Latest forum posts

  • posted by  Californiagirl on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi Verano, Sunshinegirl and Clarinet Cathy,
    Hello, hello from California and good to hear you are all well! We are no longer living in England, but back in California — however, I have learned so much about the British mindset in living there for six years so I feel like a long-lost British cousin or extended family or something like that!
    Verano, you are so sweet, and you are absolutely on target when you say “life is for living”. So why do you want to establish “new goals”? The ONLY goal that is relevant is to eat as well as possible every single day (we KNOW what that means), taking into account life events, and just “keep on keeping on” as Sunshinegirl often says.
    There really is nothing else and the constant “dieting” mindset cannot be healthy!! We are not dieting, we are living and eating properly. As you all have said so many times, this is a way of life — we eat right as much as possible, have a holiday or family celebration and then we just go back to eating “right”.
    The number on the scale is not super important, unless you are truly obese, above 31 BMI — then it makes sense to bring it down a bit but it doesn’t have to reach perfection, there is no evidence that a low BMI is good for longevity (actually it is the opposite) and at our age (I just turned 70) longevity is probably a LOT more important than a number on the scale.
    And actually, the research supports a bit of fat on older people as it protects them and is useful in the event of a bone break or an illness.
    Why do we need new goals? It is all just tiring and life is for living. Don’t stress about new goals! You know what to do — all of us who have done this for a decade know how to eat.
    Best wishes, Julia

  • posted by  sunshine-girl on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Verano, I have a weight chart on my fridge door, fill it in everytime I get weighed. Also log on MyFitnessPal weekly but record exercise as I do it.

  • posted by  sunshine-girl on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Slight correction. Started diet on 20th April so 20th June is 2 months and I have lost just under the 1kg per month. Not bad as I am nearly there. Just another 400g to goal.

  • posted by  sunshine-girl on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi Margaret, I am sure it will be fluid retention in the hot weather – our bodies like to maintain its hydration. Funnily enough drinking more can help flush it out.

    I am stuck at 75.2 for the last 3 days but to be honest there have been cooling treats. Yesterday I had an almond chocolate Magnum. It is so hot who cares and I can hardly be bothered to eat. Still trying to stick with it and hoping to be under 75 by Monday. I am still within my 1kg a month goal. Had a swim this morning while it was still relatively cool. That will be my aim now – get up, have breakfast, go for a swim.

    Stay safe.

  • posted by  Verano on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
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    Thank you s-g and Cathy.
    I think I probably need something more tangible line your Kanban Board Cathy. I’m just thinking in ‘vague’ numbers at the moment and I think it’s ‘thinking’ rather than ‘doing’ that’s hindering any sort of progress.
    Time to make a ‘real’ but ‘realistic’ plan I think!

  • posted by  Wendy1947 on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Oh dear I just weighed & have gained 2 1/4 lbs & hope some of that is fluid retention so not good but have been drinking much more water.
    I am now packed & it was hot & sticky here in West Sussex last night despite the fan on! I hope the ac on the ship will cope well with this heat dome 🤞🤞
    Take care & stay cool everyone!
    Margaret xx

  • posted by  Wendy1947 on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Thank you Verano & I don’t really set myself any target goals now & am just pleased if I lose any weight each week.
    S-G I am fairly sure that I have arthritis in my toes now & can’t wear trainers without socks but have other strappy type shoes I will wear in the evening without socks. I’m not fussed about getting a suntan or lines on my legs but will protect my face, arms & any exposed leg or ankles with Factor 50 & take moisturiser & after sun cream just in case. It’s good to know it’s dry heat so at least I suppose we do get sweaty to cool off. Gosh twice daily showers needed I think 😂
    Take care everyone in this
    Margaret xx

  • posted by  ClarinetCathy on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    HI Verano
    I used to have very ambitious goals but I find now that small goals are more achievable and more rewarding. Earlier this year I divided my weight loss into bite sized chunks and planned what I would like to lose per month. I used a simple Kanban Board to visually map out my progress. I split my weight loss into 3 categories, to do, in progress and done. I then wrote my monthly goal on a post it note, put it in the in progress section and once completed I moved the post it note to the done section. It was pleasing to see how my done list filled up. It wasn’t all about weight – I put things like reduce HbA1c, increase walking and exercise. This really worked for me. I still do it now, currently I am trying to maintain and I have monthly goals to aim for. Things like, be sensible, don’t go over 142 lbs, relax eating on holiday but get back on track. Hope my idea is useful to you and others on the thread.

  • posted by  sunshine-girl on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Verano, you know me, slow and steady -although the best laid plans etc. If I have an event I go all out for a quicker loss but as I have been dieting for years it only works if I have had a break or a gain. So back from a holiday I can lose 2kg in a week and then it slows right down.

  • posted by  sunshine-girl on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
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    Margaret we are lucky here as the heat is very dry and not humid but it is how long it is going on that gets us down. We have already had nearly a week and another week to come. On holiday you can put up with it for a few days and accept it as part of the trip. Just lather on plenty of Factor 50, I never go out without it on my face – dont want super wrinkles or am I too late 🙂 Forget about the socks or you will end up with ankle lines on your legs 🙂 If you are wearing a long floaty skirt or wide-legged linen trousers your feet will probably be protected or was it something else worrying you. Just enjoy.

    We had a meal booked for today but I cancelled because of the heat and it looks like the restaurant is closed now until next Wednesday as are a lot of places, especially if they dont have air con.

    Went to the opticians and bought some new glasses with a more modern frame, will pick up at the end of the month.

  • posted by  Verano on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hello. I’ve just posted this on the ‘yearly’ thread and would like to post here too….

    “When you are setting a goal do you make it a small ‘realistic’ one of maybe 1lb a week or do you go for something more ambitious.”
    Which works for you?

  • posted by  Verano on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hello.
    I know there are lots of newbies and oldies on this thread and I would just like to ask one question if I can…….
    “When you are setting a goal do you make it a small ‘realistic’ one of maybe 1lb a week or do you go for something more ambitious.”
    Which works for you?

  • posted by  Wendy1947 on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    I’m so sorry to hear about your house buyer not being able to get a mortgage S-G & hope someone else quickly comes to view 🤞🤞
    I am becoming quite concerned about how hot it is in France & have revised what I am bringing to wear along the lines of more covering up protection during the day so linen trousers not culottes & very light tunics with sleeves plus an umbrella as a sunshade & my trusty hat & sunglasses & sunscreen 50+!
    We used to live in the Middle East so 100F plus but it was dry heat & we were used to leaping from car ac to building acs & of course our home had acs as well. I know our ship will have ac but perhaps my wish to sit outside eating lunch will be rather daft & curtailed! It’s my feet that I am more concerned about so socks & trainers rather than walking sandals 🤔 & keeping hydrated. It is a shame because sightseeing will be rather a trial now but hopefully the guides will be sensible not wanting any guests to expire on them 🌝🙀
    Packing is starting in earnest now with the plan of trousers & floaty light tops during the day & dresses & sandals in the evening 😀 & probably not too much 🥂🤔
    I will weigh tomorrow but not very hopeful & I am not looking forward to our taxi arriving at 4-30am on Sunday morning because I don’t sleep very well anyway & am an owl 🦉 not a lark 🐦‍⬛ like my husband 😀
    Take care everyone in this heatwave that is also in the south of England !
    Margaret xx

  • posted by  ClarinetCathy on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hello everyone
    I am looking forward to seeing some sunshine again this week. We are going away next week for a couple of nights with the family to celebrate my husband’s retirement so having nice weather will be a bonus.

    I’ve been good since my birthday weekend and today I weighed 139.2 lb. I have every confidence in you DCT for your goal this week. I’ll be rooting for you.

    Well done to you MnM for already losing a stone – you should be proud of yourself. That is a superb start.

    I am back on my walking pad and taking things slowly and am going to see how I get on with my arm weights. I’ve booked in to see the physio as I feel I’ve pulled a ham string! It’s been painful for about three months! Good job I’m not playing for England in the World Cup!

    Have a good weekend everyone and just do your best every day. We are literally half way through 2026. To those in the northern hemisphere enjoy the summer solstice this weekend and those in the southern hemisphere enjoy the winter solstice. I love celebrating the solstice both winter and summer.

  • posted by  lucysmith6593 on Savionixa
    on in Mindfulness
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  • posted by  lucysmith6593 on Savionixa
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Savionixa is a heaven for shopping enthusiasts as it provides discounted deals and seasonal promotional discounts of hundreds of Australian and international brands. Whether you are hunting for everyday essentials or something special, Savionixa keeps you connected to the latest coupons, promo codes, and deals so your money always goes further. https://www.savionixa.com/

  • posted by  Dreamscometrue on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Morning all. It’s going to be a hot one here in the UK! I think we are in for a week or so of hot sunshine. In one way I absolutely love it, but in another it seems to slow me down and nothing gets done.

    Anyway, just a quick check in to say no further weight loss this week for me, and in fact I have bobbed back over 150 again. I’m not surprised or disappointed as it’s been a busy week with lots of social activities and eating at the wrong times etc. I have a much calmer week next week and am aiming to make it down to 148 if I can.

    CATHY I’m glad you had a good birthday and hope that you’ve enjoyed a more leisurely week now the invigilation has finished. Good luck with the hand weights : I’ll be interested to hear how you get on with those. My latest fitness effort is Aqua classes. I really enjoy them and go 2-3 times a week. I think they’re having a positive impact on my upper arm, as exercises often involve having to keep floating weights under the water which is a lot harder than it sounds 🙀

    MIXNMATCH what amazing progress so far! Well done 👏. I have only managed to lose 9lb this year so far. Which I’m happy with and is in line with my original “slow and steady” approach for 2026, but I’d like to pick up the pace a bit for the next month or so. It’s lovely to have you back on here again X

    DAWN and SUE I hope you’ve both had a good week? I think we three are quite similar in terms of our ups and downs and our ability to go off piste 😉. But we’re all still making progress and should be proud of that.

    Hello to everyone else too. Do keep in touch, and I hope you all have a good weekend whatever you’re up to X

  • posted by  Verano on Positive Thoughts Thread Anyone?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Sunny so pleased you’ve actually ‘moved in’! Five years … wow… but then it’s much the same in most Meditteranean countries. It must be the heat that slows everything down…. building, workmen, legal stuff etc etc! Glad you can find positives though.

    Happy birthday m&m! Falmouth sounds wonderful and having good weather is like having icing on the cake …. Oh! we can’t talk about cakes and definitely not icing!!!

    Happy birthday S-g’s grandson. Where does it go? Our eldest grandson was 18 in January. Time just disappears.

    I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel here but here goes anyway …

    🍅🥒🧀 Managed just one meal so far today.

    🌳🌹🪻 Ordered some new planting troughs today. We have three and two are ‘bashed’ by various workmen and the third has a disintegrated middle. I guess everything has a life span and it’s now up for my planters!

    That’s it for me today but hope you can find even just one positive. Finding positives really does help to lift the mood.

  • posted by  Verano on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    S-g yes we are 10! Can’t believe I started this way of eating so long ago but also have to admit it’s ’so long ago’ since I actually followed the ‘rules’. Maybe that’s where I’m going wrong!

    I have to say I no longer enjoy the heat. High 30’s plus sound horrendous. Ok so the weather here is ‘temperate’ to say the least but we don’t get extremes. Apart from anything else hotish weather is great when you’re sat by a pool, or on the beach, but not much fun when you have to shop, cook and do all the other stuff.

    Delighted to say I’ve not sneezed now for two days so at last I feel like I really am on the mend. I got a sample of an aromatherapy balm a few days ago and I have to say it knocks me out completely. I just wake up to go to the bathroom but I am then asleep again as soon as my head touches the pillow. It seems far more effective than the pillow sprays I have been using for the past few years.

    So the weekend is almost upon us again. Looks like we might even get warm weather here and hopefully we might actually get to use our ‘new’ bbq that we bought 2 summers ago and which us still sitting happily in its winter cover!

    Hope you all have a good weekend.

  • posted by  sunshine-girl on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Super hot, I should go for a swim but I cant be bothered, maybe this evening when it cools down a bit. Its salad tonight.

    We booked a table at a restaurant for tomorrow but I have decided it is way too hot to be sat on a terrace. Went back on to change it and it appears they are closed for the whole of this week and most of next. Dont blame them, can you imaging being in a kitchen in 42 degree heat. We hear people in the UK complaining that they are being nannied by being told how to behave in heat but dont realise that even in hot countries we are bombarded with advice and some places just close.

  • posted by  sunshine-girl on Positive Thoughts Thread Anyone?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi m&m, it is the same birthday for me and Verano, joined in June 2016 which I think is when the site first opened. Happy birthday.
    So hot here but at least we dont have to go out in it and have air con.
    Grandsons 18th birthday today – how did that go so fast. Love him to bits.

  • posted by  sunshine-girl on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    No news from me, it is hot and we are just staying inside. I did go out and trim a rose bush this morning but should have used that time to go for a swim – it is too hot now. Only going to get hotter with 41/42 expected next week. 38 on Sunday then in the 40’s for several days.

    At least I dont feel like eating and had what was supposed to be a caprese salad but added a peach and cumcumber with lots of olive oil, wonder if that is why my heart is stronger 🙂

    Verano, just seen Mixnmatch celebrating 10 years on the site – are we the same or is it 11. Think it must be 10 as the site was set up in 2016. Happy BSD birthday to the 3 of us.

  • posted by  Mixnmatch on Positive Thoughts Thread Anyone?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    It was my forum 10th birthday (as a poster anyway, I can’t remember how long I lurked before posting) 2 days ago! 🥂🍒🫐🍓🥝🍾🎉🪅🎊

    My Positives are; I had a lovely weekend in Falmouth for the Sea Shanty festival and Classic boats festival which are at the same time. The sun shone, everyone had a great time all three days.

    Fundraising is going well, I am ahead of schedule in getting to my target of 60 miles, but will complete the month.

    Third positive is although I didn’t get the job I was going for they were very complimentary about me in their feedback.

  • posted by  SunnyB on Positive Thoughts Thread Anyone?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Well observed Verano … hadn’t actually realised this thread had been running for so long. Like you, I’ve been on the low carb path for 10yrs now, although I confess, it has got very flaky recently!!! I’m going to have to refocus on my return to UK and work at returning to target weight.
    My apologies for being absent from this important thread, but here are a few recent personal positives ….
    🌼🌼 daughter had been approved for a mortgage on the house she has been renting for ten years
    🌼🌼 after a 5yr struggle to completion, we have at last moved into our villa in Turkiye … feels very surreal, but loving the quieter location
    🌼🌼 have enjoyed the company of good friends visiting from the UK in the last couple of weeks
    🌼🌼 two weeks of relaxation left before we start our journey homeward … going to make the most of the good weather during that time
    Whatever you have had going on recently, I really hope it has brough plenty of positives your way
    … don’t forget, we’d love to read about them if you have time to post.

  • posted by  Verano on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Well done s-g, although sorry to hear about your house sale.

    My diet has been in the same ‘hand cart’ as yours!! I blame my cold but hey…. There always was and always will be an excuse.

    Margaret you must be getting ready for your trip this weekend so when you go ‘enjoy’!

    Newbie you sound as though you’re in great shape for your next triathlon. Best of luck with it.

    Not much news from here but hope that everyone is ‘living their best life’.

  • posted by  Verano on Positive Thoughts Thread Anyone?
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    This thread is exactly 10 years old today!
    🎈🎉🪅🥂
    Happy Birthday!!!
    🥂🎉🎊🪅

    My 10th BSD birthday is also coming up as is sunshine-girls!
    Can’t believe that I’ve been lower (can’t say ‘low’) carb for so many years. I think just getting rid of processed food as much as possible is where the real bonus of this way of eating is.

    It would be really sad now to see one of the original threads disappearing into the ether.
    Maybe we could just try and keep it going for just a little longer?

    So, my positives ….

    🦠🩺🦠 Coughing and sneezing for almost a week now but at last I think I’ve turned the corner! Feeling much better today.

    🥗🌶️🥒 First day back on track with my journal. I’ve found looking back on the odd few times, here and there, that I’ve ‘journaled’ that there is a definite pattern emerging. So, I’m going to keep ‘journalling’ to see if that helps me stay on the straight and narrow!

    🏡🌲🪵 Garden spruced and outside walls refreshed so all looking good.

    Hope you have some positives to help keep this 10 year old thread alive!
    Even just one positive is good!

  • posted by  sunshine-girl on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Feeling better today, lost half a kilo overnight and still motivated. I had a cardio bike test today and he said my heart is stronger than the last test 2 years ago. Some things we cant see but I dont know what is different, maybe the strength training instead of cardio.

    Thats all folks, keep on…..

  • posted by  Mixnmatch on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    2 weeks in now, keeping up with the walking and the restricted carbs (mostly) and just short of 14 pounds off now. Starting to feel a bit fitter as well, and have noticed a reduction in inflammation. It’s so good to know you are all here and I can drop in at any time, but I have to dash right now to get my mum to her regular coffee date with her sister. I’ll be back again later to check in more fully.

  • posted by  ADD6605 on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
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    Hi everyone,
    I’ve finally caught up on posts and was so sorry to hear about your husband Mixnmatch and am thinking of you. Heidi I am also thinking of you at this difficult time. Yowzer, I hope you are starting to feel a bit better bless you. Cathy belated birthday wishes and it’s great to hear you are still doing so well after finishing the online plan. DCT well done for getting below 150! I’ve lost the 2lb I put on since getting back from Scotland and feel back in the swing of the plan so hoping for a decent loss this coming week, I intend getting back to the daily exercise videos too as haven’t been doing that for a while. Sue that’s such a good loss since the start of the year, you are all inspiring me to do better.Dawn X

  • posted by  ClarinetCathy on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Thank you for your kind birthday wishes DCT. I’ve had a lovely day. I purposefully avoided the scales today. I’ve had a weekend of eating out and decided it wouldn’t be kind to myself. Tomorrow i will begin a two week detox before my family weekend away in Lytham at the end of June to celebrate my husband’s retirement. . I will go back to 800 keto for a fortnight. I will weigh myself tomorrow as a benchmark but I expect to be about 144 lb. Tomorrow is my last day invigilating for this term and i am looking forward to being off work over the summer. May and June has been busy with A levels and has, at times felt quite stressful. Ive been getting some steps in and I’ve now got some hand weights so i can start doing some arm exercises to help with my loose upper arm skin.
    Hope everyone has a good week. We have to keep doing our best. Some good days and some not so good. I’ve definitely not been as good as I should have been this last few days but today’s birthday gelato was delicious and I enjoyed it. Back to basics tomorrow.

  • posted by  sunshine-girl on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Hi all, the diet has gone to hell in a handcart as someone used to say. The house sale has fallen through. The buyers buyer cant get a mortgage. So we are back at square one. Never mind, life goes on.

    The diet starts again today.

    Margaret good for you losing some more weight, every little helps. I dont know what weather forecast youre looking at as we have this week starting today at 34, 31, 36, 38, 36, 39 and Sunday 40 – no rain. Week starting 22nd we have 39, 37, 37, 37, 35, 35, 36 and 33 no rain. Are you on Meteo France. We are in a heatwave with no let up for 2 weeks. Im sure you will have air con on the ship. Sat out to eat lunch but had to come back in straight after as it was boiling and we are under and awning.

    Have a good week everyone.

  • posted by  Dreamscometrue on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Just a quick post to say Happy Birthday Cathy! Hope you have a lovely day 🌞

    Good to hear from you too Sue, and glad you are making progress as well.

    Busy day today, but will post again soon X

  • posted by  Verano on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Good afternoon!

    Not a lot to report from this end. I’ve had a bad head cold this week, which has been frustrating, but is on its way out now… thank goodness! So I guess I’ve not really been in the zone. I have a blood test this week and I have to be honest having a two week cruise followed by a few weeks in Portugal my HbA1c is probably, no definitely, up the wall…. we will soon find out!

    S-g so sorry to hear about your neighbour. You really do have to take life and run with it.

    We made a conscious choice in our fifties to ‘travel’. We had been invited to a wedding in Pakistan and had geared ourselves up to go into a world far, far ‘away’! But lo and behold it was cancelled. We had geared ourselves up to do the trip so we thought “why not”, “let’s just do it”. That was back in 1993. We have travelled much of the world since. We are very fortunate, but we made a decision and made travel a priority. We have never regretted our decision especially as I had sepsis in 2007 and my mobility has been an issue since. Despite that we continued to travel and hopefully will still do so.

    I guess it’s the old adage. …. never put of until tomorrow what you can do today!

  • posted by  Wendy1947 on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Thank you for your lovely advice S-G & over any years I have always greeted people in French said please & thank you & ordered food in French because I thought it was polite but chatting is rather beyond me, however I am sure I will now because of DuoLingo understand much more than I am prepared to try saying 😂. My husband retains an amazing amount of colloquial French from having been an exchange student with a French family as a teenager & really surprised a Doctor who had to call on us when we were staying in Perpignan a few years ago when Jeremy had very bad ear ache with greeting him explaining his problem & chatting in French. I had to take his prescription into a pharmacy whilst he was still trying to park explaining in my basic French to the pharmacist that it was my husband’s prescription & he was still trying to park & he was very polite but looked with other people there rather bemused & amused. I am number dyslexic & the French numbering system is still defeating my memory so I still will have to see the written amount to understand or I will usually present the approximate money hoping I will be given the correct change😂
    I have been looking at the weather & it looks as though it will be raining on some days but still very warm so not too bad 😀. I have just weighed & have lost 0.75 lbs which is better than gaining despite eating some banana bread yesterday 🙀
    I have my fingers crossed for you with your house sale 🤞🤞🍀🍀
    Margaret xx

  • posted by  SueBlue on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Congratulations DCT! It would be lovely to be under 150lb 🙂
    I’m focusing on getting back under 200lb, which is still about another 12-13lb away. I did shed another 1.3kg this week, making a total of 7.3kg since the start of the year (or 1st 2lb).
    I think the loss this week (and last week) has been helped along by the fact that I’ve had far less wine than usual! As well as changing my meals around. I was having 3 meals a day on the plan, where often breakfast was only 150-200 calories. I’d often be hungry mid morning as I’m usually up at 5.30am and walk from 6.45am till about 8am, with breakfast around 8.30 to 9.
    Anyway the last few weeks I’ve been eating a bigger breakfast (400-500 calories sometimes), this keeps me full until early afternoon when I’ll have a light meal or snack (rice cakes with cottage cheese / veggie soup / yoghurt and berries / salad), then dinner at around 5 or 6. Fingers crossed this approach will continue to work for me 🤞
    With drinking wine – as both myself and my husband are both retired now we’d got into the habit of having a few drinks in the evening (say 3 times a week), as well as a few on Saturday night. Well my husband has had gout for the last week and hasn’t been drinking at all, so I haven’t. I had also cut down last week as well, having sparkling flavoured water instead, so I think that has definitely helped. I haven’t even really missed the wine tbh!
    I have my eldest daughter coming this weekend, it was her birthday last week but she was away so we’re having a belated celebration. I’m just going to be sensible – and having a few drinks once a week is certainly a lot less than what I had been doing! Hope everyone has a good weekend!

  • posted by  sunshine-girl on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Ah Margaret, what a lovely thing to do knitting hearts.

    Chatting in French is easy for me when I know the subject i.e. my BG, cholesterol, reasons for high readings, it is all familiar. Today both of us went to the cardio for our 2 years check up. You would find this strange but we go in together. I am first on the bed having heart tracings done, then hubby. I noticed the doctor only speaks French to me but he speaks English to hubby. This shows he knows my French is good but hubby is nul (rubbish). It is worse when you are speaking French and they switch to English. I thought it was because they didnt think my French was good enough but mainly it is because they want to practice their English.

    Remember just one thing. When you walk into somewhere i.e. a shop, bar, visitors centre – the first thing you should say is a cheery bonjour. Say bonjour to no-one in particular, to the server, to other people in the shop, but never just stay dumb, it is the height of rudeness. English think if they say bonjour the person will think they speak French and start gabbling on. No, they will know immediately you are English because we cant even say bonjour as the French do and they will just think you are polite. Just relax and enjoy. By the way, we are heading for a heatwave. Sunday 21st 37 degrees. If it is the Sunday after I can tell you the forecast before you go as my phone only does 2 weeks.

    My weight is still stuck and my nerves are still on high alert, waiting. Cant switch my brain off or concentrae on anything. Still waiting. The deadline is Wednesday for them to get a mortgage.

    Have a great weekend.

  • posted by  ClarinetCathy on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi everyone
    Just jumping on quickly to say well done DCT for your significant milestone achievement today. What a fantastic achievement. It’s great to be back in the 140s! You’ve got this! I am 140 lb today and I think it’s going to be impossible to get to 138 before Monday. I did dip to 139 but I can’t seem to keep there and eat! I am not overthinking it. I am very happy with where I am and to be fair I have kept moving my goal so i if I can maintain under 145 I am happy with this.
    Enjoy your success DCT and we will continue our journey in the 140s together.

  • posted by  Dreamscometrue on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi everyone just a quick check in to say I am finally below 150lb. Only just! 149.8 to be precise. But for me it’s a significant psychological milestone. I only climbed into the 150s last year but since then have seen my weight continue to increase which made me fear it was inevitable I’d regain all the weight I’d originally lost (I started at 175 back in 2017). So I’m relieved to be making slow but steady progress in the right direction and I hope to report a further loss this time next week 🤞

    Hope that you all have a positive weekend, whatever that means for you right now. X

  • posted by  Wendy1947 on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Fingers crossed for you S-G 🤞🤞& wow chatting away in French ⭐️I will only be able to manage the basics around greetings, food & shopping & be too embarrassed to try any sort of chat 🤔😂
    My cruise starts the Sunday after next & the weather is looking very rainy at the moment🙁
    Thank you Newbie I know that I will probably never meet again the people that I meet on the cruise so shouldn’t feel self-conscious about my size & know there are plenty of 78 year old ladies rather larger than myself. I can pretend being plumper than I wish as a life well lived😂. I am off to knit & natter this evening continuing to make bereavement hearts that go in pairs to those bereaved to put one in the coffin & to keep the other as a comfort keepsake which is one of our current village projects.
    Keep on going everyone 👍
    Margaret xx

  • posted by  sunshine-girl on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    Another day of waiting. Went to the doctors yesterday and she was a sweetheart. We chatted away in French and I explained my high results. Also pointed out my low cholesterol without the usual high meds (reduced from 80mg to 40mg) and then she weighed me, I told her I hated this part and I had been on a cruise and she said she would be gentle with me. She really was – 72kgs and I had weighed 75 at home that morning. Maybe she has adjusted her scales to take clothing into account but she said it was a 2kg loss.

    Anyway, right now the diet is the last thing on my mind, still stick to the principles although I had half a small baguette for lunch (and still hungry) but trying not to crack open the wine. Will wait until we have a definitive answer so celebrating or comiserating 🙂

    Newbie, 4 stone down, didnt realise it was so good. Keep it up.

  • posted by  Newbie2026 on HOW ARE YOU DOING?
    on in Welcome to the BSD
    permalink

    SG – I’m sorry to hear about your neighbour, just proves life is short and precious and we need to grab it and run with it.
    At least you know what the blip was that caused the rise in your bloods and you are already working towards the next set of results so well done.
    Things sound promising for the house.
    I did one last year but was almost 4 stone heavier, so hopefully I should fly round this one, I’ve run a few half and full marathons so triathlons seem to be the next logical step, I enjoy having a goal to work towards, just lack motivation to train sometimes which is a major downside but I’m good when I can focus 😀 .
    Hope everyone is doing ok x

  • posted by  Dreamscometrue on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    HEIDI so lovely to hear from you, though I can’t begin to imagine all you have been going through. What an awful time for you. Sending you love and hugs, and I hope that knowing we are here is somehow a small help X

    MIXnMATCH very well done on your initial loss. That’s great! And for all the walking too. I’m glad you have a good support network around you, and it’s so good to have you back on here again 😊

    DAWN well done for maintaining on holiday and here’s hoping you lose the 2lb birthday gain. It sounds like you all had a lovely time. And SUE, keep me posted on how you get on now you are, like me, going it alone. Be interesting to compare notes. I’m tantalisingly close my end of week goal of 150 so here’s hoping 🤞. . . although I am at a champagne tasting event this afternoon so have given myself the rest of the day off plan 😉. Will have to work hard tomorrow to make up for it!

    Hello to everyone else reading this too : do let us know how you’re doing X

  • posted by  Heidi24 on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi DCT,
    Thank you for your message last week. I still follow the thread though my head has been all over the place for the last 5 months. Grieving for my husband and my father, and helping to settle my mother into a residential home in the UK has been —– no words really.

    I wanted, too, to send my best wishes and sympathy to MixnMatch. You are a familiar name from the past, when I went under another username. I am so impressed by your charity work for pancreatic cancer in memory of your husband and wish you well. Such a positive way to steer your grief. And 7lbs is a great start.

    I wish I could report such focus and drive, but it is taking time. Eating has been chaotic rather than comfort-driven. And I shall be working on bringing more planning and good healthy nutrition back into the picture.

    Congrats to all who are doing so well – particularly Clarinet Cathy. Go girls. xx

  • posted by  ADD6605 on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hi,
    I hope everyone is well, I will catch up on posts today. We had a lovely week in the Scottish highlands and I maintained my weight but after our daughters 21st birthday celebrations over the weekend the scales showed a 2lb gain when I weighed myself this morning. I’m back on the paid plan today and will see how I get on over the coming month. Dawn X

  • posted by  SueBlue on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Was on my way out with previous entry – but also wanted to send you best wishes Yowzer, I hope you start to feel better soon x
    And also Cathy – good luck with your birthday goal, you’ve truly been an inspiration this year. I need to channel some of your persistence and hard work!
    Am off to a good start today though. In addition to walking I’ve also completed a 30 minute dance/exercise routine on YouTube (it was great fun as was set to 80s music!). I then added a 10 minute hand weight routine. Now it’s off to the kitchen as I need to clean my fridge. Am going to make some veggie soup in the slow cooker at the same time. Hope everyone else’s week is off to a good start 🙂

  • posted by  SueBlue on 2026 : We've Got This!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Mix and Match – wow! Well done on both your impressive loss this week and your waking 🙂 Also I meant to reply to your earlier post – I’m so very sorry to read about the loss of your husband. I do remember you very well from this site over the years, so it’s good to have you back with us on this journey 🙂
    DCT – after reading your post about cancelling the online plan I bit the bullet and did the same thing. To be honest I had been thinking about it, and today was my last “free” day, so to avoid being charged for the next month I cancelled.
    I was going through my books yesterday and I have just about all of the Fast 800 and BSD recipe books, this has worked well for me in the past. And I realised I could just do exercise routines by watching YouTube. I’m still walking 5 days a week and have incorporated HIIT into that. I had a good week last week, I shed 1.1kg. I was using a mix of the plan recipes plus my own, I’m finding it best to have a bigger breakfast after walking, a light lunch (soup or yoghurt) and then an early dinner. Calories are around 1000 per day. I’ve just got to keep going!

  • posted by  SimonforSure on Back again – my first week completed!
    on in Fast 800
    permalink

    Hello everyone. So, it’s been a couple of years since I last did the Fast 800, which I really took to – dare I say I even sort of enjoyed in a way – and the bad habits returned, so this time it must be the beginning of a serious lifestyle change, as a 53 year old male who is 5 ft 8 and weighed in at 14 stone 6.
    I always combine the Fast800 with quitting alcohol – I find that I end up just forgetting about alcohol and only being conscious of the food element!
    I started last Monday and also went to the gym three times last week – each time half an hour on the crosstrainer and a few weights.
    On Friday, I found that I had already lost 4 kilos. But I am aware that this will mostly be water weight. All th same, I feel so so much better and over the weekend, I FELT thinner even if I am not thinner yet. (Waist has dropped a cm.)
    Week two has begun in earnest. I’ve been fasting for about 18 hours most days and meals have generally been a piece of fish or steak, rocket, tomatoes, cottage cheese and olive oil for dinner and earlier in the day, usually either a shake or avocado, feta, eggs or something similar.

    It felt like I entered ketosis on day 2, as I had so many of the signs, but not sure. Either way, it’s going very well for me. On Saturday night, I think I probably went 100 cals over as I had an alcohol-free beer as my one treat.

    So, will keep reporting in!