Hi I’m half way through week 6, 21lb down, doing this for health reasons, no idea about my blood sugar. So what I’m wondering is, going forward what should I expect my weight loss to be? I’m loosing roughly half a pound a day which I am really happy with, noticing it round my face and shoulders, not so much around my middle. I have another four stone to loose, I’m loving the food, the renewed taste, the energy, the calm and the gentle weight loss I’m just hoping it will keep going. I haven’t had chance to do too much exercise but I’m gradually adding it in. Would love to hear from people further down the road, how is your weight loss going?

You look amazing, can I ask how long that weight loss took and what you follow now?

will take brenda as last one and all that !!!!!
good on you for ignoring the scales i hate mine although they are still in one piece !!!! for now
i always said if i was 5ft 7 instead of 5 ft 2 i would be the perfect weight its my height thats all wrong but maybe cindy crawford took my legs perhaps its a conspiracy these long leggy models like taking little ladies legs ( say that fast !!!)

Lidl’s greek yogurt is awesome

Hi Christine
Just read the article and also shared it on my Facebook page. It’s very similar to what we are all doing.
The more people that we can spread the word to the better😀
Thanks for the tip!
Linda

Thelma, Louise and Brenda!! Can I be Louise because she got her hands on Brad Pitt?! Although obviously had previously almost come a cropper over the bonnet of a car. Can you tell this is one of my all time favourite films?!

I’m quite amazed how quickly the 8 weeks have gone, although the first couple of weeks dragged. And of course more recently I’ve had this hilarious ‘support’ thread to keep me going. Weight wise, no idea what I’ve lost as I am firmly anti scales (look what Lucky did to hers!). But at the start my size 16 clothes were extremely tight and now I am comfortably in size 14, which are feeling looser as the days go on. Realistically I don’t think I’ll ever be a size 12, but never say never! For me, kicking the carb addiction and feeling better physically is as important as getting into those jeans. All I need are my legs back from Claudia Schiffer and I’ll be happy. 29 years she’s had ’em, the cow 😡

Ugh, Paltrow cookbooks. That’ll be all sprouting rubbish and dust. Or kale smoothies (yack).

good evening ladies !!
my hubsband and i are still at the not quite speaking stage although we were very polite through tea and the weather was never mentioned!!!!!!!
well i figured if i was going to crack today would have been the day i mean sat in costa coffee on my own i could have ate numerous cakes !!!! but i didnt i thought keep going although i did look at all the healthy cookbooks in waterstones even fearne cottons theres hundreds !!!! gwyneth paltrow nigella the helmsley sisters all looking smug at me so that may also have helped in avoiding CAKE !!!!
how much have you lost in your 8 weeks janey ? how well have you done to get to the 8 week line when i started it felt like forever!!!
i was in holland and barrett not somewhere i go in very often but how expensive !!!!! the staff are way too helpful !!!!
a road trip imagine us three size ….. in our best thelma and louise and ( we need a third name !!!!) outfits ready to hit the town and cause quite abit of chaos !!!!

It’s ok, I have Autoglass included with my car insurance, and roadside repair if I’m a passenger in your car 🙂 Wasn’t planning on killing anyone but if they eat cake or pizza in front of me, who knows what could happen?

Speaking of not killing anyone, are you in Police custody yet, Tokyo?

I don’t think the cookbook will ever be finished. It’s going to be one of these that we release a new volume every fortnight. Although I have my successful blueberry muffins now too 😀 Very cakey indeed only a smidge of butter in, and honey was the sweetener. I was going to share them out with the children too but seeing as the flour cost my husband £15 today, I think I’d better save them for us. I thought he was going to have a coronary. I was telling him to breathe. The shop assistant was smirking. I bet she sees that so many times a day…

Hahaha, pop flowing through nostrils is never pleasant! This isn’t a road trip in the Thelma and Louise sense where we shoot someone and then drive off a cliff is it? Because I’ve just had new tyres and windscreen on my car….

Of course I’m not going anywhere! We have work to do to enlighten people on the BSD and also to complete our ‘BSD Failures’ cookbook! Plus, I still have weight to lose and smaller clothes in my wardrobe to get into….

Janey? Are you thinking what I’m thinking? You, me, Tokyo – ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAD TRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!

I actually snorted Diet Coke out of my nostrils when I read the words ‘Greek vomit’. Thanks. Thanks for that. It stings.

Have a lovely time in London, and enjoy your Chinese, you deserve it for completing the 8 weeks! Here’s to the next. You’re not buggering off and leaving me here, are you, now that you’ve nearly graduated BSD Academy????

I now appear to be subscribed to paleogrub and have earned a free pot of coconut oil, although I may have to go to the US to get it!! I seem to be using my almond flour but not the coconut so need to find some recipes for that instead. I have found that almond flour has a canny knack of sticking to everything in the dishwasher too 🙄

Wasn’t fussed about missing out on donuts although a cider on a sunny afternoon would’ve gone down well. Tomorrow we are in London with the associated dinner in Chinatown and I’m not going to beat myself up if I stray a little as it is actually my last day of the 8 week slim down! Obviously I have no plans to go back to the bad old ways but one meal won’t set me back. Although let’s see if it plays havoc with my digestive system…. The cats are currently enjoying the discarded Fage so I may have piles of Greek vomit greeting me in the morning…

Have you made up with the hubby yet Tokyo?

Hi lemonade,
I suspect you haven’t had any replies because no one has any Mexican menus? Ther is one recipe in the bsd diet called Mexican hash, serves two and is a brunch,

1 red chilli cut in half, cut one half into strips, keep the other half on one side,
1 tbs rapeseed oil,
200 grams mushrooms halved, cook them in the oil, for 5 mins on a medium heat, add the finely chopped chilli, add 1 chopped garlic, 1 tsp Cajun seasoning, and 200 grams black beans, rinsed, and heat for 5 mins, season to taste and keep warm.
In the same pan, fry 2 eggs, divide mushroom mix between two bowls, top with a fried egg and half of one avocado, and the other chilli sliced. Serve with lime wedges.
I hope this is,helpful, it’s 340 calories per portion,
If you are on Pinterest there might be some good low carb mini an recipes on there or you could look on the bsd recipes and see if,there are any you could adapt?
There is a skinny chilli meal that has lots of beans in, that should be on the recipes?
Let me know if you can’t find it and l will let you have that one too.
Christine

Had courgette chips tonight

1 courgette cut into several pieces dipped in egg rolled into polenta baked in oven it was ok probably wouldn’t use polenta again

Boo hiss about the donuts. I just spotted these in an email I just received, thought they looked quite tasty

http://paleogrubs.com/paleo-zucchini-fritters

And they use almond flour too, if you now have a surplus!

Only in the 70’s

Almond flour and ground almonds are not the same thing and although some recipes might work with either they won’t all work. Almond flour isn’t available in everyday shops I buy it online and it is quite expensive, it might be available in local health food type places.

I’ve not tried the courgette muffins the recipe didn’t appeal to me, but I am one of those people who enjoys the challenge of seeking out healthier alternatives to the old things I liked. I know for some it can set off cravings but for me I feel in control and at ease with controlling my portions and only eating what I’ve planned.

this is the cheapest place I’ve found to buy almond flour (I’m in UK)
http://www.realfoodstore.co.uk/gluten-free-flours/

this website has some amazing recipes
https://elanaspantry.com/

I recommend the silver dollar pancakes in particular (they freeze well) and the cracker recipes. I make a batch of crackers most weeks and use them for my lunch at work with cheese and salad. At the end of the week I mash the crackers up and use them to coat fish or chicken as a breadcrumb substitute, it works very well and even my kids eat them.

I’ve tried a few more of her recipes and most have turned out well but you do have to watch for calories and portion sizes. It isn’t cheap to follow some of these recipes that is definitely true, however I justify it easily in the knowledge that I no longer buy any sandwiches/crisps/chocolate/general rubbish either at work or otherwise. I’m not out of pocket buying the expensive ingredients when I compare what I used to spend. This is an investment not only in my own health but in the health of my family.

Finding healthier pancakes etc that my kids also enjoy is better for them too.

I thought coconut oil was the stuff you put on your bare skin in the sun for deeper tans?
Love Lucia
Xxxxx

And
You get used to grabbing a bag of dried pasta, throwing it into boiling water.
Frying mince meat.
Grabbing a jar of Bol sauce, then putting it all together.

In the daily mail today a chappie called doctor aseem malhotra has written about when he was on the ward with people who had heart attacks, and the hospital was serving up sugary cereals, white toast, jam and marmalade. The stuff that put the patient there in the hospital in the first place.

I thought this article compliments what our Dr Michael Mosley is all about.
It seems to be the same message, but it is great that it is getting good publicity this coming week.
The more publicity th diet or cure gets the better it is for the world.
He has a book and a website too.

So my long long lesson, that I am still learning about is, if it is in a jar or packet, it will have tons of sugar and those sneaky little buggers (carbs) in it.
I try to eat fresh food, I am SO lucky I have a veg shop with local grown produce in it. I have a fish shop a few mins walk from my home, it’s next door to a great family butchers. So for the bulk of my eating i do not have to go into a supermarket.

I will read, with interest dr Malhotra’s articles this coming week in the daily mail.
If you are abroad, you can go into the website and read the articles there.

Hope this comment helps.

Love luica
Xxxxx

I just made these… http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/2013/07/strawberry-mug-cake-low-carb-and-gluten-free.html

I made the small ones in silicon cupcake moulds in the microwave but I think they would be nicer in the oven. Couldn’t spend the calories on making the bigger ‘mug’ version. However the microwaved cupcake version was a hit here, we’ve all eaten one even my daughter! A healthier dessert I can now offer her 🙂

I’ll be ending my day on 1100 calories today but carbs only at 38.3 which is reasonable for a free day I think 🙂

It is almost bedtime for my son, then I’ll be having my chilli for dinner and then I might do a bit of painting.

They now have the coconut oil in Aldi in England now

So I was asked, how did I manage to eat without carb overdose.

It wasn’t easy.
You are programmed from young age of want to eat.
You have set ‘traditional ‘ dishes.

You just get used to a cooked breakfast with bread and butter or toast.
You have to learn to eat it without the bread.

You get used to a dinner with four spuds.
You have to learn to put an extra dollop of veggies on the plate with carbs

You get used to a big portion of boiled rice, when you enjoy Chinese food.
You have to learn to eat it without or substitute with cauliflower rice.

You get used to a big pan of boiled pasta with mince and Bol sauce.
You have to learn to spiralise a courgette or something, boil it and use that instead of pasta.

It takes time to change over from the dark side, but if you all use the force, we can do it.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

I have found all of these sorts of things are like going back to my old ways.

New Doug, enjoys apples, a handful of nuts, tomatoes, he does not eat cakes.

So I have not tried any of these recipes.

I have not found the diet at all expensive as I have had simple things that are low calorie and low carb.

D

Reporting back. The muffins are not good. Very crumbly yet still a bit ‘wet’. The coconut flour makes them taste a bit claggy and I like coconut. They’re sort of bland too. I really don’t think these recipes were tested or, if they were, someone has edited them down and left out some vital information. We’ll eat them because I won’t waste good ingredients but they might have to be turned into something else. I don’t think you can really trust diet versions of high carb food. Better to find pleasure in healthier things I think.

And one further thing to encourage you – I was LOOKING much slimmer way before the weight came off too much.

So you may see some results quicker than you think. Fingers crossed 🙂

Hi HappyLife

Just checked back through my notebooks for you.

No, I haven’t had a plateau week so far. I weigh daily and sometimes the weight stuck for several days but Inalways managed to lose at least a pound on my official weighing day Saturday)

But back in March I went to Prague for 4 nights and came home 3 pounds heavier. The next week, however, I lost 5 pounds.

Hello again;
So pleased to tell you I have lost 10.6 pounds in one week! I am so happy about that! I have 65 more pounds to go- however I am so encouraged that I do believe this can be done.

I felt great this week overall. Initially I think my carbs were a little high- leaving me feel not as good- keeping a close eye on my carb counts- limiting fruit and ensuring a good volume of vegetables, protein, and a good mix of healthy fats really left me feeling great. I did not feel deprived.

I have the extra challenge of travelling and working out of town. I planned my meals ahead- brought food with me and it really helped. Another challenge I am happy about is that my husband and I like to eat out. I checked the menu out ahead, calculated it on my fitness pal, and enjoyed it! I was even able to fit in a glass of wine.

Thanks for your encouragement- We can do this and feel great and not feel deprived 🙂

So wonderful to hear how this has worked for you!

Thank you for sharing and we must continue to tell ourselves that by sticking with this it will work! So wonderful to have something that will actually work for weight loss. Your weight loss is such an inspiration! Wow! And your tapering plan sounds very good also. This can actually be done!!! Thank you! I am sometime sceptical – but really want to believe this can be done. I have 60 pounds to lose.

I have just completed week 1 and have lost 10 pounds. I am over the moon happy about that! I feel great because I am following the principles you have recommended. I am really be careful about “quality” with my calories. Quality with my veggies and proteins- limiting fruit and no white stuff. Also making sure I have some quality fats, avocado, olive oil, full fat diary. I allowed an indulgence of a glass of wine- counted it and felt good about it, and still did well this week. I may also allow a slice of pizza at some point- as long as I count it and include it in my 800 calorie calculation- and include those quality foods through the day

For myself I would also add how important planning is…need to have those 2 or 3 go to plan based meals ready, planned prepped and available that keep us on track for every meal. Both my husband and I work full time- so planning is essential.

Did you follow the exercise recommendations also? I am doing that and feel so great.

Celebrating your success with you! And encouraged.
Thanks again!

Happy 4th of July HappyLife and everyone else! We have similar issues with traffic and just folk walking around and partying here at Lake Tahoe — they started arriving Thursday and every house around us is packed with people barbecuing and beer drinking and general merry making — can’t even ride a bike down the Truckee River trail, it is so packed with strollers, dogs, children and bikes 😜 it is a good time to head out on one of the longer trails because no one else is willing to waste that much energy. We are hot here — yesterday close to 90 degrees, which makes the lake more attractive anyway. This will keep up until the 5th of July, when most folk will head back down to San Francisco Bay area and Sacramento — where all the real jobs are!!😜 I hope the fireworks are good this year!! Have fun!

Hi Lynne,

It’s the one event at church that I go to and not to help but to enjoy, I had something to eat before I went so I was ok, they always do strawberries and cream at the garden party, it’s not a fund raiser, it’s a community get together, of course someone has to plan it and get it ready, however not me for once!
Cherrianne has got in touch and I think I know now what went wrong! So I can now do something about it, thanks for the good wishes.
Christine

Hi ay caramba,
Thank you, last night I had a bit of an upset tum plus heartburn! I haven’t had that since I started the diet! we went to a garden party at the church, nothing for me to eat except strawberries and cream!
When I got back I looked at the forum, cherrianne asked if I had taken any anti inflammatory tablets? Well I had and completely forgot, I don’t normally take them as they upset my stomach!! However I had got to the stage where I had to take something I was in so much pain! Now I know what is wrong I can do something about it, so thank you for thinking about me, it is appreciated.
I feel such a numpty! But because I haven’t had to take ibuprofen for so long I forgot it didn’t suit me!
Christine

I was going to try the brownies but can’t find almond flour. Wondered if it meant ground almonds and if so, why not say that? Also what to do with the dates? It makes sense to chop them but come on, explain! I use cacao nibs in breakfast shakes anyway and like them so these make sense. I’d love to try them but don’t trust the recipe to be anything like a brownie… diet brownie or otherwise! Did anyone else notice the mixed spice disappearing in the method to the muffin recipe too. Much more attention to detail needed in a lot of these recipes.

I really think for the next addition of the book the recipes should be tested and explained in more detail. The muffin mixture was nothing like the texture and consistency of muffin batter. I had to add a full cup of liquid to get it to muffin mixture consistency. I wondered if it meant to be like a scone or english muffin but this didn’t tally with the muffin cases. They’re in the oven now and burning slightly before being cooked through. That temperature seems far too high… I’ll report back in a while…

Oh and hair.. Just a tidy up and thin out as gets very think. Obviously a total waste of money as its now getting blown and rained on 😡

Hi Loopylou
Just read a bit more of this thread and now I’ve seen your excellent advice on resetting the goals on MyFitnessPal.
Doh wish I had spotted this easy fix!!!
Hope your back soon feels better and it is a short term problem. A bit of R and R needed today. 🙂

Currently sheltering from a passing shower in the food tent. And what a find! RAW honey! Yes, yes I know we are supposed to avoid all sugar type stuff BUT in recipes this is better than sugar! Also sampled local cheeses as that’s allowed 😉 No lager or donuts for me tho!

i resisted everything other than a bottle of water!!!
on my way home now and i have no idea how it started bloody men he will be sat at home in the dry watching tour de france !!!
let us know how the frozern yoghurt was i bought some coconut sugat no idea whu i am putting it with my other useful/useless items !!!

MyFitnessPal is great for recording what you eat and helps make you aware of the carbs and calories you’ve somehow overlooked!!!

To get it to work out your projected weight loss etc at the end of each day. I just go to the snack section at the bottom and
Quick Tools. Then I do Quick Add Calories and stick in 300 calories ignoring the carbs,fats and protein section.
The following day I just click Copy yesterday.
The 300 extra imaginary calories tricks it into thinking you’ve eaten over 1,000 calories and it is happy that you’ve eaten a healthy amount.
I put 300 extra calories in every day regardless of what I’ve eaten as this seems consistent.

The phantom 300 calories works for me as some days I eat a bit more and sometimes a bit less than 800 calories.
It also feels as though I have allowed a bit in there for not being absolutely accurate.

This works for me and I seem to average a loss of around 2lbs a week since Feb 1st.
.

Hi Christine

Your church garden party sounds just like the parties we have. Except nobody ever brings salad to ours 😱 Or strawberries and cream! But they do bring corned beef pie 😳 . I think every congregation must work from a template with slight local variations 😃

Hope you’re feeling better – well done on getting to the garden party 😃

Oh no Tokyo 🙁 How on earth did an argument start over the weather??? Did he predict it wrongly or something??? Yes, resist the cake. I wish I could send you a blueberry muffin to have with your skinny tea. If you need something badly try and grab an apple from somewhere to tide you over. Don’t blow it!! xo

Ooooh new ‘do Janey or just a trim? My hair was nearly down to the bottom of my back in May, and I had it all cut off to an inverted bob. Best thing I’ve done in years, I looked like Neil from The Young Ones. Have fun at the fair!

Hubby helped me do the veg and I’ve lifted everything we need for tomorrow out of the freezer. I made some of that yogurty fruity bark thing too. Didn’t put coconut in it or sweetener, just vanilla. And raspberries. Looks good. Nearly frozen. Result.

Hi cherrianne,
Light bulb moment! Yes I had to take ibuprofen for the pain in my legs, back and sciatic nerve problem, I don’t normally take it because of my diverticulitis, however had to resort to it as a last resort as I was in so much pain, ( I had to get up one morning at 5.30 am and just walk around the house for and hour)! So the following evening I took the tablets!
I never gave it a thought! Thank you, however I am already trying to do what I normally do when I have a bout of diverticulitis, just can’t have rice or white bread, that usually works for me!
I was only thinking this morning that I would have to get some probiotic yogurt, I normally steer clear of dairy, (milk mainly) as it seems to slow down the healing, I don’t know why? So I will be getting some of that shortly.
Yes I’m on Pinterest so I will take a look.
At the garden party today there was only strawberries and cream that I could have! There were white and brown bread sarnies, quiche, pork pies, sausage rolls, and a tiny bowl of salad! Then of course cakes, biscuits, tray bakes, scones. I had something before I went then had a few strawberries with cream, so that was ok.
Funnily enough I wasn’t tempted by any of it? That might have something to do with not feeling great still though?
Thank you so much for your response, I really must remember that the purpose of this forum is to help each other out, and not struggle online, which is what I did for a few weeks!
We have relatives in Perth, and friends in Melbourne, Fred in Melbourne keeps asking us when we are going over again! We went over in 2008, had a great time, so Perth then flew to Melbourne, we packed so much into five weeks, still want to go back and do Urulu?, Alice springs, and the Great Barrier Reef, maybe one day my wish will come true. Thanks again, you have been most helpful.
Christine

Hi igorasusual,

Just got back from the garden party, ( which was held indoors!) will sit down and read the paper in a bit, however the bit I did read before I went sounds just like our diet?
If it gets the message out there I don’t suppose it matters which hymn sheet we are singing from?
At the garden party one of my daughters friends stopped me and remarked on my weight loss, I told her all about the bsd diet and the article in the paper today, she was more interested in ‘my’ diet! Said she would have a look on line, so I told her to sign the petition and put it on Facebook too! Also my daughter is looking at the diet, has ordered the book to read and plans to do what Lucia has done, start gradually into it, so more success there too!
Good luck with your weight loss journey.
Christine

Hi happyLife,

Congratulations on being able to drop your blood pressure meds!
So this is a new day for you, not taking the meds? Good luck on the rest of your journey.
Christine

Hi Annadongela, Yep, I know what you mean, I’m at work and really struggling energy wise. But, I am being careful to eat enough. Make sure you eat your calories, but more importantly, make sure you’re eating enough protein and fat. I had avocado and a boiled egg for breakfast, with some pine nuts (yeah I know sounds awful, but actually filled me up right the way through to 2pm when I had to remind myself it was lunchtime !. I’ve just had a tuna salad with some mixed beans and a glug of olive oil to get that fat up !. It’s a new way of eating, but I think we all know that eating sugary coco pops for breakfast wasn’t exactly the healthy option !!

Resist the cake, Tokyo! It’ll just give your husband ammunition otherwise! If it’s any consolation I am trapped with 2 kids intent on winding each other (and me) up! Had hair done earlier to escape them for an hour. We have a ‘healthy’ picnic before heading to the fair. The cookies are packed!

Just reading through the posts, there are a few comments about Fitness Pal ?. It is an excellent app, and really helps with recording your food/drinks etc. Unfortunately if you want to lower the daily limit to 800 calories, and customise how much fat/protein/carbs you want to eat, you have to opt for their premium service, which I think is £7.99 a month ?. If that sounds a lot, then put it into perspective, slimming clubs charge a lot more than that (and don’t work – why would they ?, they want you to keep coming back).
Also, using fitness pal really focuses the mind on what you think you’re eating, and what you ACTUALLY are !

Hi Seadog. I’m on day 2 too and feeling similarly jittery, headache etc. Having finally, eaten some lunch I’m hoping I’m going to feel a bit better. I don’t think I’m eating enough, had less than 600 calories yesterday :$ but being such a picky eater I find it hard to know what I can have. Looking forward to steak for tea though (my favourite, and allowed!) I seem to have brain fog today, really struggling to type lol, could be the migraine tho. We WILL get through this together!! 🙂

Thanks Loopylou. Just had to go into the cupboard to put the flour away that the kids left out and that’s where all my snacks are. Grrr kids!! I resisted but it did make me think oooooh.

Hi Switzerland 🙂

My eyebrows look a lot nicer but there is a sore bit below the right eyebrow like she pulled a bit of skin off? I’m guessing a bit of wax might have gone on there by accident. Still I know it was just an error we all make errors. The beautician was very nice and the rest of it went well, so it won’t put me off having it done again sometime and the skin will heal soon enough.

As for fasting because I’m up early on workdays I can’t really fast too long on those days as I do like to have breakfast and the only time to eat it is before 0700. Usually on most days we have our main meal before 2000 so at least 11 hours between then and breakfast. Days like today are easier as I didn’t have my breakfast until I was home from getting eyebrows done but we did have a late dinner last night too. It would have been 14-15 hours between last nights dinner and this mornings breakfast. So sometimes it happens naturally anyway.

I’m not too worried about the plateau, I really see this as a life change now, the weight will sort itself out at it’s own pace.

I realised when I was cooking the chickpeas that I ran out of olive oil, so I used the low calorie spray oil and it worked well they’ve come out crispier. I guess they will be a bit lower calorie as well and lower fat – I know low fat isn’t good but the protein in the chick peas will give the filling power without the fat I think.

It seems I am likely to go over calories today but that is ok as I will be sticking to BSD principles and still within my own unofficial plan of following 800 most of the time with up to a few days off each week. I had a lot of cauli pizza lol.

Happy it’s interesting you saying that about the gluten, it could certainly be true! as for my little crafts I’ve also started a hand sewing project I’ve had in mind for a while. My daughter loves mermaids and I’ve seen a lot of these little mermaid tail blankets (like mini sleeping bags) online, either crocheted or made with fabrics. I had thought of knitting one but not got around to it so I’ve decided to make her one. I have a blue skirt I never wear that has some ruffles on it so I’ve cut it to shape and lengthened it a little with the cut off pieces. I’ve chosen some other garments that are in the pile for the charity shop that are nice colours and fabrics, I’m going to cut these up into scales and sew them all over the skirt to make a multicoloured tail, then once it’s all finished I have a blue fleece blanket that I will use to create a cosy lining for it. I thought it was something I could have downstairs and work on when my son is around. I won’t use pins I’ll just sew as I go freehand, then I might add some nice trimmings at the very end. I have some seashell buttons etc.

I’ve also bought her a large art kit, https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000Y1204Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

She has been talking about wanting water colours for a while and I like to encourage reading, art and any out to play type activity, and I decided that to get it for her now at the beginning of her school holidays might give her something to stop the boredom over the next 6 weeks!

well i am sat in costa coffee and after walking past every single cake and biscuit i had a pot of tea !!!!! i even had skimmed milk when asked if i wanted that or whole milk smug isnt in it !!! but boy oh boy what i would give for a piece of cake they are calling me i am sure !!!!
i blame my hubby after an argument that started over the bloody weather of all things and included every bloody subject after that !!! i stormed off it wasnt till i got outside the house after a very dramatic slamming of door i realised i left my car keys so i have come into town on the bus !!!!
am avoiding all food ( not ready am sure i would pick something wrong !!) so had my breakfast and will have my tea when i get in !!
so sat alone i costa coffee checking phone but i have one stubborn husband so he wont make the first move !!!!
i knew it was going to be a shit day !!!
i tell you that cake is calling me !!!!

Hi all, I’ve just started as well, and am now on my second day. So far, not too bad, although I am suffering from headaches a feeling of slight anxiety/out of sorts if you know what I mean ?. I’m a little grumpy as well -more than usual ; ) and feeling very tired. I’ve tried several times before to get going on this way of life, but stumbled unfortunately. Anyway, this time I’ve sorted my head out and realised that this is want I want above all else. I have 3.5 Stones to lose (approx. 23KG) which I know is entirely achievable.
I’ve discovered a few things already, using mindfulness can distract me away from bad choices. I’ve just had lunch, a tuna salad and then felt like something extra if you know what I mean ?. Anyway, I didn’t, I went for a walk and distracted myself. I had a little chat with myself (sounding mad), last night, or internal monologue that we all do, and decided that this way of life is above anything else, and that I just need to get over the first hurdle and it will become much easier.
I must admit, I’m finding it tough, I feel quite jittery, but I know that these feelings end. I will look back on this post in a few days and hopefully start feeling the improvement ?. Also, I’m drinking a lot of water, I’m aiming for 3 litres a day at the moment, which means I’m spending half my time in the loo ! I’m going to take one day at a time, and just slow down, planning ahead and seeing any problems that may come up, anything that might sabotage my efforts. Such as….a meal round my sister in laws tonight. She is a great cook, but I don’t want to upset her by pushing food around my plate, so I’ve just rung her and explained what I’m up to. She was lovely, and is going to cook me a BSD ‘friendly’ meal (salmon and steamed veg). I’ve always felt too ashamed to tell people I’m on a diet because of the social stigma, but now, I don’t care, I really don’t. I want to be rid of the extra weight, and will do it as quickly as possible using this diet. I’m up for a ‘buddy’ if there is anyone out there who wants to bounce thoughts around ?.
Best of luck to you all, we can do this can’t we….

Welcome back Hashimoto!! Have missed your postings and inspirations an am glad you are back. Hope your trip was fun and amazing! I hike to get to Australia or Nee Zealand next year!