Day 40
Sunday 28 August 2016

Breakfast:
3 ounces of hard cheddar

Lunch:
1 Cup Greek Yogurt with strawberries

Snacks:
1 Peach
2 Apples

Dinner:
Chicken Breast stiry fry

No hunger or snacking this evening. Maybe I was so in tuned on Ray Donovan. Well, there is always more days free of snacking!

I’m back, on the other side of cancer treatment!

I’ll start a new thread in a day or two , but for now I thought I’d update anyone loosely following this one.

I went through radiation therapy from August 2 – 24. I am grateful it has been as “easy” as everything else on this journey. Very mild radiation burns, and no sores/moist tissue damage. Only one day of fatigue I can’t explain by the life I lead (which included tossing around 100 lb boxes of books, moving slightly lighter boxes up and down stairs in the process of moving from one temporary home to another, and participating in leading a 5-day seminar for incoming students). Since there was only one inexplicable day of fatigue – I’m suspecting it wasn’t really radiation related either.

My doctor was able to keep hot spots to a minumum, and the ones that were necessary were only at 105% of the therapeutic dose (she typically has to go to 108% of the therapeutic dose).

I drew a picture, inspired by zentangle, one day at a time during radiation to turn an inherently negative process (it creates a small risk of a very deadly cancer) into something positive. I included the radiation marks (purple lines and + signs) and the crane the radiation oncologist gave me the day we met. Here’s the image: http://www.butterskotch.com/images/The_Last_Day.jpg

I am now cleared to resume my normal activities/diet/etc. I’m going to make at least a 4-week run at the 16:8 IF + 800 calorie diet again. It took my body quite a while (most of the summer) to get over being mad at the surgery and to return to the blood glucose levels I’d achieved by the end of 6 weeks (when I was ordered to stop to conserve energy for cancer treatment). They’re still bouncing around a bit (primarily the fasting BG levels). Four weeks from today is my birthday. I’ll take stock again then – and it’s possible I’ll take a celebratory-done-with-radiation-meal before then. My weight goal was 130, and I’m only 2 -5 lbs from there (depending on what day I measure). 4 weeks will likely take me down to around 125. Not a bad endpoint. I’m still hoping to put diabetes into remission, rather than just under control. (During the first six weeks, I moved from diabetic to pre-diabetic – so there is a good possibility I can nudge it farther.)

See you in the new thread I’ll start later: Dear Diary – Take 2!

Day 40
Sunday 28 August 2016

Breakfast: 3 ounces of hard cheddar

Lunch: 1 Cup Greek Yogurt with strawberries

Snacks:
1 Peach
2 Apples

Dinner:
Chicken Breast stiry fry

No hunger or snacking this evening. Maybe I was so in tuned on Ray Donovan. Well, there is always more days free of snacking!

I’ve been using MFP for several years and don’t have an issue with it so will stick to that. Each to their own.

Day 11. BS 7.7 mmol/L. My visit to my GP went well he was very pleased with my progress, still off 1000 mg of Metformin .

Looking at some new recipes to make for the whole family. Lucky doing well. we are now off for our walk. Kurrawongs singing and a beautiful sunrise.

Hope everyone is well.

Hi Krosie – 5lb in the first week is good and you have added another to that five too, so not too shabby at all. The sad fact is lots of us lose weight more slowly than others (I’m just starting week sixteen and have lost 17lb – not a great weekly average), but the secret is to stick with it, find the positives in any victories no matter how small – and some of those won’t be the loss of pounds.

Are you tracking what you consume? Recording everything that you eat or drink, will help you build a picture of what is happening with your diet and it is important to keep an eye on carbs as well as calories. When I plateaued in week three, I was advised by another long time BSDer and poster, to look at carb intake and try to keep it below 50g daily. Doing this kick started things again. Also, make sure you are drinking plenty and including fats in your meals – sounds counterintuitive, but it works.

Its easy to say try no to be disheartened, as it is can be tough when others are posting huge losses week after week, but be assured that if you stick with the BSD will work. What is great is your health will benefit from the BSD and the weight will almost look after itself. The pounds will come off, just stay focused and I’m sure you will soon be reporting more positive results soon.

Well done Ren65 😀. I have also finished eating for the day. Total calories 739, total carbs 47g, total water 3 litres. I have been fine today and really enjoyed my meals. Hope everyone else has had a good day!

Well that’s one day done – everyone behaving? I’ve been struggling with MFP a bit too – it’s not easy to submit recipes etc. Will have a look at FS – thanks for the tip 🙂

A few years ago 2001 I did Rosemary Connely’s low fat diet – I lost weight but my skin was very dry. That is another reason why this regime appeals to me. I’m sure your skin is radiant Verano 🙂

Welcome PAT x good luck on this journey to health and fitness! Lots of support and advice on here so keep checking in! Good luck w tomorrow’s result!

How’s everyone getting on that started today? Apart from bit of a headache I’m doing fine, drinking plenty of water to help! I have finished eating for today so my count is 700 cals, 51.8 carbs and over 12,000 steps. Had a few week moments but stuck it out as I know I can do this!

My starting stats
Weight 12.12 1/4
Waist 38 1/2
BMI 34

Welcome TIZZIE! Three stone in 12 weeks is an amazing achievement! Did you find BSD reasonably easy to keep to?

My skin is definitely better and I am sure it is because of the BSD. Previously the skin on my feet had a tendency to be dried, but is in much better condition now.

I don’t pay a lot of attention to my skin to be honest, but had several comments about my hair (despite doing nothing different to it). Same principle?

Thanks – hope so. I’ve been referred for bariatric surgery and hoping that this will help so I don’t have to go down that route xx

Hi Lucia – I’meant doing this on my own too – your bloggs are brilliant. The walking one especially – My knees and back are really painful and make walking any distance really difficult (not helped by all my weight 😶) I get a little panicky if going somewhere if got park too far away as don’t want to go in to place with sweat dripping down my face, bright red and out of breath. It’s horrible and embarrassing – people looking as if worried I’m going keel over. I haven’t got a clue how many is my average steps so bought a fit bit (just setting up now). Determined get over the embarrassment And get some walking and swimming to help with weight loss. Thanks for inspiration xx

Welcome Pat,

I had a serious wobble (the family sized cheesecake was reduced to a £1….) and a few minor ones. (now starting wk5)

Most people do – you will see the benefit, whether in tomorrow’s weigh in or later, you will feel the effect of your efforts.

Hi Tizzie,
good luck with the second eight weeks…and welcome to the forums…3stone is a brilliant result!

and good luck to all the first timers joining the BSD gang🌻

3 stone !! Thanks amazing in 12 weeks Tizzie – have a browse around, esp the over 32 weeks thread. Some inspiring long term achievements there. I am only on week 5.

I’ve been doing this for almost a week with aiming for 800 cals a day but had little blip at the weekend at grandsons bday bbq (but still didn’t go too mad). Weighing in tom morning and hoping for a good result.
I’ve just registered with this sight and read all your bloggs – well done!!! I hope I can do half as well. Thanks for the inspiration xx

Welcome!!!

Hi Everyone,
I’m new to the forums but have been following the BSD principles for the past 12 weeks. I have lost 3 stone so far but have a long way to go so I’ve decided to commit to another 8 weeks of fast 800 starting tomorrow.

Just starting but if successful with 8 weeks wd be happy to share my story.

Hi VERANO! ! Thats lovely- you’re looking in the mirror and seeing yrself fresher and younger looking! 👍🏻
Isn’t it nice when we have little non scale victories!
Last week someone said to me,havent you got lovely skin!
And today somebody said,your make up looks really nice

I guess it must be all the good fats…and all the water we’re drinking!
My fingernails have become very strong and shiny too,except both thumbnails which are ridged 😼😼😼 xx

Just to let you know my OH had exactly the same experience! He went back and had another blood test. Results came back …it’s the lab not getting it right not the GP that’s at faulty

Hiya – Go girl!! Sounds like a good start well done. I’m aiming for 800 cals since last Tues – had BBC for grandsons birthday so little blip at the weekend but still didn’t only went up to 1,350 cals (which is pretty amazing for me at a bbq😀) I’ve concentrated on cals initially but now trying make sure I’m looking at what sugars too. I found the book really useful and think this blogging should be a great help too. 1st weigh in tom so will let you know how it goes.
Is it middle of belly supposed to measure? Xx

Soooo glad that I’m not the only one cleaning the house today Lucky…though did get out for an afternoon coffee at a nearby cafe, sat outside as cracking view of the Cumbrian hills -watched while my friend ate her way through a huge slab of millionaires shortbread –
I drank water and felt smug😄

Lucia… Sorry to read that your trip away was cut short…it must have been scorching if you?OH? chose to go home early.

Hope you feel more ‘colourful’ tomorrow, though I am quite fond of moths ( nighttime butterflies), they have a subtle beauty!

Sending hugs🌻

Hi Frog – was a good day, fab weather and my dogs enjoyed it too. Not much I can do about teaching egg catching skills 🙂 Hope your day was good too.

Lucky, I have to agree with you, the egg boiler has and is a permanent fixture too. Out of every kitchen appliance it gets used the most.

Yowser49, sounds like you had a great day out.

Avila, 16,000 steps is awesome, so don’t fret.

Inspired by Gavin’s epic hike I set out with Dog to find a distant location via footpaths through the woods. But disappointed to get home on only 16k steps, thought it would be the 20k. But still about 7 miles with ups and downs, was impressed that not feeling so tired as expected at the end. Carrying a whole stone less might just have something to do with that 🙂

This is day 1 of week 5 and 7kg down. Plus blood pressure in lower end of normal range whilst taking meds alt days – showing ready to reduce dose. (and that was with a week of wobbles and sugar/carb binge).

The Dog does make 5k steps a day part of basic life before anything else, Since getting my steps counted I have been committed to 10k, and now considering an ongoing aim of 15k a day.

Now just need to conquer my attraction to red wine…

I’m now at the end of my first 8 weeks and over the last week or so I have felt that my skin is looking ‘better’ . Brighter, less wrinkly, fresher. Thought maybe it’s my imagination but was reading Liz Earle’s ‘6 weeks to better skin’ in the Daily Mail and she’s talking about ‘good fats’ olive oil, avocado, fullfat milk!!!

Maybe it’s not my imagination!

How’s your skin been on this eating plan?

Happy Bank Hol,gang!xx
Just got back from west kirby beach..glorious weather but too hot for me!
V good at lunchtime…lovely menu in caff we went to and fab cakes but i just had roast ham and salad
My Beau had falafel and hummus wraps and the most crispy fat golden chips! And i didnt even pinch one!
The waitress commented on my restraint! I was rewarded later coz my trousers felt very loose when we walked round afterwards 😛😛😛😛 xx

If it makes you feel better Lucky, I kept light bulbs in my bread bin. Until I threw it out. I keep bread in the microwave. Obviously.

Good luck with that you LOSER!!! 😎

After the debacle with my not getting my HbA1c results – not even my BG level, I have decided to leave my GPs practice of 20+ years standing, through frustration and a lot of dissatisfaction.

So, I may have to embark on this diet or the 5:2. 4:3 to get ready for another HbA1c.

Was good doing the diet along with you – you kept my eye on the ball.

Krosie

can I suggest you look at my thread “not too much to lose but…” (can’t remember the whole title, but if you look me up in the search box you’ll find it)

This goes through all the things I did when the weight loss didn’t seem to be happening,and I hope it might be useful to you.

I ended up losing more than 15% of my body weight, or 20+ lbs and over-achieved my initial 9 stone target, to get to 8 stone 10lbs.

Hope that helps. 🙂

Hi,
I feel more like a brown moth today, rather than a peacock butterfly.

Yes, I am being very human.

I have ups and downs.

But I don’t have all that blubber I started with in the spring.

Thank you for your strength and kindness.

Please keep sending mental hugs.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi Frog

Don’t know if you are using the app or the PC version but they are slightly different. In ‘Diet Calender’ in the app version you can see you daily average calories each month BUT in the pc version you can also get the average daily number of carbs each month!!!! That should give you something to pay around with !!!!

Hello! I have just started today, back from my holidays and all is going ok so far ha! Planning on following the 4 week menu plan and see where I am in 4 weeks. Also about to check out fatsecret as the “cups” measurement on mfp drives me nuts too!

Worried about my weekend night shifts coming up…. thats usually a sugar and carb field day!

They were awesome! A kitchen gadget that won’t sit in the cupboard gathering dust! I’ve cleaned the kitchen today and it has it’s own spot now on the worktop as it will be getting used that regularly to warrant it. I got rid of the bread bin to make room for it 🙂 The bread bin which never ever had bread in it; nuts, sweets, chocolate, biscuits, but never bread.

I have done some heavy duty cleaning today Gavin, and only did downstairs, upstairs tomorrow. Yay. Can you sense the excitement in my voice? I’m ready for bed now to be honest.

Did them myself today Frog and brought them through to him 😉 Lesson learned.

Oh – and forgot, some posters have said that if you drop a lot below 800 consistently, it doesn’t really help.

well I guess you can’t blame dropping them on the super-duper new gadget – only OH!

Hi Gavin
Lucky needs a husband that doesn’t drop the eggs on the floor!
Have you had a good day with the dogs?

Hi Krosie
sorry that you’re a bit underwhelmed – I had a long plateau from about day five for over a week, then I focused on drinking lots more and exercise and it started moving – although it looks as if you are pretty active.
Even if you’ve not lost a huge amount of weight, have you noticed clothes getting looser – a lot of people posting here experience that.

The other thing with exercise is that muscle is denser than fat (so can contribute to the not being lighter, but getting leaner) – although that is less likely to be the issue if you;re focusing on cardio.

Hi Verano
it’s a million times easier to use – I’ve entered today’s food, and a haven’t found anything like the wild variations that I do in MFP.
Great to know its all UK nutrition data, so don’t need to worry about net or total carbs – and as you say, tons easier to find the item and enter the quantity in the measure you want to use, rather find the item, then realise the one you’ve chosen is only in the dreaded “cups”

Today I had cheese and tomato for breakfast (odd I know, but deliciously runny cheese, and I’d forgotten to put it back in the fridge last night
Lunch was steak with courgette, spinach and carrot
– feeling quite full!

It is normal for the loss to stall at week 2 but, as long as you are following it, you will lose weight. We all seem to get a plateau at some point, for me it was week 3. Plus 5lbs is good, plus that extra llb, I have only lost 8 lbs in 8 weeks but I concentrate on all the good it has done for my blood glucose levels, cholesterol and other things. You are doing it for weight loss so are expecting more but your body will be shedding visceral fat (i.e. around the liver and pancreas) so whether you want to or not you are going to improve your health.

On the subject of exercise, the only way exercise can slow weight loss is if you are thinking you can eat more because you have exercised, or because you deserve it or feel you need more. If you seriously have not added anything extra don’t worry, the weight loss will happen. This is a tough diet but worth it in the end.

Hi, I’m new to the forum. I am doing the plan for weight loss. I’m not diabetic, but am concerned I will be heading that direction of I don’t get my weight under control. I have just completed week 2 on the 8week BSD. The first week went well. I followed the plan so carefully and lost about 5lbs. Then the next week just stalled. I followed the plan, if anything I was eating less than 800cals a day and I lost 1lb for the week. I know a loss is a loss but I had hoped for more based on all I have been reading. And all Ihaven’t been eating. I have also started back at the gym and have been reading conflicting advice on how to approach excercise. I just thought the more the merrier. I’m going 3 times a week and doing high intensity cardio. I’ve read that this can actually stall weight loss as it can trigger a stress hormoe that slows down your metabolism. I’d welcome some advise here.
I thought now would be a good time to join this forum as I’m feeling very low about my results so far.

Hi Frog

I like it mainly because of the options you have for various weights and measures. I found MFP too difficult. Just couldn’t get to grips with it.

Try it and see. It’s also great for checking out the recipes in the book. Just pop the ingredients into the cook book and out come the carb and calories etc

Hey Lucky, your eggs should be a breeze 😉 if you need any tips give me a shout 🙂 and sounds like you’re cleaning a castle or two.

Hi Frog , high five 🙂

Been thinking about the books I read growing up, esp as Swallows and Amazons hasbeen made into afilm! Haven”t seen it yet. Was talking about books with my son this weekend! Harry Potter helped him become a reader. It was Orwell’s Animal Farm which really started him off! I’ve just reread TheLion The Witch and the Wardrobe – plan to reread the other books in the Narnia series. Agree that often books we’d enjoyed do not often stand thetest oftime. I enjoy reading booksby Michael Morpurgo, think he appeals to readers of all ages. Has anyone read Love Nina? (Nina Stibbe) It was recently turned into aTV series. I didnt think it was quite as good as the book. I like short stories, currently reading Best British short stories, 2016. Good way todiscover newwriters?

theone, glad you are feeling better and hope the treatment is successful. Is there no end to the ails this diet can improve. You were given half good advise. Your blood sugar can spike during the night due to the body not detecting any food for several hours the liver pumps glycogen into the body (sugar). To counter that you should have a little snack before bed. My nutritionist told me to have a bowl of cereal so we have both been given bad advice. Now I have a slice of ham, a bit of chicken, or tuna on a ryvita. Not sure if the ryvita is allowed but it is once in a blue moon.

Frog – they are forming part of a BSD friendly ‘fry up’ for tea. Will update later 😉