Thank you Verano and ArcticFox for your messages. So I’ve cut out bread almost completely, the only time I have any is if my partner has baked a fresh loaf of sourdough, I allow myself one slice toasted with almond butter then I usually go and run it off afterwards 🤣. I dont eat pasta now except lentil pasta maybe once a week, we dont cook with potatoes anymore, and I’ve swapped out rice to cauliflower rice or konjac rice or lentils, so I’m trying to cut the carbs down, I dont eat biscuits, cakes, and seldom have crisps, if I do they are for a special occasion and I have lentil ones or peanuts as I read on a feed that someone said peanuts weren’t too bad for glucose levels although very high in calories.
I’m pleased with how I’m doing and with the advice and encouragement from your messages I will continue the plan.
Easter was incredibly bad as my dog was poorly and I was in survival mode of no sleep and lots of dog bed washing (I needn’t say anymore on that) for 3 nights so I fell off the plan to a degree but got back on it today, I followed your advice about food times and finished eating my dinner today by 6.00pm, then went for a 4mile run at 7pm, I didnt have my normal pudding snack when I got in just a cup of tea, lets see if my results in the morning are better. I normally have my breakfast at 10am so will also be going 15 hours without anything.
Anyway thats a lot of waffle, but I just wanted to say thank you for your advice, kind words and encouragement, here’s to April!!

Welcome blueOcean. Yes, isn’t it surprising how daunting 800 calories can seem mentally before you try it? Keep in mind that it will likely get tougher as you go on. If you start feeling low energy or cold, you may want to switch it up a bit as those can be signs that your metabolism is falling and you don’t want that to happen.
I had an appointment at the optometrist this morning and I was rushing to get changed and pulled on some size 20 jeans I hadn’t worn in a few weeks. And after saying just a couple days ago that my jeans (my working outside ones) were not fitting any better, these were a bit loose around the waist but I thought manageable so I did not wear a belt. Well, after seeing the optometrist I went to the supermarket and unfortunately they started to slip down quite a bit! Anyway, I made it home without incident. I now have new contact lenses, new sunglasses and will have a new set of progressive lenses in a couple of weeks. So I’m all set for a while now as far as eyesight.
In other news, my counsellor suggested that I put my anxiety about potentially losing my job to good use by looking at what else I could do if that happens. Of course, I have the farm, which is not a big income generator yet, and my pottery which could become a nice little side hustle, but I don’t see either of those paying the mortgage. I had been considering becoming a counsellor, but honestly I’m quite turned off of it after my experience with my last counsellor, and I would have to do quite a few courses to improve my chances of being accepted to a Masters programme. So, I started looking into some other options and it seems I could do a Masters in Dietetics and from there become a diabetes educator even. What do you think? I talked to my godmother about it and she said ‘nutrition is such a strong interest of yours.’ I already have a minor in animal nutrition from my agriculture degree. The local health authority has lots of openings for jobs and are offering hefty signing bonuses for new graduates which would cover about 2/3 of the tuition, and private practice is an option too. A lot of dieticians work online now too which is more compatible with running my farm. Something to think about. I may sign up to do some introductory human nutrition and anatomy and physiology online as the university does not want to accept my animal ones as being equivalent. I should at least be able to get good results which will boost my chances of getting into Dietetics. The only frustrating thing might be that human nutrition is so far behind animal nutrition and a lot of the guidance is not based on very robust science as of yet. We all know about that, I think!

Arcticfox nice to ‘see’ you here. You’re doing really well. Just keep going it can only get better!

So Easter is over and done and I hope everyone enjoyed it. But …now we’re back to reality. I’ve managed to get back on track today but have to admit that the first three months of this year have seen me just ‘cruising along’ , no loss, no gain. I guess now is the time to make a decision …. to lose weight or coast along as I am? Don’t know how you’re all doing out there.

Carry on or make changes???

Oh, and Newbie, one thing you could look at doing after your evening meal is just some gentle movement. It sounds like you are doing a lot of exercise already (do go carefully on how much you are ramping this up too because you don’t want to get injured!), and this does not have to be much. Just a 10-15min walk will be quite effective at dampening the blood sugar spike from your evening meal. If you don’t have time for that, a few sets of body weight exercises like squats and lunges where you are using the large muscles in your legs can help too.

Today is my first day of the plan. It’s the end of the day now and I am so shocked that 800 calories is managable with careful planning. I had many reservations before deciding to give this a go. I decided to modify my own recipes to fit the macros of the plan. The carbs have indeed called my name today and it’s made me realize how much bread and corn products are empty fillers in my eating.

Newbie, just popping on to say that you are doing incredibly well at 3 months, especially given how high your HbA1c was. Keep in mind that red blood cells take 120 days to turn over, so if you think about it, only 3/4 of your cells have turned over in the 3 months and you still have roughly 1/4 of the cells that are still whooshing around your blood vessels that are still in a highly glycated state that aren’t reflective of how you are caring for yourself today. I think if you keep going with the low carb eating and exercise for another month or two and get it checked again, you will be astounded at the change – I estimate somewhere in the 6.5 to 7.0 range, which is getting down into pre-diabetes territory. To do this in 4-6 months is simply amazing. Give yourself a big pat on the back! And keep going. You’ve got this!
I am not diabetic, but reactive hypoglycemic and I have definitely noticed through wearing a continuous glucose monitor that I really struggle with my glucose control in the evening, and if I eat too late or the wrong thing I will have quite a severe crash overnight. But it is very individual. Some people process food and carbs better in the evening than the morning. I tend to delay breakfast and have a light one around 10 am, and then lunch around 12:30, which can be my biggest meal of the day. Like Verano, I always try to finish eating by 7pm (so that means typically a 15 hour fast every day) and I keep my dinners very low carb. The only carbs come from vegetables like broccoli. If I’m eating higher carb, I do better if I finish eating by around 5pm which is usually not possible given the way my life works, so I choose very low carb instead.

Newbie firstly there is ‘no grade’! We are all individual and things happen at different times. Your HbA1c was very high and to get it down by 50% in such a short space of time is really good.

I think one of the great misconceptions is that ‘weight’ is the magic secret to reversing T2. Weight is a factor but carbs are the real secret. I’m sure you’ve probably heard of TOFIs, Thin on the Outside Fat on the Inside. So, yes you can be thin (on the outside) but still have diabetes. The real secret is controlling the carbs. Simple carbs are the real problem, colour isn’t that important. Brown rice is better than white but still high in carbs. Lots of ‘brown’ bread is really not much better than white. Even some fruits are high carb such as pineapple, mango and other ‘exotic’ fruits, and even apples, for example having roughly 20g of carbs in a medium one. Sorry if I’m ‘preaching to the converted’ but concentrate on the carbs before the calories. Most people try to stay at lower than 50g a day but some who follow a keto diet go down to 20g. I’ve never really managed to get that low but still manage to control my blood sugars. Trial and error.

I don’t know about an optimum time for eating your last meal in the evening but I personally stop eating by 7pm when at home but if we’re away or out it’s later and I can’t say that I’ve noticed much difference in my blood sugars.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Hi everyone,
Still keeping on keeping on here. I don’t feel that I’ve lost any weight yet as my jeans are still fitting the same, but I am managing to stick to the very low carb way of eating, so that is a win. Actually, it is 1pm and in spite of some hard gardening all I have had to eat today so far is a bit of cheese at 10am, so I should have some lunch. I started on my new medication today and it does suppress appetite as one of the side effects, so the pharmacist told me to watch that as people can forget to eat while on it. I am starting to get hungry though. I was quite worried about going on these meds as I’ve never been on a stimulant before and I can’t even have caffeine normally without getting jittery or it affecting my sleep if I have even one cup of tea after 10am, but so far I am feeling good. Just an enormous sense of calm, which is what is supposed to happen if you have ADHD, whereas if you don’t have it, you would likely get amped up. So the medications might confirm the diagnosis for me. I have to try them for 2 weeks and then we may adjust the dose slightly if necessary, but if this continues, they could actually be life-changing. Already today I have done a ton of work around the farm, potted up some of my indoor plant starts in record time and noticed that the compost pail in the kitchen needed emptying and just did it without procrastinating or getting distracted along the way. And I’m not exhausted or completely brain dead, so after finishing this, I will have energy to keep going instead of needing to crash on the sofa for a couple of hours to recover. Is this what it is like to be normal? Wow! Here’s hoping this is what I needed to help me make good decisions about food even after hard days at work!

The Blood Sugar Diet is designed to support rapid weight loss by controlling insulin levels and reducing excess sugar in the body. By focusing on low-carb, high-protein, and healthy fat foods, it helps stabilize blood sugar and reduce cravings. This approach encourages the body to burn stored fat for energy, leading to faster results. It also limits processed foods and refined sugars, which are major contributors to weight gain. With structured meal plans and balanced nutrition, the Blood Sugar Diet promotes sustainable fat loss while improving overall health, making it an effective option for those seeking quick and lasting weight results.

Also, can I please ask what time people have their evening meal by, trying to reduce my morning reading and know this can be a contributing factor, thank you

Firstly, well done on bumping us on to a new page of positives, Verano.
In answer to the orchid question, putting them into hydroponics is new to me, but yes, I have one in bloom that I’ve just converted. I can’t really say yet how any of them will fair, as it’s only been in the last week that I’ve swapped them over … sorry not to be more helpful.

Anyway, here are a few positives….
🌼🌼 yesterday was sunny and I was able to get out and do some gardening
🌼🌼 found out a new neighbour is a gardener by profession and she has agreed to look after my garden while we’re away
🌼🌼 more organisation for our road trip completed and OH has serviced the car and replaced parts in preparation for the drive

Have a wonderful Easter weekend everyone and if you have a moment, please share a positive with us.

Happy Good Friday everyone, Verano thank you for your message. so I was diagnosed 3 months ago on new years eve. My HBA1C was 112mmol/mol (17.1mmol/L), no symptoms at all, I was put on metformin 500mg 3 times a day (should have gone to 4 tablets but the nurse was pleased with my progress so said to stay on 3 tablets), my hba1c blood test was repeated 2nd March (after just 2months) and came back at 62mmol (9.8), I paid to have another test done last week (giving my bloods 3 months to regenerate) and I got the results today and its 54mmol (8.7), I’ve done 8 weeks of 800calories but with my exercise I’ve struggled with energy levels so I’ve increased to 1200 calories a day and feel much better and this week will introduce strength training 3 times a week and running 3 times a week and a day of rest. I’ve read so many great reversal stories but feel like I’m not making the grade as I’m still so far away from “normal range”, am I expecting too much in the first 3 months? Is this still do-able? I’m not a quitter i just like to know that what I’m doing will get me off the tablets, I know the food plan is life long and I’m all for that I just want to be medication free, I guess I’m a little low as I was hoping for more of a decrease (yes I am incredibly hard on myself and a loss is a loss), I’ve also lost 1.5stone since being diagnosed and a further 2 stone since June last year. I’ve cut out white carbs, given up all my favourite foods, and am surrounded by diabetic reading books. I’ve seen my diabetic nurse 2 weeks after diagnosis and have been left to my own devices. I really appreciate reading all your messages of advice, support and chit chat, i’ts so nice to know I’m not alone 😀

Newbie2026 I just realised that you are newly diagnosed with T2. The shock is huge. We all feel utterly distraught, ashamed and suffer from …. it’s my fault’ syndrome. We have all been there.

I don’t know, are on medication? But you know it isn’t ’your fault’ and it can be reversed with low carb eating. Do you have any numbers?

I came here 10 years ago almost and my T2 was put in remission within months and I’ve been medication free for the last 9+ years. It was only last year that my practice nurse thought I could actually be classed as ‘reversed’!!!

You can do this just cut the carbs, come to these threads for help and advice and keep going. You will get there!

Wendy I also have problems but I just don’t get notices which now seem to go straight into my spam folder …. sometimes!
Hope your fast goes well.

Quiet day for me today although over the last few weeks we’ve had the grout between our floor tiles cleaned. WOW what a difference I almost feel as though I live in a new house…. really good ‘spring clean’!

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

I am fasting today from last night until 6-0pm supper tonight so about 23 hours fast which I haven’t done for a long time but so far so good 🤞🤞
Supper will be a Turkey stir fry & high protein lentil noodles plus lots of veg.
I will weigh tomorrow & will post my result.
Margaret xx

I’m so pleased you have your extraction booked Cathy and hope all goes well. Great that your clothes are feeling better. Apple and Cinnamon muffins are on my list of recipes to try in the next few weeks. X

Hello everyone
Nice to read the updates. It’s so hard week to week keeping strong. I’ve kept to plan all week and been rather hungry this week and feeling tired. I don’t think 800 calories is enough! I’ve stayed the same weight this week. 147.4 lb. I was expecting a plateau this last few weeks so I’m not disappointed. My clothes are feeling better though.
After a few phone calls and a lot of negotiating I have secured a slot for my dental extraction next Thursday morning – I am concerned because I am hopefully flying on 1st May but that depends on the jet fuel situation of course. Anyway, fingers crossed this tooth will be gone next week.
I need to have a think about whether to continue on 800 calories or whether to up my calories this week. If I can lose a couple of pounds before I go to Corfu on 1st May that would be nice. I would like to be 145 lb by then but I know things will be slowing down weight loss wise.
Have a lovely Easter weekend everyone. Make good choices. I’ll be having an apple and cinnamon muffin instead of a hot cross bun today!

Hi everyone,
I really haven’t had a good few weeks food wise which I’m annoyed with myself about as I was finding it so easy at first to stick to the 12 week programme and if I had continued in that vein I would have had a decent amount of weight off by now whereas I weighed myself the other day and had gained weight which really wasn’t surprising. I am, however, absolutely not giving up and will continue with the plan until the end of the 12 weeks, do the free month then will probably continue to subscribe (I think it’s £12 a month) as I could easily waste that amount on rubbish in a month and, when I AM following it, I really do enjoy it! I haven’t done the exercises for a few weeks but am going to start them again, I do read the knowledge box every day and often do the meditations. I don’t know for sure but I think if I subscribe I would have access to the recipes, exercise and meditations. It would be handy if I could still complete the weekly online food plan too. I have enjoyed a few new recipes (in between me going totally off track!) which I will definitely use again (DCT I definitely won’t try the fishcakes!) the Mediterranean Mozzarella chicken is lovely, I eventually got round to making the Curried Chicken Kebabs and the Cheesy Ham and Tomato Pikelets and enjoyed both, the Breakfast Traybake was good, I would probably make the Broccoli Florets with Parmesan and poached Eggs again (though eggs and green veg don’t’ ‘go’ together naturally for me). I tried the Plum Crumble for breakfast, it was ok but the serving is quite small, I made enough for three days but probably wouldn’t make it again. I will try to make a few new recipes in the last three weeks of the plan and hopefully find some more I enjoy. I hope everyone has a nice weekend. Dawn X

Gosh the fish cakes were dreadful! Curried quinoa fish cakes – and I’m sure I may have got the quantities wrong or something. But definitely not to be repeated 😂

Hi everyone just a quick check in to wish you all a Happy Easter. I hope you’ve had a good week?

I’ve been a bit off piste this week as I’ve had various events and family gatherings, which has impacted not just what I’ve been eating and drinking but also being out so much has played havoc with the whole routine of food planning etc. So still haven’t made it to 150 but am maintaining between 151-152 and aim to get to 150 or below by then end of next week 🤞

Hope that others have done better and seen some loss😊

ARCTICFOX I hope you managed to get your prescription sorted and that it makes a difference. Hopefully you can delay your blood test by at least a few weeks without any issue.

Right, I’m off to prepare a Fast 800 recipe for later (fish cakes) then off for a swim. That, I can do!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend X

I think one of the easiest ways to ‘change’ your meals is actually to cook the same meals but just swap out the carbs. For example with bolognese instead of spaghetti make courgette spaghetti, spiralized courgettes. I use sliced greens beans or tenderstem broccoli as a base for Thai curry. You can use cauliflower rice instead of rice and I use mashed cauliflower a lot. I also eat a lot more green vegetables now.

I don’t know what ‘normal’ or ‘tasty’ meals are for you but really it’s just a case of leaving out the bread etc. Instead of root vegetables, potatoes, carrots parsnips etc. have green vegetables and salads. Sorry if that’s all a bit vague but it’s just a case of adapting what you enjoy, although not everything can be adapted!

So I know this is a cauliflower recipe thread, but I’m new to the whole diabetes thing, can anyone recommend tasty slow cooker dinners that will last for a couple of meals a week, we are trying to mix up our meals a little bit so I dont get bored of eating the same thing, but we need a few specific recipes good for the slow cooker, thank you in advance, ps there are some tasty cauliflower recipes I’m going to try from this thread 😋

Hello & I have finally been able to log on after four tries during the last two days & messaging to the Tech team it’s sooo frustrating!!!
Anyway thank you for setting up this thread Verano & I am also trying to follow a modified reverse 2:5 with eating less during weekdays & doing daily TRE because I don’t eat breakfast then fasting after supper until lunch the following day plus relaxing my calorie intake at weekends to include some wine & a pudding. However I will relax over Easter & eat an Easter egg 😀🫣
I hope that I will be able to continue posting & not prevented by the Tech team.🤞🤞
Keep on going everyone & if I cant post before Easter & I hope everyone has an enjoyable Easter holiday 🐥🐇🥂
Margaret xx

Becca- I’ve been eating more than 800 generally, but on plan with type of food and loving it. I’ve lost 1 stone out of the 3 I need to lose 🙂

Good afternoon.
I’ve finally found the replies to the threads in my spam folder! At least I’m now getting them .
So the first day of a new month which I always find uplifting. New start. Clean slate etc. etc.

My year so far has been a case of paddling like mad just to stand still. But hey I guess that’s better than gaining. I really do feel in the need of a new regime. I think sometimes we get so bogged down with advice from here, there and everywhere that we then start taking a bit of this one and a bit of that one and end up just confused. My goal over the next couple of days is just to make a clear ‘plan’. I know it has to be realistic, and it has to fit my lifestyle as it is. We can’t put ‘life’ on hold until we have reached that ‘perfect goal’, we will miss too much ‘living’ and that can never be recaptured.

So here’s to an ‘Astounding’ April that reaches and exceeds all our goals…. make them achievable and we will all do this!

Thanks for the kind reply, Tulip! I’ll be interested to see how you get on, too. Did you have success with your weeks on Fast 800?
Also thanks to you, Verano, for your reply to me in the previous thread, and thanks for setting up April and monitoring things.
Becca

Ahh I see we’ve jumped over to yet another new page!

Good afternoon.
Sunny I was looking at hydroponic methods for growing orchids and just wondering if you have done that with orchids in bloom? I have one that I would like to change to hydroponic but it’s in bloom. I have another hydroponic plant that my daughter bought for Mother’s Day. I just find them so much easier to look after. All my other plants are in self watering pots!

Pootle how lovely to have a new puppy and new wipers and chocolate!

I’ve been a bit low lately and one result is a mountain, growing by the day, of ironing. So my first positive today is that I have made a dent in the ‘mountain’!
My blossom tree is in full bloom now.
I have an option on a late autumn cruise, just not sure about the weather in the Med in November but anyway something positive to think about.

Hope you day was full of positives.

Becca- I’ve posted a reply to your 5:2 questions, but I’ve put it on the new April thread 🙂

Hi Verano, thank you for setting up 🙂

1lb per week sounds good.

Reply to Becca re 5:2 in the March thread.

From what I understand, the goal for the non-fasting days is uncounted but portion controlled and still same type of healthy food but you can add more plus some complex carbohydrates. I’m using the fast 800 app and about to switch from the very fast 800 to the 3:4 transition (4 weeks) (4 days fasting and 3 not)- I was interested to know about the non-fasting days on the 3:4, 5:2 and way of life plans, and they told me they work out around 1500 calories- so I think what you are proposing is actually pretty close to the 5:2 as they advise. Anyhow, most of my days are more like 1500 already, but still with great nutrition as specified by this WOE, as I’ve been kind of listening to what my body is asking for and thinking about enough protein, fibre etc as a whole. I’m also doing a lot of exercise so I want to make sure my body has enough fuel. I’ll be aiming to do some days as fasting (and they describe that as 800-1000 cals) and some not, as per 3:4 or 5:2, so I think we’ll both be doing something similar. So, please keep posting! 🙂

Hi, just jumping in with a couple of positives:

New puppy obeyed ‘wait’ command three times this morning! 🐩🐩🐩

Husband produced 2 wonderful presents for my birthday:- new wipers for my car 🚗🚗🚗 and a big box of hotel chocolat‘ seriously dark chocolates.

I’m a fan of both cauli and broccoli, but recently I’ve been eating a lot of roasted cabbage, either in wedges or rounds, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with seasoning, herbs or spices. Have also been mixing chopped cabbage into minced meat, with other veggies, to make a one pot meal.

Positives for today …
🌹🌹 three more orchids put into hydroponics, only six more to do
🌹🌹 bagged a bargain pretty photo frame in a charity shop
🌹🌹 last of the birthday gifts bought and wrapped for those happening whilst we’re away

Hopeful that somebody will join in here again soon.

Charw2 posts reported.

Newbie, there is a recipe on this site somewhere for broccoli bread, which can also be made with cauliflower. I think posted by luv2cook. I have used it extensively for a base for packed lunches. I copied it into my recipe book. Will look it out and post here for you. (Great provided you don’t have a nut allergy!)! 😄

Thanks for this Verano and Pootle, I need more inspiration, will have a look at all the recipes 👍

Thanks for this new thread V.
I see you worked it out Newbie! 😂🫣
Great to be on the site, it helps me to keep on the straight and narrow… as far as possible! 😂🤞

Thanks V and Newbie!
N if you look at ‘recent topics’, you will find the new monthly topic.. open it, post something and click on ‘notify me’ at the bottom! See you there!
K xx

Hello all, I am also aiming at a 1lb per week, and aiming to fit more strength work in to my weekly exercise plan where I currently run at least 3 times a week. I’ve found loosing the weight has left me with slightly loose skin so hope the strength work will tone me up a little.

Here’s to April – lets hope it’s a good one and don’t beat ourselves up if we have a wobble

So do we just add ourselves to the new thread?

Happy birthday Pootle – have a great day and good luck with your appointment.

I shall have a look at the cauliflower thread and hopefully get some inspiration for some variations on the veg, its low calorie and a good filler but a bit samey so new ideas will be great 👍

Pootle I’ve just posted the new April thread “Astounding April: One Month at a Time”, sorry I’ve only just seen your post!

🎉🥂🎈HAPPY BIRTHDAY🎊🪅🎉 for tomorrow Pootle🎈🎈

Welcome to April everyone.

This month we are going to return to ‘One Month at a Time’ again to see if that helps. Personally, I lost my way on the three month challenge as I think it was just a bit too long for my short concentration span.

So to oldies, newbies and everyone else tuning in let’s make April an ‘astounding’ month. It’s a short month just 30 days so let’s try and settle into our own routines and really make some headway with our individual goals this month. Mine is just 1lb per week!

For the new thread what about:
One month at a time: 2026 April Appetite Assuaged??
Sorry, not brilliant..
k x

Good morning on the last day of this thread!
I have posted on the 101 ways with cauliflower thread, so it now appears in the recents.

S-G and Verano might remember that I had a major battle with the practice diabetes nurse at my first appointment with her after my diagnosis in the summer of 2024. I have not been recalled for a check up since, until this week, when I received a letter asking me to make an appointment with her for a review!
I swear that my BS goes up when I am stressed… the finger prick reading after receiving this letter was the highest I have had in over 6 months..🫣!
Looking forward to reading the new thread tomorrow ( my birthday… yes I am an April Fool! 😂). Sorry I am not posting much, but I do still find these threads inspirational!

I just hope that I am able to hold my temper at the appointment! 🤞🤞🤞🤞
My HbA1c was 42 in December, compared with 40 the previous December, but then I had been very strictly low carb for 6 months. I have had ‘treats’ over the last 18 months, but have treated myself less in the last couple of weeks!

I noticed Verano was looking to get this thread back to the top.. (recents)
I have found Cauliflower to be brilliant in keeping carbs and calories down ! I use it mashed as a cottage pie topping, roasted with a Sunday lunch, and mixed the mashed cauliflower with a little cooked chopped onion, bacon and mushroom as a sort of potato cake for lunch! Along with many of the other ideas on this thread!

I can’t get the cauliflower thread back up but just search in the box above for
“101 ways with cauliflower’ and it should come up.

Newbie2026 you’re losing weight…. great that’s what it’s all about, as well as being healthier!

As I’ve just said above 800 calories is really restrictive and I think unattainable for most. I think we each have to work out what feels most comfortable.

Cauliflower, the low carb saviour! There is an old thread somewhere that lots of us posted our favourite cauliflower recipes on. I have cauliflower most day usually steamed and mashed sometimes with some broccoli added. Add seasoning like horseradish, garlic,, steamed with the cauliflower for example. I usually mash mine with a little butter but mainly I use Greek yogurt which gives a creamy consistency like mashed potatoes without the calories of butter. Now that the winter is drawing to a close I’ll probably move more towards salads although I do love my green vegetables!

Anyway whatever you’re doing it’s obviously working so just keep going!

Becca personally I think that 800 calories is unattainable for most people. You say you have a lot of weight to lose and you have great motivation with your granddaughter. You don’t mention if you have diabetes or not. You are aiming for 5lbs a month which is achievable.

Can I make a couple of suggestions? Firstly, it doesn’t matter which method you use to shed unwanted weight we are all here to support each other so keep posting. I’m not certain that your reliance on calorie counting is necessarily the best way to move forward. I don’t know if you have actually read the Fast 800 diet book but the diet was designed really to help reverse pre diabetes and T2 but the offshoot was weight loss. For those of us who have/had T2 the diet works well to reduce blood sugar. The secret is ‘low carb’ not low calorie per se. When you become low carb you almost always automatically reduce calories without having to count. There is a very good website called Diet Doctor which is basically low carb/keto. No calorie counting just restricting certain kinds of foods.

In essence if you cut out, for want of a better word, the ‘bad’ carbs, like bread, rice, pasta ( of all colours), potatoes root vegetables and breakfast cereals, you are automatically restricting your calories. Sodas, even with artificial sweeteners, fruit juices, some fruits like mango, banana, pineapple even apples which are high in carbs, should be restricted. Be careful with mayonnaise but have good fats like olive oil. So I guess this sounds really restrictive because you also need to cut out the obvious cakes, biscuits, crackers, crisps etc. but you can have berries and dark chocolate, 70%, and drink plenty of water.

Michael Mosley first published the Fast 800 diet in 2016, although I think the 5:2 came before that. So 10 years on and research had moved forward in leaps and bounds. I like Ben Bikman’s work but there are so many others like Jason Fung but it’s very easy to become bogged down. YouTube has some good podcasts which may be of help although I find some a bit too scientific.

Let’s be honest here we all know when we have the odd ‘cheat’ but still think we can get away with it! I know I certainly do. I guess we just have to be really honest with ourselves. In fact I think losing the weight initially is the easiest part it’s keeping it off that’s difficult! Certain I’ve not be able to maintain my initial loss. But I do think that I’d be much worse off if I hadn’t kept posting on these threads.

Just never give in or give up and you will reach your goal. I’m very sorry if I’ve spoken out of turn here please just ignore me if I have. But as sunshine-girl always says … you just have to keep on keeping on………….

A postscript to my post above: I’m considering using these calorie allowances I’ve calculated on 5 days of the week, and then doing 2 very low calorie lunch-only days– basically a 5:2 plan, but not really 5:2, since I’d also be counting and tracking on the 5 days instead of free eating as the book suggests. I want the health benefits of partial fasting two days a week.

Have any of you tried or heard of a more controlled version of 5:2?

Hi, all! Home now from Arizona trip, which was nice, lots of lovely scenery (and also lots of flat boring dessert.. ha ha).

As these first three months of the year draw to a close, I find myself right where I was the first week of January. It’s not that I didn’t lose any weight… I did… I just didn’t stay consistent enough to keep it off. For a person of my extreme weight, 800 calories is just very hard to sustain, and it resulted in a lot of up-and-down on the scale.

As we begin a new month and spring is blossoming all around, I am ready for a fresh start. My aim will be to lose 5 pounds a month. If I can do that consistently, it will add up quickly. After inputting my height, age, weight, and activity level (less than sedentary) into a seemingly reliable calculator, I’ve worked out the calories required to lose 5 pounds each month, with calorie allowance moving downward as I lose weight. At present, it looks like I’ll be able to lose 5 pounds in April on 1350 calories, so that’s where I’ll begin.

Because regular calorie counting is NOT what this forum is for, I will not be posting much or at all, but will still be popping in to read and may say hello, applaud your successes, and support your efforts and frustrations along the way. You are all such lovely people, and I do want to stay in touch!

Happy Spring, everyone, and all the best to all of you.

Becca