Hi Janet π
No – not salads and stir fries, not the recipes in the book. I found that I can’t tolerate too many veggies – they have an (err) unfortunate side-effectπ± So I have to be careful how many I eat! I started out eating a more European breakfast of eggs, cooked meat & cheese (whichever was in the fridge) – just watching portion size. Then my breakfast turned into a cooked breakfast – bacon, egg, slice of black pudding. Sometimes with tomatoes and mushrooms (sometimes I can eat mshrooms, sometimes not!). Then, because I’m genuinely not hungry, nothing until my evening meal. That is some form of protein with a few veggies or a little salad. When I have salad it’s dressed with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
One thing I had to learn was portion control. Instead of a chunk of cheese, I learned to have 25g. And I recorded everything in a succession of notebooks. I’ve just started a new notebook for this next, maintenance, phase.
How did I maintain my focus? Mmmm …. when I began I decided that I could do anything for 8 weeks, but did wonder if it would work for me, even if I could do it. Perhaps I’m fortunate that I live alone, and haven’t drunk alcohol for many years. But I did love cabs in most forms. But the threat (again) of being put on Metformin gave me a well-timed kick. It’s said that success breeds success, and my results at the end of the first 8 weeks helped me to keep on going. That, and the reactions of my Diabetes Nurse! I was determined to show her that not only does the BSD work, but that it is sustainable! When social events, residential conferences and holidays happened – after all, these are part of life – I looked on them as challenges rather than threats and worked out in advance how to deal with them. It is my choice what I put in my mouth, nobody force feeds me. Yes, it can be challenging – especially away from home, possibly more so when in another country. I found Prague difficult, but that I coped well in Italy. (Italy, with no pasta, pizza or gelato!π± – but it can be doneπ)
I think I just started this, decided to stick with it and to prove the naysayers wrong!!!! It helped me keep the focus. That, and the improvements in my health, mobility, energy and all the other benefits we notice. Oh – and the smaller clothes LOL
It is starting to sink in. It’s still strange when someone looks at me and tries to guesstimate my clothes size. And there are those, even now, who hesitate to comment in case I’ve lost weight because I’m ill. When I looked out the ‘before’ pics I even horrified myselfπ± I’ve always been the one taking the pics, but I’m not quite as nervous about being in front of the camera now! I think the thing that is taking a while to accept is picking a size 12 off the rail and be reasonably certain it will fit (it does in most shops). Not long ago tops were 12, but skirts and trousers were 14. Then most skirts and trousers 12. But now even pencil skirts are a 12!!!!! That’s taking some getting used to!
Does that answer you? If not, ask again π
Remind me, please – how far do you still have to go on your journey now?
We all have to look after our old bodies π π