Mary: I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your dear son.
You will find a lot of support here.
I just finished my first week and lost 8 pounds. Coming here and reading the threads and posting about how everyone is doing and what they did to lose the weight has helped me a lot. Plus most of them post their results from week to week which is a great motivator.
take care Nancy

Hi Christine,
I’ll be looking out for you Wednesday (night, my time).
Do you think you could convince the 2 David’s to wear mankinis? The guys wearing mankinis and Borat wigs were highly recognisable on Friday’s stage.
Enjoy.

Hi kboo,
You’ve made the right decision to have an 800 calorie day. Having already done this, you’ll remember that the first days/week are the most difficult as you stop eating the simple carbohydrates. Stick with it, you owe it to yourself.
The BSD way of life has really helped clear my allergies. I have some that I will always have to avoid the foods because I have severe allergic reactions, then there are others. By eating the BSD way I find that the asthma I get improves out of sight and eczema disappears. I haven’t figured out if it’s no processed food or the good fats that are abundant in this diet (or even the exercise and/or mindfulness) but it works for me.
kboo, launch into your BSD mach2 knowing that you have the support of Lucia and all of the gang on this thread. We’re all here for each other.
Welcome.

Naked as in naked naked?? Why not indeed…

I’m off too, shattered. See you all tomorrow, hope your head is ok Janey!

PS: Oh heck yeah Tokyo! We can plan yours with you! I think, for a woman, it’s actually overdue a bit??? See you in the morning, usual time, hopefully a pound lighter… 😀

Yes, yes, get on and do it! Every woman needs one!

i need to have one ( a mid life crisis that is !) i am 51 this year !!!

Each to their own midlife crisis. I enjoyed mine but am glad to be out the other side of it! For my 40th I hired a house and a naked butler for me and my friends because, well, why not! But then I am that rare beast that not only likes ancient buildings (hence English Heritage membership) but also plays CAH and knows the offside rule! Bed is calling now I’ve got rid of all surplus children (my one is flaked out in bed and will sleep in tomorrow) and the duvet of destiny is waiting. Nunite you lovely people! X

I have always wanted to play that game but I’ve never had the right crowd with me that at least two of the questions would offend or upset… I am so jealous 🙁 Glad the weather held and that you enjoyed the cake, sod everyone else, it was for you primarily, wasn’t it?

Omg Janey, what I’ve been doing is pretty tame then? Churches, real ale and fawning over 20 something boy band members??? Adam touched me though. Not inappropriately. But he touched me.

I need to re-evaluate my mid life crisis. Clearly.

Waaaay hay, Janey back in da house! Yes I’ve had a few sherberts but not too much. BBQ went swimmingly, weather held off, kids didn’t kill each other and we’ve all been laughing hysterically playing ‘Cards Against Humanity’ (do not play this if you are of a sensitive disposition!) Strawberry cake was consumed by people in spite of complaints that it was not sweet enough. Tasted fine too me but then I’ve not had sugar for 2+ months!

Love hearing your mid life crisis or ‘before I’m 40’ stories. I had mine at 38 and I dare not write the details on here. Suffice it to say that I decided not to say ‘no’ to anything for 12 months (unless it was dangerous)! I had a riot of a time, a massive card bill, a new car, 2 trips to the USA and a lot of memories, most of which I could never repeat in polite company! By the end I was done for! 6 years on the wild streak is more contained but will always remind me!!! People told me I should write a book. I did briefly have my own ‘Janeycoughdrop’ blog site but it never went anywhere. I’d need to remember whose names had been changed to what!!

They’re fab aren’t they Izzy? But bloody expensive. Do you mean like the patchworky type stuff? That’s what my coat is like, it’s mad and crazy and more like my something the girl I’d like to be would wear than actual me, who spends so much time in black that you’d think I was in mourning. Well, I am. My size 8 figure lol. I love their bold print dresses too. I’ve been looking at the sale that’s on now and I’ve had to stop myself from buying some bargains because I know I’ll only have to pay to alter them. When I reach goal, that’s it, the next sale I am going to have a field day!

Cream soda here 😉 I haven’t had alcohol for about 6 weeks… Lordy…

Haha, it’ll never see the light of day, mark my words. For my eyes only. I can still dedicate it to us though 😉 I can’t wear heels of any description either. I spend about 360 days of the year in flip flops. People think I’m nuts, snow, hail, rain, flip flops.

Yes, I agree with you there. We keep stuff that is too small but there’s no sense in keeping stuff that’s too big. We say ‘Oh I’ll slim into it’ it’s a daft mentality to keep things ‘in case I get fat again’ lol.

I bought a lovely 1950’s style dress for my friend’s wedding two years ago. I loved it but I bet I’d look better in it smaller. That’s another thing I would have altered and is not getting thrown!

One of the things I want to do in my den with customising clothes is things inspired by Joe brown I love those clothes as well. Glad you are writing again Lucky I’m painting and having such fun all on my own in my quiet loft. I too know how to paaaarty, with my cup of herbal tea haha

I’m in my den painting 🙂

My new favourite place

i see we have a budding writer in our midst !! i hope you dedicate your first novel to ” the ladies that no longer lunch”(only if its low carb !!!!!
i do love my clothes and shoes have a look at some shoes called irregular choice they are my faves !!! ( flats cant do high ones!!) so i am always looking for a good bargain !!
my wardrobe contains many sizes large to small but i never seem to through stuff out i am waiting for that cinderella moment but this time once i hit were i want to be i am binning the large !!! or ebaying it !!!
i have never had any luck in primark dont get it !! and i hate any shop that wont do bigger than a 14 they want slapping !!! ( particularly the size 0 assistants !!!)
i am a bit of a vintage gal i love 1950s dresses skirts they suit my figure hourglass i think they call it i say big arse !!!! and voluptuous( if thats how you spell it !!)

Still not lost any more weight on week 2 so have to find positives.

My boobies are 2 inches smaller
I got up extra early this morning, just because I felt like it
Had a cooling swim, we have 32 degrees heat

Great stuff, had104 to loose now only hehe 88 lbs, so onwards. So I will follow your excellent example.
Regards
Jan

Oh my God, that’s a great result. I wouldn’t know where to start doing that, or what to buy, I don’t follow fashion at all. I never have any luck in there, nor Primark. Maybe when I’m smaller I will, but bargains are few and far between in my size in most places. Ones that I feel comfortable wearing anyway. I do have a bit of a love for Joe Browns stuff though, especially their coats and dresses. I bought two coats at Christmas and I put one on today as it was raining and it was baggy on me! They’re going to have to be altered, I tell you, for what they cost me. I never ever splurge on clothes but one was my dream coat that I’d been after for ages and it was half price and I needed a waterproof winter coat desperately. It’ll probably cost me as much to get them altered lol.

I’ve been doing some writing tonight, my chat with Izzy has spurred me on to carry on with my little tale of mayhem 😉 Another good thing, I haven’t thought of food once. I can’t eat and type/concentrate at the same time! Yay!

Cook off some onions with a little garlic (or a lot if you like) throw in some herbs and balsamic vinegar, add tomatoes – dont bother to peel, just wash and chop. Cook down until mush, whizz with a hand blender and voila, there you are. If you want to keep for a while, sterilize some jars, fill and seal. If done properly i.e. sealed, it will last for months.

Hi Jan. Thanks. Yes, still sticking to the 800 calories and under 50 carbs. It works so why change anything? When I get to my target weight I’ll experiment a little until I find what I need to do to maintain. One thing is certain – I’ll be staying as low carb as now.

Hello Lucia et al.,

I have been a silent reader of this thread whilst I was doing my own 8 weeks. Well done to everybody – you are all very inspiring and you certainly helped me.

I’m pleased to report that my 8 weeks went well. A few years ago I tried intermittent fasting to help control my allergies. It worked really well – I lost loads of weight and came off all of my medication…. and then I got pregnant! I thought that pregnancy was perhaps not the best time to experiment with diet and so I stopped, ate for the baby and for the rest of Britain, regained the weight and became allergic to everything once more! I thought I would return to intermittent fasting once the baby was born, but my gorgeous wee boy turned out to NOT be a sleeper. It is only now that he is about to start school that I feel I have the energy to get on top of my diet once again!

So, ten weeks ago, I started my 8 weeks. It went really well – I lost 2 1/2 stone and came off all of my medication. Brilliant. Then two weeks ago, I got my tonsils out. I was told that the best way to recover from a tonsillectomy was to eat as much as I could… so I did! And there’s half a stone back on already! Although I have very much enjoyed eating toast, crisps and chain-eating choc ices, it’s definitely time to reign things back in again. I once again have big puffy eyes and the eczema is starting to creep over my skin.

…. I tried today to get back on the wagon, but I found it really hard. I’m not used to having to stay in all the time and it’s still another week before I can take up running and cycling again. And so I turn to the good people of this forum… can you convince me to give it another go? Should I make this a public resolution to begin again? Actually, yes, I will.

If you would be so kind, I’ll check back here again tomorrow night to let you know how I got on. Tomorrow WILL be an 800 calorie day.

Thanks all and goodnight!

my hubby says you have to have faith at the altar of tacky maxx “if you go it will reward you “!!!!!
all very zen like i once bought a jacket that i had seen waited for it to go in clearance got it in the end for £11 put it ebay ( the bay of dreams!!!) as we call it got £100 result !!!!!
my hubby did better i saw a scarf for a fiver he went and bouggt it put it on ebay and i tell you no word of a lie £150 !!!!!
so its always a surprise will a bargain pop up or will it just be a jar for flour !!!!
how rock and roll hey !!!!
and let me tell you it doesnt stop there i watched mission impossible with old short arse cruise too whilst eating my kebab !!! can i live or can i live !!!!!

Hello Tokyo, I was wondering where you were hiding!

Tacky Maxx, haha, that is one shop that I never have any luck in. You bought a jar… to put your chickpea flour in… ROCK N ROLL, folks! Saturday nights don’t get any better than this!

I love Shish kebabs, I made some the other week, but holy hell they were hot. So hot.

It’s blowing a hoolie here now as well, but it was so warm, I’ve just had to open the living room window. Hopefully Janey is too drunk to care by now!

Wowser.
You are our guru. How amazing are you. How wonderful to be 10 something, keep up the very excellent work. Are you still sticking rigidly to 800 cals and under 50 carbs.
Regards jan

good evening ladies my you have been busy today !!!
i have venturrd out to the altar tjat is tk maxx ( or tacky maxx as i call it !!) on a hunt for bargains but alas no bargains but bottles and i mean bottles of ” blackberry syrup”” it was the most gorgeous colour and looked like two thirds of the bottle was sugar but i bet it taste good on pancakes !!!!!!! i however just gazed at it and bought i jar to put my chickpea flour in oh yes ladies i know how to paarrty!!!!!
had a quiet day with a lovely m and s burger no bun and a shish kebad and salad for tea , very nice but not my usual theres usually chips and desert too so was very good if did over cal today !!!
its blowing a gale here so feel for janey and her bbq !!!

Hi gang ,
First I am sorry, I know, I should of had a mint or tictac.
I had garlic for dinner, I will try not to breathe on you.

Oh, so I was washing the car, then started cutting the hedge, next door thought we had a new motorbike. ( at our age!) so he just came around. He noticed that I washed the car, and jokingly said I had missed a bit. So I chased him around the car with a bucket if soapy water. The laughing…. My hubby told me off… 😀😀😀😀

So I carried on cutting the hedge and brushed all the paths if the clippings.

I couldn’t have done all the above 6 months ago, as I didn’t have any energy.

So jobs done and laughter too.

There you go
😀😀😀😀
Love Lucia
Xxxxx

Hi there.
Day 11 lost another pound so making it 15 in total. Cor what motivation, I know it will slow down but enjoying the rapid start.
Usual breakfast of frage and yog.
Lunch piri piri mackerel and salad.
Dinner rump steak mushrooms green salad
2 fresh apricots
Yep I like my salad, just as well.
Total cals 902.93. Carbs 27.30

It’s Saturday evening, and I am patting myself on the back as for donkeys years I have always had crisps on a sat eve, and this is my second Saturday going cold turkey. Yeah my slimmers halo is ggggglowing. Sorry for the smugness, but a girls got to do it. As no one else will rave for me. So in the voice of Yoda ” impressed I am with myself” hope all you lovely bsd peeps are having a happy sat evening wherever you are in the world.

Hi Everyone

I started BSD 800 last Saturday after finally finding the courage to weigh myself on the boots scales. I knew i needed to lose weight. But when i got my results that i needed to lose 3 stones to get down to my ideal i knew i had to come up with a better plan than before.

Well i throughly read the whole book which was made sense on every way. So i began my journey on the Saturday which may have sounded a bit crazy but i knew it was now or never.

I weighed myself again this afternoon afternoon being so good all week and some days excèeding my 10,000 steps a day challenge.
I lost an amazing 7lbs which i didnt think possible.

I feel so inspired reading the stories and challenges on this forum.

Good wishes to everyone who has started this jpurney.

Hi there thistimeiwillsuceed

Welcome to this wonderful forum, someone else said we are the best bunch of losers. So glad you are starting, this plan for me has transformed my view of food, and leaves you feeling healthier. I am on day 11 lost 15lbs, 41 yr failed dieter, pre diabetic, fatty liver, and had 104 lbs to loose when I started. If I can do it everyone can as I was the worlds worst. This is one thing in your life you can take control of. So go for it, enjoy, and count everything. I count carbs also up to 50 daily. This time tomorrow, you will be making progress.
So plan and enjoy. We can all do this together, a big international support group. Let us know how you are doing Mary.
Hope you have a nice evening
Regards jan

Hi Judith *waves*. Good to see you on here – I was getting worried.

Christine – enjoy your holiday! I will have to stop soon, then work out how to maintain!
See you when you get home 😃

Welcome Leeanne 😃

Great results MerryMary 😃💐

All I can say is that I decided to stick with it, and have done. The threat of diabetes medication was a great incentive! I live alone so I only have BSD food in the house – no carbs allowed. Holidays and residential conferences did present challenges, but each one was easier than the one before.

At one residential conference so many people were amending the menu choices it was no problem, when Inwas given the menu each morning for that night’s dinner I immediately crossed out the dessert, then made the best choices I could for starter and main course, asking for any carbs to be left off. At home I eat breakfast, then my evening meal. At the conference dinner was much later than I am used to, so just ate a small portion of cooked meat and salad at lunch time. I usually found I couldn’t finish the evening meal! I maintained my weight during my time at the conference

Two holidays so far this year. Prague was challenging – my first overseas holiday on the BSD. I made the best choices I could, had a small gain when Imgot home, but it disappeared with interest the first week I was home.

I see you’re going to Italy soon😃 I’ve just got back from staying with friends in Italy. I was worried about how I’d cope, but it was fine. I explained to them what I could eat and we went to the supermarket so I could buy food that I could eat that they didn’t have at home. Stocked up on sliced cooked meat and cheese. When we ate out I had the antipasti – delicious cooked meats and cheeses 😃 For the secondo I had whatever meat was available, with veggies or salad. After so long on the BSD Imfound the bread didn’t worry me (even though it was left next to me). Neither did he desserts.

When I was taken to an ice cream cafe I hoped there would be something sugar free, but the only thing Imcouldmhave was black coffee! I don’t know who was more embarrassed – me, or the folk who took me there! But I didn’t want to get the taste again. I find it easier not to try and include ‘treats’ or ‘cheats’.

I feel so much better, and my blood tests have gone from being diabetic to normal, so that’s a great incentive for me to stick to the plan.

I’ve not drunk alcohol for many years, so that’s not an issue. And I’ve even stopped drinking diet fizzy drinks, now it’s fizzy water!

Like you, I often come in from work really tired, but make sure I keep something quick, easy and BSD friendly in the fridge and freezer.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your holiday and let us know how you get on..

Starcyl: Wow congrats on your 9.7 loss. Keep up the good work.

Vikki: Another Wow for you too. Great job on losing 9.5 lbs. your first week on plan…Just do the best you can when you go away.

I’m going away next weekend at the start of my week 3 for 4 days to be with family and plan to do the best I can and enjoy my time with my relatives. I’ll just make sure to I get back on track as soon as I get home. I will do like you and watch the carbs and my week will be a 4:3 that week.

Eggbot: I’m glad this week is going good for you. I do like you and eat what I did before but without the carbs. I tend to keep my meals simple anyways. Just protein such as chicken, steak, hamburger, pork chops, etc. with a salad and a roasted veggie. And my husband can have a carb to go with dinner if he wants.
Hope everyone is enjoying their week.

As mentioned in my introduction I have had a very difficult year as my youngest son Paul drowned whilst on holiday in France on July 13th last year. Until christmas I did practically nothing, just knitted and watched tv when not at work. Although work very understanding their was a stress factor with one of the ladies which made me very upset and did not help me to cope. All that is behind me now and for some reason I am ready to start the fast 800. I am a little confused with what I can eat. I have to admit I cannot eat eggs and the suggestions in the diet book do not appeal so will have to make up my own 800 calories. I am practically vegetarian but do not eat legumes. A sorry case I fear but as I need to lose at least 6 stone I must endeavour to find a way. All support would be greatly appreciated and I do promise to try and be honest about what I eat and will take a leaf out of Izzys book, Way to go. So bear with me, I do need help and I look forward to lots of postings.
Thanks Mary

Hi Mountain man
I am training for a charity bike ride so my cycles are about 15-25 miles x 3 times a week. I also walk my dogs 2 hours a day I can not do 800 cals on these days so I just stick to med diet.
B – omelette tomatoes
l- soup apple walnuts
d – fish veg, yoghurt berries
then i feel ok. Can I ask why caffeine pushes up your blood sugar please

I know what you mean, and we never, ever will know either, not in this lifetime, anyway. I live in a beautiful part of Wales, and I know very little about the history of it. I know there are places on the island with special historical interest, I should look into it more. Another thing on my list is to walk the coastal path, it’s over 120 miles long. Not in one go, of course. It’s broken down into sections. Hubby is still not well enough though and I don’t drive so, that’s on hold for the foreseeable.

No I haven’t seen them all but I have seen the best ones I think, there may be one or two good ones yet to see. There are many that can’t be seen now destroyed by farmers etc or natural land changes but many locations are still known. They are shown on OS maps if you ever wanted to see if any are close to your home.

I also like to look at carved pictish stones, quite a lot of those here as well as some random ones than have weird stories.

One random stone sits in the middle of a field close to where I live called ‘The Court Stone’ it isn’t 100% known why it is there or how long, but there are two tales. One is that it commemorated a king (I can’t remember which one) the other story is much more exciting!

During the time of the plague a local sorcerer was said to have somehow magically contained the outbreak sealing it under the stone. Therefore it should never be moved or the plague will be released. It used to be kept painted white until about a decade ago – again no one knows why. I don’t think it has been excavated at all but aerial photography shows evidence that at one time it may have had a fence or something around it.

I like history, but it’s the mystery I am drawn by… all the things that are NOT known.

Thankyou Bissell, and yes maybe he thought I needed the cwtches!

I decided just to have some soup for dinner as it was just my son and me so it will have kept my calories a little lower than expected. Around 45 and I can snuggle him into his bed.

I last saw my daughter on Thursday morning when I left for work – by the time I got home she had gone to a friends house for a sleepover. She stayed for two nights finally arriving home a few minutes ago… only to announce she was going out! lol I don’t really mind I would rather she be out and active rather than sitting watching tv.

I’m still looking at your tumblr blog!

This sounds like a plotline for my next book… hahaha. Two women. Separated at birth. Brought together again by a very low calorie diet forum…

Well, after reading that about your stones, I realised I knew nothing about ours and … pfffffffffft, nothing mystical or special about these, they’ve only been here since 1965, laid to commemorate an Eisteddfod held locally. Hubby had asked me the other day if I knew anything about them… 4000 years? Wowsers. Have you seen them all, or is there a lot to go?

Nothing wrong with your photo’s it looks lovely there 🙂

On a serious note… We are both 40… both blog, both like churches etc, both ramble on a bit, both write, both crazy (in a good way!) think our parents aren’t telling us something? lol

Most of the stone circles on my blog follow a particular design that is only found here, across an area of 100 or so miles I believe. Ours are linked to a lunar pattern as opposed to solar like Stone henge and the like are. I just find it fascinating – they are over 4000 years old and very little is known about them.

Your photos are amazing, Izzy! It’s a bit of a bugbear of mine, I take awful photos which is a bit rubbish when I’m posting a recipe lol. You live in such a beautiful part of the world 🙂 We have a stone circle in our village, I have a photo of it on my phone, from when we went for a massive walk around the town a few weeks ago. They were for a blog post too… I’ll get round to it. I’ll let you know when it’s up 🙂 One of the most beautiful places I have ever visited was at the start of my birthday weekend here http://flusteredshell.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/birthday-weekend-away-part-one.html
Unfortunately my pictures didn’t do it justice, as usual. I took so many but I had to be selective about how many I posted, the posts were long enough as it was. I do tend to ramble on a bit… don’t know if you’ve noticed… 😛

Sorry you are feeling a bit stressed today, maybe your son is picking up on that and giving you extra cwtches (another Welsh word, for cuddles) because you need them. Sounds like the hot drink and carrot cake has done the trick. When you can have a bit of comfort food but stop when it’s done its job, that’s the secret.
Enjoy the painting, I’m sure it will help. I’ve been painting the tiles on my dolls house, that works for me!
Have a better day tomorrow.

Ooooooooooooh I will go over and have a look now! I blog too but I’m pretty useless at it, keep forgetting to post. Especially now I’m either cooking, calorie counting or on here… 😉

nothing wrong with a healthy filth radar! You might like my blog lucky…

http://izzydoesfridays.tumblr.com/

It includes a link to a new blog as tumblr became tricky for uploading pics, but most of the places I’ve gone are on the tumblr blog, and I haven’t updated the new one for ages but I need to get around to it.

I visit churches as well.

First week finished and I’ve lost 9.5lbs!

Week 2 will be harder as we’re going away for a short break but my plan is to stick to 800 cals the days we’re home and the rest of the time aim for low carb (maybe the odd treat) but no counting, so more like the 5:2.

I’m surprised Janey hasn’t surfaced at the mention of erotica, that girl has got a #filthradar too.

I’ve lost 12 pounds in 2 weeks! So happy about that! I had a 1 pound weight gain at the beginning of week 2 after having an evening snack of a chocolate protein shake (within my 800 calories). What seems to have corrected that weight gain with additional weight loss was no eating after dinner- and I try to have dinner before 600pm, and wait till 0930 am for breakfast. Also been careful about my carb, protein, and fat intake- keeping carbs less than 50 grams and protein at about 60 grams- and fat at about 30-40. This keeps me satisfied with no cravings. I feel energetic and bright with enough energy for exercise in the evening. Much different than how I felt before this diet. I felt anxious, addicted to overeating in the evening, and tired and down. My body seems to love this low carb, low calorie – way of life with a good fasting period. I really look forward to the upcoming week! and that is very new for me when talking about diet and weight loss! getting my meal planning and prepping done today – & over the weekend to keep me on track…really helps. So does reading about all your successes! We need to believe we can do this!

In my NaNoWriMo I had to stop at where the love scenes would have been and just refer to them after as having happened. I just… couldn’t do it. And that’s plain, normal, suburban stuff! Not gimp masks and flashing… er… plugs.

It was tough, and I was isolated hundreds of miles from my support network with a useless (now thankfully ex) husband. I wouldn’t change my children for the world but the difference between becoming a mum at 19 and my final time at 30 was worlds apart. Mine turn (between July and September) 21, 14, 13, and 10 this year. The middle two were fun and very hard work, 12 months and 3 weeks apart. I was taking my daughter to the HV and picking up pregnancy test results the same day. My (very posh and aloof) HV hugged me, so I should have known what was ahead of me 😉

That sounds really nice, I can confess something now then 😉 My lovely friend paid for hubby and I to go away for two nights the weekend before my birthday, to this little village with a lovely ruined castle opposite it. I planned the whole weekend to suit me. I have friends who have gone to Benidorm, or Blackpool for their 40th and got horrendously drunk and had strippers and… zzzzzzzz. I’m 40, I’ve been drunk more times than I’ve had hot dinners. Naked men, when you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. Instead… I ate out every day, in a gastropub, in an all you can eat Chinese restaurant (because I like Chinese and it’s nobody else’s favourite so I never get it), and hubby booked a meal in the hospitality before the rugby match of the team we support. I sampled several real ales, including local brews in the little pubs, whereas I usually drink wine. One day, we did nothing but… go and look around old churches. Yes, I am a church geek, cathedrals, abbeys, chapels, but I love the big ones the best. I love them, the feel of them, the peacefulness, the stained glass windows. Everything. You could drop me off in Buckfast and leave me there for the day and I’d be happy. Izzy = Castle geek. Lucky = Church geek 🙂 Love it!

Thank you Ziggy, I’m really enjoying being on BSD it really feels like a change for me rather than just a diet. Almost finished 12 weeks now 🙂

oh, and NO I wouldn’t know where to start writing erotica either haha, I’m not a prude either but I would find it difficult to find the words lol.

That sounds wonderful Lucky, I couldn’t imagine being a parent at 19! However it does mean they grow up when you are still young. 40 is still young. My eldest is only 11 so although she is easier than her brother she does still need me a lot!

I do a milder version of what you’ve stated for me though, I go out alone without kids when I can and visit local sites with stone circles or castle ruins etc, I really enjoy that, as well as making time to paint or write. A couple of years ago I had fallen into that place where all I did was work and look after the kids. I also have an awesome friend and periodically we do things like history walks or ghost tours (we’d get on well you and I lol) or concerts etc, as well as getting together regularly just for a good walk and catch up.