Jennie glad you are feeling better 🙂

Dawn – hope you enjoy your trip to the garden centre – I agree with Jennie, just choose wisely. When I’m out with my MIL she loves to ‘treat’ me to a cake and coffee as a reward for taking her out (completely unnecessary!), so what I do is choose something small or something that at least has some nutritional value and then make it my meal for the day – last week for example I had a small serve of spinach and vegetable quiche when MIL had cake, other times I order a toasted cheese and tomato sandwich (I read something where this is healthier than say raisin toast) and another time I had a small Friand that was made with almond flour, other times I’ll have a scone – I just guesstimate the calories and have it in place of a meal or as part of a meal.
The most important thing though is to enjoy your time together x

Hi Dawn – feeling better this morning, thanks. Woke up early after a really deep sleep. One good thing – I’ve been having different herbal teas the last few days instead of milk in tea and coffee ( definitely a weakness of mine). I came across a single sachet of Double Mint tea (picked up from somewhere and probably been there from when years began 19… something). Anyway, it was really nice, so another non-coffee and non-tea (with-milk) option for me. Always good to have.
Sounds like a good day for you yesterday , too. I agree about how nice the feeling is of not feeling bloated. A trip with your Mum to the local garden centre sounds lovely. Choose wisely!

I’m off to weigh myself. Fingers crossed I might have lost a few pounds.
Hope everyone else has a good day/afternoon/evening.
Jennie xx

Just calling in to say,SUNNY! Safe journey home tomorrow and welcome back to jolly old England! 👏👏X
My positives today seeing as I’m here…
*~ So relieved my DD and SIL had their boosters last week!
*~ I know I’ve said it a few times probably,but I’m finding the twinkly trees in peoples windows very cheering when it’s dark so early now..it feels like people are making an extra effort this year
*~ Making a last push to stay low carb this week and next and doing well so far.
Always remember though, it’s ok to eat broken biscuits (the calories fall out) and a slice of cake leaves the calories in the rest of the cake.. and of course any fruit in anything contributes to your 5 a day! 😁xx
🎶🎶 Christmastime! Mince pies and Wine 🎶🎶 🥳 xxx

Lauren, that is so helpful in terms of acknowledging there is an issue for some, and not just being shot down, or being unhelpfully responded to by NHS “help line”. Termination is one thing, use of “spare parts” another. I have looked at Lozier Institute; I think that is a bit ambivalent on the initial testing/production distinction between the approved vaccines. Also came across someone who is looking at effect of maternal smoking on foetal liver development, with resort to aborted foetuses’ liver samples. No shit Sherlock – that really smacks of the “research” which involved putting new born kittens into boxes where they couldn’t make out horizontal planes, so then fell off a table edge, or new born Rhesus monkeys who preferred to cuddle up to a soft blanket, no milk, than a cold wire construction which did give milk.

You’re right sixturkeys, I am on an ethics committee – one of my major reasons for this is to try and stop this kind of unethical Research taking place – unfortunately Astra is not the only one plagued with a history of using unethical cell lines – there’s a MAJOR lawsuit in the US at the moment surrounding HeLa cells which were derived from a black African American lady who had cervical cancer, without her consent, in the 30s, and these cells are used literally all over the world. The problem is that these unethical cases come to light, we all have a song and dance about it for a few years, and then it all summers down again, I have hope we can change!!

Sg – sounds great with your docs appointment, you are as ever an inspiration! Good luck with the trip to the UK, I’d quite like to book a one way flight to literally anywhere else in the world right now!! And not just because of covid! But I know you’ll do everything you can to stay safe and you need to see your daughter of course

Elle mae congrats on freedom!

Lauren x

Lauren

So glad to hear everybody’s news 👏👏
I’m STILL trying to get a handle on my frankly re-kindled carb addiction (albeit far better than before I started this WOE) and consequent very slow but sure weight gain….any how, I am working on it.
This evening I dedicated to reading and digesting post-covid disordered breathing information and how to improve it- particularly has been sent by my eldest’s healthcare team as it is one of her worst symptoms, but I also continue to have some much milder breathing issues post-covid, so I think it will help us both. I’ve sent on the info to daughter, of course, and hubby, so that he can be on the same page as us.
I should have been at a band rehearsal, but we had our Christmas concert yesterday and really I’ve been rushed off my feet and this health stuff is super important. I’ll be going through it with Zoe after she finishes her college work this week prior to her next appointment on Monday.

Love to all,
Tulip xxx

Hi all,thanks DCT and Jennie.Jennie I know what you mean about my Mums news,it’s definitely better than it could have been.Sorry to hear you have a tummy bug,hope you’re better soon.I’ve had a pretty good day again food wise,may be going to a local garden centre cafe tomorrow with my Mum and I’m not sure I will manage to just have a cup of tea but will just see how I feel.It’s nice not feeling bloated tonight before going up to bed😀Dawn X

I have posted separately on the weekly thread re an ethical issue I have. Can a “dash” apply more widely to a putative “life”? It is really not religious; I am at best agnostic. I am finding it all rather hard…

I may post on other threads, because I am really ethically in a mix. Covid vaccine; use of human embryonic cell line, from an aborted foetus. Does it matter how many years ago HEK cell line for Astra Zeneca was derived from? Was there what anyone might call vivisection at the time? I saw that Lauren was on an ethics committee… I had one Astra Zeneca and the HEK link was so highlighted in the two page info sheet, which I read afterwards, so have passed since.

Well done Elle Mae ! It must feel good outdoors. Things we take for granted are no longer so . Just hope things stabilize and please please no lockdowns. I want my boy home safely too . …
I’m focused on controlling my creeping excesses . What helps me is to delve into my recipe books and plan . I recognise I sometimes get bored of the same stuff as if I am not quite satisfied but I don’t know why.
I also turn to my Kindle and my library of books about low carb eating and especially on emotional eating . It seems I am never fully cured even though I have come a long way and no longer crave the Dairy Crunch !

Talking of books, Elle Mae, I have pre ordered the Fast Keto 800 for my Kindle and it says the title will be released on December 30th . Not sure if that applies to the paperback too . I expect there will be a lot of publicity and newspaper coverage.
You know for years I spent January feeling miserable and despondent because yet again I had failed in my weight loss attempt. Such a horrible feeling. I am not going there again.

Thinking of you all xxx

S-G so glad it looks like you are going to be able to be with your family for Christmas. Wendy I hopefully will be opening the Keto book on Christmas morning 😉. Well it was freedom day today, self isolation is over! It was so great to go for my walk in the country and breath in fresh air again.

Good news S-g. Enjoy your trip back to the UK!

Oh Yowzer …. you brought tears to my eyes. I was so moved I sent the poem to my children …. hope they take note! But as they say youth is wasted on the young so they probably won’t!
I have had a really ‘low’ day today and think it’s all this ‘news’. So I guess this brings me to my first positive ….
1. 📺💉🔬The news might be miserable but I have an answer …. just switch off the tv!
2. 🍅🍞🐠 Tonight I have a real treat …. kippers! Kippers, tomatoes and hovis bread
( well Livlife and butter) takes me back to my childhood. My mother loved kippers and I have the same ‘love’. A rare treat for me and I’m really looking forward to it!.
3. 🙋🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻 so looking forward to family coming on Saturday which will be our Christmas celebration together. I’m not making a traditional spread but they are insisting on potatoes …. so giving in …. frozen chips!!! Just for them! Hope they enjoy!
Only the beginning of the week and already we have so much uncertainty ….. so much more reason to find the positives now.

Hi everyone .
Your report from the doc is very encouraging SG .He obviously recognises that you know your stuff and can manage things and ask the right questions. Well done for your perseverance and commitment .

The news from the UK re the omicron variant is a bit alarming .I am fed up of this ongoing situation , like many of us for sure . I think you will escape any further restrictions SG so you will be able to get away to be with your family and we will all be thinking of you .

My son is hoping to visit Tasmania before he heads back to France as my hubby’s daughter lives there .It is a most spectacular place and hopefully plans will go ahead as Australia opens up . I have his return to look forward to during January !

We will be cooking traditional Christmas dinner for 5 here so we will plan that . We are all oldies so boosted !

I am getting my jab tomorrow ( another chance cancellation as I was initially booked for 30th December at the local chemist )

As an aside there was a good outcome for my friend and his son at court this morning so I can relax a bit about that .

There is always something positive to focus on, I do believe that .

So this thread stays open and we can pop in anytime . Just stay safe everyone xxx

Hi all. Thanks V, you were right. Doctor was perfectly happy about my HbA1c, it is just me that expects perfection. He said all it indicated is that I have diabetes but under control. On the subject of the machine readings he said it was about time I had a new machine and as a lesson to all, these machines do not tell the whole story. Just a glimpse into what is going on now. As for the cholesterol, I told him what happened with the chest pain and he said I should have called an ambulance. Okay, us nurses, ex nurses and medics are the worst patients in the world. Anyway, he said I did the right thing stopping the statins. He has given me a different medication specifically for familial high cholesteron so we will see how that goes. He knows my diet is really good so didnt try to extract if I had eaten this that or the other.

Well, it looks like Boris isnt shutting us down or locking us out so, assuming we have negative tests on Friday we will be heading off the the UK to be with family. They have all had at least one jab (the 13 year old), 2 jabs (the 16 year old) and boosters for the adults. Except….. Daughters partners children, of whom 2 are 2 yound (7 and 9) and the teenage boy, his mother wont allow him to be jabbed. We have been assured they will all take lat flow tests when the come round – they are used to it as they have them twice a week for school. Fingers crossed nothing goes wrong now. I was pooping myself when Boris said he had an announcement to make the other day, but all is well.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and lets hope 2022 is so much better for all of us.

Just as an aside, I have bought a book called The Last Man by Mary Shelley (of Frankenstein fame). It is set in the 21st century Europe when there is an outbreak of a deadly virus which then infects the whole world. I will be very interested to see how it ends but how someone writing in the 18th century envisioned we would be living. Cheers everyone.

Hi David – been off the forum for a few days. Hope the hba1c appointment went well. Let us know how you get on.
Jennie xx

Well, I’ve just written a long post then forgot to post it before switching away. Blast. So just a quick hello.
Dawn – I was so happy to read about your visit to your Dad and that your Mum’s test results were OK – (not sure good’s the right word – hopefully you know what I mean).
DCT – my fingers are crossed that you hear soon about OH’s op date xx Great to hear you are keeping focused this week.
RubyG – I’ve now become a fan of cauli leaves too – I usually oven roast them with my other veg but I’m going to try sauteeing them next time. Thanks for the tip.
Sue – good luck from me too.
Yowzer – that’s a lovely poem. I also had a smile at the quote you posted on the Positive Thoughts Thread about not always having to accept the invitation to an argument. I wish I’d read that years ago. I turned up with or without an invitation and I always made sure I was the last to leave!
JGwen – Like DCT, I’ve wondered a few times about how you’re doing. Hope you’re going well.
Got to stop now, so hope everyone else is also going well; hope you have a great week, meet your goals and get your Christmas shopping done!
So my ‘cold’ turned out to be a tummy bug which has been keeping me close to my bathroom since Friday. Better but not quite gone as yet. So, I’ve not been able to go for walks, but on the plus side I’ve eaten very little, and taking soup from my tiny freezer has freed up some space. Always an upside. Will catch up later in the week.
Jennie xx

Morning all

Another week and I fully intend to stick to plan this week. I’ve been feeling a bit low and lethargic this weekend and really do need to get my act together. So it’s back to low carb and cals this week and I also want to up the exercise. I seem to have developed a great skill in wasting time doing nothing in particular so I’m sure I can fit in more exercise without anything else being affected.

I see that lots of others are feeling very resolute about this week too. Good luck everyone, and I hope we all achieve our goals for the week.

Thank you all for the kind words about hubby’s operation. Still no news as to when it will be but, as someone said, we just need to go with the flow and make the best of whatever the timing turns out to be.

Cathy I hadn’t seen your post for some reason and I’m sorry about your emails. I did wonder if either a computer store or your email provider may be able to help recover them if there’s important stuff you would like to get back? Hope the family gathering went ok and that this week goes well in light of the new booster targets in the UK.

Sue good luck for your blood tests this week.

Dawn I’m glad you had a bit of down time. Hopefully there will be lots more to come, but with healthier eating and better sleep!

Yowzer, lovely poem. Food for thought as always.

Linda hope you are feeling better? And hubby too.

And hello to Jennie, Mariet, Laura, Antigone, Ruby, JGwen and anyone else reading this. Hope you are all doing well X

Hi all,sorry I fell asleep last night before posting.Had a pretty good day food wise and am pleased I used mfp to plan next few days so know what I’m having today.Lovely poem you quoted Yowzer.Hope everyone has a good day.Dawn X

Yoohoo! Back again..!
Just wanted to post this inspiring poem I read today..it’s called The Dash,by Linda Ellis
“I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
From the beginning…to the end

He noted that first came the date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
Know what that little line is worth

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering this special dash
Might only last a little while

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent YOUR dash?”

Hi folks,just wanted to post this inspiring poem I read today..it’s called The Dash,by Linda Ellis
Food for thought on our Crimbo Coach Ride!⛄️⛄️⛄️
“I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
From the beginning…to the end

He noted that first came the date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
Know what that little line is worth

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering this special dash
Might only last a little while

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent YOUR dash?”

Hi folks!
VERANO! Knowing a bit of background to your “saying No” story, I heartily applaud you!👏👏👏👏 Youre right to step back and help by being signpost,and best of all,not feeling guilty,knowing you’ve done what you can and that there’s no point exhausting yourself any further 👍👍
SUNNY Yay! It’s lovely to know you’ll soon be back on our shores!x
DAWN..ahhh, fingers X’d for Xmas Eve,a lovely start to the festivities!🎶🎶 I love Bob M,I’ve just listened to him read his autobiography in an audiobook I borrowed from online library.
CARONL.. I too am bad at drinking water. Well done! Ditto I tend to accumulate hand and face creams,so I’m taking a leaf from your book and making more effort on the “:drink water and dig out and use up stuff” front! X
Positives for Sunday..
*~ Went for a walk and it was dry and quite mild! Made the walk a real pleasure! Birds were singing,think they were enjoying it too.
*~ Dd popped her head out as I went past to give me two early crimbo prezzys….a lovely velvety cushion with a fox embroidered on it in gold thread ..and a quite posh Bee Tidy holder that matches my Bee towels and bathmat. It’s now in the bathroom holding cleaning stuffs.
*~ it feels very Christmassy today..the big days getting closer! My lounge is like Towering Inferno as I’ve lit candles and tea lights galore.
*~ I’m listening to one of my favourite songs..Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten…”
“Today is where your book begins,The rest is still unwritten!” I love that thought that each day is a fresh start and another chance to create a really great day 🌷❄️🌷❄️🌷❄️🌷❄️🌷❄️🌷xxx

Hello
Good to ‘see’ you again Dawn and Caron.
Dawn do hope you get to see your Dad … such uncertain times.
Caron I’m in awe of you …. 3000 pieces WOW. I did a 2000 piece earlier in the year and I really thought I’d never live to see the end! Well done you.
Sunny, glad to hear all is going well with OH. Hope you have a safe and stress free journey home. As Yowzer says…. dress up warm… you’ll need to!
Yowzer I love Albert Finney but Alistair Sim is definitely the ‘ Scrooge’ for me too!
Well, I have had a revelation this week, which is my first and probably biggest positive for a long, long time …..
1.☀️💡🌈 At my ripe old age I have finally learnt how to say that little word ‘no’! I know lots of people find it a difficult word and I’m no different but this week I’ve had a breakthrough.
Firstly, I was asked to continue supporting someone who needs professional help, which I can’t give. I’ve provided them with information/ help if they want to take it up. I don’t feel guilty!
My second was refusing an invitation to a social gathering ( or could that be a party!) which I really did not want to go to. Despite the pressure I stood my ground and said ‘No’, even after two phone calls!
So, yes, I’m finally taking charge of my life.
2. 🎓📖💻 Have now managed a 16 day streak on my Spanish online course. I did an OU Spanish course about 16 years ago and I’m surprised at just how much I can remember. Don’t know if I’ll be able to put it into practice though should the time come in the future ….. please, please, please! Can’t wait for a trip again.
3. 🥦🍆🌶 Thai curry last night was lovely, better than takeaway, even if I do say it myself! Tonight it’s salmon with asparagus and mashed cauliflower. I experimented a few days ago by mixing cauliflower, broccoli and celeriac to make a mash which was really lovely and a better texture than cauliflower by itself.
So, hope you have all had a good weekend with lots of positives …. even when they’re not obvious they are still there, but sometimes we just have to dig deep to find them.
Thank you all for posting it really helps me to dig deep.

Ruby have you tried to get king oyster mushrooms lately. I don’t seem to be able to find any and just wondering if they are out of season?

Thank you to everyone wishing my OH well … he’s doing great.
Caronl, lovely to have you posting again, sounds like you gave a solid plan for controlling festive consumption. I really need to get my head in the game, so will try my best to get focused before the festive season hits.
Dawn, great to see you here again too. I will keep everything crossed that your visit with your Dad on Christmas eve is possible. That would get your festive celebrations off to a lovely start.

Positives from me today ….
🌸 really pleasant evening out with OH last night. He ate more (though still modestly) than he has since before the op, to no ill effect.
🌸 packing pretty much done, just a few things to organise tomorrow, before we start our journey homeward late afternoon.
🌸 looking forward to being home again and catching up with family properly, in person.

Whatever you are doing, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Dawn it sounds like you are in a good place today 🙂
I’ve had a good day, yesterday went a bit awry as after we cleaned out the garage and repacked boxes we had a few beers afterwards!
Today though I stuck to plan with a cooked brunch – scrambled egg, bacon, avocado, tomatoes, mushrooms & spinach with a piece of low carb seed toast. I’ve found another one that I like that is only 7g carbs and 150 calories for 2 slices. I didn’t have lunch but was hungry around 3pm so had a beetroot brownie from the freezer with a dollop of yoghurt and some berry compote – my healthy version of Black Forest gateau 🙂
Then for dinner I made pizza using pita bread for the base and piling on lots of veggies, some feta cheese and herbs from the garden. So all up my calories were 1100 and carbs 70g.
Tomorrow and Tuesday I want to stick to 800 calories and 50g carbs.
Yesterday I stocked up on some fresh fruit and veg, berries are in season at the moment So I’m going to enjoy some with yoghurt for breakfast tomorrow.

Cathy – meant to say well done on your weigh in this week, and I hope your get together went well.

I’m going to see my doctor this week for blood test results, it will be interesting to see how my cholesterol and blood sugars are now, as they were last checked 2 years ago, when I weighed more. I’m going to ask about my booster too as the government is now recommending 5 months after the last jab and not 6, which would make mine due at the end of December.

I’m going to enjoy our final weeks on the coach as we countdown to Christmas and the end of 2021 🙂

Sunny, so pleased to hear that OH is recovering. Such a relief.

– I am feeling positive about two small changes I have made this week. I start the day with a big glass of water. Since I am useless at drinking water, this is making me feel very virtuous! And I have decided to use the nice face and hand creams that have accumulated over the years – and can already see and feel a difference. And it is for free!
– Finished a 3000 piece jigsaw last night – Breughel’s arrival at Bethlehem. Thought I would get seasonal! The positive news was that there were no pieces missing – always a risk with second hand ebay puzzle purchases.
– There are still nearly two weeks to Christmas, so still time to make a difference. I have decided to avoid Christmas creep and cut back on carbs in the run up. Then I shall enjoy the day with some lovely luxury and just a little (planned) carbage. That’s a plan!

Happy Sunday to all.

Hi all,so sorry haven’t posted on this thread for yonks(though I read it regularly),I will make an effort to rectify that!Yowzer and Sunny your posts about Scrooge made me smile,my Dad loves Alistair Sim and he was always his favourite Scrooge.Yowzer how lovely that you and your best friends watched it all again,together in (Christmas) spirit🎄I hope your lost filling gets fixed soon though,as you say,dentistry is so expensive when you have to go privately.I remember laughing watching Bob Mortimer on Would I Lie To You talking about his DIY dentistry and bet he saved a fortune over the years!
Sunny I’m pleased your OH’s follow up appointment went well and hope that you are home soon.Verano,Thai curry sounds lovely,they’re DD’s favourite kind so think I will make one soon.A country house in January is a lovely thought for you to forward to.So some positives from me:
😀 have woken feeling a lot more positive than I have in a while about sticking to healthy eating so 🤞 that lasts
🌺 some friends who we haven’t seen (apart from on a couple of doorstep visits)for two years came round for tea last weekend,it was so lovely to see them.They brought a poinsettia (we are matching Yowzer! ) which always brightens the house.
🤞My sister and I have managed to book a visit to see my Dad on Christmas Eve (hoping they don’t have any cases of Covid before then,or ever again in fact! )
Will try to post more positives during the week.Dawn X

Hi all,sorry I’ve been absent for a few days,DCT I relaxed as you suggested which was lovely but didn’t really look after myself as ate a lot of rubbish so subsequently feel very bloated and haven’t slept well for a few days!I think I will go back to my nightly posting and definitely need to up my exercise as the only I get at the moment is in my day to day living.I hope your DH’s operation goes well,not great timing on Christmas Eve but,as you say,good that it’s being done soon.
Thank you also for your kind words Cathy(sorry to hear about your deleted emails,I can imagine that will be problematic and wish there was some way they could be retrieved)Sue,I too am going to spend some time today planning meals for the next week as it is the most helpful way for me to stick to healthy eating(awful that your garage flooded,we have so much in ours that would be a big job to sort,hope not too much damage for you)Yowzer,I too would love to be 10 and a half stone!Last Christmas Eve I think I was 10stone 10 after our 1st Christmas bus trip but am miles away from that now😩 However,on a more positive note,I have woken today feeling like I really want to eat healthily and I haven’t felt like that for this last week so that’s a plus.Also if I’m able to continue feeling like that I know that,at the end of 13 days on this plan,I could feel vastly different to how I feel today,that’s how quickly it has worked in the past for me.Not so much losing pounds,just feeling physically so much lighter after two weeks.I know it’s a difficult time of year to try to avoid sweet treats and I won’t be hard on myself if I have a lapse and I know I won’t necessarily wake feel this mentally strong regarding food for the next 13 mornings!but I’m going to give it a try,as a gift to myself🎁 Have a good day everyone.Dawn X

Nah, try & stay out of the system IF it’s at all possible & the label is a pain in the ar$e. First of all doctors want you in the system (well most do, sounds like you have a good one though) as they get extra cash for each diabetic – whether controlled by diet or insulin, tablets, injections.

If you get the diabetic label then on travel insurance you may have to pay extra to be covered (in later years can be damned expensive!). If you have the label then you MUST inform them, otherwise any problems & you may not be covered. IF the doc tells you to inform DVLA of your diabetes – you have to do this. Car Insurance can go up because of it. Private Health Insurance will be higher. I think there are far more negatives than positives. Yeah, you may get extra blood tests to ensure that you have the diabetes under control & that other things are working OK – you may be able to talk with your doc & see if you can get annual ones WITHOUT the ‘label’.

You sound like you’ve got the handle on what to do to get rid of this dreaded disease. I know our docs are amazed that we always take our own initiative as SO many people don’t do a damned thing to help themselves. Been told so many times ‘You’re educated!!!’ – I don’t think they get many like us, sad to say. The docs also tell the nurses that we’re educated too, we’ve had a few laughs with them about it. It’s our body so why wouldn’t you do everything you can to improve it, it’s the only one we have so be interactive with it. We always research any problems we have to the nth degree which amazes them sometimes. Hubby has watched every operation he’s had on the screen – even heart surgery. I draw the line there, although I have watched loads of animal surgery in real life.

Tell your doc you’d prefer to deal with this yourself, without getting the ‘label’. Once you’ve got the ‘label’ then even if you have normal BS you are still a ‘diabetic’ but a diabetic in remission. Avoid the label if you can.

PMSL about your flavoured water – you probs only had 1carb in that big 2lt bottle. Have the stuffing & cranberry if you really, really want them. Yeah I hear you about jetting off somewhere. Sadly hubby isn’t allowed to fly until he sees the cardiologist & she gives the OK. We’ve spent a load of Christmas’s in the USA (he’s an American) with family OR in the villas we had in Turkey OR in the Canaries etc. with guaranteed warmer weather. OMG we miss our holidays. We shall be on the next transatlantic cruise over to the US if cardio says it’s OK – nicer way to travel than an airplane.

So happy to hear yr OH is well now and got his appetite back SUNNY!
Good luck with yr tests and safe journey home. Wrap up warm!XXXX

Verano, Yowser, thank you both for keeping things ticking over here on the positives thread. Yowser, glad you enjoyed you nostalgic movie watch. Personally, my fav Scrooge is easily Alastair Sim. Amaryllis are one of those plants you can almost see growing V, quite incredible.

A few positives from here …
😌 visits from various lovely friends to check up on OH after his op. And it’s been so humbling, how many have said if we ever need help, to please call them.
👍all clear from surgeon yesterday at OH’s follow up appointment, so just need clear covid tests tomorrow, for us to be able to return home on Tuesday.
🍲 enjoyed a meal out at one of our fav restaurants this evening. Most OH had been able to eat since op and he feels fine.

Hope your weekend is bring some positives into your orbit …. whatever they are, no matter how small, take a moment to acknowledge them and if there is tone, please share them with us too.

Hi Coach Folks! XX hmmm..I’m trying to play catch up with all the news!
DAWN so lovely to hear yr Mum and Dad news 💜💜
ANTIGONE I hope DDs arrived and the decs are up! 🎈💕🎈💕🎈 🎈💕🎈💕🎈
LINDA! 🙏 praying you and Hub are much better now? X
DCT enjoy yr Xmas dos! 🥰
CCATHY hope the fambo get together goes well..often things turn out better than we expect.
I wd LOVE to be 10 1/2 stone but got a little way to go yet..it WILL happen in NY! X
..well it’s all very well for you party goers! I better get on,,chores await!
RUBY,SUEBLUE et al..sending hugs xxxxx
Love to all on our Battle of the Bulge Bus 🚌! Keep on fighting the good fight 😍 xx
🎶🎶🎶🎶 keep right on to the end of the road! 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

Oooh V a Country House sounds good,.always nice to have sthing nice in January,it can be a gloomy month otherwise!
My positives…
*~ Just watched Scrooge,Albert Finney version,1970. Saw it then at the cinema with my two best friends. Still my best friends today,and we watched it today,only in our own homes and on tv this time,not together. Fantastic songs and dance scenes in it,lovely and Christmassy. Ate a home made mince pie while watching
*~ DD gave me a lovely poinsettia today!
*~ Funny coincidences between V and me today,people we have in common! This big city is really a little village!
🎵 🎈 💕🎵🌷💕🎵👏🏽🎵😀 🎵 🎈 💕🎵🌷💕🎵👏🏽🎵😀 🎵 🎈 💕🎵🌷💕🎵👏🏽🎵😀
Keep happy minds BSD peeps! xxx

Hi s-g. Sorry to hear about your bloods …. just don’t panic!
I think most of us have a bit of carb creep when we’ve been eating low carb for many years but we are still very low carb compared to ‘normal’ eating. Just look back to the old days when an average day was probably cereal for breakfast and maybe some toast and even marmalade. Lunch could have been sandwiches with crisps and even a biscuit or two. Dinner was nearly always with a good helping of potatoes, pasta or rice, then possibly a pudding. Plus a couple of snacks during the day! Oh! and the wine!
Then look back to your BS then and the amount of insulin you were using plus the way you felt. Fast forward to today. Nothing runs in a straight line and as you say 6.5 isn’t a disaster. The most important thing is that we know how to control our blood sugar and the odd blip is just that, an odd blip.
Have a good chat to your Dr on Monday and I’m sure you’ll feel far more settled.
Just as an aside …. I first started BSD after a friend of mine lost a toe because of T2 and I just happened to find THE book at the same time. Five plus years on, with low carbing I have ‘normal’ BS, as do you, he, with uncontrolled BS, has just had a second toe removed! ( He did lose a lot ofweight but didn’t control his carbs!)
I guess we know the answer and as you say, we just have to keep on keeping on……..

Good afternoon!
Well thought I needed to pop in and find some positives on this dark, wet afternoon so ……
1. 🎋🪴 The amaryllis is growing at a pace. I thought I was imagining the growth so I measured it yesterday and it’s grown 1cm today. A bit of a worry … could be a triffid!
2. 🌶🧄🌶 Thai curry tonight. I love spicy food but we had a Thai takeaway a few nights ago which I had a “little hotter” . WOW it was hot so tonight I can adjust the heat to suit me.
3. 🥂👗🎉 Should have been party time tonight, but not that fussed to be with lots of people in crowded places just at the moment, so looks like a night in with the TV instead!
Hope all are well and having a good weekend.

Hi y’all, I am finding it difficult to understand why my BG was up as I have been looking through my daily morning numbers and they are all under 100 (5.5) except one day at 104 (5.6). Last night we had friends round and had drinks and nibbles, although I stuck mainly to the olives, so I increased insulin to 18 units and this morning I was through the floor with a reading of 40 (2.1) which really frightened me. Never seen it so low. Conundrum, I cant increase insulin to get next test numbers down so I have to look very carefully at my diet. In all honesty a bit of carb has crept in. My 2 stolen chips from hubbys plate with an omelette is now around 5 or 6, on Thursday I needed a baguette to make breadcrumbs and ended up having a chicken sandwich instead of a chicken salad. Just shows how just small slip ups can cause problems for a diabetic. Lesson learnt. Seeing doctor on Monday and lots to chat about but in truth I know what to do. Looking forward to doing another round of the 8 weeks BSD in the new year.

Hi Linda,
Our surgeries are over-run too. The mass vaccination centres have closed and the GP surgeries are picking up that task. Even before, they weren’t that keen to do HBA1C’s. Hence the reason why I used CeraScreen. It’s accurate, £24 and they give the results in about 10 days.

The HBA1C will be at roughly 2 1/2 months so I think that should give a fair reflection of where I’m at. Since I’ve been doing the diet, most days are in 20-30g of carbs. I have had a few blips – I was out and bought a sugar free, flavoured fizzy water that said “carbohydrates: negligible”. Turned out that was for 100ml and I drunk 2 litres.

Christmas dinner wont be too big a bind. Covid travel rules permitting, I’m hoping to go somewhere warm and sunny so I wont be doing the traditional Christmas dinner. Even if I stay at home, it will be the stuffing, bread sauce and cranberry jelly that I’ll miss rather than the roasties! I’m not a desert person – I’d have two starters and rack of ribs instead of an icecream or cheesecake.

It’s interesting that you say about having the title “Diabetic” – I think I kinda am already but I don’t have the label. It was actually a GP who more or less said “See what you can do to reduce your blood sugars and come back in 3 months; It’s better not to have the label”. He then talked about car and travel insurance and so on rather than retinas and leg lesions. This is the bit I dont really understand – will I be a T2 controlling it by food control and does that pose any other risks? Is it better to be in the system? It’ll be a long chat with the GP after the results come back.

David
Don’t make life hard on yourself! Finish on 24th or so & enjoy Christmas. NOT that much though – for most of us this has become a way of life now & a different way of eating that you quickly get used to. However indulge yourself a bit over Christmas. A few roast potatoes is OK, just have more veggies & forget mashed potatoes (do people actually eat mashed potatoes with Christmas Dinner?) new potatoes probably but mashed – yuck!

You are doing great but the HbA1c takes the figures over the past 12 weeks – let’s hope you’ve had enough time to get them right down. I think you probably will have done as long as your carbs are low enough. I’m due to have another now BUT the surgeries are over-run at the moment so I may have to delay it until the New Year. Think about what you are going to do after the 12 weeks are up. If you are prone to diabetes then it may be worthwhile carrying on the low carb way of eating.

We all expect to hear your results & also your weigh in before Christmas. Good luck & you are doing GREAT! Well done you on doing a diet that will hopefully end up with you never having the title ‘Diabetic’

Dawn – so pleased that your visit to see your dad went well and that your mum’s news was better than you thought it might have been x
DCT – sounds like you have a lot on your plate! A Christmas Eve op doesn’t sound like the best timing at all, but I’m sure your daughter will understand. I’m really hoping our family will be together this Christmas, fingers crossed 🤞 Our case numbers here are rising quite rapidly now that everyone is out and about and getting together after lockdown – but at least we have a high rate of vaccination, so I’m hoping that means no more lockdowns.
My weigh in this morning was a little disappointing as I’ve gained a few hundred grams (just over 1/2 pound). It has been an unusual week though with outings/meals out, also I really need to get some food shopping done – I ended up cancelling last weeks order and have been using up my stocks in an attempt to make room in my (small) fridge and freezer for Christmas… but it means I’ve ran out of fresh veggies, salad etc!
I’ll be busy today as we had a couple of storms yesterday and our garage was flooded, so it needs cleaning out and stuff I had stored in there sorted and repacked. Later today though I’m going to plan meals for next week and then go to the shops tomorrow and buy a few days food to get me through until my online order comes next week.
I do have a Christmas work function on Thursday, but other than that should be at home so if I stick to plan I should see some results by next Friday’s weigh in.

I’m still hoping to get to my 2021 target weight, there’s 3 weeks left of the year and I have 2kg to lose so it may be possible, however I have Christmas to add into the mix and am a slow loser at the best of times… not throwing in the towel at all, just being realistic. I’ll see how I go this week, but to be honest I’d be happy to just be under 89kg again if I can’t get to 88 on the dot!
Hope everyone has a good weekend x

Hello everyone

Dawn- glad the visit to see your dad went well and good news that you didn’t get worrying news this morning at the hospital re your mum. I think choosing when and when not to weigh helps with the process.

Dreamscometrue- sorry to hear that your husband has to have eye surgery which may scupper your Christmas plans. It goes to show that we really cannot make plans at all these days and have to learn to go with the flow. My new working ground. It really is imperative that he gets his surgery as soon as possible. Sounds like you have a lot going on at the moment. I am sure you’ll make the right choices re your job etc. Well done on losing 2lb! Amazing and what a boost!

I weighed myself this morning and weighed 147.2lb. I was delighted with that. I went off my food yesterday because I inadvertently deleted ALL my emails yesterday. I have managed to locate a few but sadly I deleted the deleted ones! I was tidying up my emails because I’ve been getting a lot of spam and then pressed delete all emails! All my folders emptied and I lost everything. I consequently went sick! Anyway, I’ve had a forced declutter and lost some weight in the meantime!!! My plan is to get to 146 lb next Friday. I am going to a family get together tomorrow (not happy about it but can’t get out of it) and then will be good from Sunday to Friday. I don’t feel happy about meeting in groups but this was arranged before the Omicron variant came to light!
Have a great week everyone and let’s hope we can all be a little lighter next weigh in.

Hi everyone, I have just had my results in from my latest blood tests. HbA1c 6.5 so up from about 5.7 but not a disaster. Cholesterol up from 4.1 to 5.6. I sort of expected that as I stopped taking the statins due to severe leg cramps and chest pains. So need to have a conversation with doctor when I see him on Monday. Not through bad diet but I suffer from familial cholesterol which means I really do need the medication although I was only taking 10mg.

Will see what doctor says.

I am happy to keep dipping in here until we go away on Saturday week. Then for the future, whatever suits everyone.

Dawn that’s great news about your mum. Not that she has to have the polyps removed I mean, but the fact it isn’t cancerous. What a relief! And also presumably once it is removed she will be relieved of the ongoing symptoms she’s been struggling with. Am so pleased. And glad your dad recognised you too. Now go and relax and look after yourself for a while 🙂

I’ve got Christmas do’s tonight and tomorrow but will try to be good. Then hoping to stick completely to plan Sunday-Thursday to see if I can coax another pound off! Even two but who knows? I really need to step up the exercise next week too as it has been very sadly lacking for the past couple of weeks . . .

Hi all,thanks DCT,Jennie,Sue and everyone,the visit with my Dad went well.He was quite sleepy but did recognise us and it was just nice to be with him.My Mum saw a consultant this morning with my sister.It turns out she has a polyp on her bowel,almost certainly not cancerous but it will be removed in the new year.We are all extremely relieved.I haven’t weighed myself this morning as I really don’t think my four day plan has gone very well! DCT well done on your loss! Dawn X

Many thanks Linda, Sunshine-girl and Jennie,

I’ve taken your collective advice and I have extended the 800 calories to 12 weeks. Day 84 will be 29-Dec.

I’m now (almost) over the comment about deflated about the blood sugar drop. It came from reading other people’s stories and even the Moseley book’s Dick case study has the line “By day 9 his blood sugar levels had fallen to normal”
I take your point about the BG testing. I bought 2 meters – a Contour Next and a SD Codefree. The results can be significantly different (e.g. 6.1 vs 7.8)
I have an HBA1C booked for tomorrow with my local surgery. (I booked it right at the start of the 8 weeks)
The previous HBA1C was done with CeraScreen self test that returned 7.0% (53mmol/mol) which prompted me to go on the diet in the first place.
Every morning I look at myFitnessPal’s nutrition diary for the previous day (or few days) and try to pre-guess that morning’s blood sugar score. It rarely correlates. Most days I come in around 25g of carbs but I’m thinking that sleep, stress and exercise account for the variability.

Many thanks for your advice, help and support! (and please, no-one worry about teaching me to suck eggs! – I still have a long way to go)

David

Hi everyone. Can’t believe another week has flown by!

Dawn I hope you had a good visit with your dad yesterday, and also that your mum’s appointment goes well today and brings positive news. I understand how worried you must be and hope it will put your mind at rest.Thinking of you all X

Linda how are you? I hope that your flare up is calming down now?

Cathy, keeping fingers crossed for your weigh in today – and anyone else doing a Friday weigh in.

Hope everyone else is doing well? I’ve had a difficult week in many ways. There is a possibility my hubby’s surgery will be on Christmas Eve! Which is great in that it gets done but means we’d have to cancel all our Christmas plans, as it sounds like there will be a few weeks recovery time. Needs must, but I really don’t want to let down my daughter, who is planning a lovely lunch for us and her partner’s family – she’s so excited – and also my mum up north. We are due to visit her for a few days after Christmas and I’m getting increasingly concerned about her ability to cope. She seems very stressed at the moment, and we are so far away. I’m also mulling over a part time job opportunity back at my old school. Since taking early retirement I do freelance work from home, but this job could just about dovetail with that and help top up the post-wedding coffers, particularly as hubby is unable to work at the moment.

So there’s lots going on – as indeed I know there is for many of us on this thread and the forums in general. I confess I did resort to wine and snacks yesterday afternoon (sorry!) but then had a lovely surprise this morning when the scales showed a 2lb loss this week! I’ve been pretty on plan with the eating but thought I’d blown it yesterday. So that was a real boost and made me determined to still aim for my (revised several times!) Christmas goal of 140lb despite all that’s going on.

Anyway, enough waffling on, must get on with the day. Love to you all and I hope you have a wonderful weekend X

Hi Wendy and everyone!

Perfect, thank you Wendy- so grateful to you 3 for keeping the threads open and going- I don’t mind at all if it is weekly or monthly – I am just happy to have somewhere to come and chat and be accountable- also I reckon, don’t worry if you can’t respond personally to every message, we can all chat amongst ourselves too, totally understand that you are a woman in demand! Also, what a fabulously positive attitude your son has! I could do with taking a leaf out of his book!

I am just struggling to manage all of the childrens’ needs, as well as work and my own needs, especially with my eldest being still really poorly with long covid for 18 months + now….lots of health appts with her, plus my middle has mental health issues, and youngest on another planet with ASD…..my mood was very low and I felt really worn down for a while, but I am coming out the other side I think, having put my foot down about a couple of things and therefore found a little time for myself to fit in exercise usually daily again which I find essential for my own mental, as well as physical, health.

I am hoping to be more on track with eating even though it is December….there will be some Christmas treats of course though. I have STILL not managed to lose my extra 10 lbs or so that I regained…..I guess I will just keep doing my best.

I had a check up at the Drs and my Hba1c is still well within normal limits, yay 😊….however seeing my weight 9 lbs heavier than top of my normal range BMI again, and some of my clothes are all tight (notably around the waist which of course is a bad place to put it!!)…I look fine, not round like when I was 3.5 stone overweight (at 12 and a half stone), but it is not a healthy gain….and so, it is all about health, I really really want to get back to where I was….we have also been trying to tidy and I have made the decision to sell/ give away all of my larger clothes (sizes larger 12s-18), even if they are nice, because I don’t intend to ever go there again- always in the past I have kept all my 6 different sizes (ranging 8-18…..I am 5 ft 0)….but I also made the decision that my size 8 and tiny 10s (that are really size 8) I wore in my teens and early 20s, pre children, are going too, because when I hit target back last winter, there were some that were still so tiny and I don’t plan to lose more than that, and also I think that my shape is just different, with a fuller bust etc too….I was really comfortable with where I got to last winter (9 st 0, size 10-12) and I just need to re-get there (I regained weight over the summer hols and just haven’t lost it again for anyone who hasn’t been following my rambling story!!!)…..

So, 10 lbs to go- I think I will set myself a target date of my birthday again, I always love that as a target- because the previous year I set out to lose 42 lbs in my 42nd year (ages 42 to 43)- and achieved my full weight loss goal of 45 lbs in fact…..so by 15th Feb I will aim to be back to my target weight of 9 st 0 (top of my BMI normal range for my height is 9 st 1)…..

Bring it on!!!!! Just checked, it’s 9.5 weeks away…..should be manageable! Please give me lots of encouragement and stern words if I tell you I have been ridiculously off plan!!

Love to all, Tulip xxxxx

I have added the book to my Wishlist on a certain shopping site 🙂

Have you seen that Michael Mosley is bringing out a new book called Fast Keto 800 at the end of December ?
I’m a sucker for a new book to boost my motivation 😉. I will add it to my ever-growing Kindle library 😊

Hello … I’ve started so I won’t finish ….. I’ll do my best to post everyday …..
A quiet day today which is always good ….
1.☀️🏚 Looks like a trip to a Country House hotel is on the cards for mid January ….. wonderful to have something to look forward to.
2. 🎋🪴Convinced my amaryllis has grown overnight …. could be my imagination!
3. 🧀🫑🫒 Really struggling at the moment to eat ‘the best I can’ but the positive is that I could be eating one heck of a lot worse!
Now and again we have to cut ourselves a little slack from the totally strict ‘regime’ we follow. As long as it’s only ‘ a short diversion’ all should be well!
Have a good evening.