Tokyo – I was just going to use the vanilla extract, whether that’s frowned upon or not, it’s a teaspoon. The way I look at it is this. If we were using these things every day and eating them every day, then it’s an issue, the same as it would be if/when it was sugar. We’re all individual and we’re all doing this for different reasons, some health, some weightloss, so opinions are going to vary accordingly – just do what’s right for you. It’s for a once in a while treat. If/when I take the plunge and bake something, I’m using granulated sweetener and to hell with it. Because I spent two quid on the sodding stuff and it’s getting used. It’s going to be rare, it’s going to be a special occasion when I do, it’s not like it’s going to be weekly, probably not even monthly x

Hi everyone I’m new on day 2, I’m trying the 8 weeks 800 plan as I have a way to go (56lb should about get me to a healthy bmi) I’m going to a friends wedding in 6 weeks so am helping that this is going to really help me shift some weight before her special day. I’ve been looking through some of the posts and ideas and my fitness pal is a brilliant idea to help me track everything so far
Day one was easy plain yoghurt with passion fruit and toasted almond flakes, tomato soup, Apple, salmon with coriander and coconut mixed roast vegetables (mushrooms aubergine cherry tomatoes courgette)
Day two mushrooms goats cheese toast thing, tomatoe soup and a omelette (with cheese, bacon, peas, onion, sun dried tomatoes spinach ) both days I’ve drank between 2-3 litres of water/weak sugar free cordial

Today all I thought about is thick slices of white bread with butter, or some chip shop chips something really carb heavy that I know I shouldn’t eat (no wonder I’ve got 56lb to loose)

Trying to plan tomorrow I have breakfast sorted but trying to figure lunch I have some mackerel can I have some couscous with it or is that a no no

Any help advice please x

Collie – in all the excitement surrounding Janey’s Willie I forgot to answer you, that’s great about the checkout lady, and it would be great if it helped her 🙂 I do have a tendency to get a bit evangelical about diets and my friends start avoiding me 🙁 This time I’m going to lead by example and only tell them if they notice and ask. It’s just so hard when you find something that works and you know it can help others. I’m seeing my friend tomorrow for the first time in three weeks, when I saw her last she told me about the BSD. I started the next day, and I can tell her, at the very least, that I’ve lost 20lbs in 21 days. Maybe more if the scales are kind tomorrow 🙂
Re holidays the temptation is horrendous and the choices poor, I think back to last year’s Devon jaunt and I’m shuddering, the takeaways, the meals out, breakfasts out, the pastries, and the ice cream shops, with so many flavours that it felt rude to go home without sampling at least ten of their seventy nine thousand flavours. Well done on having one. I don’t know how I’d cope this year, so thankfully we’re only going camping, which should be easier to cope with as long as I’m organised. I’m avoiding alcohol at the moment, my tipple is red wine and I’m allergic to it. Plus, I can’t just have one, so it’s easier to have none.

Oh Lucia your doctor must be very pleased with you. We certainly are.

lucky i saw that yoghurt thingy what sweetener are you using if any ?
since i was told perhaps not to use agarve syrup( and its sitting in my cupboard along with honey!!) i am now wondering what sweeterner to buy i have looked for the ones linda recommended but not in sains or morrisons i can see i am going to end up with a cupboard full of useless expensive items that i will have taken a second mortgage out to buy !!!

Christie & Lynne,

Thanks so much for thoughtful postings. I think my best strategy is to keep in touch on these forums.

Maybe if Lynne sets up a “Target Achieved” we could all “weigh in” on the first of each Month. I’m always better when I know I have to ‘fess up. I need stick and carrot.

John

If it is good poisoning I know it’s miserable. I had it a few years ago when the granddaughters were with me. Fortunately there were three toilets in that house 😱 It took months for me to be completely well again!

Keep in touch.

Thanks everyone. Another high spot if I may. Today I was able to double cross my legs – cross legs, then tuck top foot behind other ankle. It’s the first time I’ve been able to do that in many a long year 😃

John, thank you for your post. I’ll try to add something to the discussion.

I’ve been on diets for about 55 years, with varying degrees of success. But only ever reached my target on probably two occasions, and one of those I’d been ill with stress and couldn’t eat! I must have spent a fortune at slimming clubs over the years. Many times I left whichever club I was attending because I had to choose paying the club or buying food that week. Looking back it seems that the clubs encouraged me to buy their products but never taught me how to eat healthily. All that counting – points, syns or whatever – meant a constant focus on what I was going to eat. It was never going to be sustainable long-term.

When I went on holiday I’d ‘treat’ myself – after all, don’t I deserve a treat after all the hard work I’d put in. Then come home having gained weight, which took ages to lose again. Same at Christmas and other celebrations. When I visit people they usually offer me something to eat with a coffee. If I tried to refuse, they’d insist, so I’d eat it even if I didn’t want it. Well, you can’t offend people.

So, fast forward to BSD days.

The fridge and freezer are full of real food, not packaged meals. I still count calories but my main focus is on staying low carb. As I’ve travelled this journey I’ve kept learning. The first time I was on holiday I came home with a slight gain which disappeared quickly. I realised that my portion control hadn’t been great so I’ve paid more attention to that.

Now I have a life – I can focus on things other than food. Yes, I still record what I eat, and medical test results. But it takes a lot less time than working out points or syns.

It seems that health issues have been a great incentive for me. Possibly combined with a stubborn streak, making me determined to prove those who say I should eat carbs wrong. I never thought I would ignore the bread basket on the restaurant table, but I do. I never thought I’d drink water instead of diet fizzy drinks, but I do. My tastes in good have changed.

Perhaps because of the amount of weight I needed to lose, the journey has taken a while (but nowhere near as long as with slimming clubs. That has helped fix the BSD way of eating in my mind and body.

I will probably stop calorie counting soon, on experimental basis, just staying low carb like I now do on holiday. But I’ll continue writing everything down. I find that really helps.

For some reason the high carb foods I used to enjoy so much, and which made me so ill have no appeal now.

At the moment my thinking is that when I get to my target (whatever that will finally be) I’ll stay low carb, recording everything I eat, and following the Mediterranean style of eating.

The two things that help me most are writing everything down and posting on these forums. It must be accountability!

Sorry for the long post – I was working it out as I typed.

Hi stringbreaker,
Lightbulb moment! I am also struggling with what to do after my final weight is reached, although I have been under the weather for a few weeks I am also struggling with the same issues as you are!
I know for instance that I am addicted (still!) to sugar, and will quite easily go back to my old ways if I don’t keep ‘on top’ of my eating,
Mindfulness is something that has to be practiced, it’s a bit like cognitive behavioural therapy, stopping that inner voice that tells you, ‘ oh go on have a cake/biscuit/chocolate bar’ whatever your nemesis is! That is a VERY basic idea of what it is about.
I also agree with you that we need the people who have reached their goal to help out with what happened to them after!
All food for thought though isn’t it? Not much battery left so will have a think, read your post again and see if I can add anything? Cheers
Christine

Hi Lynne,
Thank you, I always get good support on here, just wish I could give some!
I think you are right about something I have eaten, we have had so many ‘dos’ where I have had to make difficult choices of what to eat, while feeling really awful! I will have to do a re-run in my head and see what I can come up with!
I’m only glad it’s nothing serious, my neighbour was really ill for months after eating something off or bad? It took him about six months to recover , we ended up doing his lawn for him as even that was beyond him!
I need to get back to basics, thanks again for the support
Christine

It’s a good one! Well, why not, it seems to go well, doesn’t it? 😉

Yes, I coped, but I am very cross too. I need to be better organised. Much better organised too. I suppose I know I can have a takeaway and be sensible. I can go to Mum’s and eat a roast without the potatoes. It’s another ‘first’ off my list I guess. Just eating out to do now. That will be the true test, I tell thee!

Muahahaha, I’m stealing that!!

A fistful of Willies??!! Is that the collective noun?! 😆

Well done on takeaway damage limitation. Some nights it all goes to ratsh** but you coped!

Oh, speaking of PMT, my hubby told me a joke today that I thought was quite funny, probably because I wasn’t premenstrual at the time.
PMT Wife to her Husband: Do you want something to eat?
Husband: What are the choices?
PMT Wife: Yes or effing NO!

Lol?

Josie – are they the ones that look like Reeses peanut butter cups? If so, yes I’ve spotted those, they do look lush. I’m making her frozen yogurt bark tomorrow, with the berries and peanut butter splodges.

Janey! I could run and run and run with you munching on Willies, but I won’t. Oh, wait… actually… I will. Just off the top of my head…
If you endured cauliflower rice, I think you’re entitled to a good fistful of Willies tonight, personally?

I ate my chicken and salad, I left the bread, as did hubby. I gave the cheesy garlic bread to my son and daughter and told them to take it and run. I think it’s cooked reasonably healthily (she says). Famous last words, you watch. That’ll teach me to start cooking tea at stupid o’clock.

Hi Bsdfamily, I’m not a fan of raw walnuts, but they improve considerably after being toasted in the oven for 5 minutes or so.

Christine, sorry to hear you’ve been having a rough time. Hope you feel better soon. (((Hugs)))

Sounds like you need to look after you for a while.

Feel free to have a rant on here. Someone will be around to support you. If I can do anything just shout.

It’s quite possible that it’s something you ate that’s upset you. Hope you can work out what it was.

Take care x

I’m not sure what’s up with me tonight.. But I have the munchies. Maybe PMT, but whatever it is, I’m struggling. However to alleviate it slightly I have been on the Willies. No, no, don’t get mucky, I meant Willie’s Cacao drops which are 100 million pounds for a small tub of drops. One or two are enough to take the edge off (altho I’m aware they’re in the cupboard tonight ). I figure a couple of those is better than eating the distressingly lovely fresh, crusty bread with dinner or giving in to a bar of Cadburys. Let’s face it, I endured cauliflower rice with my tea so it’s offset.

I took a look at that Wholeheartedly Healthy site; some good recipes. In fact I served the slow cooker Moroccan chicken last night AND tonight (topped up with veggies) and it was LUSH.

To pursue the subject of how to keep it up if I reach my target….

Although I would not call losing a substantial amount of weight “easy” (although the BSD has come pretty close) I find that I can do it once I’m “in the zone”. Over the last 30 years or so I’ve had probably 8-10 major efforts when I’ve lost 3 stones or more. At the beginning of almost every year I find myself overweight and determine to do something about it. Some years it works and others I just have not been able to get into the zone. The BSD has been the easiest “regime” I’ve ever done, but actually not the most successful – one year I lost 55 lbs which is more than I have to lose this time.

However: – the final result has always been the same. Once I reach (or usually nearly reach) my goal, something in my head switches off. At first it’s in a small way, but then over the next 2 years or so on goes the weight again. Food “blackouts” recurr and I just can’t control my eating. The BSD has certainly given me by far the best basic food plan for ongoing adoption, but a recent month or so of temptation proved to me that I am not out of the woods. All the old dragons are still lurking. Well – perhaps not “all” – when I have had food “blackouts” they involved much better food – a sandwich for example, instead of a cornish pasty.

The answer really is in my head – I know that, but I don’t know how to keep that important little switch in the “on” position. I haven’t really studied “Mindfulness” – is there perhaps some help to be had there? – Anyone found that helpful?

One factor in my recent mini-downfall was experimentally isolating myself from you all. I think it was Lynne who said earlier today that many of those who have reached their targets have “disappeared” from the forums. I think that this group could actually be more useful and supportive post target than it has been up to now. I guess none of you would be here if you really knew the answer as we’ve all recently been overweight, but perhaps we ought to start discussing strategies for keeping on the straight and narrow.

Sorry for such a long post, but for me the few months after target (9 lbs away 🙂 will be probably more important than the year to date.

Any thoughts?

John

on wholeheartedly healthy they have a recipe for raw salted caramel cups sounds and looks lush

Funny sort of day. Work was ok and then arrived at the Doctors to find that my appointment was yesterday and not today so I felt kinda bad about that but they’ve booked me in for 4 weeks time as it isn’t urgent.

However my husband has taken our son out so I’ve had a chilled evening so far. I had an amazing dinner just by creating a mishmash in a pan…

Fried 3 slices of bacon, added onion and garlic and a mild chilli, some sugar snap peas, some cherry tomatoes and courgetti, allowed it all to cook together, generous sprinkle of black pepper and a small amount of cheese. It was yummy. 360 calories

I’m off to have a shower and get some stuff sorted out.

banana hammock made me laugh lol.

It’s Thursday and I’m not working tomorrow!

I am able to go to my daughters primary school leaving assembly

Yes Lucky so well put a little treat is good for you but we are putting good stuff in predominately. I had the checkout lady asking me today as she could see good food , she asked re no pasta potatoes bread etc and so I told her , had to write the book title down for her. She hen said oh I am a diabetic and I told er it was mainly for her she seems excited I will look out for her in a few weeks xx
I really noticed while I was away how much food 1) we all eat 2) how processed it all is. I had a treat ice-cream but just one not one every day I had a gin and tonic but not the bottle ha ha ! I did not feel hard done by . Happy BSDing

Finished reading the book in the wee hours of the morning/night (I couldn’t sleep so I got up at 3:30 AM to read) For a long time I’ve wondered if I could just follow a very low-cal/post-gastric surgery type diet and have the results without having the surgery — it seems like it IS possible! WooHoo!!

I have a loooong way to go — I’m about 110 pounds overweight. My blood sugar was at the very top end of ‘normal’ last time I had it checked (three? years ago?) It could well be tipped over into the prediabetic range by now, I don’t know. I’m not going to try to find out — I’m just going to make sure I get it going back down. And get rid of this weight. It has to go.

I’m over 50…female…basically ‘retired’ so I have time to focus on myself and my health. No more excuses. This isn’t funny anymore. I’m tired — of everything — of being fat, of finding it hard to buy clothes, of giving excuses why I can’t do this or do that, of being weak and full of pain all the time; even when I sleep everything hurts. My hubby needs to lose some weight too but he’s not quite on board (yet).

I didn’t use to be fat — but somehow I ended up here. Can’t look back and wish things were different — can only MAKE things different through different choices.

For day 1 I’m just focusing on getting 800 calories sorted out — I had 200 cal of soup for lunch and have a meal of fish and steamed vegs planned for later. I didn’t eat breakfast today but I will tomorrow. It’s a holiday weekend here in Canada so I may not post for a couple of days but I will log/track my foods in a notebook. I have a few questions but I’ll come back and ask them on Monday.

The funny (ironic?) thing is, back when I was young I took a two year college program in nutrition. We were taught all the wrong stuff — eat low fat, fill half your plate with grains and starches, if you had to have milk, make it skim. Even the instructor, Mrs. Brown, I’ll never forget her first words to us — “You’re probably wondering why a nutrition instructor is overweight — don’t worry girls, you’ll find out yourselves soon enough.” She was so right.

June 30 — Starting weight: 257.8 lbs
bust 49 in
waist 47 in
hips 52.5 in

~ FuzzyJammies, getting real in Ontario, Canada

I think it might be starting here, Collie. It’ll have a snowball effect on people we know, that’s how I’m on the BSD, after seeing a friend’s dramatic weight loss. I know we go on a bit about finding ways to eat things we shouldn’t but I think it’s only human nature after relying on it (and being addicted to it) for so long. I like knowing that I’m giving my body a chance now, and putting in what is meant to be going into it 🙂 (or as close as I can, with a leeeeetle bit of Lidl chocolate here and there)

Hi all,
The thing that annoys me most is that, being on this very healthy diet, you would assume that I would be able to fight Ill health easier? I am thinking that the tummy problem must be something that I have eaten that has upset me, just a thought!
Christine

Hi Lucky
Thanks for the offer but I’ll decline pink curry today I am having a yellow day today . Yellow peppers and tomatoes and I snuck in an orange so high in carbs but love them.

On a slightly different note but toilet in theme just listened to a bbc radio 4 food program on microbes part 2 – caught it on catch up . There is now a lot of evidence emerging re false sugars and processed food destroying the bacteria of our guts . Lots of research going on at Tommies in London. This effects weight loss and mood. In a few years there will be a revolution I hope xxx

Keep up the bsd comedy store you all and Lucia are amazing and so funny

I am so cross because I am a really proficient curry maker, and I should have seen by the recipe that it wasn’t going to match the pictures on the website. The only spice in it was garam masala and chilli. That should have rang alarm bells for starters. And thank God I only had 60g of cashews left, the recipe called for 100g! It won’t go to waste, I’ll freeze it and we’ll eat it when desperate. I might try and doctor it somehow. But I don’t even want to think about it right now.

Ohhhhhh fresh bread, crusty? Is it? Crusty? 🙁

Hi Imogen,
Oh thank you Imogen, it does so help to know I can have a rant on here, and get positive responses! I think I need a bit of time not dashing here and there, while feeling dreadful, so that I can re-focus on where I need to be! It won’t be happening anytime soon though, so I will just have to get there some other way?
Christine

Oh dear, another recipe for the ‘That Didn’t Quite Work’ book. I haven’t cooked with my European surplus sized bag of cashews yet. I think they could be a bad omen…

Hmm, I’m rethinking the ‘Broads’ moniker… Surely we are aiming NOT to be broad???

I just bought some gorgeous fresh bread that was reduced in the co-op. It’s going to kill me to watch/ smell as its devoured by the horde 😩 No Janey, resist..

Hello Collie 🙂 Well done on reaching your 8 weeks (nearly) and all the pounds you have lost. That makes sense, ditch the scales. It’s inches that get you into a new dress size, not pounds 😉

You will find many double entendres here. That Janey is filthy… tsk. Filthier than a sewer rat, that girl’s mind…

I have curry here Collie, if you’re hungry. It’s pink mind… 😉 x

Oh, I don’t know about the genius bit, Tokyo 😉 You’ve got to laugh haven’t you, it’s a boring life otherwise?

In other news… I can’t believe I am saying this but I have just ordered a takeaway. My curry went horribly, horribly wrong. Curry should not ever be white. And I mean white, not creamy or korma-ey. WHITE. And not even the tomato puree I shoved in could remedy it. I now have a pink curry. It’s… nutty due to the cashews. I mean, of course it bloody would be. Am I simple or something? It was just all wrong. In the picture it was a lovely deep red colour. Put it this way, I am so hungry that a meat knot is sounding very appealing at the moment! So I have ordered a chicken kebab with salad on a naan (but it’s more of a wrap) and I’ll give the extra naans to my son.

BSD broads???? Bahahahahahaha.

Oh My you lot have so made my day. I was struggling and I have been chuckling away about meat, knots , bananas .I too googled it !! O my. Oh my I love a double entendre. Please keep posting I am near the end of my first 8 weeks and defo struggling a bit sooo hungry losing inches but not pounds. So am not weighing for a while as clothes looser etc. However am 18 lbs down

I have been away and stalking the posts as not enough wifi to post it has too so helped me thank you all xxxx

We’ve missed our vocation Lucky. We could do the comedy circuit as the BSD Broads 😉

Thank you 🙂

you two are like a genius double act !! x

I was going to give cauliflower rice another crack… we’ll see. Thumbs up on the coconut oil. Good call 🙂

Hi Christine,

Welcome back!

Sounds like you had a bit of a rough time. I hope you start to feel better really soon! You will be back to yourself (and the BSD) all in good time. For now focus on getting well.x

I think she lives on dust.

But yes, cashew induced obesity or heart failure should maybe be avoided. We sell lasers at work so I reckon I could shave a 1mm piece off tho…

Cook your meat knot in coconut oil, it’ll add a little je ne sais quoi…. And serve it with cauliflower mash. That’ll do it.

No problem Christi1948. We are all here to support one another and I have benefitted from that in the past too. It can be hard to shake the negativity, but I find it helps if there is someone offering a little support. Keep us posted on progress and shout again it you need to, as someone will respond for sure.
Good luck getting back on track.

I think if you can get past the sugar craving bit, you will find it easy to resist the temptation. Why not think up some little personal rewards you can treat yourself to if you resist the temptation to eat the cake/biscuits/chocolate etc.? Like a long soak in the tub or new shower gel, new nail varnish or body lotion – sure you can dream up something to suit you.

I would cook it in olive oil, obvs… hehehehe 😉

Before you roast her (not literally) (although…) – is she dairy free/vegan? If so fair enough. If not, that many calories on nuts is madness. Your slice would have to be like 1mm thin.

Hi sunnyB,
Thank you for your response, it does help knowing someone is there ‘helping me out’ it’s not as if it’s anything serious, however it’s been frustrating! Other people have far worse things to deal with I know, it’s how you deal with them, that’s where I have come a cropper!
Thank you again.
Christine

Good luck Jess J. Sounds like you are all ready to go and focused on making real change. I’ve found a new culinary creativity and I’m sure you will too. Make sure you let us all know how you progress and shout out if you need any support.

And yes, I may tweet Fearne aggressively and demand to know how a cheesecake can be cheese less.

Meat knot???? I think they’re allowed on the BSD!!!!!! Low carb, most definitely. And a small one must be under 800 cals??(I’m off for a lie down in a darkened room now!)

Thanks greenjanet. Mine’s quite canny – produces the yummy cake and says ‘OK, I’ll leave it here – you might fancy it later’ and of course I do. I see your point tho’ I need a strategy to be able to avoid it later or even just find the strength to put it in the bin.

Maybe it gets easier if one gets past the craving for sugar.

You could try pecans, although they are higher in both cals and carbs, but I guess if you use less this will compensate.

Hi Butterlover
Sounds like you have it nailed! Great result to be back where you were in just one week. I was away for a ten weeks, mainly in Turkey and gained just under three pounds. Have been back on the BSD for three days and have lost half of that. Sticking to the plan really doesn’t take too much effort and even without exercise good things seem to happen.

Hey Christi1948,
Hope you are feeling a little better for offloading. Sounds like you have been through a particularly rough patch. I understand those feelings of frustration, both at yourself and the situation. Not been a stranger to that myself in the past. Try – and I know it’s hard – not to feel guilt and beat yourself up for your transgressions, as it just makes you feel worse and makes you more likely to nibble on things you shouldn’t.
I’ve found the BSD regime is so easy to pick up again, I’m sure you will be back on track again soon and seeing results. Take care

Don’t resist. We can share the handcart… 🙂