonds are in blossom, we call this place ‘God’s own garden’.

Tabletalk, not sure what half and half is. I have it with skimmed milk. Heresy, I know, but I’ve tried upping the fat and it just isn’t right. Spain isn’t good for cream, if that’s what it is. No idea where all the cream from their dairy industry goes, probably France. We only have UHT cream and even find it difficult to buy fresh milk locally, only UHT, which I’ve now got used to.

That was an interesting run-down of food, Tabletalk. My first thought was: that looks like a lot! Just goes to show how I’ve adjusted to smaller portions. I even left some of my supper salad because I was full. Yesterday I had coffee-flavoured milk for breakfast, fake chicken madras (75 g chicken plus a bit of onion, 2 tbsp of chickpeas, cauli and courgette, all weighed and accounted for) and a pear for lunch, huge salad (biggest little gem I’ve ever seen) plus a can of tuna in oil (drained oil – sunflower oil) with a tbsp of olive oil and lemon juice for supper.

Out of interest, does MM have anything to say about five-a-day in his book? I try to get more than that, and that could be a part of my carb problem as I’m certainly eating too many tomatoes at the moment by the look of it. Not many left on the plants now, so that’ll change shortly.

OK, now for figures:

86.7 kg
-0.2 kg
– 1.7 kg

Yesterday’s food and exercise
820 cals
88 carbs
40 minutes or so of gardening.

Hi yes keeping each other on track will be good! I’m in the UK, how about you?
I’ll be ok as long as the scales keep going down, even if it’s a small amount! As soon as they show a gain (for no reason) I’ll hit the fridge!
I’m doing hiit training 3 times a week, are you?
A x

Hi Amandah, I was wondering how you were going. As Caro said above day by day. We are both aiming to be under 90 k sooner rather than later so lets keep each other on track. Are you in UK or Aus?

Keep drinking lots of water. I am having a good day today – I think it will be the three week point where i falter..

I suffered with headache for 2 days seems to be clearing this morning (hopefully)!
Yesterday I had omelette for breakfast
Lunch was salad and dinner was the courgette and prawns
I have a no sugar jelly at hand in the fridge (only 10 cals)
So far I have lost 1.4 kilos (3 days)
I would like to be under 90 kilos by the end of the 8 weeks but we will see, my weight goes on quickly but doesn’t like to come off!

Before BSD I used to think serving sizes were inherently ridiculous artifices that bore zero relevance to the way people actually ate. Now that I weigh and measure, I have a completely different understanding of serving size and how much food I actually need to feel satisfied. I’d been counting carbs for six months or so before starting BSD, but I had no idea how many calories were in my go-to meals. Salad dressing is a big one. I used to use a 1/4 cup of olive oil for every family sized salad. That’s 473 calories in oil alone! On top of that, I usually threw in some cheese — a block of feta, crumbled, 240 calories, half a package of blue cheese, 400 calories — and then of course the veggies.

Nowadays I use exactly 2 teaspoons of olive oil in all my salad dressings, usually with a tablespoon of lemon juice and a tablespoon of vinegar. The trick is to whisk the dressing at the bottom of the salad bowl, add the veg and then toss everything with your hands. Tongs or spoons are nowhere near as effective at spreading around small amounts of dressing. When you use your hands, the dressing distributes perfectly, and it takes much less time to accomplish than it does with tools. The end result is fresh, crisp and delicious. Far better than the much heavier salads I used to make that I thought were great at the time.

Ok now on day 4. Down from 103.6 to 102.7 this morning. Long way to go.

Still feeling focused. I just have to stay away from the wine.

This morning I had the green tea smoothie.

Lunch is salad w beetroot/feta/avocado and a boiled egg (all measured)

Dinner a small fillet steak with baked fennel.

And I think I will even have enough for yoghurt with berries and almonds.

Sunnyb well done on the weight loss. I know I wont get the big numbers like some people but would be thrilled with 10 kilos by the end of 8 weeks. Aiming to be under 90kilos by xmas which would put me back in the overweight catagory rather than obese!

What are everyone else’s goals?

Lucyjane.

Hi Amazing Lady,
What an awesome effort!! I’m in my first week and am a very slow starter, I let a very stressful work day get to me and I caved. All is not lost however. Reading your posts has me all fired up again, you’re an inspiration. Onwards and upwards pip, pip.
Thanks heaps

Thank you for the link to the BBC program’s study, Frog. It’s fascinating that ACV had such a marked effect on blood sugar levels in the short term but not in the long term. They also properly note that overly strong acetic acid, like any acid, can be harmful to the lining of the esophagus. It can damage tooth enamel as well, which is why I always drink my solution with a straw to ensure my chompers aren’t awash in carboxylic acid.

Natalie, that is an amazing story. I had heard that some people found ACV helped reduce their acne, but never that it beat a persistent wart into submission. Congratulations on your liberation from such horrible pain! Foot pain is agony. I had a corn on a toe once and that was torture enough, thank you very much.

Ok I know I’m a chatty Cathy on here today. Just excited about making it all the way through the day in less than 50 carbs and 800 calories. Watched/measured food like a hawk today!

Menu for today:
Coffee with 1/2T half and half
2 egg omelette made with 1 T half and half
1 cup sauteed spinach
1/4 bell pepper sautéed

Tuna mixed with salsa stuffed in Joseph’s flax pita (4g net carbs) with 0.7 oz sharp cheddar cheese, 2T full fat greek yogurt
1 cup romaine lettuce with 1 T regular fat dressing

62 calorie portion of 70% dark chocolate
1/4 T natural peanut butter

4 turkey meatballs
1/2 cup green beans in butter

30 min walk at incline of 2 and speed 4
Numbers:
819 calories
64g protein
23 g carbs
50 g fat
Not hungry!!

Thanks for walking these days out with me as I put the pieces together.

Week 4 Day 1:

Breakfast: 2 x boiled eggs
Lunch:
Dinner:
Snacks: Chocolate Cake
Drinks: 2 tea with milk
Water: 12 glasses
Calories: 517
Carbs: 47g
Steps: 22937 (including 6km walk)
Weight loss: 300g (60.9kg)
Fast: 16 hrs

Didn’t really stay focused yesterday with a big piece of chocolate cake. Hope to have a better day today.

I love NYC PrintonianStud – amazing cheesecake!

Wow Snoop – 55 miles to a supermarket that is remote – you must have superb access to lovely walks though!

At home, I have Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury, Co-op and a couple of independents within a five minute walk – although they are small branches, the nearest biggish supermarket is about half a mile away.
I once moved to Sussex for work, and was so panicked about being six miles from the nearest pint of milk that I did my biggest supermarket shop ever the first weekend – including UHT milk that was still unopened when I left eighteen months later!

Snoop that does sound like a challenge with the food acquisition itself. I use my fitness pal which tracks calories, carbs, fats, and protiens. So maybe you could discern what are the best protein and fat sources for you, and create your menus around those. Any carbs in the diet seem to come from a gram here and there in the meats, yogurts, cheeses, and low GI veggies (green things). The book and website give some good lists. It may take a little studying to get it tweaked for what’s available to you. Maybe consider switching to half and half instead of milk. It’s higher in fat but lower in carbs, and you don’t need as much to lighten the coffee.

Healthy Again, all the recipes center on getting calories mainly from fats and proteins and avoiding the kinds of veggies/fruits that will spike the blood sugar. Portions are decent considering only 800 calories a day and you get a lot of bang for your buck with veggies like zucchini, green beans, squash, broccoli, salad greens, cabbage cauliflower etc. So yes, you can work out your own recipes, but keeping the macros high in fat and protein and low in carbs is the key to not being hungry all day.

couscous is made from wheat – so not a lot different to eating pasta
depending on how much you are restricting your carbs, you may be able to include small quantities, but best avoided – much the same as pasta, rice, potatoes & bread.

Healthy again
Many people on here don’t follow the recipes, or mix and match – I haven’t used any of the recipes, but just cut down on the carbs (I was aiming at below 50, am now trying to restrict to 30g)

54 you’re absolutely right! My dessert disaster this weekend was 25% choice in the beginning and then ended up being 75% bigger and and badder than I meant to be! If you will all permit me to make up random statistics : ) I will say that when I’m strictly non sugar I can do it, but the minute I have a treat I’m in risky territory. So it’s best to stay away as you said. Maybe in the end we’ll figure out how to enjoy the treats in true moderation. Ugh… slippery slope! I remember somewhere on the site or in the book Michael talking about wanting to throw out the toaster to avoid the temptation : )

I love courgetti!

My son is better already thankfully, he had a high temp yesterday and was tired and lethargic, he kept telling me places that hurt 🙁 I think he had that kind of all over feeling of pain that comes with some bugs. We spent most of the day snuggling, However he didn’t have any other symptoms and today he has been a lot better.

Our schools have been back since mid august, so my daughter is well established there and enjoying it 🙂 my son started pre-school nursery mid August too and he has been enjoying that as well. Time passes quickly – I remember trying to get pregnant with my daughter, my wonky ovaries meant 20 months of trying to conceive, so we started trying probably 2002, eventually getting pregnant in 2004, and it just doesn’t feel long ago at all!

Right I better get some snoozing done! Night Ms Frog! and all

Can you swap meals on the provided menu plan in the book with other recipes from the book provided as long as the calorie count is similar? ie. Sardine dip for peanut butter dip or veg fritata for mushroom ‘risotto’?